Growing Garden Preschool: Policies and Procedures

WELCOME

Growing Garden Preschool

Dear New Preschool Family,

Thank you for choosing Growing Garden Preschool!

We look forward to a wonderful year ahead of us. Please read

this Policies and Procedures handbook to help you understand

how we run our preschool.

Most likely, all of your questions will be answered by reading

this handbook. Please feel free to contact us with any other

questions, comments, or feedback.

I can’t wait to see you again when preschool starts!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Miller

Director, Growing Garden Preschool

453 South 1230 West

Spanish Fork, UT 84660

Phone: (801) 615-3846

Email: mygrowinggardenpreschool@gmail.com

Website: www.mygrowinggardenpreschool.com

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Growing Garden Preschool

About Growing Garden Preschool 4
About Our Director, Miss Tiffany 4
Hours of Operation 5
Enrollment 5
Tuition and Fees 6
Preparing for the Big Day 6
Arrival and Departure 7
Curriculum 8
Daily Schedule 8
Special Occasions 10
Your Preschooler’s Health 10
Potty Training 11
Your Preschooler’s Safety 12
Behavior & Discipline 12
Parental Involvement 13
Communication 13

1. About Growing Garden Preschool

Philosophy –

We believe that a quality preschool should have:

A balance of teacher-directed structured learning, creative expression and child-initiated free play
Activities that build academic skills at each individual child’s level
Experiences that are based on children’s interests
Small class sizes allowing for maximum student comfort and individual attention
A loving environment fostering kindness, respect, and peaceful problem solving

Our program strives to encompass all those characteristics.

Goals –

Provide a balanced program with varied opportunities for learning that develop each child’s interests and abilities in reading, writing, math, science, music and art.

Provide opportunities for children to freely explore and express themselves through play, art, crafts, singing, musical instrument use, dance and drama.

Establish a foundation for lifelong learning by encouraging curiosity, question asking, initiative, effort, research, hypothesizing, experimentation, problem solving, perseverance, and a sense of competence.

Establish a loving, nurturing environment based on cooperation, respect and problem solving, where all children are valued by all others.

Increase each child’s abilities in communication and relationship building, including negotiation skills, compromise, taking a different point of view, showing kindness, and making friends.

Provide opportunities for children to learn about the world so they will feel comfortable and confident with their place in it.

2. ABOUT OUR DIRECTOR

I have a Bachelor’s Degree that includes child education, psychology, sociology and family sciences. I am CPR and First Aid Certified. I taught swimming lessons to young children in the summer while in High School. I love young people and the energy you get being around them.

I am a USU Master Gardener who loves to garden and share that knowledge with others through volunteering. I am an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction. I love learning and creating, so my hobbies are always expanding. I love swimming, riding bikes, hiking, backpacking, camping and archery. Cooking is also something I enjoy but I absolutely love baking (brownies and cookies do not last long at my house).

I love teaching preschool and can't wait for a new year of school and to meet all of my new amazing students!

3. HOURS OF OPERATION

Session Term –

The Fall/Winter preschool session is held from Aug 27, 2019 to May 14, 2020.

Class Schedules –

Seedlings Class : This class meets from 9:00-11:30 A.M. 3 days/week (T_W_TH).

Sprouts Class: This class meets from 12:30-3:00 P.M. 3 days/week (T_W_TH).

Closures –

We follow the Nebo School District schedule to aid families with older children in their vacation plans. A calendar will be given to you at the beginning of preschool that will tell you when preschool is in session. In addition to other days that the school district is closed, you can plan on us being closed for the following holidays:

Labor Day Thanksgiving Civil Rights Day Memorial Day

Halloween Christmas President’s Day

If the Nebo schools are closed due to inclement weather, we will be closed too. Please check www.nebo.edu or call to see if we’re closed.

Provider Sickness –

Please have a back-up caregiver available in the rare instance that I must close the preschool due to sickness or family reasons. In this contract I allow myself 2 missed preschool days without refunding a portion of your tuition –or- making up the sick days. However, if I close the preschool for 3+ days for sickness or family reasons, I will reduce everyone’s tuition at a prorated amount per missed school day for every day after the initial 2. If any missed days occur during the last month of school, I will issue a refund.

4. ENROLLMENT

Non-Discrimination –

Growing Garden Preschool is available to all children without regard to race, sex, or national origin.

