FAQs

• Our fully integrated classrooms are instructed by teachers with Master’s degree certifications in early childhood education and special education

• Prospective student’s families must fill out an application. Completion of the application does not guarantee placement in the program. Please fill out an application on our website

• Preschool classrooms are divided into morning and afternoon cohorts and learning is spread over the week to encourage routines and build school readiness skills

• We are a language- and play-based preschool program that creates a learning environment to promote cognitive, language, social-emotional and motor skill development

• Once slots are full, families may be added to a waiting list until an appropriate slot becomes available

• Regular education students attend five (5) part days (Monday-Friday)

• Special Education students who are eligible for a program placement attend the number of days that are recommended by the IEP

• The District gives preference for program placement to students who are four (4) years old and would be eligible for kindergarten the following school year

• It is not required for students to be toilet trained to attend the program, however it is the responsibility of the family to provide toileting items for their child

• Morning Session: 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

• Afternoon Session: 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.

• A backpack to keep their things in, while traveling from home to school

• A seasonal change of clothes, labeled with their name, to keep in school

• A small healthy snack and drink

  • Please NO popcorn, pretzels or carrots

  • Foods that are a choking hazard, such as grapes, need to be cut into small pieces

  • Please refer to the GEEP Snack List Guidelines document

Our classrooms are very active environments and children engage in many messy and creative activities. Children will need to dress comfortably in clothes that can get dirty and shoes that are safe for running and jumping. Please provide your child with warm outdoor clothing as the seasons change; we play outside nearly every day the weather permits

• Closed toed shoes

• Seasonal clothing

• Transportation is the responsibility of the family unless the child is eligible for transportation under special education. For hardships, contact Griswold Public Schools Central Office at (860) 376-7600

• Children may be dropped off with their teachers at the preschool entrance when the session begins. The doors to the preschool wing are locked until 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for security reasons, so please plan accordingly.

• Parents will not be allowed into the building – you will drop off and pick up at the preschool entrance and the teacher will sign them in

• During dismissal, children will need to be signed out by the teacher when you arrive. Proper identification is needed in order to sign out children from preschool and will be checked by staff before the teacher will sign out your child

The doors will lock at 9:04 a.m./11:34 a.m. and 12:34 p.m./3:04 p.m. Even if we see you in the

parking lot, we must lock the doors at these times. Parents/guardians that arrive late must go to the Griswold Elementary School (GES) Main Office to receive a tardy slip. Your child will then be escorted to their preschool classroom. Please be aware that late arrivals are disruptive to teaching and learning in the classroom. Teachers are not able to wait in the lobby at dismissal time if you are late, as this space is used for school-wide dismissal. If you are late at pick-up, you must call the GES Main Office so they can notify the staff member who is with your child.

You must provide a note at the start of the session that indicates they will be picked up early. Any person that is picking up your child must be on the emergency contact list and have their I.D. ready. Pick-up is in the GES Main Office, where you will sign your child out.

Parking for daily pick-up and drop-off for preschool is at the end of the GES building near the preschool wing on the playground side of the building. This is the parking lot closest to the rt. 164 entrance.

• Preschool students are not required to wear a mask, though students who choose to wear one are able to if they are able to manage it independently (staff is not responsible for keeping it on/over nose)

• Students will be required to wash hands frequently throughout the day and will follow hygiene rules when sharing materials to promote peer relationships. Some materials will be in individual containers.

• The preschool staff practice disinfecting procedures before, during, and after classes.

• Students should not attend school if they are feeling ill, and will be sent home should any symptoms be observed at school. Parents are asked to self-screen their child daily before sending them to school. If a child requires medication to prevent or reduce a fever, they should not be sent to school.