Student Handbook

St. Johns Presbyterian Kindergarten

2009-2010

Important Information

Welcome ! You have chosen well. St. Johns has been providing excellence in education for young children for the past 50 years. Since its founding in 1959 SJPK has nurtured, challenged, and inspired precious little ones. We are honored that you will share our Golden Anniversary year with us.

ARRIVAL OF  MOTHER'S MORNING OUT CHILDREN

Mothers accompanying MMO children may park briefly on Lexington by the playground and in front of the Kirk House. Please do not block the alley. You will need to walk your child into the building and to the classroom.  Please do not leave until the classroom teacher is aware of your arrival.

DISMISSAL OF MOTHERS' MORNING OUT CHILDREN

Parents must arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. to pick up Mother's Morning Out students.  When parking on Lexington, PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE CARPOOL LINE.  This causes the carpool line to back up and creates a dangerous situation.  Please retrieve your child quickly. Please do not park in the beautiful parking lot across the street.  Crossing  the street at carpool time is dangerous. You may park in front of the Kirk House, making certain that you do not block the alley.

ARRIVAL

This procedure calls for patience and requires several minutes, but the time involved is important to insure the safety of everyone.  At arrival and dismissal times, traffic on Lexington is dangerous.  Please follow the suggestions below for the sake of the children's safety. REMEMBER THAT CELL PHONE USE IS PROHIBITED IN THE CAR POOL LINE. YOUR CHILD DESERVES A WARM GOOD BY AND THE TRAFFIC NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION. Drive though the church parking lot off of San Juan Avenue, bear right and turn left onto Lexington. Please do not arrive before 8:45.  At that time a designated staff member will be on duty to assist your child with entering the playground. Pull your car alongside the Lexington curb to the orange cone. Two or three cars will unload at once.  PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR FOR ANY REASON.  A staff member will help the children unload safely. If you are on a bike or pushing a stroller, please have your child enter the playground through the gate in front of the red door. If you arrive after nine o'clock and the children have gone inside, please walk your child into the building through the main entrance to the school on Herschel Street.  You will need to be buzzed in and then walk your child to his/her classroom.  Please make certain your child's teacher is aware of your arrival.

DISMISSAL / ST. JOHNS PICK UP PASS

We cannot allow a child to go home with anyone other than his/her parents or a person designated by them.  Any change must be made in writing. Everyone must have an official color coded St. Johns pick up pass. It will help us to identify you and your car, so please attach it to the right front windshield.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

The two year old classes will be dismissed for carpool at 12:30.  Please follow the procedures below to insure a safe, speedy pick up. If you wait until after 12:30 to arrive, you will be in the long, slow pick up line, so come early.

To pick up your child at 12:45, drive along the Lexington curb. Please make sure that your pick up pass is visible on the right front windshield.  A staff member will direct you to stop at one of the orange cones and then your child will be helped into the car. No child will be put in a car unless there is an approved, age appropriate child safety seat in place. If you do not have an approved car seat in your car, you must park on Herschel and pick up your child at the walking gate. Encourage your children to fasten their own seat belts; if they can't, the dismissal person will do it for them if the car seat is next to the curb. Teachers will not enter your vehicle to fasten seat belts. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR FOR ANY REASON.  If a child has forgotten something, pull into a parking space on Herschel and a teacher will retrieve the item and bring it to you.  This way the other cars can continue to move along.

The traffic on Herschel is heavy. Please do not attempt to turn left. To keep traffic flowing you will only be allowed to turn right onto Herschel.  If there is a delay of any sort DO NOT pull out of the line and attempt to go around the other cars.  This is very dangerous and has resulted in accidents and near misses. Let's teach our children the value of patience by being good stewards of our vehicles.

End your cell phone call when your child approaches your car. You need to greet him/her with a smile and ask about his day.  You also need to pay attention to the traffic as you continue in the line. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE PLACED IN YOUR CAR IF YOU ARE ON THE PHONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN KEEPING THE CHILDREN SAFE.

A $10 late fee will be billed to you if you pick your child up in the office after 1:00.

