Parent Handbook
2009-2010
1. Our preschool hours are from 9:00 - 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday. Please have your child at school on time. However, do not bring your child before 8:50 a.m., as that is when supervision begins. The doors are opened from 8:50 to 9:10. We would like all children to be in their place by 9:10. Please be here promptly at noon to pick up your child, as some children become very upset when they are one of the last to leave. You must send a note to school when your child is to be picked up by someone other than those on the list that you give us on Orientation Day. We will only release your child to one of those on your list unless we have a dated note stating otherwise.
2. Our tuition is $2,250.00 a year-9 payments of $250.00 (September – May). All classes meet five days per week. The tuition is payable by cash or check made out to “First Baptist Church” with J & J Preschool in Memo line. It is due on the first of each month.
3. The registration fee of $100 is due when you register your child. This fee covers all school supplies and field trip costs for the year. It is non-refundable.
4. We do not require you to sign a contract; therefore, you may drop out at any time without financial obligation for the months unattended. However, if your child is unable to attend school due to vacation, hospitalization, etc., but intends to return to school, that month's tuition must be paid since his/her place is held.
5. All financial obligations must be paid before your child can receive his/her certificate or take part in closing ceremonies. If you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from paying tuition on time, arrangements can be made with the Director.
6. Your child will be honored on his/her birthday and will be given special treatment and recognition. If your child is having a party after school hours, we will gladly hand out invitations for you in a discreet way.
7. Each child should bring a small, nutritious snack to school – no candy. We have snack time around 10:30 a.m. The children are served cold water. Please do not send any drink for them.
8. Each parent will have the opportunity to help with field trips and parties during the year. You may be asked to provide something for parties, and you are always invited to accompany us on any outing. We appreciate parent participation, and the children are always proud to see their parents helping. We will let you know before each event whether siblings are invited to attend, or whether you will need to provide other care for them.
9. The proper dress for preschool is washable play clothes: shorts, blue jeans, casual dresses, etc. Layered tops are desirable in winter, as some children get warm faster than others. Only rubber-soled shoes are allowed. No cowboy boots, open-toed sandals, clogs or Crocs. We will not be responsible for lost jewelry.
10. Your child must be completely potty trained. Please help your children learn how to button and zip their own clothes. Also, please let them wear clothes that are easily pulled up and fastened.
11. Do not allow your child to bring personal money to school. However, tuition checks may be sent to us in the tote bag.
12. If you need to discuss something with the Director or the teachers concerning your child, please call and set up an appointment. We are most anxious to help in any way that we can. We want to always avoid discussing any negative behavior in front of your child or any others. Please let us know of any unusual happenings concerning your child. We do not have to know the specifics of the situation, just that your child needs special understanding from us at a particular time.
13. When you bring your child to school in the mornings, please follow the instructions you are given at orientation. We will be at our new location.
14. We will not give any medication to children while they are in preschool. In consideration of your child, other children, and the teachers, please do not send your children to school if they are sick. This means that before returning to school, your child should be free for 24 hours from:
Fever;
Vomiting;
Diarrhea;
Severe Coughing;
Pink eye or discharge from eyes;
Head Lice
Unexplained rash;
Mouth sores associated with an inability of child to control saliva;
Tuberculosis;
Impetigo or open draining sores on skin, until 24 hours after medical treatment has been started;
Strep throat, until 24 hours after treatment has been started and until the child has been fever free for 24 hours;
Thick green mucous;
Chicken pox, until the sixth day after onset of rash; or|
Any symptom of infectious childhood disease.
15. If a child gets sick at school, he/she will be isolated in the Director's office and you will be called. If parents cannot be reached, emergency contact people listed on your registration form will be called to pick up your child.
16. A child that has head lice shall not be permitted to return until treatment has occurred. Verification of treatment may include a product box, box top, empty bottle, or signed statement by a parent that treatment has occurred.
17. In the event that any child at school has a highly contagious illness, we will notify you by note from school. If your child has a contagious illness and is out of school, please notify us. Please let us know in any case if your child is out of school for more than two days. There is no attendance requirement, but we worry about them when they are out.
18. Discipline: Good behavior is praised and rewarded. Undesirable behavior requires use of distraction, time-out or removal of the child from an activity. We will never spank your child. If our methods do not work, we will notify parents of the need for a conference to try to work out an acceptable means of discipline together. If a child is a danger to himself or others, or if he/she disrupts the classroom to the point that it is impossible for the other children to feel safe and to learn, then that child will be dismissed from enrollment.
19. Our school tries to provide toys and equipment in sufficient quantity to allow for a variety of play and learning activities during the day. We ask that your child not bring a toy to school until our special sharing days. We notify you when these are scheduled. As your child outgrows toys, play equipment, or furnishings, we ask that you consider donating them to our school. Our toys get maximum playtime, and we like to keep items that are fresh and in good shape.
20. If you need to contact me, I will be available from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the school office each day. The church office is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to help you or take messages.
21. If you are not going to be home in the morning, or at your normal work phone number, please call us or send a note with your child, informing us where you can be reached, or who else to reach, in case of an emergency.
22. Do not bring pets with you when you pick up your child from school. However, there may be special occasions when you may be given permission to bring your pets into your child's class for "show and tell."
23. We always welcome your suggestions and questions. We are very open-minded about new ideas that will benefit the children and our school. Please ask us if you don't understand our reasons for certain rules or teachings.
24. We plan the same holidays as the public schools, including teacher planning days and extreme weather days such as snow or electrical outage. When there is any doubt, listen to the radio or television. If Nassau County Public Schools announce that they are closed for the day, we will be closed also.
