Good Shepherd Toddler Care Center
UniversityMontessoriSchool
Policies & Procedures
Handbook
August 2011 – May 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pg. 1 Goals
Pg. 2 Spirituality
Pg. 3 Admission / Enrollment Process
Pg. 4 Calendar: August 2011-May 2012
Pg. 5 Holidays
Pg. 6, 7 Prepared Environments
Pg. 8 Daily Schedule
Pg. 9 Hours of Operation
Pg. 10 Fees
Pg. 11 Drop Off
Pg. 12 Pick Up
Pg. 13 Diapers / Rest Time
Pg. 14-18 Behavior / Discipline
Pg. 19 Discrimination / Abuse
Pg. 20 Snacks
Pg. 21 Lunch
Pg. 22 Medication
Pg. 23 General Health
Pg. 24 Dress Code
Pg. 25 Home & School Communication
Pg. 26 Booster Club / Grandparents Guild
Pg. 27 Campus Security
Pg. 28 Candle Snuffing
Pg. 29 Birthday Celebration of Life Ceremony
Pg. 30 Recommendations
Pg. 31 Tax Information / Wish List
UniversityMontessoriSchool Goals
- to enjoy a peaceful, secure atmosphere conducive to safe exploration and independent movement, according to the Montessori philosophy
- to enjoy consistency and predictability in a prepared environment out of respect for the child’s sensitive period for order
- to enjoy healthy, positive interactions and practice cooperative socialization skills
- to practice coordination and manners through the Montessori Lessons of Grace and Courtesy
- to practice Life Skills and Virtues
- to be introduced to the disciplines of Language, Mathematics, History, Geography, Botany, Zoology and Art by way of concrete, sensorial materials and creative presentations which assist one’s transition into abstract comprehension and expression
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School Spirituality
An undeniable Christian thread is woven throughout the goals and interactions of the UMS experience.
You will see crosses in each house.
We bless our food each day before lunch, and offer a prayer for “all the hungry children.”
We celebrate the Christian dimensions of both Christmas and Easter.
Prayer time and Christian music for children are often incorporated into our gatherings.
Family, in all of its shapes and sizes, is reverenced.
“Divine sparks” found in each person are acknowledged and honored.
In essence, these grounds,and all of the gatherings and lessons shared upon them, are dedicated to the Good Shepherd; the one who knows us each by name, the one who seeks us whenever we are lost, the one who leads us to fullness of life.
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Admission / Enrollment Process
Although UniversityMontessoriSchool is open twelve months per year, registration for enrollment in the August through May school year months begins in February of the current year.
Children are admitted in the following order of preference:
- presently enrolled students who will be staying
- siblings of presently enrolled students
- second generation students of UMS alums
- relatives and friends of the UMS “school family”
- all other children whose received and dated applications have placed them on our waiting list, which begins its formation every August
Parents of presently enrolled students and their siblings must complete and return their applications each February along with a non-refundable registration fee (presently $250.00) to officially place their child(ren) on the August-May roster.
Parents of all other applicants must:
- arrange for a tour
- review the Policies & Procedures Handbook
- complete and return their applications which will be dated upon their reception
These families will then be notified of acceptance and must remit a non-refundable registration fee (presently $250.00) to officially place their child(ren) immediately, if openings are available, or to officially claim placement on the August-May roster.
