Parent Orientation

Pre-K Program Information

Welcome to the Pre-K School Family!

Hello, Pre-K Families! We are incredibly excited to welcome you and your child to our school community. Please take the time to read through this handbook thoroughly; it is filled with essential information to set your little learner up for success.

General Contact & School Hours

School Location: North end of Prairie View Elementary (501 SE Todd George Pkwy)
Office Phone Number: 816-986-4150
Office Email: prek@lsr7.net
Pre-K Program Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Friday (Late Start): 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
School Office Hours: Daily from 8:20 am – 4:20 pm
Calendar: The Pre-K Program follows the District Calendar

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

You will be provided with a map showing our exact parking lot traffic patterns before the start of school. Each student is assigned a specific number, and families will receive yellow car tags to display at dismissal.

Morning Arrival

Traffic Flow: All families must access the drop-off line via the school’s south entrance at the traffic signal (Prairie View Elementary main entrance). The car line is designed to wrap around the building. Please note that if you attempt to enter through the north entrance (Pre-K Program main entrance), you will be redirected to the south side to maintain an efficient traffic pattern.
Drop-Off Line: Unloading begins at 8:40 am. Please do not arrive before 8:30 am. Prairie View Elementary (PVE) cars and buses must completely clear the lot before Pre-K traffic is permitted to start.
Unloading: To keep lines moving safely and smoothly, please stay in your car. Our dedicated staff will help your child out of the vehicle and walk them inside. We will unload the first 8 cars in each line simultaneously.
Late Arrival: If you arrive after staff members have gone inside (after 9:00 am), please park and walk your child to the front office to check them in. You may need to wait until a staff member is available to escort them to class.
First Day Reminder: Due to parking limitations, parents cannot walk students to class on the first day. All students will use the car line for drop-off.

Afternoon Dismissal

Traffic Flow: All families must access the pick-up line via the school’s south entrance at the traffic signal (Prairie View Elementary main entrance). The car line is designed to wrap around the building. Please note that if you attempt to enter through the north entrance (Pre-K Program main entrance), you will be redirected to the south side to maintain an efficient traffic pattern.
Pick-Up Line: Dismissal begins around 3:40 pm. Please do not join the car line before 3:35 pm to allow elementary traffic to clear the lot.
Car Tag Placement: Please have your yellow car tag prominently displayed in your window as you enter the Prairie View parking lot.
Loading & Buckling: We will load the first 8 cars in each line at a time. When you pull up to the front drive, please step outside your vehicle to help your child inside and buckle them in. Note: School staff are not legally permitted to buckle children into seats. (All children must be transported in car seats in accordance with Missouri state law.)
ID Requirement: If the person picking up your child does not have the yellow car tag, they will be required to park, come to the office, and present a valid photo ID before the student is released.
Late Arrival: If you arrive after staff members have gone inside (after 4:00 pm), please park and come inside the office to check your child out.

Our goal is always to prioritize safety while making arrival and dismissal as efficient as possible. Our staff is available to guide you through the process; please follow their instructions to keep our lines running smoothly. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our arrival and dismissal processes safe and efficient!

Late Start Fridays & "Summit Rise"

Classes begin at 10:00 am every Friday to allow for vital teacher collaboration time. Lee’s Summit R-7 offers a no-cost before-school program called Summit Rise from 8:45 am to 10:00 am, supervised by Pre-K support staff. No advance sign-up is required—your child is welcome to drop in any Friday morning you need to utilize it!

If using Summit Rise (8:45 am drop-off):
- Drop-off runs from 8:45 am to 9:40 am. No students will be accepted for Summit Rise after 9:40 am.
- Enter using the North entrance off Todd George Pkwy (this is normally the exit, where our sign is located). Do not use the south route.
- Turn into the first parking lot on the right, loop around, and drop off at Door E.
- You must park and walk your child to the door to be greeted by a staff member. Do not park in the front drive, as PVE buses will be unloading there.
If NOT using Summit Rise (10:00 am start):
- Car line unloading will begin at 9:45 am. Please enter through the usual South side route at the traffic light.

Our Educational Approach

Conscious Discipline Framework

We utilize the Conscious Discipline framework to support social-emotional development and build a cohesive "School Family." Through intentional routines and structures, we emphasize safety and connection. Teachers guide children through moments of distress by helping them find calm, identify feelings, develop positive self-talk, and learn lifelong resilience and problem-solving skills.

