Parkcrest Early Childhood School 15 16 Parent Handbook

Parent Handbook

Physical Address: Mailing Address: Office (562) 421- 5333 5950 Parkcrest St 3936 Woodruff Ave Fax (562) 421- 4928 Long Beach, CA 90808 Long Beach, CA 90808 Parkcrest.org Handbook Revision

Parkcrest Early Childhood School reserves the right to revise, delete or supplement any of the provisions of this handbook when it deems changes are appropriate. Policy changes will be posted in the office for 30 days.

Revision Date: 02/17/15

Any reproduction in whole or in part of this handbook is prohibited without prior written approval. Parkcrest Early Childhood School 2 Parent Handbook Table of Contents

A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR……………………………………………………………………………………..5

INTRODUCTION TO PARKCREST EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL………………………………………………………………6 The ECS Staff…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 Required Staff Qualifications…………………………………………………………………………………………………….7 Parkcrest ECS Philosophy and Objectives………………………………….……………………………………………….7 Mission Statement…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 Curriculum and Learning………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7 Classes, Programs and School Hours…………………………………………………………………………………………7 Observed Holidays…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9

FAMILIES AND COMMUNICATION………………………………………………………………………………………………..……10 Communication………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………10 Open Door Policy……………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………10 Observations in the Classroom………………………………………………………………………………….……………10 Parent Portal…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10 Parent/Teacher Conferences………………………………………………………………………………………….……….10 Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures……………………………………………………………………………………………11 Grievance Procedure…………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………11 Custody, Court Orders and Changes of Family Status………………………………………………………….……12

HEALTH, SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE……………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Campus Safety…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………13 Releasing A Student………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Access of Records……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….13 Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect………………………………………………………………………….13 Illnesses or Accidents…………………………………………………………………………………………….………………13 Medication Policies……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….14 Allergies and/or Life Sustaining Medication or Equipment…………………………………………….……………14 Mass Casualty Preparedness……………………………………………………………………………………………..……14 Emergency Medical Care……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………15 Behavior Management and Discipline Policies………………………………………………………………..…………15 Aggression and Biting Policies ……………………………………………………………………………………………….16

ENROLLMENT AND FINANCIAL AGREEMENT………………………………………………………………………………………17 Admission Policies…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..17 Waiting List………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….……………17 Class or Program Cancellations……………………………………………………………………………………………….18 Registration Fee…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..18 Tuition Policies………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….18 Tuition Fees………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………18 Additional Fees…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………18 Making A Payment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Refunds………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………19 Absentee Policy…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19 Late Enrollment Tuition Adjustment………………………………………………………..………………………………19 Sibling Discounts…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..20

3 GENERAL POLICIES AND INFORMATION……………………………………………………………………………………………21 Snacks at Parkcrest ECS……………………………………………………………………………………..…………………21 Lunch at Parkcrest ECS………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21 What To Bring To School…………………………………………………………………………………….…………………21 What To Wear At School………………………………………………………………………………………………………..21 Lost And Found…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....21 Parties and Celebrations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………22

4 A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR

Parkcrest Early Childhood School has been serving families and young children in our church and our community with quality, Christ-centered preschool education for over forty years.

Our desire is to be an instrumental part of your child’s growth and development during their time in our program. I believe preschool is such an important, positive way to expose children to a wide variety of lessons and experiences that encourage them to develop, stretch and grow. As teachers, administrators and parents working together, we will be able lay solid foundations that will promote learning and build character, establish feelings of self-worth and accomplishment, and cultivate a relationship with Jesus.

You are welcome to ask any questions, and my door is always open. We pride ourselves on the “family- feel” of our school and love the relationships that have grown here.

Thank you for allowing Parkcrest ECS to be a part of this important stage in your child’s life! I have complete confidence that this will be a time of learning, friends, and as always, fun.

Welcome to the Parkcrest ECS family! We are so glad you’re here.

Chelsey Schlatter Director

5 AN INTRODUCTION TO PARKCREST EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL

Parkcrest Early Childhood School is licensed by the State of California to provide a half-day and an extended-day program designed to enrich the social, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual growth of the young child. The school is sponsored by Parkcrest Christian Church, and is an extension of the Children’s Ministries Department of the church. It is a non-profit, community service school. No student is excluded on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ancestry or lifestyle choice.

