Parent Handbook

2016-2017

Scottsdale United Methodist Cooperative Preschool

4140 N. Miller Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

480-946-0570

Classification Part Time Child Care CDC#0009

Welcome to School Year 2016-2017

Dear Families,

Welcome to another year at Scottsdale United Methodist Cooperative Preschool!We are thrilled for you to join our family!

For many of you, this is your child’s first experience in a school setting. We value the trust you have placed in us. We have a highly qualified, trained, and dedicated staff that are here to assist you and your child, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or share comments. One of the many benefits of a cooperative school is the community atmosphere. We work together to make a place where families come together to learn, grow, and create a wonderful, safe place for our children.

Your child is young for only a little while, you are being the unique opportunity to watch how quickly he or she will learn and grow. I invite you to enjoy every moment of it. Years from now you will have many lasting memories of attending school with your child during their most formative years.

Thank you for your support of SUMC Preschool,

Angel Hollingsworth

Director, SUMC Preschool

-Dr. Seuss

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SUMCP Mission Statement

Scottsdale United Methodist Cooperative Preschool is committed to providing a rich learning experience to young children and families. We continually strive to emphasize play, family involvement, and a sense of community in a safe and nurturing environment. We respect each family’s uniqueness, foster each child’s individuality, and empower families to be active participants in their child’s education and development.

SUMCP Philosophy

We recognize each child to be an individual and strive to treat him/her as such. Our philosophy is one of freedom – freedom for the children to explore and discover the world about them with their mind, body, and senses. We realize the need for, and do invoke, sensible limitations. At the same time, we profess that too much structure and adult direction can stifle the development and creativity in a child.

SUMCP Purpose

Our primary purpose is to provide an environment of understanding and acceptance where the young child can experience growth and development, learning at his/her individual pace. Secondly, we provide parents an opportunity to learn more about their young child, his/her needs, and group behavior, by becoming an active participant in the school.

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Parent Handbook

2016-2017

Table of Contents

General School Informationpage 4

The Cooperative Contractpage 5

Committeespage 6

Tuition and Payment Policiespage 7

Stay & Playpage 8

Snack Policypage 9

Sick Child Policypage 10

Potty Training Policypage 11

Field Trip Policypage 12

Safety at Schoolpage 13

Parental Concern Procedurepage 13

Fire Drill/School Evacuation Procedurepage 14

Behavior Policypage 15

Sun Safety Policypage 16

Empower Standardspage 17

Cooperative Parent Responsibility Agreementpage 18

Confidentiality Agreement(to be turned in)page 19

Signature Page (to be turned in)page 20

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General School Information

  • The school office is open from 8:30 AM until 2:00 PM daily.
  • Feel free to call the school office at any time at (480) 946-0570. Please leave a voice mail message if you are unable to reach a staff member. Voice mails are returned as promptly as possible. Teachers are unable to accept calls during class times.
  • Children attending school must be signed in and out each day at their classroom with a minimum of a first initial and full last name.
  • School is in session from 9:00 AM until 11:30 AM for all 2 year old preschool classes, with an option to stay until 12:00 PM for an additional fee.
  • School is in session from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM for all 3 and 4 year old classes and Transitional Kindergarten.
  • For daily class schedules and curriculum information please speak to your child’s teacher and/or the director.
  • Feel free to contact any SUMCP staff member with questions, suggestions, or concerns. As a cooperative school, we encourage and value open communication.
  • Please leave all toys at home unless suggested by the teacher. Toys have a way of getting lost, broken, or being disruptive.
  • Dress your child for play. Clothes may get stained or damaged while a child is involved in the activities that are his/her ‘work’. Also, dress you child so they may use the restroom with as little assistance as possible. Belts, overalls, open toed shoes (like flip flops) should not be worn to school.
  • Label ALL of your child’s personal belongings. Label backpacks, jackets, hats, and lunch boxes in particular. SUMC Preschool and Kindergarten is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
  • SUMCP is licensed by the AZ Department of Health Services. Reports and contact information are available on request in the director’s office or by contacting them directly through
  • SUMCP carries necessary liability insurance as mandated by the state department of health.
  • SUMCP allows all families whose children meet the necessary age requirements to enroll in our school community regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religious affiliation. Reasonable accommodations for children with disabilities can be made, and those who SUMCP can serve, on a case by case basis, are encouraged to enroll. Children are placed in classes on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrolled families may be placed on a waitlist if the class size has reached capacity.
  • SUMCP offers our parents the unique opportunity to collaborate on an Advisory Board, as outlined in our bi-laws. The Advisory Board plays an important part in our cooperative community by participating in decision making for the greater good of the school. If you are interested in participating in the Advisory Board, and can commit to quarterly meetings, please see the Director.

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The Cooperative Contract

The cooperative preschool offers the unique opportunity for parents to actively participate in the early education of their children. By being a part of the cooperative family, parents understand the importance of participating in the classroom on their scheduled days, and realize that the benefits of this arrangement will have long reaching benefits for everyone.

