Preschool Director Kryssie Mozeley
Preschool Hours: 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Preschool Operates September Through May
Mission Statement
Rocky Mount United Methodist Church is committed to providing a safe, fun Christian environment for children to grow, develop, and express themselves in a positive manner.
The Preschool Program is an educational experience where emphasis is placed on social, emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual growth. We partner with families to create a life long learner.
Classroom Objective Categories
*Christian Education
*Social and Emotional Development
*Physical Development
*Language Development
*Cognitive Development
*Self-Help Skills
Registration
Rocky Mount Preschool offers classes for two, three, and four year olds. Placement in classes is based on your child’s birthday. The cut off date is October 17th for all ages.
Before enrollment, students must be able to interact in a group setting, 3-year-olds need to be potty trained (see page 2),and respect the safety of others.
Registration is held in January for the following fall term. Each child must register for the program each year. Children currently enrolled and their siblings who are not currently enrolled will be given first priority. Church members will be given priority over the general public.
At the time of registration, a completed registration form and the registration fee must be submitted. Registration fees are non-refundable.
Placement
*Placement in classes is based on the child’s birthday - cut-off date is October 17th.
(For the 2009-10 school year, the cut-off will be moved to August 31st.)
*Registration for ‘09-’10 Fall Session begins in January 2009.
*Submit a completed registration form with a non-refundable registration fee of $85 to secure your child’s spot!
Wait List
If all spaces are filled, your child may be placed on a wait list. There is a $10 non-refundable fee. We will contact you as soon as there is an opening.
Tuition
*2-year-old 2-Day Program (T-Th) -$125
*2-year-old 3-Day Program (M-W-F) -$145
*3-year-old 2-Day Program (T-Th) -$115
*3-year-old 3-Day Program (M-W-F) -$135
*4-year-old 5-Day Program (M-F) -$190
Due on the 1st of each month. If tuition is not paid by the 10th, the child will be removed from the program.
Tuition not paid by the 5th of each month will result in a late fee of $10
Checks should be made to Rocky Mount UMC. ($20 fee for all returned checks.)
Student Information
The following items MUST be provided:
-Student information card
-Copy of insurance card
-Copy of immunization record
-Financial agreement
-Enrollment agreement
-Discipline agreement
Staff Qualifications
CPR/First Aid trained
Background checked
Minimum of 6 hours of continuing education each year
each room is staffed by a lead teacher with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or an NC Early Childhood Teaching Credential and an Assistant Teacher.
Updating Student Information:
It is important for our school to maintain complete and accurate records on each child. Please alert the school to any changes in addresses, telephone numbers, or pick up authorization list.
At orientation we will collect the information listed below. Failure to turn in this information could result in your child losing his/her spot in the program.
Updating Student Information
With recommendation from the Preschool Director, the Rocky Mount Preschool Board of Directors will determine the admission or exclusion of a special needs child. Availability of space and staff will be considered.
Waiting List
Children that are unable to be placed in a class due to space limitations are placed on a waiting list. Registration fee will be due when a space becomes available. A $10 Wait-List Fee will be applied to the Registration Fee.
Withdrawal
If a child must be withdrawn from the program, one month’s notice in writing is required. Failure to give written notice one month prior to withdrawal is just cause for being charged tuition for a full month from the date of notification.
Tuition
As a non-profit organization every effort is made to keep tuition rates as low as possible while maintaining a quality childcare program. We realize that there are occasions when your child may need to be absent from school. However, in order to meet our financial obligations, no discounts for illness, absences, vacations, holidays, or inclement weather are offered.
Tuition fees: See Slide Show Page for Rates.
Tuition is due on the first of each month. If tuition is not paid by the 10th of the month your child will be removed from the program.
A late fee of $10.00 will be charged if tuition is not paid by the 5th of the month.
Please make checks payable to Rocky Mount UMC. Payments must be taken to the Church Office. Please do not give checks to the teachers or send with your child.
A $20.00 fee will be charged for all returned checks.
