INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to the Clear Lake Community Lab School. We are so glad that you are interested in  our school for your child. We are excited about having the opportunity to learn and grow with your child and your family. Our primary goal is to help you and your child have a fun and successful school experience and to begin to build a positive foundation for future learning experiences.

One of the most important goals of our Lab School program is to ensure that the children are happy at school. One of the measures of our success is that the children love to come to school.

Making the decision to send your child to school, means that you are choosing to expand your child's world to include: new adults from whom they must learn to respond to and take direction from, there are new children with whom they must learn to interact and get along with, and there is a new environment to explore. All of these aspects of school provide a multitude of learning opportunities, challenges, and excitement.

The teachers at the Lab School are committed to doing everything they can to support parents and to help them as they expand their child's world to include school. As professionals. the teachers have many years of teaching experience and education ,and as parents the teachers share many of the challenges and joys that parents of young children are currently experiencing.  Our goal at the Lab School is to make as smooth a transition as possible from the home environment to school environment for both parents and children.

We at the Lab School, take the fact that parents are entrusting their child to us very seriously. The teachers at the Lab School see their role as coming alongside parents and joining them on the journey of raising their child for the short time that they are in our care.

Teachers at the Lab School encourage parents to remember that children have only one childhood and that it lasts only for a moment, so it should be cherished and enjoyed as a unique stage of development.

The teachers are committed to helping to make each day at Lab School as memorable, enjoyable and educationally valuable as possible. The teachers will join the children and parents as everyone discovers, works, plays, learns and grows together on the journey of childhood. The Lab School motto is BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR CHILDREN and that is our goal and commitment.

In these parent orientation materials, we have provided information to help answer some of the questions you might have about our school. We have included information concerning your child's enrollment and participation in this year's school program.

INFORMATION REGARDING DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THE LAB SCHOOL PROGRAM:

LAB SCHOOL TELEPHONE NUMBER

The Lab School telephone number is 281-286-8786. You may use this number during class hours to reach the teachers or before and after school hours to leave a message. We ask that you use this number to leave us a message if your child is ill and will not be attending school.

PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION

On your child's application form there is a place to indicate parent work numbers and cell phone numbers as well as emergency contact information. We ask that you notify us immediately if any of this information changes.

ALLERGIES

On your child's application form, there is a place to indicate any allergies or special medical conditions that your child has. It is very important that we are made aware of food allergies and any special needs that your child has.

PARENT INFORMATION NOTEBOOK

There is a parent information notebook on the front table in the foyer that parents may use each day to leave messages for the teachers. We ask that you write telephone numbers where you will be in the event that we need to contact you. You must use this notebook to let us know if someone other than yourself (or the individuals listed on your child's application as persons authorized to pick your child up from school) will be picking your child up from school.

TUITION DUE DATES

Your annual tuition payment for the year will be divided into nine equal installments. The first payment is due the first week of school. The remaining payments are due on or before the first day of each month.  It is very important that payments be made in a timely manner. Tuition is a set fee for the year regardless of your child's attendance. Current rates will be published at the beginning of each year. Tuition must be kept up to date in order for your child to attend school.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT:

Parental cooperation and involvement is important in early childhood education. This aspect of our program is encouraged by the school in a variety of ways. Parent letters are often sent home to describe weekly activities and learning topics. The parent letters encourage parents and children to discuss and share school experiences together. Parents are also invited to attend the large group music and story time each morning. There are also many parent involvement activities planned throughout the year in order for parents, children and families to participate in and share their school experience.  Parents of enrolled children are always welcome to visit the school at any time.

THE LAB SCHOOL AS A TRAINING FACILITY:

Since its inception on the campus of the University of Houston Clear Lake in the late 1970's, the Lab School has been seeking to provide high quality early childhood education training to teachers and other professionals. It is essential that new teachers be provided with a model of excellence in child development and the Lab School has always had as one of its goals to serve as such a model.

THE LAB SCHOOL AS A LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY

The Lab School is licensed by the state of Texas and has annual child care, health, fire and gas inspections.  Parents are welcome to review the documents regarding these inspections as they are posted in the hallway at the school.  There is also a copy of the most recent child care licensing minimum standards at the school for use by parents.  The Local Licensing contact number is 713-940-3009 and their website is www.DFPS.state.tx.us .

STUDENT INFORMATION AND MEDICAL DATA:

The parents of enrolled children must provide the school with all of the required information designated on the registration forms and medical records and information required by the state prior to a child being left in our care. This information includes: emergency contact information, birth certificate, immunization records, allergy information, and medical information. All information will be confidential and must be kept up to date.

The teachers at the school do not administer medication.

VISION AND HEARING SCREENING

The Vision and Hearing Screening Program Chapter 36 of the Texas Health and Safety Code requires that all children ages four and five years who are enrolled in a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Licensed child care program be screened for vision and hearing.  It is the responsibility of parents to see that their child receives these screenings and provide documentation following the screenings to be added to the child’s school file.

The state requires that all children who turn 4 years of age by Sept. 1 and children entering Kindergarten must be screened within the first 120 days of their school admission.

Most pediatricians can conduct a simple vision and hearing screening in their office as part of the child’s annual well-child exam.

PUNCTUALITY:

Children should arrive at school no earlier than their class session times as teachers are busy preparing materials for the days activities. Parents are asked to accompany their child into the building and help them get settled for the day.

If parents and children arrive late and large group time or classroom time has already started parents are asked to help their child get settled into the routine without disrupting the class.

The daily story time is designed to establish the topic and motivation for the daily activities. It is important that children not miss this important part of the day so that they are aware of the day's theme and topic of study.

