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WELCOME TO
FIRST PLYMOUTH LEARNING CENTER
This section highlights many of our policies and procedures. A complete handbook will be provided to you on enrollment. The handbook will address many of your questions, although it cannot anticipate every circumstance or inquiry. If you have comments or questions which are not addressed here, or in the handbook, please contact the Learning Center Director. Since it may sometimes be necessary to change the guidelines described in this handbook, First Plymouth Learning Center reserves the right to interpret or modify them without prior notice.
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS
The First Plymouth Learning Center is a self-sustaining outreach program of the First Plymouth Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. There are two components to the program: Parent's Day Out (PDO) for one and two year old children, and Preschool for three, four, and five year olds.
Both programs are child-centered and based on the belief that play is the best way for children to learn. Our approach is individualized to meet each child's needs and interests. Each classroom is organized with age-appropriate centers for creative art, literature, science and pre-math, dramatic play, and cognitive and small motor development. These centers encourage reenactment of life's roles. The environment is planned to stimulate imagination and creativity, socialization, and exploration and discovery, while challenging the use of muscles important to developing bodies. Our professional staff is qualified to guide your child's growth in a consistent and nurturing manner.
FPLC operates under the standards and guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Our primary goals are:
1. Meet the basic needs of children's health, emotional, and physical development.
2. Provide children with attention, acceptance, and affection.
3. Foster children's self esteem and independent functioning.
4. Help children develop listening and language skills.
5. Follow NAEYC accreditation policies and regulations.
6. Encourage children to care about and respect one another.
7. Stimulate children's thinking and problem-solving skills through play.
8. Foster the development of age-appropriate self-help skills.
First Plymouth Learning Center follows all rules and regulations of the State of Colorado Health Department, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and the South Metro Fire District.
PARENT PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES
School involvement shows a child the high value a parent places on education, which in turn motivates a child to succeed. The quality of a parent's participation in more important than the quantity of time that a parent spends at the Learning Center. Some of the ways a parent can be involved include being a:
1. Member of PALS (Parents Actively Lending Support)
2. Classroom Parent Coordinator
3. Night of Discovery attendee
4. Field trip volunteer
5. Teacher Appreciation Week volunteer
6. General volunteer in the classroom
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
First Plymouth Learning Center is an inclusive program, open to all families regardless of race, creed, color, religious beliefs, and economic or educational status. We serve children of all backgrounds. acknowledging that they may represent backgrounds different from our own and committed to providing equal service to all children regardless of these differences. No child or parent will be singled out and treated differently. All staff will be respectful of all families and will treat everyone with compassion and concern.
NAEYC STANDARDS ? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
By choosing First Plymouth Learning Center, you have opted for a high quality early childhood program that provides a safe and nurturing environment while promoting the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children. You will see frequent positive and warm interaction among teachers and children, planned learning activities appropriate to the children's age and stage of development, nutritious snacks, regular two-way communication with parents (who are welcome visitors at all times), effective administration, a sufficient ratio of adults to respond individually to each child, ongoing systematic education, and a respect for cultural diversity.
ELIGIBILITY
Children must be at least fifteen (15) months old and walking by August 15 in order to enroll in First Plymouth Learning Center, and they are no longer eligible once they begin to attend kindergarten. Preschool students are expected to take care of their own toileting needs.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Children with special needs will be accepted at the First Plymouth Learning Center as long as we have trained personnel and appropriate facilities to accommodate their needs.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
When you enroll your child in the First Plymouth Learning Center, you become part of a team working to provide your child with wonderful experiences at FPLC. As a parent, you have the following responsibilities:
1. Complete all records for registration.
2. Remain current on tuition payments.
Tuition is due on the first of each month; a late fee of $20 will be assessed if payment is not received by the fifth of the month. May tuition is due in August of the prior year. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, an additional fee of $35 will be assessed.