WALKING GATE

If you are picking up one or two children and do not want to wait in the carpool line, please park in front of the building on Herschel Street and walk to the gate closest to Herschel. It will be necessary to hold your pick-up pass above your head so we can identify you.  The teachers will see you and send your child to the walking gate. 

ALLEY

It runs one way behind the church from Shirley Street to Lexington Avenue.  Please DO NOT drive into the alley from Lexington or turn around in the alley.  The alley should only be used during Rainy Day drop-off and pick-up.  It should NOT be used as a "short cut" route.  Please remember that there is a stop sign before you enter Lexington Ave.

LUNCH

Children should bring their lunches & drinks in clearly labeled lunch boxes.  The child's name should be on the sides and top of the box.  If your student is in Mother's Morning Out or the Two's program, please send bite size foods.  This will avoid potential choking hazards and teachers can focus on your children and not on cutting up their food.  Please inform the office and your child's teacher of any food allergies. 

If you would like to sign your child up for FUN LUNCHES              , you may do so on the form that will go home with your child quarterly. We offer Chick-Fil-A, pizza, hot dogs, McDonald's burgers, and Moe's quesadillas. We do this as a convenience to parents and as our major fund raiser.

SNACKS

Children will bring their snacks each day in clearly labeled disposable bags and eat according to their class schedule.  Drinks are provided. Please do not place morning snacks inside lunch boxes.  Some healthy choices are: dry cereal, crackers, fruit, vegetables, cheese, pretzels, cereal bars. 

CLOTHING AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Sweaters, raincoats, jackets, caps, etc., MUST BE PLAINLY MARKED WITH THE CHILD'S NAME.  Please dress your child in clothing he or she can manage alone.  Heavy belts are difficult for young ones. Jumpsuits and overalls with straps are frustrating for young children.  For safety reasons, all shoes should have backs—no sandals, flip flops or boots; tennis shoes are best.  We do not allow toy guns or knives of any sort at St. Johns.  Toys should be brought on designated share days only.

EMERGENCY WEATHER PROCEDURE

In the event of a hurricane or other emergency weather situations, listen to local stations for information.  If the Duval County schools are closed, we will automatically be closed the first day that the county schools are closed. If the county schools are forced to remain closed for an extended period of time, and our school is able to operate, then we will re-open. Listen to the radio and CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE for information.  The answering system will tell you when we will close, as well as the re-opening times. In the event of a continued severe weather situation, each teacher will call the students in her class and inform them of the re-opening date.  Shirley, Herschel and Lexington Avenues are prone to flood so we may be forced to close even if Duval County does not.  If that occurs, the school answering system will provide pertinent information. St. Johns may also close in the event of loss of utilities (no power or water), a state of emergency, or weather conditions that inhibit adequate staffing of our program.

RAINY DAY CARPOOL INSTRUCTIONS

Rainy day drop off (9:00 a.m.) and rainy day pick-up (12:30 for 2's and 12:45 for 3's and 4's) will be under the Crisp Portico in the alley.

Please turn onto Lexington Ave. from Herschel St., then turn left onto Lakeside Dr., left onto Shirley St., and left into the alley, stopping under the portico.

Turning onto Lexington and going around the block will alleviate hazardous traffic backup onto Herschel.  Please do not turn onto Shirley from Herschel as this causes a dangerous back up of cars on the Herschel St.   Thank you for your cooperation.

RAIN OR SHINE:  Mother's Morning Out students can be picked up in their classroom beginning at 12:30.

CONFERENCES

Parents may request conferences at any time.  If you would like to discuss your child's progress, an appointment may be made with the teachers. Please refrain from attempting a "mini" conference during the carpool line, at the gate, or in the classrooms. Teachers need to give the children focused attention, and your child does not need to hear your discussion. Feel free to call the office and schedule an appointment.

TOILET TRAINING

While St. Johns is aware of individual stages of development, we require children to be completely toilet trained when entering the 3 year old class.  All children must be toilet trained to stay for extended care in the three and four year old classes. They must be able to initiate and manage the toileting procedure by themselves.  After 3 toilet accidents showing that your child is not completely toilet trained, he/she will be asked to postpone coming to school until the toileting process is mastered.

