Handbook

OUR REDEEMER PRESCHOOL    9135 Shelley Avenue   Overland, Missouri   63114

Preschool Office  314-427-3444 x121      Millie Diehl, Director

Our Redeemer Preschool offers an academic-based program for two to five-year olds. Full-day and half-day sessions are available.

The preschool is a ministry of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and School. The administration of the preschool is under the direction of the preschool director. The program promotes the mission statement of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

MISSION STATEMENT

Responding to God’s grace and love given us through our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, as an integral part of the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, our mission is to prepare children spiritually, academically, socially and physically for service to God, one another, the community and the world.

 GOALS

That your child may:

-grow in showing love to God and to others,

-relate to children and to adults individually and in group situations,

-develop a positive self-image,

-grow in understanding of the world around him,

-grow in the ability to use language to communicate with others,

-learn to express himself through a variety of media,

-develop large and small muscle coordination,

-and maintain a curiosity and love of learning.

ELIGIBILITY

Children may enter the 2's program any time after their second birthday. They do not have to be potty trained.

Children must be three years old by September 1st to be eligible for the preschool. Children whose birthdays fall after the deadline may still be accepted at the decision of the preschool director. All children must be fully “potty trained” to attend the three through five year old programs. Do not send your child in pull-ups.

REGISTRATION FEE

A registration fee of $100.00 is due with each enrollment form. The fee is non-refundable.

TUITION

For current tuition rates and payment methods, please call Mrs. Diehl, 314-427-3444 x 121

SNACK FEE

The children are served a snack mid-morning. The snack fee is $70.00 per child for the year for those attending five days and $55.00 for those attending three days. The fee is due on or before September 30th. Please do not include the fee with your tuition payment. Snacks are purchased in bulk form.

FULL DAY PROGRAM

Full Day Preschool hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Each child should bring their own lunch and drink to school. We do have microwaves for lunches that need to be heated.

No child will be forced to take a nap. Parents should advise the director if they would like for their child to take a nap or have a short rest time. If your child will be taking a nap, please bring a blanket and or pillow. There are cubbies in the classrooms that will be assigned to the children in the full day classes for storing their lunches and blankets. We have mats for the children for rest time.

Dismissal will be from the lower level for children in the full day program. If you are late picking up your child they will be signed in the Extended Care program and you will be charged for the time your child is there.

WHAT WE DO IN PRESCHOOL

In Preschool we offer learning possibilities in all areas of development in a stimulating Christ-centered environment.

ART ACTIVITY AND FREE PLAY

During this time the children may choose to play in the household corner where there are child-like furnishings. This encourages the children to pretend to be moms and dads. They may also choose from a variety of blocks and manipulative toys and paper and crayons. The teacher will encourage the children to come to the craft table to cut, glue, paint, etc.

JESUS TIME

Jesus Time is the highlight of each day as the children learn that God made us and all things. He loves us and sent His Son Jesus as our Savior so we could have forgiveness of sins. We learn that Jesus wants us to love one another. At Christmas time, we have a special Christmas celebration with our families and friends. The children enjoy learning special songs and finger-plays about Jesus.

GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

On pleasant days we go outside to the playground or for some organized activities on the upper parking lot. The lower level activity room is used during unfavorable weather conditions. Several times during the year we have “Riding Toy Day” where the children bring their favorite riding toy to school. (Kid-powered only--no battery powered riding toys.) Each child must wear a helmet to participate.

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Each month you will receive a calendar that will indicate the “Letter of the Week”. The letters are introduced the first class day of the week. On the child’s next class day, have your child bring 1 item to share that begins with that letter sound and place it in our “Sound Box”.

SHOW & TELL BAGS

The children in the younger class will have “Show & Tell”. Your child will bring home a bag when it is their turn to bring something to school. Bring only 1 item in the bag. Your child’s name will be listed on the calendar with the Preschool News indicating when it is their turn. Toys that promote aggressive behavior are not allowed.

COLOR DAYS

The children in the younger class will have a “Color Day” each month. On this day have your child wear something of that color. The day’s activities will emphasis that color. Check the Preschool News each month for the date.

STORY TIME

During this time, the teachers share a special story with the children. Extended activities may include a craft, writing our own story, and some large motor activity.

