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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center"><span style="font-size: 26pt">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">School starts this year on September 8.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving. There are late fees (see below).<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style="text-decoration: underline">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Illness</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left">Oct. 12 (Columbus Day)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left">Nov. 6 (Professional Development Day)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Feb. 12 (Lincoln's Birthday)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Feb. 15 (Presidents' Day)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mar. 1 (Pulaski's Birthday)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mar. 29-Apr. 2 (Spring Break)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May 31 (Memorial Day)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last day of preschool is June 16.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers. The exception to this is Nov. 6 where all the preschools will be closed.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tuition for this year is $240.00 a week, to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please bring in the following:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in"><!--     [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--     [endif]-->Bandaids</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> <strong>Please dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Meals </strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> Hot lunch is $1.85 a day. You should pay for meals for the week on Mondays. <em>It is easiest for us if you could put your cash in an envelope with your child's name, the amount of money inside, and what it's for. We'll have a basket for envelopes. </em> The school provides an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We also ask parents to bring in snacks for morning and late afternoon (<em>see Sheet Washing/Snacks below</em> ).<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, humus and pita bread, bagels and cream cheese, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks. We can cook in the classroom, however. If you would like to bring in ingredients for a cooking project, please do. We'll have a recipe book available for you or you can suggest your own recipe for us to cook.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Naps</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">Please send in <strong>snacks</strong> for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing. This will happen once or maybe twice during the school year.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 18 and April 21.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email your child's teacher. <span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call the teacher during the day.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Open House</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Open House is on  ?? (to be announced) at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Homework</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To encourage your child's pre-reading skills, you should also talk to your child and allow your child to talk to you. A good vocabulary is key to being a successful reader. Use big words and explain them. Allow your child to experiment with language without correcting - model, don't correct. Expose them to new ideas and experiences and give them new vocabulary words to go with them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We also would like you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> Chores are full of math, such as sorting socks, getting the mail (look at addresses and stamps), cleaning bedrooms (&quot;get me 3 toys to put away. Now get me 4 more.&quot;)</span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Encourage your child to solve their own problems</strong> , though &quot;scaffold&quot; or support them in their problem solving. If they are having a hard time putting on a piece of clothing, give them time to work it through before stepping in. If they are trying to figure out how a toy works, leave them alone to figure it out. Give them encouragement but let them own their successes, and failures.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, <strong>YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!</strong> <span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ray Library</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each week, your child will go to the Ray Library with Ms. Travis. She will help them select a book at the end of the class and they will bring it back in a yellow plastic bag with your child's name on it. DO NOT LOSE THE BAG! You will use this all year to transport Ray Library books to and from school. We'll have a box in the classroom for returned book bags. The bags with new books will be in your child's cubby.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Website</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our web blog is <strong>http://413.rayblogs.org</strong> .  We try to keep them updated with news about the classroom and upcoming events, as well as have resources and web sites for your information. If you have news from your family you'd like to share or special information, please send it to us and we'll add it. Examples: recipes, Lunar New Years traditions and stories, information about local events, etc.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href="http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in" type="disc">
	<li class="MsoNormal">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Donations      from the wish list</li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Helping      with projects</li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>
	<li class="MsoNormal">Science Week presentation</li>
</ul>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> Some examples from the past: a </span> chemistry experiment with the children<span></span> ; teaching children to jump-rope; celebration of Ramadan; making <span></span> dumplings with the children for Asian New Year; carpen<span></span> try project; sewing; teaching a dance or a song; reading a favorite story; cooking; photography project; yoga for children. <span></span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular and frequent basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor and fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools. If you're not sure <span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href="http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>
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