ILLNESS/MEDICATION POLICY

If your child needs medication, you must sign a medication card available from the office. Medication must be in its original container with the child's name on the prescription label. Over the counter medication such as Tylenol, Benadryl, Dimetapp, etc. is not administered by school staff. If your child needs one of these, he/she is too ill to be at school.

  Children who have these symptoms (one or a combination) should not be at school:  1) fever of 100 degrees or more (children should be free of fever for 24 hours before returning); 2) diarrhea/upset stomach (24 hours should elapse after the last incidence of vomiting or diarrhea before returning to school); 3) respiratory problems such as bronchitis or wheezing; 4) undiagnosed rash (heat or diaper okay); 5) sore throat and deep cough; 6) change in behavior which may indicate illness (unusually tired, pale, irritable, restless, or crying); 7) green, runny nose.  If the school staff determines that a child is ill, the parents will be called and will be expected to pick up the child from the office within a one hour time period. Children may not return to school for 24 hours after they are picked up. We are aware that it is sometimes difficult for parents to make arrangements for their sick children; however, SJPK is for WELL CHILDREN only. It is the responsibility of parents to have a backup plan when their children are ill. When children return to school before they are really well, they don't feel like participating in our activities.  They also share their germs with other children and adults and are at risk for another infection.

BIRTHDAYS

Simple refreshments may be brought to school for a child's birthday.  (We stress simple.) Please let us know ahead of time by contacting your child's teacher.  Birthday party invitations may NOT be given out at school. You may obtain classmates' addresses from the office.  Birthday party invitees should not leave directly from school.  No birthday presents may be brought to school.   Young children are sensitive to being excluded.  Please be considerate.

BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION

If you use BoxTop food products (General Mills, some Progresso soups, Betty Crocker) please clip and drop in the container in the office. If you shop on line, register with BOXTOPS and designate SJPK as your school of choice.  SJPK will earn money through each of your on-line purchases from 400 stores and catalogs.

FEE PAYMENT

Our school depends on funds provided by tuition fees for its operation.  When you register your child, you signed a contract for payment of tuition for the entire year.  Tuition is to be paid on the first of each month; make checks payable to SJPK.  A late fee of $25 will be assessed if fees are not paid by the 10^th of the month. SJPK Board policy is that tuition may not be two months overdue.  After the tenth day of the second month the child may not attend school until all fees are current. Tuition for the year is divided into nine equal payments, so the fee remains the same regardless of the calendar.  Your extended care fee is based on the amount of time you contract.  Any questions may be settled with the Director.  A $30 charge will be assessed for each returned check. 

LEGAL CUSTODY NOTIFICATION

SJPK requires documentation stating which parent has legal custody in case of separation or divorce. If there is no legal documentation then both parents have the right of access to SJPK records, communication, and pick up of children. The custodial parent has the responsibility of providing the required documents to SJPK. The custodial parent must also notify SJPK in writing of any special circumstances with regard to the rights and obligations of the non-custodial parent. The custodial parent must also notify SJPK of any change in the custody agreement.

St. Johns reserves the right to dismiss any child who is unable to participate in group experiences and who is incompatible with our program.  Dismissal decisions are made by the Director and are final.

BEHAVIOR

Every child is expected to adhere to SJPK acceptable standards of behavior.  Unacceptable behavior is defined as being disruptive to the group or doing something that is harmful to other children or adults. If a child behaves in an unacceptable manner, the child is redirected, shadowed, or removed from the activity. If the behavior continues, a conference with the teachers and director is mandatory. If after more than one conference with parents in a one month period the child persists in the behavior, he/she will be asked to leave SJPK.

St. Johns reserves the right to dismiss any child at any time who is unable to participate in group experiences and who is incompatible with our program.  Dismissal decisions are made by the Director and are final.

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR:

Parents,

My office door is always open to you.  I enjoy meeting with parents and giving encouragement, sympathy, and occasionally advice. Raising three children and serving  30 years in the field of education have made me aware that parents have questions concerning how to bring up their children.  Please consider me a resource.  I am approachable and able to offer help and hope. 

I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Join me in joyous anticipation for the days ahead at St. Johns Presbyterian Kindergarten, where we are "touching children's hearts."

Kay Hazlehurst, Director