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Calendar of Family Events, Chidren’s Special Activities, Fundraisers, HOLIDAYS, Etc
July
Monday, July 4th: HOLIDAY (4th of July)
Wednesday, July 27th @ 6:30pm (Mandatory Parent Meeting: Option #1)
Saturday, July 30th @ 10:00am (Mandatory Parent Meeting: Option #2)
(one representative from each enrolled family MUST attend one of these)
Sunday, July 31st: UMS Open House, 3:00pm-5:00pm
August
Monday, August 1st: First day of 2011-2012 UMS school year
September(Fundraiser)
Monday, September 5th: HOLIDAY (Labor Day)
Wednesday, September 21st: Grandparents Day Breakfast
October
Friday, October 21st: UMS Annual Autumn Festival
November
Friday, November18th: Children’s Thanksgiving Feast
Reservation Days: Monday, November 21st qnd Tuesday, November 22nd
Wednesday, November 23rd – Friday, November 25th: HOLIDAYS (Thanksgiving)
December(Fundraiser)
Friday, December 16th: Nativity Play & House Parties
Reservation Days: Monday, December 19th
Tuesday, December 20th
Wednesday, December 21st
Thursday, December 22nd and Friday, December 23rd: HOLIDAYS (Christmas)
Reservation Days: Monday, December 26th
Tuesday, December 27th
Wednesday, December 28th
Thursday, December 29th and Friday, December 30th: HOLIDAYS (Christmas)
January
Monday, January 2nd: HOLIDAY (New Year’s)
Friday, January 6th: Casa dei Bambini Day: King Cake & Pajamas
Monday, January 16th: HOLIDAY (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
February(Fundraiser)
Tuesday, February 14th: Valentine Exchange & House Parties
Thursday, February 16th: Mardi Party: 5:00pm
Monday, February 20th and Tuesday, February 21st: HOLIDAYS (Mardi Gras)
March
Tuesday, March 20th: Spring Festival
Sunday, March 11th: Daylight Saving Time begins
April(Fundraiser: Annual UMS Auction)
Friday, April 6th: HOLIDAY (Good Friday)
Monday, April 9th: HOLIDAY (Easter Monday)
Sunday, April 22nd: End of the Year Ceremony, 10:00am
Luncheon & Auction, 11:00am-1:00pm
May
Monday, May 28th: HOLIDAY (Memorial Day)
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HOLIDAYS
2011-2012
July
Monday, July 4th (Fourth of July)
September
Monday, September 5th (Labor Day)
November
Wednesday, November 23rd
Thursday, November 24th (Thanksgiving)
Friday, November 25th
December
Thursday, December 22nd
Friday, December 23rd
Thursday, December 29th
Friday, December 30th
January
Monday, January 2nd
Monday, January 16th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
February
Monday, February 20th
Tuesday, February 21st (Mardi Gras)
April
Friday, April 6th (Good Friday)
Monday, April 9th (Easter Monday)
May
Monday, May 28th (Memorial Day)
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Prepared Environments
Rooted in the Montessori philosophy, UniversityMontessoriSchool offers small ratios of children to staff and prepares our environments with materials that are well constructed and inviting to all the senses.
Montessori environments are designed to entice the child’s innate sense of wonder about his/her rapidly expanding little world. They are also designed to set the child up for success and self-correction.
As we prepare the areas of each house and offer individual and small group lessons, we invite the child to explore the endless possibilities for learning and growing. Montessori environments are designed to promote peace, order and responsible independence.
Also, through modeling, role play, conversation and practice, the children are encouraged to develop positive life skills and embrace a virtuous life path.
Some life skills we encourage are:
Concentration, sequencing, coordination, appropriate indoor voice and movement, articulation of thoughts and feelings, positive conflict resolution, social and solitary comfort levels, self confidence, manners and an appreciation for rest and composure.
Some virtues we encourage are:
Accountability, consideration, contentment, cooperation, courage, courtesy, creativity, determination, diligence, enthusiasm, excellence, flexibility, generosity, gentleness, gratitude, helpfulness, honesty, hospitality, joyfulness, justice, kindness, loyalty, orderliness, patience, peacefulness, perseverance, reliability, responsibility, self control, self discipline, service, tact and tolerance.
Practical Life and Sensorial Environments
(connecting with our internal world)
The materials in these areas provide the child with opportunities to practice everyday activities such as pouring, scooping, sorting, transferring, etc., while equally offering practice in developing concentration, coordination, independence and order. The children refine their senses by practicing with materials that demonstrate differentiating gradations of color, size, texture, shape, etc.
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Cultural Environments
(connecting with our external world)
History, Geography, Botany, Zoology, Art
The materials in these areas provide the child with opportunities to explore the vastness of the natural world, the richness of diversity among people and respect for the gifts of creation. They present countless avenues through which the child can connect with all that surrounds him/her.
