Parent Handbook 2010-2011

a ministry of Bethel Baptist Church Monday-Friday

School Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

901 S. Euclid Street Santa Ana, Ca. 92704 Office: 714-839-3600

Fax: 714-839-4953 www.bethelwarriors.org

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Affiliation Bethel Baptist Pre-Kindergarten is a part of the overall ministry of Bethel Baptist Church and exists as an outreach to the community by assisting parents with their role as the primary educators of their child. Commitment We are committed to meeting the needs of young children while fostering caring and lasting relationships with families. Our program offers age-appropriate activities to promote positive learning in a loving and enriching environment. Our staff of Christian professionals is carefully selected for their love and dedication to children. Each staff member has received college education in Early Childhood Development and is experienced in working with young children. Goal With God at our center and parents as our partners, our goal is to nurture the whole child to grow in physical, emotional, social, creative, cognitive, and spiritual areas of development. Mission The mission of Bethel Baptist School is to provide a God honoring, Christ-centered, Biblically based, education for Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade students. We endeavor to accomplish this by seeking to assure that each student has a personal relationship with Christ, educating each student through superior academic and extracurricular programs, ministering to the family each child represents, and helping each student find God’s will for his life. Vision Bethel Baptist School is a community of learners where knowledge is applied and all students and staff are supported in continual personal and spiritual growth, scholarship, and leadership. Bethel Baptist School provides an environment that is Christ honoring, safe, welcoming, and challenging where everyone has a voice, a sense of belonging, and school pride. Bethel Baptist School actively reaches out to our parents and families with the gospel, involving them in the learning process.

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Purpose/Philosophy Our purpose is to provide quality care and enriching experiences for children in a warm Christ-centered environment. It is our desire to strengthen the family unit by being a significant support system. We believe that God has created each child as a special and unique individual. Through encouragement and challenge, we believe he/she can achieve full potential when guided with love and patience. Stimulation through a wealth of new experiences will promote spiritual, emotional, physical, mental and social development and growth. Enrollment Bethel Baptist Pre-Kindergarten admits and does not discriminate against students of any race, color, religion, or national origin. All children must meet the following criteria: • Be at least 4 years old • Be toilet trained and able to take care of all their

hygienic needs. • Be physically, emotionally and socially developed

to the extent that he/she is not a hazard to himself/herself and does not endanger the well-being of other children in the school.

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Enrollment Packet The following items are required to complete your child’s enrollment packet. Please follow the directions for each form carefully. All items must be filled out completely and returned to our office prior to your child’s first day of school.

Registration Form

Copy of Birth Certificate

Application for Enrollment

Statement of commitment

Identification and Emergency Information*

Pre-admission and Health History*

Physician’s Report*

Consent for Emergency Treatment*

Parent’s Right Form*

Personal Rights*

General Permission Slip

Developmental History

Copy of Child’s Immunization Card (please bring the original so we may make a

copy)

*Required by the State of California, Licensing Division Forms must be returned to our office prior to the start of school.

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Enrichment Program We believe that children learn by actively participating, exploring, and discovering (Proverbs 20:11). Our classrooms invite children to choose from activities that capture and hold their interest. Our teachers provide a balance of playtime with structured learning experiences that include pre-reading and writing, pre-math, science, social studies, music, art, literature appreciation, gross and fine motor development and spiritual development. Our program is designed to provide endless active learning opportunities that: • Place an emphasis on Christian values

• Encourage learning God’s Word through Bible stories, songs and daily activities

• Engage children in hands-on learning

• Promote literacy and language development

• Build pre-math, pre-reading, and pre-writing skills

• Encourage children to explore, question, experiment, and discover answers

• Encourage physical development including large and small motor skills

• Promote creative art and music activities

• Include cooking projects

• Explore God’s world through science and nature activities

• Encourage health, safety, and nutritional practices

• Include dramatic play

• Build socio-emotional skills, cooperative play, and friendships

Weekly class activity schedules are posted in each Pre-K classroom

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Immunization/Physician’s Report Prior to Enrollment Children may not begin our program until they have received all of the immunizations required by the State of California for entrance into an early childhood program. A physician-verified immunization card must be presented at the time of enrollment showing that all childhood immunizations have been received, including a current T.B. test. You must also have a signed Physician’s Report stating your child is in good physical health on file in the school office.

