Hancock Nursery School, Inc.
Parent Handbook
Welcome to the Hancock Nursery School, Inc. This handbook will familiarize you with the school’s history, organization, philosophy, policies and procedures, and it will answer questions you may have during your enrollment in the school. We hope the handbook will help give you and your child a positive experience at HNS.
The policies and procedures outlined in this handbook are based on the regulations of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) which licenses early childhood care and educations programs.
The Hancock Nursery School, Inc. is dedicated to promoting happy, healthy early childhood growth and development for young children through their participation in preschool programs which are based on developmentally and age appropriate activities. We believe in offering a curriculum which supports the whole child in his/her social, emotional, physical and cognitive development, according to each child’s needs and style while they play and explore and socialize together. We value a strong partnership with parents to build a community of caring adults, striving to provide children with an early education experience which will be the foundation for life-long learning and growing.
The Hancock Nursery School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disabilities in the administration of its admission, educational, personnel or scholarship programs and policies.
The Massachusetts EEC inspects the school every two years to review compliance with required documentation and implementation of regulations related to health and safety, curriculum and teacher certification. HNS is licensed for 58 children at a time.
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1. Introducing Hancock Nursery School, Inc.
Preschool programs on a school year calendar for children two years nine months to five years old. a. History
The Hancock Nursery School started many years ago in the Hancock United
Church of Christ (HUCC) as a private kindergarten. When public kindergarten was opened in the Lexington Public Schools, the school became the Hancock
Nursery School, a preschool for three and four year old children operated by
HUCC, but without any religious affiliation or mission.
In 2003, HNS, Inc. became a separate entity from HUCC. The school is now a paying tenant in the church building. HNS rents four well equipped classrooms, as well as office and storage space along a central corridor at the back entrance of the building. The school enjoys the use of a large community hall for daily indoor bike riding and gross motor play, as well as another room reserved for weekly music and movement programs. Kitchen facilities are available for school use. The fenced playground provides space for each group to play outdoors under large trees with sand and climbing equipment. b. Philosophy
HNS provides a developmentally and age appropriate preschool experience for the whole child. We promote success and mastery of social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills according to the individual pace and style of each child. A positive adjustment to school starts with successful separations and trust. The master of language and motor skills leads to self-help skills and self-control and the acquisition of knowledge about how the world works. Interactions with peers to resolve differences and to form friendships are central to the social experience of preschoolers. Our teaching goals are aimed at the development of healthy self-esteem, independence and respect for one’s self and others.
We believe that play is fundamental to childhood and to learning, and that socialization is the primary purpose of participation in preschool. The curriculum encourages exploration and discovery in a variety of experiences, as well as the expression of ideas, feelings, interests and abilities during play and through a variety of media. We value self-expression through music, movement, art and crafts. Teachers support cognitive development through age-appropriate information gathering, logical thinking and problem solving during play and while investigating topics of interest, which emerge from the children and from the real world of our daily lives.
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Cognitive development is encouraged in every aspect of children’s work and play, according to the age and stage of the development of each child. The prekindergarten curriculum includes an array of experiences with early literacy and math in the context of meaningful, real life activities. The teachers create ongoing opportunities for children to practice the recognition and use of letters and numbers, starting with the child’s name and number work up to 10, always applied in the context of meaningful, real life experiences. Teachers support each child at whatever stage of interest and skill the child demonstrates. HNS follows the Lexington Public Schools (LPS) expectations for preparing children for kindergarten entry.
An important goal of the curriculum is to help children learn acceptable behavior. We reinforce positive behavior with praise, guide children toward constructive activity with re-direction, and set clear limits and rules for safety and respect for others. We work on solving problems together through conversation and compromise. We help children learn to talk over differences, and we encourage the development of empathy for the feelings of others.
Finally, HNS believes that constructive parent-teacher partnerships are essential to successful, high quality early childhood education. c. Organization
Each year the names of members and officers of the Board of Directors and of the parent Committee are published in the HNS Family Directory, which is distributed in September. d. Board of Directors and Administration
HNS is a non-profit, tax-exempt educational corporation with 501 (c) (3) status with the Department of Revenue. The nursery school is governed by a set of By-
Laws written by the governing Board of Directors, which has nine members representing teachers, administrators, parents and community members.
