Handbook
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
All children in the 3 year and Pre-K Programs must be of required age by
September 1. Every child
must be fully potty-trained and out of diapers and pull-ups. Your
child must be able to communicate with an adult that he or she has to go
to the restroom.
¨
Our facility is not equipped to
change diapers or soiled clothing, an occasional “accident” is
understandable; however, if your child repeatedly has accidents, you
will be called to come to school to change him/her.
¨
The issue of potty training can be stressful on a child and by forcing a
child to become potty trained, permanent emotional damage could occur.
Therefore, if within the first three weeks of school your child does not
seem to be potty trained, we will ask that you remove your child from
the program until your child is fully trained and feels comfortable with
telling a teacher or staff member that he or she has to go potty. Each
child must be of required age by September 1.
The following forms must be in each child’s file prior to the first day of school. Children will not be admitted to school without the forms listed below:
1. Current Registration Forms must be completely filled out. A $150 registration fee for non-VPK and wrap around children is collected at the time of registration. This is a one-time fee, paid annually, and is in addition to the monthly tuition fee. Also, a $75 supply fee for all non-VPK children will be due by the first day of school. During the summer, a registration fee of $25 per session will be collected at the beginning of June.3. Florida State Health Examination Form (#3040) must be returned to the school office prior to the first day of school. This form may not be more than two (2) years old.
The school is open from 6:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the school year. During the summer session the Center opens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m.
·
Failure to pick up your child by 6:00 p.m. during the school year and
5:30 p.m. during the summer will result in a $10.00 charge for every
15-minute period per staff person over the designated time.
This fee will be in addition to your monthly tuition.
This rule is strictly enforced.
·
Arriving late to school or allowing your child to remain too long at
school can be very
upsetting to your child.
During the school year the academic part of your child’s day begins at 8:30 a.m. Please try to have your child to the Center by 8:30 a.m. When children enter the classroom late, it disturbs the entire class. Half-day dismissal is at 12:15 p.m. Please pick your child up no later than 12:15 p.m. as the children who stay nap from 12:15-1:45 p.m. Children staying for afternoon day care MUST be picked up no later than 6:00 p.m. during the school year and 5:30 p.m. during the summer.
VPK Children
The purpose
of the VPK Program is to properly prepare your child for kindergarten.
Each day your child will be exposed to lessons that will help
him/her meet or exceed the standards set by the state for kindergarten
readiness. Therefore, it is
critical that you, as a parent, do your part to have your child at the
Center on time and that he/she attend class on a regular basis.
Obviously our collective goal is that your child
attends daily, however we understand circumstances such as illnesses do
arise. The state also
understands this, thus they currently will pay up to 20% of missed
program hours each month, but not beyond that under any circumstances.
If your child consistently misses beyond 20% of the
VPK education hours, the Center reserves the right to dismiss your child
from the program.
If your child is absent, you will be required to
complete a form immediately upon your child’s return.
You will need to indicate dates and reason for absence.
The following are examples of reasons that will be given on the
form:
1.
Illness or injury of the child or the child’s family member which
requires hospitalization or bed rest;
2.
Physician or dentist appointment;
3.
Infectious disease or parasitic infestation;
4.
Funeral service, memorial service, or bereavement upon the death of the
child’s family member;
5.
Life-threatening illness or injury of the child’s family member;
6.
Compliance with a court order (e.g., visitation, subpoena);
7.
Special education or related services;
8.
Observance of a religious holiday or service, or because the child’s or
parent’s religion forbids secular activity on the instructional day;
9.
Family vacation, not to exceed five excused absences per program year;
or
10.
Extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the child and the
child’s parent.
DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP YOUR CHILDREN
For safety purposes, parents must accompany children in to the
Center and deliver them directly to a teacher.
Please do not leave children unattended in your car, in the
parking lot, or in the street.
Do not leave your child in an empty classroom.
There must be a teacher present to sign your child in.
An emergency card is to be filled out prior to your
child’s first day of school listing all persons responsible for picking
up your child. No child will
be allowed to leave school with any person that is not on the card
unless the parents provide a written note to the school prior to
that person picking up your child, giving the school permission to
release the child. (A
picture ID will be required from that person to verify identification).
You will not be allowed to call the school to put someone
on the list. Also,
please do not send underage siblings in to pick the children up from
their classrooms or the playground.
Our teachers work very hard to schedule your child’s
day and their learning activities.
Unfortunately, in order to maintain this schedule, it is not
possible to visit with each parent every day.
If you have some questions or concerns and would like to schedule
an appointment with one of us, please call the office so that we can
arrange a time to meet with you. (See Parent/ Teacher Conferences)
MONTHLY TUITION
Tuition must be paid by the first of each month, and all payments are
non-refundable.
All checks must be made payable to C.P.E.E.C., and indicate the child’s
name on the check.
Any account not paid by the 15th of each month will be
assessed a $25.00 late charge.
If you are having difficulty making tuition payments, please see the
Director in the school office prior to your account becoming delinquent.
Consistently late payments may result in your child’s dismissal
from the preschool. A $25.00
charge will be assessed on any returned check.
