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HORIZONS MONTESSORI SCHOOL & DAYCARE, INC.

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

To download a copy of our Policies & Procedures please click here.

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ENROLLMENT FORMS:

Before your child can be enrolled, you must fully complete and return the following

forms required

·        Enrollment Application, Policies and Procedures and Contracts

·        Health and Emergency Medical Form

·        Child Profile & Health History Form

·        Annual Registration Form & Fee

·        First weeks tuition

·        Notice of behavior offenses

REGISTRATION:

Horizons Montessori requires a nonrefundable annual registration fee which is due    

at time of enrollment and each year on your child’s enrolled anniversary date. You will receive a bill at the time this is due.

TUITION:

All tuition fees are due Friday for the following week and are considered LATE after Monday. A late charge of  $25 will be assessed on payments received after Monday. If  fees are unpaid one week after due date, your child will not be allowed to attend until payment has been made.

If a child is present any portion of a week, the regular weekly rate will be charged for that week, even if the child was present only one day of that week. If a child is going to be absent more than one consecutive day, please inform the director of the center.

Because regular expenses continue to accumulate, you will be charged full tuition rates during weeks with closed holidays and during inclement weather.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Horizons Montessori has tried to make payment options as convenient as possible.  We accept weekly tuition payments by cash, check or credit card.

PICKING UP CHILDREN:

Parents must notify the office if you have made arrangements with someone other than those authorized to pick up your child. The individual must present identification at the time of pick-up. There is NO exception to this rule! If you forgot to inform us, or the individual doesn’t have identification, we will NOT release your child!

LATE PICK UP POLICY

After 6:00 pm, Horizons Montessori’s posted closing time, there will be a late fee of $20 the first minute and $5 each minute after. This is to be paid in cash to the person in charge at the time of the late pick-up. More than three late pick-ups in six months period, you are subject to dismissal from the center.

CLOSING DAYS:

Horizons Montessori will be closed for the following holidays: New Year’s Eve Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4^th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and 2 In-service Days for teachers.

INCLEMENT WEATHER:

In the event of inclement weather, special closing and opening instructions will coincide with the Rutherford County Schools. In the event that the center has to close early due to bad weather conditions we reserve the right to notify you of immediate pick-up, however, your child will be well cared for until you, or someone you authorized, can arrive.

EMERGENCY PLAN:

In case of loss of power, water, heat in extreme cold weather, or air conditioning in extreme hot weather, parents will be notified by phone or local radio or television stations that the school will be closed and that they must pick-up their children. In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation of the building, an applicable plan designed by the director will be followed.

SEVERE WEATHER PLANS:

Horizons Montessori is in compliance with the Emergency Management Agency and has developed a plan for emergency situations. If a tornado warning goes into effect, all persons will go into the hallway areas and remain there until the warning has been lifted. Parents are advised to stay at home or work until the warning has been lifted. If parents arrive at the school during the warning, they must stay in the sheltered area. It is against the EMA recommendations to permit parents to pick-up their child and leave the school during a tornado warning.

VACATION AND SICK TIME POLICY:

We realize that families take vacations, and we encourage this family time by allowing each child one week at 100% discount tuition, after being enrolled for ONE YEAR. During that week, the child CANNOT be present at all to qualify for this exemption, and a prior notice of two weeks is REQUIRED to schedule your vacation. To qualify for sick leave exemption, we require a 24 hour notice of non-attendance for the week. If sudden illness occurs and a 24 hour notice is not possible, we require a call by 8:00am.

DISCONTINUATION OF SERVICES:

Horizons Montessori offers a 30 day Probationary period for each child. During this time, if we feel your child is not a good fit with us or if you are not satisfied with the services you have received, your contract can be terminated with no penalty. After the 30 day probationary period, we do require a 2-week notice if you wish to terminate services. Your weekly fee still applies until the end of the 2-week period. Failure to comply will result in a $200.00 early termination fee due immediately.

To encourage desirable behavior in all children, the parents and the teachers must work together. If a problem occurs with your child’s behavior, a plan of action to guide the child towards more appropriate and desirable behavior must be developed and implemented. Plans will be made according to the age, developmental level, and the needs of that particular child. It is expected that all parties involved will work together to modify and improve the child’s behavior.