Parkcrest ECS Staff

Office Staff:

Chelsey Schlatter, Director Valerie Trumpower, Administrator [email protected] [email protected]

Teaching Staff:

Kim Roberts Deborah Palley [email protected] [email protected]

Cathy LaBarba Michelle Cappell [email protected] [email protected]

Megan Luchtel Jennifer Perez [email protected] [email protected]

Teresa Root Rebekah Van Scoy [email protected] [email protected]

Denise Heckerman Dana Updike [email protected] [email protected]

Amy Brown [email protected]

Required Staff Qualifications To be employed as a teacher at Parkcrest ECS, the following qualifications must be met:

 A minimum of 12 Early Childhood Education units from an accredited college  Fingerprint clearance and background check  A minimum of 6 months experience in the early childhood field  Negative TB test or chest x-ray

In addition, our teachers are expected to attend monthly meetings to ensure that the ECS staff is continuously working together as a unified team, as well as participate in any in-service training that the school conducts on campus, including but not limited to state licensing workshops, health and safety trainings, curriculum planning, or food service instructions. Parkcrest ECS also asks that each teacher attend at least one additional learning experience every year. Those experiences may include conferences, workshops, licensing orientations, or observations at schools in the surrounding area. At all times, there are at least two staff members on campus that are certified in Adult, Child and Infant CPR and First Aid. 6 Parkcrest ECS Philosophies and Objectives At Parkcrest Early Childhood School, we believe in providing each student a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment that fosters growth, self-esteem, and learning. We feel that young children learn best through play, and using this knowledge as our guide, we have thoughtfully created a space and a curriculum that gives our students numerous opportunities to develop appropriately in this way. Our ultimate goal is to encourage students to explore their surroundings, stretch their imaginations, feel comfortable asking questions, strengthen their self-confidence and improve new skills. We place value in both structured and non-structured activities, and schedule our days so that students are able to become accustomed with appropriate behaviors in both settings. Our staff realizes that the window of time we are able to spend with each child is precious and valuable, and we are continually striving for, training for, and praying for new, meaningful tools to impact our students in ways that are positive and life-giving.

Mission Statement To provide a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment that fosters growth, self-esteem, spiritual development and learning through play, hands-on exploration and both structured and non-structured activities

Curriculum and Learning Our curriculum is specifically designed with the “whole child” in mind, and focuses on the development of each child’s intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual self by allowing them the opportunity to dabble in many different learning experiences, including science and math, cooking, music and movement, art, Bible, and more, in addition to a traditional academic preschool curriculum. Please note that each teacher is allowed freedom in preparing her classroom each morning, so while each room will feature different things, our common goals remain the same.

In order to align ourselves with Long Beach Unified standards, and to better prepare our students for what they will find in their Kindergarten classrooms, our school strongly emphasizes the Open Court Literacy Curriculum and provides our older students regular opportunities to practice Common Core math. We feel that by introducing students to the curriculum methods that are widely used in our surrounding public schools, we better prepare them to take their next steps into Kindergarten.

Parkcrest ECS believes that stronger foundations of learning and development can be laid when a school works collaboratively and focuses on common goals. With this in mind, our staff has collectively created a school-wide curriculum that ensures every classroom is emphasizing the same qualities, skills and learning objectives that we feel most prepare a student for success in ways that are both age and developmentally appropriate. While our teachers are given the freedom to express the curriculum in ways they find most effective in their classrooms, every student on our campus will be exposed to the same material and objectives.

Classes, Programs and School Hours

2-Day Morning Classes Our 2-Day morning classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 12:30pm. This option includes a time for lunch, and parents are expected to provide a sack lunch from home each day. Parkcrest ECS does not provide meals.

7 3-Day Morning Classes Our 3-Day morning classes are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 12:30pm. This option includes a time for lunch, and parents are expected to provide a sack lunch from home each day. Parkcrest ECS does not provide meals.

3-Day Afternoon Classes Our 3-Day afternoon classes are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. It is expected that all students would have already eaten lunch before arrival, as there is no lunch period during the afternoon program.

5-Day PreK Program Our 5-Day PreK Program classes are held Monday through Fridays mornings from 9:00am to 12:30pm. This option includes a time for lunch, and parents are expected to provide a sack lunch from home each day. Parkcrest ECS does not provide meals. Our 5-Day PreK Program will be open to PreK students only, meaning students who are experiencing their very last year in preschool and will be transitioning into Kindergarten in the very next year.

Possible Schedule Variations:

Early Start For those parents who need just a little extra time in a busy morning, we offer you our Early Start program! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, we will have an open classrooms and a friendly teacher ready to welcome your child as early as 8:00 am. A $5 Early Start charge will be added to your monthly invoice for every morning that your child is signed in between 8:00 am and 8:50 am. Early Start requires no advance warning or pre-registration, so feel free to use this program as little or as much as you’d like, whenever you’d like.

3-Day Extended Day Parents may choose an Extended-Day schedule by enrolling their child in both the morning and the afternoon program. Extended-Day students will be dropped off at 9:00am and picked up at 3:00pm. Please note: The morning class and the afternoon class will have different teachers, and it is likely that your child will move from a morning classroom into an afternoon classroom after lunch. Morning teachers will make sure that Extended-Day students and their belongings are brought to their afternoon class.

