Granite Bay Montessori | Parent Handbook

My Granite Bay Montessori > Parent Handbook > School Policies

School Policies

Enrollment

New students entering Granite Bay Montessori School are accepted on an initial six—week trial basis. Final acceptance of all children is based on their ability to benefit from the program.

Forms

In addition to filling out the application form, we need to have on file an emergency treatment form, an immunization form, and a signed contract before a child will be admitted to the program. The law also requires that each child have a medical form on file at school and conform to immunization standards, or claim a medical or religious exemption.

Please notify the school’s office whenever your child is given additional vaccinations so that the form can be kept up to date.

Withdrawal

Our contract requires a written notification 30 days prior to withdrawal from school. There is a one month tuition charge if no notice is given. The registration fee is non-refundable. Tuition paid in advance will be prorated if the child is withdrawn prior to March 1.

Communicating with Staff

It is difficult for staff members to remember verbal messages when several individuals are involved. If you have a specific request regarding your child, please provide us with a handwritten message.

We make it a policy never to discuss your child in front of her/him. If you have a concern you would like to discuss with someone on the staff, please call the office and leave a message and the appropriate person will get back to you.

Lines of Communications

Because Granite Bay Montessori values parent input, and in order to assure that parent’s voices are heard by those most able to answer parent’s concern, the following guidelines for communication have been adopted:

All concerns about your child’s classroom day should be taken directly to the head teacher of that classroom. Please request a teacher conference by calling the school office (791—7849) or send a note with your child requesting a call from the teacher.

In the event of grievance, the above procedure should also be used. If resolution of a classroom problem is not achieved between teacher and parent, either the parent or the teacher may bring the matter to the Administrator. All formal grievances must be in writing.

Any school matter which arises outside the class environment should be brought first to the attention of the School Administrator.

Parent Conferences

The teachers are available for conferences at any time during the year, not just specific times in the fall and spring. If you have a question or a problem that needs discussion, please get in touch. We welcome any questions, comments, complaints and compliments. Be assured that if a problem should arise in the classroom, your child’s teacher will contact you immediately.

Observation

Parents are invited to observe the class. We consider this not so much a chance to see exactly how your child functions (he/she will frequently function very differently because of your presence), but a way for you to know more about the way the class works and the kinds of things the children are exploring. It makes your conversations with your child’s teacher more meaningful.

Appointments will ordinarily start 6 to 8 weeks after the school year begins. Check with your child’s teacher or the office. We encourage you to spend most of your time observing quietly, however questions about the children’s work are appropriate as long as they are fairly brief and undemanding.

We have found it is best that you not use the observation days as the time to have your child show you all the things he/she does in class. This can be accomplished at other times.

Children love to show parents their classroom and the work that they do. Of course, at the parent meetings you will have opportunities to see the material, have discussions about curriculum, and ask questions of the teacher.

Discipline

The School believes in a non-punitive approach to discipline, accompanied by creative and context—specific approaches to resolving conflict.

Ideally children and teachers cooperate in creating an environment conducive to work and growth. Within each class, there is frequent discussion of appropriate behavior. As much as possible, we try to have natural consequences for inappropriate behavior.

The School’s policy is to form consequences not only appropriate to the incident, but also to the child. If the child abuses a material, for example then he/she may not choose to work with the material for a time. If a child seriously abuses the social environment, as in hurting another child, a natural consequence is removal of the privilege of being in the classroom, and the child may be sent home for the day.

Removal of Students

The removal of a child from the school could occur after exhausting the normal corrective techniques. Reasons for removal include the following:

Child is interfering with the health, safety or educational developmental of himself/herself or any other student.
Repeated behavioral incidences — specific examples will include: continual biting, hitting, kicking and pinching.
Toilet training not complete. The School reserves the right to request the dismissal of any student from the School after conferences with the parents and upon notification of them by the School Administrator.

Granite Bay Montessori reserves the right to remove any child from School if either the child or parents behave in a manner which is detrimental to the school’s ability to run a quality, positive program.

Our Children’s House program is licensed by Community Care Licensing within the Department of Social Services. Program Analysts and other personnel of Community Care Licensing have the right to interview children within these programs about any aspect of their experience here.

Clothing

Dress should be simple, comfortable, and appropriate for the activities at school. Children should be adequately prepared for outdoor activity, even in cool and wet weather. We try to permit the children to play outdoors, and only on the most severe windy, cold, or rainy days will we stay indoors as a group. A warm cap or hat is particularly important as is some form of rain gear.

We find that the atmosphere of the classroom is enhanced if children wear clothes which reflect the fact that this is primarily their place of work, just as most adults dress appropriately for their work. Clothing designed to be attention getting is not for school. Clothing should be functional i.e. children need to be able to participate in sports as well as work within the classroom. Jewelry which can be a safety hazard should be avoided such as dangling earrings or large rings. We encourage you to help them select appropriate clothing when shopping and when choosing what to wear each day.

Often, items such as sweaters, coats, gloves, boots, etc., are left at school for a time and go unclaimed. We suggest that you mark these with your child’s name. After due notice, unclaimed items are donated to various social programs.

Going Out

An important part of the children’s experience during the elementary years is “going out.” They have an inherent need to relate to a broader environment beyond the school, and it is there that they apply the keys to discovery that were learned in the classroom. They also gain much from the experience of planning the outing. Children will, for example, learn to use the phone for appointments, to write letters of inquiry, to use transportation schedules, etc., in relation to these outings.

