Epworth United Methodist Church

Mother’s Day Out, Preschool & Kindergarten

Children’s Program

Monday—Friday

9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

(Child pick-up 1:15-1:30)

Parent’s Handbook

2102 Epworth Drive NE

Huntsville, Alabama  35811

MDO/Preschool/Kindergarten (256) 534-6100

Fax (256) 536-5003

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website:  www.epworthumc.net

Table of Contents

Welcome………………………………………………………………...2

Statement of Purpose…………………………………………………....2

School Calendar…………………………………………………………2

Registration……………………………………………………………...3

Tuition and Fees …………………………………………………………3

Attendance………………………………………………………………4

Arrival & Departure……………………………………..………………4

Child Discipline…………………………………………………………5

Withdrawing from Program………………………………………….….5

Illness………………………………………………………………...….5

Medication………………………………………………………………6

Food Allergies……………………………………………..…………….6

Safety……………………………………………………………………6

Inclement Weather………………………………………………………7

Phone Calls……………………………………………………...………7

Important Messages……………………………………………………..8

Visits & Conferences………………………………………………...….8

Communication with the Program……………………………...……….8

Child Abuse & Neglect………………………………………………….9

Lunches/Snacks………………………………………………………….9

Holidays/Birthdays……………………………………………...………9

Show & Tell……………………………………………………………10

School Pictures…………………………………………………………10

What Your Child Needs Each Day……………………………………..10

Classroom Descriptions……………………………………………..Back

1

WELCOME TO

EPWORTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MOTHER’S DAY OUT AND

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

 We are pleased that you have chosen Epworth for your child this year. The Epworth staff wants to work together with you to ensure a year of positive social, emotional, physical and educational development for your child. Our doors are always open to parents, and we encourage you to get to know your child’s teacher, friends, and school routine. Together we will make this a wonderful, exciting time of growing wonder and wisdom.

The Director, Teaching Staff

& Weekday Enrichment Committee

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Epworth MDO/Preschool/Kindergarten conducts a part-day program of educational activities which contribute to the spiritual, social, emotional, and physical development of each child. The program is conducted by a competent and qualified staff in an atmosphere of love and concern for each child while providing the academic tools necessary for your child to succeed in the future.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

The Epworth Mother’s Day Out and Preschool calendar is set when the Madison County and Huntsville City schools calendar is approved for the upcoming year.

2

REGISTRATION

Registration at Epworth is on a first come, first serve basis. Pre-registration for the coming year is conducted in the early spring. The first 2 weeks of pre-registration are limited to currently enrolled families and Epworth Church members. When class lists are filled, waiting lists will be started. A non-refundable registration fee must accompany the registration form for your child to have confirmed enrollment. Registration fees are not collected for children on waiting lists.

A record of immunization “blue card” (or religious exemption) is required by the 1st day of school. If the blue card is not received, the child will not be allowed to return until the blue card is provided to the MDO Program.

TUITION AND FEES

Rates for the 2011/2012 School Year (School year beginning August 2011):

Pre-School Registration Fee:        $90.00

Pre-School Tuition:       3 Days Per Week:  $190.00 per month

                                   5 Days Per Week   $220.00 per month

Kindergarten Registration Fee:  $110.00

Kindergarten Tuition:                    $230.00 per month (Five days per week)                

Tuition payment is due by the 1st of each month (August through May). If tuition is not received by the 10th of each month, a $5 late fee will be charged for each school week until the tuition (and late fees) are paid. If tuition continues to be unpaid after a period of 2 weeks, the parent will be asked to withdraw the child, unless special arrangements have been made with the Director.

Tuition and registration fees are as stated on the registration form. Tuition will not be adjusted for holidays, weather days, the child’s frequent absences, or for any other reason.  The rates are pro-rated for the year so the tuition is due in full for each month. All fees are non-refundable

Checks should be made payable to Epworth Preschool.

3

ATTENDANCE

The children’s class & play time runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mondays thru Fridays.   Children are to be picked up between 1:15-1:30 p.m.  Late fees are applied after 1:30 p.m.

Children in the Nursery thru Older 3’s Class may attend 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days. Days must be set at time of registration. The Preschool aged children (ages 4 turning 5) are required to attend the 3-day MWF class, or the 5-day Mon-Fri class. The Kindergarten is a set 5-day program.