5- Day Morning Classes Parents may choose for their child to attend 5-days a week by enrolling their child in both the 2-day and the 3-day morning classes. Please note: Students participating in the 5-Day option will have a particular teacher and classroom on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and a different teacher and classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Optional Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Summer Session From students who need a little extra excitement through the long months of summer, to new students who would benefit from a few fun weeks getting to know our campus, this program is a great option. This five-week session runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. A one-time tuition fee of $250 will be charged. Our Summer Session schedule does include a time for lunch, and parents are expected to provide a sack lunch from home each day. 8 Discovery Sessions We offer ten separate Discovery Sessions throughout the school year, and each individual session will run for five weeks on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. Students are welcome to register for one session, two sessions or all three sessions at a time. Each individual session will cost a total of $50 per child. A detailed schedule can be found on our website. To be included to the roster, parents must enroll their child for the entire 5-week session and pay the total cost. There is no credit, refunds or make-ups days for a student’s absence.

Participation in our Discovery Sessions is not dependant on whether your child is currently enrolled in Parkcrest ECS. Every child, ages 3 through 6, is eligible to experience these sessions.

Observed Holidays Our school office will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00am to 3:00pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00am to 1:00pm, with the exception of observed holidays, seasonal breaks, staff meetings times, in-service trainings, and adjusted summer hours.

Parkcrest ECS will be closed in observance of the following Holidays: Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, M.L King Jr.’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Spring Break and Memorial Day.

Parkcrest ECS reserves the right to determine school closures on a situational basis. In this instance, multiple written and verbal notices will be given with as much advance warning as possible.

9 FAMILIES AND COMMUNICATION

Communication Our aim is to keep open, honest lines of communication between our families, the teachers and the Director. Parkcrest ECS believes that we can better serve our students if parents and staff are working together to advance a child’s growth and development. Drop-off and pick-up times can be very busy and rushed, and there is rarely time for parents, teachers, or students to have more than a few moments to chat together. Our families are always encouraged to set-up a personal conference time with teachers or the Director whenever they feel it necessary. The Parkcrest ECS staff is also open to email correspondence, and in some instances, phone conferences.

Having a solid connection between home and school is essential. We ask that you share information with us that may be affecting your child at school so that we can respond appropriately and assist. Examples include health issues or a change at home, such as a new sibling or the passing of a family member. All information shared is held in the strictest confidence.

Open Door Policy Our school maintains an open door policy with all parents of enrolled children. We welcome parents to visit their child’s classroom at any time during normal school hours, and encourage parents to attend any of our seasonal events or parties, when deemed appropriate by Parkcrest ECS. Parents are invited to volunteer time or supplies to their child’s classroom, but should never feel obligated to do so. Parents who would like to volunteer their time in their child’s class as an “aide” are welcome to do so, if a teacher so desires the assistance.

We do ask that any parent visitor check-in at the school office before continuing on to the classroom, so the Director has knowledge of who is on our campus at all times. We also request visiting and volunteering parents to remember that in the classroom, the teacher remains responsible for the activities, schedules and behaviors of each child, and expects parents to defer to the rules and procedures of each specific classroom.

Observations in the Classroom It may become necessary for parents to observe their child in a classroom setting, at either their insistence or the Director’s request. Examples for an observation may include a child’s repeated negative or dangerous behavior, or a safety issue. All observations will be scheduled through the Director, and it is absolutely necessary that the Director is present in the classroom with the parent during the time that the observation occurs. At no time is a parent ever allowed to intentionally observe a child other than their own.

Parent Portal ECS families can log in to our online database that allows parents to update student information, view a school calendar or important announcements, and access personal financial records all with a few clicks of the mouse. Parent Portal also offers an opportunity to pay monthly invoices by method of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Individual user names and passwords are issued by email through the school office. Parents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this convenient feature. The office staff is happy to answer questions about Parent Portal and help parents become comfortable with the database.

10 Parent Teacher Conferences We recognize and value the importance of maintaining open and honest communication between our school and the families. With this goal in mind, we encourage parents to attend a Parent-Teacher conference in the middle of the academic school year. At this meeting, parents are able to spend uninterrupted time with their child’s teacher discussing progress, celebrating accomplishments, viewing student work, and planning next steps. We believe that having parents and teachers working together is the best possible way to lay strong foundations for learning, growth and development.

