Cornerstone Campus
Preschool
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions to Ask When Visiting a Preschool or Childcare Program
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Most of us are familiar with the basic questions we should ask when considering a preschool, such as child-to-teacher ratios, teacher qualifications and staff turnover. Here are a few other things to consider when visiting a preschool. There are no right or wrong answers, just information a parent should have.
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Do any other groups or persons not involved with the preschool use the facility during preschool hours?
This is particularly important if the preschool is housed in a shared space such as a church or community center. Since we are housed in a church, the church administrator is in the far end of the building (gym wing) two days a week. While we may exchange a friendly "hi" if we pass her in the hallways, she is not involved with the program in any way.
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If I need to reach the Director or transmit a message to my child's teacher during school hours, can I expect a person to pick up the phone or do you use voice mail?
Some preschools may direct incoming calls to voicemail for some or all of the preschool day. We answer the phone ourselves during school hours and only let it got to Vocie Mail during non school hours if no one is in the building. Our Plaground app also allows for instant messaging.
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How many staff maintain current CPR and First Aid certification?
​The state of Massachusetts requires one adult per classroom to maintain current CPR and First Aid certification. At Cornerstone our entire staff maintains current CPR/1st Aid.
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Who provides classroom coverage if a teacher misses school due to illness?
We have a floater (in house substotute teacher) to cover teacher absences. If more than one teacher is out, the Director will step in to cover.
How and when will I be notified if first aid is used on my child during the preschool day?
​If it is a minor incident not involving the head/face, you will be notified at pick up and provided with an injury report with all the details. You will receive a phone call if it is anything more serious or involves the face/head.
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If openings become available during the school year, can new children enroll?
Some preschools offer on-going enrollment if space allows, others will close enrollment early in the school year. We will enroll vacant spots through December but not after the New Year so as to minimize disruptions to the classrooms.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please note: we do a "New Parent Orientation" Zoom in August which covers these topics and more!
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Q. My child will start school in September. What can I do now to prepare them?
​A. Here are a few suggestions that may or may not apply to your child:
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Phase out the "Sippy Cup". We use regular cups at school so you may want to give your child some practice holding and using a normal cup. Your child should also be able to feed themself by preschool age.
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If you don't already, please remind your child to "catch" coughs and sneezes in their elbow. This is a much more effective way of limiting the spread of germs than the old "cover your mouth with your hands" method (just think of all those places little preschool hands touch!). We appreciate your efforts in this regard.
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Think beyond the basics of toilet training to help your child reach "bathroom independence". This means managing their own clothing and personal hygiene, including wiping one's own bottom. Introduce and reinforce these skills at home and help your child be successful by simplifying their clothes. Buckles, overalls and buttons are tricky for small fingers.
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Help your child use language to their full capacity. Small children and parents often develop "short cuts" when communicating (pointing, frowning, grunting, etc). Encourage your child to express themself in full sentences even when upset. This will help the teachers understand their needs better and give your child confidence in the classroom.
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Work on self-help skills. Even small children can do a variety of personal tasks: hanging their coat on a hook, putting toys away, throwing away their own trash. Of course, they will need your guidance and encouragement to stay on task but in doing so, you are helping your child develop valuable classroom skills.
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As summer comes to a close, begin a bedtime routine which includes talking about the next day's plan and laying out everything you need for the next morning. Involve your child in this process. A smooth, unrushed morning gets your child off to a great school day.
Q. My child will be starting soon and is not yet toilet trained: what should I do?
​A. We only ask that you make a good faith effort to toilet train your child.
The summer months are an ideal time to let your child go diaper-less and get a better sense of of how their "plumbing" works.
If your 3 year-old is not completely trained by September, please inform the teachers and we will work with you to keep the potty training moving forward. You will be expected to send in pull-ups and wipes.
If your child is trained but has the occasional accident at school, it is no big deal. The teacher or director will clean and change them and provide fresh clothing (please keep a change of clothing in their backpack).
If your child is using the toilet reliably, don't forget to help them become independent with wiping as they will be expected to carry out this important but often overlooked aspect of toilet training independently while at school.
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Q. I anticipate that my child will cry when I leave. How is this situation handled?
​A. It is always difficult to leave a crying child behind, particularly at the beginning of the school year when we are all still getting to know each other.
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However, it has been our experience that the best approach is to give your child a reassuring hug, tell them that they will have a good day and then hand them off to a teacher.
Your child will receive one-on-one comforting and attention until they have calmed down. We will send you updates through our parent messaging app and encourage you to call ormessage us if you want to know how yourlittle one is doing.
By leaving the classroom, you show your child that you have confidence that they can meet the challenge of being at school and you also give their teachers the opportunity to see how your child reacts to the new environment and to respond appropriately to their needs
If their crying persists for more than 15 minutes, we will contact you and together decide how to proceed. It has been our experience that this method is the most effective in acclimating young children to school.Occasionally a child may present with more difficulties and in that case we will work with you to tailor an approach to meet their specific needs.
