St. Joseph School
Pre-K4 Parent Handbook 2007-2008

PHILOSOPHY

As Catholic early childhood educators, we minister the whole child – MIND, HEART, AND HANDS. In trusting Christian environments we enable the child to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. Awakening the child’s innate desire to learn, we foster creativity and excitement about learning by facilitating a stimulating atmosphere. Understanding their uniqueness in personality and differences in learning styles creates opportunities to discover, explore, question, and succeed, thus providing the proper atmosphere which enables the child freedom of choice. ABOVE ALL, our setting nurtures the child’s spiritual relationship with God and self and develops a caring attitude for others.

GOALS

FACILITATE opportunities in spiritual, physical, social, cognitive and language development.

INITIATE an atmosphere where children appreciate a quiet time preparing them to begin a friendship with God.

GENERATE the early learner the value of life.

NURTURE a warm caring environment that develops self-esteem and a positive attitude toward learning.

CONTENT OF PROGRAM – DEVELOPMENTAL

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

Experience God through:

Religious Activities

Literature

Prayer

Music

Art

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Learn to play with others through:

Cooperative Interactions (Large & Small Group Activities)

Sharing Experiences

Organized Games

Dramatic Play

Free Play

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Love to learn through:

Introduction to Numbers and Letters

Pre-reading Activities

Manipulative Math Experiences

Story Time and Listening Activities

Cooking Activities

Science Discovery

Problem Solving

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Develop language through:

Reading, Listening and Speaking

Finger Plays and Poems

Show and Tell

Role Playing

Songs

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Develop body through:

Table, Sand and Water Activities

Large Motor Activities

Small Motor Activities

Creative Movement & Dancing

Block and Art Activities

REGISTRATION AND TUITION

Registration is held in January beginning with currently enrolled students who will be returning in the Fall. Registration will then be open to the public. Applications and medical forms are available at the school office. The following guidelines will be followed:

1. A child must be three years old by October 15 for Pre-K 3 enrollment and four years old by October 15 for Pre-K 4.

2. A $25.00 registration fee along with $100.00 deposit will be charged per family. If a student is accepted, the fee is non-refundable. If a student is not accepted, the fee will be returned by mail with a letter of non-acceptance.

3. Students will be accepted in the following order:

a. Those who are participating members of the parish and have siblings already attending St. Joseph School.

b. Open to all students.

All students will be required to have a physical examination by their pediatrician before entrance. Children cannot begin class unless a current medical form reflecting mandated immunizations is on file. Questions regarding these mandates can be answered by our Health Aide. For the health and safety of his/her classmates, this policy will be STRICTLY enforced.

Tuition will be handled by selecting one of three payment options:

1. Single payment due July 1 – CASH OR CHECK ONLY payable to St. Joseph School – 3% discount – no fee

2. Single payment due July 1 made with Visa or Master Card credit card

– no 3% discount

3. Monthly payment plan through FACTS Management Co. –

$35. processing fee – monthly FACTS payments based on 10 payments beginning in July

PRE-SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Pre-K 3 Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 – 11:30 AM

Pre-K 4 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 – 11:30 AM

Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9:00-11:30 AM

Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 9:00-11:30AM

Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 8:05 -2:30 FULL DAY

ARRIVAL, DISMISSAL AND PARKING

We will open outside doors for children to enter 5 minutes before each session begins. *For the first several weeks of school, parents are encouraged to walk children to classroom, help them with their belongings and get them settled before saying their good-byes, so we may begin our classes promptly. We stress the importance of dropping off children on time so they do not miss any important information that is given out during our opening activities.

By November 1 we will meet the Pre-K 4 children at the main front door and walk them to our classroom, unaccompanied by parents. This facilitates any separation and crying problems that may persist any longer than necessary. Most children who enter the classroom feeling upset are usually calm and happily playing within the first half hour.

Since school doors remain locked for safety reasons, we will open doors 5 minutes before each session begins and ends, so it is unnecessary to arrive any earlier. Pre-K AM parents are asked to pick up children promptly at 11:30 AM at back door. All-day Pre-K will be dismissed at 2:30 PM.