3. Delivering and picking up your child on time each day.
4. Signing your child in and out each day; an individual sign-in sheet is required for each child.
5. Labeling all personal belongings brought to the Learning Center.
6. Providing a snack for the entire classroom once each month.
7. Notifying staff about changes at home which may affect your child at school.
8. Keeping informed about school activities.
The staff at FPLC looks forward to being on your team! It is working together in the best interests of your child that will make the year run smoothly.
SCHOOL DAYS AND HOURS
The Learning Center operates on a traditional school year calendar. Parent's Day Out (PDO) is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and parents may choose one or two or three days each week. The Preschool also runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and preschoolers must attend all three days. A calendar of school days, vacations, and teacher in-service days is published each year and updated as needed.
WEATHER AND SCHOOL CLOSURES
FPLC follows the Cherry Creek School District in its school closure policy. If Cherry Creek Schools are closed due to weather, the First Plymouth Learning Center will also be closed. If Cherry Creek announces a delayed opening, FPLC will open at 10:00 a.m., and there will be no supervision for your children until that time.
WEATHER AND OUTDOOR PLAY GUIDELINES
We play outside every day. If your child is not well enough to play outside, then your child is not well enough to come to school. When the weather is too cold (approximately 30° or less) or too wet, the classes will have time for large motor activity in the Christian Education Center, also known as "The Big Room". The same is true when the weather is too hot (over 100°). On sunny days, please apply sunscreen to your child before coming to school; teachers are not allowed by law to apply sunscreen at school.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Plan your arrival at school no earlier that 8:55 a.m. so that the teachers have an opportunity to prepare their classrooms, gather suppliers, and obtain any needed information for the day. Prompt arrival is important to keep your child from missing out on class activities and instructions. Children arriving late on the day of a field trip will be sent home with their parents. If you arrive early, you may go to the children's library outside the Christian Education Center ("The Big Room") and read with your child until class begins. Never leave your child unattended in the classroom or anywhere in the school or church building.
All children must be picked up promptly at 2:30 p.m. Teachers will have the classroom doors closed during class "closing activities" and you are invited to enter the room after the door has been opened. Please sign your child out and keep him or her with you if you stay for a discussion with teachers or other parents either in the building or outside in the parking lot. Once a child is signed out, the parent has full responsibility for the child?s whereabouts and safety.
Parents picking their children up after 2:40 p.m. may be charged a $10 late fee for every ten-minute increment thereafter; this fee is to paid directly to the teacher. If you know that you will be late because of an unusual and unforeseen circumstance, please call the school so that we may reassure your child that you will be coming.
Children will not be released to unauthorized persons attempting to pick them up. Authorized persons who are nevertheless unknown to the teacher will be asked for identification before the child is allowed to leave with them. If we are suspicious about any person attempting to pick up a child, or if any aggression is used, the police will be called.
The Learning Center cannot legally deny release of any child to a natural parent unless we have a written court order., although we cannot allow a child to leave with any inebriated person, including a parent. If on a given day your child has permission to leave school with someone other than those individuals authorized on the enrollment form, please advise the classroom teacher in writing, or contact the office to let us know this will be happening.
In the event that a child is not picked up at the end of the school day, the remaining staff will attempt to reach the parents at work or at home. If this is unsuccessful, the emergency contacts will be called. If this is also unsuccessful, the Director will contact the Colorado Department of Human Services. At no time will your child be transported anywhere or left unattended.
PARKING
Please use the west parking lot. You must park and walk your children into the school and sign them in. No child will be allowed to exit into the parking lot unless accompanied by a parent.
Please use the marked parking spaces in the lot and do not park along the curb in front of the entrance when dropping off and picking up your children. Exercise extreme caution in the parking lot; children can easily pull away from a parent and dart out in front of a car.
DRESS
Please dress your child in play clothes. Dressy clothes may be messed up or ruined when we do creative projects. Shoes should be appropriate for climbing, running, and play activities. No sandals, please. In winter weather, we go outside to play, so make sure your child is equipped with appropriate winter clothing: long pants, boots, hat, mittens, jacket.
