Rose Hill Montessori School
Parent Handbook / Primary School Policies
Revised January, 2007
All Parents and Guardians are responsible for the following information.
HOURS OF FACILITY
• The school is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Please check calendar for early dismissal days.
• A fee of $1.00 per minute will be charged for children picked up after 5:45 p.m. or after indicated early dismissal times. This late pick-up charge will be paid directly and immediately to the child care provider on duty.
• Please write in the time your child is dropped off and picked up each day on the sign-in sheet.
• Half-day students picked up after 12:00 noon and school-day students picked up after 3:15 pm will be charged an hourly rate in ¼ hr. increments or part of. A bill for these fees will be sent out at the end of the month.
TUITION & CHARGES
• The registration fee and the tuition/fees deposit are due at the time of registration. The registration fee is non-refundable. The tuition/fees deposit can be rolled over from one year to the next for reregistering families.
• Tuition is due on the 1st of the month. No statements will be sent out unless there are additional fees or credits. Checks or money orders are to be left in the payment box. Cash must be given to a teacher, and a receipt will be issued to you. Tuition rates and other fees are made known to parents prior to registration and are accepted by the parents at the time of registration. Parents are therefore responsible for paying the correct monthly amounts for their children.
• There is a 15 minute grace period after the scheduled time for each program to pick-up children. Children picked up after this grace period will be charged for extra care at an hourly rate charged in ¼ hour increments or part of.
• Late Charges: A 5% late fee will be applied to any tuition or outstanding balance not paid by the 5th of the month or 4 days after other pre-arranged due dates. Should the full tuition payment plus late-payment charges not be in the office by the 10th of the month it may result in the student’s dismissal.
• Delinquent or overdue tuition is ultimately the responsibility of the child’s parents or legal guardians.
• A statement is sent out to all parents having child care expenses at the end of the year along with the school’s EIN number for tax purposes, but if you need a monthly receipt in addition to this, please contact the office.
• No tuition credit is extended for vacation time or sick days. If you plan on being gone for an extended time period during the school year, the full month’s tuition will be required to hold your child’s spot.
• No student records will be forwarded to another school as long as there is a balance for school tuition or fees.
REFUND POLICY & EARLY WITHDRAWAL
• Notification of withdrawal must be given to the office 30 days in advance, otherwise a full month’s tuition is due. With proper notification, mid-month withdrawal will be prorated.
• Upon early withdrawal the tuition/fees deposit will not be refunded.
• The tuition/fees deposit will be refunded in full upon the student’s completion of the entire school year, provided there are no outstanding charges. Any unpaid charges will be deducted from the refunded amount. The refunds will be made within 30 days after the last school day. These deposits may also be rolled over should the student re-register for the following school year.
• Should a registered student be unable to attend, the school administration must receive notification prior to May 20th in order to receive a full refund of the deposit. No refund will be given for notification after May 19th.
CHILD’S RELEASE
For your child’s safety and protection, no child will be released to anyone other than a parent or person whose name appears on the registration release form or on the Emergency Information card unless arrangements have been made by a parent stating the name of the person to whom the child will be released. This person must be at least 18 years old and will need to present picture identification.
DRESS
• Please dress your child appropriately for outside play and for the weather. Unless it rains, the children will go outside every day.
• “Flip-flops” or “thongs” are dangerous footwear for outside play. Please provide safe and appropriate outside footwear during all seasons.
• Jewelry should be worn at home. It can be distracting to your child’s work and can easily break.
• When the weather starts to turn wet and nasty, “outside footwear” will be required for your child to play off the patio area. This can be boots or another pair of shoes. This footwear may be left at the school until the wet season is over.
• Please provide the school with a complete change of clothes, including underwear and socks, in case of accidents. Place clothes in a shoe box or similar container with your child’s name on the outside. Whenever your child has an accident, please send a fresh set of clean clothes.
• If your child is sent home in the school’s extra clothing, please wash and return them.
Primary Parent Handbook – 2 of 3
NAP TIME
• All children are provided with a floor mat for nap time. Blankets are not required, but if your child should bring one, please have it be small and in a nylon or plastic sealable container (i.e. small day pack, duffel bag, sweater bag). Blankets are to be taken home at the end of the week, laundered, and returned clean for the beginning of the next week.
