ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE - It is imperative that parents and/or caregivers understand the importance of prompt arrival and departure. The teachers in your child's classroom work very hard to prepare a secure, happy environment for your child. It is very disruptive for all of the children if certain children arrive late. The same applies for pick-up, especially at 12:45pm, since children who stay past 12:45pm begin rest time shortly after. There will be a $15/hour Child Minding fee applied (in one hour increments) to all late departures before 5:30pm. For any child picked up after 5:30 the fee schedule is as follows: 5:45pm-6pm-$15 fee. After 6pm, the fee is $1 per minute. Any child arriving before their scheduled time will be charged the childminding fee ($15) for early drop-off. Children arriving before 8:45am should enter through the side entrance.

NEVER LEAVE a child unattended anywhere in the school. Please bring your child to their classroom and make sure that a staff member acknowledges your child's presence before leaving the classroom. Children are not allowed to be downstairs unattended during extended day/extended afternoon dismissal.

FEES - You are committed to The Park Preschool for the entire school year, September through June. Tuition is an annual expense-that may be paid in three payments or ten payments. For those who chose to make monthly payments, payment is expected the first of the month. The due dates for semesterly payments are: August 15, 2007, November 15, 2007, and February 15, 2008. It is important that all fees be paid on time, a $25 fee will be charged on late payments. A $40 fee will be charged on all returned checks.

WITHDRAWAL -The Park Preschool reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any child for reasons it deems consistent with the best interest of the school. In this case a pro rated portion of the tuition will be refunded.

CONFERENCES - Please refrain from distracting your child's teacher with a “doorway conference.” We respect our children greatly and do not want to discuss any concerns we have in front of them. It is more appropriate to set up an appointment with your child's teacher for a conference. Teachers are also available for phone conferences. We want all parents to know that we take conferences very seriously and you should feel comfortable about setting something up with a teacher(s). We also have two scheduled Parent/ Teacher conferences during the school year (Tuesday, November 6, 2007 and Thursday, May 22, 2008). Kevin and Ellen are both available to meet with you regarding any concerns that you may have. It is important that we keep the lines of communication open.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS/LATE OPENINGS - In case of inclement weather, natural disasters, etc., listen to your local news for school closings/late openings. If New York City Public Schools are closed or opening late so are we.

REQUIRED FORMS -Medical Record form must be up to date. Sign and return the Medical Release form, and the Dismissal form. All forms must be current in order for your child to start school. The Bureau of Day Care requires all forms. If someone new, who is not on your authorized pick-up form, is picking up your child, you must leave a note with your child's teacher or the child will not be released.

WWW PARENTAL CONSENT FORM - The Park Preschool's web site is www.theparkpreschool.org . The site includes classroom pages with children's photographs, artwork, poetry and other work produced in conjunction with a school project, activity or field trip. If you would like your child's work displayed on the web site you must return a signed WWW parental consent form.

ILLNESS - Children with a temperature of 100 degrees or above are not permitted in the school and we recommend that they not return to school until they have gone 24 hours fever free. We want the school to be a healthy environment for all. Also, please contact the school if your child will be absent with any contagious disease (chicken pox, pink eye, lice, etc.) so we can discreetly inform the other parents. The families of children who become ill at school (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) will be notified and are expected to pick up their child in a timely fashion.

ABSENT - If your child will miss school, for any reason, call to let us know at 212.571.6191.

MEDICATION - We are now MAT certified and may administer most medications to children. If your child needs medication administered while in our care, please come by the office and complete the required consent forms.

FOOD-;Your child should eat a nutritious meal before they arrive to school that will sustain them until his/her scheduled snack time. Children eating in the classroom can be very disruptive to the classroom's activities. Any child that attends the lunch session, (11:45-12:45pm) should come to school with a nutritious meal, to sustain him/her throughout his/her day. It is important for safety in the classroom that no glass containers are packed in a child's lunch box.

CUBBIES - Remember to check your child's cubby daily. This is one way that we keep everyone up-to-date on school happenings.

CLOTHING - All children should have a complete change of clothes (including socks and underwear) in his/her cubby, seasonally appropriate. Label everything, including your child's coat. A Park Preschool backpack will be provided to store these items in your child's cubby. It is important that each child wear shoes, sneakers and sandals with a back strap. While flip-flops are cute during the warmer weather, they can be dangerous to children as they run in the park, gym or during creative movement classes.

TOYS - Try your best to have your child put any personal items into his/her cubby upon arrival at school. Personal toys in the classroom cause so many needless conflicts and very often cause your child not to become involved in the daily activities with other children. During nap time the children may rest with a favorite stuffed animal. However, it is important for your child's individual growth that he/she not be given a pacifier at these times. A picture of your child's family is an appropriate transitional object for your child at the beginning of the year.

BIRTHDAYS - - Parents are always welcome to send in cupcakes or other goodies to celebrate their child's birthday. Notify your child's teacher in advance when you would like to celebrate. Absolutely no characters (Barney, Batman etc.) are allowed at school parties. If you are planning a birthday party outside of the school, you may deliver invitations at school if each child receives one. If you are planning a small party, mail the invitations to the child's home. If you are planning to pick children up from the school to attend your child's party, a note of permission must be given to the school from each child's parent.

SCHOOL TRIPS - Our liability insurance carrier requires that all children under the age of 3 be accompanied by their parent/guardian/caregiver.