Enrollment –

Enrollment is based on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority given to our current parents. All parents are encouraged to pre-enroll their children. When you enroll your child, a non-refundable registration fee of $50 will be charged to secure a spot in our program. That money will be utilized each year to help purchase classroom supplies. In the event that our classes fill up, a waiting list will be created and openings will be filled based on availability. The director will notify all parents of their standing on the waiting list.

Withdrawal –

When a sudden life change occurs (such as a move to a different city or a job loss) you might need to withdraw your child from preschool. Should you withdraw your child during the school year, 30 days written notice is required, along with the full tuition paid during those 30 days. If thirty days notice is not given, the following month’s tuition is due. If you withdraw before the first day of preschool, you forfeit your registration fee and 50% of any tuition paid.

Termination –

Growing Garden Preschool reserves the right to immediately terminate enrollment for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

Late or non-payment of tuition
Parent adopts an adversarial role with any member of Growing Garden Preschool or the families it serves
Enrolled child hurts, endangers or causes the suffering of any member of Growing Garden Preschool or the families it serves
Parent behaves inappropriately in the school environment or on school grounds. This includes, but is not limited to language and actions that are vulgar, abusive, dangerous or sexually suggestive.

Termination for these reasons does not entitle family to reimbursement of any monies paid.

5. TUITION AND FEES

Tuition –

When you enroll you agree to enter into a 9-month contract and will keep your child in Growing Garden Preschool for the full session. You also agree to pay the full session’s tuition, payable in 9 monthly payments. The first payment is due September 1, 2015 with each payment due thereafter by the 1^st class each month. The last payment is due May 1, 2016.

Rates: 3-day/week (T_W_TH) class is $65/mo.

Payment Procedures –

We accept cash, checks, Venmo, or money orders made payable to Growing Garden Preschool. Any returned check is subject to a $20 charge.

Fees –

Late Payment: Tuition is considered late after the 10^th of each month. A $10 late fee will be charged on any payments received after the 10^th. If tuition has not been received by the 30^th, your child will no longer be enrolled in Growing Garden Preschool. If there are extenuating circumstances regarding your finances, please contact the director to discuss how they might impact your tuition.

Late Pickup: You should be prompt when picking up your child from preschool. However, it is a fact of life that unexpected events occur. Therefore, you will be given a one-time “excused” late pick up. Each additional late pick up (15+ minutes after school is out) will result in a $5 late pickup fee. Please call if you are running late. It will not waive your late fee, but it will comfort your child to know you are on the way.

Refunds –

Enrolling your child reserves a space for that child. Tuition is due whether or not your child attends. No credit or refund is given for your child’s sick days or vacation.

6. PREPARING FOR THE BIG DAY

School Area –

To practice their preschool skills at home, please create a “School Area” in your home. It could be stocked with pens, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, books, glue and paper.

Clothing –

Each day is full of exciting new adventures for our preschoolers, and sometimes we get messy! While we’ll do everything we can to help keep your children’s clothes clean, please remember that the beautiful new sweater that Grandma knitted them might just get paint, PlayDoh, snacks and dirt all over it.

Please dress your child in clothing suitable for the weather, as well as outdoor play. Clothing like jackets, coats, gloves or hats.

What to Bring –

On the first preschool day of each week, we will have “Sharing Time.” Please let your child bring something that correlates to the theme, as this adds to our preschoolers’ knowledge about a subject. Please do not send anything fragile or irreplacable as Growing Garden Preschool cannot be held responsible if it breaks or is lost.

All other days, we request that toys and personal items stay at home. You may want to send a backpack with your child, but it is not necessary.

Snacks –

Snacks will be provided by the preschool. While we will have a few sugar snacks here and there for the kids, we try to emphasize healthy eating choices throughout the year. Please remember to fill out any food allergies/diet restrictions your child has on the enrollment form.

Open Door Policy –

We have an open-door policy, meaning you are welcome to visit your preschooler at any time during his/her class. All doors remain locked while preschool is in session for security purposes, so please knock and we’ll let you right in. You can call during preschool hours, and while we may not answer immediately, if you leave a message we will return your call as soon as we are able.

7. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Arrival –

Children should arrive promptly at the beginning of class (9 A.M. and 12:30 P.M.) having already eaten breakfast. The door will be closed and window shade down until 5 minutes before class. Once curtains are raised and/or door opened (depending on weather) your child is welcome to come in and wait for the rest of their classmates to arrive and class to begin.