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Orientation Orientation is a meeting that prepares parents and students for the upcoming school year. We require the attendance of at least one parent from the student’s immediate family. If you are unable to attend the orientation meeting you must make arrangements to meet with your child’s teacher before your child begins the school year. Orientation Schedule: Pre-K: Friday, August 27, 2010 6:00 pm School Begins: August 30, 2010 School Ends: June 11, 2011 Superintendent: Pastor Dan Davidson

Administrator/Principal: Terry Cantrell

Supervisor/Director: Roe Osborne

Financial Secretary: Jan Hutter

Office Staff: Shiela Hester Tammi Risse Uniforms Uniforms are required for all Pre-Kindergarten students. They are available through Vicki Marsha in Huntington Beach at 5292 Production Drive, 92649 714-895-6371 www.vickimarsha.com

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Separation Anxiety Trust is the vital part of why you chose us. Your child takes clues from you…if you are sure and confident this is a good place, then they can adjust more quickly. Keep your conversation happy and positive as you talk about their school. Furthermore, don’t linger as you drop him/her off. This creates the idea that either, “Oh—they aren’t sure I’ll be ok” or “Maybe if I make a big fuss they’ll take me home.” In the classroom a quick kiss and/or hug and “See you later” and then go, is what is BEST. When children arrive If your child is crying loudly, they will need to remain outside with you until he/she is ready to enter the classroom in a calm manner. The child needs to separate from your voluntarily without a staff member having to pull him/her from you. Arrivals and Departures Authorization for Pick Up—It is the responsibility of the child’s parents/legal guardians to keep us informed as to who is legally able to remove/sign a student out to leave our campus. Legal documentation must be here on file if there are court restrictions. You must keep them current. We require all of our visitors and registered families who arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to sign in at the office. This is necessary before going to any classroom - thus providing additional security for all of our children. The State of California requires that all children be signed in and signed out each day. The requirement must be met with a FULL LEGAL SIGNATURE at the time of each arrival and departure. Should the State fine the Pre-Kindergarten for lack of full signature, the fine will be passed on to the remised parent. No child will be released to anyone younger than eighteen (18) years of age. No child will be released without authorization by the parent or guardian. Any changes in authorization must also be in writing. Persons may be asked for the proper identification. For the safety of your children and others, exhibit caution while driving in the parking lot.

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Discipline & Socially Acceptable Behavior Pre-Kindergarten is a social setting that depends on each child’s willingness to submit to their teacher’s authority. This important concept of, “I am expected to mind my teacher. I can’t do just whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it,” is foundational to a successful pre-kindergarten and school experience. We will ask each student to follow our class rules. We will ask them to be obedient and respectful of their teacher and kind to their classmates. We will ask them to do as much for themselves as they possibly can. By doing so, we will be allowing them to gain security by performing tasks of character and skill. Students who for any reason and at any time during their enrollment consistently act disrespectful or hurtful will be dismissed from our program. Attendance Please notify the school if your child is unable to attend that day. We appreciate knowing whether your child is ill or absent for another reason. Notify us immediately if your child has a contagious disease. We need to let other parents and teachers know that they, or their child, may have been exposed.

Snacks Snacks are provided by the Pre-Kindergarten in accordance with the nutritional requirements set by the State of California. These snacks are served mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Snack calendars are posted on parent boards. The Pre-Kindergarten snack schedule is 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Lunches Hot lunches are provided for $3.25 per day. Lunch calendars are posted on parent boards. The Pre-Kindergarten lunch schedule is 10:40 a.m.

Address and Telephone Number Change It is the parent’s responsibility to keep all information on the registration card and emergency care current. Address changes, telephone number changes, and changes in persons authorized to pick up your child should be reported to the office immediately. Temporary or one-time-only changes must be noted, in writing, and given to the office. Toys from Home In order not to confuse Bethel Baptist Pre-Kindergarten toys with a child’s personal property, we ask that children not bring playthings from home. Our pre-kindergarten staff cannot be responsible for lost or broken personal toys.

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Classroom Parties and Birthday Celebrations We invite parents to participate in class parties without siblings. These parties are celebrations for the classroom child. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. If you would like to bring a treat to school for your child’s birthday, please notify the teacher in advance so we can prepare for this special occasion. Holiday Celebrations As a faith-based Pre-Kindergarten program, Bethel Baptist School celebrates Christian holidays with enthusiasm. The Christmas season has a major impact upon the lives of young children, and our school teaches about the birth of Jesus. We also celebrate Easter, focusing particularly on Jesus’ sacrifice for humankind on the Cross and our salvation through His resurrection. Our teachings are designed for the level of understanding of pre-kindergarten-age children. Other holidays are also celebrated as milestones of the calendar year. We do not celebrate Halloween in any form, but rather focus on the harvest season. Cubbies Each child will have a cubby. Please help your child identify that cubby and encourage proper care and storage of their possessions. Please check this daily. Rest Time It is a policy of our program and a state requirement that all full day children lie down for a rest period each day. Children who stay for nap need to bring a fitted crib size sheet and a towel to use on their mat. Bedding is sent home once a week to be laundered and must be returned on the first day of attendance the following week. Please do not bring pillows or sleeping bags. Remember to label all bedding with your child’s first and last name.

