Saint Mary's Pre-K policies are the same as Saint Mary School with the exception of uniforms. Please read the St. Mary Student Handbook. The purpose of the Pre-K Handbook is to provide you with additional information that applies to Pre-K.

FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL: Children at this age sometimes have separation anxiety. For the first two days of school, you may come into the classroom with your child to help him/her get settled in the new environment. Please plan to stay no longer than 5-10 minutes. A longer period of time will make separation more difficult for the child. If you plan on staying a few minutes on the first two days, I ask that you leave as soon as prayers start. Many children will have no difficulty adjusting at all.

ARRIVAL: Our day begins at 8:10. Prayer begins at 8:20. Any student arriving after 8:20 is marked tardy and is expected to go to the office and get a late slip before going to the classroom. The classroom door will be closed when prayers start. Children who arrive late will not be permitted to enter until after prayers. Please be sure to bring your child to school on time. When students arrive late it is disruptive to the class. If your child is tardy more than three times in a month you will be required to meet with the teacher.

DISMISSAL: Please park in the parking lot and walk over to the building to pick up your child. The area in front of the school is a “NO PARKING ZONE” during school hours. During nice weather you will pick up your half-day student in the playground between 11:20 and 11:30 am. Any half day students remaining at 11:30 will be dropped off at the office on our way to lunch. Full day students will be bought out to the front porch at the end of the school day for you to pick up. If you need to pick your child up prior to dismissal, please go to the office to sign them out. Please send a note that morning to let us know. If someone other than you is picking up your child you need to send a letter in with the child.

WISH LIST: Wishing Stars will be posted in the hall with classroom needs. If you would like to donate an item, please pull that star from the door and tape it on the item when you send it in. you may also visit the class website (www.geocities.com/lisa81664) to view the wish list.

SNACK: We do a community snack in Pre-K. This means that everyone eats the same snack. Each week one student is assigned to bring in snacks for the whole class for the week. You will sign up for your snack duty at orientation time. If your child attends Pre-K 5 days a week you will sign up for two different weeks to bring in snack for the whole class. If your child attends 3 days a week you will sign up to bring in snack for the whole class for one week. Everyone must send in snack for the full week you sign up for even if your child does not attend the full week.

CLOTHING: Play clothes are recommended for preschool. All clothes need to be labeled with your child's name. If your child cannot tie their shoes themselves it is best if you send them in shoes with buckles, Velcro, or zippers. Please DO NOT send your child in Flip Flops or strapless sandals. If your child comes to school in Flip Flops or strapless sandals they will not be permitted to run on the playground or play on the playground equipment.

EXTRA CLOTHING: Please send an extra pair of underwear, socks, short sleeve shirt, sweater, and pants for your child to keep at school, in case of accidents. Remember all personal items should be labeled with your child’s name. If your child needs to change during the day (please wash and return the clothes as soon as possible). Please note: Children must be able to cleanse themselves and dress themselves independently. Teachers are not able to assist in the bathroom. Children must be completely potty-trained entering Pre-K.

LUNCH: Please no candy or soda in packed lunches. Lunch money should be sent in a sealed, labeled envelope.

Gym Day: Fridays are gym days. You must send your child in sneakers and preferable pants or shorts. They may not wear any jewelry.

MONEY: Any money that is sent to school should always be placed in a sealed envelope, labeled with your child's name, grade, and the purpose of the money. Money for separate purposes should be placed in separate, labeled envelopes. Unlabeled and/or loose money could get lost or sent to the wrong place. Lunch, snack, tuition, extended day, and book club/book fair money are all separate accounts. Money envelopes should be placed in the daily folder-this is where we will check each morning. Please do not give your child money to keep in his/her pocket. Children at this age use money as a toy and it distracts them during our learning activities.

DAILY FOLDERS: Your child will bring a folder to school for class work, notes to and from school, and money. Anything you send to school (notes, money, etc.) needs to be in the folder. We will check the folder daily. Please note we do not check book bags unless you put a note in the folder telling us there is something in the book bag that was to big for the folder. It is also important that you check the folder each day for notes from school. Please return it each day.

MESSAGES: Verbal messages brought by your child often get mixed up and CANNOT be accepted by the teacher. Please send written correspondence only. These should be put in your child's daily folder.

BIRTHDAYS: On your child's birthday, you may send a special snack for your child to share with the class (this is optional). Bring the snack when your child arrives in the morning. Contact the teacher prior to your child's birthday to make arrangements.

NAP MATS: Nap mats will be sent home at the end of each month to be washed. Please return them the following school day.

TOYS: Please do not allow your child to bring toys, rings or bracelets to school with your child. Toys and jewelry can get broken, are difficult to share and may get misplaced. Occasionally, we will have special days when children can bring in an item that pertains to what we are learning. Also, please do not allow your child to bring lip gloss or Chapstick. If your child needs Chapstick for dry lips, please send a note and I will hold the Chapstick so your child does not share it with friends.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB: Occasionally throughout the year, we will send home Scholastic Book Club catalogs. Scholastic always offers good quality books and they cost much less than in a bookstore. Our class receives bonus points for every order, which are used to get books for the classroom library. You are not obligated to purchase any books.

PROGRESS REPORTS: Progress reports are given two times a year for Pre-K: in January and June. In October we will schedule a parent conference to discuss your child�s progress. Of course if you have any concerns or questions any time of the school year you may email me at [email protected] or send a letter in your child�s daily folder requesting a meeting.

ASSESSMENT: Portfolios are used for assessment. Samples of the children's work are saved to put in the portfolio, along with checklists and other notes on your child's progress. Do not be concerned if your child doesn't bring something home every day-we may be saving it for the portfolio. You will have the opportunity to see your child's portfolio at conference time.

HANDS-ON LEARNING: Young children learn by interacting with people and things, working with their hands, and being creative. While we do some paper-and-pencil activities in Pre-K, you will not see your child writing rows of letters or doing other worksheets at school. The children will learn to identify and write letters, but it will be done in such a way that is meaningful to them. If your child does not bring home any paper activities, this means we did activities involving learning manipulative. For example, children will be taught to identify letters using a set of letters they can touch and move around, using an alphabet bingo game, through circle time, and other methods. Children will learn to count using objects, such as counting bears or buttons.