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Parent’s Handbook

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Welcome to Mozarts WelcometoMozartsKindergarten.Wehopeyouandyourchildwillenjoybeingpartofourcreativekindergartencommunity.ThishandbookprovideshelpfulinformationthatwillassistyouandyourchildtosettleintotheMozartsfamily.

AtMozartsKindergarten,webelieveinteaching,developingandfosteringyourchild’simaginationsotheydeveloptheskillstohelpthemsuccessfullytransitiontoprimaryschool.Ourphilosophyiscreativitythroughimaginationsoourapproachistoweavemusic,drama,art,dance,storytelling,roleplayandgamesthroughourpreschoolprogrammesoyourchildisexcitedbythejoyoflearning.

WelcometoMozarts....................................1

AboutMozarts..............................................2MeetOurTeam.............................................3

CurriculumandLearningProgrammes.........4

YourChild’sProperty....................................6FoodandDrink..............................................7

Communication............................................8

HealthandSafety..........................................9EmergencyProcedures...............................10

Attendance.................................................11FeesandPaymentInformation..................12

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About Mozarts Our Philosophy

Education through Imagination AtMozartsKindergartenweencouragechildrentolearnbyfosteringtheirimagination.Weknowthatchildrenwhoengageinactivepretendingwilldevelopimaginationandcreativitysothatonedaytheymaylearnwhathasnotbeendiscoveredandimaginewhathasnotbeencreated.Ourenvironmentisdesignedtostimulateandchallenge,promotingcollaboration,self-management,creativesynergy,problemsolvingandlateralthinkingskills.Allaspectsofyourchild’songoinglearningpathwaysaresupportedthroughahighdegreeofteacher/childinteraction,arichlyresourcedenvironment,anabundanceofroleplayandstorytellinggames,andanatmosphereinwhichcreativityflourishes.It’saprivilegetoseechildrenbecomearticulate,confidentandimaginative,asteachersaddmusic,dance,dramaandvisualartsintoawidespectrumofcurricularactivities.Weenjoycloseandsupportiverelationshipswithparents,whanauandcaregiversandtheircontributionsarewelcomedandvalued.Mostimportantly-childrenloveattendingMozartsKindergartenandasktoreturntimeandtimeagain!

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Meet Our Team KerenTodd–HeadTeacherDiplomaEarlyChildhoodEducation,VocalandInstrumentalTrainingIfIcouldbesomeoneelseforaday,IwouldbePeterPan!Hefliesandgoesonawesomeadventures!KerenistheHeadTeacheratMozartsKindergarten.Shehasawealthofexperienceworkinginearlychildhoodeducation,andhaspreviouslydirectedherownoriginalholisticmusicprogrammesforearlychildhoodfacilities.Withapassionformusic,Kerenbelievesthateverychild(andanyoneforthatmatter)canbeabuddingmusician,andshelovesbeingabletosupportchildrentoachieve!ThisiswhatshelovesmostaboutworkingatMozarts-seeingtheexcitementchildrengainfromtheirloveoflearning.InherfreetimeKerenlikesyoga,paddleboarding,swimming,reading,singing,playingthepiano,andstrummingherguitar.

HazelMackenzie–EarlyChildhoodTeacherBachelorofTeachingandLearningECE,CertificateinOutdoorLeadershipIfIcouldbesomeoneelseforaday,IwouldbeTheCatintheHatbecauseheiscreativeandexciting!Asoneofourearlychildhoodteachers,Hazelisdedicatedtoprovidingchildrenwithholisticlearningexperiences,andinspiringcreativityandimagination.Whatshelovesmostaboutherroleisthateverydayisdifferentandexciting.Sheloveshavingfunwiththechildrenandbeingabigkidherself!WithabackgroundthatincludesworkinginbothNewZealandandAbuDhabiasakindergartenteacher,Hazelhasanincrediblepassionformakinglifefun,inspirationalandeducationalforchildren.InherfreetimeHazelenjoyscamping,dancing,family,thebeach,andtravelling.

KerenTodd

HazelMackenzie

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Curriculum and Learning Programmes Mozartsapproachesallareasofpreschoolcurriculumthroughmusic,dramaticplayandart.Wehavespecificcurriculumareasdetailedbelowthatyourchildwilllove. TimeforEinsteins

We’renotsureifEinsteinhadaflyingcarpet.WethinkitwashismindthatflewandatMozartsweliketothinkthatchildren’smindscandothesame.

ChildrensitaroundMrEinstein’sFlyingCarpetandexploreatopicofinterest.

Thenafterallthatbusyactivity,thechildrensitdownanddrawapictureintheirEinsteinscrapbooks.

