Young MindsMontessori PreschoolParent Information Booklet

Table of Contents

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FeesCode of ConductAttendanceClassroom InformationExtracurricularsHealth & WellnessConcerns & IssuesReportingProceduresEmergency Management

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We strive to run an organized school, where students, parents and educators feel safe, comfortable and welcome. In order to do that, we must abide by a fair and transparent code of conduct.

Inside this information booklet, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the operation of the school, asked by parents/guardians just like you.

Please consult this reference guide when in doubt of a rule.

Thank you for choosing Young Minds Montessori School!

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FeesPlease refer to the Young Minds Montessori Tuition Schedule for the cost of your child’s program. A non-refundable $500 deposit is due upon yearly registration, which will be deducted from your child’s total tuition fees.

Tuition installments are due the first day of each month starting August 1, with the final installment being May 1. Cheques that are returned NSF will be charged $30 and a new cheque must be issued immediately. The school must receive all post-dated tuition installments before your child’s registration is complete. The school does not bill on a month to month basis.

Summer Camp FeesSummer camp fees are paid weekly and only required for the weeks your child attends camp. Fees are due upon summer camp registration and post-dated cheques are issued for June 1, July 1 and August 1, 2019.

Re-RegistrationRe-registration for the following school year takes place in the month of February. Priority placement is given to children and families currently enrolled in our school. A $500.00 deposit, all post-dated cheques (August to May) and all paperwork must be submitted in order to secure your child’s pace. Your child’s will not be considered registered until proper registration forms and all payment is are submitted, and their spot may be forfeited.

Make Up DaysThe school does not refund tuition for days missed due to illness or time off due to vacation, as parents are paying tuition for their child’s spot for the entire school year.

WithdrawalsIf you wish to withdrawal your child from the program for any reason, a written notice 30 days in advance is required. The withdrawal date must be included in the written notice, and reason for withdrawal. Verbal withdrawals are not accepted.

Tax ReceiptsTax receipts will be issued once a year in January.

Code of ConductStudent ConductIt is expected that all students behave in a respectful manner towards teachers and fellow students. This may include, and is not limited to biting, hitting, scratching, kicking, or making unwarranted contact with a student or staff member. The school will make every effort to work with the parents/guardians to solve any issues, however, if certain behaviours continue a child may face dismissal from the program.

Parent/Guardian ConductIt is expected that parents/guardians respect all staff, children and other families attending Young Minds Montessori. Failure to do so will result in immediate dismissal of their child from the program

Volunteer ConductThroughout the year, Young Minds Montessori may have volunteers and/or Early Childhood Education students working with our school. Volunteers and students are not permitted to have unsupervised access to children. All volunteers and students must always be in the presence of Young Minds employee.

Placement students/volunteers are never counted toward program student/staff ratio at Young Minds Montessori. No child is supervised by a person under the age of 18 years.

Appropriate ClothingParents/Guardians are asked to provide appropriate clothing for weather conditions, e.g. boots, hats, neck warmers and mittens or gloves for winter; slush pants in rainy weather; hats and comfortable clothing in the summer. All items mus`t be labeled with the child’s full name.

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Important: It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure that sunscreen is applied on their child

before they arrive to school. We also ask that you leave a bottle of sunscreen in their cubbies for afternoon application.

AttendanceIf your child is unable to come to school, or will be late, please advice the school no later than 8:00 am on the day of the absence or lateness. If you anticipate you child being absen for a consecutive amount of days (i.e. family trip), advise the school one school day prior to the start of the absence.

Drop Off and Pick UpChildren must be dropped off and picked up at the classroom door. We do not allow children to wait in the hallway or enter/exit the school by themselves. At the beginning of the day, parents/guardians are asked to wait outside the classroom door until a teacher greets them. At the end of the day parents/guardians are asked to wait outside the classroom door until a teacher dismisses them. please ensure your child is punctual to prevent disrupting the classroom program.

Release of Children When anyone other then a parent/guardian or authorized adult specified on the release list picks up a child from school, the following steps must be followed:

The teacher must be given a signed letter from the parent indicating who will be picking up the child. This letter must include the person’s full name for proper identification.

Parents are to inform the person picking up their child that they will need to bring government issued photo ID as they will be required to show the child’s teacher upon pick up as proof of identification. The photo ID will be compared to the name on the parent’s written letter, and the photo with the person presenting the ID.

If for any reason there is a doubt, it is our policy not to release the child. Please make sure to update your release list throughout the year if changes occur.

Late FeesA late fee of $1/minute begins at 6:00 pm, payable to the staff member on duty. If frequent

Parent PocketsYou will find parent pockets hanging on the wall outside your child’s classroom. Each pocket is labeled with your child’s name. All newsletters, permission forms and other important information will be in your child’s parent pocket. It is the parent’s responsibility to read all the letters and forms in the parent pocket to ensure you or your child do not miss out on important information or events. Your child’s classroom teachers do not take responsibility for events missed due to lost or unread letters.

late pickups occur, your child may be dismissed from the program.

