eansprouts Parent Guide, 2006 - 2007
 

1. General Information

• Calendar - Beansprouts is open from September through June. Please click here to see our calendar. We run our summer camp program for 8 weeks during July and August.

2. Time Schedule

• Beansprouts Preschool Program begins each day at 8:30 a.m. Parents need to bring their children no later than 9:15 a.m. In order to ease separation and facilitate adjustment all parents are asked to leave the room by 9:15 a.m. It's much easier on the children as well as the teachers when all children arrive on time so we can start with our day and routines.
• Full Day Program Pick-up – children will be dismissed between 2:45 and 3:00 p.m. Parents must leave by 3:00 p.m. with their child. This ensures a smooth transition for the children who are staying for after school.
• Early Bird Program - runs from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. - will be billed at the end of each month for hours used.
• After School Program is available 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - will be billed at the end of each month for hours used. A late fee of $5 for every 15 minutes will be charged to anyone who remains after 6:00 p.m. This fee must be paid directly to the teacher who remains with your child. It is a good idea to have a back up pick-up person on call to avoid this situation if you are late.

3. Tuition

• Daytime - the tuition for preschool 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. is billed by the month. Make checks payable to Beansprouts. All fees are on due on the 15th of the month prior, i.e., October 15th - November tuition is due.
• Early Birds - 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. is billed to the closest ½ hour. $5.00 per hour; $2.50 per ½ hour. Early Birds fee for 2004 births is $6.00 per hour; $3.00 per ½ hour. Make checks payable to Beansprouts.
• After School - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. is billed monthly according to the hours of use. $5.00 per hour; $2.50 per ½ hour. After School fee for 2003 births is $6.00 per hour; $3.00 per ½ hour. You need to sign out the time your child is picked up at the end of the day on the sign out board located in the classroom. If you do not sign your child out, you are automatically billed until 6:00 p.m.
• Early Birds & After School Fee - these hours combined are capped at $200.00 month; and $225.00 month for 2004 births.

4. Attendance

• If your child is sick or going to be late please call and let us know. Children who are not feeling well or who have had a fever 24 hours prior to school must be kept home.

