Objective
The objective of St. Paul’s community Nursery School is to provide a balanced educational program which will stimulate the child’s growth and development physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.  We encourage age-appropriate creative experiences to foster independence and build a positive self-image in each child.

Calendar
St. Paul’s Community Nursery School is open from September to May and we will observe the New Hartford School system holidays.  A specific calendar will be given to you at the beginning of the school year.

Curriculum
Our curriculum includes: arts and crafts, science and nature, cooking and nutrition, music/listening/movement, health and safety, social studies, large muscle activities, Christian learning, language arts and math readiness.  We meet or exceed the CT Preschool Curricular Goals as set forth by the State Department of Education.  A copy of our curriculum is available.

Daily Schedule
What will my child do at nursery school?  Here is a general routine of your child’s day.  Hours indicated would be for a morning student.  Afternoon children would have a similar schedule during the hours of 12:15 to 3:00PM. 

9:00-9:15 Arrival and “Welcome Time” activities.
Calendar/weather observations, theme of the day.
 
9:15-10:15 Free play Activities. Children may choose:

1. Dramatic play-housekeeping, puppetry, dress-up.
   

2. Arts and crafts: at least one opportunity is given daily with a variety of materials available.
   

3. Cooking, science corner activities. 
   

4. Manipulatives to develop small muscle control and eye and hand coordination such as puzzles, stringing beads and lacing.
   

5. Block building, sorting, counting, classifying various materials to develop mathematical skills.
   

6. Book corner and listening station.
   

7. Large-muscle equipment: climbing frame, rocking boat, balance beam. 
   

8. Water/sand/ and other sensory materials. 
   
   

10:15-10:30 Clean up and wash-up for snack. Cooperation skills and following directions are emphasized.  While waiting, children participate in musical activities. 

10:30-10:40 Snack.  Children help with the jobs. 

10:40-10:45 Quiet time, independent book selection. 

10:45-11:40 Teacher directed group activities/outdoor play, including story time, poetry, finger plays, puppet shows, group discussions, music, creative movement, games, Christian learning, drama, health and safety, classroom visitors, and playground activities. 

11:40-11:45 Closing and preparing for home. 

Building Security
Recognizing the priority of safety for our children, please follow the following procedures:
    - Children and caregivers should use the lower level entrance to the church. This door will be open from 8:45 AM for arrival, and from 11:30 AM to 12 noon for pickup. (Similar hours if afternoon session.)
    - During the school day, the nursery school is accessible by the playground door (back of church).
    - Please call us if you need to pick up your child during school hours.

Field Trips
Local field trips may be included as part of your child’s preschool experience.  Advance notice and complete information will be given if your child will be taking a field trip.  Written parental permission is required. 

Weather Policy
In case of inclement weather, please listen to WZBG FM 97.3.  We will attempt to have our school listed in case of a closing or delay.  You can also hear the New Hartford (Regional #7) School Report on WTIC and other major radio stations of your area.  If the New Hartford Schools or Regional #7 is closed, we will be closed.  WZBG should also announce our St. Paul’s Community Nursery School situation, and it should be on our website’s announcements page.  If there is a late opening for public school, we will open at 10:00 AM and close at 12:00 PM.  If there is an early dismissal for public school, there will be no afternoon session.  Should a storm develop during the day, parents should feel free to pick up children early.  Up to three make-classes will be held and information regarding same will be conveyed to you.

Snacks
Nutrition Policy: The preschool years are critical to the formation of healthy eating habits.  We promote the opportunities to prepare, recognize, and eat a wide variety of nutritious foods for snack (CT Framework-Preschool Curricular Goals and Benchmarks 1999).  In response to parents’ feedback and our commitment to promoting children's health, our staff has been trained in appropriate nutritional practice for preschoolers and have developed the guidelines below.  We will also be helping children learn to prepare and try some healthy snacks each month. 

Snack Sign-Up Procedure: There is a sign-up chart on the parents’ table.  On certain days, the children will prepare the snack as part of their educational experience.  This will be listed and the recipe will be available.  Parents may sign-up to provide the snack for all the children in the class on other days.  The following information is required at least one week in advance:  Name of child/parent, name of beverage, name of snack.  Foods must be of high nutritive value – no “empty calorie” foods (that is, no foods with primarily high fat and/or sugar content only). 

If your child has a food allergy, please indicate it on the child data form, and a substitute will be provided. 

Birthdays
On or near your child’s actual birthday, a celebration will occur in our opening circle time (beginning of the day).  A parent or caregiver is invited to attend. Specific information regarding a birthday craft and activity for your selection will be given to you at the beginning of the school year.