AtMozartswethinkthatifyoubecomeit,you’llrememberit!

NumeracyandMathematics

Countingisdefinitelymorefunifyouareamonkeytryingtosnatchabunchofbananasorasharpeyedbirdtryingtopullupsomejuicyworms.Howaboutaherdofelephantswonderinghowmanyofthemcanfitonaspider’sweb?

MozartsChartStoriesareacreativeandimaginativewayofteachingnumeracy.Theyareshortpoemswithsmalllaminatedpictures.Weusepropsandmusictohelptellthestorywhichisactedoutbythechildrenwithenthusiasticandnoisyparticipation.

ArtandTechnology

Whenyouseeapaint-splatteredt-shirtyouknowyourchildhasbeenbusyinourartroom.

Fromfantasticmuralstointricatecottonbudetchings,theartworkproducedisvividandfantastic.Somechildrenspendalongtimeononepainting,othersdofiveinarow.

Wesplatterourwaythroughabout90litresofpaintandbuyglitterbythekiloatMozartsbecausewebelievethemorethesparkletheworldhasinit,thehappierandthebetteritisforallofus.

Literacy

Welovestories!Welovetraditional,welovecontemporaryandweespeciallylovetheonesthatchildrenmakeupthemselves.Mozartsteachersarehighlyskilledintheartofenergeticandimaginativestorytelling.Childrenjoininwithchantsandsimplerepetitivephrases.Judgingbythelaughterandtheexcitementsomeofourstorytellingmightseemalittlecrazybutit’salldonewiththeendresultofgivingchildrenadeepandabidingloveofliteratureandreading.

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MusicDanceandDrama

Ourdramaworkshophappensafterlibrarytime.Astoryisreadandthenthisisfollowedbyanadventure!Elementsofthestoryarechosenbythechildrenand,usingtheirimagination,areactedoutthroughdrama,dance,musicorart.Everyoneparticipatestotheirownlevelandhasfunasstoriescometolifebeforeoureyes.

OutdoorPlay

Ourplaygroundhasaclatterbridgewithasometimes-troll(we’veheardhimbutneverseenhim)andatreeforclimbing(goodifthetrollischasingyou!).Downtheotherend,agangplankleadstoapirateshipsandpit,nexttowhichisaminiatureversionofthepancakerocks,completewithatricklingbrook.Alasnoblowholes,onlytheonesyoudigyourselves.

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Your Child’s Property Clothing

Whenyouseeapaintsplatteredt-shirtyouknowyourchildhasbeenbusyinourartroom!MozartsKindergartenisaplacewherechildrenareencouragedtoexploreandexperimentthroughartandoutdoorplay.Asthiscanoftenleadto“messy”experiencespleaseensureyourchildwearsclothingwhichyoudon’tmindgettingdirty.Pleasehaveyourchildbringabackpackcontainingachangeofclothesincasetheyneedthem.Itishelpfulifyourchildren’sclothesarenamed,asitmakesiteasiertoreunitelostpropertywiththeowner.LostProperty

Allofthelostpropertythatwefindwillbekeptintheentrancefoyer.Pleasecheckthereifyouhavelostanarticleofyourchild’sclothing.Attheendofeachterm,alllostclothingwillbedonatedtoacharity.ToysfromHome

Wehaveawiderangeoftoysandactivitiesavailableforyourchild.Itwouldbeappreciatedifyoudonotbringtoysfromhomeasitisalwaysupsettingforchildrenifatoyisdamagedorgoesmissing.Children’sBelongings

Wehavespaceavailableforchildrentohangtheirjacketsandbags.

ArtWork

PleasechecktheartroomandtheVanGoghclothforyourchildren'sartworkattheendoftheday.Whenwehavetime,wewillputyourchild'screativetreasuresintheirlockerandweaskyoutotakethemhomeandadmirethem!

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Food and Drink Lunchtimesareareallygreattimetohelpprepareyourchildforschoollunchtimes.Webelievethatitisalsoaperfectopportunitytodevelopthechildren’sknowledgeandawarenessofhealthyeatingandhygiene.HealthySnacks

Eachchildisaskedtobringahealthychoicesnackformorningandafternoontea,andapackedlunch.Drinks

Childrenhaveaccesstothedrinkstrolleysotheycanhelpthemselvestowaterorgetateachertohelpiftheyrequire.AllergyInformation

Ifyourchildhasanyallergiespleaseletastaffmemberknowsothatwecanensureasafeenvironment.Packaging

Webelievethatitisinyourchild’sbestinteresttodevelopself-helpskills.Intheinterestofourzerowastelunchboxes,pleaseremoveallwrappingsfromfood.HotFood

Mozartsisabletoheatanyfoodatlunchtimethatyouwishtopackinyourchild’slunchbox.

