Preschool Home
From the Director
Purpose
Method
Policies & Procedures
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 olicies and Procedures
Operating Hours
Mt. Sylvan Preschool is open 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Arrival and Departure
Arrival and departure is a time for exchanges of information between the teacher and parent concerning the child's experiences at home and daily activities at the preschool.
As a safey precaution, children are not to be lifted over the fence.
Upon arrival, all children must be accompanied inside the facility by an adult and notify staff of child's arrival.
A brief goodbye in the mornings is in the best interest of the child.
Upon the child's departure, an adult must come inside the facility and notify staff that the child is leaving and sign the child out.
At Mt. Sylvan Preschool children must be supervised at all times. When picking your child up, please keep him/her in your presence until safely buckled in your vehicle.
Parents arriving after 6:00 PM will be billed $5.00 for the first five minutes and $.50 for every minute thereafter
Registration and Admission
Obtain application from preschool office.
Submit application and non-refundable registration fee to preschool office.
An interview will be scheduled with the child and family to discuss policies, visit the appropriate classroom, meet the teachers, and tour the facility.
The following must be on file in the center on the first day the child attends and shall remain on file until the child is no longer enrolled: a) Completed Application for Enrollment; b) Children's Medical Report and Immunization History; c) Signed Discipline and Behavior Management Policy; d) Signed Activity Authorization; e) Signed Policy Agreement.
Admission of a child with special needs will be determined by the center's ability to adequately provide for the growth and development of the child. If a child has special needs, please discuss them with the director prior to enrollment.
Tuition
Upon admission, first and last week's tuition is due.
Tuition is due in advance and may be paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
Tuition is due on Monday of each week or the first Monday of the month.
Payments are the same for each weekly period regardless of child's presence, holidays, illness, or severe weather days.
Checks should be made payable to Mt. Sylvan Preschool.
Accounts with returned checks will be charged a $25.00 return check fee.
After the second returned check, payments must be made in cash, cahiers check, or money order.
At Late Fee of $10.00 will be charged if payment is not received by 6:00 PM Wednesday.
If payment is two weeks past due, the child's enrollment will be terminated.
The director is to be notified two weeks prior to withdrawal from the program. Parents are expected to pay for those two weeks regardless of when the child is withdrawn.
Fundraising
Mt. Sylvan Preschool has at least two fund-rasiers per year. The proceeds are used for a variety of needs throughout the preschool.
Rest Periods/Mat Sheets
A rest period is scheduled daily. Each child is expected to rest quietly during this designated time.
A mat is provided for each child.
It is a state mandate that all mats be adequately covered at all times.
Mat sheets may be purchased from the preschool office.
Sheets are to be taken h ome each Friday to be laundered and returned on Monday.
Children without sheets on Monday will be given a new one and parents will be billed.
Extra Clothing
Water activities, sand play, and occasional bathroom accidents necessitate that an extra set of seasonal clothing be available AT ALL TIMES. All extra clothing should be marked with the child's name. If wet or soild clothes are sent home, please return a clean extra set the next morning. Please remember that children are taken outside daily, weather permitting, and should be dressed accordingly.
Birthdays and Special Occasions
Parents are welcome to send cookies, cake, or cupcakes to share on birthdays or special occasions. Please let your child's teacher know in advance that you will be bringing a treat.
Food and Nutrition
For young children, eating a nutritionally balanced diet is essential if they are to grow and develop normally.
Mt. Sylvan Preschool will attend to the child's nutritional needs by providing a morning snack, hot lunch and afternoon snack.
A weekly menu is posted where it can be easily seen by parents.
When children bring their own food for snack or lunch to the center, and the food does not meet the nutritional requirements specified by the Division of Child Development, Mt. Sylvan Preschool must provide additional food necessary to meet those requirements.
Mt. Sylvan Preschool does not allow children to bring chewing gum or candy from home.
We encourage parents to join us for lunch. Please notify us in advance so the cook can plan accordingly.
Illness
Children must not be brought to Mt. Sylvan Preschool if they exhibit:
A fever of 101 degrees or higher.
The sudden onset of diarrhea characterized by an increased number of bowel movements compared to the child's normal pattern and with increased stool water.
Two or more episodes of vomiting within a 12 hour period.
A red eye with white or yellow eye discharge until 24 hours after treatment.
Known chicken pox or a rash suggestive of chicken pox.
Strep throat, until 24 hours after treatment.
Impetigo, until 24 hours after treatment.
Parents will be called to pick up children exhibiting any of the above. If children are too sick to participate in the full program of activities, including outdoor play, they should not be brought to the center.
Medications
No medication shall be administered to any child without specific instructions from the child's parent and physician.
Only prescribed medicine shall be administered and must be in its original container bearing the pharmacist's label which lists the child's name, date the prescription was filled, the physician's name, the name of the medicine, the prescription number, and directions for dosage. Prescribed medicine shall be administered only to the child for whom it is prescribed.
No medication shall be administered after its expiration date.
No over the counter medicine shall be administered unless prescribed by a physician and labeled as above.
A written statement from a parent may give blanket permission for up to six months to aurhorize administration of medication for asthma. A written statement from a parent may give blanket permission for up to one year to authorize administration of sunscreen and diaper cream. The written statement shall describe the specific conditions under which these medications and creams are to be administered and detailed instructions on how they are to be administered.
Any medication remaining after the course of treatment shall be returned to the parent.
Behavior Management
Positive redirection and Time-Out are the bahavior techniques used at Mt. Sylvan Preschool.
Time-Out is the removal of a child for a short period of time from a situation in which the child is misbehaving and has not responded to positive redirection. The time-out space is located away from classroom activity, but well within the teacher's sight.
After a frief interval of no more than 5 minutes, the teacher discusses the incident and appropriate behavior with the child. The child then returns to the group, the incident is over and the child is treated with the same affection and respect shown the other children.
When a child's behavior becomes so disruptive that it interferes with classroom instruction or jeopardizes others and all positive discipline techniques have failed, the director will request a conference with the parents. If after a reasonable period of time the bahavior continues, the director will give the parents one week notice to withdraw the child from the program.
Show and Tell
Items for show and tell should correspond to the interests, emphasis, and play materials characteristic of preschool. Toys that simulate violence or encourage violent play (guns, war characters, swords, etc.) are not allowed. Children are not allowed to bring money or small items in their pockets. Teachers do not have the responsibility of guarding items which can be destroyed easily, lost or not shared.
Movie Day
All movies must be G rated or they will not be shown.
Fire Drills
Fire Drills are held monthly. All staff and children are directed as to the safest and quickest route out of the building. Evacuation plans are posted in every classroom and in the hallway.
Weather Policy
In the event of adverse weather which begins during normal operating hours, parents are requested to wait to receive a telephone call from the center indicating the intent for the remainder of the day, or proceed to pick up child if in the parent's judgment, the weather situation warrants such action.
In the event adverse weather begins during the evening or overnight, Mt. Sylvan Preschool will follow Durham Public School delays and/or closings.
After the first day, the center will delay opening or close at the discrtion of the director. All weather related closings will be made considering the severity of weather conditions, local travel advisories, and overall safety of preschool families and staff. Closings and/or delays will be aired on both WRAL and WTVD.
Grievance Procedure
Mt. Sylvan Preschool welcomes and encourages all questions, concerns and/or grievances. parents are encouraged to use the following protocol:
Contact the director;
If not satisfied with the director's decision, or feel the situation was handled in an untimely manner:
Contact the Chairperson of the Preschool Committee.
Issues taken to the Committee without following the proper protocol will be placed back at the level where it originated.
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