Outings can range from several children going to a nearby store, library, or park to the entire class attending a special concert, making a field trip, or having a camping experience.

Our policy is that no child will ever leave the school premises without written permission from the parent. However, parents will be given the opportunity to sign permission slips covering a specific activity which will occur more than once (e.g., symphony trips, weekly walks), allowing their child to join a parent or staff member on errands or local trips (within a ten—mile radius of the school).

Children will be required to wear an individual seat belt at all times (except, of course, on public transportation).

Private vehicles will be driven by parents or staff.

Snacks

The Children’s House classes provide a small, nutritious morning snack. It should not be relied on to compensate for an inadequate breakfast. If your child has dietary restrictions, you must notify the school, even if your child is capable of monitoring him/herself.

Sometimes a child or parent would like to furnish a snack, perhaps in conjunction with a birthday, holiday, or garden harvest. This is appreciated. We only ask that it be nutritious non—sugary food, and that the teacher be notified.

Holidays

Learning about and sharing celebrations can be a joyful way to understand more about other cultures and foster human unity. Children like to celebrate together and by developing their own special celebrations based on our study of the historic, cultural, and religious context of the holiday, they often enjoy the experience in a way that is low-key and comfortable for all.

Vacation

Child care is provided on a limited basis during the vacation periods and is subject to an additional cost.

Sharing

We appreciate children’s desires to share with their classmates their personal treasures and experiences. It also enriches our class significantly. We ask for parental assistance in helping your child exercise tasteful choice in what he/she brings to school. Here are some guidelines. Try to select items from which the entire class might benefit. Such items often spark a far— reaching discussion or investigation.

This could include:

natural specimens (rocks, shells, flowers)
interesting books
items from other cultures
something the child has made
a photo or newspaper article which has particularly interested him/her
an item which relates to an important story from the child’s personal life

The verbal sharing of an experience is valued as highly as an object. You might discuss with your child any interesting experiences which could be shared with the class.

There is not enough time for everyone who wishes to share everyday; thus, your child’s teacher may notify the children and parents of certain days of the week when sharing times will be scheduled.

After objects have been shown, they may be displayed in a small class “museum” for a short time, if the child wishes. After this, we will usually ask the child to take the object home.

Health and Illness

Many factors influence a child’s health and mental outlook. The most important consideration is communicable diseases. We notify parents of any case of mumps, measles, chicken pox, etc. We would appreciate a call to our office should your child develop any communicable disease.

If you notice any sign of illness, please do not send your child to school. However, if your child should become ill at school, we will do our best to make him/her comfortable until you can pick him/her up. Home is the best place for a sick child.

Inform our office and your child’s teacher of any special health problems such as allergies or dietary restrictions.

We can administer prescription medicines or non—prescription medicines only when accompanied by a written statement. All medicines must be accompanied by specific written instructions as to time and dosage.

Our staff cannot administer medicine at their own discretion or “as needed.” Please stop by the office and fill in our medicine dispensation form.

In cases of extreme medical emergency, every effort will be made to reach the parents. However, when the parents cannot be reached, the child will be taken to the nearest medical facility for treatment. Parents are therefore required to fill out and sign the Emergency Treatment Authorization Form.

Because children do have accidents and/or become ill while at school, it is essential that the school has on file the names of at least two local persons who can be contacted in a parent’s absence to care for a sick child. This information should be included on our Emergency Form. Contact the office immediately when there are changes in emergency information.

It is important for our teachers to be aware of changes which occur at home. Because serious problems such as separation, illness or death affect the child’s behavior, the teachers can be sensitive to those problems if they are so informed. We believe that school should be a joyful and positive experience for each child. To achieve this end, we wish to emphasize the importance of sound communication between parents and teacher.

Immunization

State law requires that all children entering school be immunized against:

DPT — Diphtheria, Pertussls (whooping cough), Tetanus MMR — Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles)
Polio — Poliomyelitis
HIB
Hepatitis B
Varicella — (Chicken Pox)

The intent of the law is to protect California children from the dangers of diseases which are preventable by immunization. State law does permit those objecting to immunization for religious, philosophical medical reasons to file a Waiver, stating such objections, in lieu of proof of immunization.

Should we experience an outbreak of German Measles (Rubella) during the school year, we must ask parents of children not immunized to quarantine their children until the danger has passed, because of the extreme risk Rubella poses to mothers in the first months of pregnancy.

Dropping Off and Picking Up

According to new state codes, all children under five years of age must be signed in and out of school by the parent or adult dropping off or picking up the child. You will find sign-in sheets by Children’s House doors. Never leave your child without being certain that teachers are aware of his/her arrival.

Before and After School Child Care

Child Care is available before school, beginning at 7:00 a.m., and after school until 6:30 p.m. If your child is not part of our Before and After School Program, please let us know when occasions arise that he/she will need care and we will be happy to make provisions.

Tuition Due Dates

The Granite Bay Montessori School is a private non-profit education corporation supported by your tuition payment. A long standing policy of the school is the advance payment of tuition in order to provide the necessary “operating capital.” Without prompt payment our school would be severely burdened by an ongoing cash flow problem.

Our policy regarding overdue accounts is as follows:
We charge a $15.00 late fee for payments made after a 5—day grace period. Families with a balance owing will not be registered for the upcoming year until the balance is cleared up.

We need your cooperation. Our desire is to provide your child with the very best education possible, the lowest ratio of students to teachers, and the highest quality environment available.