Parent Handbook

Smart Cookie’s Preschool

 Lehi, UT

Preschool for ages 3-5

Here is some basic information that will be helpful for you to know as your child begins preschool. 

Payment and Sick Days

Tuition is due the first day of class each month.  I will try to remind you because I know that things can slip our minds sometimes (with all the things that we’re juggling).  Please pay on-time.  You can pay in cash or with check  or if you prefer, you are welcome to send payment through PayPal.   Ask me for details on that if you want to use that option.  I can also take credit card for a small fee.   The cost of preschool is $100 per month per student with a one time, non refundable $45 registration/supply fee as well.  This even goes for months that have fewer preschool days in them because the tuition price is a full school-year price broken up into the 9 months.  If your child misses a day(s), the cost is still the same.  This also allows me 3 emergency sick days, which I’m allowed to take without needing to make-up (you will be contacted the morning of if this happens).  I usually do try and do a make-up day, but if not possible, then we’ll just meet the next school day. If I have to cancel any class besides those three, we’ll either make the day up, or your next month’s tuition will be reduced. 

Attendance/Drop-off and Pick-up

Please be on time—at the beginning of class and at the end.  Preschool starts right at 9:00a.m. I understand that there might be some days that you’re running late (weather, family reasons, etc…), but try to be on time for the most part.  After 5 minutes (11:35a.m.) there will be a fee of $1.00 each 5 minutes you are late.

 If your child will not be present one day, please let me know, so we won’t be waiting for them and wondering where they are.  After school, we will either be waiting for parents out in the front yard (if weather permits), or in the front room of the house.  If we aren’t in those two places for pick up, it just means that we’re running a little behind in schedule, and we’re still down in the school finishing an activity or cleaning up.  In that case, you’re welcome to come right in the door and come downstairs (or wait upstairs).  If your child is walking home, please let me know so I can keep that in mind and help them know what to do at the end of preschool.  Please be watching for them if they’re walking.  Also, if someone else is picking up your child that day, just let me know (someone other than another parent involved in your carpool).  Preschool ends right at 11:30a.m.

Health

Please do not send your child if he/she is ill (fever, excessive runny nose, diarrhea, pink eye, or anything else contagious).  And please make sure your child’s immunizations are up to date.  We will be doing physical activity, so if there is a health-related concern with your child, please let me know.

Phone Calls and Communication

During preschool hours, the phone will go unanswered, unless I feel it absolutely necessary to answer.  I want to focus on the children while they are here.  If you need to get a hold of me, leave a message, or text me.  I will listen to the messages right after the children go home.  If it’s an emergency, either keep trying the phone or come by the house.  Remember you can also get a hold of me by email mysmartcookiespreschool@gmail.com or by sending a note in your child’s folder (I will check both on a very regular basis) That folder will also come home each time they have preschool and it will have reminder notes, progress notes, what we did for the day, and possibly some art or activities that they completed.

Dress

Dress for preschool is casual.  We will go outside if weather permits (even in the winter to do some activities with the snow), so please have your child bring a jacket and other snow attire if needed. In preschool, we will be using chalk and paint (usually washable), playing with play dough, going outside, so your child might get dirty.  I do have smocks for them to put on during art time.  Best dress is not recommended for the activities we’ll be doing at preschool (dancing, art, and outside large motor skills).  Also, if possible, please send your child in shoes that they can get on and off by themselves.  We take our shoes off in the preschool so we can be comfortable, and then put them back on for recess, and then back on again to go home.  So, if the children can do their shoes by themselves, this truly saves time and they feel accomplished in what they can do!

Birthdays/Holidays

We will celebrate and post each child’s birthday in our class.  For those who have summer birthdays, we’ll celebrate them on a different day.  If you want to send special treats that day, you’re welcome to (plan on 8 friends).  Please don’t bring anything with nuts because of possible allergies.  It would also be fun on that day to have your child do a “Show-and-Tell” about them-selves by bringing some favorite items, pictures, etc.

We also celebrate holidays.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, St. Patrick’s Day, and we have a Spring Celebration as well.  If there are any concerns with any part of this, please feel free to visit with me.

Toys

Please leave all toys at home!  We have plenty of toys at preschool, and it would be super sad if your child’s toys became mixed with preschool toys or got lost while here.  It’s just better all the way around this way.

