I am pleased to provide this recommendation for Mrs. Cortinzia Witcher, Center director of Quality Time Learning Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Quality Time Learning Center in Silver Spring, Maryland daily, for nearly the past 29 years who are 6 weeks to Kindergarten age. Participating in Maryland Excels and Licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education, Quality Time provides not only a loving, warm and friendly environment that helps nurture the growth and development of very young children but is a community fixture where families gather to promote a brighter future for our children. With 68 staff including 59 teaching staff, Mrs. Witcher’s role, knowledge modelling and leadership have all been key to the overwhelming success of Quality Time.
In her 3rd fall year as Center Director, Mrs. Witcher has continually strived to establish and maintain a safe, health and learning environment. Of course this is the most basic and fundamental responsibility of a center director. Mrs. Witcher constantly monitors the center not only through her own eyes and ears but encourages staff and parents to “be on the look-out” in these fundamental areas. With 17 classrooms Mrs. Witcher utilizes an Assistant Director, Floor Leaders and other management team members to participate in all areas of Health and Safety, regular fire drills, emergency evacuation procedures including lockdown and practice. Emergency resources are always kept on hand. Playground is checked for
6. As an administrator, building supervision and student/staff safety has to always be at the forefront in planning for the school day. Not doing so, can lead to the unthinkable like this situation, a school
In my center I keep children safe by creating an environment where children gain the knowledge and discipline that allows them to make appropriate choices on their own. Emotional safety is promoted through daily greetings, love rituals and positive reinforcement. Children’s feelings are acknowledged, validated, and appropriate guidance suggested and modeled. I make sure activities are fun, safe and developmentally appropriate. The children are encouraged to make good choices by having discussions, giving lessons, and reading books that talk about safety issues. I comply with all state licensing regulations
Imagine at the end of the school day exhausted teachers ready to release the students to their busses and overly eager children quick to get on the bus and go home. Mixtures of children between the grades from kindergarten to fifth grade erratically search for their assigned bus like a stampede of animals. Luckily for me I was able to witness the releasing of students to their busses at the end of the day before and after Ontario Local Schools joined the AAA Safety Patrol program which allowed me to distinguish a transformation between the chaotic and unsafe transfer of students to and from school to a safer and more efficient processes. However, being a member of the AAA Safety Patrol program not only influenced me through being able to witness
Like other day care facilities, The Kids Learning Centre strives to provide the best in child care. As part of their program to
ensuring that there is an effective way of reporting any hazards to the appropriate person so that any required action can be taken. Every school is
With fires the procedure is to gather all the children and staff in the set meeting place in the class and then in an orderly manner to meet at the designated meeting place set by the setting which is normally outside and away from the building. A register should also be taken too to account for all the children in the class.
It would be a wise idea for school administrators to have a comprehensive security assessment of the school’s physical design, safety policies, and emergency procedures. Once again this must be conducted with the cooperation of school staff, emergency personnel, students, and other school community members. Every school has different needs and safety plans may vary. According to the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police), there are twenty recommended actions that can be used to prevent violence in a school setting.
Kenneth Batchelor, superintendent of Radnor Township School District, name one of the year’s safest school districts in America by Niche, states that we credit out strong relationships with local businesses, residents, law enforcement, and other emergency personnel for our ability to maintain safe learning environments (Rosales). Many other school systems as well say this is the best method for the best school safety. Working together outside the classroom also has its effect on inside the classroom and in school.
The responsibility for the day today management of all Health, safety and Welfare policy lies with the Headteacher.(Sally Burn). The safety Officer ( Mr. Churchill) then has delegated authority from the Headteacher to implement and monitor policy and procedures; be the reference point for all Health, safety and welfare matters; give advice or indicate sources of advice; to make clear any duties in respect of Health, Safety and Welfare which are delegated to other members of staff; liase with the council’s Health and safety Team; ensure that the Health and Safety Reference File is kept up to date; ensure compliance with RIDDOR; arrange for risk assessments of the premises and working practices are undertaken, recorded, added to and reviewed as necessary and to implement procedures to ensure emergency procedures and first aid provision are in place within the school.
It is important to maintain a safe environment for students inside and outside of the classroom. My goal is to make sure that the children understand what being safe is. I make sure that they know how to play safe. All of the toys and the materials that the children use are safe. I make sure that there are no broken toys that may harm them around. The children along with me create the class rules. I make sure that the outlet plugs are in place and that the cabinets are secure. The children follow the classroom rules. I make sure that I supervise the children at all times. I also make sure that I observe the areas where they play, work, and eat. I make sure that shoes are tied. I make sure that
It is important when planning and setting up learning activities that indoor and outdoor environments are hazard free and that staff and pupils will be able to work safely. The following factors must be taken into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments and services;
To provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment that is safe, healthy, respectful and supportive of children and families. For the learning environment to be safe, I ensure that I always check identification, and have parents notify me whenever someone new to the list will be picking up. I always bring my roster with me to ensure I have all my children with me. I do a roll call every time we get to a new area after traveling anywhere away from our room, and before leaving the room. Another way that I make the learning environment safe is by covering all the outlets in the room, and making sure sharp or dangerous objects are put away, and out of the children’s reach. I put cleaning supplies and other chemicals in high locked cabinets.
A company called Creative Learning Center, a fictitious company is selected for the purpose of this integrative learning project. Creative Learning Center is a child care services who also offer extended care that incorporates Christian-based curriculum for children from toddlers age to five years old. The mission of the Creative Learning Center is to provide first-rate child care services in a warm, safe and nurturing environment while reinforcing a child’s intellectual, mental and physical development. The Creative Learning Center takes a Christian-based team approach utilizing experienced and skilled staff whose profession is nurturing and educating the youth. The target
For the first part of my observation I noticed that the environment was not in the best shape that it could be, so I asked the program supervisor “John” why the environment looked like it was under repair and he explained that the whole school was under construction. Through my observation I did notice that for the most part the environment was safe, but it did have major hazards that concerned me. The environment had safe ratios, for example, in the specific class that I observed there was seven infants and two adults the caretakes informed me that it is regularly eight infants in the classroom four infants per adult, but a child was out sick with the flu. In addition, I noticed that in the front part of the classroom where the door entry and fire extinguisher are located there was a fire and emergency plan that includes emergency information and a plan to get the infants to safety. The classroom also had emergency numbers posted by the phone area and I was told that all emergency cards were stored in a file card holder that is easy to access. Furthermore, throughout my observation I noticed that children could take risk opportunities like running around, climbing, and playing in tent areas without injury and with constant supervision. The classroom I observed was accepting of constant interactions, but they always made it clear to the children that it was not appropriate to hurt one another. However, although the program had many good qualities that
The Trinity/Germantown Bright Eyes Early Learning Center features two childcare programs for children of different ages. It cares for infant and toddlers on a daily basis from 6:30am to 6:00pm. It also serves the needs of preschool and school age children from 6:30am to 6:30pm. In an effort to provide the best childcare services possible, Bright Eyes supports active partnerships with the Organization of Child Care Directors of Montgomery County and Maryland EXCELS, a tiered quality rating and improvement system (TQRIS) that uses TQRIS methodologies to address the needs of both families and educators.