No child will be allowed to leave the school with anyone except for parents and people listed on your car pool forms. Please call the office if there is an emergency and someone other than those people are picking up your child on that particular day.

Please use the parking lot across the street from the front door of the school or the street across from church. No parking is allowed in school yard for safety purposes.

CONFERENCES

Individual conferences will be held for all children in the Pre-K Program. Goal setting conferences will be held in November and March. November conferences will take place with the St. Joseph School schedule. Dates and times will be announced in late January or early February for spring conferences. Adjustment, progress and readiness will be discussed.

A parent is free to request additional conferences if they have special concerns at any time. Parents are asked to make this request in writing. The individual teacher will answer your request as soon as possible. Conferencing will not be allowed when dropping off or picking up children. This is disruptive and takes away valuable class time.

DRESS FOR SCHOOL

Since paint, play dough, markers and other art media are used on a regular basis, it is best to dress children in play clothes that are comfortable, and not their best. Our classroom tends to be warm, so dressing children in layers seems to work out best, even in colder weather. Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes for safety reasons are recommended. Plastic cover-ups are available in our classroom and will be worn when necessary.

SNACKS/LUNCH

School snacks are provided by parents. Nutritious snacks are encouraged (fruit, cheese & crackers, cut up veggies, etc.) One or two snacks and a drink box or drink in a thermos are sufficient. Because of the possibility of allergies, we discourage the sharing of snacks at school. Kindly discuss this with your children at home and we will remind the children at school. Also include a napkin and a straw for thermos. Please label all lunch boxes and thermoses with your child’s name because so many of them are the same.

Students in Pre-K all day program will need to come with a lunch as well as morning snack. Please mark and label snack. Milk will be offered. Watch for milk forms to be sent out with school notices.

SHOW & TELL

This activity will be held on a monthly basis. Please record your child’s Show & Tell day on your Pre-K calendars. Show & Tell will usually be held during the first full week of the month. If your child is absent on his/her Show & Tell day, they may bring it on the day they come back to school. Please send in only one item each time because of the amount of time this activity requires.

EMERGENCY PLANS

ILLNESS AND INJURIES

Please do not send your child to class if you suspect he/she is ill. A child who is sick will be isolated and a parent will be contacted. Please let us know if your child contracts a contagious disease (i.e. chickenpox, conjunctivitis, etc.)

In case of injury, first aid will be administered by the Health Aide. Parents will be notified of injuries and will be documented. If necessary, 911 will be called as well as your child’s physician. The school principal will also be authorized to transport the child to the hospital.

FIRE

*Children will participate in fire drills several times during school sessions. In case of a fire alarm sounding, the children will be led outdoors via the nearest exit. If exiting through a doorway is not possible, the children will exit through the fire window located in the classroom.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Weather emergency no school days are announced on WTIC 1080 AM radio and local morning news channels. If Bristol Public Schools cancel classes, the Pre-K program will close as well.

If weather conditions become poor during school, parents are free to come early to pick up their child. If we should have to dismiss school early at any time, an announcement will be made on station WTIC 1080 AM radio. School will remain open until every child is picked up.

A delayed opening of one and one-half (1 ½ ) or more hours means our morning AM session is cancelled. However, the All day session will follow the delayed opening schedule.

PRE-K AGENDA

Opening Activities / Circle Time

· Welcome Song

· Daily Prayer

· Calendar Activities

· Pledge

· Discussion of Daily Themes and Activities

Small Groups / Free Play

Daily project or craft activity carried out in small groups while other children are participating in the following:

· Block Building

· Puzzles

· Coloring and Tracing

· Water Table Play

· Sand Table Play

· Play Dough

· Kitchen Play

· Cutting and Gluing Activities

· Manipulatives

· Computers

Clean Up / Snack Time

Whole Group Activities

· Exercise and Gross Motor Activities

· Story Time

· Songs, Poems and Finger Plays

· Flannel Board and Magnet Board Activities

· Rhythm Instruments