Departure –

Parents/guardians should arrive promptly at 11:30 A.M./3:00 P.M. to pick up their preschooler. Our schedule is very tight, and we cannot stress enough “Please do not be late.” Your preschooler will be excitedly waiting for you to return. When a preschooler sees other parents picking up their children and no one is there to pick them up, he/she may get anxious or worried.

All parents and caregivers must sign their children out of preschool. If there were any concerns with your child during class, we will briefly let you know when you pick up your child, and we may discuss the matter in more detail if needed. If you have any concerns, please call us after preschool so you can have our full attention.

Child Release –

Only adults authorized on the Child Pickup Form will be allowed to take your child home. Please let the director know if there are any changes in the routine schedule of who is picking up your child. If an emergency arises and you need to send someone not listed on the enrollment form, you must call to notify the teacher and that person you have designated will need to show proof of identification.

In the case of special custody arrangements between the child’s parents, please provide complete detailed instructions and any legal documentation in your child’s information records. All instructions will be enforced by Growing Garden Preschool.

8. CURRICULUM

Overview –

Our curriculum teaches a new letter (with a fun corresponding life science theme) each week. For instance, if we are talking about the letter T, the corresponding weekly theme might be Trains, Transportation, Toys or Trucks.

We have a 2-year revolving curriculum so you never need worry about your preschooler getting bored.

We utilize hands-on activities, games, arts & crafts, stories and songs to teach life skills and pre-K readiness skills. These activities are designed to expose them to skills and ideas and explore, rather than master, skills.

Content –

Our curriculum is comprised of 3 areas:

School Fundamentals

Children will practice all the necessary fundamentals to give them confidence and a head start for kindergarten, such as writing their name and knowing their letters, letter sounds, numbers, counting, shapes and colors among other things.

Life Skills

Children will develop basic skills to prepare them for a healthy life, such as safety rules, exercise, nutrition, hygiene and good manners.

Life Science

Children will learn about the exciting world around them with weekly themes (animals, sports, weather, countries, cooking, outer space, families and more!)

DAILY SCHEDULE

Circle Time – 15 min.

Welcome Song: We sing saying hello to each student to start off our day.

Sharing Time: Each child stands and takes a turn to share their Sharing Time item or tell us anything they’d like.

Calendar and Weather: We talk about the beautiful (or not so beautiful) weather outside, dress our class frog poster according to the weather, and any upcoming birthdays or special events by their marked days on the calendar.

Weekly Theme Exploration: We discuss the weekly theme and play a learning game such as fishing for letters or categorizing small and big planets.

School Time – 10 min.

Pledge of Allegiance: We show respect as we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Days and Months songs: We sing the songs for the days of the week and the months of the year clapping on the day and month it is.

Learning Time: We go through the alphabet cards saying the name of the letter and its sound. We recite the alphabet. We start by counting to twenty and progress as the class progresses to higher numbers.

Letter of the Week – 5 min.

First Day: We use our marker board to practice writing the letter correctly. We give lots of encouragement and High Fives!

Second Day: We read a story with our letter’s sound.

Third Day: We pass around the Box of Sounds containing several items with the letter’s sound, like lions, lily pads, and leopards for the letter L.

Rhythms and Movement – 10 min

We use musical instruments to create rhythms and patterns. We sing and move our bodies and get our wiggles out before school time. We sing songs to go with our weekly theme and then a student gets to pick a song we all dance to or act out.

Arts & Crafts – 20 min.

We make an arts & crafts project related to the theme. We love to paint, use glitter and glue, make puppets, and bead necklaces.

Pretend Play – 20 min.

We exercise our large motor skills with playtime outside or pretend play inside. A child’s work is play. They learn several things through their play, like how to express their feelings, how to help others, how things can be acted upon, etc.

Snacks/Potty Break – 10 min.

Hand Washing: We always wash hands before we eat.

Snack Helper: 2 children get to help with snack time, which rotates through all the children.

Snack Time: Snack time is a wonderful social time for children as they relax and talk about matters that are important to them.

Story Time – 10 min.

Our themes come alive during our story time!

Activity Time – 15 min.

The activity will be based on the theme of the week.

Life Skills – 15 min.

First Day: We hold a puppet show based on that week's life skill then ask the children what they learned.

Second Day: We do an activity to help the children learn more about the life skill and why it is important.

Third Day: The children perform skits with a classmate about the week's life skill in front of the rest of the class.

Discovery Centers – 15 min.

Children can choose child-initiated activities at the centers in our preschool room. The teacher is available for small group instruction, 1-1 instruction, and problem solving.

