Parent Handbook
2016 – 2017
19115 Spanish Needle Houston, Texas 77084
281-578-9838
www.MontessoriMoments.com
Welcome to Montessori Moments. Included in this handbook, you will find information to help you and your child with this transition. Please read the booklet carefully and keep it in a safe place so you may refer to it throughout the year.
Please remember, every effort has been made to include all information that would be helpful to you in this booklet. However, parents are encouraged to observe in their child’s class and schedule conferences with his/her teacher to familiarize themselves with classroom routines and schedules.
As you know the Montessori environment is designed to meet the individual needs of each child. Our aim is to provide your child with many opportunities to discover and learn by direct contact with the environment and by use of the self-correcting materials. Whether your child is playing on the playground, working on the patio, or getting a lesson in the classroom, he or she is learning. It is through these multi-sensorial experiences that we hope to increase your child’s love for learning and his or her ability to learn.
Parent involvement is an important part of the Montessori Moments experience. We encourage parents to participate in the many school activities we offer in order to help maintain a culture of community in our school, as well as for the benefit of themselves and their child!
Please familiarize yourself with our school’s policies and procedures. If you have any questions after reviewing the following information, contact the office. We will be happy to answer your questions or set up a meeting at any time. Please review the Student Checklist included in this booklet; these are the items that need to be completed or updated for your child’s enrollment.
We look forward to working with your family and sharing in your child’s joy of learning.
Sincerely,
Montessori Moments
Table of Contents
Student Check List 2
2016 – 2017 School Year Calendar (on website)
Enrollment 4
Tuition 5
Drop off & Pick up 7
Uniforms 8
Extra Clothes 8
Lunch Time 9
Nap 10
Sick Children Policy 11
Medication 13
Discipline 13
Authorization for release of child 14
Keeping in Touch and Conferences 14
Show & Tell 14
Toys and Personal Items 14
Snack 15
Birthdays 15
No Babysitting Policy 16
Teacher in Service Days and Student Holidays 16
Severe Weather Closings 16
Teacher Observation Tools 16
Brigance Screen
IOWA Test of Basic Skills
Breast feeding 17
Corresponding with Administration 17
Elementary Schedule 18
Primary Schedule 19
Toddler Community Schedule 20
Basic Snack Menu 21
General Information 22-23
*For any questions regarding Texas state regulations, please visit the official site of the Department of Family and Protective services at www.dfps.state.tx.us
Montessori Moments
Student Check List
I. Please complete and/or update these items before your child begins the academic school year:
A. Enrollment Form and Agreement
B. Personal Record
C. Health and Immunization form with current records
D. First Aid Permission
E. New Student Checklist
F. Parent Rating Form for children 3 yrs. and older
G. Quick Reference Card
H. Fingernail Form
II. Submit current and updated Immunization Record annually.
III. Review Montessori Moments General Information and Policies contained in this handbook.
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Enrollment Information
Montessori Moments is dedicated to helping your child develop skills, attitudes and habits that encourage self-confidence, independence, and creative intelligence. Children progress at their own pace, therefore, to ensure that we address your child’s needs, all new students are enrolled at the school on a six weeks trial period, after which the student’s progress is evaluated to determine whether the student will benefit from continuing.
Montessori Moments reserves the right to disenroll any child who does not conform to school policies. This includes children who do not demonstrate age-appropriate behavior or readiness to separate from home and bond with a new adult in a non-home situation.
All children regardless of race, color, creed and national or ethnic origin are eligible for enrollment at Montessori Moments.
Registration:
A completed registration form and payment of registration fee (non-refundable) places the student’s name on a waiting list for consideration as vacancies arise. When a vacancy occurs, order of the application is observed within the limits of age and sex balance in the classroom. An interview is then arranged for the prospective student, his parents, and a staff member to help determine the student’s readiness for school, to introduce the student to the program and to establish understanding between the family and the school.
