Ms. Yasmin's Blueberries Pre-School
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Welcome to the Blueberries Preschool classroom! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Yasmin Bitar, and I will be your child’s Preschool teacher. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, a degree in Engineering, and a strong passion for Education, especially educating young learners.
This is my seventh year at AGE, and most importantly, this is a very special milestone in your child’s life. It is the first academic year as well as the first step on the long road to a successful journey of excitement and learning Inshaa Allah. This is the year for our youngest learners to shine brightly in our classroom. I am looking forward to a progressive joyful school year. Ms. Mona will be teaching your children Arabic and Quraan. Together we make a great team to nurture your child and provide her/him with a learning experience that will last for a long time In’shaa Allah. Check out Pre-School Gallery
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The following information may be helpful:
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Parent-Teacher Relationships: A good parent-teacher relationship is important for maximum school success. Throughout the year, I will communicate with you through notes, telephone calls, and occasional newsletters with important information in them such as field trips, special projects, reminders, announcements or special activities that we have planned. Please make sure to read the information and share it with your children.
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School Hours: Preschool students attend school from 7:30am – 2:40pm. It is important that your child gets to school on time and that they are picked up promptly at 2:40pm.
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Breakfast Time: Children have breakfast every day in Preschool.
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Lunch time: Children are encouraged to bring lunch from home. A school-lunch menu will be sent home at the beginning of each month. You can send money in your child’s folder to buy school lunch. If lunch is forgotten, parents will be contacted and arrangements will be made to provide food for the child. Please exclude candy, gum, and soda. Please notify teachers of any food allergies in writing.
Changes in transportation: If your child is going home with someone they do not usually go home with, you must send a written note to school that morning. If we do not receive a written note or a phone call before 2:00pm, we will not release the child. Please don’t expect your Preschooler to relay this information to us. Please send it in a note instead.
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Illness: The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning and arrangements for them to be taken care of. It is very important to keep your child at home if he/she is ill. Keeping your child home helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others in our school and classroom from becoming ill and miss instruction. If your child does have an illness, please let the school know right away. Please be advised that neither the school nurse nor the teachers are allowed to give medicine to children.
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Gym: We will have gym twice a week. Your child needs to wear their gym uniform and sneakers for gym classes in order to be ready for activities, movements, and games.
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Discipline: To establish good order and help the children learn self-control, the children will be guided to respect themselves and their companions through specific directions, positive reinforcements, suggested new activities and responsible actions. Our main classroom goals are to have everyone treated kindly, fairly, and respectfully at all times.
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Rules:
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Hands and feet to ourselves
Inside Voices
Walking feet
Follow Teacher Directions
Clean up after ourselves
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Rewards:
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Children who behave themselves throughout the week will get something from the treasure chest at the end of the day on Friday. Most children will take home something from my treasure chest every Friday. (If you ever want to donate items for it, I would gladly accept them as I am always looking for new items to add to it-no candy please).
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Tips for Parents and Children for The First Days of School
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If you plan to walk your child into the building, here are some tips for parent/child separation issues:
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Before this day arrives, prepare by practicing your own body language and facial expression. You need to appear happy and confident that your child will be well taken care of and will have a nice day.
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Think of this as a drop-off at a comfortable place such as a grandparent's house.
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Practice the routine for good-byes with your child at your own front door. For example, give two kisses and hugs in the car or at the door. Try to stick with this because it helps in the long run to have a fixed routine.
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Be prepared for the fact that separating may not go smoothly and be confident that teachers have a lot of experience on how to handle this.
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Know that most children will become calm and interested in the classroom soon after parents depart. If this should not be the case, teachers will let you know and provide further strategies.
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Remember that teachers and parents are working together to instill self-confidence and independence for every child.
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The goal is to help your child to confidently and independently walk into the room, hang his/her backpack in the cubby, wash his/her hands and start to work. Be confident that every child reaches this stage of independence, even if it takes a little time.
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Please be sure to check your child’s backpack each day, as important papers are sent home, and notices on things needed in class.
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Please send items that need to be given to us back in the folder so that we are able to find them.
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Please send any money in a closed envelop with your child’s name on it.
I would like to remind myself and all of you that communication is the key to your child’s success and to a great parent-teacher relationship. I encourage you all to contact me with any questions and/or concerns as soon as they arise.
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Head Teacher
Ms. Yasmin Bitar
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Arabic / Quraan Teacher
Ms. Mona Elnewihy
Email: yasmin.bitar@agenj.com
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