Art Center: When children play at the art center, they use stickers to create their names and simple words, as well as using shapes to create objects.

Discovery Center: At this center children use their small motor skills while playing with manipulatives such as animals, chips, monkeys, letter tiles, play money and more. They discover math by creating patterns, sorting into categories, and grouping in colors.

Academic Centers: Children explore letters, numbers, the world, time, money and more with posters and games.

Go Home – 5 min.

We fill up our sticker chart one sticker at a time. We’re so excited to share everything we’ve learned with our parents!

10. SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Field Trips –

Once a month, we will take field trips to various local attractions. Please let us know if there are some places you would love for us to take a field trip. About half of our field trips are free, and for the other half there is an additional small cost. Our past field trips have been under $5 per person. The director will let you know a week in advance about the time and cost of the upcoming field trip.

Parents are strongly encouraged to attend these field trips and family members of all ages are welcome to come along! These field trips will require additional parental transportation and supervision. If you cannot come, please leave your child’s car seat and your child will be transported with another parent.

Birthdays –

We will be celebrating your child’s birthday! You may bring birthday treats if you want to. On your child’s birthday we will designate it “(Child’s Name) Day,” sing him/her the birthday song, and they will be helper of the day.

Holidays –

The traditional holidays will be celebrated. We will celebrate the holidays by making decorations and discussing the history and beliefs behind the holidays. Discussions will be secular, rather than spiritual (as in the case of Easter and Christmas). All children will participate unless a letter is submitted indicating the child be excused from participation. Children not participating will engage in other fun learning activities.

The holidays we will celebrate are: Civil Rights Day (January)

Labor Day & Columbus Day (September) Valentine’s Day & President’s Day (February)

Halloween (October) St. Patrick’s Day (March)

Thanksgiving (November) Easter (April)

Christmas (December) Mother’s Day (May)

Additional Important Occasions –

Meet ‘n Greet Night (August) Christmas Program (December) Preschool Graduation (May)

11. YOUR PRESCHOOLER’S HEALTH

Cleanliness Methods –

In an effort to reduce the spread of germs, teachers and children wash their hands upon entering the preschool, after toileting and before eating and food preparation. Hygiene, such as coughing into the bent elbow, wiping the nose with a tissue, and not sharing cups, are continually discussed. Tables and other surfaces, sinks and toilets are disinfected daily. Floors are swept/vacuumed on a daily basis. Toys are cleaned weekly.

Illnesses –

Despite our best efforts, illnesses do occur. Keeping your child home when he or she is sick prevents the spread of germs to other children. If in doubt, it is best to keep your child at home. When your child is sick, please call us by 9 a.m. to let us know he or she will not be attending that day. If a child becomes ill during the day, he or she will be separated from the group and made comfortable while a parent or substitute is notified to pick up the ill child.

The law requires that children exhibiting any of the following symptoms (in the last 24 hours) be excluded from school:

Strep throat, fever and has been on antibiotics for less than 24 hours

Please let us know immediately if your child is exposed to or contracts a contagious disease.

Immunizations –

All children must be current on their immunizations. We must have a copy of this information before preschool starts.

Administering Medicines –

If your child needs to be given medicine during the day, you will need to provide verbal and written permission and instructions. The medicine must be kept in its original container, clearly labeled with your child’s name. Administered doses will be logged. Medications will be kept out of reach of children.

12. POTTY TRAINING

Our Policy –

We do not require a preschooler to be potty trained before coming to preschool. We do, however, request that the parents are fully involved in the potty training efforts at home, and we will use our own positive efforts at preschool.

One Way to Potty Train –

We believe that the best way to potty train a preschooler is to NOT use Pull-Ups during the day. There is no difference between these and diapers in the mind of a child, as they can just change their Pull-Up whenever they go to the bathroom in it. (Of course Pull-Ups may need to be used during the night only.)

Instead, we believe that children should wear underwear during the daytime to realize when they have an accident that it is a horrible “icky” feeling and that they don’t like being wet. Positive reassurance should be used, such as “You can do it!” and “Let’s run to the potty next time.” And of course, when your child successfully uses the potty you should overly reward him or her with lots of praise and perhaps a sticker chart with a reward at the end.

How We Handle Accidents –

To help facilitate this process, we will not change diapers or Pull-ups at preschool. However, if a child has an accident while at preschool (in underwear) we will change him or her into a second pair of clothing that you provide (please keep this second change of clothing in their backpack).

