Early childhood is the optimum time in children’s lives to develop creativity, curiosity, initiative, resourcefulness, independence and responsibility. Each child is unique and when given the opportunity and ample time to develop their interests, share their discoveries with others, and express their thoughts and feelings, these habits of mind will become a part of the children’s outlook on life and will serve them well throughout their lives. Each child learns from his/her environment, experiences, and contact with others. A stimulating environment in which children can grow emotionally and intellectually contains activities from which the children may choose freely, including but not limited to art materials, science and discovery, materials for large and small motor development, dramatic play, constructive play, books, stories and music, puppets, puzzles and many more.
Socialization with other children and with interested, supportive adults provides opportunities to develop problem-solving and negotiating skill, empathy, compassion, humor and many other social skills necessary for getting along in our diverse and ever-changing world. Everyone benefits from appreciation of the beauty of cultural diversity.
Teddy Bear Preschool is privately owned and operated. Its purpose is to provide quality child development services and childcare for children two years to kindergarten entry and to provide resource information for family services to the parents.
Age groupings are generally based on the child’s age as of August 1 of each year.
Groupings are flexible and a child may be moved from one group to another to meet special needs. All groups intermingle freely throughout the school day according to individual interests, needs, differences, and capabilities.
All staff members are experienced early childhood educators. All participate in a continuous program of in-service education and studies for professional advancement in order to remain alert to the ever-changing needs of today’s families and to the findings of current research. All staff members are active in our state and local professional early childhood associations.
The school is open to all children, regardless of race, nationality, or creed, who may benefit from our type of program. The child must be at least two years of age and must not be over kindergarten age. All that we expect of the children is that they come to school, be themselves, and have respect for others. What we expect of Parents and guardians is that you read the operating procedures in this handbook and in supplemental notes and newsletters that we may send you from time to time. We want you to feel free to be a part of the school, offering suggestions, comments, and constructive criticisms.
The following forms must be completed prior to the child’s first day of attendance:
Admission Agreement
Signed acknowledgement of receipt of Parent Handbook
(Lic-613) Personal Rights
(Lic-995) Parents’ Rights
(Lic 700) Identification and Emergency Information
(Lic-702) Child’s Preadmission Health History – Parent’s Report Documentation of up-to- date immunizations
(Lic-627) Emergency Treatment Consent
Within 30 days of enrollment a (Lic-701) Child’s Health Evaluation – Physician’s Report must be filed, including documentation of freedom from tuberculosis or reasons screening for tuberculosis is not indicated.
Tuition is based on the year round operation of the school divided equally to determine the monthly fees.
Fees are as follows:
DAYS PER WEEK TUITION – as of July 1, 2017
(Fees per Month)
2 Full-Days $550
2 Half-Days $380
3 Full-Days $700
3 Half-Days $500
4 Full-Days $790
4 Half-Days $600
5 Full-Days $910
5 Half-Days $700
Tuition is payable in advance. The school depends on each month’s tuition to pay its current expenses. Tuition should be paid in full by the first (1st) of the month. There is a five day grace period, after which $10.00 is added to the tuition. Other arrangements may be made in advance with the director, if needed. There is a $20.00 charge for checks returned unpaid. A registration fee of $100 is payable when you enroll a child for the first time. $100 is due for each succeeding year of enrollment. The registration fee for siblings is $75.00.
There are no optional or supplementary services offered at this time. In the event services become available, families will receive written notice of availability and will make arrangements directly with the vendor of the services.
No credit on tuition is given for scheduled school holidays, vacations or for sick days.
Each child is enrolled for the entire school year or the balance of the school year. Two weeks’ prior notice, or two weeks’ tuition, is payable upon child’s withdrawal from the program.
There will be an overtime charge for children not picked up at their contracted dismissal time. Consistent lateness after 12:30 p.m. for a morning position or 5:30 P.M. for a full-day or afternoon position will be cause to ask you to withdraw your child from the school.
In the child development program, “discipline” is to be defined as guidance, not punishment. The goal of such guidance is to assist the child in becoming self-directed, and to promote the development of pro-social behavior, which enables the child to derive satisfaction and a sense of self-worth through positive interactions with others. This is the discipline policy used at Teddy Bear Preschool, LLC.
