Sag Harbor
Pre-K Handbook 2024 - 2025
WELCOME
SAG HARBOR UFSD MISSION STATEMENT
EARLY CHILDHOOD PHILOSOPHY AND VISION STATEMENT
SPECIAL EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS
CONTACTING A TEACHER VIA EMAIL
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
IMMUNIZATIONS/FIRST AID/ALLERGIES
RESIDENCY & ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES & PROGRESS REPORTS
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
The Sag Harbor School District in partnership with all members of the community is committed to equity in education; its mission is to provide students with a safe, child-centered environment which fosters personal, academic, and creative excellence. This will empower students to become responsible and respectful members of a global society. As lifelong learners, students will be prepared to move successfully to the next stage of their lives.
Sag Harbor’s Pre-Kindergarten program recognizes that the development of the whole child is essential for learning to take place and that human development can be stimulated and encouraged, but not forced. We recognize that movement is an important component of pre-school learning and a key modality through which learning occurs. We believe in creating learning experiences that promote the growth and development of all children, while accommodating each child’s unique needs, interests and abilities. Our goal and daily purpose is to provide a balanced, nurturing, stimulating and exploratory program rich in language, science, music, mathematics, motor, sensory, art, and dramatic experiences based in play. Cognitive learning is planned around these daily events and relates to themes and topics that are teacher directed and child initiated.
Children are arriving and greeting teachers and classmates.
Songs, rhymes, conversation, monthly topic study, math, and community building.
Mathematics: Activities that introduce and foster math concepts such as counting, using manipulatives, grouping, comparing objects, identifying first and last, and recognizing patterns and shapes.
Journal writing, shared writing, book discussions, read-alouds.
Children set up, serve, and enjoy time together.
Children follow activities developed with all the intelligences in mind. Children play, discover and practice activities in learning centers, such as the drama, art, science, music, library, and block building areas.
Children organize and clean the play areas.
Playground time or time in the gymnasium. On Fridays, students visit the Fun Field or Sag Harbor Elementary School playground.
Students are dismissed to parents at the main entrance.
Regular attendance and participation
in classroom activities are the keys to success in school. Plenty of rest and a healthy breakfast will help your child come to school prepared to learn. Once enrolled, regular attendance is required.
If your child will be tardy, we ask that you email your child’s teacher.
If your child will be absent, please call the school nurse, Ms. Fonnalledas, at (631) 907-2281, before the start of school. If your child is sick, please let us know why so that we may alert other parents if necessary.
Pre-Kindergartners should establish a pattern of good attendance. Attendance and punctuality are important for success in school. Please be sure your child does not miss one exciting minute of Pre-K by having him/her to school on time!
Monday through Friday
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Your child should come to school with a backpack large enough to carry artwork and information from school, a healthy snack and lunch, a refillable water bottle, and a change of clothes that can be used in case of a spill or bathroom accident. We ask that the clothes be sent to school in a clear Ziploc bag, labeled with your child’s name on the outside. Please supply us with a new set of clean clothes when needed.
You will be notified of all special school events and scheduled. A family member may be asked to attend as a chaperone, but siblings may not participate in school sponsored field trips for safety reasons.
The Pre-K program is an active place to learn! Children paint, glue, play in sand, and play outdoors almost every day. Please dress your child in sturdy comfortable clothing that can get dirty so that your child can get messy without worrying. Make sure your child’s clothes are easy to pull up and down for bathroom needs. Belts are not recommended. Sneakers or shoes that tie or close with velcro are required. No flip-flops or sandals. Please dress your child for the weather. Remember that we go outside every day unless it rains. Labeling is a must!
Depending on what’s happening, your child may bring home an example of what was discussed that day or a note regarding an event. Please discuss this information with your child when it is removed from the backpack. This will help us all stay connected.
Pre-K children enjoy snacks and lunch each day with classmates. During snack and lunch, conversation between the children is encouraged. Students manage snack time by setting places and helping to serve. Water is available in the classroom and students re-fill their reusable water bottles when thirsty.
Please label backpacks and coats on inside tags. If anything is found outside or is left in the classroom, it will be returned for next day pick-up.
Pre-K teachers update and post information on Parent Square and class websites for their classrooms. Class websites can be found by going to www.sagharborschools.org and looking for the Teacher Websites tab. From there, find and click your teacher’s name. Teachers also use Parent Square as a communication tool as well as email correspondence to provide reminders, information and notices that are important to the program. Information for Parent Square can be found here: https://www.sagharborschools.org.
Type the first letter of the first name followed by last name@sagharborschools.org.
If there is a change in your child’s pick-up arrangements, please send a note for confirmation of the change. Please understand how important your child’s safety is to us. We will not release your child to someone that we have not been made aware of. Your cooperation in this safety procedure is imperative. If a last minute change occurs, please call the Main Office at 631-725-5301. Your message will be given to the Pre-K teacher.
For morning arrival, you may choose to drop off your child at the main entrance door of The Sag Harbor Learning Center or utilize car drop off available at the Love Lane access point behind the school building. Afternoon dismissal will always be from the main entrance - this is where you will meet your child.
All visitors to school must present identification at the front desk and wear an identification badge before entering any classrooms.
