Children's Place
Montessori
32175 Folsom Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
(248) 476-9660
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Children's Place
Montessori |
Policies
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Children's Place Montessori Center of Farmington Hills Policy Statement 2007-2008
We attempt here to define clearly A Children's Place Montessori's policies in some of the most common areas of concern to both parents and staff members. Open communication between parents and members of our staff is essential to meeting your child's needs. Please read this Policy Statement and discuss with us any concerns you may have. Your child___________________________is now formally enrolled in A Children's Place ____________________________program. The parent is required to complete a Registration Form, Enrollment Application, Parent Contract, Payment Agreement, Food/Discipline Policy, Over the Counter Medication Permission Form, Emergency Form and Emergency Card, which authorizes us to seek emergency medical care. The child must also have a completed Immunization Record and a Physical Form signed by a doctor. The physical is due two weeks after a child's initial attendance. This form must be updated every two years.
AGES Children's Place is licensed for children ages 2½ through 9 years.
ACADEMIC YEAR SCHEDULE Children's Place will be open from 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. each day, Monday through Friday with vacation breaks in December, February and April, following the Farmington Hills School calendar. A calendar with specific dates will be provided. The academic school year will begin and end with the Farmington Hills school calendar. We do provide vacation care during the school breaks if five (5) or more children need care, but the school will be closed (no care available) on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Cleaning Week near the end of August, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the previous Wednesday and following Friday, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day and one Staff Development day to be determined.
SUMMER SCHEDULE Our summer program is optional for students attending Children’s Place and their siblings. We usually have three 3-week sessions during the summer. During the summer, tuition is based on attendance. You do not pay for days your child does not attend. Because of this, it is essential that you sign your child in and out. If you do not sign in and out consistently, you will be charged for the days you do not sign in. In addition to tuition, there is a registration fee of $25. and activity fees for summer projects. The school is open the same hours, but the daily schedule includes more outdoor activities than the academic year. We are closed for cleaning one week before the start of school. No care is available during that week.
INCLEMENT WEATHER CLOSINGS In addition to scheduled closings for holidays, Children's Place will also close due to inclement weather (snow) when the Farmington Hills Schools close. Please listen to your local radio or television for information on school closings. Should the public schools close due to extreme cold effecting children waiting for busses, we will not close as this does not affect our children.
TUITION, FEES AND ENROLLMENT POLICY The tuition for the program you have selected is currently $_________per year. The tuition for the year is divided into _________ payments. A registration fee of $150.00 is required at the time of enrollment. (See Parent Information for what this includes) The last payment (June’s payment) must be paid not later than May 15 for the following year to assure your child’s space in the program. The tuition payments are due on the 25th of the previous month. Payments are payable through the 10th of the month. Any payments received after the 10th will be considered late and subject to a $25.00 late fee. 2 Because our program and licensing regulations require us to hire staff based on the number of children enrolled, we cannot give tuition refunds for days your child is absent. Any time a child is disenrolled, his/her place may be filled by someone on the waiting list. In order for the child to be re-enrolled, an opening will have to be available and a new application made, accompanied by the required registration fee. Generally speaking, Children's Place is not equipped to handle children who are physically or emotionally impaired. Acceptance will be at the discretion of the teacher. The child must be at least 2½ years old and toilet trained to be enrolled at Children's Place. With very young children, a copy of a birth certificate may be required. After the above requirements are met, and based on available space, a child shall be enrolled without regard to race, creed or national origin. Inasmuch as Children's Place closes at 5:30 P.M., late charges will be assessed for every 15 minutes or fraction thereof that a child is left beyond that time per the Payment Agreement. The clock in the foyer will be used to determine fees. We will check its accuracy weekly. Should you arrive after your child's scheduled pick up time, please plan on paying the required late fee. Payment should be given to the staff person at that time.
ABSENCES We would appreciate your informing us anytime your child is going to be absent and when s/he is expected to return. We have a designated email for absences. The absence email is absences@childrensplacemontessori.com. This will be checked at 9:00 every morning. We would appreciate your sending us an email rather than calling during class time.
PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS There is a small plastic container located on the file cabinet in the office for your payments. In the black box next to the payment container, we have individual envelopes where we will place your receipts for you to pick up. There is generally a two week lag between when payment is made and when the receipt is available. Should you need a receipt quickly, please see Karen.
EXTENDED ABSENCES If your child will be absent for a month or more, you may reduce your tuition as follows: 1) Change from full or extended day to half day for the length of the absence –This will reserve your child’s space when you return. 2) Withdraw from our program. When you return, if space is available, you may reapply with a $125. registration fee. – This will not reserve your child’s space when you return. There is no allowance for absences less than one month in length. After March, there will be no credit for early withdrawal and you will be responsible for tuition payments through June 15.
TAX CREDIT Under a federal tax bill, most families can save 20 % of their children's tuition at our school. For details on eligibility and filing procedures, contact the IRS. You will require our tax ID number which is 38-2619953 and our address, 32175 Folsom Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48336.