TUITION STATUS
There are two tuition classifications for CPEEC non-VPK and wrap around
children; Catholic (active supporting parishioners), and all others.
Active
Supporting Parishioners
must be registered parishioners for more than six (6) months, regularly
attend mass and demonstrate use of your offertory envelopes.
You must
provide a voucher signed by your parish priest to be considered an
Active Supporting Parishioner.
3 Year Old Classes:
Active Supporting Parishioners will pay tuition of $22/day for
mornings only or $27/day for full days.
For
all other families, including inactive parishioners,
non-supporting parishioners and non-Catholics, tuition will be $25/day
for mornings or $29/day for full days.
VPK Classes:
The VPK portion of the day (8:30 am – 12:15 pm, Monday – Thursday) is
paid by the state. Those
wanting care beyond those hours will pay the following for wrap around
care:
VPK
Full Week Wrap (entitles you to before and after care all week)
$115
VPK Before Care Only (Monday-Thursday)
$25
VPK Wrap
Around rate for less than full week:
Inactive Parishioners
Active Parishioners
and non Catholics
Monday-Thursday
$22 per 1/2 day
$25 per 1/2 day
Friday
$27 per full day $29 per
full day
ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION POLICY
During the middle of January, students currently attending CPEEC and
their siblings will be permitted to pre-register for the following year.
During the third week of January, registration will be open to Catholic
parishioners, and at the beginning of February, registration will be
open to the public. The
registration fee for non-VPK children, and those requesting wrap around
care, will be taken at the time of registration and is non-refundable
PARENT VOLUNTEER AND FINGERPRINTING POLICY
As a CPEEC parent you are expected to take an active
role in the education of your child, and we request parents to
volunteer a minimum of 10 hours per school year.
There are a variety of ways to fulfill the 10-hour minimum.
Please share your special talents and hobbies with us or come
along on field trips.
Children are thrilled to see their parents and grandparents assisting
with school activities.
You may opt to pay a fundraising fee of $500.00 in
lieu of the 10 hours for the 2010-2011 school year.
This fee is due by the first day of school.
ALL PARENTS who
plan to volunteer, in any capacity, at the Cathedral Parish Early
Education Center, must complete the volunteer procedures of the Diocese
of St. Augustine Administration Policy.
The procedures are as follows:
You must successfully complete this class, it is offered monthly throughout the year. (Please see office for more
information.)
2. Fingerprint Cards
Sheriff’s office, at the C.P.S. school office, or at the County Courthouse.
3. Background Screening
Please return your
completed fingerprint card to the office with the required paper work
and a check made out to CPEEC.
The amount will vary
based on years as a Florida resident.
o
Covering a
classroom during naptime so the staff can attend staff
meeting/in-service training
o
Grounds maintenance
o
Substitute
teaching, aides in the classrooms
o
Assisting at
various parties or events in your child’s classroom or for the school
o
Assisting with our
various fundraiser
o
Assisting with our
Silent Auction, or any other activity associated with the Cathedral
Parish’s Annual Festival
DISCIPLINE POLICY
* In the event the above disciplinary actions prove unsuccessful, the child will be removed from the classroom and
placed under adult care to resolve the problem. If the unacceptable behavior continues, the parents will be called to
pick up their child. Failure to correct the problem will result in the child’s dismissal from the preschool.
* In the event the child does bodily harm to a teacher/child, i.e. biting, hitting, punching, kicking, or hitting with an
object, the following consequences will apply:
First incident: The child’s parent will be called and asked to pick up their child.
Second incident: The child’s parents will be called again to pick up the child, and the child will not be allowed to
return until a teacher/parent conference has been held to try to resolve the matter.
Third and last incident: The child will not be allowed to return to school.
highly qualified and trained to handle any situation. If you have a problem with how a student is behaving, please
briefly discuss this issue with the supervising staff member.
ILLNESS AND MEDICATION POLICY
We look forward to having your child in school.
There are certain symptoms of suspect communicable diseases that
will require your child stay at home (see below).
This is for the safety of your child, the teachers, and the other
children. If your child is
ill and will not attend school, please call the school as early as
possible to let us know. If
your child becomes ill at school, the school office will notify you
immediately. The school will
keep your child comfortable until you or an authorized adult arrives.
If we cannot reach a parent, the person(s) on your emergency
contact list will be notified.
That person will need to provide a picture ID and sign the child
out.
v
We would prefer not to administer any medication to your child.
However, if necessary we will
administer prescription medication only.
The following criteria must be met:
1.
Medication must be in the original container.
Please note:
No other medications may be brought to school.
This includes over-the-counter products such as aspirin, cough
drops, etc.
home:
Coughing or a runny nose with green/yellow mucus
Excessive Fever – oral temperature over 100 degrees
Vomiting
Undiagnosed rash
Diarrhea
Sore throat
Lice and scabies – Diocese schools maintain a no “nit” policy
Contagious disease such as chicken pox
v Re-admittance policy for the following contagious diseases:
Strep throat: 48 hours after the start of oral antibiotics or 24 hours after an injection
Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye: at least 24 hours after the start of medication and when there is no longer any
discharge from the eye(s)
Chicken Pox: all lesions are dry and crusted
Lice and Scabies: following medical treatment, no “nits”, and a doctor’s clearance letter
Impetigo (blisters with honey colored crusts): at least 24 hours after the start of medication. If blisters
continue after treatment begins, the child should be re-examined by doctor prior to returning to school
ACCIDENT POLICY
While we take precautions to prevent accidents, they
are a normal part of growth and development of your child.
