Gold Mountain Community School Parent Handbook 214 N. Main St., Moscow, ID 83843 208 301 2608 http://goldmountainschool.com/ info@goldmountainschool.com
Dear Parent, Thank you for your interest in Gold Mountain Community School. We provide a play based developmentally program for children ages 3 6. Our main program begins in September after Labor Day and runs through the end of May. Tuition is due at the beginning of each month and is not reduced due to holidays, snow days, or absences. There is a non refundable registration fee of $60. Here are our class options and rates: Morning Class, 8:45 11:45 a.m. OR Afternoon Class, 12:15 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Tuesday, Thursday: $300 Monthly $195 Monthly $130 Monthly Drop in: $15 Daily Morning Class AND Afternoon Class, 8:15 a.m. 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday $600 Monthly Drop in $25 Daily Please ask for tuition rates for other enrollment options. We look forward to providing your child/children with the best early childhood learning experiences possible. We are a licensed and insured facility, and our teachers are licensed, trained, experienced and fun loving. To learn more about our program, visit our website, give us a call, or visit the school. Sincerely, Leeanne Hoffmann, Director 214 N. Main St., Moscow, ID 83843 208 301 1608 http://goldmountainschool.com/ info@goldmountainschool.com
Welcome to Gold Mountain Community School PHILOSOPHY For typically developing children, learning is a natural process. Children are born with an innate drive to explore and make sense of their world. A baby put into an empty room will seek out a piece of lint, pick it up, look at it closely, and put it in his or her mouth. This is how children learn. They interact with people and their environment, taking in sensory information, making connections with previous knowledge, and furthering their understanding. A rich environment maximizes children s learning opportunities. Remember the baby in the empty room? Now let s put a young child in a room with blue, yellow, and red paint at an easel, wooden blocks on the floor stacked waist high, a light table with translucent colored tiles resting on top, beautiful picture books set on a low shelf, an acoustic guitar leaning against a comfy couch, two eager guinea pigs waiting to be held and fed grass, a large tub full of warm bubbly water and funnels sitting on a table, and a wooden slide in the corner. This is the learning environment at Gold Mountain Community School. We also believe that play is at the heart of children s learning. It is through play that they explore and discover, leading to physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Children thrive when they experience safety, belonging, compassion, and respect; therefore we aim to make everyone s school experience reflect these values. At Gold Mountain Community School we are passionate about helping young children develop: a love of learning a positive sense of self creative thinking social skills CURRICULUM At Gold Mountain Community School, we provide a play based developmentally appropriate program where learning is active, dynamic, and fun. Children are invited to choose their activities in a safe and rich environment full of opportunities to learn. We encourage children to explore, inquire, experiment, discover, move, imagine, socialize and reflect. Warm and caring adults are available to support and guide, while modeling respectful behavior and problem solving skills. We believe that child directed play, supported by a variety of interesting
materials, innovative activities and obliging adults best fulfills the young child s mental, physical, emotional and social development. Learning in this way is the best foundation for a successful future. Our flexible curriculum allows the interests and needs of the children to guide their explorations and activities. Our hands on experienced based program includes daily offerings in math and science, art and drama, literacy, music and movement, Spanish Language, and America Sign Language. Monthly special visitors share their time and interests, and we occasionally visit nearby downtown locations such as the public library and the fire station. Interested family members are always welcome to join us at any time. Teachers act as guides and facilitators, encouraging children to ask questions, seek answers and solve problems. Teachers support the development of social skills, by modeling compassion and respect, encouraging communication, giving empathy and negotiating conflict. Our program style is supported by the most current child development research. We are also influenced by leaders in the field of early childhood education including Jean Piaget, John Dewey, Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia approach), Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf Model), Magda Gerber, Bev Bos, Maria Montessori, Lisa Murphy, Nellie Edge, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them. Leo Buscaglia, quoted in Supporting the scientific thinking and inquiry of toddlers and preschoolers through play, Young Children journal, May 2012. It is through real play that children make some of their greatest discoveries: whom to trust, how to differentiate true from false and reality from fantasy, when they are ready for the next real challenging experience, where their boundaries end and the next person s begin, and why things are the way they are. Chris Mercogilano, from his book In Defense of Childhood Protecting Kid s Inner Wildness PROGRAMS Our school year begins in September after Labor Day and runs through the end of May. We follow the public school s calendar except we are open during teacher in service days.
