SUNSHINE PRESCHOOL
St Augustine and St Mary’s Cathedral School
428-2nd Street SE
St. Cloud, MN56304

Fall, 2007-2008

Dear Parent(s) or Guardians,

We welcome you and your child(ren) to our “SUNSHINE” preschool.  An exciting year of enriching activities and projects is waiting for your child.  The curriculum is child centered and includes individual and group activities.

This handbook describes the policies of the school and some helpful information.  Please keep it available for reference.  A newsletter/calendar will be used explaining various aspects of the program and keep you informed of in-going activities.

As parents, you are welcome to visit our Preschool anytime.  We also encourage you to contact us on a regular basis to discuss your child’s adjustment and progress.

We hope your child will develop and grow in many ways in our program.

Sincerely, 

Ms. Pat Lindeman  Ed.S                                 Mrs. Janet Then
Principal/Director                                            Preschool Teacher                              

St. Augustine and St. Mary’s Cathedral Preschool
428 2nd Street SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
251-2376

St. Augustine and St. Mary’s Cathedral Preschool offers an educational experience in which all children can explore and learn about themselves and their environment.  The curriculum is based on a philosophy that encourages children to make decisions for themselves whenever possible and appropriate, that provides balanced opportunities for all aspects of the child’s life, which fosters competence in social, mental, emotional, creative and physical development.

Goals and Objectives for the Preschool Program:

Goal:  to provide an atmosphere where the child is able to grow in knowledge, in socialization skills, and to become aware of his/her emotional feelings.  Activities will be planned to foster the child’s curiosity and aid him/her in developing a sound foundation for learning. 

Objectives:

1. To develop a positive self-concept towards themselves through guided activities.
2. To develop a positive attitude towards school.
3. To help develop a child socially.
4. To teach respect, responsibility and cooperation.
5. To teach new skills in learning and to improve upon the skills already known.
6. To help the child feel comfortable when participating in group activities.
7. To foster a sense of creativity through the use of their imaginations.

Activities Objectives: Areas of learning will encompass physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and creative development.               

1.   Art Activities – To improve/develop small motor coordination through tearing, pasting, drawing, cutting, tracing, rubbing, painting, stuffing, printing, and decorating.  Art activities will be designed to be appropriate for preschool children.  The experience will focus on the process and not the result.

• Music, Finger plays, Rhythms and Songs- To develop memory and counting skills through repetition, to develop the enjoyment of music, and to use voice freely.

• Music, Movement and Games- To increase and/or develop physical developmental skills, large motor coordination, social interaction, good sportsmanship, creativity and to have fun.

• Stories and Films- To develop an appreciation of children’s literature and to develop listening skills.

• Colors- To learn about and recognize colors.

• Shapes- To learn about and recognize shapes.

• Letters- To recognize letters.

• Math- To develop/improve counting skills, recognize numbers, recognize comparisons, develop matching skills, sort and categorize, and make and recognize patterns.

• Science- To develop an awareness of nature and the world around them.

• Cooking- To develop fine motor skills through cutting, pouring, mashing, mixing, rolling, decorating etc., and to develop math skills by counting.

• Language Development- To promote creative thinking, develop language skills, learn to share experiences and ideas, and to learn to express feelings, thoughts, and opinions.

• Free Play Activities- free play activities will include such areas as:  sociodramatic play (housekeeping, school, store etc.), large muscle play (blocks, trucks, cars, rocking boat, climbing bars etc.) ponder play (puzzles, bead string, peg boards, etc.),  clay cutting, pasting and coloring.

St Augustine and St Mary’s Cathedral Preschool is licensed by the State of Minnesota through the Department of Human Services for 10 children per session.

Preschool Policies

   1.   Age:  The age range of children served in this program shall include preschool ages 3-5. The child must be three by September 1st. The child must be able to use the bathroom independently.  

   2.   Enrollment Number:  Each session will have no more than 10 children enrolled, unless equipped with aide.                  
   3.   Days of Operation:  Preschool is in session Monday through Friday beginning the day after Labor Day in          September and continuing until the end of May.  The preschool calendar will follow the K-6 regular calendar.

   4.  Daily Schedule:

M/W/F AM Session    8:30a.m. -11:00a.m.

T/TH    AM Session    8:30a.m. -11:00a.m.

M/W/F  PM Session  12:00p.m. – 2:30p.m.      

