Grasshopper welcome letter
Welcome to the Grasshopper Classroom!
Dear Families and Caregivers,
Welcome to the Grasshopper Classroom at the PCC Sylvania Child Development Center – Lab School!
We are a toddler classroom serving children approximately 1–2 years of age, and we are excited to welcome you and your child into our classroom community.
Starting a new classroom is a big transition for both children and families. This welcome letter provides information about our classroom routines, policies, and ways we can work together to support your child. Our hope is to make your transition into the Grasshopper classroom as comfortable, predictable, and welcoming as possible.
We recognize that every child and family is unique. Children bring their own experiences, identities, languages, cultures, family structures, traditions, strengths, and ways of communicating into the classroom. We value these differences and believe they make our classroom community stronger.
We look forward to getting to know your child and family and sharing this important time of growth, discovery, and learning with you.
Our teaching team
The Grasshopper teaching team includes two Child Development Specialists with teaching degrees in Early Childhood Education:
- Senior Child Development Specialist / Mentor Teacher: Elva von Bose
- Child Development Specialist: Alexis Benedict
Our classroom also has a regular third floater teacher. Together, we work to maintain a 4:1 child-to-teacher ratio and provide consistent care, supervision, and support for the children.
We believe strong relationships are at the heart of early childhood education. Our goal is to build trusting relationships with each child and family while creating a classroom where children feel safe, respected, seen, and valued.
Important classroom information
1. Center hours
The PCC Child Development Center – Lab School is open Monday through Friday, 7:30am–3:30pm. The Center opens at 7:30am and closes at 3:30pm. Please contact the administration regarding after-care options.
End-of-day pick-up
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before closing so you have enough time to check in with the teachers, gather your child’s belongings, and sign your child out.
- After-care classroom teachers leave at 4pm.
- If you anticipate being late or have an emergency that affects pick-up, please contact us as soon as possible so we can help arrange additional care.
2. Handwashing
All children and adults are asked to wash their hands upon entering the classroom.
Please enter through the bathroom entrance of the Grasshopper classroom and use the classroom sinks. Handwashing is one of the best ways we can help keep our classroom community healthy and reduce the spread of germs and illness.
3. Sign-in and sign-out
Families are required to sign their child in and out each day using the FAMLY app. Our classroom sign-in / sign-out device is located on top of the student cubbies. For safety, please remember to:
- Provide a current phone number where you can be
- Sign your child in and out each
- Check in with a Grasshopper teacher at both drop-off and pick-up before
Your child’s safety is our priority and having accurate contact information helps us respond quickly when needed.
Meals, snacks, and allergies
4. School meals
Meals and snacks are provided by the Child Development Center. The current center menu is posted on the classroom information bulletin board near the classroom entrance and is also shared with families through the Family App.
Food allergies
We have children and staff in our classroom with food allergies. Because meals and snacks are provided by the school, families do not need to send meals or snacks from home. Please help us maintain a safe classroom environment by being mindful of our classroom allergens:
- Peanuts
- Tree Nuts
- Kiwi
If your child has a food allergy, dietary restriction, or other food-related need, please communicate this with the teaching team and administration so we can follow the appropriate procedures.
Cups and growing independence
5. Bring from home: sippy or straw cup
Please send a sippy cup or straw cup that your child is comfortable using.
Toddlers are developing many self-help skills, and mealtimes provide an important opportunity to practice independence. We encourage children to participate in feeding themselves and to practice drinking from cups as they are developmentally ready.
For this reason, we encourage families to send a sippy or straw cup rather than a baby bottle. We also have a few extra cups available if needed. We understand that children develop these skills at different rates. We will support each child with patience, encouragement, and respect as they develop greater independence.
Diapers and clothing
6. Diapers
Please bring diapers in a bag or package clearly labeled with your child’s name.
The classroom provides baby wipes.
If you would like us to use diaper cream, please bring it clearly labeled with your child’s name. A diaper cream authorization form will also need to be completed.
7. Extra clothing
Please keep spare clothing at school in case your child needs to change. We recommend placing the clothing in a bag clearly labeled with your child’s name. Children may need a change of clothes after exploring, eating, playing, or participating in sensory activities. Having extra clothing available helps us keep your child comfortable throughout the day.
Rest time
8. Cots, sheets, and comfort items
Cots, sheets, and blankets are provided for rest time and are laundered daily.
