Table of Contents
Mission Statement, Goals
Non-Discrimination Policy
Enrollment/Admission Criteria
Confidentiality Policy
Family Directory
Publication
Family Envelope
Our Belief How Children Learn
Curriculum Objectives
A. School Information
1. Location
2. Hours
3. Calendar
Regular Classroom Day
Extended Care Program
4. Tuition
5. Optional Summer Session
6. School Pictures/Yearbook
B. Absence/Tardiness
C. Accident/Injury Policy
D. Arrival and Dismissal Information (Sign In/Out)
E. Authorized Personnel
Custody Issues
F. Children's Personal Toys
G. Clothing
H. Communication & Web Site
I. Field Trips
J. Forms
1. Student Enrollment
2. Immunization/Medical Form
3. Emergency/Pick-Up Form
4. Tuition Agreement
5. Data Information Form/Family Director/Website Form (3-in-1)
6. Milk Form
7. Sunscreen/Insect Repellent/Hand Lotion Permission Use Form
8. Health Form
9. Medical Release Form
10. Personal Information
K. Health Procedures
1. Immunization
2. Medication
3. Food Allergies
4. Communicable Diseases
5. Ill-child Procedures
6. No Nit Policy
L. Parent Involvement
1. Volunteering
2. “Protecting God's Children” Safe Environment Program
3. St. James Home and School Association
M. Positive Guidance Policy
N. Safety
O. Snacks
Nutritious snacks
Birthday snacks
Nutritious lunch
Milk can be purchased
P. Snow Days and Inclement Weather
Q. Visiting School or Classroom
R. Withdrawal
1. Parent Termination
2. Mutual Decision between Parent and Pre-Kindergarten
3. Pre-school Determination
4. Appeal Process
St. James Pre-Kindergarten Mission Statement
Our goals are
➔ to provide a faith-based, four-year-old preschool program which includes an academic component
➔ to provide a loving and caring environment that fosters security in each child
➔ to offer extended childcare for students after the school day ends
➔ to reach out to children of all faiths
Non-Discrimination
St. James School does not discriminate in either admission or services to families/children on the basis of race, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation or handicapping condition (if, with reasonable adaptation on the part of the school, the handicapped person can be accommodated) in accordance with the law.
Enrollment/Admission Criteria
Admission to St. James Pre-Kindergarten program is open to any child who is four years of age by September 1, and who is successfully toilet trained.
Confidentiality Policy
Since we ask parents to share information to help us provide care for their child/ren, it is important that all information be treated with the greatest care and respect. Information about children and families is confidential and is not to be discussed with, or given to any individuals (i.e., other parents, community agencies, volunteers, friends, etc.) without written permission and/or instructions from the parent. Neither can an outside individual or agency observe a child in the program without the written permission of the parent.
Each year we publish a family directory that includes the name, address and phone number of each of our school families. If you do not want your address and/or phone number listed, please send a note the school office letting us know that.
At various events we take photos which are posted, without names, on the school website. We also invite news media to cover special school programs during which pictures are taken. Subsequently, some of these photographs are published in the newspapers. Television reporters have covered stories at school as well. If you object to your child's picture appearing on our web site or in the newspaper or newsletters, please let us know you choose to withhold publication. Use the Name/Photo Release Form to indicate your choice.
Our best means of communicating with you is sending information home with your child.
A packet is sent home weekly (on Tuesdays) in a plastic envelope with the family's last name on it. This is the Family Envelope. Notices of meetings, special events, fund raising events, menus for lunch, etc. are included. Please return the envelope to school by Friday of each week.
Our Belief In How Children Learn
St. James Pre-Kindergarten believes strongly in the value of play. Through play, children grow. They learn how to use their muscles; they develop the ability to coordinate what they see and what they do; they learn how to follow directions; they learn how to work cooperatively with one another. Children acquire many kinds of new skills and learn appropriate behaviors as they play. Through play, children mature as well. They cope with complex and conflicting emotions as they learn how to share, how to win, how to lose and the pure joy of playing with one another.
Curriculum
Our pre-kindergarten program is designed to prepare the four-year old child for kindergarten. The program hopes to engender an excitement about the learning process and an appreciation of God's world. Teachers plan and implement a curriculum that is both developmentally appropriate and age appropriate; it seeks to build on the interests of each child and intends to expose children to a variety of experiences and cultures. It promotes the social, emotional, and spiritual development of each child and fosters the development of language skills, reading readiness, math and science skills, interest in music and art, self-help skills, problem-solving skills, and fine and gross motor skills.
Children are taught to be responsible for themselves in the areas of self-control, cleaning up, working together, sharing, using manners, etc. Craft activities are designed to promote fine and gross motor skills as well as to promote the child's imagination. Number and letter recognition is practiced in a wide variety of activities as well.