• Only one small stuffed animal and one very small pillow may also be brought if your child “needs” them. All of these items should fit inside the sealed nap-time bag. (NO dolls, toys, or standard size pillows, please! They will be sent home! )
LUNCHES
To help the teachers spend less time in the kitchen, and more time with your children, please ………
• Try to send a cold lunch whenever possible.
• Foods that need warming (leftovers) should take no longer than 1 - 1 ½ minutes in the microwave.
• Such foods should be in a microwave-proof container, with a lid, that can go directly into the microwave, and from which the child can then eat.
• Do not fill containers too full of food.
• NO TV or FROZEN DINNERS, nor CUPS OF RAMEN NOODLES Please! They take too long.
• Please provide the following in your child’s lunch box: nutritious food, a drink, eating utensils, and a cloth place-mat or large cloth napkin. The place-mat/napkin makes taking trash to the garbage can a cinch!
• Frozen ice packs preserves perishables in the lunch box, but if there are any items that need refrigeration, please place just those items, not the entire lunch box, in the refrigerator. Have your child’s name on them, and inform your child what and where they are, so they can be independently responsible for them.
SNACKS
• The school does provide low-, or no-sugar snacks. The snack sign-up sheet is on a voluntary basis only. For parents who do sign up to bring a snack, please make it nutritious. Fruit is always a welcome treat!
ILLNESS AND MEDICATION
• Children with a contagious disease, a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, severe vomiting, or severe diarrhea should not be sent to school.
• Medications will only be administered when the conditions stated in the Medication Policy have been met.
• Any children with head lice and/or nits will be sent home immediately, and may not return until totally lice and nit free!
IMMUNIZATONS
All children enrolled at Rose Hill must provide proof of immunizations or provide a letter of exemption (for medical or religious reasons only) before starting school. It will be the parent’s responsibility to keep immunizations current according to the Central District Health Department schedule and to provide the school with all updated records. Failure to do so within 14 days of needing an update on a shot may result in the student’s dismissal.
HOLIDAYS / CLOSURES / EARLY DISMISSALS
Please check the attached School Calendar or the calendar on the bulletin board for days the facility is closed, and days the school closes at noon. Children picked up after 12:00 noon on early dismissal days will be charged $1.00/minute late pick-up fee.
Should the public schools in Boise be closed for snow, our school will also be closed. Closures are announced early on most local radio stations.
TRAFFIC PATTERN
For safety and efficiency, all cars should enter the driveway on the west and exit on the east.
KINDERGARTEN FOLDERS
Some teachers may place a large clasp envelope with your child’s name on it on his/her shelf every Monday. It will contain your child’s Kindergarten work for the previous week. Please take the time to go over the work, sign the front sheet, and return the envelope on Tuesday. This should provide an easy way to stay informed on your child’s progress and what is being covered in the class. (Not all teachers may implement this procedure.)
Primary Parent Handbook - 3
EDUCATION / ORIENTATION EVENING
Near the beginning of the school year an evening is set aside for parents to come and learn more about the Montessori Method and Philosophy. It is also a time for teachers to acquaint parents with their classroom policies. All families are expected to attend.
OPEN HOUSE NIGHT
One evening a year is set aside for parents to come and have their children show them some of the activities and “work” they do during the day. Please watch for the announcements on the bulletin board or in your child’s cubby.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent conferences are held each fall and spring to provide a meeting to discuss and share the progress of your child. Sign up sheets are in each classroom previous to each conference time. Shared communication is an integral part of providing an optimal experience for your child.
Special meetings outside conferences may also be arranged should circumstances or issues deem necessary.
Should you need to address a teacher regarding a concern, please send a note or leave a message to have the teacher contact you at a convenient time. Please don’t be inconsiderate of the entire class by coming in at the start of the school day and expecting to have a discussion with a teacher.
PTO
Rose Hill has a very active Parent Teacher Organization that offers yet another avenue for you to be involved in your child’s school and education. The PTO is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support the school by building community and raising funds to enhance your child’s educational experience. Annual events include a School Picnic, Chili Feed, Ice Cream Social, and Silent Auction.
It has also sponsored the Yearbook Committee, School T-shirts, and various other fund-raisers. In the past the PTO has provided support to send teachers to Montessori conferences, covered the cost to provide each student with his own yearbook, purchased classroom materials to support the Montessori equipment, as well as provided the fabulous climbing structures you see on the playground. As you see, the school and your child benefit directly by the work of the PTO.
Please plan to be involved in some way. The PTO meets once a month at the school from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Child care is provided during the meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS
• No toys are to be brought to school, unless appropriate for Share Day. Books from home are always welcome.
