1.PHILOSOPHY
At
St. Mark’s Preschool, we believe that each child should have the opportunity
to develop emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually to his/her
fullest potential. We encourage each child to experience the joys of learning
and growing.Our purpose is to provide
activities that meet the developmental needs of each child and provide
a Christian atmosphere for group interaction. We believe each child is
special and prayerfully respect the trust each family is placing in our
hands.
St.
Mark’s Preschool strives to meet the individual needs of each child and
provide valuable experiences on his/her road to learning and growing. Our
curriculum encourages developmental growth through planned activities and
information presented.We share our
love and concern as we interact with each child every day.We
share our faith as we reach out with love and acceptance, impart attitudes
and values, celebrate the Christian holidays, and offer thanksgiving to
God through prayer.
2.CURRICULUM
GOALS
The
curriculum is designed to:
·Provide
opportunities that encourage physical, emotional, social and intellectual
growth.
·Enhance
fine motor and gross motor skills, whether outside on the playground or
inside each classroom.
·Support
the development of social skills such as sharing, cooperation, generosity
and empathy.
·Foster
positive self-esteem, a sense of self-worth and his/her own unique gifts.
The
daily schedules provide for a balance between child-directed and teacher-directed
activities, quiet and active time, and inside and outside play.Children
have daily opportunities to read books, use a variety of art media, explore
math and science materials, music experience, and work alone or together
with friends.
Through
unit study, each child will be exposed to new information and ideas and
will be given opportunities to develop thinking and reasoning skills appropriate
to his/her age and developmental level.There
will be a balance of enrichment/cognitive knowledge material and readiness
skill material when developmentally appropriate.Every
child will be praised for his/her efforts and accomplishments.
We
recognize the importance of adults as models of acceptable and loving behavior.We
seek ways to teach values for Christian living: honesty, obedience, love,
forgiveness, sharing and responsibility.
3.
ENROLLMENT
St.
Mark’s enrollment is open to children of any race, national origin, sex
or religion who are able to participate in a developmentally age appropriate
curriculum.All applications are
subject to evaluation according to the specific needs of the child and
the ability of St. Mark’s Preschool to accommodate those needs through
its program, current staff and facilities.St.
Mark’s Preschool reserves the right to request withdrawal of any child
who requires such attention or supervision that the entire class is unfavorably
affected.The Preschool Teacher,
the Preschool Director, and the Preschool Board will make this decision
through a process of evaluation and consultation
4.HOURS
OF OPERATION AND ATTENDANCE
St.Mark’s
hours are 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Monday
– Friday.Children may begin coming
to the classroom at 8:25 a.m.Extended
care is available:Early Birds from
8:00 a.m. until 8:25 a.m. and Stay & Play from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00
p.m.
Upon
arrival to your child’s classroom each morning, we ask that you leave your
child relatively quickly since transition and separation can be difficult.
Please make every attempt to have your child arrive on time.Children
not currently registered in our program may not be left unattended to visit
for the day.
5.IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunizations
must be up-to-date and filed in accordance with state guidelines.In
addition, all children 30 months and younger, new to the program, must
submit a record of a health exam taken between June 1 and September 1,
2009.
6.DISCIPLINE
We
believe that discipline and guidance should be consistent and based on
an understanding of individual needs and development.A
positive guidance technique promotes self-discipline and acceptable behavior.These
techniques will include but are not limited to:
·recognizing
and encouraging appropriate behaviors
·developing
reasonable and clear rules and expectations in each group
·explaining
the consequences of inappropriate behaviors
·redirecting
children into positive behaviors
·enforcing
limits and rules consistently and fairly
·helping
children to identify and express feelings in acceptable ways
7.ILLNESS
One
of the most serious challenges facing group situations for young children
is preventing illness.We will strive
to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness.Proper
hand washing procedures will be followed and taught to the children.The
eating surfaces and toileting and diaper areas will be sanitized regularly.
One
of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease is to have strictly enforced
standards regarding the exclusion of ill children.We
need your help for this.Do not
bring ill children to school and if your child becomes ill at school, please
pick the child up immediately.If
a child shows any of the following symptoms, he cannot attend school:earache,
digestive disturbance
including
diarrhea, cold symptoms less than 3 days old, fever within the past 24
hours, or any symptom of a contagious illness.Do
not send a child to school unless he/she is well enough to play outside.We
cannot be responsible for administering any type of medication.
8.TUITION
AND FEES
Tuition
will be due the 1st of each month.Preschool
tuition is prorated into 9 equal payments.Tuition
is as follows: 1 day per week - $75 monthly, 2 days per week - $150 monthly,
3 days per week - $200 monthly, 5 days per week - $325 monthly.A
late fee of $5.00 will be charged after the 10th of each month.There
are no discounts for days missed due to illness, absences, vacation, or
school being closed for holidays or emergencies.There
is a returned check fee charge of $25.00 on all returned checks. Tuition
is due and payable as long as a child holds a place in the program.Since
expenses continue, two weeks notice of withdrawal is required.Tuition
must be turned in to the mailbox outside the director’s office.Please
do not give tuition payments to the teachers.
Extended
care programs are available for additional fees.Early
Bird fee is $1.00 per day and Stay and Play fee is $6.00 per day.All
children will be placed in Stay & Play if they have not been picked
up by 12:30 p.m.and will be charged
the regular Stay and Play fee. Children
left after 2:00 p.m. will incur an additional charge of $1.00 per minute.
9. LUNCH
AND SNACKS
Snack
will be provided. Lunches (finger foods) are to be sent from home consisting
of 1 serving milk, 2 servings fruits/vegetables, 1 serving grains/bread,
and 1 serving meat/meat alternative.Do
not send carbonated drinks, glass containers or red juice.
