Communications Parent Participation Clothing Guidelines for Parents
Peer Problem Solving: Discipline Health School Closings Items Brought From Home
How to Keep Your Child's Self Image Strong Connecticut Law

Communications

Please feel free to speak with the staff about your child and / or problems anytime. If you wish to call Children's Discovery Center, please call before 8:45 AM or after 11:40 AM at 379-4838.

If you have concerns about the program or staff, please speak with your child's teacher first. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, speak with the Director. Finally if you still feel dissatisfied, you may contact the First Church Christian Board of Education, Liaison Committee by letter at 95 Park Place, Winsted.

Formal conferences will be held in November and April for those interested. A sign-up sheet will be posted as a reminder at these times. The staff is interested in all phases of your child's life. We welcome all means of communication that help us to know your child better. If you wish to have an individual conference at any other time, please feel free to ask your child's teacher for an appointment.

Monthly newsletters will be sent home describing activities and upcoming events. A calendar posted in the foyer notes important dates to remember.

A lending library is available to parents and can be accessed by speaking with the Director. Please feel free to sign out any book which interests you. Handouts are also available on a variety of subjects relating to the young child. If you wish to borrow any literature, please inquire.

Parent Participation

We welcome parent participation in the program. If a parent (or relative) has a special talent or interest and is willing to share it for the enrichment of our program, please let the staff know! We cherish our 'parent helpers' —willing volunteers who help in the classroom, in the kitchen preparing snacks, cleaning up art projects, putting away supplies, etc. We also always have need for the parents who like to organize fund raisers, and work at special events. Involved parents have helped our school grow!

Other Volunteer Opportunities as CDC:

• Gardening: The secret garden is always in need of upkeep and care. We also have a small flower garden on the play yard.
• Maintenance, Repairs, Odd Jobs: There are always small jobs that need to get done around here...leaky faucets, work parties, bike repairs, staining the outdoor play equipment, painting jobs...the list goes on.
• Librarian: As themes change, books need to be re-shelved. n As we add new books to our library, we need to follow a system to keep the books organized.
• Kitchen and Craft Clean-up: While teachers are finishing up snack or crafts, and needing to pay attention to the children—not the dirty dishes or paintbrushes, we could use extra hands!
• Room Parents: Come and help in the classroom! Play with the children, join in at circle time, help organize and set up for celebrations! Or substitute in a class when a teacher is unable to be at school.
• Fundraisers: We have 3 - 4 fundraisers during the course of the year. Gift-wrap sales, "An Evening With Father Christmas", and the scholarship raffle are our three "biggies". We need chair people, and many other helpers to pull these together.
• Filing: Some of the children's work, and their photographs need to filed throughout the year.

Clothing

Ordinary PLAY clothes in keeping with the weather are most suitable for school needs. Your child needs to wear clothes which will allow him / her to participate in all activities without being fearful of getting "messy"! Please be sure your child's clothing is comfortable, washable and allows for self-dressing.

When the weather is cold, always send in mittens, hat, snow pants, boots and jacket. We do go out almost every day. It helps your child and staff members if extra clothing is brought in a tote bag with the child's name clearly labeled.

Shoe boots become too warm if worn all day. Please send in alternate shoes or slippers for indoors. Provide pants for girls who wear dresses with tights.

Guidelines for Parents

Arrival:
Please bring your child into the building, do not leave him / her in the parking lot alone at any time. Children should not arrive sooner than 8:55 am. If a problem arises, special arrangements may be made. In order for your child to receive the most benefits from the program, it is also very important to be prompt.

Departure:
PLEASE WAIT IN THE HALLWAY with any siblings until your child is dismissed to you. This enables us to make sure your child is dismissed only to authorized persons. It is important to notify us if your child is to be picked up by anyone other than the usually authorized person. Please make sure that your child is picked up by 11:40 for morning sessions, or 3:10 for afternoon sessions.

Peer Problem Solving: Discipline

Peer problem solving is a technique developed to assist children in resolving their own problems. Acting as a facilitator, the teacher supports children as they become responsible for discussing and solving differences that normally arise in social interaction. The children's use of physical solutions is reduced while they create a positive self image. A major goal of the Children's Discovery Center's program is for the children to socialize and interact with their peers and staff members to solve social problems constructively.

Health

A child must be kept home if he / she has a sore throat, a fever, "pink eye," or shows any other signs of illness or communicable diseases. The parent will be called and asked to come for the child if he / she is ill. Please call CDC (379-4838) , between 8:30 and 8:50 am, if your child is going to be kept home.

School Closings

Children's Discovery Center follows the Winchester school system in closing for snow days. Children's Discovery Center will be closed ONLY when the Winchester School system closes for the day. Late openings do not affect the Children's Discovery Center. Parents are asked to use their discretion on transporting children during late opening days. When Winchester schools have early dismissal due to weather, Children's Discovery Center's PM session will be canceled. Local radio stations will announce such closings, late openings and early dismissals. Additional days will not be scheduled for weather related closings.

Items Brought From Home

Please do not allow your child to bring his / her toys or play equipment from home unless special arrangements have been made with the staff. Items NOT EVER PERMITTED include: guns or other weapons, candy, gum, snack food, or any kind of medicine. Cartoon-inspired toys (Power Rangers, Star Wars, Pokemon etc.) encourage specific sorts of play, they keep children from the open-ended activities which we offer and from the excellent equipment we provide.

How to Keep Your Child's Self Image Strong

• Say something positive to your child each day.
• Try to see that your child achieves success in some way each day by offering a variety of activities.
• Give your child recognition for the effort he makes even though it may not come up to expectations.
• Make your child feel that s/he belongs.
• Listen to your child and look him in the eyes when s/he is talking.
• Answer your child's questions openly and honestly, and immediately if possible.
• Do not embarrass your child, especially in front of others; do not make her question her worth.
• Compliment the child when possible on creative ideas, improvement in performing tasks etc.
• Encourage your child to be proud of his name, ideas and work.
• Do not set goals so high that the chance of failure prevents your child from trying.
• Emphasize what your child does right instead of what she does wrong.
• Treat your child, as you would like to be treated.

Connecticut Law

Effective October 1, 2005 children must ride in a proper child restraint until they are over 6 years of age AND 60 pounds! (Both the age and weight requirements must be met) After children outgrow their car seat, they must ride in a booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt. If a vehicle has a side air bag, infants and small children should be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle, in a child safety seat or safety seat belt.

Please do keep your children safe while you are transporting them in your vehicle. It is much easier to establish the habit of "buckling up" when your children are young!