Language Environment
The Language sequence of lessons offers opportunities for ;
sounding out and tracing the shapes of the letters
matching small objects with their beginning sounds
building words by putting letter sounds together
building phrases by putting words together
building sentences by putting words/phrases together
building stories by putting sentences together
creating books
researching, discussing, comprehending, communicating, connecting
The child is open to all this and more through exploration of the manipulative language materials in a Montessori house. Letter formation, precision, concentration and production are all practiced in this environment.
Math Environment
The materials in this area provide the child with opportunities to manipulate concretely those representations of abstract concepts such as quantity, numeral, the decimal system, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, geometry, fractions and algebraic equations.
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Typical Daily Schedule
7:30am – 10:15am
Arrival
Indoor work time
Individual and small group lessons
Morning Snack
First bathroom / diaper check (if app.)
10:15am – 11:20am
Circle time; large group lesson
Outdoor play time
11:20am – 11:30am
Second bathroom / diaper check (if app.)
Handwashing
Half day children are picked up
11:30am – 12:00pm
Communal lunch
Wash up / bathroom / diaper check (if necessary)
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Rest time
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Wake up
Third bathroom / diaper check (if app.)
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Outdoor play
3:30pm – 4:00pm
Hand washing
Afternoon snack
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Outdoor play or indoor work time
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Hours of Operation
Full Day Attendance Options
7:30am – 5:30pm
or
7:30am – 3:30pm
or
8:30am – 3:30pm
Half Day Attendance Option
7:30am – 11:30am
NOTE:
All children should arrive by 8:30am.No child should remain past 5:30pm.
Observation Hours
Parents, family members and persons interested in learning more about our offerings are encouraged and welcomed to arrange an observation hour during which they are provided a “front row seat” from which to observe and enjoy a typical morning in our Montessori houses. All guests must set an appointment and sign in and out on their appointed day.
Office Hours
If your call to the office line (985-345-4676) is answered by a recording, please leave a message and your call will be returned as quickly as possible. If an emergency arises and you prefer not to leave a message, call Bonnie’s cell (985-264-0307.)
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Tuition / Fees
There are four enrollment options from which a family can choose:
7:30am-5:30pm @ $650.00 per month
7:30am-3:30pm @ $560.00 per month
8:30am-3:30pm @ $525.00 per month
7:30am-11:30am @$400.00 per month
Invoices are sent out approximately 2 weeks before each due date. Due dates are the 15th of the month prior to the month in which child care services are provided.
(For example, August’s monthly payment is due on July 15th.)
Note:
Children should not arrive earlier than or depart later than the times selected on the Enrollment/Financial Agreement Forms, which are signed by each parent before a child’s starting date. Should a child attend longer than the times selected, an $8.00 per hour extended care fee will be assessed and invoiced.
Fundraiser Lunch Option Orders
These optional order forms must be completed and handed in before each child’s starting date.
Fees will be invoiced according to the orders specified on the forms.
Other Fundraisers
Because UMS is a tuition-based private pre-school, fundraising is a necessary component of our budget if we hope to continue to offer reasonable tuition rates. UMS does not receive any state or federal assistance.
Though no one is required to participate in fundraising efforts, everyone will be notified regarding the details of all fundraisers. As well, “wish lists” are often posted prior to various special events. Your donations, though not required, are always welcomed and do help to keep down the cost of events.
Please assist us if you have any suggestions for fundraising efforts, especially those that draw from outside of the UMS family!
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Drop off
Parents are asked to park their car and turn off the engine.
Please encourage your child to walk to their school house vs. carrying him/her, then say goodbye at the door.
We ask that parents not enter the school houses at drop off time.
Upon entering, each child will be greeted and signed in by the Staff Assistant. Then, they will hang their bags, jackets and lunch boxes and choose from the indoor work options.
During the various arrival times, both individual and small group lessons are being shared. Keeping the house as quiet as possible is critical to these lessons and to the focus and concentration of the child/children engaging in them. Keeping a calm and steady energy in the house feeds the young child’s need for order. Too much activity at the front door distracts the lessons and the flow of the peaceful learning environmentthat we try to promote here at UMS.
It is preferred that any special requests, information, concerns, etc., be communicated with a House Coordinator or Bonnie via a note attached to your child’s school bag, a text or a phone call. But, if you need to speak personally with one of us at drop off, we just ask that this be done quietly and outside of the front door.
