10
Parent Handbook:
Policies and Procedures
2017 - 2018
5175 South Old State
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
740-548-6856
www.bbcpreschool.org
https://www.facebook.com/bbcpreschool
Michelle Kaylor-Director
Charlene Russo-Director
Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool
Calendar 2017/2018
September 20176 Open House/ Orientation/ Curriculum
7 First day Kindergarten Enrichment Session 1
8 First day of preschool
8 First day Kindergarten Enrichment Session 2
18 No School OLSD PD Day
October 2017
6 Fall Field Trip
13 No School COTA Day
November 2017
13 Picture Day
20 BBCP Thanksgiving Feast
22-25 No School Thanksgiving
27 No School OLSD PD Day
December 2017
15 Interim Report Card sent home
20 Christmas Program
22-Jan 2nd No School Winter Break / January 2018
3 Classes Resume
15 No School Martin Luther King Day
February 2018
16 No School OLSD PD Day
19 No School President’s Day
TBA Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 2018
26-30 No School Spring Break
April 2018
2 Classes Resume
27 No School OLSD PD Day
TBA Spring Field Trip
May 2018
10 Last Day of Kdgn E. (w, th session)
11 Last Day of Kdgn E. (w, fr session)
11 Field Day
16 Spring Program
Last Day of Preschool
Our Philosophy:
Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool offers a Christian preschool program consisting of classes for three, four and five year olds. The administration and staff of our preschool take very seriously the responsibility for teaching the children entrusted to our care. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment as well as to enhance (through the use of a developmentally appropriate curriculum) the spiritual, physical, emotional, and cognitive growth of children. Knowing that each child is uniquely made by God, we strive to meet the needs of the whole child and to build self-esteem through positive reinforcement. Classroom teachers emphasize the theme of “respect for one another” to promote thoughtful and kind behavior. Teachers also provide fun and stimulating activities to create a pleasant atmosphere for learning.
Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool program works closely with public school curriculum. It prepares children to enter either public or private elementary school, and kindergarten screening can be given upon request.
Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool functions under the authority and guidance of the governing body of Berlin Presbyterian Church. The preschool is licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and is subject to that Ohio Department’s rules and regulations.
Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool staff welcomes you! This handbook contains information regarding our program. Please read it carefully and use it as a reference. Thank you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Administrative Information
1. Staff
2. Classroom Ratios
3. Enrolling/Withdrawing a Student
4. Tuition Fees
5. Class Directory
B. School Schedule
1. Days of Class
2. Daily Activity Schedule
3. Outdoor Play
C. Highlighted Activities/Events
1. Culture and Customs Study
2. Community Helpers/ Firefighter Visit
3. Food Pantry Project
4. Thanksgiving Feast
5. Jesus/Christmas Celebration
6. Spring Music Program
7. Field Trips
8. Scholastic Books
D. Procedures:
1. Drop-Off Procedure
2. Pick-Up Procedure
3. Holidays/Snow Days/Bad Weather
4. Conferences
5. Parent Participation
6. Classroom Discipline Policy
7. Safety:
a) Incident/Accident Reports
b) Field Trip Procedure
c) Fire, Weather, Emergency Evacuation Plan
d) Lock Down Procedure
e) Miscellaneous
8. Medical and Dental Emergency Plan
9. Management of Communicable Disease
10. Toys
11. Personal Items
12. Snacks
13. Children with Special Needs
14. Water Activities/Swimming
15. Nursing Mothers
A. Administrative Information
1. Staff:
a. Director:
Responsible for the daily operation of the preschool and for communication with families and community members; heads the church Board of Trustees over the preschool
b. Teaching Staff:
Responsible for the education and safety of each
child in their care
c. Teaching Assistant:
Responsible to help teachers with daily activities
d. Music Instructor:
Responsible for music and musical movement
instruction
e. Art Instructor:
Responsible for creative art instruction
f. Spanish Instructor:
Responsible for Spanish instruction
g. Specialty Instructors:
Responsible for special teaching
(ex: Chapel with Pastor Rick Negley)
2. Classroom Ratios:
BBCP State
3 year-olds (younger but potty-trained) 1:8 1:12
3 year-olds (older) 1:9 1:12
4 year-olds (younger Pre-K) 1:9 1:14
5 year-olds (older Pre-K) 1:12 1:14
Kindergarten Enrichment 1:8 1:18
Thursday Mixed Enrichment Class 1:10 1:12
Note:
Ratios at BBCP are lower than state requirements. Group size may double for physical education and/or music instruction. No child will ever be left alone or unsupervised. Children shall be within sight and hearing of preschool staff members at all times. Staff/child ratios shall be maintained at all times.