    5.  Fees: Monthly fees will be due and payable by the 10th of each month.  Statements will be given out at the beginning of each month as a reminder that tuition is due. Payments can be dropped off or mailed to the school office. Although the Preschool is part of St. Augustine and St. Mary’s school, it is fiscally independent from the school.  The child’s tuition pays for teachers’ salaries, supplies, etc.  Because our costs do not vary with individual absences or illness, no refunds will be made.  There will be a 10% discount for a second child in the family attending preschool.

Tuition for this year:

3 day session- $130.00 per month
2 day session - $100.00 per month
Registration Fee- $35.00 per year (non refundable)

    6.   Transportation:  No transportation is provided by the school.  Car pooling arrangements can be made between families.  

    7.   Provisions for Special needs:  The parents of a child with special needs must discuss with the child’s teacher or the principal prior to school opening.  The child’s eligibility and readiness to attend the preschool will be assessed.

   8.   Enrollment Fee:  An enrollment fee of $35.00 will be paid upon     enrollment of the child.  This fee is non-refundable.

   9.   Minimum Enrollment:  parents who enroll a child agree to send a child for three months. Parents must give a two-week written notice when withdrawing a child. 

  10.  Parent Contact:  A newsletter will be sent home to parents.  The newsletter may include: weekly activities, list of songs, finger plays, stories, and films, important dates to remember, concepts and skills learned, information about schedules and other activities.           

   a.      Child Care Program Plan- A Child Care Program Plan will be developed for each child.  Intellectual, physical, social and emotional progress will be documented in each child’s record and reported to the parents.

• Evaluation & Conferences- Evaluations will be sent home to give you information on you child’s adjustment to school.  Parents are encouraged to call the teacher when the need arises for consultations.  Individual parent conferences will be held twice a year, in winter and spring.  The status of a child’s intellectual, physical, social and emotional development will be reported.  These will be scheduled; parents will sign up for a time that works for them.

• School Visitation by Parents- Parents are welcome to visit the Preschool anytime during the hours of operation.  Please be considerate and do not disrupt by visiting with the teacher if he/she is involved with the students in a group activity.  Parents are welcome to visit with the director or teacher anytime.

   11.   Physical Examination-Physical examinations are required for all 3 and 4 year olds before admission to the Preschool, or within 30 days of admission for the child already admitted, and an updated report of the physical examination needs to be signed by the doctor.  Immunizations must be current and on file prior to the opening of school.

   12.   Supervision:  Children will be supervised at all times by Preschool     staff.

   13.   Dental: We recommend a dental check-up for all children.

   14.   Procedure for Notifying Parents if a child Becomes ill:  Parents or the person designated on the registration form will be notified by phone if the child becomes ill during a session.  It is the parent’s responsibility to pick up the child at school and obtain proper care for him/her. Please be sure the teacher has current phone numbers on file.

Care of Ill Child:  The child will be brought to the school office and cared for by office staff until a parent or responsible adult can pick the child up.

   15.  Communicable Diseases:  Parents will be notified of infections or communicable diseases by a written statement form the school and posted on the bulletin board in the classroom.  Parents must notify the Preschool within 24 hours (exclusive of weekends and holidays) after a child is diagnosed with a contagious disease.

   16. Exclusion of Ill children:  We are not allowed by law to have   children in attendance at school with a communicable disease infection.  A child should be kept out of school at the first sign of a communicable disease or infection.

17. Emergency Medical Care:  the parent or person designated on the registration form will be notified by phone in case of emergency.  If no one can be reached, we will follow the school’s standard policy for emergency care, which is providing proper, immediate first aid and calling an ambulance, if needed.  A first aid manual is in the preschool room and also in the office.

 18. Medications: since no child attends preschool longer than two and one half hours, medications will ordinarily not be administered.  If it is deemed necessary, written instruction must be provided by the doctor or dentist.  The parent must also give written instruction to the teacher to administer the medication.  A form will be available for the parent to fill out.  Medication must be labeled with the original pharmacy label.  It must be kept under lock.

 19. Discipline: Discipline will be handled in a firm and loving manner.  No physical punishment will be used.  The children will be taught respect for the rights of others.  Participation and cooperation will be encouraged.  The children will be taught how to use acceptable alternatives to reduce conflicts.  If further behavior guidance is necessary, check with the teacher for details.  Immediate and directly related consequences will be used for unacceptable behavior.

 20.  Phone Calls:  The school has one phone line: 251-2376.  Since the teacher is available before, in between sessions, or after school, messages will be taken by the office personnel.  If you have an Emergency Call, please make this clear and ask that the message be delivered immediately. 

 21.  Participation in Research, Experimental Procedures, and Public Relations: Parents will be notified in the event that any research, experimental procedures, or public relations activity will occur.  Written permission will be obtained prior to these activities.  Parents are free to choose not to participate.