It is important to be prompt when picking up your after the school day program at 3:30pm If you will be late please call the school and inform us. Due to teacher/student ratios your child will not be able to participate in the activities after their scheduled pick up time. Frequent late pickups will result in a fee being charged, or your child being dismissed from the program.

School CalendarIt is our policy to inform parents of any events planned by the school via the school calendar that is distributed to parents in the first week of school. Please be sure to check this calendar regularly for school closures special events and holidays.

School Closures/HolidaysYoung Minds Montessori Preschool is closed for two weeks at the end of December and over the New Year period, one week for March Break and one week at the end of August leading into Labour Day weekend. We are also closed for 3 days in between the end of the school year and the start of summer camp. Young Minds closes the following holidays: Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day and the August Civic Holiday.

WeatherIn the event of severe weather conditions, our school will be closed in order to ensure the safety of our parents, children and staff. Parents can find out about school closures from our outgoing message after 6:45am when they call the school.

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Classroom Information

Extracurriculars

Snacks and LunchAll children receive a lunch and two snacks daily prepared by our in-house chef. Snack and lunch menus are posted on the classroom parent boards and rotated every three weeks.

ToysIn order to avoid misused or broken items; outside toys may not be brought into the school without your child’s teacher’s permission, excluding sleep time items such as stuffed animals.

Labeled ItemsAny items brought into the school should be clearly labeled with your child’s first and last name, including all clothes, boots, etc. The school is not responsible for any lost items; however, you may check with your child’s teacher if an item is missing.

Parents are asked to supply a complete change of clothes for their child at school, including underwear and socks. They will be used if the child spills food, water and paint, or fails to get to the washroom on time. Please remember to bring a set of clean clothes if the previous set has been used.

Avoid sending your child to school in clothes with difficult buckles or fasteners, as these items make it difficult for children during washroom routines.

Potty TrainingChildren attending the Toddler program are not required to be potty trained; however,the should be before moving up to the preschool level classroom. Your child’s classroom teacher will work with you to get your toddler potty trained when both the teacher and the parent/guardian feel the child is ready.

Sleep TimeYoung Minds provides cots and sheets for rest time.

Toddler Program: Sleep time is two hours in length. Parents are asked to provide a blanket, pillow and sleep toy for their child.

CASA Program: Students who are 3.8 years and under will have a rest period of one and a half hours, unless otherwise requested by the parent/guardian. Parents/guardians are asked to provide a blanket, pillow and sleep toy for their child.

CASA Program: Students who are over 3.8 years will engage in quiet activities following the lunch period, unless otherwise requested by the parent.

iNetCamOur school provides, free of charge, a one of a kind service; our Inetcam gives our parents an opportunity to view their child’s day at school via the Internet. Each of our classrooms is equipped with a camera, which gives a wide view of each class. For security reasons a personalized password is given to each parent at the beginning of each school year. These passwords are to be kept confidential, and will not be released to any person other than the child’s parents.

Our school offers many extracurricular activities such as Karate, Kindermusik and Monkeynastix (these activities vary from year to year). A detailed letter outlining

all extracurricular schedules is given to parents the first week of school.

Field Trips and Parent VolunteersThroughout the year, our school organizes school outings for the CASA program

students that supplement the lessons they are working on at school. Parents will be charged a fee for any fieldtrips their child takes part in.

In an attempt to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children enrolled at Young Minds Montessori, Criminal Reference Checks (Vulnerable Sector) will be a condition for

parents wishing to volunteer. You may obtain a Volunteer Criminal Reference Check Form in the school office, which is free of charge. Be sure to read the form thoroughly.

Parent volunteers are also required to review & sign the individual action plans of each child with an anaphylactic allergy.

BirthdaysIf you would like for your child to celebrate his/her birthday at the school, please inform their teachers in advance. They will provide you with a birthday form with information on foods and products that are safe for all students to enjoy.

Special DaysThroughout the school year, our we hold special days for our students to commemorate holidays as Christmas, Easter and Halloween. These days are strictly meant for fun and are held as a treat for our children.

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Health & WellnessAllergiesAll allergies must be listed on your child’s enrollment forms; if your child develops an allergy, notify the office and the child’s teacher immediately. The school will accommodate all food restrictions your child may have. Due to severe peanut allergies, the Young Minds Montessori is a peanut-free environment.

MedicationThe following procedure must be followed in order for staff to administer medication to our children:

Parents must complete the medication form, including name of the medication, duration and dose.

Medication should be released only to a teacher.

The medication should be in its original bottle and labeled with the child’s name.

Young Minds Montessori will not administer medication if the above procedures are not followed.

Young Minds Montessori will not administer over the counter medication.

