Little Bud Preschool

LITTLE BUD

PRESCHOOL

INFORMATION

BOOKLET

REVISED FEBRUARY 2014

LITTLE BUD PRESCHOOL

Of ChristLutheranChurch

3301 COMPTON ROAD

CINCINNATI, OH 45251

(513) 385-8404

OUR NAME—We view children as “little buds,” just beginning to grow and develop and learn about the world! Each will bloom in his/her own way and in his/her own time. We the Little Bud staff, side-by-side with parents/guardians, supply the “sunshine and water” to help the children in our program come to learn about their world by exhibiting the love of God and the love of each other in a caring and nurturing environment where “little buds” can bloom!

WHAT—Little Bud Preschool is a Christ-centered preschool program that enrolls three, four and five-year-old children into age appropriate classes. The threes program is structured around Mother Goose Time Curriculumand the fours and PreK classes are structured around the theories and beliefs of the Creative Curriculum. Our program utilizes developmentally appropriate activities in science, math, language skills, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills to help the children reach their greatest learning potential. With a ratio of one trained teacher for every group of 12 children along with the help of a teacher’s aide, we are able to interact on an individual basis with each child in our program. Each staff member is required to take 10 hours of training a year to enhance and enrich their understanding of children and modern children practices. We also have adult volunteers from within our church family who play a part in the program, from reading a book to teaching a cooking lesson. And our pastor(s) visit the classroom from time to time. Our teachers make a beginning-the-year home visit to each new student’s home in early August. Parents/Guardians play a regular part by supplying daily snack and are required to help with fundraising for the school. Parents/Guardians are welcome to visit the classroom at any time and may choose to become more directly involved by discussing volunteer ideas first with the classroom teacher and/or director. We also encourage our preschool children and their families to visit our church family during Sunday worship services by sharing a song or fingerplay they’ve learned at preschool during the worship service on chosen “Little Bud Sundays” throughout the school year.

OUR PHILOSOPHY—We believe that every child is a precious gift of God and that God cares for His children and wants adults to care for them too. We believe that children need a safe, secure and loving environment in order to be able to learn. We believe that children learn best at their own pace, in their own way. Children need to explore, investigate, manipulate and move about to learn their world. We believe an environment that allows for safety and security, concrete interaction, experimentation and positive individual one-on-one interaction with adults is the environment most conducive to learning for young children. We also believe that through such an environment, the underlying presence of love and acceptance is evident and absorbed by the children so they, in turn, can see their value based on God’s love for them, displayed in other people.

OUR GOALS

Three Year Old Program Goals

Spiritual

To understand that we can talk with God through prayer, and praise Him with our songs
To express the wonders of God's creation
To understand that the Bible is God's Word
To understand that we need to be kind and considerate to every living thing

Physical

To increase small or fine motor skills through cutting, using glue, painting, writing, and tracing
To increase large or gross motor skills through activities such as throwing, bouncing, catching a ball, running, jumping, hopping, and climbing

Academic

To listen in a group situation
To follow simple oral directions
To work with the concepts of shape and size
To work with colors and numbers
To develop an interest and joy in learning
To work on recognizing their name
To communicate verbally
To develop a better understanding and awareness of his/her surroundings through experiences in science, art, math, music and field trips

Social and Emotional

To listen when others are talking
To wait for his/her turn
To play well with other children
To respect the property of others
To feel good about him/herself and abilities
To express feelings in an acceptable way

Four Year Old and PreK Program Goals

Spiritual

To understand that we can talk with God through prayer, and praise Him with our songs
To express the wonders of God's creation
To understand that the Bible is God's Word
To understand that we need to be kind and considerate to every living thing

Physical

To increase small or fine motor skills through cutting, using glue, painting, writing and tracing
To increase large or gross motor skills through activities such as throwing, bouncing, catching a ball, running, jumping, skipping, galloping, hopping and climbing

Academic

To listen in a group situation
To follow simple oral directions
To work with the concepts of shape and size
To work with colors and numbers
To develop an interest and joy in learning
To work on writing their name using the “Handwriting Without Tears” program(PreK)
To work on directional terms
To communicate verbally
To develop a better understanding and awareness of his/her surroundings through experiences in science, art, math, music and field trips
To work on patterning, sorting and visual memory
To introduce the alphabet through share bag and other creative ways
To introduce the child to his/her own phone number

Social and Emotional

To listen when others are talking
To wait for his/her turn
To play well with other children
To respect the property of others
To feel good about him/herself and abilities
To express feelings in an acceptable way

Star Rated Program-Step Up To Quality is Ohio’s Star Rating system for licensed early childhood programs. Step Up To Quality makes it easy to find a great child care and early learning program for your child. Little Bud Preschool has been recognized by Ohio Job and Family Services as a one star program.

