POLICIES & PROCEDURES

SCHOOL HOURSMorning Session: Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00-11:30am

Afternoon Session: Tuesday - Thursday, 12:30-3:00pm

DROP-OFF & PICK-UPYour child may not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to class, and must be picked up on time. A 15-minute grace period is offered for pick-up. If you are later than 15 minutes, a $10 late fee will be charged. If your child has a hard time with being dropped off, please arrive early to help transition them so that class can start promptly at its designated time.

If a relative or friend is picking up your child, please send a note with your child to school. We will check the individual’s identification when they arrive. Please know that the letter must come with your child - not the friend or relative picking up the child.

SNACKSYou will be placed on a schedule to bring snacks for the class. Snacks should be something small and healthy. If you cannot bring snacks on your scheduled day, please let us know as soon as possible.

R If your child has special dietary considerations, please send a snack with your child.

CLOTHINGPlease label your child’s jacket and any special belongings. Clothing must fit appropriately. Please do not send your child to preschool in their “Sunday Best”; we will often paint and use products that could stain clothing. Although we will make every effort to avoid this happening, know that it is often the nature of this age to stain clothing. We also ask that you only send school shoes that your child can easily put on and take off by themselves - no laces or hard-to-get-on shoes.

CONTACT INFORMATIONE-mail is checked daily, so feel free to contact us at: preschool@northgatealaska.com. You can also contact us via the main church office phone number (864-6701) if you need to speak with one of us during class hours. If you need to get a hold of one of us after hours, you may call our cell phones: Courtney (232-8055) or Dawn (232-4129).

CONCERNSIf you have any questions or concerns of any type, please do not hesitate to contact us. We want an excellent school-to-home communication line, and we invite this feedback.

WHAT IS PARENT SHARE?Parent Share means that parents must be involved for a certain number of hours/days each month. Please let us know if you are not able to be present in the class, and we will arrange alternate opportunities for you to contribute to the classroom.

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OPERATIONAL POLICIESOur goal is to provide an excellent experience for every family who enters our preschool area. You will find that attention has been paid to the many details that create a safe and nurturing environment for preschoolers to play and learn. To care for each child successfully, our volunteers and staff must work together as a team and be concerned with the details of their position. The following is a framework of policies that are put in place to care for every child.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PRESCHOOL R In order to provide a safe environment for every child, the Security policy must be followed at all

times. Every preschool volunteer must wear an identification badge when working in the preschool. R Our screening procedure and abuse prevention policies are in place to protect every child within our

care. Every volunteer who serves in our preschool must follow these policies. R A classroom checklist is posted in every classroom. Work as a team to complete this checklist at

the end of your class time before leaving your classroom. This will help us make sure that each classroom is ready for the next session.

R Pay close attention to the overall safety and cleanliness of your classroom. R Specific curriculum is chosen and provided for you. Creativity is encouraged in the teaching process

with preschoolers, but if you desire to use something outside the scope of the provided material, please seek prior approval from the preschool staff.

SICKNESS/ILLNESSChildren who show any visible signs of illness will not be allowed into the classroom. A child should not be taken from the home when any of the following conditions exist:

R Fever R Vomiting or diarrhea (even associated with teething and medication) R Any symptoms of childhood diseases such as: scarlet fever, German measles, mumps, chicken

pox, cough, strep throat, flu, or any other infectious/contagious disease. R Common cold from onset through one week. R Sore throat R Croup R Fifth disease

R Any unexplained rash R Pink eye, or other eye infections (All eye infections are contagious. The child must be on medication

for 24 hours and not be exhibiting any symptoms before they can return.) R Cloudy or green runny noses, or persistent cough R Any communicable disease.

We require that a child be free of fever for 24 hours before returning. When in doubt, please apply the “Golden Rule”. Adherence to this policy is important to protect the health of all children in our preschool.

One of the best ways to prevent the passing of germs is by washing hands. It is important to teach children, and model for them, frequent hand washing. Hands should be washed:

R Before eating R Before handling food for snack or center time R After helping a child in the bathroom R After wiping/blowing noses

RESTROOM POLICYFor the protection of our children and volunteers, it is important to follow these procedures when taking older preschoolers to the restroom.

R All students must be potty trained. R A volunteer is never allowed in a restroom alone with a child. R Assisting children with their clothing will be done in the open doorway before the child goes into

the restroom. R We encourage children to perform the restroom process for themselves. All preschoolers must use

the restroom independently (with exception of special circumstances). R A Staff Member/Teacher will stand with their foot in the door to monitor the needs of the child. R In the case of an emergency situation where a child is sick or needs our assistance, the restroom

door will be propped open before assistance is rendered. R Only staff and teachers may assist children.

DISCIPLINE POLICYChildren do display, and will occasionally be exposed to, aggressive behavior. This may take the form of biting, hitting, pushing, or kicking. The staff uses various techniques to limit and correct such behavior; but parents must understand that when children are in a group setting, the exposure to aggressive behavior is greater than it might be at home. The purpose of discipline is to help children learn acceptable behavior and develop inner controls. When re-directing or guiding a child’s behavior, the age, intellectual development, emotional make-up, and past experiences will be considered and consistency will be maintained in setting rules and limits for children. Corporal punishment is not consistent with this objective, and is prohibited at school. The following is a list of some alternative forms of discipline that will be used:

R Modeling appropriate behavior R Telling the child what he/she can do R Establishing eye contact with the child when talking to him/her

R Giving the child choices whenever possible R Encouraging the child to problem-solve and try to work out conflicts R Re-directing a child to another activity. R Physically holding a child until he/she can gain control of him/her self R Removing the child from the situation R Isolating the child from the group for no longer than a minute per year of age in a separate area,

which is supervised by a staff member R Calling a parent to come for the child if the child cannot regain control of self. R Limits of Behavior:

You may not hurt others You may not hurt yourself You may not damage school property

If a child is having more difficulty than usual with discipline in the classroom, the behaviors displayed by the child will be discussed with the parents - along with specific techniques being used by the staff to help guide the child to more appropriate behavior. Since the children are only in the preschool a few hours a day, support from parents with their discipline at home and our discipline at school is expected. All aggressive behaviors that are harmful to their children, teachers, or to the child’s own self will be documented and signed by the parents. Situations that continue to include harmful behaviors will be evaluated by the director in considering the safety and well-being of all children. The Northgate staff will be involved in any final decision to remove the child from the preschool if the behavior continues to be harmful to other children and/or staff.

WITHDRAWING YOUR CHILD FROM PRESCHOOLIf you decide Northgate Preschool is not the best fit for your child, please inform us 30 days prior to the leave date in writing.

NGA Preschool P&P v.2019.01