CHILDREN'S BELONGINGS AND MONEY
Children are not allowed to bring toys to school unless requested or approved in advance by a teacher. We want students to be involved in the activities planned by the teacher, and we cannot be responsible for lost or broken toys brought from home. Please do not let your child bring money to school.
SNACK
You will be responsible for bringing a snack once a month for your child's class. Please plan a nutritious, "unsweet" snack. One of the favorite snacks is fruit : fruit kabob, fruit and cheese, or fruit fixed almost any way. Other favorites are mini-muffins, Chex Mix, Ritz Bits, and cookies and milk. Be creative, but please do not bring gum or candy.
Bring fruit juice in a container ready to use; please do not bring Kool-Aid or soda. Individual juice boxes are appropriate only in Preschool classes. The Learning Center provides cups and napkins and has a refrigerator to keep the snack cool if necessary. You will receive a snack calendar at the beginning of each month.
We are a nut free facility. No snacks or lunches with any nut products are allowed.
LUNCH
Parents are responsible for sending lunch and a beverage with their children each day. A lunch box and thermos are best for transporting lunch, and please remember to label both. Please send finger foods and things that are easy for the children to manage on their own. Do not send anything which requires refrigeration, and please include a "blue ice" packet in the lunch box. If you include apples or oranges, please cut them up at home, and we also prefer that grapes be cut in half to prevent choking. No microwaveable meals, please.
BIRTHDAYS
If your child wishes to celebrate a birthday at school, you may send a treat for snack time. Children with summer birthdays may schedule an "unbirthday" celebration. Please notify the teacher in advance so that we may be certain to schedule only one birthday celebration each day.
If a birthday is to be celebrated away from the classroom and the whole class is not invited, please be considerate of the children's feelings and mail the invitations and thank you notes. If the whole class is invited, you may bring the invitations to school and distribute them there.
Parents often donate a book, puzzle, or game to the classroom in honor of the birthday child, who then has the privilege of giving as well as receiving on his or her special day. If you wish to donate an item, the classroom teacher can give you some ideas on what the class would enjoy.
FIELD TRIPS
The Statement of Authorization which parents complete upon enrollment includes a blanket permission allowing your child to go on field trips and walks. We will always inform you prior to any trips. When the Preschool takes trips away from school, we will ask parents to drive. Proof of insurance and a valid driver?s license are checked before each trip. Car and booster seats must be provided by parents, and no child will sit in the front seat of a car with active airbags. Written parental permission is required for these trips. PDO students will only go for walks on the church grounds.
TUITION AND FEES
A non-refundable registration fee is required of all new and returning students. Monthly tuition is due on the first day of each month, and it is due in full even if your child misses some of the classes during that month. May tuition must be paid by August 1.
Please make your check payable to First Plymouth Learning Center and mark the month for which you are paying on your check. Checks should be placed in the Tuition mailbox in each classroom. Tuition paid after the fifth of the month is subject to a $20 late fee. There is a $35 fee for a returned check.
MATERIALS LIST
You will receive a list of materials for your child to bring to school at Open House or by the first day of class. This will allow the Learning Center to use its limited budget to purchase more of the developmentally appropriate curriculum materials needed for each classroom. Your assistance in this way is greatly appreciated.
DIAPERING AND TOILET TRAINING
All PDO students will have their diapers changed regularly and as necessary. Please speak with the classroom teacher if you are in the process of toilet training, and she will work to support your efforts. The Learning Center does not provide the diapers.
LOVIES
We hope that you will send your child's special security item to school. These "lovies" are helpful in making transitions easier. For Preschool children, they will be used at rest time. Please limit your child's "lovies" to two items.
REST TIME
We will have rest time each afternoon, as required by the Colorado Department of Human Services. Each child must bring a crib sheet and blanket to be left at the Learning Center, and they will be sent home regularly for you to wash and return. Rest mats will be provided and sanitized daily.
