Info for Parents
This page contains information for parents. Please reach out with any specific questions regarding the school or our policies. Thank you!
Safety and Well-being
Our priority at Island Outdoor School is the safety and well-being of our students. Please see the Parent/Guardian Handbook for additional information regarding safety and security.
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Additionally, all Island Outdoor School staff members are mandatory child abuse reporters. Suspected cases of child abuse or neglect must be reported to the Department of Children, Youth and Family Services (DCYF):
Region 4 (King County) 1-800-609-8764
Family Engagement
Family involvement is extremely important to the development of young children and an integral part of the preschool experience. Below is a list of a few suggested ways parents/guardians/family members can support their child’s educational experience here at Island Outdoor School.
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Share family cultural traditions, celebrations, or customs
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Support their child’s daily transition to school by sharing information about the child’s interests and abilities
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Attend parent/teacher conferences
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Provide an appropriate healthy snack and lunch
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Maintain open communication with your child’s teachers
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Assist with family programs being offered
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Share your own interests/talents with your child’s class: playing an instrument, teaching a dance, reading a favorite story, yoga, or a favorite craft or project….
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Volunteer at Island Outdoor School.
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Help with special events
Illness Policy
Our first priority at Island Outdoor School is providing a healthy, safe learning environment for all children. Children/staff will be sent home as soon as possible if any of the following is experienced:
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an illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities (as determined by the staff)
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an illness results in a greater need for care than the staff can reasonably provide without compromising the health or safety of other children in the classroom
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a child is experiencing any of the conditions outlined in the Parent/Guardian Handbook
Arrivals
Responsible adults are required to accompany the child they're dropping off each day and sign them in.. They should also speak with the teacher if only briefly. We encourage parents to communicate with their child’s teacher about their child’s temperament that particular day, how he/she slept the night before, whether he/she has eaten that morning, etc. Most children go through periods of difficulty with separating from their parent(s). This is common and developmentally appropriate.
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For a successful drop-off, we recommend establishing a regular, predictable routine. Whether you have a kiss and a hug and go, or help your child put his things in his cubby first, do it the same way every day. What often makes separating stressful for children is the uncertainty. If your child can predict what will happen, the separation won’t be as difficult.
*Please avoid drop offs after 10:30 as this can disrupt our scheduled activities.
Departures
Island Outdoor School closes at 3:00pm Monday through Friday. If you will be late picking up your child, please provide us with as much notice as possible. If someone we are not familiar with is to pick up your child, it is essential that you inform your child’s teacher in advance of the pick-up. This person must be listed as an authorized person on the Emergency Contact and Parent Consent form. Remind the authorized person that they may be asked for identification such as a driver’s license to ensure your child’s safety. Even if the individual has picked up before, he or she may still need identification if the teacher in charge has never met him or her.
Be sure to say good-bye to your child’s teachers so they know you are leaving. If parents do not arrive to pick up their child from the program, staff members will first try to contact the parents using all phone numbers provided on the Emergency Contact and Medical Consent form. If parents are unable to be reached, staff members will try to contact all emergency contact persons.
Updating Enrollment Records
Each fall, Island Outdoor School completes an audit of enrollment records. At the conclusion of this audit, families will be notified if anything needs to be updated. Some forms must be updated every year, including the Emergency Contact and Medical Consent form. Most forms may be completed electronically; if you wish to receive a PDF version of the enrollment forms, please provide your email address to the Director.