CRITERIA FOR WITHDRAWAL OR DISENROLLMENT While we will attempt to work through any difficulties that may arise during the school year, there are times that it is best for both the child and the school to disenroll. Causes for disenrollment are: 1) A child who has developmental problems that cause him/her to harm other children or to disrupt the program at Children's Place will be disenrolled. 2) Failure of the parent to pay tuition and fees will result in disenrollment. 3) A child who has repeated toileting problems will be encouraged to disenroll until such time as sufficient progress in this area is evident to warrant re-enrollment. 4) A parent who is habitually tardy in picking up the child will be asked to seek other care arrangements. 3 5) A child that has had five (5) discipline incidents (see below) will be asked to seek other care arrangements. If the child should be withdrawn by the parents, Children's Place must be given one month's notice prior to withdrawal. If Children's Place is not given the stipulated month's notice, the parent is obligated to pay the equivalent tuition fee. If the child is disenrolled by Children's Place for reasons 1, 3, or 5, the parent will be given one month to make other child care arrangements.
DISCIPLINE POLICY Members of Children's Place staff shall use positive methods of discipline which encourages self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation among the children. Staff members shall not use hitting, shaking, biting, pinching or corporal punishment as a form of punishment. A child shall not be deprived of meals, snacks, rest or necessary toilet use as a type of discipline. No child shall be confined in an enclosed area. Non-severe discipline or restraint may be used when reasonably necessary, based on the child's development, to prevent a child from harming himself or herself, or to prevent a child from harming other persons or property excluding those forms of punishment mentioned in this statement. Children’s Place is committed to giving our children a safe, secure environment free from intimidation. To that end, physical and verbal intimidation is not accepted. We will maintain a discipline log should an incident occur. Normal discipline matters (running in class, “forgetting” to come in from the playground, misuse of materials, etc) will be dealt with during the day. However, intimidation cannot be tolerated. The discipline log will be shared with the parent and if the bullying behavior cannot be eliminated, the child will be asked to leave the school after the fifth (5) incident. In addition, if your child intentionally breaks any school materials, it will be your responsibility to replace it. A discipline policy explaining in detail our methods of discipline will be provided.
TRANSPORTATION Parents are expected to provide transportation to and from Children's Place and to be responsible for seeing the child into the building and taken to a staff member, and coming in for him or her when they leave each day.
CLOTHING Children's clothes are very much alike in looks and sizes and need to be clearly marked with the child's full name. We urge you to consider washable and comfortable play clothes which the child can manage him/herself as much as possible. Because the children will spend a part of each day outdoors, they also need to be dressed according to the weather conditions. It is a good idea to include a cardigan for use in the spring and fall.
LOST AND FOUND Items that are not labeled will be put in a basket in the front foyer. The basket will be emptied monthly. Please look for your lost items in that basket. If you label your child’s clothing, it will be returned to his/her cubby.
OUTDOOR PLAY It is our policy to follow the state regulation requiring an outdoor time for all children every day, weather permitting. We will not go out if it is raining, or if the temperature, including wind chill, drops below 25. Please dress your child accordingly. During winter, the children will need snow pants, gloves or mittens, a hat, boots and a warm coat in order to go outside. Unless there is a medical reason for your child to remain indoors, please plan on an outdoor recess every day. If your child must remain indoors, we must have a doctor’s note indicating the medical reason.
FOOD 4 Children's Place will provide mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks as outlined in our Food Policy. Children should bring their own lunches. We have a refrigerator and microwave available for your convenience. Lunches are stored in the children's cubbies. Lunch boxes should have your child’s name on the outside of the box. Items requiring refrigeration must be labeled and put in the box in the refrigerator labeled “Cold Lunches”. Items requiring refrigeration prior to microwaving must be labeled and placed in the box labeled “Microwave” in the refrigerator. As our refrigerator space is limited, we ask that you place only those items requiring refrigeration in the refrigerator. Please send beverages in containers appropriate for your child, sippy cups are not appropriate for children older than 2 years of age. We encourage you to send nutritious food for your child's mid-day meal. We will strongly encourage eat 1/2 of the main course (i.e. 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 thermos of soup) before eating the other items you may pack. Candy is not appropriate for lunch. While we understand that some children are picky eaters, it is not our policy to feed the children. We do not believe that it is in the child’s best interest to spoon feed them after they have finished eating. We do not serve breakfast; however, if your child arrives between 7:00 and 8:00, and you provide a breakfast, s/he may eat it at school. If your child arrives after 8:00, please arrange for him/her to eat at home.
REST / NAP TIME There will be a quiet time in the afternoon for all children. Children that nap (children nap regularly) can sleep in the gym from 1:00 – 2:45. Children that rest (children that nap occasionally) rest between 1:00 - 2:00 and then have class from 2:00 to 3:30 Kindergarteners and children that never nap will have class from 1:00-3:30. One small blanket should be sent to school with your child to use at nap time. You may also send a small pillow, if you wish. All nap items must fit into a small bag we will supply for your child to use at school. Over sized nap items will be sent home. Non-nappers do not need blankets. All blankets will be sent home for laundering once a week.