If the behavior is causing undue stress for the other children and teachers, or has become a physical threat to anyone, Horizons Montessori reserves the right to request suspension or termination of the child’s enrollment with the center. Although, it is our goal to meet the individual needs of all children in our center to the best of our ability, we cannot allow one child to be disruptive because it effects the education of the other children. We cannot allow any child to continually behave disrespectfully or exhibit force toward teachers or classmates.

POLICY ON DISMISSAL:

Horizons Montessori has designated reasons why children can be dismissed.  Dismissal will occur when:

1. Non-payment of Tuition second notice (two-week delinquent). Readmitted when delinquent tuition is paid in full.

2. Verbal abuse from parent or a child (ages 4 and up) toward staff.  Expulsion.

3. Fighting with other children (ages 3 and up) per recommendation by staff and final

decision by director.  The frequency of fighting cannot occur more than 3 times per 6      consecutive months depending on the severity of the fight.  Expelled 5 consecutive

    days.  Second offense, expulsion.                 

4. Physically attacking a staff member.  Per recommendation by staff and final decision  by the director, expelled 5 consecutive days.  Second offense, expulsion  

5. Biting of another child between the age’s 6 months to 2 years old. 

The frequency of biting cannot occur more than 5 times per 3 consecutive months   Depending on the severity of the bit, expelled 5 consecutive days.  Second offense, expulsion.

6. Biting of another child age 3 and up.  The frequency of biting cannot occur more

than 3 times per 6 consecutive months depending on the severity of the bit.  Expelled  5 consecutive days. Second offense, expulsion.

7. Results from evaluation reveal that the center has not been successful in meeting the       child’s medical assistance and behavior problems.

***The parent of a child who has been dismissed must schedule an appointment with the director for readmission.

REDIRECTION:

Our policy is to encourage self control and independence in our children. We use redirection and daily encouragement. Teachers are expected to communicate their expectations to our children in a positive way. Consistency is the key to teaching self control.

Discipline varies depending on the age of the child, however physical punishment is NOT allowed, for any reason, at this center.

If a problem or situation arises that you feel may affect your child’s behavior, please notify your child’s teacher or the director. We want to be sensitive to each of our children’s needs, especially during their developing years.

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION:

Before medication can be distributed to your child, a release form to administrate medication must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. If your child must be given medication while at the school, an authorized staff member will administer the medication. The medication must be labeled with his/her name and instructions for giving it.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE AND INJURY:

A teacher will compassionately treat a child’s minor injury. Every room will have accessibility to a first aid kit that will be replenished as needed. An Accident/Injury Report Form will be completed by the child’s teacher should an accident occur. The parent will be notified immediately by telephone, and a copy of the accident form will be provided for the parent.

If a more serious injury occurs, the teacher will administer first aid, while another staff member contacts the parent using information on file. If the parent feels that further treatment is necessary, they will be asked to transport their child to a physician’s office or medical facility. If neither parent can be reached, the person designated by the parent on the emergency form will be asked to make this decision.

The staff will call 911 if immediate and urgent medical attention is needed. The child’s Health and Emergency Medical form will be sent with the person accompanying the child to the medical facility. In the event that the child‘s parents can not be contacted, this form gives the school permission to seek emergency medical treatment for the child.

SICKNESS:

Parents must stay current on their child’s immunizations to help our efforts to control and prevent disease spread. We strongly advise our parents to observe our center’s policy concerning sickness. Our policy is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which states that children be excluded from group care for the following reasons:

• The illness prevents the child from comfortably participating in daily activities.

• The illness results in the need for more care than the staff can provide without compromising the safety and health of the other children.

• If the child has any of the following conditions: fever at or above 101 degrees (orally), lethargy, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing, or other signs of illness.

• Diarrhea that is not contained by diapers or toilet use, or stools that contain blood and/or mucus. The definition of diarrhea as two loose bowels movements within the hour. As long as the symptoms persist, children should not return to the daycare.

• Vomiting two or more times in the previous 24 hours, unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a non-communicable condition and the child is not in danger of becoming dehydrated.

• Mouth sores associated with inability of the child to control his or her saliva, unless the child’s physician states the child is noninfectious.

• Rash with fever, discharge and behavior change, until the physician has determined it is not a communicable disease. Ringworm must be treated for 24 hours and covered before returning to school.

