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First Presbyterian Preschool Parent's Handbook Philosophy and Objectives Class Assignment, Arrival, Dismissal, Where to Go Lunch If You're Late, Who Picks Up Your Child? and Traffic Absences, Vacations, Illnesses, Closings, Delays Tuition, Medical Issues, Withdrawal Filling Out the Application Dress and Personal Items Snacks, Birthdays, Parties, Programs, Photos Conferences, Class Observation, Your Feedback   The Usual Beginning Stuff Welcome to First Presbyterian Preschool. We're glad you and your child will be a part of our educational family this year. The Parents' Handbook is your guide to our policies and basic operations. As always, we welcome your comments. Feel free to talk with any member of the Preschool Board if you have questions, concerns or suggestions. We're always looking for new ideas, and we're serious about improving First Presbyterian Preschool. That's why your ideas and impressions are important. With your help, we can make sure First Presbyterian Pre-School is the very best it can be. So talk to us. We're always happy to listen! Philosophy We think children learn best through play. In fact, we think it's the most effective kind of learning, especially for preschoolers. (Maybe even for adults!) By giving our children a chance to discover, learn and play, we certainly boost their natural creative spirit for learning. Objectives We consider the whole child and encourage the best possible development during preschool years. We care about our students' physical, mental, spiritual and social welfare. We want them to learn to live together, to share and to cooperate. We help students learn good work habits, we teach them how to be good neighbors, and we help them develop a wholesome spirit of independence. In keeping with our Christian heritage, we also work with the children to develop good citizenship and Christian attitudes such as honesty, responsibility and concern for others. Beam me up, Scotty. Class Assignment First Presbyterian Preschool's classes are correctly set in line with the Wood County Schools age policy, but we consider each child and our class situation when we place children. Students begin the school year with their correct age groups. After a week or two of observing them with other children, our teachers may recommend some shifting, moving a child outside his or her age boundaries. The final decision rests with the Preschool Board of Managers, at the teacher's recommendation. 2-year-old class - age 2 by Sept. 1 3-year-old class - age 3 by Oct. 1 4-year-old class - age 4 by Oct. 31 5-year-old class - age 5 by Feb. 28 Arrival and Dismissal Arrival All morning classes begin at 9 a.m., and one 5-year-old class begins at Noon. Your child should arrive five minutes before class (between 8:55 and 9 a.m. for morning classes and between 11:55 and Noon for the afternoon class.) Dismissal The 2- and 3-year-old classes run until 11:30 a.m. Plan to pick up your child promptly at 11:30. The 4-year-old class has a "flextime" option to fit you and your child. You have a choice of leaving at 11:30 a.m. or staying through lunch to 1 p.m. Plan to pick up your child promptly at 11;30 or 1. The morning pre-kindergarten (5-year-old class) runs until 1 p.m., and the afternoon class runs until 4 p.m. Plan to pick up your child promptly at 1 or 4, respectively. Lunch If your child is participating in the 5-year-old pre-kindergarten class or in the longer 4-year-old program, they should bring their sack lunch. Where To Go 2- and 3-year-olds Drop off and pick up at the classroom. 4- and 5-year-olds Drop off and pick up in the back foyer. (Teachers will meet them there.) Beam me up, Scotty. If You Must Be Late If you haven't picked up your child within 15 minutes (by 11:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.), we charge babysitting fees in half-hour increments. We understand there are times when you're held up, but please try to call when you know you're running late. It not only helps the teachers, it also helps your child. If you call, we can reassure them you're on the way. Who Picks Up Your Child? If someone other than you (or your designated person) will pick up your child, please send a written permission note telling us who that person is. We do this for your child's safety - and your peace of mind. In an emergency, call the First Presbyterian Church Office at 422-5426. Traffic Speed & Patterns The posted speed limit in our parking lot and side streets is 15 miles per hour. Please drive carefully and obey traffic signs and arrows. The Juliana Street extension is narrow, and vehicles park on both sides. Our parking lot is busy because many groups and organizations use First Presbyterian Church. Keep an eye on your child whenever you're dropping off or picking up. Help your child become smart about traffic! Beam me up, Scotty. Absences, Vacations If your child will be or has been absent from school for more than three days, for whatever reason, please let us know. We care for our students, and their friends like to be reassured, too. Call your child's teacher, a member of the Board or the church office as soon as possible. Illnesses Please don't bring a sick child to school. First Presbyterian Preschool reserves the right to send a