Small Miracles Preschool, Inc.
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Parents Handbook 2008-2009
Goals and Objectives
Our preschool provides your child with experiences which promote the individual child's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth and well being and shall provide for both gross and fine motor development through active participation in group and individual activities. It also seeks to help establish a basic Christian character. Preschool shall not simulate kindergarten, nor is it intended it should.
We believe children learn by doing. Therefore, our Preschool offers an environment filled with activities, toys, and materials that promote "hands-on" experiences.
With regular attendance, we hope your child will grow in his/her abilities in:
- sharing and taking turns
- speaking in a group
- small and large muscle coordination
- expression of ideas through art, movement, and music
- knowledge of his/her surroundings
- listening and following directions
- independence and self-confidence
- problem-solving skills
- use of numbers and pre-reading skills
Children are provided with positive guidance with direction for resolving conflicts and setting limits. Our goal is to help each child develop self-control, respect for the rights of others and positive self-esteem. The primary goal of this Preschool is to develop the social skills needed for the child to be successful in his/her future academic and personal life.
Staff/Child Ratio
We maintain a staff-to-child ratio better than state regulations require:3 yr. olds – 1 teacher to 6-8 children
4 yr. olds – 1 teacher to 8-10 children
Admissions
A. Ages Served:
3, 4 and 5 year olds Children are separated by age groups.3 year old classes
3 years before 9/15
These classes meet two mornings weekly
4 year old classes
4 years before 9/15
Parents may choose two, three or four mornings weekly, as openings permit
Enrollment maximums are limited by the licensing agreement between Small Miracles and the Iowa Department of Human Services.
B. Required forms of Admission:
Due on or before the first day of school to comply with state licensing standard:- Health examination form
- Iowa immunization record signed by a health professional--this must include chicken pox vaccination or parental documentation of dates when the child had the disease.
- Consent form with the following:
- Emergency medical consent form
- Emergency dental consent form
- Emergency contact information
- Photo publishing release-no names are release to newspapers
- General information form
- Fee agreement (keep one copy)
Discipline/Dismissal Policy
These steps have been put in place by the Preschool Board to protect all parties and are to be used only if all other strategies have failed to correct uncontrolled behavior:- Verbal correction with child.
- Written notification of the behavior to the parents, with request for a meeting.
- Conference with parent(s), child, teacher and directors.
- Observation of child by Area Education Association (AEA) or other outside agency. If parents refuse this step, it will be automatic grounds for dismissal.
- Dismissal, if behavior is unchanged.
Fees
Registration: There is a $30 registration fee to enroll oner child. $55 for two children in one family. This is non-refundable.Tuition: $110.00 per month for 4 days per week
$80.00 per month for 3 days per week
$60.00 per month for 2 days per week
Tuition is payable the first day of each month. This fee is due whether or not your child attends each session. This is necessary since our operating costs continue and space and materials have been reserved for your child. Please contact the directors if you ever need to make different tuition arangements.
Tuition may be paid for more than one month at a time, it that is more convenient for you. A fee of $10 will be assessed for checks returned due to insufficient funds. Tuition must be paid in cash thereafter.
Tuition not paid by th 15th of the month increases by $5. Preschool bills and salaries depend on our monthly income, and must be paid in a timely manner. All May tuitions are due on May 5, not the 15th, no exceptions. Delinquent accounts after that date will be referred to the Preschool Board of Directors for Small Claims Court litigation.
Days and Hours
The Preschool begins with conferences the Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor Day. We observe the same vacations, in-service, and snow days as the Boone Public School. Sessions run from 8:45-11:45 a.m. or from 9:00-11:30 a.m.School Cancellation
Cancellation due to bad weather will be announced only on KWBG (1590AM) radio.We will have no school.
If the public school has any delay—
We will have no school.
Snow days cannot be rescheduled; however sone "free"days are already budgeted into your monthly fees.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please use the crosswalks with your child. It's best to arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled class starting and ending times. An adult must bring the child inside the church door to meet the teacher in the foyer and must pick up the child there at the end of the morning. The church office is at the top of the stairs so we ask your help in keeping the noise level low. No one should sit on the steps- it's a danger to anyone trying to use them. Please be prompt in picking up your child. Habitual tardiness wil result in additional and substantial charges for staff overtime.Transportation
The staff cannot transport children to or from the Preschool because of insurance restrictions. Please notify us in writing if someone who is not listed on your information sheet and card will be picking up your child, or if you will be using Boone County Transportation. (We need written consent in our files.)
Field Trips, Speakers
Parents sign a permission slip at the beginning of the year for the children to take field trips. Most of our trips are taken in the spring when the weather turns better.
Usually the classes will walk to the site, we never use cars, only Boone County Transportation buses for farther field trips. We do need additional parent volunteers for all occasions when the children leave the school.
We ask people from different professions to visit the children at school. These may change from year to year. New suggestions for classroom visitors are always welcome.
Absences
For the safety of your child, we ask for notification of any absence. If we don't hear from you, we will make every attempt to contact you, your day care provider, or emergency contact.
Illness or Injury
Children should be kept at home if they show any of the following symptoms the night before or the morning of Preschool.
