PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
Nursery school is probably one of
the first experiences your child will have with a community
outside the home. We believe Holy Nativity Pre-School offers a
warm, loving, child-centered atmosphere that will allow children
to grow comfortably toward their potential. We furnish
experiences that will develop a greater awareness of each
child's individuality. Each child has a unique personal
potential which needs developing. We hope to promote within each
child a movement to happy and fulfilling relationships.
We are a school that grew out of
the Holy Nativity Christian community and continue to
acknowledge our spiritual roots and traditions. Important
holidays such as Easter, Passover, and Christmas are discussed
with the children on their level. We believe it is essential for
our children to experience these activities.
One of the things that is
encouraged at Holy Nativity is a sense of community. The
children find God's love as they interact with each other, their
teachers and aides. They learn to care for each other as they
study and play within a communal setting.
CLASSES
The two day (Tuesday and
Thursday) program is for 3 year olds who are potty-trained and
meets from 9 to 11:30 AM. The three day (Monday, Wednesday,
Friday) program is for 4 and 5 year olds. There is a morning
session from 9 to 11:30 AM and an afternoon session from 12:30
to 3 PM. The 5 day program is for 4 and 5 year olds and meets 9
to 11:30 AM. The Enrichment Program meets from 12:30 to 3:00
Monday through Friday. This program is unstructured and
focuses on science, computers, math, cooking, Spanish, gym and art.
"Musical Mommy and Me" Classes are
offered to children ages 1 to 3 years with a parent
or caretaker. The classes are one hour long for eight weeks.
For more information on this class, click here for our
printable registration form.
These programs are designed to
introduce children to the school setting and concentrate on
socialization activities. They also include activities to
stimulate emotional, social, mental and physical development.
The three and five day programs emphasize Kindergarten
readiness.
We also offer an extended day
program which allows the morning children to stay with a lunch
from 11:30 to 12:30, 1:00 or 2:00. The
morning and afternoon children have the option of staying for
lunch bunch from 11:30 to 12:30. After
eating, the children are supervised in various recreational
activities.
REGISTRATION
A $35.00 non-refundable
registration fee must accompany completed registration forms. A
Separate registration form should be completed for each child,
however only one registration fee per family is required. This
registration fee is waived for Holy Nativity members.
TUITION
Annual tuition for the 2008-2009
school year is:
-
Two Day Program - $1,430.00
-
Three Day Program - $1,870.00
-
Five Day Program - $2,780.00
-
1 Day Enrichment class - $830.00
-
2 Day Enrichment class -
$1,660.00
-
3 Day Enrichment class -
$2,480.00
-
4 Day Enrichment class - $3,320.00
-
5 Day Enrichment class -
$3,780.00
For your convenience, annual
tuition may be divided into ten equal installment payments and
is due as follows:
Installment #1 is due by - August
15th
Installment #2 is due by - September 15th
Installment #3 is due by - October 15th
Installment #4 is due by- November 15th
Installment #5 is due by- December 15th
Installment #6 is due by- January 15th
Installment #7 is due by- February 15th
Installment #8 is due by - March 15th
Installment #9 is due by - April 15th
Installment #10 is due by - May 15th
If tuition is more than 5 days
late, a $20.00 penalty is added. In addition, if a check is
returned to us, a $5.00 bank charge is added.
The Enrichment Program includes
the price of lunch in with the tuition payment however; if your
child is attending classes in the AM and PM (other than the
enrichment class) you will be charged for lunch. The Enrichment
Program is the only program that includes lunch in with the
tuition.
DISCOUNTS
The following discount is
available:
For families with more than
one child, the second child's tuition (the lesser tuition)
will be discounted by 10%.
CURRICULUM
Our curriculum includes readiness
activities such as learning numbers, alphabet letters, shapes
and colors. Music, story-telling, language development, group
discussions, beginning science and nature study, field trips,
arts and crafts, social skill, outdoor free play, and
educational games are also integrated into the program. Our 3
and 5 day classes include activities to enhance kindergarten
readiness. A Music Enrichment program is offered once a week for
all classes.
DAILY AND OVERALL ACTIVITIES
The daily schedule provides time
for both quiet and active experiences. There is a great amount
of flexibility in our schedule so we may address each child's
interest level. Outdoor play is also part of our daily routine,
weather permitting. Monthly, the Vicar invites the children into
the church and introduces them to Bible stories and the seasons
of the church year.
We provide a daily snack to each
child preceded by a prayer of thanks. Snacks usually consist of
fruit juice and crackers or pretzels. Occasionally raisins,
fresh fruit, vegetables, etc. are served. If your child is on
any kind of RESTRICTED or SPECIAL DIET, please notify us before
school begins so we may accommodate his/her needs.
Cooking is often included in our
activities to add another learning experience. Furthermore, it's
fun for the children to eat what they prepare. Birthday parties
are also fun and you are welcome to talk with the teacher about
this. We celebrate special holidays and ask parents to
contribute party supplies.
HEALTH
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE SCHOOL
BE GIVEN COMPLETE AND UP-TO-DATE MEDICAL INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY
REGARDING ALLERGIES.
Each year the children are
offered a hearing and speech test by the Association for the
Blind. Parents will be notified about any concerns.
