|
St. Joseph School Pre-K3 Parent Handbook 2008-2009 PHILOSOPHY As Catholic early childhood educators, we minister the whole child – MIND, HEART, AND HANDS. In trusting Christian environments we enable the child to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. Awakening the child’s innate desire to learn, we foster creativity and excitement about learning by facilitating a stimulating atmosphere. Understanding their uniqueness in personality and differences in learning styles creates opportunities to discover, explore, question, and succeed, thus providing the proper atmosphere which enables the child freedom of choice. ABOVE ALL, our setting nurtures the child’s spiritual relationship with God and self and develops a caring attitude for others. GOALS FACILITATE opportunities in spiritual, physical, social, cognitive and language development. INITIATE an atmosphere where children appreciate a quiet time preparing them to begin a friendship with God. GENERATE the early learner the value of life. NURTURE a warm caring environment that develops self-esteem and a positive attitude toward learning. CONTENT OF PROGRAM – DEVELOPMENTAL SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT Experience God through: Religious Activities Literature Prayer Music Art SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Learn to play with others through: Cooperative Interactions (Large & Small Group Activities) Sharing Experiences Organized Games Dramatic Play Free Play COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Love to learn through: Introduction to Numbers and Letters Pre-reading Activities Manipulative Math Experiences Story Time and Listening Activities Cooking Activities Science Discovery Problem Solving LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT Develop language through: Reading, Listening and Speaking Finger Plays and Poems Show and Tell Role Playing Songs PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Develop body through: Table, Sand and Water Activities Large Motor Activities Small Motor Activities Creative Movement & Dancing Block and Art Activities REGISTRATION AND TUITION Registration is held in January beginning with currently enrolled students who will be returning in the Fall. Registration will then be open to the public. Applications and medical forms are available at the school office. The following guidelines will be followed: - A child must be three years old by October 15 for Pre-K 3 enrollment and four years old by October 15 for Pre-K 4.
- A $25.00 registration fee along with $100.00 deposit will be charged per family. If a student is accepted, the fee is non-refundable. If a student is not accepted, the fee will be returned by mail with a letter of non-acceptance.
- Students will be accepted in the following order:
a. Those who are participating members of the parish and have siblings already attending St. Joseph School. b. Open to all students. All students will be required to have a physical examination by their pediatrician before entrance. Children cannot begin class unless a current medical form reflecting mandated immunizations is on file. Questions regarding these mandates can be answered by our Health Aide. For the health and safety of his/her classmates, this policy will be STRICTLY enforced. Tuition will be handled by selecting one of three payment options: - Single payment due July 1 – CASH OR CHECK ONLY payable to St. Joseph School – 3% discount – no fee
- Single payment due July 1 made with Visa or Master Card credit card
– no 3% discount - Monthly payment plan through FACTS Management Co. –
$35. processing fee – monthly FACTS payments based on 10 payments beginning in July PRE-SCHOOL SCHEDULE Pre-K 3 Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 – 11:30 AM ARRIVAL, DISMISSAL AND PARKING We will open the front outside door for children to enter 5 minutes before each session begins. *For the first several weeks of school, parents are encouraged to walk children to classroom, help them with their belongings and get them settled before saying their good-byes, so we may begin our classes promptly. We stress the importance of dropping off children on time so they do not miss any important information that is given out during our opening activities. Since school doors remain locked for safety reasons, we will open doors 5 minutes before each session begins and ends, so it is unnecessary to arrive any earlier. Parents are asked to pick up children promptly at 11:30 at the school’s back door. Please line up outside the Pre-K classroom and we will dismiss one child at a time. No child will be allowed to leave the school with anyone except for parents and people listed on your car pool forms. Please call the office if there is an emergency and someone other than those people are picking up your child on that particular day. Please use the parking lot across the street from the front door of the school or the street across from church. No parking is allowed in school yard for safety purposes. PRE-K