Please note that one Thursday and one Friday during the school year will be devoted to parent-teacher conferences, and the classrooms will be closed. During your specified meeting time, Parkcrest ECS will provide child care on campus, to allow parents and teachers the focus and the freedom to conduct a conference. Due to insurance liability and licensing regulations, childcare will only be extended to students enrolled in our school. Verbal and written notice will be given in advance, so that every family has ample time to make arrangements for conference scheduling.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures Drop-Off: Parkcrest ECS opens its doors each morning at 8:50am, Monday through Friday. When dropping off your child, please go directly to the office to sign-in using both the computer check-in system, as well as signing your full legal signature on the proper sign-in sheet. A child will not be allowed to go to their classroom without first being signed-in by a parent/adult. The teachers will open their doors to begin receiving students no earlier than 8:55am, but have the choice to keep their doors closed until class hours begin at 9:00 am. Should you be finished signing-in before the teacher has opened their classroom door, please wait patiently in the courtyard or outside the classroom. Please take these few extra minutes in the morning to make sure your child has used the restroom before starting their day.

Pick-Up: The doors will be reopened five minutes before the designated pick-up time, being either 12:30pm, 2:00pm or 3:00pm, depending on what the student is involved in that day. No student will be allowed to leave school grounds at any time unless escorted by a parent, guardian or a person listed in the student’s file. Further, any pick-up person other than a parent or guardian must be noted in the student’s file and will need to visit the office to prove identification with a photo ID, complete the computer check-out procedure and sign his/her full legal signature on the proper sign-out sheet before the teacher will release the child.

We recognize things happen that are out of our control, and we do allow for one instance of late pick-up during the academic school year without penalty. However, should a parent be late a second time, there will be a ten minute grace period before a late fee of $1 per minute begins to accumulate. This late fee will be charged to your invoice and payment is expected to be included with the next tuition payment. A written notice will be provided to the parent, alerting them of the additional charge.

Grievance Procedure Parkcrest ECS strongly encourages parents to bring any concerns regarding school policies or the care your child is receiving to the attention of the appropriate staff member right away. If your concern is with the teacher, daily instruction or activities, or classroom procedures and behaviors, parents should first initiate a conversation directly with the teacher. Many times, this approach will result in a satisfactory outcome, and won’t require further discussion.

11 If a parent feels that a concern has not been handled appropriately by the teacher, or that it deserves the attention of the Director, please schedule a meeting through the office. Any and all questions or concerns regarding school policy, tuition or financial issues should be taken to the Director. We welcome all conversations, and never want our ECS families to hesitate to express concerns or ask questions.

We kindly request that parents refrain from discussing school or classrooms concerns with other parents, and that all situations are handled appropriately, constructively, confidentially and with the best intentions in mind.

Custody, Court Orders and Changes of Family Status Parkcrest ECS will not prohibit parents from accessing records, attending activities or participating in conferences pertaining to their child unless otherwise required to do so by court order or state law.

The school denies a parent access to their child only if there is a legal document that addresses that denial. In those circumstances, we require (1) a certified copy of the current court order which clearly states the rights or restraints ordered, and (2) a letter from the custodial parent stating the non-custodial parent is not allowed to pick-up the child or participate in school activities.

Visitation schedules and parenting plans are agreements made between parents and are not binding to the school. We will release a child to either parent in accordance with school policy unless otherwise directed by a valid court order.

12 HEALTH, SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE

Campus Safety Our campus remains locked during the day to ensure the safety of the students. If a student needs to be picked-up early or dropped-off late, or if a parent desires access to the campus or to their child, and the main entrance doors have been locked, please ring the doorbell to the right of the main entrance and an ECS staff member will be happy to assist you.

All students will be required to wear a name tag that will be clipped onto their clothing once they enter their classrooms. Name tags will display the child’s first and last name, parents names, teacher’s name, a primary and secondary emergency contact phone number, any allergies or medical information the staff needs to be aware of, and a list of people allowed to pick-up the student.

Releasing A Student With the safety of every child being a top priority, we maintain a very strict policy regarding to whom teachers are allowed to release students. Our registration packet requires parents to list any and all individuals who are allowed to take their child from school grounds. We encourage parents to be very thoughtful and inclusive with their list, and update this information regularly.

Advance authorization is required for a student to be released to an individual other than those already listed in the student’s file. Only in cases of necessity or emergency will a change be made over the phone. When notified by telephone, a parent may be asked to provide certain family information, such as an address or birth date, to confirm verification. Upon arriving at the school, the pick-up person will be required to present a form of photo identification, complete the computer check-out process with the student’s individual 5-digit number, and sign their full legal signature on the proper clip board.

If a person other than the child’s parent or authorized person arrives to pick-up a student, the student will not be released until proper authorization is received. Should an unauthorized person become confrontational or uncooperative with staff, a telephone call will be made to the parent, an emergency contact person, and/or the police immediately.

Access of Records Parkcrest ECS values privacy and confidentiality with all verbal and written information shared with us. In some cases, it is necessary for school staff members to access your child’s records and health information for school purposes only. Please be aware that the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division has the right to view student records, as well as interview children on a one-on-one basis without the permission of the parent under California regulation, section 101200.

Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect According to state law, all personnel working in a licensed childcare facility are mandated reporters and MUST report suspected child abuse or neglect. Those who violate this reporting law are at risk of criminal penalty.

