ELIGIBILITY -

July 1 is our current cut-off date for entrance into a class. The director will review any possible exceptions. All children, except those in the Beginner classes, must be toilet-trained.

CLASS SIZE -

The following are our teacher/pupil ratios: 2/8 or 9— Beginners; 1/8 — Early Learners; 1/10 — PreK; 1/12 for the older 4day/wk. PreK; and 1/14 for Kindergarten.

COST -

All students pay a non-refundable registration fee to guarantee their admission.
2003-2004 tuition rates are:

$62.00 - Beginners
$59.00 -Early Learners
$68.00 - PreK
$78.00 - 4day/week PreK

Families who have more than one child enrolled will receive a $5.00 discount per month for the younger child(ren). The oldest child will pay the regular full amount. Checks are to be made out to Leo United Methodist Preschool. There is a $20.00 fee charged for returned checks. Tuition payments are to be sent in your child’s folder or given to the secretary or director. Place the payment in an envelope marked tuition. Cash payments must be in an envelope with the child’s full name on it. If paid by check, please note the student’s name on the memo line. We do keep a basket of junk mail envelopes in the office if you should need one. No credit is given for illnesses or vacations. Tuition is due the first school day of each month. Parents do have the first full week to send their payment. Beginning the second week of the month, a $5.00 late payment fee will be charged per week. Each class is allowed to miss 5 % of their school days due to weather-related cancellations without a fee change. Should any class miss more than this number during the year, there will be a deduction taken out of the May payment. You will be notified of any such changes in the May newsletter. Occasionally, due to unusual circumstances, a parent may be unable to make their payment on time. If this happens, please see the director to discuss arrangements.

SCHEDULE -

Morning classes are from 8:45 until 11:15 a.m.
Afternoon classes from 12:00 noon until 2:30 p.m.

We have our own schedule but we do follow East Allen County School’s schedule for vacations and weather-related delays and cancellations. We do not have the Wednesday afternoon early dismissals nor do we get out early when they have early dismissals, due to their curriculum planning. However, when they delay one hour, due to bad weather, we do the same. When they delay 2 hours, we have an alternate schedule that day:

The morning classes attend from 10:30 until 12:00 noon, and the afternoon classes attend from 1:00 until 2:30 p.m. So, if you hear announcements about those days, please follow the regular times. If they delay 3 hours, we cancel the morning class and have afternoon classes as normal. Obviously, if they cancel the whole day, we do the same.

PLEASE NOTE: If the director or teachers are not at the doors when you arrive, you should take your child to his/her classroom. DO NOT drop off a child at an unattended door to go to a classroom alone! The only door to be used for coming to or leaving school is door #3. This door will be locked during school hours, also. It will be unlocked 15 minutes prior to dismissal in the morning and again in the afternoon. If you come late to school or come to visit when the doors are locked, go to the front church door (#1). Those doors will be unlocked, or, if locked, there is a buzzer for entrance. The church and the preschool are working together to keep everyone’s security in mind.

You should listen to the radio every day. E.A.C.S. covers a large area and, even though the weather may seem o.k. at your house, it may not be elsewhere. Foggy days are always the most difficult ones to predict. Also, please remember that you always have the option of keeping your child at home should you prefer not to drive with bad road conditions.

CURRICULUM -

The nursery school is NOT a babysitting service. We do follow a curriculum devised for each age level. Children experience a varied program that allows for development in the following areas: physical (both small and large muscle), social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and language (speaking and listening skills). Teachers will keep you advised of curriculum topics and skills they are working on through their monthly newsletters.

PERSONAL ITEMS -

All possessions brought to the school are to be clearly marked with the child’s first and last name. The school will assume no responsibility for lost or broken items that are brought from home. It is best that a child refrain from bringing toys from home. Please make sure that your child does not bring toy guns or knives to school. Your child’s teacher will notify you concerning items for show and tell or for special occasions. If you wish to bring in a pet, you should do so at the beginning or end of the session, and always check with your child’s teacher beforehand.

Each child is required to have one of our school bags. These bags are a style that the teachers prefer, because it is easier to get things in and out of them. They are less awkward than some backpacks, and backpacks have too many pockets. They are also large enough to accommodate most art and craft activities better for transporting home. They may be decorated as you wish. That will allow for “their own individual look”. The cost of the bag is $4.00, which can be paid on orientation day or the first day of school. Please remember to always check your child’s bag every day. Each child will have a folder that goes back and forth between home and school each day. Please remove everything from the folder and bag each day, unless it is a note or form that the school needs returned. When things are left in the bags, teachers have no way of knowing if the parents have even seen the contents. You may send correspondence to your child’s teacher in this folder, and you may also send your child’s tuition in a sealed envelope marked “Tuition”. These folders are provided by the school. However, if a child loses or destroys the folder during the school year, the parents may send in 25 cents to receive a new one. Please explain to your child that they are not to remove anything from the bag until they give it to a parent. Your child is to bring the bag and folder with him/her every day. The bag should be labeled with your child’s first and last name. You and your child will have lots of fun decorating the bag as you choose.