In order to keep our Pre-School a
healthy environment, it is essential that any child showing any
evidence of fever, runny nose (yellow mucus), or illness, be
kept at home. The school should be notified of communicable
diseases, and the child shall not be permitted in school for the
duration of the illness. (e.g. Chicken Pox, Impetigo, Ringworm,
Scabies, Tonsillitis, Trachoma, Head Lice). A doctor's release
should accompany the child upon return to school.
We also incorporate hand
washing before snack to help eliminate germs for the health and
safety of our children.
The Pre-School staff is not
permitted to administer medications to the children. However, in
cases of emergency such as bee stings asthma attacks etc,
exceptions will be made. A signed permission slip by the parents
must accompany the medication.
CLOTHING
Please encourage your child to
develop independence in getting dressed. We suggest name tags on
outer-wear as children sometimes forget what they had on when
they left home!
Children should be dressed
comfortably. If the girls wear dresses, they should also wear
tights so they can do tumbling activities. Sneakers or
soft-soled shoes should be worn to prevent accidents during
running activities. Please send a spare set of clothes in case
of an accident.
"Cubbies" are provided for the
children's work and notes to parents. A place to hang outer
garments is also provided.
COMMUNICATION
Parental communication and
participation are encouraged. An Open House for parents begins
the school year. Monthly newsletters are sent to keep parents
informed of all classroom activities and upcoming events.
An individual parent
conference can be scheduled in February if needed. A progress
report is sent home in November for all students. Additional
conferences may be held at the request of the parent or teacher.
An Advisory Board oversees the general operation of the
pre-school program. Each year the Board elects a parent to act
as liaison between the parents and the Advisory Board.
Please notify us if your child
will be absent from school. Our number is 598-3711. We ask that
you not drop off your child more than five minutes before each
class and be prompt in picking your child up at the end of the
day.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
In the event of ice or snow, we
use Council Rock's decision for school closings. The school
number is 756. If there is a 2-hour delay, our AM classes
will be cancelled but our PM classes will be in session from
12:30 to 3:00. There will be no lunch program offered on days
with a 2-hour delay. If there is any change to this, parents are
notified by phone. We make every effort to compensate for days
lost due to emergency closings.
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
Except in the case of inclement
weather or icy conditions, children should enter and exit the
building using the lower driveway door. This door is opened five
minutes before class begins. We ask your cooperation in
returning for your child five minutes prior to dismissal. This
allows you time to collect projects and check for outerwear and
it also provides reassurance to your child that he or she has
not been "forgotten." Beginning five minutes after dismissal,
you will be charged $5.00 for every five minutes that you are
late in picking up your child.
NO CHILD WILL BE RELEASED TO A PERSON UNLESS AUTHORIZED IN
PERSON OR IN WRITING BY THE PARENT.
GUIDELINES FOR PERSISTENT
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
Persistent inappropriate behavior
is any inappropriate behavior which continues after the
progressive guidance steps have been used; any behavior which
threatens the health or safety of other children or staff; or a
continuous inability to conform to the rules and guidelines of
our program. We will use the following progressive procedures:
1. We will observe and record the
child's inappropriate behavior.
2. We will document what we have
done to try to change the behavior.
3. If inappropriate behavior
continues, parents will be asked to participate in an immediate
parent-teacher conference. A specific action plan will be
developed at this conference to address the behavior. The action
plan will outline all steps the staff will take to try to change
the behavior, all steps the parents will take, and all steps
toward disenrollment if the behavior persists.
4. The Director may suggest
outside resources to parents and we will work with any outside
resource for further guidance in responding to the child's
behavior.
5. If the inappropriate behavior
continues, parents will be asked to keep the child home for a
day or two.
6. If the inappropriate behavior
persists after the child is kept home for several occasions, we
will request that the child disenroll.
GUIDELINES FOR IMMEDIATE DISENROLLMENT
Certain behavior may cause a
significant risk of harm to the health and safety of other
children or staff. (For example, a physical assault which
results in serious bodily injury, an attempted physical assault
which if completed, would result in serious bodily injury,
substantial damage to school or personal property, etc.).
We may disenroll any child whose
behavior creates a significant risk of harm to the health and
safety of other children or staff, without following the
guidance steps outlined above.
Weapons of any kind are
forbidden. If a weapon is brought to school, disciplinary
action will be taken.
PRE-SCHOOL STAFF
Josephine T. Durkin,
Teacher/Director
Karen Benner, Teacher
Denise Healy, Teacher
Mabel Zanforlin, Music Teacher
Phyllis Sambar, Teacher Aide
Sharon Rose, Teacher Aide
Chris Riley, Teacher Aide
Lynne Catone, Teacher Aide
Jennifer Hackett, Teacher Aide
Holy Nativity
Episcopal Pre-School is very proud of the fact that our
teachers have been with our Pre-School for a number of years
which greatly adds to the stability of our program.
ADVISORY BOARD
Jennifer Giacobetti, Chair.
Reverend Barbara Kelley, Vicar
Josephine Durkin, Teacher/Director
Lisa Schwartzer, Parent Liaison
Luisa Bailey
Angela Brodrecht
Donna DeSimone
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