Little Blessing Pre-School Handbook |
8/6/2012
Little Blessings Preschool Handbook
Our Mission Statement:
The mission of Little Blessings Preschool is to assist families in their walk of faith, while working with parents in their God-given responsibility to train their young children spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically for life and for eternity. We will do this by nurturing them with the truth of God’s Word in a caring Christian environment.Our Philosophy: Little Blessings Preschool exists to provide young children with a love for Jesus and a love for learning through age appropriate educational activities. God has given the command: “Bring your children up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Our preschool is dedicated to the purpose of preserving and strengthening the Christian church so that the gospel of Christ can be spread effectively from generation to generation. Our goal is to produce students who will be eager to learn and live as responsible Christians in their community throughout their lives. Little Blessings Preschool is a ministry of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. It operates under the direction of the principal of the school and the Board of Education of the congregation. Immanuel Lutheran Church accepts the Bible as the Word of God, and is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The children attending our preschool will daily hear the unchanging truths of God’s inspired Word, the Bible. We believe in providing a program that offers a warm, nurturing environment, with varied educational experiences that fosters spiritual, social, academic, and physical development. Nondiscriminatory Policy: Little Blessings admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the students at this school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational, athletic, school-administered programs. Readiness: Little Blessings Preschool asks that when you are considering enrolling your child in our preschool you see how ready they are for an environment different than their home.
Tuition and Enrollment Policy: Registration forms are available from the school office. Parents will need to provide a birth certificate for the child they are registering. The fees for the 2012-2013 school year are: 3K Program $150.00 4K Program $300.00 Preschool Milk 3K Program $12.00 4K Program $18.00 If there remains an unpaid balance at the close of the school, the responsible party must make arrangements with the Principal and Board of Education to clear the account. Chapel: We hold weekly chapel services every Friday beginning at 8:05. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. There is a special service on the first day of school in September and a closing service on the last day in May. Mission Offerings: God has truly blessed us with many things. Physical, material, and spiritual blessings abound throughout our lives. We have so many ways that we can give our time, talents, and treasures back to the Lord. One of those ways is though mission offerings. Each classroom has a ‘church bank’ in which monetary donations may be placed. These banks are brought to our chapel services where the children bring their offerings to the Lord. There is no financial commitment on your family. This is a free will offering. The faculty and students decide where this mission money will be designated. Through our coins and bills the children are able to support the spread of the Gospel to others who might not know of him. Hours of Operation: Our 3K program is held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:05-11:20 a.m. Our 4K program is held Monday through Friday 8:05-11:20 a.m. We follow the school calendar that is set by Immanuel Lutheran School. School Doors: Out of concern for the safety of all students, the school doors will be locked from 8:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., and from 11:35 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Any person entering the school building during those hours must go to ring the doorbell. The door will be unlocked with a buzzer. The person should check in at the school office to the left before entering the school halls. The doors will be unlocked from 7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to the end of school for drop off and pick up of students. School Closings: Little Blessings will close whenever the Waupaca School District closes due to bad weather. If there would be a delayed start to the school day due to weather conditions we would NOT have school that day because of the shortened day. Please listen to WDUX (92.7 FM) for school delays/cancellations. We will notify you by phone if we are forced to close for emergency reasons during regular school hours for such reasons as snow, power failure and the like. It is very important to keep current information on file. If you have a change to your home/work/cell phone please inform the school secretary and classroom teacher. Snacks: We generally have snack about 9:15 am. We offer white and chocolate milk during snack time. The cost for this is paid in addition to the registration fee. Parents are to provide the snack daily. We encourage parents to send healthy food selections. Fruits, vegetables, cheese, crackers, granola/fruit bars, yogurt (there is a refrigerator in the classroom) are just a few examples. We would discourage candy being sent to school. During the school year, if families would like to share a birthday/holiday treat with the class just speak with the teacher. Please indicate on the registration forms if there are any known food allergies. School Picnic: On the very last day of school all the children participate in the annual school picnic. We begin with a closing chapel service in church. The children are organized into teams. The teachers plan activities and games. A picnic meal is also provided. All are expected to attend since this is a regular school day. Clothing: At Little Blessings Preschool our play is work, and that could mean sometimes we get a little messy. We work with the children to strive for independence in caring for themselves, but the occasional accident may occur. Please keep an extra set of clothing at school.
