Welcome
to
P.R.I.D.E.
(Preschool Readiness Individual Developmental Education)
Livingston Public Schools
Livingston, NJ
PARENT
HANDBOOK
“It takes a long time to
grow young.”
-Pablo Picasso,
Spanish artist
“I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.”
-Chinese proverb
Welcome to P.R.I.D.E.
Welcome to the P.R.I.D.E. (Preschool Readiness Individual Developmental Education) program, an
active part of the Livingston Public School system. We are excited about the opportunity to interact,
educate, and grow with your child during these very important developmental years.
Preschool may be a very anxious time for both the child and the family. We are here to support not only
the student in the classroom, but also the family at home. Your children have come to us with a wide
range of skills, abilities, talents, and gifts. We truly learn from each other every day. However,
maintaining a school-to-home relationship cannot be stressed strongly enough. You know your child
best. We are a collaborative team that, by working together, strives to maximize each individual child’s
potential.
The following booklet has been developed by the P.R.I.D.E. staff for your information and reference.
Please utilize this booklet throughout your child’s P.R.I.D.E. experience for names, telephone numbers,
email addresses, schedules, and for the basic program information you may need throughout the school
year. If the answers to your questions are not found in our booklet, please feel free to contact us at any
time either by telephone, email, or via your child’s communication folder.
Burnet Hill School Telephone Number
973/ 535-8000 ext. 6920
Meet the P.R.I.D.E. Team
Room 9
Room 10
Teacher:
Ms. Laurie Babij
Room 11
Teacher:
Ms. Caroline Gower
Teacher:
Mrs. Tara Freeman
Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Speech Therapist
Mrs. Diana Miller
Ms. Aliza Hemed
Ms. Cindy Shah
Ms. Sana Feteiha
Child Study Team (CST)
Ms. Karen Lange
LDTC
Mr. Thomas Zampano
Psychologist
Meet the Administration
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Brad Draeger
Principal, Burnet Hill School
Mrs. Lisa Capone-Steiger
Assistant Superintendent,
Student Services and Instruction
Supervisor, Student Services
Mr. Larry Russell
Mrs. Linda Edwards
Philosophy of P.R.I.D.E.
The PRIDE program addresses each child’s individual needs, and endorses the
components of early childhood development:
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following
Children are individuals.
Young children are unique and develop in varying ways.
Each child develops at his or her own pace.
Children have a natural desire to grow and learn.
Teaching to a child’s cognitive, social, physical, and emotional areas
means teaching to the “whole child”.
Children learn about the world around them through their senses, such
as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. It is essential that
lessons be presented through these modes
Children need to explore. The act of discovery is an important part of
learning.
Play is a child’s work. Through play, children develop an awareness of
others around them, as well as the world around them.
Children need to be guided in a positive manner.
Children need to feel good about themselves. This can be achieved by
experiencing success.
Children like to do things for themselves – to experience “control” and to
feel “independent.” At the same time, they need our love and support
which provides them with a feeling of security.
Each child grows and develops within a family system. Members of the
family system affect one another. Individual family needs and concerns
must also be considered when planning educational programs for young
children.
What does my child need for school?
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A backpack that is “size” appropriate. No wheels, PLEASE!
A complete change of labeled clothes, in a bag, to be kept in the classroom. If your
child is not yet toilet trained, please send in several diapers and wipes in a re-sealable
(Ziploc) bag marked with their name
A 2-pocket plastic folder, labeled
A snack that fits in your child’s backpack, within a reusable lunchbox marked with your
child’s name. (Please see more under Healthy Snack section)
Please be sure that all outerwear is marked with your child’s name (jacket, coat, hats,
mittens, boots, etc.)
Please dress your child so that they are prepared each day to play and get messy!
What about the bus?
Arrival:
Most of our students arrive on the bus. Children are greeted by the teachers and teacher
assistants. Children in the A.M. class enter the building through the main entrance door, and
children in the P.M. class enter the building through the north side entrance, at the faculty
parking lot. The teachers and teacher assistants disembark all students from the buses, and
guide them inside the building to their classrooms.
Dismissal:
Most of our students ride the bus home. Each class exits through the main entrance to either
meet their parent or guardian, or board their respective bus. The teachers and teacher assistants
escort each child out of the school and remain with them until they have either been picked-up by
their parent or guardian, or boarded their bus.
If you arrive late to school, please enter through the main entrance, bring your child to the
main office, and a member of your child’s classroom staff will be called down to greet you.
All visitors must report to the main office to receive a visitor’s pass.
If you are experiencing any difficulty with busing, please contact the transportation
office at:
973/ 535-8000
ext. 8013 or ext. 8027
Where do I park?
