Saint Anthony Catholic Preschool
Parent Handbook
2007 – 2008
(970)522-7567
Our goal is to provide a positive, secure environment where children can grow spiritually and socially while developing the readiness skills needed to enter kindergarten. We hope to become a working extension of your family, supporting and encouraging the values you teach.
We strive to educate the whole child: emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially. Emotional growth is nurtured by a means of an understanding among teachers, students, and parents so that each person is accepted as an individual. Spiritual growth is nurtured through an atmosphere based on traditional Catholic doctrine and values. Intellectual growth is nurtured by recognizing and working to meet each child’s needs, and challenging his or her abilities. Social growth is nurtured through the integration of faith and family; faith and life; and faith and culture.
Children in the age range of 3-6 are enrolled. Parents will need to complete a registration form, birth certificate, health form and immunization card before their child attends. A $50 materials fee must accompany registration. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin. We welcome children of all denominations.
The child’s age on July 1st determines the session the child attends:
8:00 – 11:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4 and 5 year olds
8:00 – 11:00 Tuesday, Thursday 3 and 4 year olds
12:15 - 3:15 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4 and 5 year olds
Children with special needs are accepted when our program can be beneficial to them and they can be integrated into the group. Our local school district, RE-1, provides special needs services and parents will need to contact them for arrangements.
Our preschool requires that all children are potty trained.
2 sessions per week $75.00/month
3 sessions per week $95.00/month
Tuition is due the first of each month prior to attendance
and is delinquent by the 10th of the month.
Tuition and registration fee is non-refundable.
Our enrollment is limited by state regulations, expenses continue
regardless of attendance. No credit
for tuition is given for absences, snow days, or holidays.
No refunds or make-up days are given.
Special circumstances resulting in prolonged absences are given
individual consideration. The
school must be notified of withdrawal two weeks in advance.
Payments should be made in the school office upstairs.
Please make all checks payable to
The preschool is operated on the same calendar as
Saint Anthony Catholic Preschool is open from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 12:15 – 3:15 PM Monday through Friday and when school is in session.
Closing of the preschool due to severe weather will be announced on the local radio stations. If St. Anthony’s Elementary school is closed, assume that the preschool will be closed.
Arrival time is at 8:00 and 12:15. Pick up time is 11:00 and 3:15. Each child must be signed “in” and “out” by the person bringing the child. Their signature must appear on the forms provided in the classroom. The daily schedule will be posted in the classroom.
It is important to emphasize that children be delivered and picked up as promptly as possible. The time prior to the starting time is set up as an organizational period and if children are delivered too early, this infringes on the teacher’s time to prepare for the day. If a child is picked up late, it is likewise the teacher’s time for putting away materials from the day’s activities and often makes many children anxious if they have to wait. No child will be released to anyone not authorized by the parent. If after 1 hour is no one comes for a child and no one on the registration form can be reached, staff will be required to contact the Logan County Department of Human Services. Consistent lateness will be cause to ask you to withdraw your child from preschool. There are no provisions if a child arrives late to preschool and the classes are away on a field trip. The child must return home.
Children are released from the center only to persons for whom the center has written authorization. All unknown persons must show identification. In an emergency, a child can be released on the parent’s verbal authorization by phone. We have the option of verifying this by contacting the other parent or person listed to be called in case of emergency. Unless a note or phone call is received, your child cannot be released.
All visitors to the preschool are required to sign-in. Visitors will be required to provide their name, address, and purpose of their visit. The director may require identification of an individual who is a stranger.
Procedures for tornado and fire drills are posted in the preschool room. We will practice these drills throughout the year.
Videos and any other educational multimedia activities will be screened before showing to the children. These materials will have a direct connection to the curriculum being taught.
Field trips will be taken throughout the year. Parents are asked to volunteer as drivers. Drivers will need proof of insurance and valid driver’s license. All children will be required to wear seatbelts. No child will be permitted to sit in the front seat. Children must use child safety seats. An itinerary and a list of children and staff will remain at school. A file with children and staff information (phone numbers and other pertinent information) will be taken on each field trip. Cell phones will also be mandatory on each trip taken.
Children will be under direct adult supervision at all times. Staff will use the sign in sheet to verify attendance and do head counts throughout the day. If a child is missing, a staff member will retrace areas the children have been. If the child is not immediately found, other staff will search the building and grounds completely. The police and parents will then be notified as staff begins searching the surrounding area. This procedure will be repeated at the end of each day, making sure to verify every child has been picked up by authorized people.
Any staff of the preschool that has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect is required by law to report this to the County Department of Human Services. Parents may also make reports to Logan County Department of Human Services, 522-2194.
Any concerns or complaints pertaining to licensing
violations may be made to Colorado Department of Human Services:
Division of Child Care Services;
All medical forms and immunizations must be on file. Physicals and immunizations must be renewed yearly. If your child becomes ill at school, she/he will be isolated and you will be contacted and expected to pick up your child immediately.
It is important to let the teacher know if your child is home sick with a contagious illness. This is particularly important if he/she was at preschool the day before symptoms appeared. With many illnesses the child is contagious the day before symptoms appear. We can then let other parents know so early symptoms won’t go unnoticed in the children who were exposed. This will hopefully keep the spread of illness to a minimum.
Please do not send your child to school:
with a fever or upset stomach within the last 24 hours.
has reddened or discharging eyes or ears.
has a sore throat not confirmed negative by a culture.
(Report positive cultures to preschool)
has a rash.
has evidence of a cold.
In case of accidental injury of a child:
· appropriate first aid will be administered.
· if warranted, an injury report will be completed and reported to the parent.
· if the injury is serious, the following people will be contacted as soon as possible:
911
child’s parents/guardians
child’s doctor
emergency number only if parents could not be reached
· other incidents will be handled using standard first aid procedures and will be reported to parents.
In the event of severe weather or road conditions, all children will be kept at the preschool until their parents arrive and it is safe to go home.
It is the policy of the preschool not to administer medication if at all possible. Due to the short duration of our classes, we advise parents to administer medication before or after
class. When this is not possible, medicines or medical procedures can be provided only with written orders and a prescription from a physician. Written consent of the parent/guardian is also required. Medication will be stored in the office in the original container. Medication must bear the original pharmacy label showing the prescription
number, name of medication, date filled, physician’s name, child’s name and directions for dosage. Sunscreen designed specifically for children will also be administered per directions on the label.
Parent involvement is considered a vital part of our program. You may sign up for a day to come into the classroom beginning in October. If you need help in arranging times please feel free to talk with the director. By using parents as aides a greater range of talents, experiences and resources are brought into the school. More quality time and attention is available to each child when both teacher and parent are participating in the program.
Parents are also asked to provide a nutritional snack on a rotating basis. The school will provide milk/juice.
Parent/teacher conferences will be offered in the spring, but feel free to contact us when you have questions or concerns.
Discipline should be an educational process by which staff members assist children in developing the self-control and the self-discipline skills they need to master. Procedures used to discipline the children shall not include any method that is physically or verbally abusive at any time. Time out is usually a very effective means of discipline when a child’s behavior is considered inappropriate. Behavior that hinders the health and safety of others may be grounds for dismissal from the program.