The registration fee is an annual fee and is not pro-rated, regardless of the time of year a student is enrolled. Registration fee does not include Summer Activity fees or any other special occasion fees.
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Applications for summer registration and re-enrollment for Fall are sent out to our current students each March. Currently enrolled students are given priority enrollment until open registration begins for new students on April 1. (Students cannot be re-enrolled until all financial obligations of the previous school year have been met).
Tuition:
· The monthly tuition is due and payable on the first day of each month. An ACH form is completed and tuition is processed by the office.
· Cash payments can be arranged in the office. Please be sure you are given a cash receipt for each transaction to ensure your account is properly credited.
· Late Payment Policy: Payment after the third calendar day will be assessed a late fee charge of $20.00.
· Delinquencies: If tuition is not received by the 8th of the month, or your child is absent without payment, your child will be automatically dropped from enrollment. This includes payment for annual Registration, supplies, and other fees.
· Special Payment Arrangements: Occasionally, special payment arrangements may need to be made. If so, please consult with the office for approval.
· Scholarships: Montessori Moments offers tuition reduction through governmental programs as well as in-house scholarships. However, vacation and deposit credit do not apply. Child must attend 5 days/wk. to qualify.
· Students are unable to participate in any Extra Curricular activities (such as fieldtrips, Spanish, Music, Dance, Soccer, etc.) if tuition obligations are not met.
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· All children are considered enrolled for 12 months and full tuition is due for each month unless 30 days written notice is given before the child’s last day and withdrawing or leaving the school for any reason.
· Tuition payments are calculated on an annual basis, therefore, full monthly tuition is due whether your child is enrolled on a Full-Day, KISD, Extended-Day or Half-Day schedule, even during the months when Holidays, Breaks or In-Service days occur, as these have already been accounted for.
· There are no reductions in tuition for sick days, scheduled holidays, vacations, or other absences since staffing and other operational costs are not eliminated when your child is temporarily absent.
· With a 30-day advanced written notice, Full-day Students are given allowances for two weeks of vacation annually. This can only be taken during the Winter Holiday, Spring Break and/or the summer months provided the school is given the 30 days advance written notice. Please remember there are no exceptions. Vacation credit cannot be applied without the required 30 days advance written notice of the absence.
· Please remember: the deposit is non-refundable. Deposit will be applied to your child’s last month’s tuition, provided Montessori Moments has been given 30 days advanced written notice before the child’s last day of attendance. If proper notice is not given, the deposit will be forfeited.
· School records will not be released until all financial obligations with the school have been met. This includes any late fees, Testing Fees, Annual Registration Fees, etc. 6
Drop off & Pick up:
Our operating hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The playground gates are for emergency use only, therefore, ONLY pick up and drop off the children using the front door. Please, do not share the door code with others. This code limits access to our school. Other people, who may be picking up, can ring the doorbell and present identification. ID will be checked against those authorized to pick up your child. As a courtesy to your child and our staff, Montessori Moments is a NO CELL PHONE ZONE. Please refrain from using your cell phone during pickup/drop off of your child.
Check your child’s class schedule to ensure that your child arrives on time. To reduce interruption to on-going classes, all children arriving after 9:00 a.m. (8:30 a.m. for Elementary) will need to be dropped off in the office. Elementary and Primary children will be given a tardy slip – this is their pass into class. Tardies are recorded on your child’s permanent record in their Progress Report. Three tardies represent one absence. Kindergarten and Elementary students may fail to complete class requirements with more than 5 absences.
Children may bring breakfast between 6:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. At 8:00 a.m. the children go outside. For safety reasons, no breakfast is allowed after 8:00 a.m. or on the playground.
Please note that the drop off and pick up of children before or after scheduled hours of attendance affects our ratios and the work schedules of our teachers. Half-Day children are dismissed at 12:00 p.m., Extended-Day children at 3:00 p.m., and KISD children at 4:30 p.m. Our After School Program begins at 3:00 p.m. Parents picking up their children after dismissal time will be charged an extra fee of $10.00 per hour.
