Preschool is not mandatory, but children who attend preschool will gain new skills, meet new friends, discover new feelings, and have a variety of new experiences.

Preschool helps children:

• Prepare for scholastic activities
• Count
• Listen
• Explore
• Learn to get along with others
• Plan ahead
• Use new words
• Care for themselves and belongings
• Express themselves
• Care for living things
• Learn to play fair
• Notice differences
• Think of others
• Protect themselves

Harrison Hills City School District provides quality, comprehensive programs and collaborative services that support young children and families for lifelong learning. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program recognizes that all children can learn and acquire knowledge, primarily through playful interactions with materials and people in their environment. The learning environment encourages creative exploration with a balance of child- and adult-initiated, age-appropriate activities. The program also recognizes the home and community as valuable resources. Staff and parents work together in the development of culturally sensitive curriculum.

Curriculum

Developmental Screening

Every child receives a complete developmental screening in the fall prior to school. The dates of the screenings will be posted and advertised in the local newspaper. Children not screened prior to school will be screened within the first 30 days from the students' start date. The results of each child's developmental screening will be shared with the parents. Follow-up is provided as needed to meet the child's individual needs. Each program has a support team beyond the teacher, paraprofessional, and principal. The team often includes a speech and language pathologist, school psychologist and nurse.

Hours of Operation

Early childhood programs operate on full-day schedules and align with the district's school-year calendar. The programs follow the same hours as the building in which they are located.

Clothing

What to wear is an important decision. Following are some guidelines:

1. Label all clothing. Many jackets and sweaters look alike to children as well as to parents.
2. Provide outer garments that are easy to put on and take off.
3. Dress your child in clothing that is washable.
4. Choose clothing that allows for active play and is appropriate for the weather.
5. Send one complete set of clothing to be kept on hand in the classroom in case of accidents.

Meals

Breakfast is provided for preschool children. The menus selected meet the standards set by the Ohio Department of Education Nutrition Section.

Staff and children eat together in the school cafeteria. Children are encouraged but not forced to try unfamiliar foods or foods they have previously refused. Children gradually learn to assume responsibility for setting tables, passing food, serving themselves and cleaning up.

Health Inspection

For the protection of staff and children, a health inspection is conducted daily upon a child's arrival using the Ohio Department of Health "Child Day-Care Communicable Disease Chart," which is posted in the classroom. Parents are encouraged to observe this process. Early Childhood Education programs are for well children only. Children are re-admitted if they have no symptoms of communicable disease for at least 24 hours or with a physician's statement saying that the child poses no risk to others.

Parent Participation

Communication between home and school is a priority. Parent involvement is encouraged.

Licensing

Each program is licensed to operate by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). This license and the most recent licensing inspection report is posted in each classroom.