3. Enrolling/Withdrawing a Student
a. Enrollment:
Children may be enrolled at any time. Classes will be filled on a first come first served basis. The required paperwork including all enrollment forms is due before the first day of each school year. This includes the BBCP Registration Form, Child Medical Statement, Enrollment and Health Form, and Pick-Up Form. (Note: School-aged children enrolled in our Kindergarten Enrichment class do not need a Child Medical Statement)
A Child Medical Statement JFS 01305 (Pink) must be on file within 30 days of the child’s first day of attendance and updated every thirteen months thereafter from the date of the examination. Any parent who chooses to not have their child immunized against diseases for reasons of conscience or religious convictions, must sign a statement to this fact on this form.
An Enrollment and Health Form JFS 01234 (Green) for each child must be on file by the 1st day of school. All blank spaces on the form must be filled in. A parent must give emergency transportation authorization in order for their child to be enrolled.
Any changes in this information must be updated immediately so that current information is always on file. BBCP will not discriminate in the enrollment of children based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
b. Withdrawing a Student:
In the event a child is being withdrawn from preschool, a thirty-day notice is required. Fees are non-refundable.
4. Tuition Fees
The tuition for our three-day a week program is $2,000.00 for the year. The tuition may be paid in full at the beginning of the year or in ten payments of $200. The tuition for the PreK four-day a week program is $2,550.00 for the year, or $255 for 10 payments. The Kindergarten Enrichment tuition is $1,250 for the year, or $125 for 10 payments. Fees must be paid whether the child attends or is absent (illness, vacation, weather, etc.). Fees are due the first day of each month, with the 1st payment due at registration. Please make all checks payable to Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool. If you choose to pay with cash, please put the cash in a sealed envelope with the child’s name on it. A $25.00 fee will be charged for any returned checks, and the parent will be required to pay in cash until the account balance is secure. Please check with the director if you need a Tax ID number.
Discounts:
· We provide a 5% discount off tuition for second siblings.
· We provide a 10% discount off tuition for members of Berlin Church.
Tuition Payment Schedule:
PAYMENT # AMOUNT WHEN DUE
3-day/4-day/K-Enrich
Payment #1 $200/$255/$125 At Registration
Payment #2 $200/$255/$125 1st Day of School
Payment #3 $200/$255/$125 October 1st
Payment #4 $200/$255/$125 November 1st
Payment #5 $200/$255/$125 December 1st
Payment #6 $200/$255/$125 January 1st
Payment #7 $200/$255/$125 February 1st
Payment #8 $200/$255/$125 March 1st
Payment #9 $200/$255/$125 April 1st
Payment #10 $200/$255/$125 May 1st
New Thursday Mixed Enrichment Class- $550 for the year or 10 payments of $55 following the above payment schedule.
5. Class Directory
A class directory is available to families associated with BBCP. Parents may choose whether or not to participate in this directory by filling out a directory form at the beginning of the school year.
B. School Schedule
1. Days of Class
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00-11:30 AM class - 3’s and 4’s
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:30-3:00 PM class - 3’s and 4’s
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00-11:30 AM class – PreK
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 12:30-3:00 PM class – PreK
Thursday or Friday and every other Wednesday. 12:30 – 3:00 PM
Kindergarten Enrichment Class
Thursday Enrichment Class 9:00-11:30 AM Mixed Ages 3-5
Thursday Enrichment Class 12:30-3:00 PM Mixed Ages 3-5
Reminder: We will follow the Olentangy Local Schools Calendar
· The first day of class will begin after Labor Day.
· The last day of class falls before Memorial Day.
2. Daily Activity Schedule (sample only) posted in classroom
**(Kindergarten Enrichment does not include MWF Specials)**
A.M. P.M.______ACTIVITIES______
9:00-9:20 12:30-12:50 Greetings, center play/sensory activity upon arrival
9:20-9:25 12:50-12:55 Clean up, transition
9:25-9:50 12:55-1:20 Circle time, prayer, calendar, pledge, weather, name recognition, birthdays, memory verse, etc.
