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Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
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PARENT HANDBOOK
2005-2006
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MISSION STATEMENT:
Our purpose is to follow the command of our Lord to go and make disciples of all people by
offering a weekday preschool program which shall minister to the spiritual, physical,
social and emotional, as well as the intellectual needs of young children and their
families in the community.
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OBJECTIVES:
- Recognize each child as one of God's people.
- Encourage a positive self-image based on God's love for us.
- Provide a warm, caring environment in which children feel secure and can develop a
sense of trust and confidence.
- Guide each individual child's spiritual, physical, cognitive and social-emotional development.
- Give children opportunities to learn about Jesus' love for them and all people.
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CURRICULUM:
Our curriculum is guided by the principles of the Christian education system of the
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, whose focus is "Sharing the Caring Christ." There is a
spiritual aspect to all that we do. Christ's love is central in our caring for the
children whether we are drawing, cooking, praying, dressing up, hearing Bible stories,
singing or listening.
Enhancement of thinking and communication skills, hands-on experiences, learning through
play and movement activities, art opportunities, and child-style worship all combine to
make our curriculum developmentally and spiritually appropriate for young children.
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SCHOOL POLICIES:
Mixed-age group sessions are offered for the 3-5 year olds in 2 hour 45 minute classes
in the morning and afternoon. To be eligible, children must be 3 years of age by August
31st of the school year for the morning class. Children may be enrolled for two mornings
(T/TH) or three mornings (M/W/F). Five morning programs are not available at this time.
Children who turn 4 years old by August 31st of the school year may be enrolled in the
afternoon class (M-TH) or (T/W/TH). We will try to maintain a ratio of one adult to every
nine children in these classrooms. Volunteer parents, support staff for special needs
students, and congregation members will also take part in the program from time to time.
A $40.00 non-refundable registration fee is required at the time of registration and will
be applied toward supplies. Good Shepherd Lutheran Christian Preschool does not
discriminate because of race, color, creed, ethnicity, or nationality.
The number of special needs children in a classroom shall not exceed 1 or 2, each case
being determined by the staff to maximize learning potential for the special needs child
and the rest of the students. Special needs students are usually accompanied by a personal care aide.
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TUITION:
Monthly tuition is due on the first class day of the month for that month. Checks can be
made out to Good Shepherd Christian Preschool. Tuition payments should be deposited
in the tuition box near the classroom entrance by the parents or guardian of the child.
The teachers will not accept tuition payments. Tuition can be paid up front for the year. If the child withdraws from the program, tuition will be refunded for all but the current month the child is enrolled.
If tuition is not received by the tenth of the month, a reminder will be sent along with a
bill for tuition plus 5%. If tuition is not received by the 20th of the month, a bill for
tuition plus 10% will be assessed. If payment is more than six weeks late, the child will
be removed from the preschool roster. Bounced checks will incur a $20 fee. Bounced checks
will be submitted once. If the check bounces again, tuition plus costs will need to be
paid in cash. Tuition late fees must be added on to the regular amount of tuition when
submitting payment if written notice is given. The preschool treasurer will not make
personal phone calls to remind families of late tuition.
Please notify the teachers if you will be going on an extended trip. To keep your
child's spot in the class, tuition must be paid during your leave of absence. You may
choose to disenroll your child when leaving and re-enroll upon your return, but your
child's spot in the class is not guaranteed, as there are often waiting lists to get into
the classes. A two-week notice is required for withdrawal from the programprogram to accommodate other families on the waiting list. Tuition is nonrefundable if a child leaves the program during the month. If the first month's tuition is already paid and the child withdraws from the program, the family forfeits that tuition.
Families with more than one child enrolled receive a 10% discount on tuition. Families that have a parent employed in the clergy receive a 10% discount in tuition.
A family can receive only one type of tuition discount. An automatic deposit from
your bank can be arranged for paying monthly tuition to our treasurer (forms are available
from the director).
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TOILET TRAINING:
We are not staffed to handle children who are not toilet trained. Children who are not toilet trained will be asked to disenroll from the school until their training is complete, and be put on the established waiting list for the class. Re-enrollment will occur when the training is complete and an opening for the child is available. We strongly discourage "Pull-ups" for children, as they tend to use them as diapers.