 22.  Child Abuse: Teachers are mandated by law to report any suspected case of abuse to the county social services.

(See Appendix A.)

  23.  Pets: Pets may not be brought to school until checking with the   teacher for any student or staff allergies.         

  24.  Licensed Capacity: Maximum is 10 children per session, unless equipped with an aide.  If parents have any questions or concerns, they should direct their inquiries to the Department of Human Services, Division of Licensing (612)296-3971 or (320) 656-6000.

             Classroom Policies

• Arrival and Dismissal:  Children are to be dropped off and picked up on time. They should not arrive nor remain more than 10 minutes prior to or after a session. Please check in at the school office, and then wait in the hallway near the classroom for your child.  For safety reasons, please use the Door A on 2nd St Se when dropping off your child. When picking up, please use Door A and wait outside the office for your child to be brought to you.

• Absence from School:  If your child will not be attending preschool because of illness or other reasons, please notify the office before school starts that day: between 7:30a.m.-8:00am for morning sessions and between 11:30a.m.-12:00p.m. for afternoon sessions.

• School Cancellations:  In the event of bad weather, listen to WJON or KCLD radio stations for cancellations.  If St Cloud District 742 Schools are closed or closing early, this includes our preschool.  If school is cancelled during the morning or afternoon session, a call will be made to the parents, or parents can call the school for information related to cancellations.

• Personal Belongings: All personal belongings should be marked with your child’s first and last name.  Children should not bring valuables to school. Toys such as guns, swords, war toys, etc. are not allowed.

• School Bag: All children are asked to bring a school bag to school each day.

• Dress Code: A child should be dressed appropriately for weather and in play clothes.  Ordinarily dress clothes are not suitable to wear in Preschool. Please have your child wear tennis shoes for daily wear since physical activities are often included in the schedule. Absolutely no Sandals or platform shoes should be worn.  During the winter months, snowsuits, mittens, caps and boots are needed because of outdoor play on some days. Our schedule will be flexible, allowing for as much outdoor play as possible.

• Snacks: To keep costs at a minimum, we are requesting that parents furnish snacks. Snacks must be pre-packaged, not contain peanuts or be made in a peanut environment, not be homemade. They should be nutritious. A snack beverage such as apple juice will be provided.

• Birthdays: On your child’s birthday, there will be a little party during the snack time; you may send a special snack on that day. Summer birthdays can also be celebrated. We suggest mini-cupcakes, muffins, cookies, which are small or age appropriate.

• Prayers: Simple prayers can be said at various times. Children will celebrate in school prayer service and in observance of Christian holidays.

• Change of Clothing: All Preschoolers are to bring a clean set of clothes to be used if clothing becomes wet or soiled.  It is the parent’s responsibility to take home clothing and bring clean items the next day. Please put clothing in a labeled plastic bag.

• Basic Supplies: Parents are asked to provide some basic supplies for their child. These can be brought along on the first day of Preschool.
• 2 boxes of crackers for snack time to be shared with class.
• Back pack or school bag
• 1 bottle of 4 oz washable school glue (Elmer’s black label)
  

Grievance Policy for Parents
Any parent of a child at St. Augustine and St. Mary’s Cathedral Sunshine Preschool is encouraged to offer suggestions and input to assist the school in carrying out its education mission.  A solution can usually be found by contacting the person closest to the concern.

Policy:  If a matter cannot be resolved at the above level, a parent may file a formal complaint by:

• Stating the concern in writing or verbally to the teacher or the principal of the school. The complaint will be logged as an incident report. A response will be made within ten (10) days after receipt of the complaint.  *
• When a dispute has not been settled satisfactorily at this level, the parent has the right to appeal in writing to the School Advisory Committee.
• At the next regularly scheduled Board meeting, the School Advisory Committee, Pastor and the Principal will hear the grievance is executive session with the parents. The decision of the School Advisory Committee is final.

• The term” days” mean other than Saturday, Sunday, religious and legal holidays.

Policy Adopted: April 1996                St Augustine and St Mary’s School Board

Amended April 20,1998                     St Cloud, MN

Appendix A

Child Protection and Child Welfare

How do I Report Abuse or Neglect?

Call the county social service agency or the police where the child lives if you believe that a child is being hurt or neglected. Some people, whose jobs involve the care of children, such as doctors, teachers and ministers, are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Other people, such as neighbors or relatives are encouraged to also report if they think a child is being abused or neglected.

Benton County Child Protection Agency  320-968-5087