- Temperature over 99 degrees
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Any undiagnosed rash
- Sore or discharging eyes or ears
If your child becomes ill while at school, he/she will be isolated near an adult, but away from the children and you or an authorized person will be called to pick up your child.
Children do occasionally get bumps or scrapes when they play in groups. Every precaution is taken to avoid these kinds of injuries, but sometimes, accidents do happen. An accident report form will be sent home the day the accident occurs. The Preschool is not allowed to administer any medicine to children.
Visiting
Parents are welcome to visit school any time and may stay as long as they wish. If there is a legal restraint against any person, please provide a copy of the document to the preschool. Access to the child, in this case, will be prohibited.If possible, please wait until after September to give the teacher and child time to adjust to each other. Remember that your child is learning to be a little more independent, so it is best to limit the frequency of your visits.
Evaluations & Conferences
Parent-teacher-child meetings are held the first two days of school to let everyone get acquainted. Evaluations for each child are sent home in the fall and spring. A parent may request a conference at any time. Conferences are voluntary on the part of the parent.Note: We do not make a written recommendation concerning your child's readiness for kindergarten. The evaluations and a conference would include any information needed to help the parents make that decision. You know your child best; we are observers of his/her behavior in a more formal group setting.
What to Wear
Please dress your child in play clothes that are washable and allow for running, jumping, painting, gluing, etc. Tennis shoes with non-skid soles are best. If your child wears boots on a snowy day, please include shoes in the backpack. We can't wear boots on the carpet, and stocking feet can be stepped on and hurt.What to Bring to School
DO bring a backpack large enough to hold the folder (from supply list) and big art projects. Zipper or Velcro closures seem to work best.
DON'T send toys from home, clothing, blankets, etc. Personal belongings can cause many hurt feelings. If your child needs extra clothes for daycare, please send them in a separate plastic bag, and label the bag.
DO LABEL coats, boots, mittens, the folder, and the small notebook with your child's name; label the backpack inside for personal safety.
Supplies needed:
1 sturdy pocket folder - pockets at the bottom, NOT at the sides1 small spiral-bound notebook, about 4”x6”
4 small Elmer's washable glue sticks
1 box of 8 large primary color Crayola crayons
2 rolls of paper towels
Communications
All papers to and from school should be sent in your child's folder. A monthly calendar and newsletter, plus other notes, will keep you up-to-date with school activities. Post the calendar to read to your child, and keep all notes in your parent folder for reference. Check for your child's daily projects too, and save those at home, not in their school folder.The spiral notebook is a way for you to provide insight into your child's life. It also gives the teacher the opportunity to let you know how things are going in school. Daily use may not be necessary, but please use it often. Initial each entry as it is read.
Birthdays
Each child will have a day to celebrate his/her birthday at school (even those with summer birthdays). We will reserve a day for this,and the child is invited to provide party snacks. HOWEVER, we must ask you to follow the guidelines for nutrition even at birthday time--no cake or cupcakes. Please don't ask the teacher to make an exception-she can't.Snacks
Snack time is a favorite part of our day. It is a relaxing break from more active times, a chance to practice social skills and manners, an opportunity to refuel growing young bodies.
Sometimes the children will fix their own snacks as a learning activity. We emphasize nutrition always! Milk and water are the only beverages we will serve. Please do not provide juice or pop at any time.
Some examples of nutritious snacks that the children enjoy are as follows:
- Fresh fruits, vegetables (with or without dip)
- Crackers (NOT sandwich-type): flavored oar plain
- Granola bars
- Cereal or cereal mixes
- Peanut butter or oatmeal cookies
- Cheese, lunch meats
- Yogurt cups
- Applesauce
- Breads, bagels, pop tarts (we have toasters), with or without spreads
- Unpopped popcorn (plain or microwave)
- Others (check with teacher)
Providing treats and milk is strictly voluntary. If you would like to participate, you can sign up with your child's teacher at the beginning of the year conferences.
Professionalism
Our directors are members of the NAEYC, National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The staff meets monthly to plan and prepare curriculum to meet the needs of your child. In addition, to fulfill state requirements, each staff member attends a minimum of 4 hours annually of continuing education classes in the areas of curriculum child development and classroom management.
In-house trainig in these areas supplements the required hours.
In addition to the above training,all of the staff members are certified in First Aid, Adult and Child CPR, Universal Precautions and are trained as mandatory child abuse reporters.
Nondiscriminatory Policy
Small Miracles Preschool admits students of any race, national and ethic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school administered programs.State Licensing
Our Preschool facility is licensed by the state after complying with the standards set forth by the Iowa State Department of Human Services, the County Department of Health and the Iowa State Fire Marshall. A copy of the standards is available upon request.Federal Tax Identification
42-1486536
Small Miracles Preschool, Inc. is located in the First United Methodist Church of Boone, Iowa. Out of respect of our host facility, we must ask that the elevator be reserved for handicapped accessibility only. To assure that the church memebers can enter easily, please do not sit on or block the stairs as you wait with or for your child in the entry.
Board of Directors
Small Miracles Preschool is a non-profit incorporation governed by a board of directors. Members of the board are:Meetings are held monthly or as needed.