5. Classroom Happenings

• Home Visits - As a way of getting to know each other better at the start of a new school year, the teaching staff will do home visits to each child's' house prior to school if possible. In addition, the 3’s and 4’s classes will visit each other’s homes during the course of the school year.
• Dress - The Beansprouts motto on dress is "Messy Children are happy children!" When children play, paint, glue, dig, eat, dress up and ride bikes they are bound to get messy. Please send your child to school in play clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. Each child has a basket for changes of clothing. Please make sure your child has ample changes of underwear and socks as well as clothing that is appropriate to the season. (Label all clothing articles).
• Outside Time - Children need fresh air. At Beansprouts children have outside time regardless of the weather, (snow, light rain, cold) etc. Please make sure to dress your child appropriately with rain gear and snow gear if needed.
• Food - Children bring their own lunches. Please send healthy foods - no cookies, cakes, sugary drinks, etc. One day a week is our cooking day. Each child is asked to bring in an ingredient for our cooking project. Ingredient notes are sent home, as well as listed on the door prior to cooking day. Nutritious snacks are also provided by Beansprouts everyday.
• Birthday Celebrations - Each child's birthday is celebrated at Beansprouts by having a special birthday circle. One parent is asked to come in on a day chosen on/or near the child's birthday and tell the story of the child's birth. The circle can include bringing baby pictures, clothing, favorite baby toys etc! Parents are also asked to bring cupcakes or muffins and candles for a celebration after circle. Please do not bring balloons or goody bags.
• Trips - (for Full-Time 3’s & 4’s) - We take lots of trips. It is a wonderful way for children to learn and explore their surroundings. Children are asked to wear Beansprouts T-shirts on trip days. Parents are always welcome. Please let the teacher know in advance you would like to accompany us.
• Swimming (for Full-Time 3‘s & 4‘s) - Beansprouts has the wonderful opportunity of swimming each week throughout the whole year. We have a pre-assigned 45-minute time slot. Parents are invited to swim, please let the teacher know in advance if you want to swim with us. The 2--year-old program does not participate in swimming.
• Circle time - We have two circle times each day. Reading stories, singing, finger plays, group games are all a part of circle time. One morning each week is our show-and-tell circle. Children are allowed to bring items special to them (toys, stuffed animals, gadgets etc.) for this day. On other days we encourage that toys be left at home.
• Music - Once a week our music teachers come in to the classroom. They bring their guitar and sing lots of songs and dance with the children.
• Creative Movement - We have creative movement, either with a Creative Movement Teacher or through classroom activities. He/She sings songs, dances, stretches and does movement activities with the children. The children work on gross motor and fine motor skills through games and play. Beanbags, parachutes, body bands and puppets make this activity a very exciting one!
• Rest Time - Children rest on cots for approximately one hour. The 2’s nap slightly longer. Story tapes and/or lullabies are playing through rest time. Parents are asked to send in 2 sheets or a blanket for rest time, and take it home for washing twice a month.
• Pick-up from School - If someone other than your immediate family is going to pick up your child at the end of the day, please let us know who the person is and make sure your child knows the person and is aware of the arrangements, otherwise, we will not release your child until you have been notified.
• Beansprouts Family Photographs (Family Wall) - We feel we are all part of one big family at Beansprouts. We like to get to know each family personally. We start this by asking each child to bring in 5 or 6 family pictures at the beginning of the year. We have a family wall where all the pictures get displayed.
• Illness - When children gather in one place at one time, it is very likely that contagious ailments such as colds, coughs, sore throats, and flu will be passed around. However, if some practical guidelines are followed, we can keep illness at a minimum. Please do not bring your child to school if you suspect he/she is "coming down with something." Many illnesses are most contagious in early stages. Very runny noses, bad coughs, and lots of sneezes spread colds very quickly. Let such symptoms diminish before sending your child back to school. If your child has an allergy condition which results in these symptoms and he/she is not contagious let the teacher know this too. Please notify us if your child has been diagnosed with a contagious disease such as strep throat, conjunctivitis, and chicken pox so that we may alert other parents to the symptoms. We have no provisions for individual children to remain indoors during outside play so if you do not wish him/her to play outdoors because of the weather or health reasons, please keep your child at home that day. If your child becomes sick during the day, you will be notified immediately.
• Medications - Sometimes children are ready to return to school after an illness but still require medication. Department of Health regulations prohibit school personnel from dispensing medication even if they have written consent from doctor or parent. This new change in policy became effective February 2005. If your child needs any medication someone from home needs to come to give it to him or her.
• Parent/Teacher Conferences - Parent Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in November and in April. This conference gives you an opportunity to hear about your child, as well as ask any questions or share information.
• Strollers - Beansprouts has stroller parking at 410 6th Avenue (8th Street site). Unfortunately, strollers cannot be left in the classrooms, because they take up too much room. Please fold your stroller and hang it on the hooks on the back wall in the big room of the church space. Classes at 446 6th Avenue can lock their strollers on the gate outside the classroom.
• School Notes - Class notes, and monthly calendars are sent home in your child’s lunch box or backpack. If your child is absent be sure to look for it in his/her cubby.
• A word about super hero play - Children need to engage in pretend play to foster their growth and development. At Beansprouts we like to encourage play that helps children feel more powerful and in control of their lives and ends in peaceful conflict resolution. We encourage children to be fire fighters, rescue workers, police officers, doctors and community workers, so they can learn how powerful being helpful is. We actively discourage and stop superhero play. Superhero play involving Spiderman, Batman, Pokemon, Superman, etc. tends to be very limiting to children and encourages physical aggression, and often re-enacts a good guy vs. bad guy conflict that inevitably ends in destruction and or violence. We guide children away from this type of play.
• Parents Participation - If any parent would like to bring in a special activity to do with their child’s class, we’d welcome it. It can be any activity such as storytelling, cooking, music, etc. Please speak with your child’s teacher if you are interested.
• A Final Note - The staff at Beansprouts genuinely cares about all their children and families. Please feel free to speak with us at any time about any concerns or questions you have. We welcome open communications between home and school. Together, we are partners and share in the exciting process of your child’s growth.