As a parent participating in this program, I agree to the following policies:

1.Because I want to make sure I can give all my attention to my child and the entire class, I will not bring my other children (including infants) on the days I co-op (children not registered in the school are NOT covered by insurance and are a violation of our state regulations).

2.I understand I am required to be at school at 8:45AM on my scheduled day to get necessary information from the teacher about the day’s plan of events and I may be required to stay 15 minutes after class for necessary clean up.

2.I understand that if for any reason I can not work my scheduled day, it is my responsibility to call another parent and work out the necessary arrangements 24 hours in advance.

3.I know that everyone has hectic lives and that working in the school will take a commitment of time on my part. I understand that my participation along with the other parents is what makes the cooperative preschool a success. Therefore, I agree to the following terms (a ‘missed’ day constitutes a day in which I was unable to find a suitable substitute):

The first time I am late or miss my scheduled co-op day, I will receive a reminder from the teacher and make up the missed day.

The second time I am late or miss my scheduled co-op day, I will pay a $50.00 fine and make up the missed day.

The third time I am late or miss my scheduled co-op day, I will pay a $50.00 fine and schedule a meeting with the teacher and the director and discuss whether or not the co-op environment is the right one for my family.

4.A cooperative, by definition, is an organization owned and operated by its members. I understand as a cooperative parent I am a part of the SUMC team, and that school maintenance and committees are also part of the requirements of a cooperative school. I will participate in 2 (2 hour) scheduled work parties on Saturday mornings and participate in an additional 10 hours on a school committee, or I will pay a maximum $100 fine.

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Committees

SUMC Preschool is truly a parent participation school! In addition to the cooperative guidelines, all families are required to actively participate in one of the following committees. We will make every effort to match committee work to the interests, abilities, and schedules of our parent volunteers. Time commitment is approximately 10 hours per school year.

ADMIN

  • Library – 1
  • Box Tops/Cartridges for Kids – 1
  • Scholastic – 1
  • Workroom – 1-2 (clean/straighten workroom 1 time per month)
  • Office – 2 (Filing, copying, data entry, etc)
  • Advertising/Marketing – 1
  • Teacher Meeting Stay & Play Sub – 2 (Works 1st Monday of the Month 12pm-3pm during teacher staff meetings) THIS IS AN UNPAID, VOLUNTEER POSITION THAT WILL COUNT TOWARD YOUR COMMITTEE COMMITMENT.
  • Room Parent – 5

ENVIRONMENTAL - 6

Assist with any “hands on” projects the school may need, including carpentry, painting, landscaping, etc.

REFRESHMENTS – 10

Provide refreshments at select events during the school year. Items can be purchased at a store or homemade.

FUNDRAISER – 10

  • Parent Donation Coordinator - Works closely with classroom parents to ensure donations are received and recorded
  • Advertising/Brochure Coordinator
  • Volunteer Coordinator

SPECIAL EVENTS–10

Assists with all special events including set up and tear down of event, as well as planning and soliciting donations for each event.Special events include: Rodeo, Parada del Sol Parade, Community Rummage Sale, Art Night, Read Across America, and Donuts for Dads.

OTHER

Have a special skill that could be useful to our school? Please see the Director to discuss any unique ideas you may have! (Ex: gardening, teaching music, yoga, etc., laundry)

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Tuition, Payment, and Enrollment Policies

SUMC is a cooperative tuition-based, non-profit school. The school advisory board approves the school budget and applicable tuition on a yearly basis. The yearly tuition is then divided into 10 equal monthly payments (July through April) for your convenience.

SUMC payment policies are as follows:

  • Tuition payments and fees are due on July 1st and then the 1st of each month for subsequent months.
  • A 10% late fee is applied after the 10th of each month. If tuition is unpaid by the start of the following month, the child will be unable to attend school until the account is made current.
  • 2 weeks notice is required if you will be removing your child from the program.
  • SUMC accepts cash, personal checks, debit, Visa, and Mastercard as acceptable forms of payment. WE DO NOT ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS. In the case of a returned check, any bank fees and applicable late fees will be added to the account.
  • Due to the schools ongoing expenses, no refunds or tuition credits are given for short term illness, vacations, or registration. Should you remove your child from the program for an extended amount of time, your position in the classroom may be filled with another child.
  • A 10% discount is applied to the tuition of the younger child(ren) when more than one child in the same immediate family is enrolled. The discount does not apply to expenses other than tuition, i.e. field trips, registration fees, after school program, summer program, and snacks. Additionally, the registration fee will be $75 for each additional child.
  • Additional fees not included in tuition are yearly registration, snacks, school pictures, after school programs, field trips, summer programs, Mother’s Day plates, T-shirts, and optional fundraisers.
  • Current Fees are posted at the school, available on our website, and printed on our statement of services brochure.
  • Referral cards are available in the office. For each new student you refer, your account will be credited $50!

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Stay & Play

Stay and Play is SUMC Preschool’s after school program. This program runs daily from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and all children registered at SUMCP over the age of 3 are welcome to attend. Children are required to provide their own lunch from home, and will eat with their friends.

Stay & Play is located on the SUMCP playground, weather permitting. When it is either too hot, or too cold, the program moves indoors.

