Preschool Parent Handbook

This Preschool Parent Handbook has been designed to provide important information needed when selecting a childcare program for your child. Redeemer Lutheran Preschool offers a high quality, healthy, loving and engaging environment for children ages two to five years.

Redeemer Lutheran Church and School believes children are a precious gift to cherish and respect. Our goal is to provide a loving atmosphere to encourage your child’s social, physical, intellectual, and creative development while nurturing faith in Jesus Christ.

The preschool year runs from August thru May. Students are kept at the same classroom level the entire school year. Age/grade levels are determined by the early childhood director. Summer camp is offered to registered students

Redeemer Lutheran Preschool is a Christian  preschool. We teach children how to resolve conflict and be respectful to others using the ABC Jesus Loves Me curriculum.

Our school provides a wide range of subjects which includes reading, math, science, art  and religion.  In addition to our morning and after care program we also offer after school extra curricular activities which includes sports.

We provide an environment where children can learn about God and their faith. We teach Bible stories, prayers and other Lutheran principals.

Hours of Operation

Morning Care 7:00 - 8:00

Half Day 8:00 - 12:15

Full Day 8:00 - 3:30

After Care 3:30 - 5:30

General Admission Requirements

Children must be of age for the class they are entering by September 1 which is in alignment with established requirements concerning age for public schools.

All students are to use the carline drop-off during the hours of 8:00AM -8:30AM. Walk-in during the carline is not permitted. Late arrival must check in with the front office and be no later than 9:00AM. Doctors visits with a note are excusable for arrival later than 9:00AM.

Pick-up of all preschool students is expected to occur no later than 5:30pm.. Excusals will be determined at the discretion of the early childhood director. In order for any late fee to be waived, please notify your child’s teacher or the school office of any late pick-up. Late fees will also apply to half-day or part-time students if picked up any later than 12:15pm.

Dress Code

Uniforms are required for our 2s-K-Readiness classrooms during the calendar school year, August-May. Please note that embroidered logos are not a requirement for preschoolers. Uniforms are not required during our summer program.

• Appropriate Bottoms: Navy or Khaki/Tan shorts, pants, skirts/skorts, coverall uniform dress.
• Appropriate Tops: Forest Green, Navy, Red, White, or Yellow Polo Shirts or School Spirit Shirt (allowed on Fridays or special occasions)
• Appropriate Shoes: Tennis Shoes or Closed-Toed Loafers/Flat
• Children must be fully dressed when they arrive at school..
• Children wearing skirts or dresses must wear shorts underneath them.
• We prefer that children do not wear jewelry.

Every child needs to always have a complete change of clothing including socks & underwear. If your child has changed clothing during the day, please take home the soiled items and replace them the next day. All clothing must be labeled with the child’s full name.

Changes & Withdrawal

When changing your child’s schedule, a written request is required. When withdrawing from the program, a 30-day written notice is required in order to avoid any future

accrual of tuition or fees.

You can email your change of schedule request or withdrawal to rpainter@rlcsrams.com.

Authorized Pickup

Parents and other adults authorized to pick up the enrolled child[ren], as noted on the registration form, will be required to sign the child[ren] out each day. Authorized persons will be required to show state approved photo identification. If an unauthorized person comes to pick up a child, the parent will be called for verification. Redeemer Lutheran Preschool will not release a child without written verification and proper identification from the individual picking up the child.

Diapers and Wipes - 2’s Rooms

If your child is not potty trained, parents are responsible for supplying their child's preferred diapers and wipes that will last the month to the preschool.

Potty Training - 3’s-KReadiness

All children entering the 3s-K-Readiness classrooms must be fully potty-trained.

A potty trained child is a child who can do the following:

• Be able to TELL the adult they have to go potty BEFORE they have to go. They must be able to say the words “I have to go potty” BEFORE they have to go.
• Be able to pull down their underwear and pants and get them back up without assistance.
•  Be able to wipe themselves after using the toilet.
• Be able to get off the potty by themselves.
• Be able to wash and dry their hands.
• Be able to go directly back to the room without directions.
• Be able to postpone going if they must wait for someone who is in the bathroom or if we are outside and away from the bathrooms.

Nap Time

There is a rest period during the day for 12:00 – 2:00 PM for all children. Parents are responsible for providing blankets and rest mats. Children are required to lay down to rest or nap for the entire two hour rest period. No pacifiers will be permitted in 2s-K-Readiness classrooms.

Personal Items

Please do not allow your child to bring in personal items. Violent toys, violent books, guns and swords may not be brought to school at any time.

* Teachers who participate in Friday Show and Tell will send notice home regarding appropriate items.   

Abuse &/or Neglect Reporting Requirements

All staff employed by Redeemer Lutheran Church and School are mandated reporters. In the  event that abuse and or neglect is suspected or witnessed, staff is required to report all information to the FLORIDA ABUSE HOTLINE.