• Pink and red conjunctivitis with white or yellow discharge, until checked by a physician and cleared before coming back to the daycare. Pink eye must be treated with prescription eye drops and their must be no discharge coming from the eye before re-admission.

• Strep throat until 24 hours after treatment has been administered.

• Impetigo until 24 hours after treatment has been administered (all lesions must be covered before returning to school).

• Scabies until after the final treatment has been administered.

• Head lice until the morning after the first treatment.

• Pertussis until five days of prescribed antibiotic treatment.

• Chicken pox until the sixth day after the onset of the rash, or when all lesions have dried and crusted.

• Mumps until nine days after onset of gland swelling.

• Hepatitis A virus until one week after sickness or jaundice or until immune globulin has been given to appropriate children and staff at the facility as directed by the health department.

We recommend that a child remain at home if he or she is still contagious and until he or she has been free of fever for 24 hours after the illness. If a child leaves the center during the day with a fever of 101 degrees (oral) or 100 degrees (auxiliary) temperature or higher, the child would not be permitted to return to the center the next morning without a written permission from the child’s physician.

If symptoms develop while the child is at the school, the parent will be contacted immediately to come pick-up their child from the school. While the child waits to be picked up, he or she will be separated from the rest of the children. Depending on the situation, sometimes a physician’s note stating when the child may return to the center

may be requested. At Horizons Montessori the most important concern is the overall health and well being of our children and staff. Therefore, we ask that all parents follow these guidelines carefully.

FOOD:

Weekly menus will be available and posted at the front foyer. Each day your child will be served nutritious food for breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. If your child is on a restricted diet, you will be asked to supply your child’s food.

ITEMS PROVIDED BY PARENTS:

Toddlers/Two’s/Three’s/Pre-K’s:

1.      Baby Wipes

2.      Clean change of clothes

3.      Diaper and/or Pull-Ups

Infants:

1.      Diapers

2.      Baby Wipes

3.      Extra clothes

4.      Bottles of formula or breast milk ( remember to label)

5.      Appropriate food

6.      Pacifier if needed must be labeled with the child’s name

·        Teacher’s will notify parents when these supplies are low

·        Diapers will be checked and changed at regulars intervals depending on the child’s age.

TOILET TRAINING:

A child will begin showing signs of readiness and willingness in learning to use the toilet around the age of two. Assuming the child is ready, the staff will begin this process at the parent’s request. This is a joint effort where the parents and staff work together in planning a successful approach to toilet training. Children WILL NOT be punished for lapses in toilet training. Children WILL NOT be coerced into toilet training if they are not showing developmental signs of being ready. Although there is a variety of information and books on toilet training, not all methods are compatible with group care. All toilet training activities should be discussed with your child’s teacher, and they will do their best to see that your wishes are granted.

DRESS FOR THE PLAY:

 Dress your child appropriately and comfortably for play and fun time activities. Tennis shoes or soft soled shoes are recommended. No open-toed shoes. A change of clothes is required in case they have an accident or they get dirty. And please do not forget to label their items.

PERSONAL ITEMS:

To make it easier on you, your child, and our staff, please make sure that all removable items have your child’s name clearly marked on every piece. Because we can not predict the weather, we suggest that you dress your child for indoor and outdoor play.

We request that children leave food, gum, candy, money, or other valuables at home. We will have special share days for your child to bring toys or other prized possessions to center. It is difficult to keep up with such items everyday. We appreciate your cooperation.

We understand that many children are attached to an object that makes them feel secure in a new environment or situation. These objects help ease the transition from home to the center. We understand that most children prefer not to share this item. Our teachers will try to help the other children respect and understand such feelings. Though we can not be responsible for loss or damage to personal possessions, our teachers will do their best to keep up with children’s belongings.

RETURNED CHECK POLICY:

$25.00 handling fee will be charged for ALL returned checks and the check must be paid in full with cash within one day of the notice. If we receive a second returned check, you will be required to make future payments in CASH ONLY. All non payments of funds will be turned over to a collection agency. You will be responsible for all collection and attorney fees.

LATE DROP-OFFS:

If your child(ren) will be arriving after 10:30 a.m., we ask that you call the center to inform us of an approximate arrival time.  This will help reduce classroom interruption as well as having an accurate lunch count.