At Stay & Play your child will have the opportunity to play with students from all classes and gain skills in self-reliance and conflict resolution. Students will be provided with opportunities to participate in crafts, gross motor activities, free play, and so much more! Stay & Play is staffed by the SUMCP staff, at a ratio never to exceed 10:1. There are no co-op responsibilities for Stay & Play.

Stay & Play guidelines:

  • You may pick up your child at any time between 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
  • Stay & Play cost is $5 per hour, and is billed in 1 hour increments.
  • You may add your child to the Stay & Play roster any time before school begins each day. The sign-up sheet is located on the playground.
  • Children must be picked up promptly by 3:00 PM. Any child still at Stay & Play at 3:00 PM will be billed $1 per minute, billed on the next monthly statement, based on our clocks. After the second occurrence, your child may not be able to attend Stay & Play.
  • Stay & Play lunches should be placed in the refrigerator in the preschool workroom before school.
  • Lunch will be at 1:00 PM daily.
  • Lunches should include a main entrée, a drink, and fruit or vegetables. Candy and sweets are not allowed and will be returned to the parent.
  • Lunches will not be heated up.
  • Lunches will be refrigerated, therefore, perishables are permitted.
  • We reserve the right to add foods to a restricted list based upon allergies and the safety of children enrolled in our program.
  • If a child has no lunch, and is at the program past 1:00 PM, he/she will be provided with a healthy snack and you will be billed $5.00 per occurrence.

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Snack Policy

As a co-op parent, you will provide and prepare healthy snacks for your child’s class on the days you co-op. Water and serving supplies are provided by the school. You will need to record the snack on a provided snack record in the classroom.

Our snack guidelines are as follows:

  • Feel free to be creative with your snacks, as long as they follow the guidelines. Our students love to cook, create, and try new foods!
  • Snacks should be nutritious and include a minimum of two items from separate food groups.
  • Snacks should be nut free.
  • Snacks must be brought from home in unopened containers per health regulations (no previously opened jars, cracker boxes, etc. can be served).
  • Fresh fruit and vegetables must be washed and cut at school.
  • Please include any additional parents, all students, and the teacher in the quantity to be served. All adults in the classroom are encouraged to sit, eat, and model appropriate etiquette during snacks and meals at school.
  • Food will not be used as a punishment or reward at school.

Before snack time on your co-op day:

  • Record the snack on the snack record calendar
  • Wash hands
  • Prepare your chosen snack at school
  • Clean tables with detergent solution
  • Rinse tables
  • Spray tables with disinfecting solution
  • Dry tables with paper towel
  • Eliminate waste and encourage manners by serving snacks ‘family style’

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AZ.D.H.S./SUMC Sick Child & Immunization Policy

For the health and well-being of all SUMC families, sick children are not allowed at school. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be notified to pick up your child. For this reason, please make sure your child’s blue emergency card is kept up to date. Some reasons you may be called include: fever, rash, excessive drainage from the nose or eyes, excessive coughing, diarrhea, vomiting/nausea, or any sign that your child may not be feeling well.

Children must be free of all the above listed symptoms for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Symptoms can and do sometimes subside after a night’s rest only to return during the school day, so we ask that you please observe the 24 hour policy.

If your child becomes ill at home, please notify the school at 480-946-0570 or of the date(s) and specific reason of your child’s absence. This information helps us to keep the classrooms and our school healthy.

SUMC Preschool may dispense prescription medications on a case-by-case basis. The necessary forms must be completed and the medication must come to school in its original container with all the appropriate attached labels (please do NOT put dosages in cups, water bottles, or in your child’s lunch). All medications must be kept in the school office.

All children at SUMC Preschool must be completely immunized per state guidelines. Parents may be asked to keep their child home from school if their immunizations are not current. Exemption forms are available in the rare circumstance a child cannot receive immunizations. The school requires a note that the child is in a doctor’s care, and the doctor has approved the exemption. If a child is not immunized, and a communicable illness has been identified in the school, the parent may have to keep their child home as a precaution until deemed appropriate for the child to return.

In case of an extreme emergency, staff will administer any necessary first aid/cpr and contact 911, and contact the parent as soon as possible.

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Potty Training Policy

Due to health and licensing regulations governed by the Arizona Department of Health Services, all children attending SUMC Preschool must be potty trained. At SUMC, potty trained is defined as the ability of a child to notify a grown up of their need to use the potty prior to having a potty accident. It is a violation of state regulations for a child to attend our school in diapers or pull-ups*. If a child arrives to school in a diaper or pull-up, the parents will be contacted and arrangements will be made to change the child into underwear.

If a child has more than 3 potty accidents in a 30 day period as documented by school staff, the teacher and/or the director will meet with a parent to determine what factors may be affecting the child’s potty training skills. It may be determined that a child is not yet ready to attend a school setting without assistance, and the parents may be asked to attend school each school day with their child as a vigilant potty training guide. If a parent’s schedule does not permit attendance every school day, then the parent can choose to disenroll the child until his/her potty training skills are better developed. A child may return to school after 2 weeks OR after one week accident free in a childcare setting.