If you transport your child to school, please park legally in the following fashion:
AM Drop-off:
AM Pick-up:
PM Drop-off:
PM Pick-up:
front parking lot, near flag pole (DO NOT DOUBLE PARK IN BUS LANE)
front parking lot, near flag pole (DO NOT DOUBLE PARK IN BUS LANE)
first set of parking spaces when you pull into the school; or along the one-way
maintenance road as you exit the staff parking lot; or on the street. Please do
not park in the front lot, in the staff parking lot, or double park near doors
front parking lot, near flagpole (DO NOT DOUBLE PARK IN BUS LANE)
Please exit the school parking area in the most “time
efficient” manner possible. Our PRIDE buses and parents’
cars need to be out of the way for the larger buses
dropping-off and picking-up the children in the upper
grades. Thank you!
What if my child is absent?
You are required to call the school if your child will be absent from school for any
reason. This notification allows the staff to adjust classroom instruction and inform
therapists in order to adapt their schedules. With each unaccounted absence, the office
staff is required to make a “call for safety” by contacting the home and/or emergency
numbers on your child’s emergency card. We also appreciate a note in your child’s folder
upon their return to school after an illness so we have a written record of the absence.
The transportation office also requires notification of any absence so that the bus driver
may proceed to the next stop. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Attendance:
973/535-8000 ext. 7100
Transportation:
973/535-8000 ext. 8013
or ext. 8027
What are the school hours?
Daily Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Half-Day Schedule
Buses will adjust their
schedules accordingly
Delayed
Opening
Early
Dismissal
AM Students
8:20am – 10:50am
PM Students
11:50am – 2:20pm
AM Students
8:20am – 10:10am
PM Students
10:10am – 12:10pm
AM Students
School Canceled
PM Students
11:50am – 2:20pm
AM Students
8:20am – 10:50pm
PM Students
School Canceled
Snow Days
If school is to be closed
for the day, parents will
receive a phone call
from the district’s
automated emergency
call system, which you
must sign-up for on
the district website.
You may also check on
the Livingston Public
School Website at:
www.Livingston.org
Can I come and observe my child in their classroom?
Yes! If you would like to arrange a 30-minute classroom observation, please contact
your case manager who is a part of the child study team. All observations must be scheduled
and coordinated with the CST office, as well as the main office staff. Parents may observe their
child during classroom activity time through the observation window located in the hall outside
the classroom itself.
What if my child is not potty trained?
Although a majority of our students arrive in the P.R.I.D.E. program toilet trained, many of our
students require assistance in reaching this major developmental milestone.
If your child is toilet trained, they are encouraged to use the bathroom within
the classroom on a daily basis. Our students typically manage this aspect of
our classroom routine very independently and with great pride. Please be
assured, however, that an adult always provides assistance and supervision
including hand washing reminders.
Please let staff know if you are working with your child on toileting skills. We are happy
to assist you and your child as they strive to reach another important goal in their individual
development.
What clothes should I send in?
P.R.I.D.E. is fun, and can sometimes be a very messy place! We ask that all our students
maintain a complete change of clothes in the classroom, including shirt, pants, underwear, and
socks. There are many different reasons that a change of clothes may be required, and we will
send home soiled articles of clothing for replacement. We ask that ALL CLOTHING BE
LABELED WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME. Also, please remember that as the weather changes,
and your child grows, we will attempt to remind you if the change of clothes requires “refreshing.”
What kind of food should I send in for snack?
Snack is an integral part of our daily classroom routine. We ask that our students bring a healthy
snack and drink each day to school. Please include a napkin and any utensil your child may
need. Refrain from sending in sippy cups, but instead include straws, straw cups, or just a
regular cup.
Food suggestions include:
baby carrots
fresh or canned fruit
a sandwich
goldfish crackers string cheese
bottled water
veggies and dip
snack bar
juice /milk box
pretzels
cottage cheese
soup
sliced meats
yogurt with a spoon (no squeezables, please!)
Please let the staff know if your child has experienced any feeding difficulties, choking or packing
(mouth full) habits, or very importantly: food allergies.
During snack time we reinforce use of manners and social awareness. This includes waiting for
friends to come to the table, table manners, maintaining personal space, conducting appropriate
conversations, cleaning up personal space, developing independent skills such as getting
scissors to open a bag of pretzels, and helping friends who are having difficulty opening a
container or bag.
Does P.R.I.D.E. celebrate birthdays?
We love to celebrate birthdays in P.R.I.D.E.! If you would like to provide
a
birthday favor bag for each student, please let us know. We encourage a loved one to join us for
their child’s birthday, and read a favorite story or celebrate in another way. If your child’s birthday
falls over a weekend, school vacation, summer break, or a holiday, just let us know what day
you would like to celebrate and we will schedule it into our day. Our celebrations usually last for
about 10-15 minutes.