MEDICAL INFORMATION
ILLNESSPlease do not send children to school with any of the following:
If a child becomes ill at school and the nurse feels that the child is unable to benefit from school or is potentially contagious to other children, parents/guardians will be called to take them home. Parents/guardians are asked to be sure that arrangements can be made to transport children from school to home in a timely fashion should this occur, and keep the office informed of any daytime or emergency contact numbers changing during the year. Parents/Guardians may be asked to bring a note from their child’s physician clearing their student to return to school.
MEDICATIONIf it is possible, please adjust your child’s medication schedule to allow you to give medicine at home. Should your child require medications to be administered during school hours, please contact the Sag Harbor Learning Center (SHLC) School Nurse, Ms. Fonnalledas, for the necessary paperwork that will need to be completed by you and your child’s physician. This includes medications that are not scheduled, but may potentially be needed during school hours, such as epinephrine auto injectors (EpiPens), antihistamines and inhalers, as well as over the counter medications.
PHYSICAL EXAMSAs of July 1, 2018, New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time. This includes Pre-K. School Physicals must be performed by a New York State licensed practitioner within the 365 days prior to the first day of school. Please provide documentation to the Sag Harbor Learning Center School Nurse prior to the first day of school. If your child has an update to their immunization records, a new vision or hearing examination, or a new physical during the school year, parents/guardians are asked to send a copy of the exams and records to the School Nurse. VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGSThe Sag Harbor Union Free School District’s Health Services program helps support your child’s academic success by promoting health in the school setting. One way that we provide care for your student is by performing the health screenings as mandated by the State of New York. During the school year, vision and hearing screenings will be completed at school for those students who are new to the Sag Harbor Union Free School District, as well as students in PreK, Kindergarten (those not screened in preK), Grades 1, 3, and 5. Students with a documented hearing and vision screening from their pediatrician will not be screened. A letter will be sent home with the screening results and will note if your student needs to follow up with their healthcare provider. If you would prefer for your child to be screened with your private pediatrician and not at school, you may opt out of the screenings by emailing your child’s School Nurse and having your child’s doctor complete the screening paperwork.
IMMUNIZATIONS/FIRST AID/ALLERGIESVACCINES/IMMUNIZATIONSNew York State law requires that students attending school be up to date on their vaccinations. A New York State approved written record of immunizations from your child’s health care provider is necessary for entrance to Pre-K. The required immunizations include: DPT, 4 doses; Polio, 3 doses ; Measles, Mumps, Rubella (1 dose) Hepatitis B (3 doses) Haemophilus influenzae (hib) (1 – 4 doses) Varicella (chicken pox) (1 dose); PCV (1-4 doses). If your child is not up to date on their vaccinations, please contact your pediatrician and make an appointment to receive the missing doses. As per the New York State Department of Health, missing doses must be received in accordance with the CDC catch up schedule. See the 2022-23 School Year New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance form or visit www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370.pdf.
FIRST AIDEvery effort is made by the Sag Harbor Union Free School District to keep students injury free, but unfortunately, injuries do happen during the normal course of a school day. The School Nurse is available in the Sag Harbor Learning Center (SHLC) every day to help treat and triage injuries as they happen. Should an injury require more than first aid, parents/guardians will be contacted to pick up their student. In the event of an emergency, EMS will be contacted. A staff member will remain with any child whose parents/guardians have not arrived at school.
ALLERGIESPlease alert the SHLC School Nurse, Ms. Fonnalledas, of any allergies your child may have. In addition, please note any allergies on your child’s emergency card. Please keep us informed of any changes to this information as it occurs. This information about your child’s health will be shared with the Pre-K staff and school nurses to protect and keep your child safe. If your child has a particular food allergy, please send in snacks and celebration foods for occasions when they may not be able to eat what is being served at a party or during a cooking experience. Should an allergy require medication to potentially be given at school, such as an Epipen or benadryl, please alert Ms. Reynoso and Ms. Fonnalledas so that an emergency plan can be put in place. RESIDENCY & ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTSTo enroll a new student you must bring the child’s original birth certificate, a copy of their immunization records, two proofs of residency, and a completed application to the Pupil Personnel Office located in Pierson Middle/High School. In addition, an enrollment application is required. All District residents are eligible for Pre-K. EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATIONThe District requires that you provide emergency contact phone numbers and information regarding your child when enrolling in school. Listed should be emergency contacts and trusted adults that we may release your child to if needed. School personnel will require photo identification from anyone who is unfamiliar to the staff who may come to pick up your child. Home, cell, and work numbers for parents or other family members are also listed. This information is kept confidential. Please keep us up to date on any changes to this information SCHOOL CLOSINGSChanges to school schedules caused by inclement weather or other emergency conditions are announced on radio and television stations in our area. In the case of cancellations, school delayed opening or an early dismissal, you will be notified by the District via text message, Parent Square, phone call, and email. Consult WLNG 92.1 FM and Channel 12 or the District website at www.sagharborschools.org for the latest information. PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES & PROGRESS REPORTSParent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for December and May. You are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher throughout the school year if you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress. The bi-annual conferences provide an opportunity to learn about the school curriculum, get to know your child’s teachers, and learn ways to support your child. Progress reports detail your child’s growth and development in the areas of language arts, mathematics, personal/social skills, and motor skills; they will be shared with you at Parent-Teacher Conferences. IMPORTANT CONTACT FOR PARENTS
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