Project Construct Curriculum

Our core instruction follows the Project Construct framework, which is linked directly to state and national early childhood learning standards. Classrooms are intentionally designed for hands-on, play-based learning. The primary aim of Project Construct is to help teachers foster the development of each child as an independent learner. Children are encouraged to make choices, collaborate, problem-solve, and regulate their behavior independently.

Daily Components: Circle time, storytime, center/play time, small groups, projects, journal/tabletop tasks, meals, outdoor play, and rest.
Supplemental Learning: Targeted foundational instruction in literacy, phonics, and mathematics.

School-Wide Expectations

To prepare all students for success, our school rules focus on three simple, core concepts: Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Helpful. We have established school-wide expectations to support our students as they learn to regulate their behavior, understand their feelings, and make friends in our Pre-K Program. Specific behaviors and expectations have been established for our school setting to help our students grow in their ability to work with others, solve problems, and express themselves at school. We have a system of tools and strategies for defining expectations, teaching expectations, acknowledging appropriate behavior, and correcting inappropriate behavior. The goal is to create an environment that prepares all students for success.

Classroom Policies & Behavior Supports

Toilet Training

We request that all students be potty-trained to attend our Pre-K program. While we understand occasional bathroom accidents may occur, students must demonstrate independence with toileting skills. We are not equipped with the facilities or staff to change diapers/pull-ups or assist in potty training.

Student Behavior & Success Plans

We believe preschool is a time for children to develop skills to help them be successful learners in an educational environment. Teachers will provide instruction and opportunities for students to practice how to safely and successfully navigate the Pre-K classroom. In a classroom typically composed of up to 20 students, one teacher, and one paraprofessional, we use the following collaborative steps if challenging or unsafe behaviors persist:

Informal Contact: The teacher will call or email parents/guardians to discuss ongoing concerns and brainstorm collaborative ways to support the student.
Face-to-Face Meeting: A meeting will be scheduled between the teacher and parents/guardians (and potentially the program director) to address behaviors.
Student Success Plan Conference: A team conference including the teacher, parent/guardian, counselor, and program director will be scheduled to develop a Student Success Plan. This plan may include accommodations, data tracking, or a temporarily shortened schedule.

Severe Behavior Responses

When students display challenging behaviors during the school day, we follow clear guidelines to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for everyone. These behaviors can include: physical aggression toward students or staff (with the intent to harm), elopement (running from the classroom or designated area), tantrums (extreme crying, screaming, or using profanity), throwing large items, and room destruction.

To address these behaviors, we may implement several strategies:

Giving warnings: Providing verbal or non-verbal prompts to redirect student behavior while teaching and reinforcing essential social-emotional or self-regulation skills.
Spending time in our Calm Down Room: A designated space where students can regain control in a supportive environment.
Spending time in a Buddy Room: Temporarily moving a student to another classroom to provide a change of environment and a chance to reset.
Sending students home: In some instances, for severe or persistent behaviors, a student may be sent home to ensure the safety of all.

Our goal is always to work with students to help them learn appropriate behaviors and create a positive school experience.

Daily Routines & Additional Information

Meals & Nutrition Services

Both breakfast and lunch are served daily. You will indicate at Meet the Teacher whether your child will receive school breakfast (breakfast is optional). For lunch, students choose from three main entrees or bring a lunch from home.

Menus & Payments: Monthly menus are sent in the family newsletter and posted online. Please visit the LSR7 Nutrition Services website to view menus, check meal prices, manage accounts via My School Bucks, view the district meal charge policy, or fill out the 2026–2027 Free/Reduced Meal Form.

Quiet / Rest Time

Per early childhood best practices, a dedicated rest time occurs daily from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm. Children are not required to sleep, but they are required to rest quietly on their mats. (Note: Because instructional staff-to-student ratios must be maintained during this time, alternative activities or rooms cannot be provided.) The school provides a rest mat. Families should send a blanket that fits easily inside their backpack. Blankets are sent home every Friday to be laundered and must be returned the following Monday. All rest time items will remain at school during the week, so please send items that will not be missed at home during the week.

Snacks

Daily snacks are provided. We ask that each family contribute a class-sized snack donation (serving 20 children) once per month. Your classroom teacher will share specific donation details.