Health and Safety: To help all students and staff stay healthy, please keep your child home when sick. If they have any of the following symptoms please call the school office to report their absence.
Immunizations: State law requires that students show up-to-date immunization records before enrolling in school. Medication Policy: All prescription and over the counter medicine will be dispensed by trained personnel according to the parents’ directions. All medications must have written permission from the parents. Prescription medication must be in a current prescription bottle with the student’s name, type of medication and instructions for dispensing. Over the counter medicine must be accompanied by directions for use from a parent and must be kept in the original container. Parents must bring in medication to the trained personnel. Students should not carry medicine. State law requires this policy. Parent-Teacher Communication: Regular and frequent visits by parents are encouraged. Parents may volunteer to assist teachers in the classroom, on field trips, or by sharing their special talents and interests. If parents/guardians wish to arrange a conference at other times, the opportunity is always welcome. If a problem arises and there are concerns about a child’s life and work at school, and/or a teacher’s performance, the following steps need to be followed based on Matthew 18:15-17.
Discipline: Discipline is a way of correcting an undesired behavior and achieving an expected behavior. Our classroom is set up to encourage appropriate behaviors from all children. Praise and positive reinforcement will be used to reinforce acceptable behavior. Children are given opportunities to make choices for their own behavior. We intend to use logical and natural consequences when working with children to help them see the results of their choices. Child Abuse/Neglect: In compliance with state law, it is the policy of Little Blessings Preschool and Immanuel Lutheran School to report any case of suspected child abuse. Any teacher who suspects that a child under 18 years of age has been neglected or physically abused (including sexual or emotional abuse) by any person including parents or other persons, other than by accidental means, shall report immediately to the department of Social Services, the city police, or the county sheriff. Field Trips: Field trips may be scheduled at various times during the year. These activities are planned to enrich concepts that we have learned in the classroom. It may be planned that we have to drive to our destination. Parents would be needed to chaperone and assist with driving. The school office can supply you with a driver form that would need to be approved and on file prior to the field trip for you to take children other than your own. Information regarding field trips will be sent home approximately 2 weeks prior to the date. Students must have a signed parental permission form to participate. If there is a fee included on the permission form that would need to be paid prior to the date. Church Attendance: While church attendance is not and cannot be required, you should know that we will regularly encourage you and your child to attend worship and Sunday school. Through God’s Word our faith is strengthened. The preschool children will also have the opportunity to sing in church services throughout the year. A singing schedule will be available at the beginning of the school year. Transportation: Immanuel students who are residents of the Waupaca school district are eligible for public bus transportation subject to the same limitations and regulations that apply to public school students. Preschool students would be able to ride the bus to school in the morning, but would need to be picked at the preschool dismissal time. Please call the bus garage for further information at 715-258-4155. Parking regulations: For the safety of our children, a portion of our playground has been made off limits for cars from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Cars will not be permitted east of the bell tower. Signs will be posted. If you will be staying, or coming and going between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., please park south of the fellowship hall. If your car will be here when the afternoon bus arrives, please do not park in the school drive-thru. Please drop off children before school and pick them up after school at the sidewalk at the school entrance. Bus conduct - riding rules: In the event that public school officials or bus drivers report a student for misbehavior on the bus or at a transfer point, we follow these procedures as set by the Waupaca school district: First Report - call parents, follow with letter, talk to student Second Report - call parents, follow with letter, suspend from bus for up to 3 days (attendance at school is still required). Third Report - call parents, follow with letter, student may be deprived of bus transportation for rest of school year. A report of misbehavior on the bus results in an automatic detention. Waupaca bus riding rules
General Reminders for Preschool Parents:
Disclaimer:
The policies that are laid out in the Little Blessings Handbook are supplemental to the handbook which set been
set forth by the Board of Education at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. Little Blessings in under the guidance and direction of the principal and Board of Education of Immanuel Lutheran School. |