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ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL:
Children should not arrive before 8:45 a.m. (or 12:30 p.m.) so that the teachers have
sufficient time to prepare the room each day. The teachers will open the doors to the
classroom when they are prepared for class at these times. Students will be dismissed one
by one at 11:30 a.m. (or 3:15 p.m.). Children will only be released to parents/ guardians or those listed on their registration/emergency form. If another person is to pick up your child, the teacher must receive a note including the person's name and the parent's signature. A telephone call can also be made to the teacher or director for last-minute changes in who is to pick up your child. If a person unknown to the teacher is picking up the child, he/she may be asked for identification.
Parent/ guardians are responsible for personally escorting the child to the preschool room at the beginning of class and for picking them up at the room at the end of the day. Children may not be dropped off at the front entrance of the building to proceed downstairs alone. Children will not be permitted to proceed unaccompanied on the stairs, in the church building, or in the parking lot at any time. They are the responsibility of the caregiving adult after being released by the teacher. Children should not play on the church grounds out of view of the caregiving adult before or after class. We cannot be held responsible for injuries incurred on our property once a child is out of our care.
Any legal/child custody documents must be submitted to the director.
Please remember that arrival and dismissal is a time for your child to develop independence and responsibility. Once your child is familiar with routines, please encourage him/her to remove and hang up his/her own coat and backpack.
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LATE PICK-UP FEE:
A limit of two written warnings will be given parents if they are more than 20 minutes
late in picking up their child. After two late warnings, a $1.00 a minute fee will be
charged after the 20-minute time limit. If at all possible, please call us to tell us
that you will be late so that we may comfort your child until you come. If special
ongoing before or after-school care needs to be arranged, please contact the school
director. Childcare for an additional fifteen minutes can be arranged in these cases with our new punchcard system, which can be purchased ahead of time.
Please keep in mind that the morning teachers have to clean up quickly before the afternoon teachers eat their lunch and prepare for class.
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DAILY SCHEDULE:
The following schedule may vary from day to day depending on the children's needs, weather, and the type of activities planned. The afternoon class has the same schedule as the morning classes.
8:45- 9:45 Free play time at Learning Centers, Art Projects
9:45- 10:00 Clean Up
10:00- 10:20 Circle Time, Choosing of Classroom Helpers
10:20- 10:40 Outdoor Play or Indoor Gross Motor Activity
10:40- 11:10 Preparation for Snack Time/ Puzzle and Quiet Reading Time, Snack Time
11:10- 11:30 Closing Activities- Prayer, Books, Music
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SCHOOL CALENDAR:
The State College Area School District calendar will be followed for most days off and
holidays, however this year we will begin our classes after Labor Day. Please check our yearly and monthly calendar for specific dates. If there is a one hour morning delay for the School District, preschool will run from 9:45 AM- 11:30AM. If the School District calls a two-hour delay, morning Preschool will be canceled and afternoon Preschool will be announced. If early dismissal is called for the School District, afternoon classes will be canceled. (Afternoon sessions may also be canceled if there is inclement weather, despite the school district's decisions. The teacher or director will call you personally to confirm the schedule in these cases.)
School closing announcements will be made on WRSC, WTLR, 3WZ, and TV channels 4 and 54. Canceled days will be made up if more than 2 days are missed for the two day class, more than 3 days are missed for the three day class, and more than 4 days are missed for the four day afternoon class. Every attempt will be made to reschedule classes beyond the allowable limit at the end of the year.
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SNACKS:
Children are asked to take turns bringing a nutritious snack and a drink for the class. Our monthly calendar will show the schedule and snack reminders with food suggestions will be sent home. Please be sure that the teacher is aware of any allergies and diet restrictions before the start of the school year. Children with such restrictions should bring their own snack to school. We will provide paper goods for snacks brought in. We prefer that sugary snacks be limited to birthday celebrations.
Children may bring an item from home to share with the class on their snack day.
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CELEBRATIONS:
We will celebrate each child's birthday (or 1/2 birthday) in the same way. The birthday child will be the snack person and may bring a favorite food even if it is sweeter than our usual snack. This not need be a cake, as we will use a pretend cake with candles to blow out. Special party gift bags or napkins are not necessary. Invitations for home parties may be distributed ONLY if there is one for each child in the class.
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HOLIDAYS:
Christian holidays and national or community traditions will be observed. There is often a
concern about the place of Halloween in our Christian setting. We will talk about it as a community
event if the children bring it up, but will not celebrate it. Our
decorations will be happy and positive. Our emphasis in October will be on "Real and Pretend". Dress up and pretending are an
important part of a child's development and when children bring up fears or scary sights;
it is an excellent opportunity to reassure them of Jesus' love and protection. We will hold a Pumpkin Party at the end of the month and a Pretend Dress-Up day in the middle of the month (no scary outfits or masks, please!)