Medical
If your child is ill, please do not send him/her to school. No child will be admitted if he/she has:

1. a fever (oral above 100 F, rectal above 101 f, auxiliary (armpit) above 100 accompanied by behavioral changes
   

2. repeated episodes of vomiting
   

3. symptoms and signs of possible severe illness including: extreme lethargy, uncontrolled coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing
   

4. diarrhea accompanied by other symptoms
   

5. constant runny nose not caused by allergies
   

6. persistent abdominal pain
   

7. an infectious disease, until a health consultant says the child may return
   

8. inability to fully participate in the program
   

Please call the school at 860-379-3172 by 9:15 AM if your child is going to be out.  If he/she has a contagious disease, the school should be notified immediately.  Any medications which your child is taking should be given at home; however, see your child's teacher for a special form if a medication must be administered at school.  A required medical form must be returned, signed by the child's physician, before the date of school opening.  All students must have an annual physical exam which is current for one year following the date of the exam.  In the case of an emergency the child's parents will be notified immediately.  A Red-Cross certified individual is present at all times to administer first aid.

Tuition & Financial
The school is a non-profit organization.  Fees have been set to provide income for adequate facilities, supplies, and staff.  Monthly tuition for three-year-olds is $100.00 and monthly tuition for four-year-olds is $120.00. 

There is a non-refundable or transferable registration fee of $35.00 and without exception must accompany the enrollment application. Monthly tuition payments should be received no later than the 10th of each month and should be mailed to our treasurer. A three-day grace period is allowed. Initial tuition payment is due by August 10th.  A late fee of $15.00 will be charged if tuition is not received by the 10th of the month.  Several months of tuition may be paid at once. Refunds cannot be made for absences, but will be made in case it is necessary for a child to be withdrawn from school. 

Checks should be made out to “Community Nursery School” and mailed to:
St. Paul's Community Nursery School
Attention: Janice Becker
30 Prospect Street
New Hartford, CT  06057 

The Board of Directors reserves the right to terminate your child’s attendance if no attempt is made to keep your account current.  Two weeks notice must be given if you plan to withdraw your child.  Your account must be paid in full by the 10th of April for your child to participate in end-of-year activities and graduation.  If difficulty occurs in meeting the financial obligations, please contact Ruth Yeadon.
 
Clothing
Children are encouraged to participate in all activities offered at nursery school including sand and water play, cooking experiences, painting, play dough, climbing, and outdoor play.  Please send them in comfortable play clothes appropriate for the weather.  We will provide smocks to protect clothing during are projects.

Outer clothing should be marked with the child’s name.  This includes hats, mittens, scarves, boots, and jackets.  We will be playing outdoors on most days that weather conditions permit.  In winter please dress your child with a hat, boots, and mittens. The school provides a change of clothing in case of “accidents.”  Please launder the clothing and return it on the following day that your child attends.
 
Toys and Safety
A favorite toy or stuffed animal brought to school may help your child feel more secure.  Other toys should be left at home, unless they correspond with a current theme or are an item from nature for the child to share his/her knowledge with the other children.  The child must be able to share his possessions for a short period of time, and place it in his cubby at the discretion of the teacher.  Please label any items sent in and limit the number to one or two.  Check with your child’s teacher if you have special concerns.

Volunteering
Parents are encouraged to volunteer in our classes by providing help with arts/crafts and holiday projects, fundraising, special events, and providing transportation and supervision of children during field trips.  See the volunteer book for a description of these opportunities.  Parents may sign up to volunteer in the classroom up to 12 times per year.

Board of Directors
Our school is supervised by a Board of Directors.  Please direct any concerns, both positive and negative, to the school’s director, Ruth Yeadon, or the Chairperson of the Board.  Of course, you may also feel free to discuss concerns with your child’s teacher.  We welcome any comments or suggestions which may improve our program and enrich the educational experience of the children. 

Parent Communication
We view our school as an extension of the child’s world and strive to make this experience a pleasant beginning to a lifetime of learning.  We wish to keep you informed of you activities through monthly newsletters. Parent-teacher conferences will be held periodically to discuss your child’s progress.  Again, feel free to ask or call us whenever you have questions or concerns. We also have a Parent Resource Library located on top of the “cubbies” in the Lower Fellowship Room.  It has within it books, audiotapes, brochures, games, and videos on parenting, child development, and other topics of interest.  These are available for loan.  Simply fill out a card to borrow materials.  Return in two weeks.

Health
In accordance with school policy and in cooperation with the Connecticut State Department of Health, a completed medical form for all children must be on file at the nursery school.  The form requires the listing of the dates of your child’s diphtheria, polio, measles inoculations and others a well as the date of a current physical exam.  Also required is the name only of your family dentist.  A form for this purpose is provided by the nursery school and is attached and must be filled out by the physician’s office ONLY.
 
General Information
St. Paul's Community Nursery School is supervised by a Board of Directors.  If you have any unusual problems or complaints they should be addressed to the director of the school, Mrs. Ruth Yeadon, at the school’s address.  Her phone number at the school is 860-379-3172.

St. Paul’s Community Nursery School is a non-profit organization promoting the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth of pre-school children in a creative and loving environment.  Students of any race, color, or national or ethnic origin will be admitted.