• Party invitations are not to be given out at school unless the entire class is invited. Mail the invitations or call the parents at their homes. A class list will be provided.
• The Tumble Bus comes to the school to do a gymnastics program for the primary students. This is an optional program for an extra charge.
• Check your child’s shelf and the bulletin board daily for announcements: Share, Field Trips, Holiday reminders, etc.
• There is a Lost & Found Box in the Office/Mud Room for all unclaimed objects and clothes. Items left in there more than a month will be thrown away or donated.
Please contact us when your child needs extra attention, and if you feel your child has a problem at school. We will make every effort in assisting him/her and easing his/her anxieties.
Attached are: Discipline Policy, Illness Policy, Medication/First Aid Policy, & Immunization Policy
Thank you for your cooperation with the school policies.
Parent Handbook Attachment – 1 of 2
Rose Hill Montessori School
Discipline Policy
The goal of a child’s behavior is to obtain recognition and a feeling of significance. When these cannot be gained through positive behavior, the child quickly learns to use any behavior that works.
Behavior is determined by its consequences. A consequence is what happens as the result of an action.
A “misbehaving” child needs to be redirected by consistently applying positive consequences for positive behavior and arranging predictable, logical, and undesirable consequences for undesirable behavior. Ways need to be found to meet the child’s need for significance and recognition at times when his behavior is acceptable.
At Rose Hill Montessori clear limits are set and consequences are defined. “We’re going to go outside to play now; you can either play on the equipment without fighting, or you can sit on the bench while the others play without fighting. You decide.”
This eliminates a majority of behavior problems before they arise. It places responsibility for the child’s behavior in the child’s hands. He/She is the only one that can control it anyway.
At times limits need to be set on the spot. We….
“Play with the puzzle without throwing the pieces or it will be put on the shelf until tomorrow.” The choice is to “behave” or lose a privilege.
The consequences must be reasonable and respectful of the child. The verbal message must have no implications of anger, or punishment, or moral judgment. The adult’s attitude must be casual with mild regret.
Consistent application of logical consequences maintains a positive atmosphere between the adult and child. It trains through the reality of the situation. It teaches the child to be responsible for his/her own behavior. It trains the child to develop self control for the future. It develops inner discipline.
ILLNESS POLICY
The following illness policy is designated to protect the health of your child, the other children in the school, and the staff.
· It is important for the parent/guardian to have back-up child care or be able to leave work if her/his child is too ill to be in school.
· If a child should become ill while in school, and in the opinion of the teacher is too ill to remain, the child’s parent will be notified immediately to pick up the child within 1 hour.
· A child who becomes ill while in school will be separated form the other children and made as comfortable as possible.
· Please DO NOT bring your child to school if she/he had diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever of 100 (orally) within a 24 hour period.
· Please notify the school immediately if your child or a family member is diagnosed with or exposed to an infectious disease or head lice.
· You will be notified if a child attending this school has been diagnosed with an infectious disease or head lice.
GUIDELINES FOR EXCLUSION. A child will be sent home if any of the following apply:
· A fever of 100 or higher
· Severe vomiting or at least 2 incidents
· Severe diarrhea
· The child is too uncomfortable to remain
· The child has head lice and/or nits
Parent Handbook Attachment - 2 of 2
MEDICATION / FIRST AID POLICY
Rose Hill Montessori will secure emergency medical and/or surgical treatment from a licensed physician and/or hospital should such be necessary. All reasonable efforts will be made to notify a parent/guardian before such action is taken. All expenses of such emergency care will be accepted by the parent/guardian.
A minor accident report will be filled out for every incident for which a child must be given first aid treatment.
A parent/guardian will be notified if the injury is significant or if there is a request to notify them of all injuries.
A major accident report will be filled out for every incident and the parent/guardian will be notified immediately.
Medication will be administered if the following policies are followed.
1. Prescription medication will be given if
2. Non-prescription medication will be given if
Fever reducers will not be given unless a note from a doctor accompanies them stating that the child is not contagious.
IMMUNIZATION POLICY
According to Idaho Code 39-1118, all enrolled children must provide proof of immunizations or provide a letter of exemption (for medical or religious reasons only). It will be the guardian’s responsibility to keep immunizations current according to the Central District Health Department schedule and to provide the school with all updated records. Failure to do so within 14 days of needing an update on a shot will result in the student’s dismissal.