The summer session from June through August is less structured than the school term session. Field trips, art, creative movement, drama and music will continue to be part of each day. Play is integral to the summer programs as it is to the yearly curriculum.
A. School Information
Location: 1204 St. James Court
Madison, WI 53715
(608)256-3095 Extension for Pre-K: 309
website: stjamesschool.org
e-mail:
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St. James School Pre-K Schedule
Hours of Program: 2 options
Monday - Friday:
1 Regular Classroom Opens at 7:45 AM
Classes begin at 8:10 and last until 3:00 PM.
This is a tuition-based program. Tuition fee sheet is given with your enrollment packet.
Lunch and snacks are included in this price.
2 Monday - Friday
Extended Care Option
Classroom opens at 7:45 AM.
Extended care is provided until 5:30 PM.
This is a tuition-based program. . Tuition fee sheet is given with your enrollment packet.
School year 2009- 2010 begins on Wednesday, August 26.
1/2 day on Wednesday, August 26-28. Dismissal at 11:45 AM.
No extended care on Wednesday.
Regular hours begin Thursday, August 27.
Pre-K last day is on June 4, 2010.
Optional Summer Session is Available
There is no school June 8 - 12, nor is there school from August 10 - 25.
Pre-school summer session is for eight weeks. June 15 - August 7.
Summer school is a minimum of 8 weeks, maximum of 9 weeks.
Summer school tuition is pro-rated accordingly.
There is an activity fee to help cover costs of field trips in the summer (bus trips and individual fees for field trips.)
6. School Pictures/Yearbook
School pictures will be taken each fall and are available for purchase. A yearbook, with pictures of all classes, staff and activities at school will be offered to purchase as well.
B. Absence/Tardiness
For safety reasons, parents are to call school (256-3095) each day their child is absent or will be coming late. Please do so before 9:00 AM. If you do not call, expect a call from the school office; this is for the safety of your child. Please let us know the reason for your child's absence, in case of any communicable diseases. We do let our families know if measles, strep throat, lice or the like are present at St. James.
A child is to stay at home if the child is too sick to participate in school activities.
C. Accident/Injury Policy
A signed consent form for medical treatment shall be on file at the school.
● If a child is injured, this procedure will be followed:
First, the degree of injury will be evaluated. If it is a serious injury, the child will not be moved, the paramedics will be contacted, the parent(s) will be called, and the child will be kept comfortable until paramedics arrive. In case of an emergency, the child, along with a staff member, will be transported to the specified hospital. The family physician will be called.
● In case of a less serious injury, superficial wounds will be cleaned with soap and water and protected by a bandage.
● If the injury is minor, parents are told about the injury when the child is picked up at the end of the day.
● Records of any injuries will be kept in a daily log book. Log entries will be completed in ink, dated and signed by the person making the entry.
● Parents will be given a copy of the accident log entry and a copy will be put in the child's file.
● Off-Site Injury Procedures (field trips)
Emergency procedures will be followed as stated above. If a child is injured or ill, the parent will be called to pick up the child; an adult will always stay with the child until the parent arrives even if the group needs to go on and leave the area.
D. Arrival and Dismissal Information (Sign In/ Sign Out Procedure)
For reasons of safety and security, a parent or designated adult must accompany children at all times and drop them off at the classroom door. This is mandatory. Children are not permitted in the building without a parent. Do not leave your child at the entrance of the school or on the playground. If need be, bring child to Resource Room and speak to principal.
When you arrive in the morning, please assist or guide your child with his/her outside clothing. Each child has a locker in which to put his/her belongings. Bring your child to the classroom and sign him/her in on the Sign In/Sign Out sheet.
The classroom opens at 7:45 AM. The first bell rings at 8:00 AM; announcements are made at 8:10 AM., prayer is said, and then classes begin.
Dismissal is at 3:00 PM; the Extended Care program provides care until 5:30 PM.
At dismissal time, please go to your child's classroom to sign your child out of school.
Please make every effort to pick up your child on time. If lateness is unavoidable (flat tire, car trouble, working late, etc.) notify the school immediately at 256-3095 and arrange for your child to be picked up by another adult or discuss an arrangement with the staff. After three unapproved late pick-ups, a fee of $10 will be charged.
E. Authorized Personnel:
At the time of enrollment and registration, parent(s) will indicate to the staff, on a written form, who is authorized to bring and pick up the child from school. If a relative or friend will be picking up your child, and is not listed on the Enrollment Form, please tell a teacher and write a note to be attached to the Sign In sheet. No unauthorized person will be allowed to pick up a child. Please note, authorized person will need to present picture ID to staff.
Custody: If any specific situations arise, the principal may request the divorced parents to furnish a copy of the custody section of the divorce decree.