Inclement Weather Policy
In case of severe weather, please tune to your local radio or television station for school closings. If Iredell/Statesville Schools are closed, the preschool will be closed.
If Iredell/Statesville Schools delay for one hour, the preschool will operate on a regular schedule.
If Iredell/Statesville Schools delay for two hours, the preschool will be closed.
**Days missed because of inclement weather will not be made up**
Health and Safety
Immunizations
Rocky Mount Preschool requires that all children in attendance submit proof that immunizations are current. A copy of your child’s immunization records is due by orientation day. Failure to submit this form may result in your child not being admitted to the program.
Toilet Training
Children entering our three-year-old program need to be potty trained. We know that the toilet training process is tied to development and individual to each child. Parents should speak with teachers directly and openly about this matter. We will provide support in any way possible. If your child has frequent accidents it is mandatory that they wear a pull-up during school hours.
Illness/Injury
Please help us keep a healthy classroom environment for children and teachers by observing the following guidelines:
· If your child becomes ill or injured while at school, you will be notified immediately. Please
be considerate of your child and the other children in our school and pick up your child as soon
as possible. In the result of an injury an Injury/Incident form will be filled out and given to the
parent.
· We ask that your child stay home or be picked up from school if he/she has any of the
following illnesses.
Illness
May Return to School
Temperature of 100 degrees or higher
Once temperature has been normal without medication for 24 hours.
Severe Cold Sneezing or Excessive Nasal Drainage
Once symptoms are gone
Diarrhea
When free from symptoms for 24 hours
Vomiting
When free from symptoms for 24 hours
Strep Throat
24 hours after receiving treatment
Conjuctivitis (pink eye)
Once treatment has started and eyes are clear and free of drainage
Lice
After treatment, if no nits are present
If your child should be diagnosed with a contagious disease (chicken pox, mumps, measles, etc.), please notify the Preschool office so that we may alert the other parents.
Custody Issues
If a parent has a court order that limits the rights of one parent in matters such as custody or visitation, a copy of the court order must be on file with the director. Unless the court order is on file with the director, Rocky Mount Preschool must provide equal rights to both parents.
Insurance
We require that all children have proof of health insurance. We must have a copy of your child’s insurance card on file before he/she will be allowed to attend.
Emergency Situations
Rocky Mount Preschool has the following plans in place for handling emergencies:
Tornado
The Preschool has developed a tornado safety plan. The director will monitor the weather and will signal a tornado warning by immediately informing the teachers. Each teacher will be responsible for bringing the children into the center hallway of the building. The director will take the Preschool roster and attendance charts and check to make sure all children are safely positioned. The children will be directed to face the concrete wall, kneel down, and cover their heads with their hands. Double rows of children are acceptable, as is use of the restrooms. No one should be in a doorway.
Fire
The teachers will quickly line the children up to leave the building. Teachers will check the bathroom, kitchen area and fellowship hall for children. After meeting at the pre-arranged safety spot, attendance will be checked.
Loss of Power or Water
In the event of a loss of power or water during Preschool, the children will stay safely in their rooms until the estimated restoration time is determined. If the power or water will remain out for the duration of the day, parents will be called for early pick up. If the loss of power or water occurs before Preschool begins, the parents will be called to notify them of the cancellation of the day.
Child Abuse or Neglect
North Carolina state law requires teachers to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect
If such cases arise, the Preschool Director will notify the Child Protective Services Unit of the Department of Social Services.
Guidance/Discipline Philosophy
Our goal as we guide children through situations that involve conflict or danger is to help each child learn acceptable behavior and self-control, as children are not born knowing how to behave in appropriate ways. Because children learn acceptable behavior from those around them, it is very important that teachers and parents communicate and work together as children learn to interact with others.
