Children’s Center at USC

1530 Wheat Street Operates year round Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 6:30 pm Licensed to serve 200 children from Birth – School age Director is Susan Graham

General Expectations Wear a name tag w/ USC student ID. Choose appropriate color dot for your name tag holder. Ring the bell to be let in the front door. Sign in / out using the binder in the classroom. Dress comfortably but neatly – you may get wet or dirty! NO short shorts or skirt OR bare midriffs. Wear shoes with CLOSED TOES – no flipflops

You will not be permitted in the classroom if you smell like smoke OR perfume Place personal belongings on a shelf – out of children’s reach You need to come as planned, but DO NOT COME IF YOU ARE SICK. Call the to let them know you will not be there. Contact the graduate assistant when you finish your observations for the semester or if you drop the course.

What to do? Wash your hands when you arrive Take off your shoes (wear socks or shoe booties) in the Infant rooms Most courses require that you be actively involved with the children Limit your conversations with adults – you are here to work with and learn from the children and their teachers

SLED CLEARANCE Click on “Criminal Records check” and follow instructions You are eligible for the reduced $8 rate. You must use a credit card for this transaction You will not be scheduled until we have received your SLED printout.

Schedule Your Visits Call to leave a message OR There are limited openings in each classroom – you must make an appointment BY NOON THE DAY BEFORE to enter the classroom The graduate assistant’s office hours to schedule visits are Monday-Friday 8:30am-12:30pm during Fall and Spring semesters If you need to teach a specific activity with a class, contact the graduate assistant for an Activity Request form.

Levels of Student Participation Color System USC Students must wear a nametag with the appropriate dot color. This system is to help inform parents, teachers and Children’s Center staff of the tasks and responsibilities of each USC student coming to the child development center. Nametags will be coded with colored dots which indicate the student’s responsibilities while they are in the center. GREEN- SERVICE LEARNING: Student’s purpose is to meet the center’s needs while learning about Early Childhood Education. (EDTE 400, Univ. 101, EDEC 201, EDEC 610) BLUE- KIDWATCHING: Student is observing a child and participating. S/he may be implementing some activity plans (EDEC 340, EDEC 540, EDEC 342, EDEC 250, EDEC 740) YELLOW- SPECIFIC ACTIVITY: Student is visiting for one specific purpose: to teach a particular lesson, conduct an assessment activity, etc. (Typically courses in ARTE, PSCH, COMD, MUED, NURS) RED- OBSERVATION/ RESEARCH: Student is observing children or gathering data for research on a regular basis. (Research)

How to get there... There is NO STUDENT PARKING at the center The BLUE line of the Shuttlecock stops nearby.

What is required? DSS requires that all classroom volunteers pass a SLED clearance. This is a licensure issue. With SLED clearance you are NOT permitted to be unsupervised with children.

SLED CLEARANCE Click on “Criminal Records check” and follow instructions You are eligible for the reduced $8 rate. You must use a credit card for this transaction You will not be scheduled until we have received your SLED printout.

Our classrooms Infants – 6 wks to 12 mos. – 2 classes Toddlers – 12 to 24 months – 2 classes 2’s – 24 to 36 months – 3 classes Preschool 3’s – 2 classes Preschool 3’s & 4’s – 1 class Preschool 4’s – 2 classes Preschool 4 ½ - 1 class School agers come after school