Appropriate Dress

Play Clothing: Preschool is fun and can be beautifully messy! Dress your child in comfortable, informal clothing that can withstand paint, glue, and outdoor play, and that your child can easily manage independently in the bathroom.
Footwear: We highly recommend closed-toed athletic shoes/sneakers. Flip-flops are unsafe for our daily gross motor and outdoor activities.
Extra Clothes: Always keep a labeled change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) inside your child's backpack, in case of accidents.
Labels: Please clearly label all personal property (coats, bags, water bottles).
Weather: Outdoor recess occurs daily unless conditions are raining, snowing, extremely hot, or below freezing. Please dress your child accordingly.

Toys from Home

All necessary learning and play materials are fully provided. Personal toys, games, electronics, etc., should stay at home. Any item brought will be held for safekeeping by the teacher until the day’s end. Classroom teachers may allow certain days for sharing items from home. You will be notified if your child is to participate and on what day that will occur.

School Visitors & Lunch Guests

Check-In Security: All visitors must enter through the front doors, be buzzed in, and show a valid driver's license to receive an official visitor's pass.
Prearranged Visits: All classroom visits must be prearranged with the teacher. For privacy and confidentiality, visitors are prohibited from taking photos or videos of students.
Lunch: Due to cafeteria space constraints, lunch guests may eat with their child at the outdoor picnic tables during their designated lunch time. For safety reasons, visitors may not accompany students to the playground for recess.

Birthday Celebrations

In alignment with the LSR7 Elementary Handbook, birthday recognitions are food-free. Outside food/treats will not be accepted for classroom distribution. Only non-food items (stickers, pencils, etc.) or approved daily classroom snacks are allowed.

Deliveries (balloons, flowers, etc.) cannot be accepted at school.
To protect family privacy, teachers cannot distribute personal email addresses or hand out party invitations.

Attendance and Illness

Absences & Tardies

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District, including our Pre-K Program, emphasizes the importance of regular attendance and punctuality for our early childhood students. We believe consistent presence at school significantly contributes to your child's learning progress and helps them develop essential life skills. Each day’s learning is based on the day before. Your child’s success in school will depend on their being at school. Much of our day revolves around play and hands-on activities, which are difficult to make up! We understand that absences due to illness, appointments, or other reasons are sometimes unavoidable. If your child will be absent, please call the Pre-K front office at 986-4150 as soon as possible.

Illness Policies

LSR7 follows Missouri State Statute 167.191 – Children with contagious diseases not to attend school. By Board policy, we use the CDC, DHSS, and Jackson County Health Department for guidance of exclusion for communicable diseases and outbreaks of a contagious disease.

Students must be fever-free (<100.4) without the influence of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
Students must be free of continuous coughing.
Students must remain home for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.
Students must remain home for 24 hours after taking the first dose of an antibiotic for an infection.
Parents should report illnesses when reporting the student absent from school.
Students will be excluded from school if one or more of the following exist: diarrhea, fever of 100.4 degrees or greater, a nursing recommendation based upon physical condition, or unvaccinated students in times of disease outbreaks.

In case of an accident or illness at school, parents will be contacted. Current phone numbers for home and work for both parents are very important. Names and telephone numbers of relatives and/or friends who can assume temporary responsibility for your child until a parent can be reached need to be provided to the school.

Parents will be notified to pick up their child in the event of illness or serious injury. The general criteria for sending an ill child home will be a temperature of 100.4 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, severe coughing, suspicion of a communicable disease, or the inability to participate in normal classroom activity.

Returning to School Standards

Students must remain home until they meet the following criteria without the aid of symptom-reducing medications:

Fever-free (<100.4°F) for at least 24 hours.
Vomiting and diarrhea-free for at least 24 hours.
On a prescribed antibiotic for a full 24 hours before returning.
Free of a continuous, disruptive cough.

Emergency Contact Information

To best support your child, please verify that their emergency contact information is current in PowerSchool. Additionally, we request that you create a backup plan for child pick-up. This plan should be for situations where you might be unreachable or unable to come to school yourself. Prompt pick-up is crucial if your child needs to leave school early due to illness, behavioral concerns, or other reasons. Timely pick-up is vital for your child's comfort and our school's operations.

We are incredibly excited to welcome you and your child to our Pre-K family! We look forward to a successful school year filled with growth, learning, and wonderful memories.