In an effort to prevent unacceptable behaviors our staff will:
· Provide a safe environment
· Prepare a classroom environment with careful consideration given to the developmental
characteristics and interests of children, and in a way that offers and promotes acceptable
choices
· Set clear and reasonable limits according to the age of the child
· Model behaviors and language that are appropriate, giving children a choice of ways to handle
different situations
· Help children recognize, label and understand their feelings
· Praise and encourage children for making acceptable choices
· Be active listeners as children express themselves
In response to inappropriate behaviors our staff will:
· Treat each child with respect, using each situation as an opportunity for growth
· Consistently enforce reasonable limits that have been set
· Listen to and talk children through dangerous or conflict situations, patiently giving
them logical explanations they are able to understand
· Ignore an inappropriate behavior if it does not involve a dangerous situation
· Redirect the child to a more appropriate activity
· Model a better way to handle the situation
· Change the current activity to distract attention from the situation
· Allow children to experience the logical consequences of their choices/actions
· Evaluate and make changes to the physical environment if necessary
· Use short periods of time away from the group if needed
· Talk with parents, seeking information that may help us understand and address the
behavior accurately
General Policy Regarding Biting
Toddlers thrive on exploration, and using their senses to investigate their world. They will “explore” other children and adults with their senses just as if these people were objects. At times a healthy toddler’s exploration of the social world will involve conflicting feelings. They may react impulsively, displaying aggressive feelings and behaviors. This may include biting. This is all part of typical development. When a child bites it is our policy to follow this procedure:
· The aggressive behavior is stopped with a firm NO!
· The biter is addressed immediately and told that biting is unacceptable, that biting hurts, and
that it is not ok to hurt our friends.
· The biter may be given a short time-out, or may be enlisted to help in the care and comfort of
the child who was bitten.
· The teacher will wash the bite with soap and water, and give reassurance.
· Both children are given more acceptable ways of dealing with the situation.
· An Injury/Incident Report is completed for both children.
· Teachers will evaluate the environment, as well as any patterns that arise with the biting, and
make adjustments as needed.
· After 3 bites the biter will be removed from the program for one week (tuition non-refundable).
After 3 additional bites the biter will be removed from the program for the remainder of year.
Personal Belongings
Please be sure to label all of your child’s belongings.
In order to ensure the best learning environment the following items should be left at home:
· Personal toys (excluding a comfort toy for younger children) Teachers in each class will
designate days for sharing special toys. Guns, war toys, or any toy that promotes aggression
should be left at home.
· Money
· Any small jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces) that can be easily lost at school.
· Candy or food, unless it is a special occasion that has been arranged with the teacher.
Daily Routines
Hours of Operation: Rocky Mount Preschool operates from September through May. Our program runs from 9:00 am until noon.
Arrival
Rocky Mount Preschool starting time is 9:00 am. Please be considerate of teachers and children by having your child to school promptly at 9:00 am. We will offer a drop off line in the mornings. We ask that parents form a line and wait for a teacher to remove your child from the car.
Transition Period
In an effort to give each child a positive school experience and smooth transition into the school year, we recommend that parents separate from children at the door to their classrooms or at the drop off line. This makes for a shorter and easier adjustment period for all. Teachers will be at the door and outside to greet you and your child. After children make this adjustment to their new environment, parents are welcome into the classroom at any time.
Dismissal
We are finished with our planned activities at 12:00 pm. If you arrive early to pick up your child, please knock on the classroom door and let the teacher bring your child to the door. This will help to prevent any disruption to the class. If someone other than the parent is to pick up a child, we must receive written notification from the parent of that child. This person should be listed on your child’s Student Information Card. Only those listed on your child’s information card as having permission to pick up your child will be allowed to take your child unless other notification is given to the Director. If there is an emergency the Preschool Office must be notified by the parent to release the child to a person on the approved list. Parents should inform any person picking up a child that we will ask for identification if needed. It is part of our mission to ensure a safe environment for your child. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Late Pick-up Policy
School is dismissed at 12:00 pm. Please be respectful of our teachers and their time. Your promptness is greatly appreciated. We will provide a grace period of five minutes, after that a late fee charge of $1.00 for each minute after 12:05 pm will be assessed.
Snacks
We provide healthy and nutritional snacks each day. A snack calendar will be posted outside your child’s classroom.
