School Policies and Prodedures
Admission
Registration is complete when the preschool receives the first and last months tuition, one-time $10 application dee, and the following forms, completed and signed: Registration form, membership agreement, medical consent form, insurance waivers, photo release form and proof of immunization form. Administration/Role of Members
Irvington Cooperative Preschool is a cooperative preschool tun by the parents whose cihldren attend the school. Operations of the school are governed by an Executive Board comrised of the following officers: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President of Membership, and Vice President for Fundraising. For Irvington Preschool to operate each family must participate in the key aspects of the program including: Parent Helping
Parents are required to help in the classroom on a rotating basis as assigned on the monthly calendar. The teacher will discuss specific duties and policies at the September Orientation Meeting, and each family will receive a copy of parent duties in orientation materials. Parent helpers should arrive no later than 9:15 and bring a snack as indicated on the schedule. Parents are required to perform duties reasonably requested by the teacher and to stay until each child has been picked up by a parent or other adult designated by the child’s parent. If a parent knows in advance that he or she will be unable to parent help on the assigned day, he or she is responsible for finding a replacement from within the membership. The school is unable to function without two parent helpers and class may be cancelled if a parent has not arranged for a replacement. Parents are responsible for noting changes on the monthly schedule outside the classroom. If a parent makes no arrangement for a replacement but another parent volunteers to parent help in their place,the absent parent will be required to take the substitute’s next parent help day. Repeated failure to fulfill the parent-helping obligation may result in revocation of membership. Committee Responsibility (Parent Jobs)
As part of the registration process, parents will have an opportunity to rank preferences for committee assignments. Based on these preferences, the Executive Board will assign a year-long responsibility to each family; however, the Executive Board may not be able to accommodate all preferences. Each assignment will be overseen by a job coordinator, usually a member of the Executive Board, who is available to answer questions and provide assistance. Failure to perform duties may result in revocation of membership. Fundraising
Each family is responsible for participating in fundraising activities and meeting a fundraising obligation of $250 p child. The Fundraising Committee organizes numerous activities throughout the year: the Flutter Run, wreath sale, Chinook Book sale, and either an auction or rummage sale. If a family has not met its fundraising goal at the end of the year, it is obliged to pay the difference in cash. In-kind contributions cannot be accepted toward the fundraising goal. Failure to meet the fundraising obligation may result in revocation of membership. Meetings
General Membership Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month in the Fellowship Hall (the “gym”). At least one parent from each family must attend each general membership meeting. Parents provide refreshments on a rotating basis, and childcare will be provided for a small fee. Parents must notify the Secretary in advance if unable to attend the General Membership Meeting. A $20 fine may be assessed to those absent who are absent. Repeated delinquency shall be brought before the Executive Board for review and may result in revocation of membership. The Executive Board meets monthly in the classroom immediately before the General Membership Meeting. Executive Board meeting are open to the membership. New members are required to attend a Parent Orientation in September. The teacher will present information relating to parent helping, curriculum, and classroom policies. Community Hours
In addition to the committee assignment, each family is required to donate a total of five hours service to one or more of the following committees: fundraising, deep cleaning, classroom maintenance, open house, and memory book. Committee hours may be fulfilled over the summer or during the school year. Tuition
Monthly tuition ($80 for the Caterpillar Class and $120 for the Butterfly Class) is due by the 5th of each month. Make checks payable to Irvington Preschool. Payments may be placed in the tuition envelope inside the classroom or mailed to the treasurer. A $10 late fee may be assessed if payment is not made by the 5th of the month. A $20 fee may be assessed for returned checks. Repeated delinquency of payment may result in revocation of membership. Supply Fee
Each family will either pay a $20 supply fee or purchase supplies from the teacher’s list by the first day of school.