A positive approach to child guidance is to be employed:
— The child is helped to put his/her feelings into words while staff listens respectfully.
— Situations are clarified by stating the problem in words a child can understand.
— Staff explain the actions they are taking, e.g. “I will not let you hurt yourself or others.”
— The child is encouraged to contribute to problem-solving by staff asking open-ended questions, e.g. “What do you think we should do … How can we …. ? (The goal is to teach the children how to solve/prevent problems — a skill which will serve them for a lifetime.)
— Children are given the opportunity to share their perception of what occurred.
The basis for effective guidance is communication. Communication must reflect trust and respect, must be focused and free of distractions, and must be non-threatening. Staff utilizes the following steps to effective communication:
1. Speak in a well-modulated voice. Do not yell.
2. Choose your words carefully. Tell the child what you DO want rather than what you DON’T want him/her to do, and tell why.
3. Always use the most minimal form of guidance. (A look, a nod, a smile, a question, a simple directive, a hug.)
4. If you must intercede because of conflict, you may need to take the child by the hand and remove him/her from the situation which is causing the frustration or hostility; wait with him/her until s/he is calm and can attend to what you say; at eye level with the child, elicit feelings, employ reason, and explore possible solutions. Give the child opportunity to employ agreed-upon solutions. Acknowledge successful efforts with discrete, meaningful feedback. Exert self-control. If you are acting in anger or self-interest, you are not providing guidance; you are not teaching. All forms of corporal and psychological punishment are strictly prohibited! A positive
approach to child guidance is employed – reasoning and positive direction. Other forms of discipline are not employed even if used and authorized by the parent. Every child is to be accorded dignity in his/her personal relationships with staff and other persons.
In the event that a child is not responding to the discipline methods outlined above, conferencing will be scheduled with the parent(s) and the Director. If improvement does not occur dismissal may result. The program may not meet the needs of some children or a child may be unable to adapt to a group setting.
Your child’s health is a matter of major importance to all of us. Upon enrollment, you must file with us a health form signed by a physician. We also require that the child have certain standard immunizations. A daily health inspection is given upon each child’s arrival at school. The person bringing the child must wait until the inspection is over before leaving the premises.
Your child may be sent home if any symptoms of illness appear during the day. In such cases, your child will be immediately isolated from the others and you will be contacted.
Keep Your Child Home If He or She:
Has a fever or has had one during the previous 24-hour period.
Has vomited within the previous 24-hour period.
Has a heavy nasal discharge or a constant cough.
Has diarrhea.
Is fussy, cranky, and generally out of sorts.
Is just tired. Rest at such times may prevent the development of serious illness.
Has symptoms of a possible communicable disease. (These are usually sniffles, reddened eyes, sore throat, headache and abdominal pain, plus a fever.) Please notify the school at once if the child does have a communicable disease.
Your Child May Come to School
If a cold is over, but a minor nasal drip remains.
If there has been an exposure to a communicable disease, but the school has been notified so that the incubation period can be discussed and it can be determined on what dates your child should stay home.
There are no “make-up” days to substitute for missed school days.
In case of accidental injury we will make an immediate attempt to contact a parent. If we can’t reach you, we will call the child’s physician. If necessary, we will also call an ambulance or paramedics. Until the arrival of a parent, the physician, an ambulance, or paramedics, the Director or an Assistant will be in charge and make all decisions about the care of the child. You will be expected to assume responsibility for any resultant expense not covered by our insurance. The school will maintain a parents’ signed consent form agreeing to this provision. It is to your child’s benefit that you keep the school up-to-date on phone numbers, emergency numbers, and other pertinent information.
No child will be released to a person not authorized by a parent to pick the child up. We must have written authorization for changes in this respect.
We are always in need of volunteers. We need and appreciate your assistance in planning, programs, public relations activities, recruitment of future students, and other special activities.
When you enroll your child in our school, we assume the responsibility of giving you assistance with special needs in relation to your child’s school adjustment, growth, and development.
A. Conferences in relation to your child’s progress are scheduled yearly. Upon parent’s request, one other conference per year may be arranged.
B. Parent education programs will be set up on any pertinent topic at the request of three or more parents.
C. Your own child will be given maximum consideration as an individual. We will look after your child’s health and safety while he or she is at school, and present a program geared to what we believe to be developmentally sound and educationally beneficial.
