THE ARK
PARENT
HANDBOOK
MISSION STATEMENT:
Our focus is our ministry to the children of this community and their families. We want to provide a safe, fun and spiritually filled environment where these children are exposed to our
Lord and we can plant the seeds of His love in their hearts.
“PLANTING THE SEEDS OF GOD’S LOVE IN THEIR HEARTS”
www.thearkrockwall.com
ADMISSIONS ENROLLMENT POLICY
The Ark Preschool and Sun & Fun admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic 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 ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, and any other school administered programs.
“The Ark” is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
8700 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 104 Dallas, Texas 75247, www.dfps.state.tx.u, 800-582-6036 or 214-583-4253. A copy of the minimum standards and “The Ark’s” most recent licensing inspection report are available for review in the Director’s office. “The Ark” will immediately notify you of any policy changes. If you have any questions about the Preschool or classroom you may contact the Director at 972-771-5501.
To attend “The Ark” the following admission requirements must be met prior to entry:
(1) Enrollment form complete, with a parent signature, date of enrollment and at least one emergency contact person listed (2) The Authorization for Emergency Medical Care form must be notarized (3) A current Immunization Record (4) A Vision and Hearing Screening for four year olds and five years must be done yearly. YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND IF THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET prior to entry. Students entering the mid-3 year old class and older must be potty trained.
“The Ark” reserves the right to refuse admission to any student whose presence is considered detrimental to the school’s best interest. Re-enrollment is reserved for families willing to cooperate with the school.
"The Ark" is a Gang-free zone. Gang-related criminal activity or engaging in organized criminal activity within 1000 feet of The Ark is a violation of this law and is therefore subject to increased penalty under state law.
TUITION PAYMENT INFORMATION
Tuition is based on nine months and is divided into nine equal payments. Tuition is the same for each month regardless of holidays or absences. No adjustments will be made to monthly tuition due to bad weather closings or for closings due to circumstances beyond our control. Monthly tuition is to be paid on the first of each month by check or money order, made payable to “The Ark” FUMC Preschool. You may mail your monthly tuition to 1200 Yellowjacket Lane Rockwall, TX. 75087 or leave it in the drop box located by the office in both buildings. Cash transactions will not be accepted. A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for payments not received by the 10th of the month. A return check fee of $25.00 will be charged for all returned checks. If tuition and/or fees remain unpaid by the beginning of the next month, your child will no longer be able to attend our program and their spot will be relinquished. We are a nonprofit organization and depend upon tuition made on schedule to meet our obligations. A statement will be generated only for those who are delinquent in their tuition payment. Put your child’s name in the memo portion of the check. For tax purposes, please note the Tax ID # for “The Ark” is 75-2138339
Drop-in days for students currently enrolled are based on availability. Please contact the Director for drop-in availability and rates.
SEMESTER FEES AND BUILDING USE FEE
PAYMENT INFORMATION
The 1st semester fee is due upon enrolling. A cancellation refund of the 1st semester fee will be made until September 1st only if (1) the child becomes chronically ill and unable physically to attend any school or (2) the family moves from the school area. After September 1st, the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. A building use fee is due on November 1st or at time of enrollment if November 1st has passed. A 2nd semester fee is due on January 1st. A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for fees not received by the 10th. You will be made aware of all fees at enrollment and you may view them on our website "tuition and fees page" throughout the year.
WITHDRAWALS
If you find it necessary to withdraw your child from the program, give the Director as much notice as possible. Parents are responsible for payments of all fees until the school has been notified in writing that the child is being withdrawn. Those waiting for a vacancy will need time to make preparations for attendance. “The Ark” reserves the right to call for the immediate withdrawal of any student whose presence is considered detrimental to the school’s best interest.
SCHOOL CALENDAR AND CANCELLATION POLICY
“The Ark” follows the RISD school calendar, with the exception of the first day and the last day of school. Classes are held 9:00 A. M. - 2:30 P. M. “The Ark” observes all holidays, bad weather closings, other closings of the RISD, and unscheduled church activities that require use of the building. In the event of an early dismissal, “The Ark” will dismiss one hour prior to RISD. In the event of an RISD late opening due to bad weather, “The Ark” will not hold classes. “The Ark” will not observe RISD bad weather make-up days, unless notified by the Director. When hazardous weather conditions exist, parents are asked to tune into one of the local metroplex radio or television stations for official RISD closing announcements.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Classes begin at 9:00 A. M. Please sign-in your child at their classroom, noting the time of arrival, the telephone number and the name of the pick-up person. Never leave your child in a classroom unattended.
Classes end at 2:30 P. M., please be prompt in picking up your child and signing them out. If you have more than one child to pick up, arrive early enough to have the last child picked up no later than 2:30 P. M. All delinquent pick ups will go into our Extended Care Program.
Please use care in entering and leaving the parking lot. Do not park under the porte cochere or in the fire lanes. Never leave your vehicle running and unattended, this creates an unsafe environment for those entering and leaving the facility. Never leave children unattended in a parked car. Please do not use the disabled parking spaces unless you are disabled. The playground driveway is a no parking fire zone and should never be used for arrivals and departures.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS
It is to your child’s advantage to be on time, as they miss out on planned curriculum activities and it disrupts the learning process.