13 Illnesses or Accidents We understand that young children are often plagued by “the sniffles”, and that they can suffer from seasonal allergies. Students are permitted on campus if they are experiencing a slight runny nose with clear discharge, or have a slight cough. We do request that children remain at home if experiencing the following symptoms:

 Thick, green discharge from the nose  Deep “wet cough”, or a persistent, hacking dry cough  A fever of more than 100.0 degrees  Vomiting on two or more occasions within the past 24 hours  Diarrhea on two or more occasions within the past 24 hours  Draining rash or undiagnosed rash lasting over a 24 hours period  Eye discharge or pink eye. Students will be welcomed back to school with a doctor’s note that rules out bacterial or viral infection, or after being on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours.  Open, oozing sores or scabs, unless properly covered.

If a student starts displaying behaviors or symptoms that may suggest illness, such as fatigue, a slight temperature, or making continual complaints about not feeling well, a parent will be called. Depending on the situation, a parent may be asked to pick-up their child from school for the day. Please have an emergency back-up plan, in the instance that your child must be picked up early due to illness.

Medication Policies We realize there are situations in which it will be necessary for students to have medication administered to them during school hours. Please be advised that Parkcrest ECS will not administer either prescription or Over The Counter (OTC) medications without a DOCTOR’S written approval.

Should a parent request that a doctor-approved medication remain on campus with the child, we will be happy to accommodate. Our school has two designated areas to store student medications in safe, secure locations. Pending instructions from your child’s doctor, a medication log will be filled out by the administering staff member every time a dose of the prescribed medication is given to the child. The medication log is readily available to the parent upon request.

If your child is dependent on life-sustaining or emergency medication or equipment, please speak with the Director to plan appropriate next steps in ensuring that your child is safe, comfortable and healthy while in our care.

Allergies and/or Life-Sustaining Medication or Equipment If a student has an allergy, health diagnosis, or is dependant on life-sustaining medication or medical equipment, it is very important that the ECS staff is properly notified, and all information has been included in the student’s file. All important allergy information pertaining to the student can be found on their individual name tag, and lists of students with food allergies will be posted on every snack cabinet door, in each classroom, and next to all food prep areas.

Mass Casualty Preparedness Our staff is committed to ensuring that your child is as safe as possible in the event of an earthquake, fire, natural disaster, or other emergency by attending in-service trainings throughout the year, and by carefully and thoughtfully preparing mass casualty plans and strategies for evacuation. Mass casualty plans are posted in the school office and available for review at any time.

14 In the event of a mass emergency, each class will be evacuated to an area that is safe to wait for parents to arrive. The staff will make every opportunity available to contact parents, who are expected to come for their children immediately. At least one Parkcrest ECS staff member will not leave the school grounds until every student has been retrieved by an appropriate person, or until the proper authorities have been notified and arrive. Please be aware that there are Evacuation Procedures and an Emergency Preparedness Plan on display in the school office for parents to view at any time.

Each family is strongly encouraged to send their child to school with an Emergency Kit, as outlined in the registration packet. These kits will be kept on school grounds, and will only be accessed in the case of a mass emergency. If the kit has not been used by the last day of school, they will be returned to the family.

Emergency Medical Care In the case of medical emergency or illness requiring immediate professional attention, the staff will call 911. There are staff members present on campus at all times who have been trained in Infant, Pediatric and Adult CPR and First Aid, and will administer it if appropriate and necessary. If emergency care becomes necessary, parents will be contacted immediately. If parents are unavailable, the staff will notify those individuals designated as emergency phone contacts in the student’s file.

In the case of injury or accident in which an ambulance is not needed, but immediate professional care is required, the staff will contact the parents. If the parents are unavailable, the staff will notify those individuals designated as emergency contacts in the student’s file.

In NO circumstance is Parkcrest ECS staff allowed to transport students to a hospital or doctor’s office. Injured or ill children must be transported by parents, emergency contact individuals, authorized pick-up individuals, or ambulance only.

Behavior Management and Discipline Policies Parkcrest ECS carefully adheres to the statement concerning personal rights and discipline as stated in Title 22, Division 6 of the California Administration Code. Our teachers are expected to follow specific guidelines when handling disciplinary situations, and maintain an open line of communication with both the Director and the parents, when necessary. Parkcrest ECS will never use any type of corporal punishment, or violate a child’s personal rights, as defined in Title 22, Section 101223.2.

We believe in “positive discipline”, which emphasizes positive behaviors, rather than highlighting the negative. Teachers may use any the following positive discipline techniques:  Speak with the child about appropriate behavior  Redirect the child to a different area  Remove the child from the area or the group and have them sit in a quiet, calm spot for a short period of time until the child is able to correct their behavior and return to the group

When a teacher deems it necessary, the Director may be called in to observe a student’s behavior, or the student may be taken to the Director’s office as a form of disciplinary action. If negative behaviors persist, we will contact the student’s parents and ask them to come in for a conference.