How do conferences and progress reports work?
We formally report on your child’s progress to you in accordance with their
individual education plan (IEP). All students have scheduled parent/teacher
conferences during the fall and again in the spring. You may check the district
calendar for exact dates. Notices will arrive via your child’s backpack requiring
a reply to schedule your conference appointment.
The Home School Connection
Communication:
We request that each child bring a 2-pocket plastic folder to school on a DAILY basis in
their backpack. These folders are utilized for school and P.R.I.D.E. notices and
handwritten communications from teacher to parent, and parent to teacher. If you receive
a handwritten note from your child’s teacher and no reply is necessary, please initial the
note to indicate that you have seen the correspondence. The teachers will reply to your
note, if appropriate, in the same manner. (Some teachers prefer to correspond by use of
email.)
Weekly Schedule:
The P.R.I.D.E. teachers will send home a classroom schedule to help facilitate the
school-to-home connection. We hope that you will use this information to promote
conversation, reinforce instruction, and/or provide different opportunities for your child to
be exposed to diverse learning experiences that take place outside of the school based
environment.
Confidential Communication:
During the school year it may be necessary for you to communicate information to your
child’s teacher/ therapist/child study team member in a confidential manner via your
child’s backpack. Place any confidential communications in a sealed envelope addressed
with the recipient’s name. Your child’s classroom teacher will deliver the envelope to the
respective party as soon as possible.
Parent Meetings:
Throughout the school year we schedule parent meetings that provide informative and
interesting topics for our families. From guest speakers addressing social skills
development, to our own therapy staff conducting workshops on sensory integration and
speech development. PRIDE teachers present information in similar forums which is
helpful to families in addressing their child’s developmental needs, as well. In addition,
these meetings provide families with an opportunity to meet, chat, and share information.
Check your child’s folder for information about upcoming meetings. R.S.V.P. forms are
sent home the week prior to the presentation. If there are meeting topics you would like
addressed, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.
PRIDE Special Events
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Holiday Craft Project
This annual school event is
held for both the AM and PM
sessions of P.R.I.D.E. We
will have a brief parade in
our costumes, and a
classroom party. Parents are
invited to view the parade.
We are happy to provide
assistance to your child in
getting ready for this event.
A day to celebrate with all the
trimmings, PRIDE style! You
may be asked to assist your
child’s classroom in the plans,
and will be invited to
participate in this fun
celebration, including songs
and a feast. Please watch your
child’s backpack for
information.
“Calling all construction
workers!”
Valentine’s Day
Love ‘n Lemonade
or
Tea Time
This annual event brings with
it discussions of family,
friendships, and love. We
work on cards, and just fun
Valentine’s Day-themed
activities. Students are
encouraged to bring in cards
for all of their classroom
friends, which they will hand
deliver. Our classrooms will
celebrate with some healthy
treats in a “kids-only” party
atmosphere.
Each May we celebrate the
“special women” in our lives’
with song, cards, and either a
lemonade party, or a tea party.
These special women are
honored, and we get to share
our appreciation for the love
they share with us each and
every day.
…to work with a family
member on a special holiday
craft in school.
We will include more
information in your child’s
backpack closer to the date.
Water Day
Water Day has evolved into
an annual event to honor the
special men in our lives. We
celebrate each June with
outside, water-based
activities, including wet
sponge races, shaving
cream painting, fishing,
sidewalk chalk, and many
other family-friendly
activities.
Graduation
This is a celebration of our P.M. students and their accomplishments. It is a day filled with joy and
tears, as those students who are graduating from the P.R.I.D.E. program move onwards and upwards!
You will be notified well in advance to save the date, and any and all friends and family members are
invited to attend this special event.
As always, we are available to discuss any
questions or concerns you may have regarding the
P.R.I.D.E. program, or your child. Please feel free
to contact us via email:
(teacher’s first initial followed by last
name@Livingston.org)
[example: jsmith@Livingston.org]
or by telephone, dialing 973/535-8000 ext.
6920 to leave a message. Please use your
child’s communication folder, as well. We will
attempt to respond as soon as possible.
We look forward to a year full of fun,
learning, and growth!
PRIDE Numbers of Importance!
Transportation:
973/535-8000 ext. 8013 or 8027
Report an Absence: 973/535-8000 ext. 7100
School Nurse:
973/535-8000 ext. 6925
Child Study Team:
Ms Lange:
973/535-8000 ext. 7352
Mr. Zampano: 973/535-8000 ext. 6939
Main Office:
973/535-8000 ext. 6920