sick child back home. If your child doesn't feel well or was sick the night before, please keep him or her at home that day. We've found most children get better more quickly when kept home, and other children and teachers are less likely to get sick. Weather Days, Delays Whenever Wood County Schools close or delay due to weather-related conditions, First Presbyterian Preschool will also close. If the weather's bad, watch your local channel (WTAP-TV) or listen to the local radio stations for announcements from Wood County Schools. Beam me up, Scotty. Tuition Due Dates Tuition is due the first of each month and is late if not paid by the 15th, when we add a late charge of $2. How to Pay We have a couple of new ways to pay! Mail your payment in the convenient pre-addressed envelope or save postage and slip it in the drop box at the end of the hall to the right as you enter the doors. Returned Checks You are responsible for returned check fees ($10) incurred by the Preschool. Staying Current Keeps Tuition Low We really encourage you to keep your account current. When parents make timely monthly payments, we're able to keep our fees very reasonable. So help us provide quality education at affordable prices by promptly paying your monthly bill. Payment Schedule All fees must be paid in full by May 15 for your child to participate in the end-of-year promotion program. Scholarships We have a limited number of need-based scholarships available. If you're interested, ask the office for an application. Filling Out the Application For your ease, you can print a copy of our application form right from your computer, fill it out and drop it off at the church or mail it to us. We give our current students first consideration for the following year. After February 15, we open applications to first-come, first-served until all spots are filled. If you're a newcomer to our program, by all means apply for a spot in the appropriate class. We'll file your application by date received and give it consideration after February 15! Medical Issues Please be sure your child has all the necessary shots for starting school before the first day of class. This protects your child as well as other children. We also ask that you provide enough information about your child's special medical needs, like allergies or regular medicine. Withdrawal If you must withdraw your child from school, please give written notice to the Preschool Board. You may drop that notice off in the payment drop box, mail it to the church or schedule an appointment with any member of the Board. Beam me up, Scotty. Dress Oh, play clothes, definitely! Besides being more comfortable, they're more practical because our students spend a lot of time learning through play. Our students are busy each day using paint, crayons, markers and playdough; cooking, planting flowers and exploring nature; and using rice, sand and water tables. Play clothes are important! Personal Items Put your child's name on all personal items. Classrooms are fully equipped, so you'll want to leave all personal toys and valuable items at home. We'll frequently have Show and Tell, when children can bring something special from home to share. Beam me up, Scotty. Daily Snacks Parents have traditionally provided a week's worth of snacks on a rotating basis - and you'll get a chance to sign up early in the year. May we suggest fruit drinks or milk plus a nourishing snack? Birthday Celebrations We welcome birthday parties because we know birthdays are special to all of us, but especially to preschoolers. If you'd like to have a class party for your child, just talk with the teacher. Holiday Parties Our classes celebrate holidays, and we invite parents to help plan and work on the party for their child's class. We recommend simple, inexpensive parties. (Children love party games!) Special Programs We celebrate special times like graduation with programs for parents and friends and heartily encourage you to attend. Students are proud when friends and family are in the audience - your support is very important. Watch for information! Class Pictures They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so we take advantage of offering long-term memories. We schedule class pictures each Fall and send out information in plenty of time. Beam me up, Scotty. Conferences Our teachers are happy to talk with you at any time about your child's progress or any special concerns you might have. You may schedule conferences with your child's teacher outside regular class time or with a Board member at a mutually convenient time. Feel free to report anything you think might make a difference in your child's behavior. Class Observation You're welcome to observe any class at any time; we only ask that you don't disturb the class. Feedback One of our foremost goals is to continue to build a quality educational program here at First Presbyterian Preschool. You can help us. We'd love to hear your comments about our program. What's great and what can be improved? What did you like best? Least? What are our strengths? Our weaknesses? Your comments will help us continue to grow - not only great kids, but a great program, too. Beam me up, Scotty. The First Presbyterian Preschool Parent's Handbook © First Presbyterian Church of Parkersburg.