While some behaviors are typical for a specific “age and stage”, we recognize that not every child is the same, and each one grows, develops and comprehends at different rates. With that in mind, we observe and make individual behavior plans, when necessary.

15 We reserve the right to suspend or dismiss any student or family who is not in compliance with state licensing laws, who is not following the policies and procedures of Parkcrest ECS, or who poses a danger or possible threat to themselves, or to any other student, teacher, faculty or family.

Aggression and Biting Policies We are committed to creating a safe and protective environment for every student. Our program encourages and promotes independence and interaction, respect for others and our surroundings, and non- aggressive problem-solving between children. Despite our best efforts, undesirable behavior can sometimes occur before an adult can intervene, even if it happens right next to a supervising teacher.

Aggression We take aggressive behavior very seriously. These behaviors include, but are not limited to: hitting, pushing, violent tantrums, sharing conflicts, or in any way provoking an altercation. This may also include verbal abuse or inappropriate language. In the event that a child’s behavior places other students in an unsafe situation, our policy includes but is not limited to the following:  The student will be spoken to in a firm but caring voice. At times, it might be necessary to remove the child from the rest of the group  The student may have a conversation about their behavior with the Director, or spend time in the Director’s office  The parents may be asked to remove their child from the school for the remainder of the day  The aggressive behavior will be documented on a written Behavior Report that will be given to the parents at pick-up time. A copy of the report also be kept in the student’s file. In some cases, it may be required that a Special Incident Report be filed with the state licensing department.  If the aggressive behavior was inflicted upon another student, that child’s parents will receive a written Incident Report at pick-up time, and a copy of the report will also be kept in the student’s file.

Biting Biting can be a normal stage of development for young children who are teething or developing their language skills. Typically, biting is a temporary condition that is most common between 13 and 24 months of age.

We take biting very seriously. Our policy for handling biting incidents is as follows:  The biter is immediately removed from the group and spoken with in a firm but caring voice.  The bitten child is consoled, and the bitten area is washed with soap and water. If necessary, ice will be applied to the area to reduce swelling or bruising. If skin has been broken, a bandage will be placed over the wound.  A written Behavior Report will be given to the parents of the biting child upon pick-up, and a copy will be put in the student’s file. At times, it may be required to file a Special Incident Report with our state licensing department.  A written Incident Report will be given to the parents of the bitten child.  The Director may request a conference with parents of the biting child to discuss a corrective course of action

After three incidents of unsafe, aggressive behavior or biting have been documented, the student will be immediately withdrawn from the program. The school has the right to decide if the withdrawal will be temporary or permanent. Anytime a period of six consecutive months have passed without any occurrence, we will consider the following incident as a “relapse” and will therefore allow one further occurrence before exercising our right to dismiss the student from our program.

16 Please be aware that under NO circumstances will the names of the students involved in any conflict be shared with parents. Every student, despite their role in the circumstance, is entitled to confidentiality.

ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AGREEMENT

Admissions Policies The readiness of the student for admission is assessed on the basis of:  Age: Every student must be 2 years, 9 months old to be eligible for enrollment  The student’s ability to care for their own personal needs, such as toileting, dressing and hand washing, feeding oneself independently, etc.  The ability to participate with a group of students away from his/her parents for a period of time.

We understand that some of our younger students have just mastered potty-training, and transitioning into a new environment might trigger a few accidents. If parents feel more comfortable, students ARE permitted to wear Pull-Ups or padded training underwear to school, if they are able to use them as regular underwear and can go through the process of pulling them down, using the toilet and pulling them back up independently. It is expected that every child will transition into regular underwear shortly after entering the program, and will be able to use the restroom independently and without frequent accidents. Diapers are NEVER permitted to be worn while at school.

After enrollment, if it is found that a child is not ready for this group experience or able to care for personal needs, such as toileting independently, a Director/parent conference will be held to discuss next steps concerning continued attendance. Parents may be required to remove their child from the program for a period of time to work on potty-training at home. Re-enrollment will be dependant on the child’s ability to master the skill.

All State required admission forms included in the student’s registration packet in it’s entirety must be completed BEFORE admission, in order to remain in compliance with state law. Children will only be assigned to a class after the office is in possession of the completed student registration packet, and a registration fee has been paid in full. Physician’s reports are not required for a student’s first day of school. However, any student who has not turned in a completed physician’s report and an updated immunization record thirty days after their first day of school will be at risk of suspended attendance at the family’s expense until the completed paperwork has been submitted.

Parkcrest ECS reserves the right to refuse admission to, or suspend attendance of, a child who is not in compliance with state law, who is not able to meet the requirements of admission (as listed above), or who poses a danger to other students.