BirthdayTreats

Welovecelebratingourchildren’sbirthdaysandarehappytoshareanybirthdaycakebroughtinfortheir5thbirthdayoranytreatsthatyouhaveforotherbirthdays,butpleaseconsultateacherfirstassomeofourchildrenmayhaveallergiesorspecificdietaryneeds.Anybirthdaycakeforsharingatsnacktimeshouldbedeliveredtothekitchenatthestartofthesession.Wearehappytocutintosmallpieces,lightcandlesetc.Pleaseensurethatatthestartofasessionyouinformastaffmemberofthespecialoccasiontoallowforinclusionwithinourday.

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Communication CommunicationwithParentsandWhanau

TheteachersatMozartslookforwardtoanenjoyablerelationshipwithyourchildandfamily.Weareavailableatanytimetodiscussyourchild'shappinessanddevelopmentalneeds.Thiscanbedonebyphoneoryoucanmakeanappointmenttoseeoneoftheteachers.Newsletters

OurMozartsnewslettersisproducedonaregularbasisandcanalsobedownloadedfromhttp://www.mozarts.co.nz.Weencourageparentstosubscribetoournewsletteronline,thiscanbedoneviathelinkonourwebpage.ParentsLivingSeparately

Pleasetellusifyourequireanextranewsletterorduplicateaccountandwewillensurethattwocopiesareputinthechild’sbackpackandprovided.Facebook

LikeusonFacebookandstayintheloop.Wetrytopostanupdateaboutourprogrammeatleastonceaweek.Wepostregularysothatyoucankeepuptodatewithwhatishappening.

SongsandtheMozartsChoir

FromthedayachildbeginsatMozarts,theyaspiretobeamemberoftheMozartsChoir.Childrenlovelearningthesongsthatarealldonewithaccompanyingactionsanddance.Enjoythemusicandhelpyourchildrenpracticetheirdancemoves.Watchastheytwirllikesugarplumfairies.LearningScrapbooks

Wewillrecordyourchild’slearningjourneyatMozartsthroughalearningscrapbook.Theirlearningscrapbooksshowyourchild’slearningachievementsandgoals,andarereadilyaccessiblebybothparentsandchildren.Youareinvitedtohaveinputtotheseongoingvaluablerecordsbyaddinga“Parent’sVoice”.TimeforEinsteinsScrapbooks

OurinnovativeprogrammeseesthechildrensitaroundMrEinstein’sFlyingCarpetandexploreatopicofinterest.Thenafterallthatbusyactivity,thechildrensitdownanddrawapictureintheirEinsteinscrapbooks.ThesebooksarekeptatMozartsandisawonderfulvisualdisplayofyourchild’sgrowingawareness.Thebookswillbekeptforyoutotakewithyouwhenyourchildcompleteskindergartenandgoesontoprimaryschool.

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Health and Safety FirstAid

AllofourTeachershavecurrentFirst-AidCertificatesandwehaveaFirst-AidBox.Toileting

Ifyourchildisinpull-upsornappies,thenpleaseprovideatleasttwopairsofthese.Foralltoilettraining,ourteacherswillconsultwiththeparentsofthechild.SunProtection

SunSafetyispromotedandweencouragechildrentowearhatsoutsideinsummertime,particularlyinthemiddleoftheday.Insummerpleaseapplysunscreenbeforecoming.Extrasunscreenisavailableifneeded.Medication

Ifyourchildisonanymedicationpleaseinformoneofourstaffmemberswhowillrecordthedetails.Youandastaffmembermustbothsignthisrecordorwewillbeunabletodispenseanymedication.Allmedicationmusthavethechild’snamewrittenonit.Itwillbestoredinadesignatedareainthekitchen.Ongoingmedicationisdealtwithonanindividualbasis,pleasetalktotheHeadTeacheratpointofenrolmenttogothroughproceduresforstorageandadministration.

SpecialistAgencies

Theschoolhasaccesstovariousmedicalspecialistagenciesincludinghearingandeyetestswhicharecarriedoutseveraltimesayear.ParentsshouldcontacttheHeadTeacheriftheyfeeltheirchildrequiresspecialassistance.Appropriateassessmentscanthenbeorganisedinfullconsultationwithparents,teachersandrepresentativesfromthespecialistagencies.