Parents are asked to pick their child up promptly at dismissal time. In the event, that you are going to be late picking your child up, please notify the school by calling 281-286-8786.

SAFETY:

The safety of the children at the Lab School is a priority. Therefore, the front door of the building remains locked after everyone arrives at school and during class time. There is a doorbell outside the front door if parents arrive during class time and need to enter the building. Someone is usually at the front table during school hours.

CLOTHING:

Children will have the opportunity to paint and participate in art activities and messy activities daily. We ask that the children wear comfortable and casual clothing that allows them the freedom from worry of "getting dirty". It places restrictions on their activities when teachers have to place undo concern on protecting clothing. Children will wear paint smocks, but there will be paint mishaps as well as marker, chalk, and play dough experiences that can be messy as children first experience using these materials.

Please dress your child in clothing that is easy for them to manage with regards to rest rooming.

It is also essential that children are dressed appropriately with regards to the weather. Adequate outerwear such as coats and sweaters and long sleeved shirts and long pants should be worn on cold days. The children play outside everyday that the weather permits. Please label all of your child's sweaters and coats with his/her name to prevent mix-ups with clothing.

We ask that each child have an extra set of clothing: shirt, pants, underwear, socks and shoes to be used in the event of a restroom accident or art mishap. These clothes may be kept in a Ziploc bag in the child's cubby in the hallway.

ILLNESS:

Children are required to stay home from school for 24 hours if they have had a fever, diarrhea, vomiting or a contagious disease or illness. Contagious diseases require a doctor's statement that the child is able to return to school.

In the event, that your child becomes ill at school, a parent will be contacted and the child will be sent home from school.

ACCIDENTS:

As young children are growing and experiencing new things and expanding their horizons, minor accidents can happen. In the event of an accident at school, the teachers will provide immediate attention to your child and telephone you to inform you of the situation and advise you to come to school if necessary. In the event of an emergency medical situation, you will be contacted and the school will use the emergency authorization form you signed in order to seek emergency medical care for your child. It is imperative that you keep the school informed of any changes in your contact information.

AUTHORIZATION TO PICK YOUR CHILD UP FROM SCHOOL:

In the event that your child is to be picked up from school by someone other than the child's parent, the parent must call, send a note, or write that information in the parent notebook on the front table. The school needs the name of the person who is to pick the child up and if possible, their driver's license number. When the child is picked up, the person will be asked for identification. In the event that someone comes to pick your child up from school, and the staff has not had prior notification, the person will have to wait while parents are contacted.

If parents are planning to go out of town and grandparents or other relatives are going to be bringing and picking up a child from school, parents need to write a note with the dates and names of the individuals authorized to bring and pick up children from school.

 SNACK TIME:

A snack and lunch time is included in the daily class schedule. Parents are asked to send a food and a drink to school each day with their child. A small snack that a child can manage independently works best and that can be eaten quickly. Suggested snacks are: goldfish, graham crackers, cut up fruit, carrots, pretzels, etc.. Foods sent to school need to be things that do not require refrigeration. Please write your child's name on their food container for easy identification.

********At times, we have  children enrolled in our school that are highly allergic to peanuts, peanut butter and peanut products, so we ask that everyone avoid sending snacks to school that contain these ingredients. Even if these foods are not ingested by the child with the allergy, contact with surfaces can be harmful to these children.

REST ROOMING:

Restrooms are located in each part of the building and children are allowed to go to the restroom as needed. If your child needs assistance, please encourage them to ask a teacher. They will be required to tell their teacher when they are leaving the classroom to go to the restroom.

TOYS FROM HOME:

Children are not allowed to bring toys from home to school unless special arrangements have been made with the classroom teacher.

BIRTHDAYS:

If your child's birthday falls within the school year, we will celebrate by doing some special activities in the classrooms and we will recognize your child's birthday by singing to him/her. We do not celebrate birthdays at school with cakes or special foods or with goody bags..

If you would like to invite children from school to a birthday party, we ask that you hand out invitations or mail them outside of school.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:

Formal parent/teacher conferences are held from time to time, but teachers are available after class if parents would like to schedule a conference. Please call 281-286-8786 to arrange a convenient time. At the beginning of the year, we ask that parents allow for a period of adjustment to take place before requesting a special conference.

DISCIPLINE:

The Lab School establishes a positive and happy environment where children are encouraged to explore and experiment as they learn. The teachers set limits and use positive child guidance techniques to encourage the children to interact with one another in a positive way. All children in the program are expected to respect their peers and to treat them with courtesy. Teachers will model appropriate and positive behaviors and will encourage children to use their words to express their feelings instead of using physical means to solve problems. Throughout the year, children will grow in their social skills and become better equipped to exercise their problem-solving skills and abilities.

The Lab School teachers will seek to maintain discipline by preventing problems through effective planning, reinforcing appropriate behavior, and consistently dealing with misbehavior. A teacher will discuss with the children problem behaviors and suggest ways to help change these behaviors. Sometimes parents will be encouraged to participate in the process.

STORM AND DISASTER ALERT:

For official word concerning school closing, please listen to any of the major radio stations in the area or television stations, check our web site or call the school for a message.

ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES:

A date for priority registration for the next year will be publicized to the parents of children currently enrolled in the Lab School. A deposit must be paid by this date in order to confirm and secure a place in the next year's classes. Siblings of currently enrolled children have the option to participate in the priority enrollment process. Enrollment will then be open to the general public.

PARKING LOT PROCEDURES:

Parents must park in marked spaces when bringing children into the building and picking them up after class in order to help ensure the safety of everyone attending school.