If you need to pick up your child before the end of the program day, please try to inform the teacher so that the teacher will have your child prepared to go home at that time.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Doors will open each day at 9:25 a.m.  At this time, you may either walk your child into class or use the drive thru entrance to drop your child off with one of the waiting teachers.

Children are ready to be picked up beginning at 1:15 p.m. Parents of children who still remain at 1:30 p.m. will be charged an initial late pick-up fee of $10. Plus an additional $1 per minute beginning at 1:31. Children, who are picked up after 1:30 p.m. three times, will be asked to leave the Program. Because our Program is a 4 hour program we respectively ask that you not be late in picking up your child from school. In the event of an emergency, please call the office and make other arrangements for your child.

4

CHILD DISCIPLINE

The guidance of the children’s behavior will be conducted in such manner as to assist them in developing self-control and assuming responsibility for their own behavior. Minor child discipline problems will be dealt with as deemed appropriate by the teacher and / or the Director.  Time out is the only form of punishment used.

WITHDRAWING FROM EPWORTH MOTHER’S DAY OUT, PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN

Parents are required to give two weeks WRITTEN notice before withdrawing their child. If such notice is not given, they will be expected to pay the next month’s tuition.

The Director of Epworth’s Mother’s Day Out and Preschool may ask that a child be withdrawn when, in her best professional judgment, it is not in the best interest of the child and/or his/her classmates for the child to continue attending Epworth. Depending on the circumstances, it is possible that no advance notice can be given. Any tuition that has been paid in advance will be refunded.

ILLNESS

Children who display signs of illness (rash, coughing, or a fever), regardless of whether taking medication, should not attend until the symptoms are gone. Children who have vomited or have shown other signs of intestinal upset or ran a fever within the last 24 hours also should not attend. If your child has a communicable illness other than a cold (strep throat, chicken pox, etc.), please call the school office so that we can notify other parents that their children have been exposed.

5

MEDICATION

Epworth teachers are not allowed to give medication of any kind to children. Parents may come to the classroom to give medicine to their child.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Children with KNOWN severe food allergies must meet with the Director and fill out special medical forms and an emergency medication release form.  All medications for these type allergies will be stored in the Director’s office and will only be administered by certain staff members designated on the child’s forms.

SAFETY

Since young children are prone to illnesses and other events that may require our getting in touch with you during the course of the school day, please make sure all phone numbers on your child’s registration form are kept current. If you are not going to be home or at your usual workplace while your child is at Epworth, please insure that a written notice is given to the teacher or director with the number of where you can be reached.

In the event of an accident or illness requiring emergency medical care, the Epworth staff will NOT personally transport a child to the hospital, but will call HEMSI for transportation to the Huntsville Hospital’s emergency room. The Enrollment Agreement you signed, authorizes the Epworth staff to obtain emergency medical care for your child until we can contact you and you can reach the hospital.

6

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In case of snow, ice or other inclement weather, you are encouraged to listen to local radio or TV stations. If the Madison County Schools are closed for inclement weather (snow, ice, or potential tornado activity), Epworth will also be closed.

During times of potential severe weather, Epworth will monitor the weather radio and television news stations for a warning.  As soon as a tornado warning is issued, all children and teachers will be immediately evacuated to the safe shelter areas of our building (2nd floor basement and /or 3rd floor bathrooms near gym).  For the safety of you and your child, we ask that you DO NOT remove your child from the building while we are under a tornado warning.  If you do arrive during a warning, we will strongly encourage you to stay with your child until the warning has passed.  If you are uncomfortable with your child being here during severe weather, we ask that you pick your child up BEFORE a tornado warning becomes imminent. We sincerely care about the safety of you and your child!

PHONE CALLS

Teachers are often not able to come to the phone during the school hours due to the busy schedule of their classroom, but will always return phone calls when they are free of their teaching responsibilities. If it is an emergency or something that the Director can help you with, call the office at 534-6100.

7

IMPORTANT MESSAGES

Any important messages that need to reach your child’s teacher or the Director should be in the form of a written note.   You may also phone the school (534-6100) or email the Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with important messages.

A written notice is required, if your child is to go home with someone besides his / her parents, designated contacts, or usual carpool. A picture ID will also be required.