ILLNESS AND EMERGENCIES
Please notify the Learning Center if you child is ill and will not be attending school that day.
If you suspect that your child is ill, please do not send him or her to school. Your child will not enjoy the day, and it is unfair to expose the other children to illness. The teacher may refuse to take a child if her or she has a fever or shows signs of illness.
If your child becomes ill during school hours, we will isolate him or her from the other children and keep the child comfortable until you are able to pick him or her up. In the event of any illness or emergency concerning your child, we will contact you immediately. If your child contracts any contagious disease (strep, impetigo, chicken pox, etc.), please notify us immediately so that we may notify other parents with children in the same class.
The Learning Center staff is unable to administer any medication except for an emergency situation. If your child is on routine antibiotics, they must be administered by a parent. Prescribed Epi-Pens may be stored in the office lock box.
HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATION POLICY
All children enrolled at First Plymouth Learning Center must have an immunization card on file in the school office. Parents have the right to claim a medical, religious, or personal exemption from immunization requirements.
MEDICATION REQUIREMENTS
Your child must be examined by a licensed physician in the 12 months prior to the first day of school. The medical form must be signed by a physician and be placed on file in the office before the child may begin attending the Learning Center. The medical form will need to be updated annually.
Do not send medication to school with your child. Teachers are not allowed to administer medication except under special circumstances such as severe, life-threatening allergies. In such instances, parents must provide the required medications in a sealed container identified with the child's name, the type of medication, and pertinent instructions for its administration. These medications will be administered by the Director or by an authorized teacher who has completed the required four-hour medication dosage class. All medication administered must be entered in the Nurse Consultant logbook. The Nurse Consultant will visit the Learning Center monthly, review the medication log, and provide any necessary health, safety, and nutritional information to the Center staff.
COMMUNICATION
Please notify the Learning Center of any changes in your address, telephone numbers, or e-mail.
We will make every effort to communicate with parents about your children and their activities. Each day teachers post a "Look What We Did Today" sign on their bulletin boards to keep you informed of the day's activities. In addition, PDO teachers send home a daily "Toddler Tattler" for each child. The Learning Center publishes a monthly newsletter.
Teacher conferences may be initiated by either the teacher or the parent of any child in the Learning Center. We prefer not to discuss your child in his or her presence and request that conferences be scheduled outside of school hours or over the telephone.
Please check the Parent Bulletin Board in the Learning Center entryway, where special announcements and information of interest will be posted. The Learning Center web site at www.fplc.org also contains up-to-date information about the school calendar and activities.
MAILBOXES
Each child has a mailbox, which is a hanging file folder in the crate at the entrance to the classroom. This is where Learning Center staff will place any parent communications, such as the snack schedule, the newsletter, and so forth. Please check this mailbox each day. There is also a mailbox for the teacher and a tuition mailbox for your monthly tuition checks.
DISCIPLINE
Our discipline policy is based on the principles of respect for each child and respect for the rights of all members of the Learning Center, and ground rules are taught to reinforce these principles. In all dealings with the children, staff members are accountable for treating them with respect.
With the youngest children, redirection is most commonly used when a conflict arises. Often changing just a single element in the environment will solve the problem. We also use simple words to develop understanding in the children, such as "be gentle" or "take turns". We have adopted "Early Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking" as part of our educational program. This curriculum emphasizes conflict resolution appropriate to the child?s stage of development. Children are taught to listen to one another and to solve their relationship conflicts in a ?win-win? atmosphere.
If an ongoing behavior problem occurs, such as hitting, kicking, or biting, parents will be notified, and we will work together to resolve the problem. It is necessary for parents to work cooperatively and closely with the Learning Center staff so that peaceable behavior becomes an expectation both at home and at school. Children with continuing problems which are not resolved may be asked to leave the Learning Center.
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