IllnessParents are required to keep their child at home if they are suffering from any of the following symptoms until they have fully recovered to prevent the spread of illness throughout the school:

If your child has a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher.

Acute cold (coloured nasal discharge)

Diarrhea

Vomiting/stomach ache

Skin rash or red eyes

Coughing and sore throat

The Peel Health Department states that children must be FREE from the above symptoms for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Children must be free of fever for 24 hours without the help of medication.

If your child becomes ill at school, you will be called to pick him/her up immediately. (Children will be excluded from the group and are required to stay isolated in the school office until they are picked up).

We understand it may be inconvenient to pick up your child in the middle of the school day; however, this is necessary

to ensure the safety of your child and the other children

in the school. Families who do not adhere to

the above policies will receive a warning and

may face dismissal from the program.

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Concerns or Issues

Reporting

At Young Minds, we encourage parents/guardians to take an active role in their child’s care. We support positive and responsive interactions among the children, parents/guardians, childcare providers and staff, and foster the engagement of and ongoing communication with parents/guardians about the program and their children.

Young Minds take all issues and concerns raised by parents/guardians seriously, and address them as soon as possible. We make every effort to resolve issues and concerns to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Issues/concerns may be brought forward verbally or in writing. Responses and outcomes will be provided verbally, or in writing upon request from the parent/guardian. The level of detail provided to the parent/guardian will respect and maintain the confidentiality of all parties involved.

An initial response to an issue or concern will be provided to parents/guardians within 2 business days, unless otherwise advised by the school director or designate. The person who raised the issue/concern will be kept informed throughout the resolution process. Investigations of issues/concerns will be fair, impartial and respectful to all parties involved.

Confidentiality Every effort will be made to protect the privacy of parents/guardians, children, teachers and volunteers, except when information must be disclosed for legal reasons (e.g. to the Ministry of Education, College of Early Childhood Educators, law enforcement authorities or Children’s Aid Society).

ConductYoung Minds Montessori maintains high standards for positive interactions, communication and role-modeling for our students. Harassment and discrimination will therefore not be tolerated from any party. If at any point a parent/guardian, teacher or other staff member feels uncomfortable, threatened, abused or belittled, they may immediately end the conversation and report the situation to the school director or designate.

Concerns about the Suspected Abuse or Neglect of a childEveryone, including members of the public and professionals who work closely with children, is required by law to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

If a parent/guardian expresses concerns that a child is being abused or neglected, the parent will be advised to contact the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS) directly.

Persons who become aware of such concerns are also responsible for reporting this information to CAS as per the “Duty to Report” requirement under the Child and Family Services Act.

For more information, visit http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/childrensaid/reportingabuse/index.aspx

Progress ReportsProgress reports are received twice throughout the school year for children enrolled in the Pre-CASA and CASA programs. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions or discuss concerns about progress reports with their child’s teacher at this time. Toddlers receive progress reports before moving up to the Pre-CASA classroom.

Parent-Teacher InterviewsParent-teacher interviews are held twice during the school year – February and May. Interview times are included in your child’s progress report. If there are any urgent concerns, you may contact your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment before the scheduled interviews.

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Nature of Issue or Concern Steps to Report Issue/Concern

Program-relatede.g.: schedule, diapering, indoor/outdoor program activities, menus, etc.

Raise the issue or concern to the lead classroom teacher directly.

General, Agency- or Operations-Relatede.g.: fees, attendance, room placement, etc.

Contact the director or designate, via email, telephone or in person.

Staff-, parent/guardian- or teacher-relatede.g.: conduct of staff, teacher or parent

Raise the issue or concern to the individual directly

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If you are not comfortable reporting to the person, report to the director or designate.

Volunteer-relatede.g.: conduct of volunteer, concern about supervision, etc.

Raise the issue or concern to the person responsible for supervising the volunteer

or

If you are not comfortable reporting to the supervisor, report to the director or designate.

Child to Child concernse.g., children biting, hitting or hurting another child, etc.

Our staff work to keep peaceful and respectful classroom, however, thers are normal occurences in childcare settings,

If you feel your child is having an issue out of the norm raise your concern to your child’s classroom teacher.

Procedures Emergency Management

Note: All issues or concerns about the conduct of the provider or staff that puts a child’s health, safety and wellbeing at risk should be reported to the director as soon as parents/guardians become aware of the situation.

Young Minds Montessori Preschool has polices and procedures in place for a variety of emergencies such as lock down, hold and secure, emergency requiring evacuation and other emergencies. Each situation has its own protocol. In the case of an emergency, parents will be notified via email or telephone. If we have to evacuate the building our evacuation site is The Royal Bank, 1730 Lakeshore Rd. West, right beside Young Minds.

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Connect with us!www.yminds.ca(905) 403-0403info@yminds.ca

Address1744 Lakeshore Rd W, Mississauga, ON L5J 4N8