assignmenteced13 guidance program

St. Ignatius Early Childhood Center

Guidance Program

Brief Descriptive of Early Childhood Center, Students and Staff

St. Ignatius ECC offers a developmentally appropriate early childhood program for children aged 2-5 years of age. We have 100 children currently enrolled in our 2010-1011 school year. Our facility is located at the Northern most portion of St. Ignatius Catholic Church property. Our hours of operation are 9am-12pm daily, with an extended day (Lunch Bunch) Monday-Friday from 12pm until 2pm. We follow the Diocese of St. Petersburg school schedule as well as the Pinellas County School Calendar, for the most part. St. Ignatius ECC employs 12 staff members. We have a list of several Safe Environment Trained Substitutes that we utilize as needed. Our staff members are part time. The Director is the only full time employee.

School Guidance Program

As an Early Childhood Center, we do not have a guidance program. We have made the following arrangements, if there would be a need for a counselor or crisis intervention as well as the curriculum items noted that support this area of development.

Contact the OCD&C (Kay Rizzo) to request a Crisis Intervention Team to assist with specific situations thatwarrant their expertise.

Contact Guardian Angels Catholic School, Clearwater.

Arrangements in place with Cindy Malinski to share their Guidance Counselor, Donna Eliason, if a situation arose that warranted consultation and/or a counselor on site.

Refer families to FDLRS and other agencies depending on issue at hand.

Safe Environment Curriculum – 3 & 4 year olds

Refer families to parish priest or deacon, as appropriate

Coordinate guest speakers/programs to enhance curriculum

Consultation and Coordination:

1. The Director meets with teachers to discuss student issues.

2. The Director consults with parents and teachers during parent

conferences when appropriate.

3. Teachers, in consultation with the Director, offer community resources

to the parents.

4. The Director consults with the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers, if

necessary.

5. Once the family has signed documentation, the Director contacts the

community resource.

6. The Director and teachers consult with and support Inclusion resource

staff.

7. The Director coordinates Safe Environment workshops for parents and

volunteers.

8. The Director coordinates the Safe Environment curriculum for teachers

and children.

9. The Director coordinates the Guidance Curriculum for teachers and

children.

10.The Assistant Director coordinates guest presentations for children, such

as Fire Fighters, Police, Helen Ellis Hospital health services, Pediatric

Dentist, etc.

11.The Assistant Director and Director coordinate guest presentations for

parents, such as Helen Ellis Hospital health services, parenting classes,

etc.

12.The Director coordinates Tour Of facility for Staff and Parents

13.The Director introduces teaching staff to parents and prospective

parents and children

14.Parents visit the classroom prior to enrolling

15.Parents receive and overview of the Family/Parent Handbook

16.Director discusses the expectations of family and the needs of the child

with the parents

17.Support resources are made available to each family

18.Johanna Gonzalez is our facility interpreter that is available for our

Spanish speaking clients and Anna Chychek is available for our Polish

speaking clients if needed.

19.Our policy allows families to remain in the classroom with their newly

enrolled child for a period of time as to when they all feel comfortable

in the new surroundings.

The school-based guidance program provides:

1. Creative Curriculum assessment tool twice a year.

2. Ages and Stages Questionnaire assessment tool if there are concerns

about developmental delays.

3. Safe Environment Curriculum

4. Guidance Curriculum

5. School Crisis Plan, which includes a Crisis Intervention Model. In the

event of an emergency, contact the OCSC, 727-344-1611.