We are happy to welcome school aged children on teacher in service days for a fee when space is available (See Drop In under Scheduling Options. ) Drop ins welcome when space is available and appropriate paperwork has been submitted. All classes are integrated to include the preschool and kindergarten aged child. Research shows that mixed aged classrooms increase learning opportunities. For example, younger students learn from their older peers and older students learn by teaching the younger ones. Because of our diverse learning materials and activities and our choice based learning style, students of all ages and levels of development benefit from our program. ELIGIBILITY Our main program is for children ages 3 6. Children 7 11 are welcome on teacher in service days when space is available. We accept children who are not potty trained. Learning is a process, and we are prepared to help your child on their way to being toilet independent. SCHEDULE AND TUITION Morning Class, 8:45 11:45 a.m. OR Afternoon Class, 12:15 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday: $300 Monthly Monday, Wednesday, Friday: $195 Monthly Tuesday, Thursday: $130 Monthly Drop in*: $15 Daily Morning Class AND Afternoon Class, 8:15 a.m. 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday: Drop in*: $600 Monthly $25 Daily Please ask for tuition rates for other enrollment options. *Drop ins welcome when space is available, appropriate paperwork filled out, and 24 hours notice given. FEES AND TUITION POLICIES Registration Fees: A one time non refundable fee of $60.00 is due at the time of registration.
Tuition Fees: Tuition is charged on a monthly basis. Because we operate on a monthly budget with expenses that occur whether or not an individual child is present, we do not reduce the monthly charge due to holidays, snow days, or absences. Payments: Tuition is due in full on the first of each month. A three day grace period is given and payments received after the 3 rd will be late. A $20.00 late fee will be added to your account. Payments which are two weeks late will be cause for termination of your contract. Because tuition is a set monthly fee, there will be no billing. LATE PICK UP CHARGE Please be walking out the door with your child no later than 11:50 a.m. or 3:20 p.m. The charge for late pick up is $1.00 per minute and will be strictly enforced. Please be prepared to pay when your arrive. PICK UP AND DROP OFF When you arrive at school you will sign your child in with a complete signature and time of arrival and when your pick up your child you will sign out with a complete signature and time of departure. Periodically update your child release form. We will NOT release your child to any unauthorized or unfamiliar people. Even with permission, we will ask for identification from anyone unfamiliar to us. IMMUNIZATION POLICY All children must be currently immunized as prescribed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. A copy of current records will be kept on file at school. Records must be updated regularly, and children whose records are not current will be refused admission until proof of immunization is received. If a family chooses, a signed legal exemption form will be accepted. ILLNESS AND INJURY Children who exhibit symptom of illness will stay home for at least 24 hours after symptoms have ceased. These symptoms include: Fever of 101 degrees F or higher Vomiting on two or more occasions during the past 24 hours Diarrhea, two or more watery stool within 24 hours Draining or unidentified rash Eye discharge or pink eye (conjunctivitis) Lice or nits Too tired or sick to participate in regular activities
If a child becomes ill at school, they will be isolated and the parents will be notified. If we are unable to reach a parent, the people on the emergency pick up list will be called and asked to pick up the child. In the case of an injury, we will administer first aid as trained and notify the parents if necessary. With serious injuries, we will call 911 first, and then the parents. We do not administer medication unless your child has allergies and needs an inhaler for breathing or an EpiPen due to anaphylactic shock. Please ask for an allergy medication administration form if you need one. HEALTH PRACTICES Children and staff wash hands after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and after handling pets. Staff wear gloves when changing diapers or pull ups. Diapers and pull ups are disposed of in a covered garbage can. Toys and classroom surfaces are washed and disinfected regularly. The environment is continually inspected, and broken or hazardous materials removed. We participate in monthly fire drills and have two working fire extinguishers, a smoke detector, and a carbon monoxide detector. Emergency evacuation procedures are located at both exits. All staff are trained in pediatric CPR and First Aid and the school is equipped with two first aid kits. We are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