Waiting List If a family desires admission, but classes have already met capacity, there is an option to be placed on our waiting list. This does not guarantee a position in the academic school year, as waiting list students are accepted into the school only when an appropriate opening becomes available.

If a class should have an opening during the year, our waiting list families will be notified as soon as possible, in order of inquiry date and age-appropriateness. Waiting list parents will be given a seven-day period to secure their child’s place in the class by submitting a completed registration packet and a

17 registration fee. If parents fail to deliver required paperwork and fees within seven days, the school reserves the right to offer the opening to the next family on the waiting list.

Should no opening become available for a child during the academic school year, our waiting list families will be given priority registration dates for the following school year.

Class or Program Cancellations We reserve the right to cancel or suspend any class or program at any time, due to low attendance or lack of response, or at the Director’s discretion. Written notice of any cancellations will be provided to parents at least 30 days in advance.

Registration Fee A non-refundable annual registration fee is due at the time the student’s completed paperwork is submitted, and must be paid in full in order to secure admission to Parkcrest ECS. If this fee is not received, the student may be at risk of losing his/her spot in their class. The registration fees will be determined as follows: -To re-enroll a current student, the fee will be $50, due at the time of registration. -To re-enroll a new student, the fee will be $75, due at the time of registration.

Tuition Policies Tuition is to be paid in full on the first of every month, from September through May. By the 23rd of each month, an invoice will be placed in your child’s pocket chart. There, you will find the monthly tuition fee for the next month, as well as the accumulated charges of the services you may have utilized over the previous month, including Discovery Sessions, Early Start, or any necessary late fees.

Please note that despite observed holidays, teacher in-service days, seasonal recesses, or other school closures, our tuition fees have been calculated accordingly and will remain the same each month. The first tuition payment will be collected on September 1 and the last tuition payment will be collected on May 1. There is no tuition fee due for the month of June. However, if a student had accrued any additional charges during May or has an outstanding balance, an invoice of those charges will be available for the parent by the 23rd of May, and that remaining amount will be due in full on June 1.

Should tuition not be paid by the 10th of any month, a $20 late fee will be incurred. In the occurrence that tuition not be paid for a period of two consecutive months, your child’s attendance in his/her class will be suspended at the family’s cost until the tuition is paid in full, or a payment plan is discussed with and approved by the director. Please note that students will not be permitted to enroll in Discovery sessions if an outstanding tuition balance is reflected in a student’s record.

Tuition Fees Morning Classes (9:00am to 12:30pm) 2-Day (TTh)- $195 3-Day (MWF)- $235 5-Day PreK Program- $420

Afternoon Classes (12:30pm to 3:00pm) 3-Day (MWF)- $215

18 Additional Fees During any given month, depending on the optional electives each family chooses, or based on accrued penalty fees, additional charges may be included on a monthly invoice. Those fees are as follows:

Discovery Sessions- $50 per session Summer School- $250 for a five-week session Late Tuition Fee- $25 per month Late Pick-Up Fee- $1 per minute, after a ten minute grace period T-Shirt Sale- To be determined at time of sale

Making A Payment Payments can be made in the form of a check, cash or through the Parent Portal by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Each month, an invoice placed in your child’s pocket chart will alert you that a payment is nearly due. Checks can be made to Parkcrest ECS, and we ask that your child’s name be written in the memo section to ensure we credit the payment correctly. Please ALWAYS enclose cash payments in an envelope with your child’s name written legibly on the front. Receipts are available on request; please speak with the office staff should you need a printed receipt or statement.

A Payment Drop Box is conveniently located in the school office and parents are encouraged to utilize this feature. We do ask that anything placed in the Drop Box be clearly marked with a reason for the payment and labeled with a student’s name to ensure we can easily identify and deposit in a timely manner.

There is never an instance in which a teacher should be responsible for collecting payment of any kind. We respect that the primary focus of our teachers is the students, and ask that all financial questions or dealings be handled with the Director or school Administrator.

Refunds We understand that circumstances may require families to withdraw their child from our school at any time within the school year, and we are happy to issue a tuition refund in those situations. Tuition refunds will be based on the following stipulations:

 If a student is withdrawn from class ON OR BEFORE THE 15th of the month, one-half of the regular monthly tuition will be refunded to the family.  If a student is withdrawn AFTER THE 15th of the month, the regular monthly tuition fee applies and no refund will be issued.

Should Parkcrest ECS need to cancel a program/class at any time, a full refund will be provided to all families who have already made payments towards that particular program/class, or those payments can be credited to either an upcoming or an outstanding invoice upon request.

We reserve the right to take as many as fourteen business days to issue refunds.