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Emergency Procedures

Fire/EarthquakeEvacuation

Fire,Earthquakeandemergencydrillsarecarriedoutregularly.EmergencyClosure

SituationsmayarisethatleadtotheemergencyclosureofMozarts.Civildefenceemergenciesorextremeweatherconditionswhichresultinlossofpowerorwater,maymeanthatwearerequiredtoclose.Intheeventofsuchemergencyclosure,childrenshouldbecollectedatparents’earliestconvenience.FullfeesarepayableforuptothreedaysifMozartsissubjecttoemergencyclosure.ChangeofAddressandTelephoneNumber

Itisyourresponsibilitytomakesurewehaveupdatedinformationonthechild’sfile.Thisinformationisvitalinthecaseofanemergency.

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Attendance SessionTimes

• 2yearoldsmayattendforeitherwholedays,orhalfdays.• 3-5yearoldsattendforafullday.Thecentreoperatesdailyfrom

7.30amto5.30pm.Wehavethefollowingminimumenrolmentrequirements:

● 3-5yearoldsmustattendaminimumof3days.Wehaveminimumenrolmentrequirementsbecauseweunderstandtheimportanceofroutineandconsistencywithchildren.Thisisparticularlyimportantforolderchildrenastheyprepareforthetransitiontoschool.Havingchildrenattend2-3daysensurestheyformrelationshipswithteachingstaffandotherchildrenandbecomefamiliarwithourdailyroutines.CasualSessions

Mozartsdoesnotacceptchildrenonacasualsessionortrialbasis.PreferredHours

Uponenrolmentaparentselectstheirpreferredhoursofweeklyattendance.Werequiretwoweeks’noticeforallsessionchanges.Onceastartingdatehasbeenagreed,oneweek’snoticeisrequiredtopostponethis.

PublicandSchoolHolidays

Mozartsoperatesfor50weeksoftheyearclosingfor2weeksoverChristmasandNewYear.Absences

Pleaseensurethatyoucontactthekindergartenifyourchildwillbeabsent.Whenchildrenareabsentfromanenrolledsessionthefullfeesarestillcharged.Pick-UpsandDrop-Offs

Eachdayyourchildattendspleaseremembertosignregisterandstatethetimeofarrivalanddeparture.Foryourchild’ssafety,ifanyoneotherthanyourselfispickingupyourchild,wemustbenotifiedbyaphonecalloratthestartofasession,orthechildwillnotbeallowedtoleaveuntilwehavemadethenecessarycalls.LatePickupFee

Therewillbea$10.00latefeechargedafter10minutesanda$20.00latefeechargedafter20minutes.Thiswillbeaddedtoyouraccount.CancelationofEnrolment

Toterminateanenrolledplace,fourweeks’noticeinwritingisrequired.Verbalresignationsarenotacceptedastheycanleadtoconfusion.Ifyoudonotintendtoattendfortheperiodoftheonemonth’sresignationperiodthenthefullnon-attestedrateischarged.

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Fees and Payment Information ThedailyratecanchangeaccordingtoattendanceandcombinationsofotheroptionssuchasWINZ,andECEhoursalreadyallocatedtootherproviders.Pleasecontactusforpricingandaquoteforyourpreferredattendancepattern.

ECESubsidies

Mozartsoffers20HoursECEtoallchildrenoncetheyturn3yearsofage.

ChildcareTaxCredit(formerlyrebate)

Youcanclaimataxcreditfortheprevioustaxyear(1Aprilto31March)fromthefollowingApril.Pleaserequestareceiptfromtheoffice.FulldetailsontheIRDwebpage.

PaymentMethod

Ourfeesarepayablebycashorinternetbanking.Unfortunatelywedonothaveaneftposorcreditcardmachinefacilityavailable.

• Ifyouarepayingbyinternetbankingpleaseuseyourchild’snameasareference.

• Ifyouarepayingbycash,pleaseconsultwiththecentremanager.

PaymentDue

Ourfeesaretobepaidinadvanceatthebeginningofthemonth

LateFees

Wherefeesareinarrearsonemonth,a5%latefeeispayable.Mozartsreservestherighttoremovechildrenfromtherollfromthefourthweekofnon-paymentoffees.Feesunpaidatresignationdateincurafurther$25.00administrationfeeandafterallreasonableeffortshavebeenmadewiththeparentstoobtainpayment,unpaidfeeswillbereferredpromptlytoBaycorpCreditCollectionAgency.PublicandSchoolHolidays

Nofeesarepayableduringtheannual2weekclosureoverChristmas.Fullfeesarepayableonpublicholidays.

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Our Contact Details

Address

69BristolStreet,StAlbans,

Christchurch8014

Telephone

+64(3)3555099

Email

info@mozarts.co.nz