Classroom Procedures
Arrival/Pick-Up
The teacher shall open the classroom at 9:30 a.m. Parents must bring their children promptly or notify the school as soon as possible of tardiness or absence. A parent or designated adult must accompany each child to the door of the classroom, sign the child in on the attendance sheet, pick up the child when school is over, and sign the child out on attendance sheet. No child will be allowed to leave the classroom by him/herself or be allowed to leave with an adult not designated by the parent or guardian. Parents must arrive at noon for the Caterpillar Class and 12:30 p.m. for the Butterfly Class for after school pick up. Parents must notify the teacher as soon as possible if they will be delayed. Discipline Policy
The intent of the discipline policy is to provide a framework for the teacher and parent helpers to ensure a safe, welcoming, and positive learning environment for all. The underlying philosophy is to use positive guidance techniques to facilitate the development of social skills, self-control, and self-regulation in children. Key strategies include modeling and encouraging expected behavior, redirecting children to more acceptable activities, setting clear limits, and intervening to enforce consequences for unacceptable, harmful behavior. The expectations of the teacher and parent helpers respect children’s developing capabilities. They recognize that preschool children have recently acquired language skills and, in the heat of the moment, the most recently acquired skills are the first to go, so they frequently resort to physical means. The teacher and parent helpers are patient, realizing that not every minor infraction warrants a response. Dealing with Inappropriate Behavior
The initial response to unacceptable, harmful behavior is to remove the child from the situation while a helper takes care of anyone who has been hurt. The teacher works with the child to become as calm as necessary before dealing with the incident. Once the child has calmed and is able to relate what happened, the teacher listens and then repeats what she has heard. Those involved in the incident will be brought together to the quiet area to talk together, exploring perspectives and feelings on both sides. If necessary, the teacher will help by guiding the children toward understanding and empathizing with each other. This in, in essence, the consequence for inappropriate behavior: Children must work to resolve the incident together, facilitated by the teacher or parent helper, if necessary. In general, Irvington Preschool does not impose “time outs” on children, other than to take the time to calm an upset child. If the teacher is unable to calm a child, she calls the parent to take the child home with the understanding of the child’s need to be in a different space at that time. The child is welcomed back when he or she is able to join the group. If the behavior is ongoing the teacher will schedule a parent-teacher conference. Toy Policy
Toys should be left at home. Children are, however, allowed, to bring “lovies” if needed. Birthdays
We celebrate each child’s birthday by baking a cake and making a crown. If your child has a summer birthday, we can celebrate his or her “half birthday.” Please do not use classroom cubbies to distribute birthday party invitations unless the whole class is invited. Clothing
Children should be dressed in comfortable, washable clothing to allow for playing and participation in art activities. Parents may bring a change of clothing to the school. Clothing is also available at the school on an emergency basis and must be returned laundered. Diaper/Toilet Training
Children are not required to be out of diapers. It is important to inform the teacher of their child’s diaper/toilet training needs prior to the first day of school and let the teacher know when there are changes. The teacher and family will create a plan for diapering and/or toilet learning which meets the needs of the child. School Closures
School will be closed on Portland Public School holidays, teacher planning days, and when inclement weather requires school closure. All holidays and teacher planning days are noted on the school calendar. If school is closed due to inclement weather the social coordinator will call families and Sam will send an e-mail informing families of the school closure. Visitors
Parents must prearrange classroom visits with the teacher. Safety and Health Basic Policy
All adults are responsible for the safety of the children. Please be alert to any possible dangers or hazards and remedy them immediately or report them to the teacher. If you see a broken toy or equipment, remove it and tell the teacher. If you see unsafe behavior, stop it immediately and then discuss it with the child. A first aid kit, including plastic gloves, is available in the white cabinets above the child’s sink. Accident Procedure Prevention
The main thing we can do to prevent accidents at school is to keep a watchful eye on the children. Be sure to intervene to stop unsafe behavior (e.g., hitting, biting, or unsafe use of tools or toys). If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, ask the teacher or another parent helper for help. Report Accidents to Teacher
