ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE - It is imperative that parents and/or caregivers understand the importance of prompt arrival and departure. The teachers in your child’s classroom work very hard to prepare a secure, happy environment for your child. It is very disruptive for all of the children if certain children arrive late. The same applies for pick-up, especially at 12:45pm, since children who stay past 12:45pm begin rest time shortly after. There will be a $15/hour Child Minding fee applied (in one hour increments) to all late departures before 5:30pm. For any child picked up after 5:30 the fee schedule is as follows: 5:45pm-6pm-$15 fee. After 6pm, the fee is $1 per minute. Any child arriving before their scheduled time will be charged the childminding fee ($15) for early drop-off. Children arriving before 8:45am should enter through the side entrance.

NEVER LEAVEa child unattended anywhere in the school.  Please bring your child to his/her classroom and make sure that a staff member acknowledges your child’s presence before leaving the classroom.  Children are not allowed to be downstairs unattended during extended day/extended afternoon dismissal.

WITHDRAWAL -The Park Preschool reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any child for reasons it deems consistent with the best interest of the school. In this case a pro rated portion of the tuition will be refunded.

FEES - Tuition is an annual expense – that may be paid in three payments or ten payments. For those who choose to make monthly payments, payment is expected the first of the month. The due dates for semesterly payments are: August 14, 2009, November 13, 2009, and February 15, 2010. It is important that all fees be paid on time, a $25 fee will be charged on late payments. A $40 fee will be charged on all returned checks.

CONFERENCES - Please refrain from distracting your child’s teacher with a “doorway conference.” We respect our children greatly and do not want to discuss any concerns we have in front of them. It is more appropriate to set up an appointment with your child’s teacher for a conference. Teachers are also available for phone conferences. We want all parents to know that we take conferences very seriously and you should feel comfortable about setting something up with a teacher(s). We also have two scheduled Parent/ Teacher conferences during the school year (November and May). Kevin and Ellen are both available to meet with you regarding any concerns that you may have. It is important that we keep the lines of communication open.

DISCIPLINE POLICY – The rules of the classroom are explained to the children. When a child does not follow the rules, he/she will be talked to about the rules, then given another chance to stay in his/her area of play. If the child continues to not follow the rules, the teacher will re-direct him/her to a new activity. If the child continues to not follow the rules on a consistent basis the teacher will contact the parents.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS/LATE OPENINGS - In case of inclement weather, natural disasters, etc., listen to your local news for school closings/late openings. If New York City Public Schools are closed or opening late so are we.

SCHOOL TRIPS - Our liability insurance carrier requires that all children under the age of 3 be accompanied by their parent/guardian/caregiver.

REQUIRED FORMS -– Submit documentation of your child’s medical examination and inoculations required by law prior to attendance. Medical Record form must be up to date (1 year expiration date). Sign and return the Medical Release form, and the Dismissal form. All forms must be current in order for your child to start school. The Bureau of Day Care requires all forms. If someone new, who is not on your authorized pick-up form, is picking up your child, you must leave a note with your child’s teacher or the child will not be released.

ILLNESS - Children with a temperature of 100o or above are not permitted in the school and they can not return to school until they have gone 24 hours fever free. We want the school to be a healthy environment for all. Also, please contact the school if your child will be absent with any contagious disease (chicken pox, pink eye, lice, etc.) so we can discreetly inform the other parents. The families of children who become ill at school (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) will be notified and are expected to pick up their child in a timely fashion. Children need to be fever-free, vomit-free, diarrhea-free for 24 hours before returning to school.

ABSENT - If your child will miss school, for any reason, call to let us know at 212.571.6191.

MEDICATION - We are MAT certified and may administer most medications to children. If your child needs medication administered while in our care, please come by the office and complete the required consent forms.

FOOD-Your child should eat a nutritious meal before they arrive to school that will sustain them until his/her scheduled snack time. Children eating in the classroom can be very disruptive to the classroom’s activities. Any child that attends the lunch session, (11:45-12:45pm) should come to school with a nutritious meal, to sustain him/her throughout his/her day. It is important for safety in the classroom that no glass containers are packed in a child’s lunch box.

CUBBIES - Remember to check your child’s cubby daily. This is one way that we keep everyone up-to-date on school happenings.

CLOTHING - All children should have a complete change of clothes (including socks and underwear) in his/her cubby, seasonally appropriate. Label everything, including your child’s coat. A Park Preschool backpack will be provided to store these items in your child’s cubby. It is important that each child wear shoes, sneakers and sandals with a back strap. While flip-flops are cute during the warmer weather, they can be dangerous to children as they run in the park, gym or during creative movement classes.

TOYS - Try your best to have your child put any personal items into his/her cubby upon arrival at school. Personal toys in the classroom cause so many needless conflicts and very often cause your child not to become involved in the daily activities with other children. During nap time the children may rest with a favorite stuffed animal. However, it is important for your child’s individual growth that he/she not be given a pacifier at these times. A picture of your child’s family is an appropriate transitional object for your child at the beginning of the year.

BIRTHDAYS - - Parents are always welcome to send in cupcakes or other goodies to celebrate their child’s birthday. Notify your child’s teacher in advance when you would like to celebrate. Absolutely no characters (Barney, Batman etc.) are allowed at school parties. If you are planning a birthday party outside of the school, you may deliver invitations at school if each child receives one. If you are planning a small party, mail the invitations to the child’s home. If you are planning to pick children up from the school to attend your child’s party, a note of permission must be given to the school from each child’s parent.

FIRE SAFETY & EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN-Evacuation Route / How children and staff will exist the building: There are two means of egress on the first floor. One is located next to the office and the other is located at the back wall of the classroom. There is a means of egress on the basement level which is located in the gym. Group teachers will have the students form silent lines and take a head count to ensure all children are accounted for. The group teachers will then ensure that the assistant teacher is at the end of the line. Teachers will lead students out of one of the designated second means of egress and to the designated meeting area. A director will make a sweep of the building to ensure all children and staffs have been evacuated and the administrative staff will be available to assist teachers in any way necessary. In the case of students and staff having to evacuate the building they will quietly exit the building and head west on Warren Street to P.S 234 and await further directions from a Director or a Uniformed First Responder (firefighter, police officer, etc.) In the case of a catastrophic disaster, we will remain in the building until directed otherwise by a Uniformed First Responder. If the decision is made to evacuate we will follow the procedure set forth by The Department of Education safety Superintendent of Region 9. The route will be as follows:

1. The Park Preschool to P.S. 234
2. P.S.234 to Stuyvesant High School
3. Stuyvesant High School to Carmine Street Recreation Center
4. Carmine Street Rec. Center to Pace University

Supervision of Children during an Evacuation: All teachers must bring attendance books, emergency contact sheets, a cell phone, and a first aid kit when leaving the school. The Group Teacher is responsible for taking a head count when the children line up, during an evacuation, and upon arrival at our designated area to ensure all students are accounted for.

Process for notifying parents of emergency situations: Group Teachers carry Emergency contact Lists, which contain all home and business contact information for each student as well as additional emergency contacts. Guardians will be contacted via phone or bulk e-mail.

Individual(s) responsible for contacting parents: Kevin Artale (Owner and Executive Director,) Ellen Offen (Educational Director.)
Timeframes for notification: Directors and Administrative staff will contact guardians upon arrival at safe area.