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WORSHIP EXPERIENCES:
Prayers and songs about Jesus are integrated with daily activities. Bible stories are part
of the curriculum. We will observe and discuss events and seasons of the church year.
Each class may join the pastor in the church sanctuary for an object lesson and worship.
This is our "Chapel" time with Pastor Bryan Spang.
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ITEMS FROM HOME/SHARING:
Toys from home will not be permitted in the classroom. Comfort items (blanket, teddy bear, etc.) may be brought if they are needed. We will encourage children to leave these items in their cubbies for as much of the day as possible. A Sharing Day may be listed on the calendar and children will be asked to bring in an item that relates to the theme being discussed in class. Toys with violent themes, guns or weapons are not permitted. If fragile items are brought, they should be given to the teacher. Toys with small parts could be a choking hazard.
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HEALTH AND MEDICATIONS:
Each child's health is important to us. We make every attempt to maintain high sanitation standards and emphasize healthy habits and cleanliness routines. Free audiology and hearing screenings are available on site during the school year, as well as free speech therapy for those children identified with a need.
Out of consideration for the teachers and the other children, we request that you keep
your child at home if she/he is not feeling well. A child who is ill does not feel like
participating in preschool activities and requires constant monitoring from the staff.
If a child becomes ill, is feverish, or vomiting at school, you will be called. The child
will be separated from the others as much as possible until you arrive. After an
illness, please do not send your child to school until she/he has been free of fever or
vomiting for 24 hours. If your child is suspected of having highly infectious
diseases such as pink eye, chicken pox, impetigo, strep throat, hand, foot and mouth
disease, or head lice, you will be called. The lack of any symptoms or a doctor/nurse's
note indicating that the child is no longer contagious will be necessary for return to
the classroom. . If your child is sick, please do not send them back to school unless
they can participate in all classroom activities, including going outside. If you do not want your child to participate in outdoor activities after an illness, you will be required to watch him/her indoors during Outdoor Play Time. We require that two teachers are available to watch the children at all times.
Parents of special needs students must meet with the director before the beginning of the
school year so that appropriate IEP's are in place for their child. All classmates may be asked to sign a photo release form to help in the education of special needs children, or perhaps for our website for the preschool.
Please inform the teacher if your child is medicated. Antihistamines, decongestants, and antibiotics can alter a child's behavior. If your child has a life threatening condition, please leave detailed written instructions signed by your doctor.
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FIELD TRIPS:
Field trips, which enhance class themes and activities, will be planned occasionally
during the year. Each parent is responsible for driving their child to the field trip
destination. Your child may ride with another driver if you have arranged it prior to the trip.
A time will be set for meeting at the site and a map for directions will be provided. If
a small fee is required, we will try to collect that ahead of time to avoid confusion at
the field trip sight. Siblings are not encouraged to attend field trips, as our focus
needs to be on the safety of the student which each of the parents are responsible for.
Some field trips have some degree of danger for very young children, or
inaccessibility with strollers. On occasion, we will also use public transportation for
field trips and will send out a field trip permission form prior to the trip to solicit
parent chaperones. Please inform the teachers if your child is unable to come on the field trip at the last minute, so the remainder of the class does not delay its tour.
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GOODBYES:
Some apprehension in new surroundings is normal for children as well as parents and separation can be difficult. The process requires much parental patience and consistency. Be assured that we will be positive and supportive and that tears usually do not last. Reassure and encourage your child- stay in the room for a brief time if necessary-but please show the confidence you have in his/her ability to handle the situation. Feel free to come into the room to see special projects or your child's favorite items before and/or after class. Showing interest and pleasure in the classroom and fellow students helps your child feel more comfortable.
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VOLUNTEERING AND VISITING:
Parents should feel free to spend time in the classroom. Important insights can be gained
from such visits and it is FUN! You may just observe, but being involved with the children
or in their activities is most beneficial. Opportunities to sign up on a regular or
occasional basis will be available by the parent communication board in the hallway after the first month of school. Other volunteers from the congregation, university, and community may be in the classroom from time to time. These volunteers will be identified with a nametag. Please be aware that various professional aides, therapists, nursing students from CPCI, and Penn State students who have the proper government child safety clearances may be working with us on a regular basis at any time.