If a child has been injured or becomes ill while attending CPEEC,
our first priority is to meet the child’s physical needs.
If your child is injured at the Center, and the
situation necessitates that he/she receive medical attention, the parent
will be notified and be asked to pick up the child or meet the child at
the emergency room. A
signature on the registration form giving CPEEC permission to have your
child transported to the hospital and be seen by a physician is required
prior to entrance.
If your child is injured, or is involved in an
incident, an incident/accident report will be completed and you will be
required to sign and date the form when you pick your child up.
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES
Please place your child’s name on any change of
clothes, and all other items that are brought to school such as: mats,
blankets, pillows and lunch boxes.
Your child will need one plastic, 1” thick, non-permeable mat for
naptime. Each child is
required to bring an extra set of seasonally appropriate clothing
in case of accidents. If
your child brings pillows, blankets, or a special security item to sleep
with, all these items must be able to fit into his/her zipped backpack.
Please no roll up mats or
sleeping bags.
Please insure that your child’s clothing is
comfortable, easy for them to manipulate by themselves (no snaps or
bodysuits!!!). Children will
be children and sometimes they will get dirty despite our best efforts
to keep them clean, so please dress them appropriately.
Comfortable tennis shoes are best for preschool.
Please insure that this type of shoe is worn for both safety and
comfort. PLEASE DO NOT
ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO WEAR BACKLESS SHOES OR SANDALS.
DAILY FOOD AND SNACKS
Your child will be asked to bring a predetermined
nutritious snack for his/her classroom once a month.
We will provide 100% juice or water.
Lunch will be a special part of our day.
We will gather together, say grace, and eat our midday meal
together. The Center offers
the opportunity to purchase lunch.
A different restaurant serves each day of the week.
Please see the office for details.
If lunch is not purchased from the Center, parents must provide
lunches for their child(ren.)
According to mandatory guidelines from the Department of Children
& Families, your child’s lunch must include at least one appropriate
portion from the different food groups (i.e., meat or protein, fruit,
vegetable, dairy, and the grain group.)
Lunches should be brought in lunch boxes, and drinks should be
box drink or brought in a thermos.
The child’s name should appear on both.
If you have a one step warm-up, please leave it in the kitchen.
Please do not bring frozen TV dinners or Easy Mac’s.
PLEASE NO GLASS CONTAINERS, NO SODA, AND NO CANDY.
The school will provide a mid-afternoon snack with
juice or water. Snacks for
children on special diets must be prepared by the parent/guardian.
Please feed your child breakfast
before bringing him/her to school.
We ask that you do not send breakfast with your child in the
morning. We ask that
your child does not come to school eating food.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND TOYS
It is the policy of the school that personal items
from home are brought on designated “show and tell” days between August
and May. Please do not allow
your child to bring toys on any other day.
Show and tell is a very fun day for the children to share
something special with their friends.
We just ask that you please make sure that there are no toy
weapons or fighting toys brought to school.
INFORMATIONAL LETTER AND CORRESPONDENCE
A monthly calendar will be sent home the first of
each month. This will be
placed in your child’s cubby.
This calendar will inform you of your child’s activities, future
events, and snack schedule.
Other specific information will be provided
periodically. PLEASE CHECK
YOUR CHILD’S CUBBY DAILY FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION ON CLASS AND SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
At any time during the school year, please feel free
to discuss your child’s activities, developments, and progress with
his/her teacher. However, we
ask that you set up a specific appointment time by calling the office to
schedule a conference.
Impromptu conferences immediately before or after class
are not appropriate.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The professional staff members are carefully selected
for their sensitivity, their care and love for children, experience with
children, and their training, education, and experience in the childhood
education field. All of our
teachers are college educated with either degrees or their CDA’s.
All other staff is required to attend a 40-hour Florida
Department of Children and Families Child Care Training Course and
attend at least 10 hours in-service yearly.
All staff is certified in CPR and First Aid.
Please report any professional misconduct by school
staff or volunteers to the Director.
LOCAL EMERGENCY
In the event of a local emergency where St. Johns
County schools close, CPEEC will also close.
In the event that only the school property is affected, such as a
specific power outage, we will close the preschool for safety reasons.
In this case, parents will be notified via phone.
Each individual homeroom mother will have a phone tree containing
phone numbers for all of the parents in that classroom.
STATE AND COUNTY REQUIREMENTS
The Cathedral Parish Early Education Center is a
Catholic Preschool that is under the authority of the Cathedral-Basilica
of St. Augustine. The Center
is licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, License
#C04SJ0013. Annual/Quarterly
inspections are also made by the Fire Marshall, County Health
Department, and the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese
of St. Augustine.