SNACK TIME -

A part of the daily schedule will be “Snack Time”. Parents will take turns supplying the snacks for the classes. Teachers will indicate how many to send for and what they would like you to send in. The school provides the ice water, cups, and napkins. If you send something that requires bowls, spoons, etc. please send in disposable ones to be used. The snack list is sent home each month with your class newsletter. If, for some reason, you are unable to keep that schedule, contact your child’s teacher. If your child is allergic to any food or beverages, please make sure the school is aware of them and send in an alternative snack for them. If you miss your snack day, you should send in a non-perishable snack that can be kept in the teacher’s cabinet. If you wish to send in something on your child’s birthday, you may send something simple, such as wrapped candy, stickers, or a home-baked item that is individually wrapped for each child. These items will be sent home with the children at the end of the class. Parents of 2 & 3 year-olds should not send in nuts, popcorn, or grapes. Actually, even the older students should not have nuts for snacks.

VISITATION -

Parents are always welcome and are encouraged to visit the school. However, we ask that you wait at least 3 weeks after the child is enrolled, so that your child has had an opportunity to become familiar with the teacher and the routine. Quality time with your child will best be achieved if other arrangements have been made for any younger siblings. Also, please remember that this will be class time and the teacher will be unavailable for discussion or a conference at this time.

NOTE: Visitors and volunteers must sign in at the preschool office and wear a
badge. Any parents who drive for field trips or come in to help at school must have a
competed child protection form on file in the office. (These forms are passed out at
orientation. If you signed one least year, you needn’t do so again. We kept them on
file.)

ILLNESS -

Do not send your child to school if he/she is experiencing any of the following symptoms: a fever; vomiting; diarrhea; severe cough; a constant runny nose; listlessness; extreme fatigue; an unexplained skin condition. Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. This is for the protection of others at the school, as well as for your own child’s comfort. In the event that a child becomes ill while at school, that child will receive the necessary attention, and someone will be contacted to pick the child up as soon as possible. If your child is exposed to or contracts a contagious disease or skin problem (such as, pink eye, chicken pox, measles, impetigo, ring worm or head lice), please notify the school immediately, so that we can inform the other parents. In the case of chicken pox, a child should not return to school until all lesions have completely dried (this usually means being away from school for one week). Questionable situations will be handled, as necessary, by the director. Head lice should be carefully rechecked to be sure that all nits and dead shells are gone. Pink eye is one area where we do seem to have the most misunderstandings. Please have a doctor check your child’s eyes if they seem red, crusty, oozy, watery, and itchy. Don’t assume that it is just a cold settling in their eyes. Most doctors feel that a student can return to school after he has been taking the drops for 24 hours. Refer to your own physician’s recommendations. We do have these health rules for the protection of our students.

Medicine: The school will not dispense any medications to the students without a completed form from the parents. (This form is given to you at orientation. If you use it and need another one at any time, please contact the director). Send the medicine in the original container, so that we can see the doctor’s instructions. (If that is not possible, please send very careful instructions for dispensing it.) You will not return the medicine consent form to school, unless you are sending in medicine to be given to the child. (Please note that the medicine form is not the same as the medical consent form, which everyone does need to send back.)

DRESS -

Children are to be dressed in comfortable, washable play clothes and shoes that will allow them to run and play (some dress shoes do not stay on well). The playground safety rules state that children must wear shoes that buckle, tie, or have velcro. Sandals, slip-ons, flip-flops, etc. are not to be worn outside during playtime. It will make them more comfortable if they do not have to worry about their “new clothes”. Also remember to always dress your child every day with the appropriate outerwear for year-round outdoor play.

DISCIPLINE -

We want the preschool experience to be a positive one for all of the students. Thus, at the beginning of the year, the teachers explain rules that we have for the safety and happiness of each child. If a rule is broken, teachers talk to the child so that be/she knows why they need to change the behavior. If repeated discussions do not help curb the behavior, it might become necessary for the child to have a short time-out or withdrawal from the activity. In the event the child’s behavior becomes more serious, the parents will be contacted so that we can all work together to help the child.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES -

Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled once a year (twice for Kindergarten) or at any time the teacher and/or parent wish to have one. Please plan to attend your child’s conference, so that you can be aware of how your child is progressing. These conferences are especially important for the parents of the PreK students, since the teacher will be sharing with you their recommendation concerning the child’s readiness for Kindergarten. (Just because a child turns 5, does not necessarily mean that he/she will feel comfortable with Kindergarten’s demands.) Conference times will be sent home to you, at which time, you may contact the teacher if you need to reschedule.

INSURANCE -

During school time, and on field trips, he/she is covered by insurance.

TRANSPORTATION -

Parents are responsible for the students’ transportation to and from school. You will receive class lists, from which you might be able to find possible car pool parents. Be sure to check out any class that meets the same time as your child. Staff members will come to the front door at 8:35 a.m. for the morning session and 11:50 p.m. for the afternoon session. Please do not bring your child early into the room, since the halfhour before school starts is teacher preparation time, and students will not receive proper supervision. If a special conflict should arise requiring an early drop-off of your child, please contact the director or teacher in advance. Teacher preparation time is short and is vital to a good day for your child. Your cooperation is appreciated. Your child will be dismissed at 11:15 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.. Please wait outside the classroom until the teacher dismisses your child to you.

