Handbook
You can view the online version of our handbook below or download in a PDF format.
Discipline Policy
Preschool children are beginning to learn responsibility for their own actions. It is our goal to guide them in continuing to develop this respect for themselves. Young children are beginning to learn that what they do affects other people. It is our responsibility to give them feedback and help them grow in respecting the rights and feelings of other people.
At St. Thomas More Preschool we do not hit or paddle children. Hitting as a form of punishment rarely stops inappropriate behavior, but does cause confusion and anger.
At the preschool we do not shout or yell at children. Shouting usually frightens children and distracts them from the problem.
Derogatory remarks will not be made in the presence of children about family members or about the children themselves.
No child or group of children will be allowed to discipline another child.
No child will be deprived of meals or any part of meals for disciplinary reasons. No severe, cruel, unusual, or unnecessary punishment is permitted.
Acceptable behavior is encouraged by giving positive verbal rewards. This reinforces a child's good feeling about his/her behavior and serves as an example to the other children to act in a way that receives this praise.
For a child not cooperating in a group listening situation, the child is seated by a teacher and reminded of acceptable behavior.
Removal from the group for "time out" is the next tactic used for a child who continually displays unacceptable behavior. This "timeout" is not a punishment, but a time when the child may calm down, remember what behavior the teacher is asking for, and decide for him or herself when he or she is ready to rejoin the group with appropriate behavior. Any separation from the group will always be within sight and hearing of the staff, and the length of time will be related to the child age and maturity, never to exceed ten minutes.
All children and staff members shall be protected and provided a safe and secure environment. Children displaying any of the following actions must leave school for the remainder of the day:
- Harming children or adults.
- Total disrespect of authority. (refusing to go to time out, talking back to adults)
If behavior problems persist, the parents are asked to a conference to discuss what may be helpful in motivating their child to behave in an acceptable way. When necessary, we will contact the STM school counselor for guidance. All action will be taken with the written approval of the parents.
Parent-School Communication
A monthly newsletter of events, special activities, reminders, book orders, etc. are sent from the teacher and school office. Many important notices will be coming home via the newsletter. Please check your childs bag for the newsletters.
Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled in January for children in Pre-K four and five. This is an opportunity to share our observations regarding your childs development.
All notes, flyers, and announcements sent through the preschool must be approved by the director.
Parents are welcomed to visit the school but for the safety of the children, please check in at the front desk.
If an injury occurs at school, a form will be filled out for parents to read and sign. This procedure is used so that you can have full information regarding the incident.
All information on the emergency and authorization card, and in your childs file must be kept current. It is your responsibility to inform the office of changes such as:
- home phone and address
- work place and phone number of parents
- persons authorized to pick up your child and their phone number
The staff will make every attempt to notify parents via the phone or by written note whenever a situation arises that we feel you should be aware of. We request that parents keep the staff informed of your needs, concerns, and feelings.
Parents may email any concerns to the administrative staff or teachers at the following email addresses:
- Angie Ducote angie [at] stmpreschool.org
- Gretchen Romano gretchen [at] stmpreschool.org
- Connie Matragrano connie [at] stmpreschool.org
- Pam Faciane pam [at] stmpreschool.org
- Margaret Lejuene margaret [at] stmpreschool.org
- Jill Le Jill [at] stmpreschool.org
- Trisha Indest trisha [at] stmpreschool.org
- Dana Hebert dana [at] stmpreschool.org
Application and Acceptance
Enrollment is open to all children regardless of race, sex, or national origin.
Children applying for participation in the S.T.M. Preschool will register in January for the next school year. Children will be selected in the following sequence:
- Children within the program.
- Siblings of children within the program.
- Registered and supporting S.T.M. parishioners.
- Other Catholics.
- Non-Catholics
School Hours
St. Thomas More Preschool is in session from August 11 until around May 19. We are a preschool that offers an extended care program for working parents. We are not a day care center. We are closed on some holidays and summer vacation.
The preschool is in session from 8:30 A.M. until 11:45 A.M. Monday through Friday.
Second Dismissal is an additional program that allows the children to remain at school until 3:00. During this time the children have lunch, free play, story time, and naps.
It is disruptive to the other children when children are picked up early. If you must pick up your child early please try to do so before nap time begins at 1:15.
Extended Care offers working parents day care between 7:00a.m. until 8:30a.m. and 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Children attending a.m. extended care must arrive before 8:25 to avoid the car pool line. After 8:25 all children must be dropped off in the car pool line. No one may park and walk their child into the building after 8:25.
Arrival and Dismissal
Cars will form a line on Dartmoor at Sherbrook facing Goodwood Blvd. Please do not turn onto Sherbrook before 8:25 a.m. At 8:25 you may turn onto Sherbrook going toward the preschool. Please do not turn onto Sherbrook before 8:25 in order not to interfere with the school drop-off. Please follow the same procedure for dismissal at 11:45 and 3:00. Car pool signs must be used to ensure a speedy dismissal. Please, place your sign in the front windshield of the passengers side.