Snack- Time

We will have a snack each day.  We will have a rotation for all of the students and we will take turns providing snacks for the class.  Contrary to our name, “Smart Cookie’s” our snacks will be healthy, (example: apples and cheese or crackers and water)  and may even be theme related.  If there is anything your child is allergic to, or simply you don’t want them to eat, please let me know.  Snacks do not usually consist of candy, and my behavioral incentives are not candy.  The only exception might be Halloween or a class/holiday parties, and our occasional “eat and tell” treats.

Outside free time

I have a variety of activities for the children to choose from as we have outside time every school day after snack.  Some of these include playing in our sand box, rolling down the hill, climbing on the climbing dome, playing on the “Little Tyke” slides, playhouse, If for any reason you do not want your student participating in one or any of these activities, please notify me. 

Parent Involvement

I love input and help from the parents.  If anyone is interested in coming in during a themed unit and reading a book or doing an activity with the class, we’d love to have you!  I will send home what the themes will be for the month, and if you have any particular interests/hobbies in any of them, please let me know, and we’ll get you to come in and interact with the class (reading, telling personal stories, doing an activity).  It’s great for the children to have other people (parents especially) come in and share with the class.  There will also be need for volunteer help with parties and field trips.  Please plan on assisting with at least two or three field trips during the year (there will be about 5 during the year).  The more eyes we have on these kids, the lower the risk of us getting lost. (Because children never get lost, only grown-ups do.)

Supplies

Please provide a backpack or some kind of bag for your child to bring back and forth to preschool.  This is where they will put there preschool folder and anything else relating to preschool.  If you can label the backpack with their name, that would be helpful.  There will be a hook for them to keep their coat/jacket and their backpack on while they’re at preschool.

As far as other supplies…for the most part everything they will need to use is provided by the preschool such as Kleenex, hand sanitizer, art supplies, paper, books, class projects, etc.  If you ever want to donate any art items, or other supplies, that would be great!  Just let me know, I am always happy to receive any donations for the class but it is not required.

Behavior

I like to reward positive behavior in my class.  I do, however, have a “thinking spot” for children who need to take some time and calm down from a situation and/or think of the rules they need to follow in the preschool.  This spot is just outside of the room on the couch where they can still see the class and I can see them and only lasts for a few minutes.  It is an opportunity for them to disengage from the situation for a moment and collect themselves.  I make sure they understand that when they feel ready to rejoin the class that they are very welcome to do so and we will be happy when they come back.  I only use this spot after reminders/warnings have been given.  Again, positive reinforcement is the main discipline procedure in my class, but if a child needs to use the “thinking spot,” it’s a good break from a frustrating situation and a time where teacher and child can reflect and evaluate behavior and rules in the classroom.  It’s purpose is to be done in a loving-teaching way.  I generally won’t notify you of something unless it’s a consistent issue or a major problem.  Instead, I like to keep you updated on all the good things your child accomplishes in my preschool.  I don’t anticipate any major problems with behavior, I am sure our class will be wonderful this year!

Here is the basic idea of what our preschool schedule will look like a majority of the time:

9:00-9:15       Welcome activity/Manipulative's- A wide range of activities, helping

                          out with pre-reading skills and eye-hand coordination. 

9:15-9:30        Rug Time- Welcome song, calendar time and our letter

                          focus are all done during this time.  We read a book, sing a song, do a

                          cheer, and find an environmental print all with our letter of the week! 

9:30-10:05      Story/theme discussion- A book is read on the theme, and we have a

                          discussion/lesson on the topic.  

  Art- Two different art projects each day.  These projects are either

                           associated with the theme, or are a “process art,” 

10:05-10:25    Snack- the children can be nourished and refreshed as they eat a light snack
                           (crackers, cheese, fruit, etc).  We also discuss what we’ve learned so far.

10:25-10:40    Recess (outside play)- Children get all their energy out and can                                                    socialize, in order to have a break and regenerate their mind and body.

10:40-11:15    Centers/one-on-one reading time- The reading bench, discovery tables,
                            magnet board, dress up, and play zone are all a part of center time.  While
                            the  kids are at centers, one child meets with the teacher for one-on-one
                            tutoring (usually phonics/reading related, but can be focused on any skill
                            they need help on). 

              Music/Nursery Rhymes- Instruments are played, creative                                                 dance/movement, and singing are all a part of music time.  Music days are                   alternated with nursery rhyme days

11:15-11:20    Clean up, get back packs ready for our closing activity.

11:20-11:30   Closing Activity- This can be gross-motor activity outside or a book or song                                inside.  We do this while we’re waiting for parents to come.