Your child’s safety is of the upmost importance to us. To help us assure that safe keeping please refer to the following transportation rules:

Children will be released only to those adults listed on the form that you will receive at the beginning of the year. If an emergency arises and someone not on your list must pick up your child, you must call the school. We will send them with that person only IF WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED! Please prepare that person to be ready to show a picture ID. To avoid any confusion or misunderstandings, when transportation changes are necessary, all parties involved must be notified (including all teachers involved, all parents, and babysitters.) All notices concerning drivers should be in writing. As soon as you have carpools set up, please send back to the teachers the form which lists drivers who are authorized to take your child with them. Drivers can be added or omitted at any time.) We do urge prompt pickup time at dismissal, as teachers have responsibilities following school time which make if difficult to supervise your child. If no one answers in the office, you may leave a message at 627-2934, or if your message is urgent, you may call the church office at 627-2161.

If a child is picked up late (five minutes or more after dismissal time) and there was no emergency, the driver first receives a reminder of the pick-up time. If there is a second late-pickup, the driver will be charged $5.00. This fee goes up to $10.00 for subsequent times. If a carpool is involved, the late pickup fee applies to each child in the carpool. Remember that small children do become very anxious when parents are not there to pick them up when all of the others are leaving.

We do have an alternate procedure for those of you who may have sleeping infants and/or sick siblings in the car at pick-up time. Just notify the teacher or director that you would like to have the child brought out to your car. When all of the other students have been picked up from that classroom, the teacher will then bring your child out to you.

In the event that you arrive late to drop off your child, please make sure the director or teacher is still there to greet your child. If you do not see anyone, you are to take your child to his/her classroom, thereby assuring the teacher that he/she has arrived. Drive up and pick-up procedure are explained at parent orientation. Please make sure that anyone who brings your child or picks him/her up knows the procedure.

We also ask that you exercise extreme caution and drive SLOWLY in the parking lot. We have lots of children coming and going. The drop-off line will circle around the outer edge of the large parking lot to the north of the building. There will note a yellow line on the west side of the building where we unload. Cars are to stay outside that yellow line, to allow teachers room to bring the children into the building. There will also be pylons placed for the first 4 cars to pull up to.

Please remember that you should only park in marked parking spots.

DO NOT PARK PARRALLEL TO THE DOORS BECAUSE YOU WILL BLOCK OTHER DRIVERS’ VIEWS AS THEY CIRCLE THE BUILDING.

PLEASE USE CAR SEATS & SEAT BELTS!

PERSONAL RECORDS -

All student files (which include the progress report form, his/her application for admission, immunization dates, and the medical consent form) are all kept confidential and are seen only by the teacher and director.

NEWSLETTERS -

The director’s and teachers’ newsletters are sent home monthly during the last week of each month. Please read them carefully to understand your child’s activities in the school, to learn of any changes in school policy, and to be aware of important dates to remember. Snack schedules and volunteer schedules are also sent home monthly.

FIELD TRIPS -

Field trips are taken occasionally to areas of interest in the surrounding area. Permission slips are sent home prior to each field trip. Please send those back to school promptly, so that the teacher can plan accordingly. Also be sure to note any special instructions, such as what to wear, or how much money to send. The form is designed so that the bottom half returns to the teacher, and you can keep the upper portion for your information. Field trip transportation is provided by volunteer parents, who must have a valid driver’s license and liability and accident insurance. The permission slip has a section on it where parents can indicate if they would like to drive for that field trip, and, if so, how many students they can take (in seat belts and not in the front seat.) Any student who is not yet 4 must also provide a car seat. Parents of older students may also send their car seat, if they wish to. Parents always have the option of not sending their child to school, should they not want them to participate.

LIBRARY -

Each week the children go to “library” and check out a book. The book is to be returned to school by library day of the next week. (Teachers will inform you of your child’s library day.) If a child does not return the book, he/she will not be allowed to check out another book until that one has been returned. Parents must help each child to learn how to care for books: don’t throw them, bite them, tear them, color in them, or allow pets and/or smaller children to get hold of them. We do send reminders when books are overdue. If the book is still not returned after two weeks, a fine of 50 cents will be charged for each week that the book is not returned. After 2 months, you would need to pay a replacement cost of $5.00 (or more, if the book is a new, more expensive one.) If you pay the replacement cost and then find the book, we will return your fee when you return the book. We have found that it is best to keep the book in the child’s school bag or a location that is not the same as books you check out from the library or from other schools. If you feel you have accidentally returned a book to another school or a branch of the library, please contact both that library and our office. If that is the case, eventually the error gets straightened out, thanks to the bar codes and labels in their books. The library books are one of the children’s favorite things. So, please help them to make sure they get their book back on time. Remember to read to your child often. You can also ask questions about what you read to stimulate their thinking, memory, and attention span. Frequent reading to your child is one of the most important aspects for later reading success.