Preschoolers must be seated on the passengers side of the vehicle to ensure their safety when exiting or entering the vehicle. Staff members are not allowed to walk between cars when unloading and loading children to vehicles. During car pool drop-off the preschoolers are required to remain in their car seats or buckled in a seat belt until a staff member removes them from the vehicle. Our staff is required to buckle all children in a seat belt or car seat when loading them into a vehicle.
Please be courteous to our neighbors and do not block driveways during car pool. Never leave your car parked in the driveway with the motor running when dropping off or picking up your child.
It is disruptive to all the children when your child arrives late. Please make an effort to be prompt as your children will miss instructions for their daily lessons.
Children registered in the extended care program must arrive before 8:25 to avoid having to go through the car pool line. No one may park and walk their child into the building after 8:25.
A staff member will meet your child at your car each morning beginning at 8:30 and will return the child to your car when school is over at 11:45 and also at the 3:00 dismissal. It is imperative, you are prompt in picking up your child. A babysitting fee of $1.00 per minute for the first five minutes and $5.00 per minute after that will be assessed when children are picked up after 11:55 from preschool and 3:05 from second dismissal.
For safety's sake, children must never be left without direct transfer to an adult.
We will release children to authorized persons only. If necessary, photo identification may be requested by the staff before the child is released. Parents must notify the school when someone different is picking up their child.
Reasons for Dismissal
St. Thomas More Preschool seeks to provide a safe, well-supervised program that your children will enjoy. To do so, we must insist that all children show respect for adults, each other, school rules, and property. This policy assures parents that all children in our care will have a positive environment.
We may ask parents to withdraw their child from preschool for any of the following reasons:
- If the program staff does not feel that it is meeting the childs needs.
- A child who continually exhibits behavior that endangers him/herself or others.
- A child who continually exhibits behavior that is disruptive to the learning environment of the classroom.
- Parents who are continually late arriving or picking up their child. (more than four times in a school year, except emergencies)
- Non-payment of preschool tuition and/or lack of adherence to our tuition payment policies.
- Non-adhering of the policies and procedures stated in this handbook.
Fees
A registration fee and material fee is due upon acceptance and is non refundable.
This program is a nonprofit organization, which operates entirely on the tuition fees from each child. Tuition is automatically debited on the third or sixteenth of each month. Tuition may be paid in full by August 14.
Withdrawal notice should be given two weeks in advance. The full monthly tuition is due if the child enrolls before the 15th of the month, or withdraws after the 15th of the month.
We cannot make deductions for emergency school closure and sickness or absence of any kind. Checks should be made payable to S.T.M. Preschool.
Families whose tuition is delinquent two months will be required to apply for deferred tuition. This is not tuition assistance this is only to defer your tuition until your financial situation improves. The deferred tuition committee will review your request and make a recommendation based on your financial information.
Monthly fees for preschool are for ten months:
Pre - K 5 and Pre K 4- A & B
Supporting Parishioners - $220.00 monthly
Out of Parish - $240.00
Pre - Four
Supporting Parishioners - $230.00
Out of Parish - $250.00
Three Year olds
Supporting Parishioners - $240.00
Out of Parish - $260.00
Registration Fee - $175.00 per child.
Maintenance Fee - $100.00 per family
Out of parish Maintenance Fee - $150.00
Second Dismissal Fees:
Full-time ( Monday - Friday) $125.00 monthly
Part-time - $8.00 daily
Extended Care
(includes second dismissal)
Full - time - $215.00 monthly
Part-time $16.00 daily
A.M. only (before 8:30) Full - time - $35.00 monthly
Part-time - $5.00 daily
Holiday Care Fees:
Holiday care is an additional fee of $20.00 per day. You will receive a registration form each month for holiday care.
We do not deduct tuition for days missed. When your child is enrolled, you are reserving time, space, staff, snacks, and provisions whether she/he attends or not.
The preschool does not provide an itemized statement for tax purposes. We suggest that you keep a record of your monthly checks as an accurate account of your child care expenses. We will provide you with our axpayers identification number for the Child Care Expenses form.
Breakfast
Children attending a.m. extended care may purchase breakfast for a fee of .75 per day. Breakfast may not be purchased daily. A breakfast card must be purchased for $7.50 (ten breakfasts) or $15.00 (twenty breakfasts) at the front desk.
Lunch
The children may purchase their lunch from the school cafeteria or bring a sack lunch. Lunch is purchased from the cafeteria by the semester. Changes cannot be made until January.
Sack lunches should consist of finger food such as a sandwich and fruit. No candy or thermoses. The children should be able to handle their lunch with little assistance. Milk or water is provided.
Toilet Training
When a child is not toilet trained, they are not physically ready for preschool. Children entering the preschool must be toilet trained. We understand all children will have an occasional accident. A child who is not toilet trained will be asked to withdraw from the preschool. The preschoolers are given until September 30 to become potty trained.
Nap and Rest Policy
Naps and rest are appropriate and necessary activities of children. During nap time we require all children to rest on a mat. Please do not pick up your child during nap time (1:15-2:30). It is very disruptive to have children leaving during rest time.
Each child may bring a small soft stuffed toy for rest time. Restful music is played during this time and a staff member will give back rubs to the resting children.