If you have a sibling in your car who will not be entering, call your child’s House Coordinator and she will come to the car to get your child rather than yourother child being left unattended in a car while you bring your UMS child to his/her house.
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Pick Up
Children will be allowed to be picked up only by thosepersons listed on their Master Card.
FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE DOWN THE NAMES OF ANY POSSIBLE PERSON WHO MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO PICK UP THEIR CHILD.
These persons will be asked to show us a driver’s license if we do not recognize them. Any names you wish to add to the list must be written in, dated and initialed on your child’soriginal Master Card. Permission for pick up via a phone call, e mail or fax regarding anyone not listed on the Master Card will not be accepted.
There will be no exceptions to this policy.
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Diapers and RestTime
Diaper Policy
If your child is not yet potty trained, you are asked to provide diapers and wet wipes. Please send an unopened case of each on your child’s first day.
Your child’s name must be clearly printed on the outside of the case of diapers and box of wet wipes. These will be stored for easy access, and you will be notified when replacements are needed.
(When your child begins showing signs of readiness, he/she will be encouraged to, “take a turn on the potty!”)
Rest Time Policy
Rest time at UniversityMontessoriSchool is from 12 noon til 2:00pm.
Each full day child needs to bring in a cloth nap mat, preferably the roll up type with pillow and blanket attached. (no character prints, please) We will provide a one inch vinyl foam mat to place underneath.
After lunch, the children scrape their plates, wash up then lie down on their nap mats.
A book is read and/or soft music is played. Everyone must lie still and rest their bodies. Disturbing the room with sounds or wiggles during nap time is not allowed. (“No words. No wiggles!”) Staff members will sit next to any child in need of assistance.
Please prepare your child for this special, restful time of day. It is really quite peaceful.
The cloth nap mats are sent home each Friday for laundering and should return each Monday.
If you must pick up your child during rest time, please let us know in advance so we can have him/her ready to leave.
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Behavior and Discipline
Behavior Expectations
In order to encourage the development of self-respect and respect for others, UniversityMontessoriSchool employs three rules:
- No child or adult may hurt another in any way.
- No child or adult may disturb the work of another.
- Every child and adult will bring “a best effort” to each new day.
Discipline Procedures
At UMS, teachers correct inappropriate behavior by using directional statements that treat the behavior as the subject of the instruction. In addition, these statements frequently offer redirection to the child and suggest more appropriate behavioral responses.
Some examples of UMS discipline statements are listed on the next page.
The “time out” concept is not labeled as such, but we do provide a space in each house and in the yards where a child can “rest themselves” or “find their self-control.”
Corporal punishment is never used.
In the event that a child’s behavior requires one-on-one supervision or restraint, we reserve the right to call the parent and have the child removed until a parent/school conference can be arranged and some intervention possibilities decided upon.
Derogatory remarks about a child or adult are not made in the presence of the children. Children are not allowed to discipline other children. Children are in the sight of a staff member at all times. Children are never deprived of a meal or snack as a disciplinary measure.
We do not use terms such as “good girl / bad girl or good boy / bad boy.” We do not threaten, shame or engage in offering rewards for “good behavior.” Instead, we have “expectations.” We attempt to lead the children into experiencing that truth and responsible living offer their own rewards! We model and encourage the practice of virtues.
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Examples of some directional statements used at UMS:
“Hitting is not okay. Hitting hurts. Hitting is not allowed.”
“Biting is NEVER okay.”
“Unkind words hurt feelings. Can you give your message in a kinder way?”
“Name calling is not allowed.”
“Teasing sometimes hurts feelings.”
“Friends invite.”
“Friends take turns.”
“Friends are kind.”
“Please try to tell ___ how that made you feel.”
“Choose another friend for today if you and ___ are not getting along.”
“Working and playing on your own is good to do sometimes.”
“Come and sit down (over here, on the bench, on the porch swing, etc.) and
calm your body.”
“Find your self control.”
“Do you need me to help you walk away?”
“Do what is right.”
“Choose another game.”
“Stay where a teacher can see you.”
“I can only keep you safe if you listen to my instructions. Mom and Dad