D. Resource referrals. While the school does not offer other community resources on site or utilize consultants to provide other services, referrals to other resources are available. “Experiences Areas” are set up so that parents may join their children at any time. A variety of materials are provided with which you may experiment, create, use your imagination, invent, try out, and discover the types of feelings and emotions that the children experience as they pursue activities in an environment geared toward self-learning and self-discovery. Feel free to join in!
It is our policy that children DO NOT wear to school any item of clothing which displays an action figure of any kind, including but not limited to Superman, Spiderman, Power Rangers, Power Puff Girls, Hulk, etc. It is our experience that the children play more constructively and cooperatively without reminders of figures who use “fighting” as a problem-solver. This policy also applies to lunchboxes, backpacks,
shoes, and toys.
Think of your child’s comfort and provide simple clothing that is free of complicated fastenings. Think of the messy art materials and other messy activities and provide clothing that is washable. Think of our playground and provide clothing that is sturdy. Think of the changeable coastal weather (and the fact that even though the sun may be bright and warm at 9:00 A.M. it might be cold and cloudy at 10:00 A.M.) and dress your child warmly. Provide sweaters and jackets every day.
Each child needs a full set of spare clothes in their cubby. This includes socks, underwear, shirt, pants, sweatshirt or sweater.
Finally, think of our collection of unlabeled, unclaimed clothing- and put labels on all outer garments, including hats and boots. If you do not have a permanent marker, ask a teacher to mark them.
Children should wear socks when wearing sandals. (Dirt, gravel, sand, stubbed toes.)
All sandals must have a strap across the back of the foot.
Extra Clothing
We keep a supply of spare clothes here for emergencies. The supply needs to be replenished quite often. We will appreciate contributions of large sizes in underpants, long pants, shirts, socks, and sweatshirts that your child might have outgrown. We need sizes 4, 5, 6, and 8.
Children who are scheduled to arrive in the morning must have eaten breakfast before arrival. Please do not arrive at school with breakfast to finish, as we don’t allow children to eat in the presence of those without food. We serve a mid-morning and afternoon snack. Parents are responsible for sending a nutritious lunch with their child. Please, no soda, candy, or glass containers. Food must be ready to eat; we cannot refrigerate or heat up lunches. Children who are scheduled to arrive at 12:30 p.m. must have eaten lunch before arrival.
Except for toys that are needed in the very opening days of school to help ease your child’s transition from home to school, we ask that you leave your child’s toys at home or in your car. If an item is brought to school, we cannot be responsible for it. If you have a book that may be of interest to all of the children, we will appreciate this being shared with the class. No Guns, War Toys, Action Figures, or Other Toys of Destruction. These items are taboo in our school. A child must have a means to express feelings of
aggression. We suggest clay to pound (manual dexterity), punching bag to hit (and to vent anger while developing perceptual abilities), finger paints (to soothe jangled feelings while practicing a developmental rhythmic movement).
Teddy Bear Preschool does not offer transportation services. Walking field trips may be taken within the neighborhood surrounding the school.
Arrival: Children should not arrive prior to the contracted time. Please do not arrive between 9:30 A.M. and 10:00 A.M., which is circle time. Teachers cannot talk to parents at this time and the interruption causes distraction to the children.
It is our health policy that upon arrival and before signing in, parents immediately escort their child to the restroom to wash their hands with soap and water. It is our licensing agency’s regulation that children are not to be in any part of the school unattended by an adult. Please physically remain with your child at all times until you have delivered him/her to a teacher.
Pickup: If you know you are going to be detained past 5:30, please notify the school immediately so that we can reassure your child. If saving ten minutes means risking an accident, please drive safely and plan differently next time. There is a $10.00 late fee for any child left on the school premises after 5:30 p.m. Because the school has no provision for care after 5:30 P.M., consistent lateness after that hour will be cause for dismissal. This also applies to the 12:30 pick-up time for those in the half-day program.
We want you to know, to understand, and to discuss with us our objectives. We want you to look often into our busy, happy, noisy, creative classrooms and see your child at play. We want you to realize the validity of that play and the importance of what is being learned.
Parents and teacher together can help your child develop his or her full potential.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your child’s life!