Food Allergies
Please state on the Student Information Card any food allergies your child may have. We will do our best to make accommodations for them.
Outside Play/Dress for Children
Outside play is important in the physical development of your child. Children will go outside each day that the weather permits. Please be sure that your child has a warm jacket or coat for outside play on cold weather days. We ask that children wear rubber-soled shoes to school. Rubber soled shoes are safest for children when climbing on playground equipment. Open-toe shoes, jellies, patent leather shoes, and cowboy boots are not good choices for school.
Please dress your child in comfortable PLAY clothes for school. Our curriculum will include many messy activities. We want children to feel free to participate without fear of soiling their clothes.
Please be sure that your child has an extra set of clothes in their backpack and that all items are labeled.
As children grow, we encourage independence as much as possible (toileting, etc.). Please be mindful of your child’s choice of clothing in this regard.
Birthday Parties and Classroom Celebrations
We welcome the opportunity for your child to celebrate his/her birthday at school. We realize this is a special time for young children. We ask that any parent wishing to do this keep the celebration very simple. A special individually wrapped, store bought (due to food allergies) snack and favorite story/book read to the class, etc. Please make these arrangements with your child’s teacher. Due to safety concerns, no balloons will be allowed in the classrooms.
In an effort to increase our classroom libraries, you may also donate a new book in honor of your child’s birthday. Your child’s picture and a donation sticker will be placed inside the book. If you are interested in donating a book for your child’s birthday, please contact the Preschool Director.
Each year we will celebrate special days/holidays with the children. We ask for a Parent Coordinator in each classroom, along with other volunteers, to help coordinate and gather materials. You may sign up to be a Parent Coordinator or volunteer for your child’s class at Preschool Orientation.
Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Preschool
Two-Year-Old Classroom Goals
The following goals are a general overview of the objectives for our two year olds. Although we have broken these goals into different areas of growth/development, each area is interrelated.
Christian Education
The children will:
· Be exposed to a classroom curriculum that includes simple prayers/blessings, Bible verses, stories, and songs that relate to the wonder of God’s creation
Social and Emotional Development
The children will:
· Begin to participate in group activities
· Begin to show independence
· Engage in role playing
· Participate in a variety of play situations, alone and with peers
Begin to respond and follow simple directions
Physical Development
The children will:
· Participate in activities that develop large muscle strength such as kicking, throwing, catching, running, crawling, etc.
· Participate in movement activities to develop rhythm, coordination, and balance
· Participate in activities that develop fine motor skills such as playdough, puzzles, lacing, cutting, drawing, painting, pegs, etc.
Language Development
The children will:
· Begin to use words to express wants and needs
· Be given the opportunity to respond to what and where questions
· Have the opportunity to listen and participate in stories, songs and finger plays
· Begin to identify body parts
· Be able to say first and last names
Cognitive Development
The children will:
· Complete simple puzzles
· Be given the opportunity to match, sort and count items
· Be exposed to shapes and colors that they encounter within their environment
· Participate in dramatic play/role playing activities
· Experience a variety of sensory activities
· Participate in open ended art experiences that encourage creativity and personal expression
· Be given the opportunity to explore and manipulate objects related to science and nature
· Have the opportunity to explore, manipulate, and investigate their environment
Self-Help Skills
The children will:
· Begin to develop independence and responsibility when caring for themselves:
(wiping nose, putting on and taking off coat, using restroom with limited help, washing hands, eating, and cleaning up snack/lunch, classroom clean up, etc.)
Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Preschool
Three-Year-Old Classroom Goals
The following goals are a general overview of the objectives
for our three year olds. Although we have broken these goals into
different areas of growth/development, each area is interrelated.
Christian Education
The children will:
· Be exposed to a classroom curriculum that includes simple prayers/blessings, Bible verses, stories, and songs that relate to the wonder of God’s creation
Social and Emotional Development
The children will:
· Learn to respect and care for the classroom materials and the environment
· Understand and follow classroom rules
· Participate in classroom routines; circle times, centers, clean up, snack, etc.
