Policy of Preschool
1. Registration, Admission, Fees
Registration will be completed by the first week of March for returning
students.
Enrollment priority is first given to church members and secondly to siblings of past students. Any remaining openings are then filled from the waiting list and community as determined by the Director, with support from staff and the Preschool Commission of Grace Episcopal Church.
Registration fee: This fee covers cost for insurance and expendable supply items. It is payable at yearly registration time.
Registration and tuition fees are non-refundable. Tuition is based on a yearly schedule as established by the Preschool Commission. For your convenience, tuition may be paid annually, semi-annually or in 9 monthly payments. If you choose to pay monthly, tuition is due on the 1st of each month with a grace period of 15 days.
Remittance should
be placed in the tuition box or mailed to:
The Children’s School
Grace Episcopal Church
419 S. Main St.
Lexington, NC 27292-3234
Your promptness will be appreciated as we operate on a tight budget. Salaries, supplies, and materials are dependent upon monthly tuition payments.
Note: The church Parish Administrator will review accounts monthly. Delinquent accounts will be notified and subject to dismissal from the program if suitable arrangements are not made for payment. Arrangements for tuition payments need to be made by contacting the Parish Administrator in the church office at 249-7211 or by email at gracechurch@lexcominc.net. We do have a partial scholarship fund available for any student that may require financial assistance. Please inquire about it with the Preschool Director if you feel you may qualify.
2. Entrance Requirements
A child must be at least two years of age to be considered for admission to the
program. The staff determines age appropriateness and enrollment needs with
input from the parent(s). Every effort will be made to place the child
according to his or her individual developmental needs. If a child is not
toilet trained, he or she may be accepted into the program provided the parents
and teachers can arrive at a cooperative agreement to work toward training the
child.
3. Hours
Older program children attend class from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Younger
program children attend class from either 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m.
to 11:30 a.m. A specific schedule is designed for each child according to
his/her developmental maturity and needs. It is imperative that you pick your
child up on time so teachers can adequately prepare for the next school day.
Additional
programs may be introduced that may extend your child’s day. If so, they will
be addressed in another part of this handbook.
4. Inclement weather
We serve families who travel from every area of our county. Road conditions
vary greatly from area to area. Watch the television or
internet for Lexington City Schools. If they are closed due to
weather, The Children’s School will be closed.
If you feel the weather is bad in your area but the school system is not closed, please use your own discretion about the road conditions. Remember, the safety of your child is the most important factor.
Also remember: If the city schools have any delays, we will report to the school at 10:00 a.m. If it is a YMCA Friday, please report to the school at 10:00—not to the Y.
5. YMCA Program: October to May
Participation in a movement education program, coordinated with the YMCA, is
planned on a yearly basis. We attend these sessions one day a week for
approximately one hour. The program begins the first week in October and is
scheduled to May. Younger children do not participate in Y activities.
6. Transportation
Transportation to and from Preschool is the responsibility of the parents. A
list of students and addresses will be furnished to facilitate you in forming
car pools. Advise the teacher of your child’s car pool arrangements and if your
child is to be picked up by anyone other than a parent.
7. Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up
DROP-OFF: Beginning at 9:00 a.m., a teacher will be standing at the curb
near the sidewalk entrance to the school to retrieve your child from your car.
A parent volunteer will meet your child at the bottom of the school steps and
assist him/her into the building. Classroom teachers will be waiting for your
child at the appropriate classroom door. (Parent/Grandparent volunteers are
needed and will be asked to sign up in the entry hall.) An orange traffic cone
will be placed in the parking lot—PARENTS, PLEASE PULL UP TO THIS CONE AT THE
FRONT OF THE LINE. This will allow more cars into the parking lot and reduce
the hazard of having cars stopped and waiting on Main Street.
This process will conclude at 9:10. If you need to drop your child off after 9:10, you will need to accompany your child into the school.