BEFORE –CARE For those children attending all Pre-K 3 classes, before-care is available for the hour prior to the start of school. Parents may drop off their children at 8:00 AM in the Pre- K classroom, where they can keep busy until school starts for them at 9:00 AM. The charge for this is $5.00 per day. You do not have to let us know ahead of time. CONFERENCES Individual conferences will be held for all children in the Pre-K Program. Goal setting conferences will be held in November and March. November conferences will take place with the St. Joseph School schedule. Dates and times will be announced in late January or early February, for Spring conferences. Adjustment, progress and readiness will be discussed. A parent is free to request additional conferences if they have special concerns at any time. Parents are asked to make this request in writing. The individual teacher will answer your request as soon as possible. Conferencing will not be allowed when dropping off or picking up children. This is disruptive and takes away valuable class time. DRESS FOR SCHOOL Since paint, play dough, markers and other art media are used on a regular basis, it is best to dress children in play clothes that are comfortable, and not their best. Our classroom tends to be warm, so dressing children in layers seems to work out best, even in colder weather. Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes for safety reasons are recommended. Plastic cover-ups are available in our classroom and will be worn when necessary. SNACKS School snacks are provided by parents. Nutritious snacks are encouraged (fruit, cheese & crackers, cut up veggies, etc.) One or two snacks and a drink box or drink in a thermos are sufficient. Because of the possibility of allergies, we discourage the sharing of snacks at school. Kindly discuss this with your children at home and we will remind the children at school. Also include a napkin and a straw for thermos. Please label all lunch boxes and thermoses with your child’s name because so many of them are the same. SHOW & TELL This activity will be held on a monthly basis. Please record your child’s Show & Tell day on your Pre-K calendars. Show & Tell will usually be held during the first full week of the month. If your child is absent on his/her Show & Tell day, they may bring it on the day they come back to school. Please send in only one item each time because of the amount of time this activity requires. BIRTHDAYS We will celebrate each child’s birthday in school. Children who have summer birthdays will be celebrated toward the end of the school year. Cookies or cupcakes can be brought in to be shared with the classmates. Please check to see how many children are in your child’s class. Also please have cupcakes frosted all the same color. We will sing Happy Birthday and enjoy treats during snack time. You may also bring a treat bag or other items in for each child if you wish. EMERGENCY PLANS ILLNESS AND INJURIES Please do not send your child to class if you suspect he/she is ill. A child who is sick will be isolated and a parent will be contacted. Please let us know if your child contracts a contagious disease (i.e. chickenpox, conjunctivitis, etc.) In case of injury, first aid will be administered by the Health Aide. Parents will be notified of injuries and will be documented. If necessary, 911 will be called as well as your child’s physician. The school principal will also be authorized to transport the child to the hospital. FIRE *Children will participate in fire drills several times during school sessions. In case of a fire alarm sounding, the children will be led outdoors via the nearest exit. If exiting through a doorway is not possible, the children will exit through the fire window located in the classroom.
INCLEMENT WEATHER Weather emergency no school days are announced on WTIC 1080 AM radio and local morning news channels. If Bristol Public Schools cancel classes, the Pre-K program will close as well. If weather conditions become poor during school, parents are free to come early to pick up their child. If we should have to dismiss school early at any time, an announcement will be made on station WTIC 1080 AM radio. School will remain open until every child is picked up. A delayed opening of one and one-half (1 ½ ) or more hours means our morning session is cancelled. PRE-K AGENDA Opening Activities / Circle Time - Welcome Song
- Daily Prayer
- Calendar Activities
- Pledge Discussion of Daily Themes and Activities
Small Groups / Free Play Daily project or craft activity carried out in small groups while other children are participating in the following: - Block Building
- Puzzles
- Coloring and Tracing
- Water Table Play
- Sand Table Play
- Play Dough
- Kitchen Play
- Cutting and Gluing Activities
- Manipulatives
Clean Up / Snack Time Whole Group Activities - Exercise and Gross Motor Activities
- Story Time
- Songs, Poems and Finger Plays
- Flannel Board and Magnet Board Activities
- Rhythm Instruments
|
Parent Handbook K-8