VISITS AND CONFERENCES

You are welcome to visit your child’s classroom at any time, with the understanding that the teacher’s responsibility during class time is to conduct the class. Parents should check in with the director before entering classrooms. If you wish to discuss anything you observed, you will need to schedule time with the teacher when she is free of her teaching responsibilities.

Parent-teacher conferences may be arranged at either the teacher’s or parent’s request whenever it seems in the best interest of the child.

COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROGRAM

Any complaints, questions or concerns that you have about activities in your child’s classroom should be discussed with your child’s teacher. If the issue is not resolved there, please bring it to the Director’s attention. If you and the school staff cannot reach an amicable agreement, the Director can tell you how to approach the Epworth Weekday Enrichment Committee.

8

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT

Our staffs, like all teachers in Alabama are required by law to report any suspicions of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Resources.

SNACKS / LUNCHES

Children bring their own lunches. Please be certain that your child’s teacher has an accurate list of any food allergies your child may have. Each classroom’s teacher will allow snacks at her discretion, due to children’s allergies, classroom time constraints, etc.

HOLIDAYS / BIRTHDAYS

Epworth celebrates with a party during special holidays.  You may be asked by your child’s teacher to help out with refreshments. Even though all children may not regularly attend on the actual day of the party, all children are invited to come to the party!

Our teachers try to ensure that each child gets special attention on his / her birthday. If you wish, you may send cupcakes or a special treat for the entire class, but please let your child’s teacher know at least two days in advance so that they may plan for the special occasion. Children with summer birthdays may choose a day during the school year to be their “special day.”

If your child is having any kind of party at home, please do not send the invitations to school unless the entire class is invited. This will avoid hurt feelings of those not invited. Due to privacy issues, we are unable to give out personal information, such as phone #’s or addresses.

9

SHOW AND TELL

We ask that children bring toys and other items from home only on designated “SHOW and TELL” days. We will send home a bag for your child’s turn. We will do the best job that we can of caring for these items while they are here.  We request that toy guns and other weapons not be brought to Epworth.

SCHOOL PICTURES

Each fall and spring, individual and class photographs are made of the children. You will be notified of the date in advance. If your child does not normally attend on picture day, you may bring her or him to have their picture made. Parents are under no obligation to purchase photographs.

WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS EACH DAY

Each child should bring their own lunch daily, a seasonally appropriate change of clothes, diapers & wipes (if needed).

Your child may be asked to bring or wear a special item on certain days; a note will be sent home in advance so that you may prepare.  We occasionally have “pizza party” days where your child will not have to bring their own lunch.   Again, a note will be sent home in advance so that you may decide if you want your child to participate.

10

MOTHER’S DAY OUT, PRESCHOOL

& KINDERGARTEN CLASSES

MOTHER’S DAY OUT children have the option of picking how many days and which days to attend—2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week, Monday thru Friday, pre-setting their days at registration. The classes are as follows:

Nursery members are ages 9 months to 24 months and will have the opportunity to play with other children and receive love and care from our qualified staff.

Toddler 2’s Class will have the opportunity to explore their world through their senses and through age appropriate crafts and activities.

Older 2’s/Younger 3’s Class are encouraged to recognize colors, shapes and explore their world through fun play and activities. We also encourage self help and social skills. They sing, dance, color, paint, read and play together. These children are still trying to master their potty skills.

Older 3’s Class turning four years old are growing socially and emotionally. We continue learning to recognize colors and shapes in addition to introducing numbers and letters in our structured Letter People Curriculum. We have fun learning in our world.  This classroom’s children are required to be fully potty trained.

PRESCHOOL is our program for children that are 4 years old and turning five during the school year. They participate in our structured Sing, Spell, Read, and Write Curriculum along with various themes which follow the Alabama Performance Standards for 4 year olds. We prepare children for academic and social success in Kindergarten. Children are required to attend the 3-day MWF Preschool Program or the 5-day Monday thru Friday Preschool Program.

KINDERGARTEN program is 5 days per week and taught by an Alabama Certified Teacher. The Alabama course of Study for Kindergarten is followed along with the Frog Stress Press and the Sing, Spell, Read, Write Curriculum. We work to prepare students for 1st Grade by encouraging all learning styles using a variety of themes throughout the year. They are the only class that is allowed to leave campus and attend field trips throughout the school year.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14