Clothing
The preschoolers are required to wear school uniforms. They may be purchased at School Time. Tee shirts, and sweat shirts may also be purchased at School Time.
Boys: Khaki shorts or slacks (with an elastic waistband, no belts), a navy polo shirt with the school logo, preschool tee-shirts and sweatshirts are acceptable. A white turtleneck-knit shirt may be worn under the polo shirt in cool weather.
Girls: Preschool dress worn with uniform shorts or bloomers, khaki sort, a navy polo with school logo, preschool tee shirt or sweatshirt. A white or navy turtleneck or a mock turtleneck-knit shirt may be worn under the dress in cool weather. Length of dresses should not be below the knee.
Rubber sole shoes are a must on the playground, no boots or sandals. Socks, tights, sweaters, and jackets are your choice.
The child's name should be placed in all clothing and belongings to ensure the return of all the proper possessions and clothes.
Childrens Belongings
Toys and items of value should remain at home. We cannot assume responsibility for materials brought from home. A lost and found is available in the office. Lost articles not claimed are given away.
The children are not allowed to bring umbrellas, gum or candy to school.
Parent Responsibilities
Please make the school and your child's teacher aware of any special needs your child may have.
Check tote bags daily. Important information is sent home through the tote bags. Please keep tote bags free of toys and clutter.
Help with holiday parties by sending treats, party supplies, etc.
Drive on field trips.
Help with school fund raisers. We need 100% participation for our fund raisers to be successful.
Holiday Parties
We will hold special parties to celebrate the major holidays. You may volunteer to help by completing the volunteer form. Parents assisting with the parties are asked not to bring siblings. We need your help with the preschoolers during this time.
Birthdays
You may celebrate your child's birthday at school by providing birthday napkins and simple refreshments to be shared during regular snack time. This is not a birthday party. Parents are asked not to attend. No cupcakes, cake, favors, peanut butter and chocolate please! Examples: cookies, donut holes, rice crispy treats, cookies, cookie cakes, ice cream cups, fresh fruit, etc. If your child suffers from food allergies, you are asked to provide their treats for birthday celebrations and snacks.
We are attempting to teach our children about those less fortunate and to help them understand the importance of helping others. We are asking the children to bring birthday gifts of food for the poor to the birthday child. Each month Father Tom will visit the preschool and accept the gifts of food from the birthday children for that month.
Birthday invitations may be sent through the school if the entire class is invited.
Field Trips
Field trips are an important part of our program for four and five year olds. Transportation will be provided by school bus rental or parent volunteers. Field trip drivers are required to provide a copy of proof of insurance and a copy of their driver license. Siblings may not participate in field trips.
Parents will receive advance notice of forthcoming field trips and means of transportation. Permission slips must be signed and returned to the school if the child is to participate in the field trip. Inappropriate behavior on field trips will result in the child not being allowed to attend the next field trip.
Health Regulations
No child who arrives noticeably ill will be admitted to school for that day.
Children are to be kept home when they show any of the following symptoms:
- Temperature more than ninety-nine degrees.
- Skin rash.
- Discharging eyes, a sore throat, profuse nasal discharge.
- Upset stomach or diarrhea. Children should remain home for twenty-four hours after displaying any of the above symptoms.
- Any child who has head lice must be kept at home until proper treatment is administered and all nits are removed. A child that has been treated for head lice cannot return to school until he or she has been checked by a school representative indicating that the child is no longer infested with head lice. That means you must remove all dead nits or eggs before they are seen at school.
A child who becomes ill at school will be isolated from the rest of the group, and the parents will be notified immediately. The child is required to remain at home for twenty-four hours after leaving school.
Medications Administered
The programs medication policy states: Our staff is permitted by state law to administer prescription medications and over the counter medications to your child provided the medications are brought to the preschool in the original prescription bottle accompanied by an appropriately completed and signed medication permission form. Do not put medication in your childs tote bag. The staff member assigned to give medications will follow the instructions on the medication container and the parent instructions on the permission sheet for any specific instructions. Medications are administered at 12:00 and 3:30. We cannot administer medications at any other times during the day. The staff member administering medications will note on each childs permission slip the time, date, and their signature. If mediation is not administered on time, and it is more than an hour past the administration time, the parent will be contacted for further advice. After completing the medication cycle, the empty bottle or container is returned to the parent.
Abuse/Neglect
Louisiana State Law requires any professional who works with children to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
Therapy Services
Preschoolers receiving any type of therapy may not be seen at the preschool during school hours. Therapy services must be scheduled between 12:30 and 2:30. Preschoolers receiving these services at the preschool must be registered in the second dismissal or extended care program. We will do our best to try to accommodate the children and therapist, but we do not have an appropriate space available for therapy. All therapists must have a background check and must have attended the Child Abuse Class through the diocese before entering the preschool.
Inclement Weather
In case of bad weather the preschool will observe the same early dismissal or closure as public and parochial schools. Please listen to local radio and television stations for information on school closure. If you have a serious concern about sending a child to school in bad weather, please feel free to have the child remain at home.