F. Children's Personal Toys:
In general personal toys are to be kept a home, except for books, CDs and learning games; however, in early days of the school year, a child may need a transition object/toy to ease the transition from home to school. A transition object may be a child's special blanket or stuffed animal.
“Show 'n Share” activity will be held once a week, a time your child can bring in a favorite non-violent toy to share during large group time. When a child brings something to share, we encourage and expect children to be respectful of each other's property.
G. Clothing:
Please dress your child in clothes that will allow him/her to engage freely in all activities during the day. Clothes should be comfortable, non-restrictive, and washable. The program includes active and sometimes messy play!
A complete change of clothing must be supplied by parents, kept in the classroom and replenished as needed; these items should be labeled. Include a short-sleeved shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a sweater/sweatshirt, shorts or long pants, underwear, and socks.
Parents must send appropriate outdoor clothing for daily variations in the weather. Two outdoor play periods are scheduled each day. In summer, children must be provided with clothing to protect them from the sun, as well as sunscreen.
Girls wearing skirts must have shorts to wear when playing on climbing equipment
outside in the park.
Sturdy safe shoes, appropriate for the playground, running, walking up and down the stairs and on field trips, are required. Tennis shoes, tie or Velcro shoes are acceptable. Shoes without a strap around the heel are not acceptable nor are “flip-flops.”
H. Communication:
Weekly newsletters from the principal to keep you informed of the school's activities will be sent home each Tuesday. You are always welcome at any program or event!
A public communication log will be kept next to the Sign In sheet that will include notes from the teacher/staff.
A personal communication log could be set up at your request.
Informal evaluations of each child are done on a daily basis. Formal written evaluations are shared two times a year, in November and in May. A verbal conference will be offered at any time. Additional conferences regarding the program's activities or the children's performance may be requested at any time.
Our school website, stjamesschool.org, provides an opportunity to showcase our school, our students, our activities and our philosophy in action. On it you will find the monthly school calendar, the hot lunch menu, our volunteer workers, supply lists for each classroom, the history of our school, and an array of activities at St. James School presented in collage style. Be sure to check it for news and pictures. There is a pre-k folder as well.
I. Field Trips
Field trips make a unique contribution to the curriculum. A permission slip, signed by a parent/guardian, must be on file in the office before your child can participate in a field trip. Phone calls giving permission will not be acceptable for field trips.
J. Forms:
1. Student Enrollment
2. Immunization Form must be kept up to date.
3. Emergency Form must be completed in case we need to contact the family.
4. Tuition Agreement (which includes $100 registration fee)
5. Data Information Form…Family Directory
6. Milk Form
7. Sunscreen/Insect Repellent/Hand Lotion Permission Form Use
8. Health Form & Medical Release Form
9. Personal Information of the Child (to be shared with the pre-k teachers)
K. Health Procedures
1. Immunization And Medical From: These forms must be in the school office 30 days after the opening day of school. Continue to record any new information.
2. Medication: State law generally prohibits the dispensing of medication by school personnel. Medicine, in its original container, can be given only with directions from a physician and a note signed by the parent. All medications must be kept in the school office with the name of the child, the name of the medication, a signed release form for dispensing the medication, both over-the-counter or prescription. (During the summer session, all medications are in a lock box in a locked closet in the pre-k classroom.)
3. Food allergies and other allergies must be known by all staff members having direct contact with your child. Please inform your child's teacher of all allergies – in writing. Be specific about which food cannot be eaten by your child. A list of food allergies present in the classroom will be shared with parents to protect the health of all the children.
4. Communicable Diseases: When a child is suspected of having chicken pox, measles, hepatitis, mumps or other reportable diseases, the local public health officer shall be notified. Children in the classroom will be watched for symptoms of the disease and will be notified of a possible exposure. A child may be readmitted without a statement from a physician after having had a communicable disease only if the child has been absent equal to the longest incubation period of the disease (check with your doctor.)
5. Ill-child Procedures: A child with a significant temperature (100° or higher) or who has vomited is to stay home for 24 hours after the temperature is back to normal or the vomiting has stopped.
6 No Nit Policy: There is a “No Nit” policy regarding head lice. If it is discovered that a child has nits visible in his/her hair, we will call and ask you to take your child home. Then proceed with the process to get rid of the nits. A child is not to return to school if he/she has any nits in his/her hair. Please advise us if you discover lice/nits in your child's hair; we do “head checks” and do notify families to confine to be watchful (especially if a child itches his/her hair or head often.)
L. Parent Involvement
1. We acknowledge you parents as your child's first teachers. You are key in their development. We welcome volunteers in the classroom; consider giving some time to
work in the classroom one hour a week, or a month, or whatever time you can share.
