Preschool Tracking Procedures for Children

Last update:  June 6, 2011

We have many responsibilities to our students and their families, to develop the children’s social, emotional and intellectual competence, to build a community and, fundamentally, to provide a safe environment for children to explore and thrive.  Safety, however, is our first priority, and to that end, we have revised, strengthened and added to our child tracking procedures as listed below. 

PRESCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

Routinely scan the area (in the room or elsewhere) for any potential issues; and count the children, with an update posted to classroom white boards every 30 minutes, or upon return to the classroom.  All classroom teachers (including subs and floaters) must perform a count and verify with each other.

Do a name-to-face check (using a provided sheet for each day) at each transition:  Early Room arrivals (opener will have one sheet per class); leaving the Early Room (checked out by the opener and the child’s teacher); entering the room in the morning (after 9:00 am); going to/from gross motor, music, Shabbat, etc; when there is a “shift change” for breaks or at the end of the day; and when bringing the children to the Closing room (even when the Closing room is that class’ room).  The Closers will use these at the end of the day, turning them in to Daniel.

Director spot-checks classes in their rooms and other places (inside the J and out) to count children and verify how many there are and how many there should be.   She will also be verifying that the teacher have their emergency bags with them when they leave the Preschool area.  These bags have walkie-talkies, first aid kits and emergency forms.  In addition, there is at least one teacher cell phone with the group, to be used only in the event of an emergency. 

Teachers and subs should ask for ID at pick-up if they don’t know the adult (even if it’s a parent).  When in doubt, check it out!  Daniel M has prepared an “authorized pick-up” spreadsheet given to each class as a reference. 

Each class has a posted roster and schedule for Enrichments so that teachers and subs will know who needs to be where and when.  We have a floater assigned to collect the children from their classrooms, bring them to the enrichment classes and then pick them up after.

We will try to keep the doors closed as much as possible during transition times (drop-off and pick-up). 

Our revised Closing procedures:

We will close only in Preschool classrooms, 5:30–6:00 pm.  (Classes are welcome to use the gym for gross motor time until 5:30 pm.)

Every Day (Monday–Friday):
Kofim, Siporim, Dagim and Rimonim will close in the Kofim room (Classroom 1)
Tuttim, Yaelim and Peelim will close in the Tuttim room (Classroom 3)

Teachers will bring their “Name to Face” sheet with their children for the closer to use.  A designated person in each Closing Room will have a clipboard with the class name-to-face sheets brought by the teachers with their children.  They will check children in and out.  At the end of the day, mark the children picked up late and turn in all sheets the Registrar’s office (there will be a folder on the door).

Also the Closers should keep a separate tally sheet on the clipboard of the number of children and staff every 15 minutes to keep those records.

If a parent needs to reach the school after 5:30 pm, the best numbers to call are the Preschool Lobby phones:  202.777.3224 (Classrooms 3–4, Tuttim and Yaelim), 202.777.3220 (Classrooms 1–2, Kofim and Siporim).

JCC RESPONSIBILITIES

When the children leave the building, the front desk attendant records a count of the children in the class group and checks it against the number when they return.  The teachers will communicate any changes (such as a child being dropped off at or picked up from the park) to the front desk attendant.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents must use the class sign-in and sign-out sheets to make sure we have an accurate list. Please do not let your child scribble on it. If a sheet or a pen isn't available, please let a staff member know right away.  These will be outside each class or on top of the cubbies, depending on each class’ standard procedure.

Parents must use their member IDs to enter the building, or they will be asked to sign the register at the front desk.

Parents should alert the Preschool Registrar if there are updates to emergency contact information or authorized persons to pick a child up.

RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE

If you see something that seems odd, don’t ignore it—just ask.  We are all responsible for all children in our building, whether they are in our direct care or not.

“I (teacher's name) have read, understand and will follow the Tracking Procedures for Children as outlined on June 6, 2011.”