Organization of the School
The Weekday Education Program of Aldersgate ministers to families with pre-school age children, providing classes for children from one year through pre-kindergarten age, and study and fellowship opportunities for their parents. The school does not discriminate (all are welcome for admission). Our classroom environments are grounded in Christian values. We teach a blessing at snack time, present a Christmas music program, and spread God's love as we teach fairness and respect for all.
The primary goals of the Day School include teaching each child that he/she is of great worth as a unique being in God's creation; that adults other than parents are helpful, friendly, and fun to be with; that group experiences with other children are exciting and gratifying; and that school is a fun and exciting place. We try to help each child grow toward full potential, develop a love for learning, feel a sense of security, and think and act creatively.
The one through pre-three year old classes provide the parent or care giver a morning out while the child is cared for in a happy and secure atmosphere. However, much more than mere baby sitting occurs in this informal setting with non-structured activities planned for and carefully supervised by qualified, creative teachers.
At all levels, the typical Aldersgate morning includes verbal and gross and fine motor skills development through activities such as circle time, sharing time, use of manipulatives, and playground and/or Founders Hall free-play time. Creative and social development is fostered through daily arts & crafts, music--either participatory or listening, “reading” and story time and other play activities. Daily schedules and monthly plans are posted in each classroom – be sure to take a look at all the wonderfully creative ways your child can learn!
Staffing
This outreach--classes for children from one year through pre-kindergarten age--is guided by Aldersgate’s Board of Weekday Education (comprised of nine church members and the Director of Weekday Education.) The Nominations Committee of Aldersgate Church selects this Board which is responsible to the Council on Education.
In addition, a Parent Committee from the School works in an advisory role and helps plan special activities, social events, and fund raisers.
You may register in the school office to get involved with any of these board and/or committee opportunities.
The Director of Weekday Education, selected by the church Staff Parish Relations Committee, is responsible for the selections of the teaching staff using the following guidelines:
- A four-year college degree is preferable. Applicants without a degree require previous work experience with preschool children.
- An annual health check up/TB test is required.
- Each staff member must clear the Virginia State Police Criminal History Process.
The school operates as a non-profit organization. Tuition and registration fees are adjusted annually to cover the needs of the school, including purchases of new equipment and cosmetic improvements to the school. Scholarship funds are limited and are available only as interested persons make the contributions.
The School is licensed by the state of
Discipline Policy
Busy, happy, well-supervised children rarely need discipline. Therefore, activities are structured that provide satisfying social interaction for all. These statements provide insight to our discipline techniques:
- Expected behavior shall be on the child's level.
- Limits or rules shall be appropriate and understandable to the children to whom they apply.
- Happiness and safety for all children will be the underlying motivation for classroom guidelines.
- Discipline shall be fair and consistent.
- Discipline shall be appropriate and timely.
Please be aware that no form of physical punishment is an option. At no time will a staff member:
- Shake a child.
- Force or withhold food from a child.
- Punish for toilet accidents.
- Belittle or verbally abuse a child.
- Enclose in a confined space.
- Use exercise as punishment.
- Restrain in any manner (other than in our arms momentarily to avoid injury to the child or one of his classmates.)
If a child is experiencing temporary difficulty in the classroom environment (or other location), the following solutions may be implemented:
- Attempt to divert him with another toy or activity.
- Use a timer to set limits so he can know when his turn comes.
- Let the child spend some quiet time within the classroom sitting in a special calming location or in the office.
- Give him a few moments at a "time out" space.
We find most discipline can be handled with a hug, some kind words, and a few moments to reorient one's activities. We look for things to praise rather than things to punish.
Snacks and Other Food Guidelines
All children are offered juice or water and crackers mid-morning. Non-glass bottles of pre-mixed formula or juice may be brought for the Toddler I only children, if needed. To meet licensing requirements, children in this room must sit at the table while they drink or eat. All other children will be provided with cups for juice or water.
Our facilities are not equipped to provide breakfast. If a situation occurs where a child did not eat and you feel it necessary for him to do so at school, bring the appropriate food to the office. We will help you find a place to finish breakfast.
Children with special food allergies may bring a simple snack from home. This will be served at the scheduled classroom snack time, and leftovers will be thrown away at the end of snack time. (Note: The home-provided snack must to be comparable in nature to the school snack). Be certain to label each snack container with the child's name and make the teacher aware that the child has his own snack.
If any child has food allergies, these must be noted in writing on emergency forms in the office and with the classroom teacher, otherwise, the school cannot assume responsibility for keeping those foods from the child. Remember our space is used at other hours by other groups so we cannot guarantee that residue from food or other substances will not remain on toys and surfaces.
By prior arrangement with the teacher, special treats may be provided for birthdays or special celebrations. Please follow classroom guidelines for types of food allowed. Each teacher will know food dislikes and allergies that could affect food selection for the room; consider this advice so no child is left out when a special occasion is celebrated.