MUSIC TIME

This is the time for children to express themselves as they listen and interact to CD’s, tapes, or records while learning many fun songs, games and finger-plays.

READINESS SKILLS

Daily activities are planned to include math, science, language development, and social development. The children learn to recognize their names and to print in manuscript when they show a readiness. If your child shows interest in practicing at home, please use a capital letter for the first letter of their name and lower case for the others letters.

COOKING EXPERIENCES

During this time the children will be preparing our snacks for the day. They will help to measure, pour and stir and then enjoy eating the snack they helped to prepare.

 GENERAL INFORMATION

 CLASSROOMS: The Early Childhood Center has two classrooms on the upper level and a larger activity room on the lower level. The younger children meet in the first classroom and the Pre-K classes meet in the second classroom and in the lower level room. The 2 year old program is in a separate building.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Each child’s birthday will be celebrated as close to their birthday as possible. Summer birthdays will be celebrated as half birthdays. (June in December, July in January, August in February) You are encouraged to bring in a special birthday snack to school on the day your child’s birthday is celebrated in the classroom.

SNOW DAYS: For possible snow days due to inclement weather, listen to KSDK. The closing will be announced as Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Overland.

PARENT CONFERENCES: Conferences will be scheduled as needed. If you ever desire a formal conference, please speak to your child’s teacher or the director.

HEALTH FORM: A health form is required for each child by the first day of school.

CLOTHING: Children should wear simple play clothes with convenient fastenings to encourage self help. Children must wear closed in shoes. NO FLIP FLOPS, CROCS, JELLIES, OR SANDALS. This is for safety on the playground as well as for gross motor development. Please send in an extra set of clothes that can be left here at school.

SCHOOL BAGS/BACK PACKS/FOLDERS: We would like for each child to have a back pack. Please write their name inside the back pack so we can easily identify them when filling the items in their cubbies. We would like each child to have a folder with their name on it. When a note or newsletter is sent home we will put it in the folder in their back pack. The folder will be used only for special notes or newsletters. Please check your child’s back pack each day for special things your child did that day.

COMMUNICATION: We like to have open communication with the parents. Each month you will receive a newsletter and calendar. If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s teacher or the director.

FIELD TRIPS: Several field trips are planned each year. We encourage parents to join us for these field trips. We do charter a bus for the trips to the apple orchard and pumpkin farm. Information on field trips will be in the Preschool News.

PARTIES: Holidays are special. In October, we have a “Circus Day Party.” (This is instead of the traditional Halloween party.) On this day the children come dressed as circus characters and the day’s activities include fun under the “Big Top”.

In November, we have a special Thanksgiving party. The children are told the story of the first Thanksgiving and then dress as the Pilgrims and Indians and have a Thanksgiving feast. At Christmas time we show our love by sharing gifts with our friends at the Christmas party and are reminded of the greatest gift of all, Jesus our Savior. On Valentine’s Day the children have an opportunity to be mail-carriers and deliver valentines to all their friends.

SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS: In December, the children present the “Story of Jesus Birth” in pageant and song. In May, they present a mini-musical.

EMERGENCIES AND SAFETY: Emergency procedures will be explained and drills will be conducted for tornado, fire, and earthquake. Safe use of classroom and outdoor equipment will be explained to the children. All minor medical injuries will be documented and reported to the parent. The staff will wash the wound and apply ice and a bandage if needed. In emergency situations, the staff will notify the emergency medical service for transportation to the hospital and parents will be notified to meet us there.

ILLNESS: Please call the school if your child will be absent. Do NOT send your child to school if they are ill. Please notify us if your child has contracted a contagious or communicable disease. Children should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. If a child becomes ill during the day, the parent will be called first. If we are unable to reach the parent, we will call the emergency contact person.

DISCIPLINE: We approach discipline in a positive, consistent, and loving nature. Discipline will be constructive in nature, using such methods as positive reinforcement and separation. If this is not effective, removal from the group (time out) will be used as a means to gain self-control.

SCHOOL PICTURES: Every fall, a professional photographer comes to school to take pictures of all the children. In the spring, casual pictures are taken of the children. Parents have the option of ordering school pictures.

DISMISSAL TIME: The morning classes are dismissed at 11:30 a.m.  Children will be released only to those whose names appear on the Authorized Pick-Up form. The person may be asked to show a drivers license or other form of identification.