Families are a very important part of the First Step program. Parents are a child's most important teachers. At First Step, parent involvement begins at the time of referral and continues through planning for a successful transition from First Step Preschool to kindergarten. First Step offers opportunities for parents to become involved in their child's preschool experience as well as to gain important information about issues that impact their child and family.
Helpful Information for Parents
Volunteer Opportunities
Parents are encouraged to volunteer in a variety of ways. This includes, but is not limited to:
- classroom activities and events
- field trips
- library organization/maintenance
- fundraisers (see current fundraising activites below)
* "Recycling for our children's future": click here for information
Library Volunteers
We are looking for parent volunteers to label, organize, sort and help children select books each Wednesday. You can volunteer once a month, once every other week, once a week or as much as your schedule allows. A monthly schedule will be sent home if you are interested. Please ask your teacher for a Volunteer form and you will be placed on the monthly schedule.
Volunteer hours are each Wednesday:
- 8:20-10:50 AM session ( If you have other obligations arriving as late as 9:15 is not a problem.).
11:50-2:20 PM session
Please consider volunteering in our library and helping our children grow through literacy. Thank you for your effort and kindness.
Health and Safety
First Step Preschool follows recommended guidelines and policies to ensure the health and safety of both students and staff. Please visit From the Nurses for information regarding communicable diseases.
Calamity/Snow Days: Use this link to learn about the policies that determine when the PCSD closes for safety reasons.
Your Child's Education and Development
Individual Education Plans (IEP): Each child with a documented disability has an Individual Education Program, or IEP. This plan is developed as a team effort by the parents and First Step professional staff. The IEP outlines annual goals, specific objectives, and services needed to meet each child's unique needs.
The Parent Mentor Program: Parma City Schools' parent mentors are available to provide guidance to parents during the IEP process. Parent mentors also offer informational group meetings throughout the school year and information to parents regarding community resources for family support.
Early Childhood Development: this page provides information about typical developmental skills for 3, 4 and 5 year old children in the following areas:
- language skills
- large motor skills
- fine motor skills
- cognitive development
- play/social skills
- self-help skills
Types of Books for Reading Aloud: This page describes a variety of books which appeal to young children while fostering a love of reading in early childhood. We are pleased to add a new feature: First Step's "Story of the Month" here as well. Happy Reading!
September Story of the Month: Raindrops
October Story of the Month: Where the Wild Things Are
November Story of the Month: "Hi, pizza man!"
December Story of the Month: The Gingerbread Man
January Story of the Month: The Mitten
February Story of the Month: The Snowy Day
March Story of the Month: Little Cloud
April Story of the Month: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
May Story of the Month: My First Book of Colors
Developmentally Appropriate Practice is the model for “best practice” in early childhood education programs.This model takes each child’s unique needs and level of development into account when planning and implementing educational activities.Preschool children learn through play as they explore their environment.At First Step Preschool children are encouraged to be active learners and are exposed to a wide range of opportunities to help them grow in every area of development.
Parma City Schools Normandy Day Care: this center is sponsored by the Parma City School District. Please visit this site for more information.
Keeping Informed
Parents at First Step receive weekly newsletters from their children’s classroom teachers, providing information about classroom learning activities and special classroom and
school events.
Parent-teacher conferences are available throughout the school year and evening conferences may be scheduled on two specified conference nights.
Progress reports are sent home in January and June. These reports indicate each child's abilities in specific skill areas that reflect the Ohio Standards for Early Childhood programs.
For More Information
Call us at 440-885-8645 or visit our assessment page to find out
- How to determine whether your child has a disability.
- If your child may be eligible for services at First Step.
- How to enroll your child as a typically developing peer model.