STUDENT RELEASE PROCEDURES
Parents must Sign-In and Sign-Out their child daily. Students will be released to:
1. Parents
2. Person(s) authorized by the parent on the child’s enrollment form
3. Person named on the Daily Sign-In sheet
A photo ID will be required, if the staff does not know the person picking up the student.
In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation, "The Ark's" relocation site is the Rockwall County Library 1215 E. Yellowjacket Ln., Rockwall, TX. 75087.
EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM
“The Ark’s” Extended Care Program is available to children in the 2-year-old class and older.
Hours are — A. M. Session 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. P. M. Session 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Extended Care is offered as a courtesy because we realize things happen sometimes to prevent parents from arriving by 2:30. Your child may be escorted to the Extended Care room at any time after 2:30 p.m. Children must be picked-up before 3:30. Extended Care fees are $7.00 per session, per child, fees must be paid daily and separate from tuition. Fees not paid daily will be billed at a penalty rate of $10.00 per session. If your child is not picked up by 3:30, you will be charged $5.00 for every three minutes past 3:30, payable upon pick up. The atomic clock in the hallway will be used to determine the exact time. Also at this time we will contact the church office and begin calling persons on your pick up list (friends, neighbors, etc.). If no one can be reached after all known contacts are exhausted, we have to assume that a major event has taken place in your life (accident, death, etc.,) we will then notify the Rockwall Police Department and The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The church phone number is 972-771-5500 in the event you are unable to reach “The Ark”.
DAILY CLASS SCHEDULES
Daily class schedules are posted in each classroom. A weekly take home note detailing activities will be sent home with each child on Thursdays and Fridays. Please read all notes and familiarize yourself with the schedule. Classroom news and curriculum calendar will be posted outside of each classroom on a cork board.
ESSENTIALS
Each child in the 2-year-old class and older should have a large backpack (adult size) to hold a lunch box, change of clothing, a coat, a blanket, diapers, artwork, etc. LABEL ALL ITEMS
FOOD
1. NO CANDY OR CAN SODA.
2. Each child should bring a nutritious lunch. Nutritious foods might include a sandwich consisting of meat and cheese or peanut butter, bite size fruit and/or bite size vegetables, and fruit juice, water, or milk. Please do not send pizza lunchables, taco lunchables, or food in squeeze tubes (yogurt) for classes younger than the 4-year -olds as they are too hard for the child to prepare and manipulate without teacher assistance. Children in the Toddler class should have finger food, please do not send pudding, yogurt, applesauce, fruit, or other liquefied foods. Do not send foods that require heating. “The Ark” staff encourages students to eat their nutritious foods before having dessert.
3. Include an ice pack.
4. Include a drink.
5. “The Ark” provides a morning snack; notify the teacher of any food allergies. You may be asked to provide your child’s snack daily, if they have a food allergy.
6. “The Ark” encourages special treats or snacks for holidays or birthdays. If your child has a food allergy, you will be asked to provide a bag of treats they can eat whenever a birthday is celebrated in the classroom.
If your child has severe food allergies you must provide their snack daily, as well as a bag of treats they can eat whenever a birthday is celebrated or for other special occasions. Parents are responsible for scheduling a meeting with the Director the week before school starts to make an allergy plan of action for their child.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
1. There will be no birthday “parties” held in classrooms. Parents may send pre-packaged cookies or cup cakes. Home-baked or home-prepared foods will not be se NO INVITATIONS WILL BE PASSED OUT BY THE TEACHER.
CLOTHING
1. Children should wear washable play clothes free from complicated fastenings, and preferably rubber soled shoes. No sandals, clogs, or thongs. Children have a very difficult time playing on the playground with this type of shoe.
2. Children should not wear any clothing depicting an evil or violent theme.
3. Please do not send your child in Halloween attire, as “The Ark” does not observe this day.
4. “The Ark” T-Shirt Days are every Tuesday and Friday. Wear your Ark T-Shirt!
5. Include in your child’s backpack a complete change of clothing in a gallon size zip-loc baggie, labeled with child’s name.
6. Children in diapers should bring disposable diapers daily (labeled with their name
on the front of the diaper).
REST TIME
Each child will have a daily rest period. A tri-fold vinyl rest mat will be provided for each child. Mats are sanitized daily. A blanket is optional, but necessary in cooler weather.
VIDEOS “G” rated movies will be shown occasionally on party days
TOYS
Toys should NOT be brought to school as they cause confusion and may be lost. The other children find it too difficult to understand why the child who brought the toy does not have to share his or her toy.
BEHAVIOR, DISCIPLINE AND GUIDANCE
There will be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline are prohibited:
1. Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment;
2. Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training;
3. Pinching, shaking, or biting a child;
4. Hitting a child with a hand or instrument;
5. Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth;
6. Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child;
7. Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language;
8. Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed;
9. Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child’s age
“The Ark” will only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourages self-esteem, self-control, and self-direction, which include at least the following:
1. Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior;
2. Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements;
4. Using brief supervised separation of time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age
Discipline will be individualized and consistent for each child, appropriate to the child’s level of understanding, and directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.