What makes a star rated program special?

Highly trained teachers
Fewer children per classroom
Early education programming
Commitment to continuous improvement

OUR LICENSE—Little Bud Preschool is fully licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Our license is conspicuously posted in the Little Bud Preschool office. The laws and rules governing Little Bud Preschool are also available in the Little Bud Preschool office upon request. We are licensed to have a ratio of one teacher to 12 three, four and/or five year olds, separate or combined. We are not to exceed 44 preschool children and/or 14 school-agers on the premises at one time.We have regular inspections by the Hamilton County Health Department, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Colerain Township Fire Department and the Colerain Township Building Department. The laws and rules governing childcare and licensing records are on file and available for review upon request. Compliance and evaluation forms from the Health Dept., Fire Dept. and Job and Family Services which inspected Little Bud Preschool are also available. The licensing record statements, including compliance report forms from the department and evaluation forms from the health, building and fire departments that inspected Little Bud Preschool are available from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The State of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ toll-free number is

1-866-635-3748 Opt. #2, Ext. #2 or the Cincinnati area office at 852-3296, which any person may use to report a suspected violation by the center of Chapter S104, of the Revised Code or Chapter S101: 2-12 of the Administrative Code.

DAILY ROUTINES/SCHEDULE- Each classroom follows a schedule of daily activities which allows the children to experience learning through structured and unstructured play in a variety of centers (art, science, math, pretend play, etc.). Unstructured play is characterized by the preschool child’s creative expression of physical, cognitive, social and emotional, self and creates opportunities to acquire the ability to master their own world. Unstructured play is characterized by that it occurs voluntarily and that it is motivated and created by the preschool children themselves. Each classroom utilizes time for curriculum teaching following the Early Learning and Development Standards set forth by the state of Ohio. Each classroom also has a bible story as well as story time daily. All classes come together at the closure of every day for music.

SAMPLE OF DAILY SCHEDULE

9:00-9:25Free Choice of Play

9:25-9:40Carpet Time/Bible Time/Sharing

9:40-10:00Large Muscle Movement (Inside or Outside)

10:00-10:30Wash Hands/Snack Time/Literature

10:30-11:10Choice Play/Centers

11:10-11:25Music

11:25-11:30Pack Up

11:30Home

OUR PROGRAM/TUITION/FEES

12 children to 1 teacher ratio in each three year old class, 14 children to 1 teacher ratio in each four/five year old class not to exceed 44 preschool children and/or 14 school age children on the premises at one time.

Separate three, four and five year old classes each led by a Lead Teacher with help from a Teacher’s Aide

(See class options listed below.)

3 Year Old Class Options with one Lead Teacher and one Teacher Aide:

M/W mornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m. ($85.00/month) 12 children maximum enrollment

T/Th mornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m. ($85.00/month) 12 children maximum enrollment

4 Year Old Class Options with one Lead Teacher and one Teacher Aide:

M/W/F mornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m. ($130.00/month) 18 children maximum enrollment

T/Th mornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m. ($85.00/month) 18 children maximum enrollment

Older 4/5 Year Old Class Option (child turns 5 in the Fall/Winter by

no later than January 5 of the school year) with one Lead Teacher and an

optional Teacher Aide:

M/T/W mornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m. ($130.00/month) 14 children maximum enrollment

Or*M/T/W/THmornings, 9:00-11:30 a.m. ($165.00/month)

(*The four morning option is subject to change based on enrollment.)

Tuition is due for the upcoming month by the seventh of each month.

A 5% discount off the younger child’s tuition is available for those who have 2 children enrolled in the program at one time. A 50% discount is available for Christ Lutheran members.

$40.00 registration fee per child/ non-refundable, due with completion of initial application. This holds your child’s place in the program.

A one-time $45.00, $50.00, or $55.00 supply fee based on the number of days the child attends is due the first week of school.

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

Enrollment is open to any child provided the school can meet the needs of the child.

Child must be either 3 or 4 years old by August 1 of that school year to attend 3 or

4-year-old classes or under final decision for enrollment by the director. To attend the

4-5 year old class, child is desired to be 5 either in the fall or no later than January 5 of

that school year.