Absentee Policy Please note that refunds will not be provided for student absences for any reason. Because each student holds a spot in his/her class whether he/she is in attendance or not, the regular monthly tuition fee will be expected on the first of each month, despite the number of days that have been missed by the student.

19 There is no absentee credit when school is missed because of holidays, vacations, family trips or illness or for any other reason.

If a student has been absent for a period of two weeks and the month’s tuition has not been paid, the student may be automatically withdrawn from the program. Written notice will be provided to the parent.

Late Enrollment Tuition Adjustment Dependent on availability, students are welcome to enroll in our classes at any time during the school year. Should a student begin a class before the 15th of the month, no adjustments in cost will be made to the regular monthly tuition fee. Should a student begin a class on or after the 15th of the month, the tuition for that particular month will be half of the regular tuition fee.

Sibling Discounts We understand that preschool costs can quickly escalate when parents have multiple children attending in the same school year, and we are happy to offer a tuition discount to those families. These discounted sibling rates will be automatically applied by our computer system, and will be reflected appropriately on each monthly invoice. The breakdown of the Sibling Discount is as follows:

-First Child: Full monthly tuition fee applies -Second Child: 5% off the monthly tuition fee -Third Child, Fourth Child, Etc: 10% off the monthly tuition fee

20 GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Snacks at Parkcrest ECS Parkcrest ECS will provide a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack for every student, dependent on which program the child attends. Teachers will provide classroom calendars for parents at the beginning of every month, and there, parents will be notified if a teacher is planning to deviate from the school snack menu and offer a special snack that advances the lesson plan. In addition, a monthly snack calendar will be posted in the school office, and is available for a parent to view at any time. Please alert the teacher immediately if you do not want your child to partake of a certain snack.

Lunch at Parkcrest ECS Our morning classes include a lunch period, in which students will be eating in their classrooms from 12:00pm to 12:30pm. Each family will be responsible for providing a sack lunch for their child. Remember to pack healthy, nutritious foods for your child, and please be aware that while our teachers will be happy to assist each student with their lunches, we are not able to heat/cook any items. Any uneaten food will be repackaged and sent back home, when possible.

What To Bring To School Parkcrest ECS does ask that every child bring to school a change of clothing in a small backpack or bag. In the event of an accident or a major spill, it is always more comfortable for a child to be changed out of wet clothing and into a familiar, well-fitting alternative. It is not guaranteed that Parkcrest ECS will be able to provide a spare change of clothes. In this instance, a parent may be called to bring clean clothes, if a change is not found in the student’s backpack.

Please refrain from allowing your child to bring any items from home into the classroom. It is very challenging for a teacher to keep track of special items or toys, and we do not promise that those items won’t be lost or broken by the end of the day. Some children have a difficult time separating from their special item, and asking the student to place their item in a backpack or cubby could cause distress or angry feelings.

If a student is asked to bring a particular item from home for a special activity, such as Show and Tell, please be cautious in what is sent to school. We ask that parents refrain from sending toy weapons, and please be aware that while the teachers do their very best to safeguard every special toy, accidents happen and things can be lost or broken.

What To Wear At School Please be aware that we encourage hands-on exploration here at school, and many times, our students are working with paint, glue, glitter, etc., as well as utilizing swings, sandboxes, bikes and slides on the 21 playground. It is best if students are dressed in comfortable, weather-appropriate outfits that parents wouldn’t mind being messy at the end of the day. We also require that each child wear well-fitting shoes that have a strap across the back. Rubber-soled footwear is most appropriate for the activities the students will be participating in while on campus.

Lost And Found In the instance that something has been left on campus in error, please ask to check the Lost and Found box, located in the school office. If items are left in the box for an extended period of time, those items will be donated to a worthy charity. In order to be able to return any lost belongings, we ask that parents label the things they send to school with their child, including backpacks, changes of clothing, jackets and lunchboxes. This will help us ensure that all of your items are returned to you.

Parties and Celebrations We embrace every opportunity to celebrate at Parkcrest ECS. Seasons, holidays and birthdays are usually met with a festive party. Please be advised that special snacks may be served at any of our celebrations, and parents are welcome to bring special treats from home to donate for any one of our parties. Whenever possible, families will be notified of any special snack that will be provided to the students with a written note, the monthly curriculum calendar, a message at the check in/out computers, or verbal notice from the teacher.

Parents are always welcome to bring in a special snack and festive cups or napkins to have their child celebrate a birthday with their classmates during snack time. Advance notice is requested so that the teacher can prepare accordingly. Teachers will be happy to serve treats and juice during snack time, but parents also have the option to join the class during the scheduled snack time to participate in their child’s celebration.

If you are having an outside party, please do not send party invitations to school unless you are inviting the entire class, to prevent hurt feelings. To invite only a few children, please mail the invitation directly to their home or email the parent. Our office staff will be happy to the share home addresses or email addresses of those parents who have previously authorized us to do so.