· Work together with peers in a cooperative manner
Physical Development
The children will:
· Participate in activities that develop large muscle strength such as kicking, throwing, catching, running, crawling, etc.
· Participate in movement activities to develop rhythm, coordination, and balance
· Participate in activities that develop fine motor skills such as playdough, puzzles, lacing, cutting, drawing, painting, pegs, etc.
Language Development
The children will:
· Have the opportunity to express themselves using words, songs, poems, role playing, etc.
· Begin to hear and discriminate the sounds of language using rhymes, alliteration, and phonemic awareness activities
· Be exposed to quality literate selections
· Begin to ask and answer questions, share details, and predict outcomes related to a literature selection
· Begin to develop an understanding of the alphabet using hands-on activities, songs, games, etc.
· Be given the opportunity to experiment with writing tools
Cognitive Development
The children will:
· Be given the opportunity to sort, measure, compare, and count concrete objects
· Participate in open-ended art experiences that encourage creativity and personal expression
· Be given the opportunity to explore and manipulate objects related to science and nature
· Be exposed to shapes and colors that they encounter within their environment
· Be given the opportunity to create and extend patterns
· Be encouraged to follow multiple step directions
· Be exposed to spatial concepts
· Have the opportunity to explore, manipulate, and investigate their environment
Self-Help Skills
The children will:
· Begin to develop independence and responsibility when caring for themselves:
(wiping nose, putting on and taking off coat, using restroom with limited help, washing hands, eating, and cleaning up snack/lunch, classroom clean up, etc.)
·
Rocky Mount United Methodist Church Preschool
Four-Year-Old Classroom Goals
The following goals are a general overview of the objectives
for our four year olds. Although we have broken these goals into
different areas of growth/development, each area is interrelated.
Christian Education
The children will:
· Be exposed to a classroom curriculum that includes simple prayers/blessings, Bible verses, stories, and songs that relate to the wonder of God’s creation
Social and Emotional Development
The children will:
· Respect and care for the classroom materials and the environment
· Understand and follow classroom rules
· Participate in classroom routines; circle time, centers, clean up, snack, etc.
· Work together with peers in a cooperative manner
Physical Development
The children will:
· Participate in activities that develop large muscle strength such as kicking, throwing, catching, running, crawling, etc.
· Participate in movement activities to develop rhythm, coordination, and balance
· Participate in activities that develop fine motor skills such as playdough, puzzles, lacing, cutting, drawing, painting, zipping, etc.
Language Development
The children will:
· Express themselves using words, expanded sentences, songs, poems, role
playing, etc.
· Begin to hear and discriminate the sounds of language using rhymes, alliteration, and phonemic awareness activities
· Be exposed to quality literature selections
· Begin to ask and answer questions, share details, predict outcomes, sequence events, and describe characters related to a literature selection
· Develop an understanding of the alphabet using hands-on activities, songs, games, etc.
· Begin to match letters with their appropriate sounds
· Be given the opportunity to experiment with a variety of writing tools, materials, and surfaces
· Use scribbles, shapes, pictures and letters to communicate their ideas
Cognitive Development
The children will:
· Be given the opportunity to sort, measure, compare, and count concrete objects
· Begin to understand part and whole concepts
· Participate in problem solving activities
· Participate in open-ended are experiences that encourage creativity and personal expression
· Be given the opportunity to explore and manipulate objects related to science and nature
· Be given the opportunity to study the customs and people of various cultures
· Recognize and create shapes that they encounter within their environment
· Be given the opportunity to reproduce, create, and extend patterns
· Follow multiple step directions
· Use appropriate language to indicate spatial concepts
· Have the opportunity to explore, manipulate, and investigate their environment
Self-Help Skills
The children will:
· Begin to develop independence and responsibility when caring for themselves: (wiping nose, putting on and taking off coat, using restroom with limited help, washing hands, eating, and cleaning up snack/lunch, classroom cleanup, puts on/takes off shoes, etc.)·