Your child may also bring a familiar comfort item, such as a small blanket, pacifier, or stuffed animal, if this helps them feel secure during rest time. We recognize that children have different comfort routines and will work with families to support each child’s individual needs whenever possible.
Please leave toys at home.
Daily communication
9. Daily reports
Each day, teachers complete a daily report that will be given to you at pick-up. The report includes information such as:
- How much your child ate at each meal
- Diaper changes and toileting
- Rest / nap time
- Other important information, updates, or reminders from the day
These reports are one way we share information about your child’s day and help us maintain communication between home and school.
10. Incident reports
If your child experiences an accident or injury at school, we will inform you and complete an incident report. The report will be reviewed and signed by the appropriate staff and family members.
11. Illness and sickness reports
If your child becomes ill while at school, we will contact you by phone and follow the Center’s illness policies and procedures.
We will document the symptoms we observe and provide you with the appropriate information regarding next steps. Required documentation will be completed according to Center procedures.
Celebrating every family
At the Grasshopper classroom, we want every child and family to feel welcomed, respected, valued, and represented.
We recognize that families are diverse and that each family is unique in its identities, relationships, experiences, traditions, and ways of caring for and connecting with one another. We value and respect the many ways families come together and grow.
We also recognize that children and families may have different:
- Languages and communication styles
- Cultural traditions and celebrations
- Family structures
- Routines and caregiving practices
- Foods and mealtime traditions
- Names and ways of being addressed
- Beliefs, values, and experiences
- Ways of showing affection and connecting with one another
We want to learn from you about what is important to your family.
Family photos
We invite families to share family photos that we can display on our classroom family wall. Seeing familiar faces can help children feel connected to home, especially when they are missing their loved ones during the school day.
If you prefer, we can also take a photo of you and your child at the beginning of the term.
Home languages
We would love to know what languages, dialects, or forms of communication your family uses at home.
Please feel welcome to share words, phrases, songs, greetings, or other ways of communicating that are meaningful to your family. We will make an effort to learn and use them respectfully in the classroom. Your home language is an important part of your child’s identity and connection to family.
Sharing family culture and knowledge
We welcome families to share aspects of their family life, culture, traditions, interests, and experiences with us in ways that feel comfortable for you. This might include:
- Reading a favorite family book
- Sharing a song or story
- Teaching us a word or phrase
- Sharing a family tradition
- Visiting the classroom
- Sharing something meaningful from home
- Talking with us about your child’s interests or experiences
Participation is always welcome, but families are never expected to share personal or cultural information in order to belong in our classroom. We value the knowledge that families bring and recognize families as important partners and experts on their own children.
Our partnership with families
We believe children do best when the adults in their lives work together.
You know your child in ways that we are still learning, and we value the information, perspectives, and knowledge you share with us. Our role is to listen, learn, observe, and work alongside you to understand and support your child.
We welcome your:
- Questions
- Ideas
- Feedback
- Concerns
- Family knowledge
- Suggestions for supporting your child
If there are routines, words, comfort strategies, cultural practices, or other approaches that are important to your child and family, please share them with us. We also recognize that families may have different experiences with schools and early childhood programs. We want to create relationships built on trust, respect, communication, and collaboration.
Communication
Open and respectful communication is an important part of our classroom community.
Please feel comfortable reaching out to us with questions, concerns, or information about your child.
We have an open-door policy, and families are welcome to visit the classroom. We simply ask that you let us know when you would like to visit so we can support the classroom routine and make your visit meaningful.
We appreciate every way families connect with and contribute to our classroom community.
We welcome you here
Most importantly, we want you and your child to know:
You belong here.
Your family is an important part of our classroom community. We are committed to creating a learning environment where children can see themselves, learn about others, develop empathy and respect, and experience the joy of growing and learning together.
Thank you for trusting us to be part of your child’s early years. We are excited to get to know your family and to build a classroom community together.
Important phone numbers and emails
Grasshopper classroom: 971-722-8163
Elva von Bose, Senior Child Development Specialist/Mentor Teacher: elva.osorioarmendariz@pcc.edu
Alexis Benedict, Child Development Specialist: alex.benedict@pcc.edu
Child Development Center Main Front Office: 971-722-4424
We are looking forward to a wonderful year of exploring, growing, connecting, and learning together!
With care,
The Grasshopper Teaching Team
Elva & Alexis