Arrival and Departure Policies
School hours are from
To allow ample preparation time for the teacher, children are not to arrive in the classroom before 8:55 a.m. Early arrivals must find an alternate space to wait (please see the Director for suggestions). Under no circumstances is a child to be left unattended or with another parent in the room. Please arrive on time-- children become a part of the group more easily if there when school begins. Equally important, the child needs to be picked up promptly; otherwise, he/she may feels deserted.
Each child is to be walked to and picked up from the classroom by the parent or care provider. Make contact with the teacher before leaving morning and afternoon. (Once contact has been made, check your child's cubby--if one is provided--and move on out freeing the teacher to focus on the children.) This is not the time for teacher conferences. Special daily instructions regarding pick-up, unusual happenings at home, medications, etc. should to be written in the class log. Long-term transportation plans should be on file in the office. No child will be released to anyone other than the parent unless written permission has been given.
The Day School can not arrange car pools or provide transportation. Car pools should be handled with caution. Check for safety seat. No child should ride in the front seat. (Pay careful consideration to the wisdom of car pools. The individual child's transition from home to school may be more difficult and communication between teacher and parent may be compromised.)
“Fence-Lady” - A designated parking area is available for families requiring supervision of infants or other
Health and Safety Issues
Abuse and neglect are concerns for all. We are mandated by law to report any suspected case to Child Protective Services.
Emergency Cards must be completed immediately and u
Health forms are required each year;
Illnesses are a concern for all. Children are screened as they arrive and watched closely throughout the morning. Please do not bring a child who has had temperature, nausea or diarrhea in the past 24 hours. Though communicable diseases are inevitable, they can be held to a minimum if sick children are kept home. Determine if a child is "able" to be here; consider his well-being. His temperature may be down, but is the child ready to share time, space, and attention with the other children? Always inform the office and teacher if any medication (even Tylenol) has been given. The Day School will always notify parents as soon as illness is suspected or in case of emergency. Immediate pick up is expected and required. In accordance with
Non-emergency medications including, but not limited to, maintenance inhalers, nebulizers, insect repellant, sunscreen, skin lotions, etc., can not be administered by any school staff. Due to the possibility of allergies to certain antibiotics, all medications must be administered in the presence of a parent.
Emergency mediations for allergic reactions only may be stored in the office with proper documentation including a physician’s prescription and completed Aldersgate Day School Medication Administration form.
All enrolled students of the Day School are indemnified under the
The Day School recognizes universal precautions in the practice of diaper changing and cleaning of surfaces. For diaper changes, wipes and latex gloves will be used. Changing surfaces are cleansed with bleach solution. When cleaning up the classrooms of older children, a solution of water and mild dish detergent is used. All hands are washed before snack either with disinfectant wipes or hand soap. As always, please inform the school of any allergies or reactions your child may have had to these products.
As evident in the age range of our children, “potty-training” is not a requirement for entrance. However, for health and cleanliness reasons, we would expect the child to be “trained” sufficiently for a three-hour period before he comes to school in training pants (i.e. reinforced cotton pants or Pull-Ups). Every attempt is made to schedule bathroom breaks consistent with the age and abilities of the children and unscheduled stops accommodated to the best of the teachers’ ability. However, if these procedures fail to keep your child clean and dry, you may opt to have him remain in diapers a little longer. The Director reserves the right to determine that remaining in diapers at school is in the best interest of the child, teacher and other children. Your cooperation with this policy is greatly appreciated. A bag containing disposable diapers and an extra change of clothing (including socks) are needed daily for children in diapers.
Clothing should be durable, washable, and styled so the potty-trained child can manage with minimum staff assistance. Younger children should come to school in clothing that make diaper changes easy and quick. "Sunday best" clothes are often ruined here. Please do not burden your child with the responsibility to "keep clean." Preschool is messy--Paints stain, juice gets spilled, and the playground is dirty. We can not assume responsibility for clothing damaged at school.
Classes go outside daily--each child should wear a weather-appropriate coat or jacket, clearly labeled. Layering clothing offers the most comfort indoors and out. Flip flops, cowboy boots, clogs, or slippery dress shoes are unsafe on the playground and in Founders Hall and are discouraged.
Fire drills and emergency response procedures are required and are scheduled regularly. The fire bell is quite loud and can be frightening. Prepare your child. Reassurance from the parent may make the first drill less traumatic. Have you practiced emergency procedures at home?
In the event of an emergency before, during or after school hours, the Day School will implement its Phone Tree Alert System. Each teacher has a list of phone numbers for students and will call each family to notify them of any changes in schedules. Please be sure to u
Field Trips unfortunately occur less and less in our program as our area faces new safety issues. When they are scheduled, parents are asked to help drive and/or chaperone. For each trip, one adult for each two children is required. A parent signature is also required for every child on a field trip. We follow Virginia Seat Belt Law--Parents are required to provide a car seat or appropriate booster.