Since we are not equipped or licensed to offer diapering facilities and/or supplies, all children are strongly encouraged to be able to attend to their own toilet needs by themselves.

Little Bud Preschool reserves the right to place any child on a short term probation period, after which time, assessment will be made as to continued enrollment of the child in the program by the director and teacher.

Enrollment is based on “First Come, First Served” basis. If full to capacity, applicants will be placed on a waiting list on “First Come, First Served” basis and be notified of next available opening in the order applications were received.

Priority registration for the next school year for existing Little Bud families begins in February.

New student enrollment for the next school year begins thefirst of March.

A child is not officially enrolled until the initial application form and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Enrollment and Health form are filled our completely and on file, the registration fee has been paid and the director has had at least one interview with the parent/guardian.

PARENT ACCESS/PARTICIPATION

Non-enrolled Parent/Guardians are permitted access to all areas of Little Bud Preschool by visiting the preschool during regular hours of operation or after hours, after first scheduling an appointment with the director.

Parent/Guardians of enrolled students are permitted access to all areas of Little Bud Preschool during its hours of operation for the purposes of contacting their children, evaluating the care provided by Little Bud Preschool staff, or evaluating the premises.

Each enrolled parent/guardian who is visiting Little Bud Preschool during school hours, must first stop in at the church office and check with a third party adult in the building before entering the educational wing.

Parental participation in Little Bud Preschool includes but is not limited to:

Twice a year parent/teacher conferences (one optional, one required) scheduled by the teacher to discuss individual child progress which is documented

Telephone conferences between director/teacher and parent/guardian on a needs basis

A routine day to supply a nut free snack in the classroom

Active participation in at least one of the fundraisers per school year

BY LAW WE—as Director, teachers and staff are required to report any suspicions of child abuse or child neglect. Any persons suspecting child abuse or child neglect should call 241-KIDS.

-Are required to provide a roster of names and telephone numbers of parent/guardians of children attending our preschool. The roster will not include the names of parents who do not wish to be included.

-Admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion or sex to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national ethnic origin, religion or sex in administration or its educational policies and admission policies.

DISCIPLINE/SAFETY/HEALTH CARE—Little Bud Preschool’s Discipline Policy

adheres to:

Positive Reinforcement

Prevention of children to do harm to themselves, others or materials

Use of developmentally appropriate child guidance and management techniques which include:

Gentle, firm re-direction of child’s activity

Separation from group, if needed

Little Bud Preschool’s Safety Policy adheres to:

A childcare staff member in charge of a group or a child is responsible for their safety.

No child is ever left alone or unsupervised

There are at least two responsible adults available on the premises at all times when seven or more children are at the preschool. Little Bud Preschool is permitted to have a capacity of 44preschool (ages 3 and 4) and 14 school-age children at a given time.

Parent/Guardians must adhere to the daily drop off-pick up plan as explained in the Parent Handbook

Emergency fire and weather plans are posted in every area accessible to children’s usage.

Fire drills and Emergency Weather drills are conducted on a monthly basis at various times.

Little Bud Preschool’s Health Care Policy adheres to:

At least every Lead Teacher and Assistant Teacher working with the children is trained in first aid, CPR, communicable disease recognition, and child abuse/neglect recognition which is kept up-to-date and on file in the Preschool office.

At least one person trained in first aid, CPR, communicable disease recognition and child abuse/neglect recognition is on the premises whenever any number of children is present for the daily preschool program.

All staff is trained in poisoning situation/emergency transportation plans which are posted in every area to which the children have access within the building.

LOCATION

WE ARE LOCATED IN THE NORTHGATE AREA AND

NORTHWESTLOCALSCHOOL DISTRICT

AT CHRISTLUTHERANCHURCH,

3301 COMPTON ROAD.

FROM RONALD REAGAN HIGHWAY

TURN NORTH ON COLERAIN AVENUE.

TURN RIGHT ON COMPTON ROAD

WHICH IS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF POOLE ROAD

AND SOUTH OF NORTHGATE MALL.

FROM I-275 TAKE THE COLERAIN AVENUE EXIT.

TURN SOUTH ON COLERAIN AVENUE.

TURN LEFT ON COMPTON ROAD

WHICH IS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF NORTHGATE MALL

AND JUST NORTH OF POOLE ROAD.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO COME AND VISIT US!

And…

CHECK US OUT ON OUR LINK ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE:

Email the Director at .

You can also call the school directly at

385-8404

WE TEACH CHILDREN JESUS’ LOVE

SO THEY CAN LIVE JESUS’ LOVE!