Arrivals
The
school sessions begin at 9:00 in the morning and at 1:00 in
the afternoon for all age groups. If your child arrives early, he/she will
remain in our hallway until it is time to enter their room.
Dismissal
The morning session dismisses between11:40-11:55 and the afternoon session between
3:40-3:55 for 3 & 4's year olds only.
Dismissal
time is different for our 2 year old Toddler Program, as we like our
toddlers to leave first, giving them the extra time they sometimes need. The
2 year old classes dismiss at 11:30 and at 3:30.
We ask that you be prompt in picking up your child. Please keep in mind that
many of the children are tired by the end of their session and it is
difficult for a young child to wait for their pickup after everyone else has
gone. Morning dismissal times are especially important because of our
afternoon session. Our teachers have only 45 minutes to clean up from
morning activities, have lunch and set up for their afternoon class.
Therefore, your cooperation is ecessary, as being late will impact the
teachers too.
Pick-up
It is extremely important for us to know who is authorized to pick up
your child. Therefore, we need to know if someone different is picking up
your child, whether it be a grandparent, friend or new babysitter. A note or
phone call well before dismissal is required before we will be able to
release your child to this person. This procedure also applies to play dates
when a child is going home with another child's parent or babysitter.
There will be no exceptions made to this rule.
Driveway Procedures
Parent cooperation is imperative
in making arrival and dismissal time a safe, quick and orderly procedure. If
you are on North Ridge Street coming
from the direction of King Street, you cannot make a left turn into our
driveway. We usually allow four cars at a time to drop off or pick-up
children in our circular driveway, with the first car in line stopping at
the driveway exit. We greet the children at our front door and escort them
in. For your children's safety, we require that parents turn off car engines
and set the emergency brake when loading or unloading their cars and while
there are children still on the driveway. It is also important that parents
do not get distracted with cell phone calls during this process. We suggest
that you exit to the right regardless of which direction you are going. As
per the Village request, the quickest, safest way to go southbound is to
make the first right past our building. This brings you to the service lane
of the Hutchinson River Parkway leading to Exit 29, where you can exit if
you wish.
Carpools
Carpools are always encouraged as they expedite the time needed for
arrivals and dismissals. We have found that many children seem more
comfortable arriving at school in a small group. It sometimes gives them an
added sense of security, which is particularly important at the beginning of
the school year. If you are interested in carpooling, kindly consult your
child's class list or ask the administrative staff for the names of children
in other classes who live near you.
Health
Our
Emergency Medical Treatment Authorization form required to be on file for your
child should prove useful in situations where parents cannot be
reached and your child needs emergency medical treatment.
We trust that you, as parents, will keep us fully informed of your
child¹s medical conditions, allergies and any concerns that you have in
order to position us to properly safeguard your child. An Allergy List is
posted in each classroom for the safety of your child.
Medication
We are not permitted by law to administer any medication to your child,
except Epinephrine in a dire emergency.
Clothing
Please label all of your child¹s clothing.
A complete change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) are needed for
each child at the start of
school. These clothes will be kept available in your child¹s cubbies at
school in case of a juice spill, toileting accident, paint mishap, etc. In
addition, we only allow sneakers or rubber-soled shoes on our playground.
Please do not send your child to school in party shoes, backless sandals or
clogs. Mittens rather than gloves are preferred. Keep in mind that children¹s
clothing might get stained. To prevent anyone from becoming upset, please put
clothing on your child that could run
the risk of getting ruined.
Snacks
School provides a mid-morning and mid-afternoon
snack each day. In general, we serve apple juice, milk or water along with a
cookie and a cracker. At
other times, there are pretzels, fruit, or cheese. We enjoy having a little
variety now and then. Sometimes teachers bake with their classes (muffins,
waffles, pizza, etc.) and they eat what they make for snack. We occasionally
ask parents to help us provide a healthy snack for their child¹s class.
Special Dietary Needs
We understand that there may be special dietary needs or allergies,
in which case a parent will be required to supply their child¹s snack each
day.
Some parents find it easier to send in a container of special snacks for
their child to choose from.
Appropriate Toys
We encourage children's imaginative play in positive ways. We therefore
ask that no toy guns, swords, knives or anything of this nature
be brought to school. If certain action figures that your child brings to
school are being used in a violent or other negative way, we will ask your
child to leave them at home. Otherwise, this is pre-school and if it helps
your child to bring something from home, they are welcome to do so.
If your child brings a favorite toy to school, especially one that he/she needs
at bedtime, please be aware that it may be lost or go home with the wrong child.
School Calendar
Our school program begins in mid September
addends the first week in June. A school calendar showing
dates for special events and holiday closings is mailed to parents in August.
School Closing Procedure Due to Inclement Weather or Emergency
We will always call you if we close school for your child¹s session.
Sometimes we close for the AM session and are open for the PM session.
Sometimes conditions force us to do the reverse. We ask that you do not
assume that we will be closed or open all day.
We make two sets of phone calls. Morning parents will be called between
7:15 and 7:45 AM. Afternoon parents will be called between 10:15 and 11:00
AM.
There will be an announcement for school closing on WFAS (1230AM) radio
or you can log onto www.wfasam.com and
click the Storm Center. You can also turn to television channel 12 television
to find weather-related
closings and delays.
For those of you who have contracted for transportation, there may be situations
where we will be open, but drivers will not be
providing transportation due to hazardous road conditions. If that is the
case, parents will be called.
If school is open and conditions become dangerous during the session, we
may find it necessary to close school and send your children home early.
Therefore, If You Are Not At Home, make sure you Contact
Us Early so that we
and your children will not be snowbound. If You Are Home, Please Do
Not Call Us. We need our phone lines kept open. We will call you.
In case of a dire emergency which would require us to close or evacuate
our school premises, we will activate our automated phone dial system and
parents will be telephoned and given instructions regarding our closure or
where and when to pick-up your child.