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Health Upon enrollment, state licensing requires the submission of a health form signed by the child’s physician. Additional regulations state that the child is to have standard immunizations. Your child’s health is of major importance to us. Our goal is to create as germ free an environment as possible for our children and our teachers. At the discretion of the teachers/office personnel, your child may not be admitted to the classroom or may be sent home if any of the following symptoms are present:

• The illness/recovery prevents the child from participating in classroom activities • The illness/recovery results in a greater care need than the staff can provide without

compromising the health and safety of the other children (requires one-on-one care) • Runny nose (clear or colored) • Coughing • Temperature • Vomiting—first incident • Diarrhea • Rash • An open sore which for any reason cannot be kept totally covered • Mouth sores with drooling or other draining sores • Difficulty breathing, respiratory illness, lethargy, persistent crying and/or irritability • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) • Strep throat • Impetigo • Chicken pox • Shingles • Mumps • Measles • Rubella • Head Lice-exclude until hair is bug and nit free. An inspection of the child’s head will

be required in order to return to school

• If a child suffers from allergy symptoms, a physician’s confirmation and a list of suspected allergies will be required.

• If a child is fussy, cranky, and generally not himself/herself, it is recommended that the child stay home. Rest during these times may prevent the development of a serious illness.

• It is important to let your child’s teacher know if you have given him/her any medicine in the morning that may affect their ability to participate in the classroom’s daily activities so that we are not worried if your child becomes lethargic or overly tired from a decongestant or anti-histamine; however, if your child is unable to participate or falls asleep mid-morning, we will call you to pick him/her up.

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• Notify the office immediately if your child has a communicable disease.

• Some symptoms may require a physician’s diagnosis before re-admission to school.

Please check with the school office.

Recovery

When a child is sent home with any possible signs of illness, including the non-exhaustive list above, he/she may not attend school the following day. Additionally, children may not return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours—without the use of a fever reducer. If the physician has prescribed an antibiotic, the child must stay home until he/she has completed the first 24-hours of the antibiotic. Additionally, children may not return to the classroom until they have been symptom free for 24 hours. When it is necessary to send a child home, it is imperative that parents pick up their child within 30 minutes. Please remember to have a current list of friends and/or relatives on file in the office with authorization for pick up for those times when parents cannot come to the school immediately or cannot be reached. If a child has been absent due to surgery, broken bones or other atypical medical conditions/symptoms, a physician’s release may be required.

Required Immunizations for School Entry Polio 3 separate doses DTP 4 separate doses MMR 1 dose (must be on/after first birthday) Hepatitis B 3 separate doses HiB 1 dose (must be on/after first birthday) Chicken Pox (varicella) 1 dose (must be on/after first birthday) Medications

Our school does NOT administer medications to students.

Emergency Procedures

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The school will regularly practice fire and earthquake drills. We encourage you to discuss the experience with your child when he/she tells you about it. If a real disaster occurs while your child is at school, we urge you to follow the procedures listed: • DoNOTcalltheschool

• Communitydisasterswillbereportedontheradio.

Besureyourfamilyhasatransistorradio.Listentoitfordirections.

• Beassuredthatourstaffisgivingyourchildanyemergencycarethat

he/shemayneed.Theytooarelisteningtotheradio

andwillbehearingthesameinstructionsyouare.

• Itisourpolicythatthechildrenarekeptatschool

untilsomeonewithproperauthorizationarrives

topickthemup.

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Guest Speaker/Events We have on campus visitors or events once a month. The monthly calendar lists the visitor or events of the month. Please check the calendar and watch for the permission slip in your child’s cubby each month. Policies for all visitor field trips:

Permission slips MUST be turned in by the due date given.

Any money that is due MUST be paid in full by the due date.

We CAN NOT accept permission slips and money late.

Tentative Special Speakers/Events Schedule

September Prehistoric Pets

October Playground Pumpkin Patch

November Thanksgiving Party

December Happy Birthday Jesus Party/Christmas Program

January Chinese New Year Celebration

February 100th Day of School

March Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Party

April Sheriff Department/CHP Day

May Mother’s Day Luncheon

June Father’s Day Breakfast/Fire Department