Our Success –

All our preschoolers who have not been potty-trained before coming to preschool have become potty-trained within a month of attending. We attribute this success to great parental involvement and positive peer pressure from friends at preschool.

13. YOUR PRESCHOOLER’S SAFETY

Emergency & Accident Procedures –

We stress carefulness and safety at Growing Garden Preschool. The children are supervised closely at all times. Materials, furniture and equipment are checked weekly to be sure they are in safe, working order. Medications, cleaning supplies and other harmful substances and objects are kept out of the children’s reach. However, accidents can still happen.

The director has been trained in CPR and First Aid. In the event of a minor injury, she will administer First Aid. In the event of a medical emergency, 911 will be called. Parents will also be contacted as soon as possible in the event of any illness or injury requiring immediate medical assistance. Completed registration forms with emergency contacts for each child are kept in an easily obtained file for quick reference.

You will be notified of any injury or illness that occurs while your child is in our care. For injuries or illnesses that require medical attention, you will receive a written report and my licensor will be notified.

Child Abuse –

Those responsible for the care of children are mandated by law to report to Child Protective Services any suspicion of physical, sexual or emotional child abuse, child neglect or exploitation. We are not obligated by law to inform parents if the police or child protective services are called about possible abuse.

14. BEHAVIOR & DISCIPLINE

Behavioral Expectations –

At Growing Garden Preschool we are committed to fostering kindness, care, respect and trust. In order to support the creation of such an environment, we do not allow any fighting, kicking, pushing, biting, name-calling, physical aggression or exclusion at preschool. Children will work to identify and appropriately express their emotions. Positive attention and verbal praise will be used on a regular basis.

Discipline –

Children who behave inappropriately are dealt with in a way that preserves their dignity and trust. If a problem occurs, the teacher will employ simple redirection, speak with the child individually, and provide acceptable choices. If a child is unable or unwilling to demonstrate self-control, a brief quiet time (a “time out” in view of the group for as many minutes as they are old) will be administered to help regain that control. This happens only when other measures have been exhausted, previous warnings have been given, or when behavior is aggressive or harmful to others.

Corporal punishment or total isolation of a child will never be used by anyone as a form of discipline at Growing Garden Preschool. We don’t spank or yell.

Removal From Class –

Many behavioral issues are minor and are dealt with at school. Parent involvement is only sought after the child has had opportunity to improve his or her behavior and is still having trouble. A child may be dismissed from our preschool if one or more of the following conditions are repeatedly observed:

A child’s conduct hurts or endangers others
A child intentionally destroys property
A child’s behavior is unruly, disruptive, and prevents others from fully participating in or benefiting from class activities.

15. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Parent Responsibilities –

Parents are encouraged to attend field trips and provide transportation for additional children if needed.

Parents are requested to help with one fund-raising activity per year and are encouraged to help with brainstorming and/or planning field trip ideas.

Parents are expected to discuss concerns or questions with us. Parents are expected to read all notes and newsletters that go home. At least twice a year, parents may attend parent/teacher conferences. Parents should check their email regularly and add our email (mygrowinggardenpreschool@gmail.com) to their contacts list so our emails don’t get put into your SPAM folder.

Parents should encourage their child’s positive behavior at home.

Parent Volunteers –

We welcome parents in our classrooms! Parent helpers allow us to plan even more directed learning activities and centers. After the first month (to allow students the time to settle in to our routine) a volunteer sign-up sheet will be available. To maintain safety and the learning environment, we cannot accommodate younger siblings during the school day.

16. COMMUNICATION

Assessments –

Your child will be assessed in both social and academic areas several times throughout the year. I will send home a sheet of what children need to work on further 2 times/year. These will be handed out in January and May.

Monthly Newsletter –

We keep parents informed of their children’s daily activities in several ways. Most of the products that are produced (paintings, writing, and arts & crafts) are sent home the day they were created. However, many of our experiences produce no final product. We play games with dice, finger write letters in boxes of sand, act out stories, play musical instruments and build with blocks.

Parent/Teacher Conferences –

We do not hold parent/teacher conferences. If you would like to discuss children’s growth and development and to set goals for learning. However, parents are invited to request a conference any time they wish to speak privately with the director. For briefer conversations, feel free to call between Monday, Friday, or Saturday from 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. or Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 3 P.M. - 5 P.M.

Website –

Please visit our website: www.mygrowinggardenpreschool.com for any preschool reminders.

Growing Garden Preschool

Policies and Procedures

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