TOYS AND OTHER THINGS FROM HOME Parents are asked to help the child to understand that it is not wise to bring toys or other things s/he may not wish to share with the group. The Children's Place cannot be responsible for the loss or damage to any personal possessions children bring to school. However, if bringing a personal item from home makes the child feel more comfortable, it will be accepted until s/he has adjusted.
FIELD TRIPS Field trips are considered an integral part of the educational program and will be taken periodically. With support of parents, Children's Place will provide more than adequate supervision at the field trip site. You will be informed of the event and a fee will be charged. We also require a permission slip for each child. Parents are encouraged to join us on the field trips; however, parents must also pay the field trip fee. We will use Trinity Transportation to transport the children to and from the field trip site as Trinity has busses with seat belts. A portion of your registration fee is used to pay the cost of the transportation..
PHOTOGRAPHS Photographs of children participating in A Children's Place programs may be taken from time to time and may appear in newspapers, magazines, brochures, our website or other publicity materials. Your permission for photographs including your child to be so used without compensation is a part of this agreement. This year, we will be offering candid photos of your child taken during school. We have a digital camera and a printer that will print a 4x6 photo and a wallet sized photo. The cost will be $1.00/ for the 4x6 and $.75 for the wallet size. You will be able to view the photo on the computer before purchase.
VISITING AND CONFERENCES 5 Parents are encouraged to visit the school at any time. We believe that strong parent interest and involvement are essential to excellence in any early education program. We urge you to consult with your child's teacher whenever any significant problems regarding your child arise either at home or at school. If you do not have an opportunity to talk with us on such occasions, please send an e-mail or a note along to explain the situation. Any help you can provide which will allow us to understand your child better will be appreciated. In addition, we seek your active involvement as parents in the school's program, particularly following your child's progress. We strongly encourage you to participate in formal individual parent-teacher conferences we will schedule during the year. Even more important, we encourage you to take advantage of opportunities for daily contact with the teachers. We want your contribution of ideas and donated materials for school programs.
SHOW AND TELL Show and tell gives your child an opportunity to practice public speaking. We encourage you to help your child choose the items s/he brings in. Discuss the item and suggest things to point out to the class. Please have your child rehearse his/her presentation which should include at least three points of interest. Items appropriate for show and tell are: things of scientific interest, items purchased on vacation, especially if it can add to your child's description of the vacation, items made by your child at home or items made by other family members, photographs of special events, and favorite books (don't forget to label). Toys are not appropriate for show and tell and we strongly encourage you to leave them at home. A calendar to schedule your child’s show and tell day will be on the door of each classroom. Please, only two children per day.
MEDICAL State regulations require us to maintain a medical record on each child and for the child to have a physical examination within the twelve months prior to his/her admission to the school. The medical records form is to be filled out by you and your family doctor and returned to us when the child begins attending school. If your child develops any of the following symptoms while at school, the child will be isolated from the other children in the office. One of the parents will be called and asked to take the child home as soon as possible, preferably within one hour. - A temperature of over 99 degrees (oral) - Intestinal disturbance by diarrhea or vomiting - Any undiagnosed rash - Sore or discharging eyes or ears, profuse nasal discharge If the child has been exposed to any contagious disease such as whooping cough, German or regular measles, mumps, chicken pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, or if s/he has diagnosed as having lice or impetigo, s/he should be kept home. The fact of the condition should be reported to the school as soon as possible.
If your child needs to be given medication, our staff can administer it only if the following requirements are met: 1. Medication must be in the original bottle with prescription intact. 2. A written request containing the following information: - The child's name - The date - The name of the medication (the technical name) - The amount to be given - The time for it to be given - Parent's signature In the event of a medical emergency or accident, we will first attempt to contact the parents and the child's own physician. Should parents or physician not be available, we would avail ourselves of services of the hospitals near us, if required, in an emergency. Part of this policy is your authorization for 6 Children's Place to contact your family doctor and to take whatever emergency medical measures are deemed necessary for the care and protection of your child enrolled at Children's Place.
DISMISSAL POLICY It is our policy to release your child only to the parents. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, we must have prior notification, the person must be listed on the emergency card and unless the person is known to us, s/he must show picture identification. Since the responsibility of caring for your child weighs heavily on us, it is our policy not to release any child to anyone, including a parent, who shows any evidence of having consumed alcohol or drugs until proper law enforcement authorities have been called and we are assured that there is no danger to your child. Should this procedure cause delay in your child's departure, applicable late fees will be charged.
SIGN-IN BOOK The DHS regulations require that we keep a record of your child’s hourly attendance. We would appreciate your signing your child in and out everyday in the book in the front hall.
A Children's Place Montessori Center of Farmington Hills has attempted through these pages to outline its duties and responsibilities, concerns and expectations as well as your obligations as parents of an enrolled child. As a parent, you can expect that we will adhere to all state and community licensing rules regarding fire and safety precautions as well as health, sanitation and adult staffing requirements. We will do our best to provide your child with a program of education to suit his/her needs and a physical environment in which they can feel both secure and free to grow. Toward achieving these ends, we encourage and welcome your comments and suggestions, and extend our sincere thanks for your cooperation in these efforts.
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