Personal toys, pacifiers, blankets and the like can be distracting and are discouraged. Please respect the teacher's policy about which personal items are allowed. Philosophically, we have reservations about the value of war toys, super heroes, etc. and prohibit their use on school grounds. Children often have difficulty sharing personal items and will have trouble
leaving an item in the cubby all day. Older classes may have scheduled sharing days. Observe teacher schedules and guidelines for this.
Our facility complies with all
The safety of the children is our first concern. If you plan to visit with friends (and we encourage you to do so), consider parking further from the building, freeing space closer in for those who need it most. If you need special assistance getting your child(ren) to class, park in the designated “fence lady” spaces and wait for an aide to assist you. Please refrain from cell phone use until you have cleared the parking lot area. ALWAYS DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.
Complaints or concerns regarding school policy should first be voiced to the Day School Director. If resolution is not reached, parents may contact the Chair of the Board of Weekday Education.
Special Opportunities
Parents make the greatest substitutes! Inquire in the Day School Office.
The Day School offers three forms of Extended Care for children age 3 or older. Younger children will be considered on a case by case basis by the Director. All extended hours begin late-September and continue until mid-May, with some exceptions for holidays or special events, meetings, etc. Registration and payment must be arranged by
Extended Care:
The opportunities for extended care are as follows:
#1. Fourth Hour
#2. Extended Care
For Fourth Hour (i.e. Lunch Bunch) and Extended Care, children should bring a light lunch.
Registration for Extended Care must be accompanied by registration for Fourth Hour.)
A discount is given if you schedule and pay for ten days in advance. Due to staff availability, last minute call-ins can not be accommodated under any circumstances. Only in the event your child is out of school for illness on a day he/she is scheduled for extended care, will your payment will be credited to another date of your choosing; same day cancellations for reasons other than illness will result in forfeiture of payment.
Parents are always welcome in the Day School. Help yourself to a cup of coffee from the kitchen, stop and browse for children’s or parenting books, or visit with other parents before rushing off. We would welcome activities such as parent discussion, Bible study, craft, or exercise groups. Do you have special talents or interests you could share with others? Tell us!
Normally special school family activities include an ice cream social, Evening with Santa, Christmas music performances, family dinner nights, and spring picnics. As always, if we are to make these events a success, we will need your help. Volunteer early and often!
Planning with the teacher can make birthdays very special. If invitations are handed out here, include one for every classmate. All children should be included if an individual’s special event is coordinated at school.
Enrollment and Fees
Annual registration for returning families begins in late January/early February. Space is offered initially to Aldersgate church members and families currently enrolled in the day school and a waiting list is compiled on a first come-first served basis. A $50.00 NONREFUNDABLE REGISTRATION AND ONE MONTH'S ADVANCED TUITION FEE (NON-REFUNDABLE) is required for every child at the time of enrollment. Subsequently, registration is opened to the community and continues until all spaces are filled. A new waiting list begins the first working day of each year. Names are added when the completed waiting list form and the $10.00 waiting list fee are received.
Budget needs determine tuition. Tuition is quoted as an annual amount, but is paid in nine monthly installments - the first payment (considered an advanced payment) is due by June 1 - the other eight at regular intervals during the school year beginning in September. If a child is withdrawn prior to July 1, the advance payment will be refunded. Withdrawal after July 1 will result in non-refund of the advanced tuition payment. If a child enrolls after October 1, tuition will be prorated and the number of payments adjusted, with the first installment due at enrollment time. Adjustments are not made for absences--illnesses, vacations, holidays, snow days, etc. If a space is reserved, payment must be made in advance.
All checks are payable to
Monthly Tuition Rates – 2011/2012
|
Class |
Annual Tuition |
|
Pre-K |
$395 |
|
5-day Fours |
$370 |
|
3-day Threes and 3-day Fours |
$235 |
|
2-day Threes |
$156 |
|
Toddler I, Toddler II, Pre-3 (Mondays) |
$80 |
|
Toddler I, Toddler II, Pre-3 (Tuesday—Friday) |
$90 |
Families with more than one child enrolled in our school at the same time receive a 5% tuition discount for each additional child.
Incomplete paperwork, delinquent tuition of thirty days or more (a $25 late fee is charged after 15 days), inability to adapt to the school environment (cries more than the equivalent of one week's attendance), unacceptable behavior threatening to self or others, or refusal to cooperate with school guidelines or suggestions deemed necessary for a child's welfare may result in a child’s dismissal from school on a temporary or permanent basis. Dismissal shall not occur until after sufficient conferencing with the Director, however may subsequently occur with one week's notice.