If at any time you wish to have your child stay longer than regular time, or be dropped off earlier, please fill out an Extended Care Form in the office. The fee with this advance notice is $5.00 per hour/child. Without advance notice, the charge is $10.00 per hour/child. The hour is not prorated.
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Uniforms:
All children are required to wear a properly monogrammed uniform each day during the academic classes, Monday through Thursday. Children who are not in uniform may be sent home until they are able to return in the proper attire. Wednesdays are “School Pride Days”, therefore, all children are asked to wear their BEST uniforms (girls: plaid jumper with blouse and boys: red polo). Children are required to wear their hair in a manner as to not be a distraction while working or to impact the hygiene of the classroom. To avoid injuries, only closed toed, rubber-soled shoes may be worn. Also, for safety reasons, sandals, Crocs, and cowboy boots are not permitted. To limit distractions in the classroom, we kindly request that light-up shoes NOT be worn to school.
On the days that children are permitted to wear their own clothes, such as Fridays, Holiday breaks, Teacher-in-Service, and Summer Break, our policy is NO CHARACTERS on any items, including bedding, shoes, and lunch boxes. This is done to limit commercialism as well as conflicts and competition between the children.
Your child’s Montessori Moments school tote bag is part of their daily school supplies and is used to bring extra clothes, nap items, show & tell items, etc. to and from school. Backpacks and/or other bags are not allowed in the classrooms. All tote bags must be labeled with child’s name.
Extra Clothes:
Each child needs a complete change of clothing, including socks and shoes. Please label each item (including shoes) and bring them to school in a clear, plastic shoebox. They will be kept in the bathroom of your child’s classroom. Remember, even our older students work with water and engage in activities, such as gardening, that may require a change of clothes. Please check your child’s clothing box regularly to replenish as needed and also to change to appropriate clothing items for the various seasons.
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Lunch Time:
Lunch time is a fun, social, and sometimes hectic time for our friends. To help make lunch as enjoyable and successful as possible, choose containers that are easy to open, and also have fruits and vegetables peeled or sliced to make it easier for your child to eat them. Children naturally want to be independent and it is difficult for them to wait for a teacher’s assistance during this busy time.
We are required by the State Licensing agency to monitor the children’s lunches to ensure that they receive a balanced meal. We are also required to supplement lunches that do not contain a certain percentage of the child’s daily nutritional needs during their school hours. Therefore, if a child’s lunch is lacking any of the required elements (i.e. fruit, vegetable, protein, and/or dairy) a supplement will be given and a notice will be sent home as to inform you of the item(s) given as well as any charges that may apply. Please know, we also follow their suggestion and discourage sugary items in lunches. The catering company, Simply Fresh Kitchen, is an option for lunch and meets these requirements. Sign-up and fee apply. Drinks should be either white milk, 100% fruit juice, or water. Please keep the extras, such as chips, Jell-O, etc. to a minimum and know that sugary snacks and drinks (including fruit roll-ups and chocolate milk) will be sent home. Also note that the Toddler Community and Elementary class are Peanut Free.
Food suggestions:
Sandwiches, leftovers, or boiled eggs.
Sliced meats, cheese and crackers.
Fresh fruit (sliced) applesauce or canned fruit. No fruit roll-ups
or gummies, please!
Fresh or cooked vegetables (sliced).
Yogurt or vanilla pudding.
*Notes will be sent home with comments or suggestions as needed.
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Your child will need:
One insulated, child-sized lunch box (soft pac with no characters) small enough to fit in a shared cubby, and convenient enough to disinfect every night - No hard plastic, metal, oversized, or “igloo-type” lunch containers are permitted.
A small ice pack, if desired.
A CLOTH placemat to be sent in the lunchbox daily to help define their space and to aid in clean up. Please remember to include reusable utensils for your child as needed.
As always, please label all items sent to school!