9:50-10:00 1:20-1:30 Bathroom break, wash hands
10:00-10:20 1:30-1:50 Outdoor fun/ Indoor large motor activities
10:20-10:40 1:50-2:10 Wash hands, snack
10:40-11:00 2:10-2:30 Theme activities: lang. arts, science, math
11:00-11:10 2:30-2:40 Fine motor skills, manipulatives
11:10-11:20 2:40-2:50 Clean up, transition
11:20-11:30 2:50-3:00 Story time/Songs/Prepare to go home
Monday
9:00-9:15 12:30-12:45 Chapel Time (all students together)
9:15-11:15 12:45-2:45 Spanish (Each class has 20 minutes of instruction.)
Wednesday
9:15-11:25 12:45-2:55 Art (Each class has 20 minutes of instruction.)
Friday
9:15-11:25 12:45-2:55 Music & Movement (Each class has 20 minutes of
instruction.)
3. Outdoor Play
Research has shown that children stay healthier when they have regular outdoor play. Outdoor play will be included daily in our program. Please send proper clothing for outdoor play. The staff will be aware of the weather conditions, and if the children cannot go outside they will go to the large motor room for recess or gross motor activities. Indoor recess will be enforced for any outside precipitation or temperatures (with wind chill) below 32 degrees or above 90 degrees. Please do not send children to school in flip-flops or dress shoes.
If a staff member is outside alone with a group of children he/she must be able to summon help without leaving the group. All teachers and administrators have cellphones to communicate with one another from anywhere in or around the preschool.
C. Highlighted Activities and Events
BBCP will conduct various activities designed to stimulate different aspects of the students’ development. Some examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. The children will be “traveling” to other parts of the world in their studies to learn about various cultures, languages, and cuisines. The preschool teachers will use a webbing technique so that language arts, math, science, music, art, physical activity, and food fun blend together for vigorous and animated learning. During this unit, parents of various cultural backgrounds are invited to the school to speak to the children about their cultures.
2. In the fall, firefighters visit the school and talk about fire safety. Community helpers may come to the school to share with the children about their jobs. Children will participate in fall harvest activities. We do not have Halloween parties.
3. At Thanksgiving time, children will experience what it means to give by bringing
food for a local pantry.
4. Students will learn about the first Thanksgiving and participate in a school wide Thanksgiving feast.
5. In their individual classrooms, children will celebrate Jesus’s birthday at Christmas with a classroom celebration. The children will also have the opportunity to participate in a service project intended to help someone in need during the holiday season. Before the Christmas break parents will also enjoy a schoolwide musical performance presented by the children.
6. The children will perform in a spring program for families and friends.
7. Field trips will be scheduled for the preschool during the fall and spring.
8. The children will be offered an opportunity to participate in the Scholastic Book Club. These books are all wholesome reading that include classics as well as modern books.
All activities and events at BBCP are designed to stimulate every area of the student’s development. The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Additional activities will likely be added during the school year, and we always encourage parent input. Please feel free to communicate any questions, comments, and/or concerns to the staff at any time.
D. Procedures
One of the responsibilities of our staff is to ensure the health and safety of each child in our care. Staff persons will be attentive to the safety needs of the children, will anticipate possible hazards, and will take all necessary appropriate precautionary and preventative measures.
Child Absence- Parents/guardians should call or email the office if their child is absent and state the reason for the absence. We monitor communicable diseases and take precautions to minimize the spread of germs.
1. Drop-Off
Parents will drop-off their child at the child’s classroom and make the teacher aware of their child’s arrival.
NOTES: (1) Starting in early October, we will provide drop off services for parents. Please refer to drop off procedure information below. We will let you know when we are ready to begin the drop off line. Parent volunteers will be needed in order to provide this service. (2) There will be no drop-off on Thursdays.
For Drop Off Line:
1. Enter on the NORTH driveway and drive around to back entrance. A volunteer (wearing an ID badge) will be waiting there.
2. Drop off is 8:55 to 9:05 (AM)/ 12:25 to 12:35 (PM). If you come after 9:05(am)/12:35(pm) and don’t see a volunteer, you must park and bring your child to the classroom.
3. Pull up quickly and move forward so two cars can be unloaded at one time. Please sit your child on the RIGHT. NOTE: Children may be on the left IF they are still able to easily exit on the right.
4. Drive around the playground and exit from the SOUTH driveway.
NOTE: If your child refuses to go with the volunteer or gets upset during drop off, you will need to park in the front and bring your child inside.
For Bring In (if choosing not to do the drop off line):
1. Please enter the front parking lot by the NORTH driveway.
2. Park and enter the building through the right front doors.
3. Walk your child to the classroom. (Wait with your child until the teacher is ready to receive the children.)