Parents who witness an accident are to report all details immediately to the teacher. Parents are responsible for informing the teacher, and she is responsible for soliciting all necessary information so as to make the best possible decision regarding the child’s care. It is the teacher’s responsibility to determine the course of action, using her judgment on a case-by-case basis. Medical Emergency
For serious injuries, a parent helper calls 911, the teacher remains with the injured child, and the other parent helper supervised the class. The parent helper then notifies the child’s parent at the phone number on the sign-in sheet. If the parent cannot be reached, the first emergency contact is notified. If they cannot be reached, the second is notified. If he or she cannot the reached, the parent helper will call the child’s physician. The teacher or child’s parent accompanies the child to the hospital, taking the yellow insurance packet with them. The President of the Executive Board should notify PCPO by phone immediately of an injury that required medical attention and submit an Accident Report form to PCPO within one week of the incident. Insurance Coverage for MembersOur group insurance policy through PCPO covers “students and parent assistants for medical treatment for injuries sustained while taking part in or traveling straight to or from any activity sponsored and supervised by the school.” Field TripsThe children will periodically participate in supervised field trips. The teacher will notify parents in writing at least one week ahead of time. Additional parent helpers and/or drivers may be needed, and a sign-up sheet will be next to the sign in book prior to each trip. The teacher will choose a meeting place and time and provide all drivers with necessary information regarding the destination, including maps and directions. Parents scheduled to drive or chaperone who find themselves unable to do so must find a replacement. Car PoliciesFor the children’s safety, when we travel in cars on field trips: - All children transported in cars must have child safety seats or booster seats that are compatible with the car’s seatbelts, and must be restrained at all times.
- The Preschool’s insurance does not cover transportation in private vehicles. Parents who volunteer to drive children and other parents on field trips should carry auto insurance with a minimum liability coverage of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence or $300,000 combined single limits. Parents who do not carry the minimum coverage required by the school may still drive their own child on a field trip.
- The teacher is responsible for bringing emergency information and releases, field trip permission forms, and a first aid kit.
Immunization/Illness
All families must provide proof that the child has had all immunizations as required by the State of Oregon and/or Multnomah County Health Department. Exemptions include a temporary medical exemption signed by a physician, a permanent medical exemption signed by a physician and approved by the Health Department, or a religious exemption. If your child is not feeling well, please keep the child home so that other children will not be exposed to the illness. Children must be kept home for at least 24 hours following a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or prescription of antibiotics. Please notify the school as soon as possible of absence. Food Allergies
The teacher will alert parents of any food allergies that members of the class may have. It is important to take these into account in planning your snack. Church Property and Parking
We pay rent to Augustana Lutheran Church for use of the school facilities. Please treat the church and its property with care. Parents may park in the church parking lot when dropping off or picking up children. If you are a parent helper, please park on NE 15th Avenue or Knott. The church asks that parents not park on NE 14th Avenue.
Services Provided to the Preschool
Irvington Preschool encourages and appreciates voluntary services provided by parents for the benefit of the Preschool. The Preschool has a limited budget, however, and will reimburse parents for materials and services only if these are approved by the Executive Board in advance.
The Executive Board may make limited exceptions in its discretion. Only the Executive Board is authorized to agree on behalf of the Preschool to purchase goods and services, including goods or services provided by any parent. Classroom Fund
The Classroom Fund is a separate account established to hold fees assessed for policy breaches. Fees may be charged for delinquent tuition, checks written on accounts with insufficient funds and failure to attend Monthly General Membership Meetings. Fees will be added to the next month’s tuition. At the end of the year, money collected is added to the scholarship fund. Grievances
All concerns relating to children, the curriculum or the classroom should first go to the teacher. If the issue cannot be resolved, the parent should approach the President of the Executive Board. All concerns regarding administration, procedures, budget or fundraising should be addressed to the Board member responsible. If the issue cannot be resolved, the parent should approach the President. The President will bring the concern to the Executive Board for discussion. If the issue involves the President, the parent should approach the Vice President for Membership who will then bring the issue before the Executive Board.
Last updated by lluthi on Aug 19, 2008 at 07:43 PM
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