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PARENT LENDING LIBRARY:
Books and periodicals about parenting, early childhood education, and the Christian faith are available throughout the year on the Parent Resource Bookshelf in the hallway. Books, videos, and audio tapes may be signed out and returned in a timely manner.
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PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:
A scheduled conference time will be available to parents in the fall and spring. Conference dates will be announced and there will be an opportunity to sign up for 20- minute time slots. Free childcare will be provided for the students and their siblings. Please request additional conferences at any time you wish. Teachers may request additional conferences with parents if the need arises. Referral services are available and can be requested by the parents and/or the school if it is deemed that the child needs an evaluation. We do not provide childcare for older siblings during regular class time. All younger siblings must be accompanied by a parent if they are in the classroom.
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PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATIONS:
Families will receive a monthly class calendar and periodical newsletters from teachers. Preschool families may also receive the Good Shepherd congregational newsletter. Emails from the Pastor of
the congregation highlighting events for preschool family involvement may be sent out from time to time.
Informative notes may be sent home or posted on the hallway bulletin board as needed. Parents should feel free to call teachers at home or make appointments as desired. Parents are encouraged to speak with the staff about any concern, comment, or question. Arrival and dismissal times are not good for lengthy discussions, as the focus then will be on the children. Time can be set aside before or after school for parents and staff to meet. Phone conversations or e-mail communications may also be helpful.
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REGISTRATION IN THE SPRING:
Information about registration for the next school year will be sent to families in January. Registration will be conducted in February or March on a first-come, first- serve basis, each class registering on a different day. Church families and current families enroll first, followed by families on a waiting list and then the community if spaces are still available. Changes to your child's registration can be made before the end of the current school year (May), but any changes afterwards in the summer incur a $10 fee.
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WHAT TO WEAR:
WE LIKE TO GET MESSY AT PRESCHOOL! When dressing your child for school, please consider the variety of activities that we have. We use washable paints, markers and stamp pads and use cover-ups for painting, but clothes still may come home with hard-to-remove spots. We play in the sand, mulch, and snow. We play in the dirt as we plant and harvest our garden. Clothes should be comfortable and washable with fasteners which children can manipulate.
Cowboy boots and other shoes with slippery soles are not safe on play equipment or in active group play. Can your child run in the shoes they are wearing?We strongly
discourage flip flops and high platform sandals and prefer tennis shoes or flat shoes with
straps on the back of them, as we do running activities and play in the mulched playground every
day. We cannot be held responsible for injuries to open toes or feet. On days when your
child wears winter boots, please send shoes also
During the first week of school send a change of clothes which can be left at school (include underwear and socks). Please label all outer clothing. We will keep a small supply of emergency clothing, but children usually prefer to wear something of their own.
Please remember that we try to spend some time outdoors every day- even in wet and winter weather. Our policy on going outside during the winter is that each individual teacher can determine what their class will do, provided the wind chill is not below 15 degrees and windy and snowy conditions would not be hazardous to children. We usually go outside unless it is extremely cold, windy, or wet. Frequently children move from house to car without going outside, so it is easy to forget jackets, hats, mittens, or boots in the winter. In the fall and spring, temperatures change quickly, so you may want to send a lighter sweater or jacket along if your child wears a heavy coat in the morning. Please send a school bag or backpack of some sort for sending items home. This can be as simple as a grocery bag.
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PARENT CODE OF CONDUCT:
We want our environment to be a safe haven physically as well as emotionally for the
students. We will not tolerate parents who use foul or abusive language, spanking, or
threats to other children on site. We will not release the child to any adult who is
suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Parents who transport a student
from another family are responsible for their safety coming and going from school.. Any suspicion of child abuse requires mandatory reporting by our teaching and support staff, which will be documented closely. Please DO NOT LEAVE SIBLINGS UNATTENDED IN CARS WHILE YOU BRING YOUR CHILD TO CLASS. The highway is very busy, in close proximity to major road arteries, and many people use the property
with the bike path. We are not responsible for accidents occurring in our parking lot or on our property that involve neglectful acts of parents.
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PRESCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Congregation members and several members of the preschool staff govern the Preschool Committee. The Pastor or elders of the church can also attend monthly meetings. Their goal is to share Christ with the children and their families as an outreach ministry to the community. We are delighted that you have chosen to place your child in our care!!
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But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and
do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16
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