10.CLOTHING
Dress
your child in clothing that is durable and comfortable.Many
of your child’s favorite activities may tend to be a little messy, like
finger painting and digging in the dirt.Children
should wear closed shoes like tennis shoes.Sandals,
cowboy boots, and Sunday shoes are unsafe on the climbing equipment and
cannot be permitted.We will be playing
outside unless the weather is bad (rain or temp. below 40), so a jacket,
coat, gloves or hat may occasionally be required.Each
child also needs a complete change of clothing (including socks and shoes).
All
children who are not yet potty trained are to wear diapers and have additional
diapers and wipes for changing.If
your child comes to preschool in a pull-up, please have diapers available
for changing needs.
11.BRINGING
ITEMS FROM HOME
Children
frequently want to share with their class nature items and treasurers from
home.Such items are especially welcomed
if they support the topic being studied.It
is always a good idea to check with your child’s teacher first before bringing
objects to school. Specific
share days will be scheduled by the teacher.
We
strongly discourage your child from bringing toys from home, although we
do occasionally allow items of comfort, such as a soft cuddly stuff animal,
to help with separation.We know
that bringing toys from home makes it difficult for any child to share
and could get lost or broken.We
will not be responsible if these items are lost or damaged.St.
Mark’s does not allow toys of violence like guns, swords or violent action
figures.Children will not be allowed
to bring cosmetics, candy, gum or money to school.Also
there will be no pets allowed in school (with the exception of a scheduled
pet share day).
12.BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATIONS
Birthday
refreshments are welcome but need to be pre-arranged with the teacher.Cookies
are preferred over cupcakes.Balloons
are prohibited.
13.LABELING
Please
label all items brought to preschool including clothing, backpacks, lunch
boxes, share toys, etc.
14.PARTICIPATION
Your
participation in and observation of our program is welcome.However,
we ask that you pre-arrange a visit or consultation with the teacher.
15.RELEASE
OF CHILDREN
Children
will be released only to a parent or person authorized by the parents (as
listed on the registration form), unless the teacher or director is notified
in writing or by a phone call by the child’s parent or authorized person.The
St. Mark’s Preschool staff will not release any child(ren) to anyone whose
behavior may place the child(ren) in immediate risk.If
this situation occurs, the St. Mark’s Preschools staff will take one or
more of the following actions as deemed necessary:
·An
authorized person (as listed on the registration form) will be called to
come for the child(ren).
·The
child(ren) at risk will be supervised by a staff member until another authorized
person comes for the child(ren).
·The
Murfreesboro Police Department may be notified of the situation and assistance
may be requested.
All children must be transported to and from preschool in appropriate child restraints according to the Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Law:
·Any
child under 20 lbs., regardless of his/her age, MUST be in a rear facing
restraint seat, in the back seat when available.
·Any
child ages 1-3 weighing more than 20 lbs. should be in a forward facing
child restraint seat in the back seat when available.
·Any
child 4-8 years old, measuring less than 5 feet in height, MUST be in a
belt
positioning booster seat, in the back seat when available.
16.
COMMUNICATIONS
St.
Mark’s offers numerous methods of communication. Prior to the beginning
of the school year a Visiting and Orientation Day is offered.There
is an Open House after the school year begins. The bulletin board in the
entrance foyer will have basic school wide information.There
is also a bulletin board, titled PIE, for parent information exchange.Each
month the Director will provide a newsletter, which will include information
pertaining to the month.The classroom
teacher will hand out a monthly calendar and will offer a conference near
the end of the school year.There
may be additional conferences upon request.To
speak with the Director or to leave a message with a teacher, please call
the office.Phone messages will
be checked throughout the day.
17.
WEATHER CLOSINGS
For
weather related closings, we follow the decision of the Murfreesboro City
School System (not Rutherford County System).If
the city opens 1 hour late, the preschool will open 1 hour late also. However,
if the city opens 2 hours late, the preschool will be closed.Families
are encouraged to pick their children up early on days when there are severe
weather warnings issued.
18.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Fire
and/or tornado drills will be held monthly to acquaint your child with
evacuation procedures. If
it is ever necessary to completely evacuate the premises of St. Mark’s
UMC, the children will be taken to Belle Aire Baptist Church.Parents
or emergency persons listed on the enrollment form will be contacted.If
necessary, your physician will be notified and 911 emergency personnel
will be called.
19.
FIELD TRIPS
A
variety of educational and recreational field trips are taken during the
year.Some field trips may require
an additional fee.Parents will be
notified regarding field trips by posted notice.Parents
are encouraged to participate in the field trip with their children.You
must sign a permission form or your child will not be allowed to participate.All
children who participate in the field trip must ride with the teacher or
a parent volunteer.All children
will be required to ride in a child restraint according to the Tennessee
Child Passenger Safety Law.
Any
questions or suggestions about the program should be directed to Sherrie
Gilliam Preschool Director, 895-1803
Director
Sherrie Gilliam
Assistant Director
Geneva Payne
Toddlers
Sherron Badgett
Karen CarnesT/Th
F
2 Year Olds
Karen Carnes
Jill Knecht
Lori Gray M/W
M/W, T/Th
F
3 Year Olds
Charlotte Molloy
Sherron Badgett
Crystal Walden T/Th
M/W/F
M/W/F, T/Th
4 & 5 Year Olds
Sandra Rine
Janet Morse
Christy Simmons
Lori Gray M/T/W/Th/F
M/W/F, T/Th
M/W/F
T/Th
Beth Dempsey
Sterling Faulkner
Sherrie Gilliam
Jenny Harris
Katie Henry
Summer Hillesheim
Amy LaLance
Christy Lovinski
Carolyn Millwood
Jennifer Montgomery
Pam Reddell
Amy Reyes
Martha Touchton
Lisa Wells