Snacks and Lunch

Please provide a nutritious snack and lunch. This may include fruit, veggies, sandwiches, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. We ask that parents adhere to the recommended USDA guidelines for children’s nutrition. This information will be provided to parents if they are sending food from home that is not healthy, nutritious, and well-balanced. We ask that parents do not send candy, soda, chocolates, donuts, sports drinks, or other unhealthy food choices in their child’s lunchbox.

Redeemer Lutheran Preschool Biting Policy 

As a preschool, we understand that biting, unfortunately, is part of our social setting. Our goal is to help identify what is causing the biting and resolve these issues. If the issue cannot be resolved, this policy serves to protect the children that are bitten.

As with any behavior, how biting is dealt with depends upon the ages of the children involved, the reason for the biting, (if it can be determined), frequency of the biting, and many other specific circumstances.

General guidelines for biting include:

•   Helping the bitten child feel better or providing appropriate first aid, if warranted.

•  Completing an incident/accident report for the parents of the biter and the child bitten.

•  Discussing the situation with the biter’s parent(s).

Depending on the ages of the children and the circumstances involved, additional actions might include:

• Discussing a better solution for all children involved.

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• Separation of involved children.

• Showing/giving the biter something appropriate to bite on.

• Ensuring that the environment provides enough challenging activities.

• Carefully observing the involved child to identify precipitating events and prevent recurrences.

• Maintaining a log to track when the behavior occurs.

• Conferences with parents to discuss the child’s actions at home, parental discipline techniques, search for outside resources, etc…

Just as any other behavior issue regarding a child is confidential, the name of the child that has bitten another child is also confidential, in order to ensure the privacy of the child and family and prevent bias from others enrolled in the center. We will keep you informed as to what steps are being taken and if bites are from the same or a different child. Informative handouts are given to parents regarding biting.

**Children under 3: Children that bite more than 1 time in a day or are making continuous attempts, will be sent home for the day. Children exceeding 5 bites in any 30 days period will be subjected to enrollment termination.

**Children 3 & older: Children that bite 1 time in a day or are making continuous attempts, will be sent home for the day. Children exceeding 3 bites in a school year will be subjected to enrollment termination.

Discipline

Measures to Produce Acceptable Behavior:

To maintain a happy, healthy, disciplined environment, the children are taught the importance of safety, care of property, good habits, rules of conduct, and consideration and respect for others.

Constructive methods of discipline are used to maintain group control and handle individual behavior. Our main focus on discipline (teaching/training) is preventative in nature, as we aim to build self-discipline in the child.

Measures to Extinguish Unacceptable Behavior: 

When a child exhibits unacceptable behavior or attitudes, he/she is instructed as to what is wrong and then directed to a positive alternative approach/behavior. Along with these new attitudes and behaviors, the child is guided in the direction of self-discipline by encouraging him/her to make as many decisions as possible within limits.  

Our Goals Are To Help the Children Learn To:

• Show respect, kindness, consideration and courtesy toward others.
• Develop a strong self-esteem, confidence and independence.
• Take care of the material provided to them.
• Understand what socially acceptable behavior is, and what is not.

We believe that it is our responsibility to provide children with positive guidance and in our experience, most children will respond well to our approach. In the event that a child does not respond, we will notify the parents and work closely with them to develop a plan to help the child gain self-control and a positive attitude toward their peers and teachers. Should the child’s continued negative behavior put themselves, their peers or their teachers at risk for physical harm or, if the child damages school property, we reserve the right to ask the parent to withdraw the child from the preschool.

While we understand the developmental tendencies of children to experiment with inappropriate language to shock others, withdrawal may also be requested for those children who are verbally abusive, including the repeated use of inappropriate language. 

Sick Policy

Redeemer Lutheran Preschool  is a "well-child facility". In the event  your child presents one or more of the following symptoms you will receive a call from the school office.

The symptoms for which we MUST send children home are:

Fever: A child needs to be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school.This means the child is fever free without the aid of Tylenol®, or any other fever reducing

Substance.

Fever AND/OR sore throat, rash, bleeding diaper rash, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, irritability, or confusion.Diarrhea: runny, watery, bloody stools, or 2 or more loose stools within the last 4 hours.

Vomiting: 2 or more times in a 24 hour period. Note: please do not bring your child if they have vomited in the night.

Breathing trouble, sore throat, swollen glands, loss of voice, hacking or continuous coughing.

Runny nose (other than clear), draining eyes or ears.

Frequent scratching of the body or scalp,lice,rash,or any other spots that resemble childhood diseases, including ringworm.

**When or if your child is sent home with any of the above symptoms or is experiencing these symptoms, they MUST wait at least 24 hours after all symptoms subside before returning to school.

**If your child has been seen by a doctor or may be contagious, a doctor’s note stating their recommended date of return MUST be furnished before returning to school.

I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the rules and policies stated above as they pertain to Redeemer Lutheran Preschool. Failure to adhere to the policies listed above may result in termination of the student from our program.

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Student Name

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Parent Signature                                                         Date

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Parent Signature                                                         Date