St. James Pre-Kindergarten encourages open staff-parent communication about all the school's activities. Parent involvement is extremely important in a quality childhood education program. We encourage parents to share any interests or skills they may have with the children and the staff, or to participate in any manner they feel comfortable.
Parents are encouraged to participate through volunteering, contribution of talents or cultural/ethnic interests as well as in the preparation of snacks. There are also times when we are in need of parent help for other projects. Volunteers work in many different areas: as playground monitors, as librarians, as computer room helpers, as classroom aides, as hot lunch servers, as office helpers. A volunteer form will be sent home to each family.
2. The Diocese of Madison has implemented a program called “Protecting God's Children.” This program is an effort to establish safe environments for children and young adults within our parish and school programs. The program is an awareness and educational session which all volunteers (such as preschool parent volunteers) are required to attend. Dates and times for these sessions will be mailed to each family.
3. Parents are invited to be involved in our Home and School Association as well. This is an organization that does some fund raising, but also plans activities that call the parents and children together for family events. A spirit of community is evident!
M. Positive Guidance & Discipline Policy
We believe in providing positive guidance for children during their pre-kindergarten experience. Discipline implies a way of learning and behaving. We make every effort to teach the child how to make the right choices and to be responsible for their own actions. One of the most important facets of education involves the learning of an inner discipline and the wise use of freedom.
One goal of the staff is to have a child who is happy at school, who feels loved and respected by the teachers and classmates. Discipline does not entail a specific strategy but a combination of techniques which are appropriate for the child's personality, developmental level, circumstances that occur and stresses in the child's life.
N. Safety
A school-wide safety plan has been developed in consultation with the police and fire departments. The plan covers all school safety issues.
Fire, tornado and evacuation drills are conducted with the students. If an evacuation is necessary, we will walk to Beth Israel Synagogue at 1406 Mound Street; accommodations are available to us there until we are assured of safety. You will be informed if such an evacuation is necessary.
In compliance with the Wisconsin State Law, no child will be left unattended in the school building, on the playground or anywhere in the building during recess time or the noon time.
O. Snacks
Snacks are part of a child's total daily food intake as well as a learning experience. Nutritious snacks will be served both in the morning and afternoon.
Birthdays are special events for the young child. If you wish to bring a special treat, let the teacher know of your plans for that day. Please be aware of allergies of people in the classroom.
A nutritious lunch will be provided. Milk can be purchased for your child: Skim, 2% or chocolate milk is available. Payment can be made yearly or twice during the school year – once in September and again January.
Please have your child finish any snacks prior to entering the classroom in the morning.
P. Snow Days and Inclement Weather
If the Madison Public Schools close, we will close as well. Listen to the radio and television reports. (Our school name will be on television, but not on the radio.)
If weather conditions change during the day, the children will NOT be dismissed early unless the public schools do and buses come early. Parents may, however, choose to pick their children up before the end of the school day. Parents are asked to use their own judgment in sending their children to school when the weather conditions are severe and questionable.
If , for any reason, our school would have to be closed (water off, furnace out, etc) we would announce that on the TV and radio stations. (FYI. We have never had to do that.)
Q. Visiting School or Classroom
As a safety procedure, please enter through the School Office and get a “Visitor” badge to wear before visiting the classroom or other parts of the school. This identifies you to everyone – students and staff alike – that you have accessed the building through the main office.
We welcome parents and guests visiting the classrooms to see students at work and to view their work as well
R. Withdrawal from the Pre-Kindergarten Program
1. Parent Termination
➔ When the parent enrolls his/her child in the program, it should be with the intention of participation of the child for the full year.
➔ If a parent finds it necessary to withdraw their child, they should first discuss it with the teacher/director. A two-week written notice is required and tuition shall be paid through the end of the month in which the two-week period ends. No withdrawals will be accepted after April 1 of the school year, without May's tuition being prepaid.
2. Mutual Decision Between Parent & School
The pre-kindergarten staff reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of any child whose individual needs cannot be met. The parent(s) may seek the opinion of another professional in cooperation with the teacher. The termination would be preceded by conferences with the parents, the principal and other professional individuals.
3. School Decision:
The school may terminate the enrollment of a child when:
parents fail to pay fees
parents fail to submit health and immunization forms
parents fail to observe rules in regard to arrival and departure
4. Appeal Process
Resolution of disagreements or conflicts between parent and teacher must be attempted first. If a satisfactory resolution is not achieved, a meeting with the principal may be scheduled. Notes will be taken, recorded and dated.
Working together, abiding by rules, respecting the rights of each person, trusting in each other's judgment, bringing any concerns to people directly involved – these are the ways we can work together to make good things happen at St. James this year.
We welcome you to the pre-kindergarten program! We welcome you to this school community. May you find this to be a nurturing environment for your child.