DAILY SCHEDULE Morning Class: 8:45 Arrival All Learning Centers Open for Children s Choice (Art, Science, Math, Building, Housekeeping, Sensory, Reading, Writing, Movement, and Music) 9:15 Special Activity Offered 10:15 Snack 10:30 Gathering (story time, puppet shows, dancing, games, movement activities, yoga, sign language, Spanish, finger plays, singing, sharing, science demonstrations, problem solving)snack 10:45 Clean Up 11:00 Outside Time 11:45 Departure Afternoon Class: 12:15 Arrival All Learning Centers Open for Children s Choice (Art, Science, Math, Building, Housekeeping, Sensory, Reading, Writing, Movement, and Music) 12:45 Special Activity Offered 1:45 Snack 2:00 Gathering (story time, puppet shows, dancing, games, movement activities, yoga, sign language, Spanish, finger plays, singing, sharing, science demonstrations, problem solving) 2:15 Clean Up 2:30 Outside Time 3:15 Departure
All Day Class 8:45 11:45 Follows Morning Class Schedule 11:45 12:15 Lunch and Quiet Activities 12:15 3:15 Follows Afternoon Class Schedule ASSESMENT We anticipate that your child will learn and grow a lot during his/her time at school. We observe development closely and document the learning process. We collect work samples and take photos of your child participating in activities. We also write down anecdotal records of what we observe. We then compile this information and create a learning portfolio for your child. CONFERENCES We are excited to share your child s progress and invite you a twice yearly conference. At this time we will look at your child s learning portfolio, discuss goals, celebrations, concerns, and questions that either of us may have. Any time during the year, we encourage you to share any questions, concerns, or goals you have for your child. DISCIPLINE We have put a lot of thought and planning into creating a positive school atmosphere. A deep understanding of where children are in their development plays a major role in our discipline plan. Here is a list of the things we do to create ease, limit conflict, help children become aware of and responsible for their feelings, needs, and actions, and help them develop problem solving skills: we provide enough materials to go around materials are changed frequently quiet spaces are provided to calm nerves and promote relaxation a daily schedule provides predictability and comfort the curriculum is child friendly, child directed and full of choices there is plenty of time to work on and finish projects children are encouraged to request what they want teachers acknowledge and reflect children s feeling and needs (this one is a gem!)
children work problems out on their own unless a situation becomes dangerous. In such cases, a teacher intervenes for safety conflict is valued as a learning opportunity; therefore, objects and people are not removed, but instead children are led through a problem solving process. Teachers encourage children to take turns expressing their feeling and needs and all involved parties will suggest solutions to the problem. Teachers acknowledge children s feeling and needs and work hard to make sure everyone is heard and a fair solution is found. teachers connect regularly with parents to check in with how their child is doing and to gain a better understanding of how to support a child who is experiencing frequent challenges. We NO NOT allow: teachers using harsh voices, yelling, or shaming teachers threatening, punishing, or bribing grabbing, shaking, hitting, spanking or physically harming a child in any way by any adult on school property. Children thrive on having choices and responsibilities. They are amazing problem solvers when given the opportunity. OPEN DOOR POLICY It is our deepest wish that you as parents, guardians, relatives, and family friends feel that this school is your community too. At any time you are welcome to stop by and visit. Feel free to have a seat, lend a hand, or just play. Please give us a call at any time to see how your child is doing. We want to contribute to your sense of safety and comfort. CELEBRATIONS In our effort to be inclusive for all families, we do not have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine s Day, or Easter parties or craft projects. Instead we focus on our particular school community. Instead, we celebrate birthdays, children joining or leaving our school, and the children s accomplishments (for example, toilet learning, name writing, sharing from the heart, etc.). We hope to also explore celebrations from other cultures. If you have a talent, passion or special family tradition that you would like to share, just let us know.
WHAT TO BRING TO SCHOOL copy of current immunizations photo(s) of your family to go on our wall a backpack or bag to put the following items into o a change of clothing o pull ups or diapers and wipes if needed o a snack or lunch Please send your child in clothing that can get dirty. We offer messy art, science, and hands on activities. We use washable paint but it doesn t always wash completely out. We offer smocks but they don t always prevent messes. Make sure the clothes your child wears are easy for them to pull up and down when using the bathroom. We encourage independence. Overalls, tight clothing, and clothing with snaps can be difficult to manipulate. Children who wear pull ups or diapers will be assisted in changing while standing up. Bring a snack or a lunch that is prepared and does not need to be refrigerated or heated. Please DO NOT bring gum, candy, soda pop or any heavily sugared foods. Fresh water is available at all times. Comfort items like stuffed animals or special toys can come to school but we request that they stay in your child s backpack so they do not get lost, broken or fought over.