PICK-UP: Children will be excused to parents (grandparents/childcare providers) inside the school. Please enter the main door and remain in the entry hall until your child is called for dismissal. If the weather permits, and the children are on the playground they will be lined up along the inside of the fence. Once we call your child’s name he/she may go inside and retrieve their work and then leave. Please help us with this policy as it is another exercise of preparing your child for success in elementary school. You may return to the playground with your child and other siblings when all children have been dismissed.
8. Insurance
Students are covered under the church insurance policy for a limited amount of
medical and liability insurance while participating in activities sponsored and
supervised by the school.
9. Contacting us during school hours
If you need to leave instructions for us concerning your child for any reason,
please talk to the teacher in the morning or hand us a note at the time of
drop-off. We rarely have time to speak to parents by phone during the day and
sending messages with your child sometimes proves to be unreliable. If
something arises during the school day, you may contact the church/school office
at 249-7211 during the school day and the office will deliver a message to the
director. Otherwise, you may email the director at jane.blackerby@gmail.com
with any other non-emergency questions. Please allow the director up to 24
hours for a reply.
10. Health requirements
The health form must be filled out by your pediatrician and turned in to the
teacher by the opening of school. A child must have all immunizations necessary
against contagious diseases before entering Preschool.
Keep children at home if they have the following symptoms: sore throat, cough, fever, rash, earache, vomiting, or any other danger of spreading disease. Please report a contagious disease to the school so the teacher can contact other parents.
11. Notification regarding absences
If your child should be unable to attend school because of illness, trips, etc.,
notify the teacher by calling the church office (249-7211) no later than 9:00
a.m. This is necessary for planning the school day.
12. Food, celebration of birthdays, class parties
The Children’s School will be experimenting with a new snack schedule this year
beginning in October. You will receive information about this new snack idea
during the beginning days of school and month of September
14. Bringing items to school
Things that will prove a learning experience for all children are encouraged –
such as unusual rocks, shells, flowers, something the child has made or grown
himself/herself. Good books are always welcome. Special toys that provide
comfort are acceptable only if they will fit into the child’s cubby. Action
figures, toy guns and weapons should not be brought to school.
Be sure to mark the books and videos your child brings. Please do not
send these items on days that we go to the YMCA.
15. Dress
Send children in comfortable and washable clothes.
All clothing should be
marked with your child’s name as coats and sweaters are often similar and
can become confused. Shoes must be worn everyday.
16. Conferences and Parent’s meetings
There will be one scheduled conference this year on February 20 or 21, at which
time mutual needs of parents, the policy and program will be discussed. In
addition, the teacher will also have individual conferences with you to discuss
your child and his needs. Special events are held during the year for the
parents and children.
For the benefit of everyone, these conferences should not be held in front of your child or in a rushed situation (such as the opening or closing of the school day.) Please make arrangements with the teacher if you wish to observe or participate during the preschool day.
17. Newsletters
A bi-weekly newsletter is emailed or sent home generally every second Friday of
each month. Occasionally special or important information (newsflashes) and/or
reminders will be sent home with your child or emailed to you. Please be
attentive to the items presented. A copy of these special notices will also be
posted on the bulletin board. Please
check the bulletin board frequently to make sure you are aware of current
notices. Newsletters
may also be accessed on The Children’s School link of the church’s website at
www.gracechurchlexington.org.
18. Visitors
Please do not send relatives or friends to school with your child. We want to
provide the best situation for all children in terms of teacher-pupil ratio.
19. Graduation
A Graduation Service is held at the end of each school year. This service
recognizes the accomplishments of students who have completed their preschool
experience at The Children’s School and will be entering a kindergarten program
in the fall. Parents will be notified of rehearsal times and any applicable
fees at the beginning of May. All preschool students, families and members of
Grace Church are cordially invited to share in this special childhood
milestone. Parents of undergraduate students may be asked to help host a
reception that follows graduation.
Monthly Tuition Schedule
Tuition Rates
2-days per week - $120.00 per month
3-days per week - $165.00 per month
4-days per week - $220.00 per month
5-days per week - $275.00 per month
Lunch Buddy Program:
$25 per month for each added day per week
In addition to monthly tuition