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The number one concern in any group setting is security.  In this modern day and age this concern extends to school settings, as well.    We, at Newtown Discovery Preschool, are very cognizant of security and take pride in our extensive measures.

Security starts before entering the building. Our building has 36 cameras strategically placed for 24 hour surveillance.  The camera feeds are stored for 30 days allowing for review of footage.  The areas include not only the classrooms, but the outdoor playspace and building perimeters.  

Some programs do offer camera access for parents.  Do be wary of these apps as a breach of security may easily occur. There are several reasons for this:

1. The application is managed by a third party
2. Unless administrators turn off access for those not attending on a given day (ie. due to illness), parents are able to view children other than their own
3. As the feed is live, there is no way to go back and review the previous events of the day
4. Parents often keep the app on their desktop computer allowing others to view children in the classroom
5. Parents can record (although they are requested not to do so) their own children as well as others

Having an application that permits parents to receive photos/videos directly from the classroom teacher gives you connectivity and protection. Reports are stored by the application day by day to allow parents to review past entries as easily as current entries. The application permits direct communication between parents and teachers throughout the course of the day.  Parents may tag photos, videos, or updates or email the classroom without going through the administrative team. 

Our doors are pre-programmed to allow parental access with individualized codes during limited morning and evening hours.  This is done to limit the flow of adult visitors throughout the course of the day.  Parents wait in the vestibule for children outside of these hours.  The doors are equipped with a sensor that will only allow exit by those of a certain height.  No child in the building is tall enough to trigger the sensor without the assistance of an adult. 

Our doorbells for both the front and back doors have both a camera and intercom allowing us to check identification before opening doors.  No unauthorized visitors (i.e. DoorDash, UPS, etc.) are permitted inside the school.  An email with scheduled tours is sent to everyone in the building notifying all of visitors and the timing of such visitors.

All classrooms and office spaces are equipped with panic buttons.  The classroom doors are all locked from the outside, but freely open from the inside.   Depression of the panic button will close any doors left ajar and prevent exit or entry into the building until the alarm company and police ensure us of safety. 

Each floor of the building has open ceilings with a state-of-the-art sprinkler system.  The sprinkler system slows the spread of fire and allows for an easy and speedy evacuation.  

The five senses – sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing – are an important part of understanding the world around us. Teaching children about their five senses can help them to develop their observation and descriptive skills and to appreciate the complexity of their environment. In this blog post, we will explore how to connect a lesson on the five senses at home to continue to build the home-school connection. 

1. Sensory exploration: Encourage your child to explore the world using their five senses. This can be done through activities such as smelling different spices, listening to different types of music, and touching different textures.
2. Cooking and baking: Cooking and baking are great ways to explore taste and smell. Have your child help you prepare meals, and encourage them to taste and describe the flavors they experience.
3. Art projects: Art projects are a fun way to explore touch and sight. Have your child create a collage using different textures or paint with different materials.
4. Nature walks: Nature walks are a great way to explore all five senses. Encourage your child to observe and describe what they see, hear, smell, touch, and taste on a walk.
5. Sensory bin: Create a sensory bin using different materials such as rice, beans, or sand. Encourage your child to explore and describe the different textures.
6. Games and activities: Incorporate games and activities that focus on the five senses. For example:   a matching game where they need to match an object with its corresponding sense or a scavenger hunt where they need to find objects that represent each sense.
7. Reading: Reading books that focus on the five senses can be a great way to reinforce the concepts and ideas that you are teaching.
8. Describing words: Encourage your child to use descriptive words when talking about their experiences with the five senses. For example, instead of saying “The flower smells nicely. “They can say “The flower has a sweet fragrance.”

 No need to go to great expense or exert a lot of energy.  Using everyday household items and items in nature should work quite well.  Every opportunity both indoors and outdoors is an opportunity to explore and learn.

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. It’s an opportunity to educate young children about the importance of diversity, inclusion, and the role of African Americans in shaping our country’s history. 

• Read books: Reading books about African American history and notable figures is a great way to introduce children to the topic. You can find books that are specifically written for young children such as Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson,

 I am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer, and Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks.

• Art projects: Art projects are a fun way to explore and learn about African American culture. Children can create their own artwork inspired by the works of famous African American artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, and Lois Mailou Jones.
• Music and dance: Music and dance are an important part of African American culture. Introduce children to different styles of African American music such as jazz, blues, and gospel and have them move to the beat.
• Cooking: Cooking is a great way to introduce children to different foods and flavors that are part of African American cuisine. You can make traditional dishes such as collard greens, sweet potato pie, and fried chicken  and have children help with the preparation.
• Field trips: Field trips to local museums or historical sites can be a great way to learn about African American history. Many museums have exhibits dedicated to African American history, art, and culture.
• Role-playing: Children can role-play famous African American figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, or Malcolm X. This can help them to understand the historical context and the struggles of these figures.
• Community service: Community service is a great way to teach children the importance of giving back and making a difference. You can organize a community service project such as volunteering at a local soup kitchen, or doing a community clean-up.

Your child starts at an early childhood center and you receive the first call about a behavior.  You carefully listen to what the teacher says and attribute it to a “bad” day.  You then receive call number 2, 3, 4, or higher.  Now, what do you do?!   Where do you turn and who can help?

Anyone residing in Bucks County can reach out to the Local Interagency Coordinating Council (BCICC).  This agency assists parents, early interventions specialists, and community partners in gathering information and making informed decisions.  The council includes parents and representatives from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (IU), the Bucks County Department of Health, the Bucks County Department of Mental Health and Developmental Programs, and educators.  

Service agencies distinguish between Early Intervention (EI)  from birth to 3 years of age and Preschool Early Intervention from 3-5 years of age.  Please note that services may only be secured by a parent or guardian and not by teachers or administrators.

In Lower Bucks County for children ages birth to 3 years of age, reaching out to Merakey is the starting point (www.merakey.org).  Merakey case managers will work with families to answer questions and to obtain the evaluations needed to start the process. Pennsylvania requires services to begin within 14 days from approval of the individualized family service plan (IFSP)Statistics reveal that 99.97% of eligible  infants and toddlers receive services at home or in community settings.

For children ages 3 years to 5 years of age, the process begins with completing a request form through  Bucks County Intermediate Unit (PEI Screening Request Form – Formstack).  The Bucks County IU is the non-competitive sole source provider of services to students with disabilities contracted through school districts in Bucks County. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be completed within 30 calendar days after the evaluation teams issue the report and put into action within ten school days after completion. Services may be delivered in the preschool setting or at home. 

Many parents fear the stigma associated with evaluation and services.  Please note that there  must be a qualifying diagnosis to start the process.  The plans must be evaluated yearly to determine the need to continue or terminate delivery of services.  

The earlier the intervention begins, the better the outcome. Studies cite endless positive benefits without any detrimental effects.  Any quality child care program will be more than happy to assist  you in navigating through the process. An inclusive program values student differences and supports each child’s learning needs to the greatest extent possible.