Early Impressions Preschool

Arrival and Departure
The school is open for child care at 7:00am. Children are not admitted before that time. Parents are responsible for their child until they have been signed in and the staff has been notified of the child’s arrival. If arrangements have been made for someone other than the parent to pick up your child, please inform the staff. Children in our care are not released to persons who are not noted on your list of emergency contacts.

Teaching Staff
Our professional team of staff is qualified in the field of early childhood education. The teaching staff is dedicated to maintaining the quality care your child deserves at the school. Teachers design and implement age appropriate activities and experiences while observing progress and identifying your child’s individual needs. Our caring teachers ensure a warm and friendly atmosphere which encourages the development of children’s self-worth.

Parents are encouraged to speak to their child’s teacher on a regular basis. The staff is always available to discuss a child’s progress or daily activities. Personal interviews can also be arranged by speaking with the Director.

Staff is provided with yearly professional development opportunities. Workshops, training sessions and seminars are available through various organizations which address the needs of the child care profession.

Parent Communication
Should you have any concerns regarding the school or your child please feel free to discuss them with our staff. We also enjoy hearing your ideas and suggestions. Several times through tout the year we will host family events. We encourage your family to become involved in the activities and we welcome you to join us at any time during the hours of the program. A parent bulletin board is located in the hallway; please take note of the programming information so that you may be informed about your child’s activities and any upcoming events. For you convenience your family is assigned a file folder for monthly newsletters and memos.

Personal Information
All Parents must keep current information on file at the school, e.g. addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, allergies etc. It is important that parents inform the staff if information they have recorded on the admission papers has been changed. In case of an emergency, a parent or guardian must always be available. Parents are required to give the names of two emergency contacts that the child may be released to.

Emergencies
Our school strives to provide a safe, clean environment for children to play. The staff is always alert to potential hazards and takes steps to ensure safe conditions. All staff are trained in emergency first aid; ECE staff is also trained in CPR. In the event of an emergency requiring medical attention, children will be transported to a hospital. Parents will be contacted and asked to meet the child and a staff member at the hospital. A signed consent form will permit the child to be examined by a physician.

Absenteeism
If your child will be absent from the school please inform the staff as soon as possible. Please call the school and speak to a teacher or leave a message on the answering machine.

Child Guidance
Our primary concern is the safety of your children. Praise and redirection are techniques consistently used by the staff to guide the children’s behavior. When necessary, children are disciplined in a positive manner that is appropriate to their actions and their age in order to promote self-discipline, ensure health and safety and to respect others and others property. The staff will discuss situations of a serious nature with the parent. Any form of corporal punishment is not permitted. In accordance with the Day Nurseries Act all staff, students and volunteers must abide by the schools’ Behavior Management Policy.

Snack and Lunches
We will provide a nutritious lunch and a morning and afternoon snack each day. Menus are planned in accordance with the recommendations set forth in the Canada Food Guide. Menus are posted in advance and parents are encouraged to read the menu plan. Fresh fruit is always available for the children and our menu takes into consideration any allergies the children may have. To ensure the highest safety standards for the children in our care, our school is peanut free. Parents are always welcome to bring snacks to school on special occasions; all snacks must be peanut free. Parents are responsible for recording allergies and food restrictions on their child’s health forms.

Illnesses and Medication
Any child who is ill will not be accepted into the school. Children may not attend the school if they are running a fever, have diarrhea, vomiting, have undiagnosed skin rashes or infections, have head lice or any infectious illness. If your child becomes ill during program hours the parent will be contacted and is required to pick up the child as soon as possible. If the parent can not be reached and emergency contact will be called. If your child is ill with a communicable disease or an infectious condition such as head lice please inform the staff so that the other parents may be notified. Children recovering from a communicable disease may return to school after the recommended exclusion period.

Staff will administer any medication prescribed by a doctor. Over the counter medications must be accompanied by a doctor’s note, indicating dosage and consent. Parents are required to sign a consent form allowing the staff to administer the medication.

Personal Belongings
Children are assigned a hook and a storage compartment to store their personal items while they are at school. Children must wear shoes at all times. Please ensure that your child has a separate pair of shoes for indoor and outdoor play. Children should wear comfortable and practical clothing that is washable. Parents are also requested to leave an extra set of clothes at the school in case of accidents. Children who bring toys from home are encouraged to show and tell or share with the other children. We strongly encourage parents to mark personal items with their child’s name. The school is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Emergency Evacuation
Should it be necessary to evacuate the building. The children will be escorted to Westside Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 506 Ferndale Drive North. Parents will be contacted and advised to pick up their child.

Termination of Policy
Two weeks written notice must be given to the staff should you wish to withdraw your child from the school, failure to do so would result in the loss of your initial deposit fee. Children who have been previously enrolled in the school are not given priority for re-admittance. If you should decide you would like to reinstate your child he or she will be placed on a waiting list and will be enrolled only when a space becomes available.

Payment of Child Care Fees
A non refundable registration fee of $30 will be required upon registration. A deposit for two weeks of care must be received before child care can begin. This deposit will be applied toward your child’s final two weeks of care once you have provided the staff with two weeks written notice upon terminating your child care agreement. Parents will receive a fee schedule upon enrollment and will be requested to submit a series of postdated cheques twice a year. Tax receipts will be issued in February.

Fees are not charged when the school is closed during the Christmas Break, March Break and the summer months. There is no reduction in fees for children who are absent due to illness or for children who may be absent for any other reasons, such as family vacations.

The school has the right to discontinue care if payments are not received. Rates are subject to change.