Early Childhood Education

SCHOOL EVERY DAY!
It is important that your child attends school every day! Consistent routines help children feel confident, safe, and ready to learn.

• With school starting soon, here’s how to make sure your kids are super excited to go every day:
• Get a good night’s sleep! Having a regular bedtime routine can help children feel rested and ready to start the day.
• Get excited about school! Preschool is a time for fun, learning new things, curiosity, and making friends. Talk about what your child’s hopes are for school, and share in their excitement.
• Cheer your child on–let them know you will be there every step of the way!

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
You are your child’s first teacher, and your partnership is so important to your child’s school success!Here are a few ways Waterloo Schools encourages family engagement:

• A minimum of two home visits will be held during the year: one before school starts and one in the spring. Your child’s teacher will work with you on scheduling these visits.
• Two Parent-Teacher Conferences–Fall and Spring
• Monthly Family Gatherings/Parent Events/Parent-Child take-home activities. Participation is optional, but highly encouraged.
• You are invited to sign up for the Waterloo Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). It is a great way to get involved. Participation is optional.
• Your child’s progress will be shared with you at home visits, conferences, and at the end of the school year. You are also invited to view your child’s progress on GOLD, the Preschool assessment, through the Family Platform.

PreKindergarten Sites

Preschool Schedule
In the Waterloo Community School District, Preschool is in session Monday through Thursday. There is no school on Fridays. Daily start and end times may vary depending on location; your child’s teacher will share specifics prior to the first day of school.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Before and after-school care is offered for 4-year-olds by the YWCA/Y-Care. For more information, please call the YWCA at 319-234-7589 (Lowell, Highland, Cunningham, Lincoln, Kittrell) or 319-233-3531 (Orange, Becker, Poyner). On Fridays, Y-Care is provided at the YWCA location.

CURRICULUM
The Waterloo Community School District utilizes the Creative Curriculum, a research-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. The curriculum adopts a hands-on approach, emphasizing creativity and critical thinking skills. The Creative Curriculum focuses on multiple learning domains, including social-emotional development, physical development, cognitive development, language development, math skills, literacy skills, science skills, and social
studies skills, and the arts.

ASSESSMENTS
Children will be assessed using the Creative Curriculum GOLD assessment three times a year. You will be invited to view your child’s progress with this assessment by accessing your child’s GOLD portfolio account–more information will be shared by your teacher.
Additional screenings may include:
• Hearing, vision, dental
• A speech screen
• Brigance Screening Assessment
• ASQ-SE Assessment

EMERGENCY CONTACT
You will be asked to provide your contact information as well as an additional emergency contact for your child. This ensures that a parent, guardian, or emergency contact can be reached during the school day in case of illness, early dismissal, or other emergencies. Please keep this information up to date so we can respond effectively throughout the school year.

DROP OFF/PICK UP
A parent/guardian or other authorized adult must drop off and pick up your child at the designated Preschool entrance and sign them in and out with a staff member. Only parents/guardians and individuals listed on the pick-up permission form and emergency contact card are allowed to pick up your child. If someone not listed is requested to pick up your child, they must present a government-issued photo ID to a staff member. You may add or update names on the pick-up list at
any time, but please be sure to inform your child’s teacher of any changes.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
• A current physical and dental exam is required within 30 days of the first day of school
• Children are not required to be toilet-trained. If your child is not yet toilet-trained, let the teacher know what protective garment will be used at school.
• Send in at least one set of extra clothing in case of spills or accidents, labeled with your child’s name.
• Children and adults will wash their hands upon arrival, as well as during various times of the day (i.e., after bathrooming, self-care tasks, before and after meals, etc.)
• Classrooms will go outside for recess when the weather permits. Please ensure your child wears clothing suitable for the weather conditions.

HEALTH CONCERNS
It is important to inform the school of any health concerns regarding your child that may affect school performance. Examples of health concerns are: ADD/ADHD, allergies (including food allergies), asthma, autism, diabetes, heart conditions, headaches, and seizures. Be sure to indicate any health concerns on the annual health update form you receive.

FOOD ALLERGIES
If your student has a known food allergy, please notify your school’s nurse. Special forms must be completed and signed by your child’s
health provider.

ILLNESS AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Keeping our schools healthy and safe is a top priority. Please notify your school nurse when your student is ill. We will work closely with our local health department in monitoring illness trends, and we take measures when illness strikes to minimize the spread at school. Notifying the school nurse helps our staff do their best job in preventing the spread of illness.
It is important to inform the school of any communicable diseases your child has contracted. Examples would be chicken pox, impetigo, strep throat, fifth disease, pinkeye, ringworm, COVID, mono, and the flu.

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL

• If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep them home from school and call to let the office staff know they won’t be in attendance:
• A temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater. All students must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications before returning to school.
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• An undiagnosed rash associated with fever or behavioral changes that suggest the presence of a contagious disease
• Illness that results in a greater need for care than staff can provide without affecting the health or safety of other children
• Illness that disrupts the student’s learning or poses a risk of spreading to others

STUDENTS WITH AN IEP
We understand that starting school is a big step for you and your child, and it may feel overwhelming as a parent or guardian, particularly if that child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Your child’s Preschool IEP team plays a critical role in supporting and implementing the IEP. Families are valued members of the IEP team; your input is essential! As the school year begins and progresses, the IEP team will monitor the individual plan and will come back together to make adjustments based on your child’s evolving needs.

For any additional questions, reach out to your building principal or the Special Education Director, Megan Allen. Her contact information is available below.

Megan Allen, Director of Special Education
Office Phone: (319) 433-1831
 

GENERAL INFORMATION
Meals and snacks will be provided at regular times during the day. Lunch menus are regularly updated and available on the Waterloo district website. If you would like a printed menu, you can request that at any time.

MEALS
Meals are provided at no cost to families at breakfast and lunch, as Waterloo Schools participates in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in Schools. This provides all students with the opportunity to enjoy healthy and nourishing meals without worrying about account balances and extra paperwork.
Half-day students who are three years old and have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be offered either breakfast or lunch, depending on whether they are enrolled in the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) session.
If you would prefer to send your child with a cold lunch, you are more than welcome to do so.

SNACKS
Snacks are also provided daily at no additional cost to families.
For health and safety reasons, children may not bring snacks from home to share, except for birthdays or other special occasions. If your child would like to bring a treat to share for a special occasion, please check with your child’s teacher in advance to ensure there are no allergy concerns in the classroom. All snacks must be store-bought and individually wrapped.