Except for the administrative positions, the membership generally rotates on two-year cycles. The Board hires the Executive Director and, through regular interaction and consultation at monthly meetings, monitors fiscal matters, guides long range plans, and determines policies of the school. The Executive
Director makes recommendations to the Board, administers the day-to-day operations of the school and has ultimate responsibility for the implementation of the overall program and policies. The Business Manager is the Treasurer on the Board, is the school’s Business Manager, and assists the Director in running all fiscal matters, documentation and record keeping, of the school.
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HNS is a member of the Preschool Association of Lexington (P.A.L.) and the
Director of HNS attends the semi-annual meetings of the Lexington Public
School Early Education Committee. f. Teachers and Consultants
Each classroom has two teachers, a lead teacher and an assistant teacher. A movement, music and yoga teacher each come to school two times a month to conduct half-hour classes for each group in attendance. On occasion, the school hires an Early Childhood Specialist to consult with the teachers and parents. The school maintains an affiliation with a nurse for medical/first aid/CPR instruction and consultation. HNS retains a Certified Public Accountant to help prepare the annual forecasted budget and to monitor the operating budget, as well as to manage and report Massachusetts tax responsibilities.
Committee
The Parent Committee is a volunteer group of interested parents who meet monthly to plan social activities for the families at HNS. This committee also solicits donations annually to sponsor these events, which are open to every family enrolled at HNS. The committee coordinates family activities at throughout the school year. At orientation in September the committee provides morning coffee to welcome families to the new school year. Through solicited donations and small fund-raisers, the Parent Committee is able to give the school money to purchase new equipment for the curriculum and to support a Scholarship Fund. The work of this committee provides significant enhancement to the school community and activities. There are several officers on the committee: Co-Chairpersons, Treasurer, Fundraising, Publicity, and
Scholastic Books. One of the chairpersons of the Parent Committee sits on the
HNS Board of Directors as one of the parent representatives. h. Groups, Ages and Placement
HNS offers either five or six groups each year for preschool and prekindergarten children. The number of groups and the configuration of each group depend on the ages and stages of the populations enrolled, teacher availability and the classroom space available. Placement considerations include chronological age, developmental stage, group size and constraints, group configuration and dynamics, sibling factors whenever possible, and staffing factors. Parental concerns and requests are discussed and honored to the degree that it is possible in the context of the whole group make-up and overall school considerations. The Director talks with teachers about the
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Groups are formed on a yearly basis starting in September for the school year.
Children and teachers stay together for the year regardless of children’s birthdays.
(Chart goes here) i. Special Needs & Referrals to Community Services
Occasionally, teachers and/or parents may feel a child needs evaluation and assistance in speech, physical development, emotional issues or behavior management. In such cases, HNS first makes careful observations and keeps detailed documentation to use in discussion as educators and with the child’s parents. HNS works closely with The Lexington Public Schools Early Childhood
Special Education Department and receives their recommendations and followup treatment is arranged outside of school. j. Staff
The Executive Director is hired by the Board of Directors and sits on the Board as a voting member and may serve as the President of the Board. The Executive
Director is responsible for planning, implementing, supervising and evaluation all aspect of the school’s operations, philosophy, policies, publications and programs. This includes the education plan the curriculum, the space and facilities, enrollment, personnel, the budget and the relationship with the landlord and the public. The Director is certified by the EEC. Other qualifications include years of experience and work history, at least a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related degree, and recommendations from previous employers and/or colleagues. Currently the Executive Director is a full-time administrative position, but it can be a shared position with other qualified staff, and it can be a Teacher-Director position. The final job description of the Executive Director rests with the Board of Directors.
The Business Manager is hired by the Executive Director. The Office Manager is a voting member of the Board of Directors and acts as the Secretary and the
Treasurer. This employee is responsible for assisting the Executive Director with 1) all budgetary and fiscal matters; 2) all areas of the school’s enrollment and personnel records and documentation; 3) all documentation and reporting of the school’s operations, licensing and accreditation; 4) maintenance of the facilities and equipment; 5) the day-to-day management of the school’s office.
The Office Manager possesses skills in bookkeeping, computer programs and office management, as well as qualities that support the preschool environment
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Parent Handbook of young children, their parents and the teachers. This is currently a part-time position during the school year with some work during the summer months.
The final job description of the Office Manager rests with the Executive
Director. k. Teachers
HNS has a well-qualified team of teachers, some of whom have been at this nursery school for several years. The Director, using input from teachers, chooses new applicants for teaching positions and for substitute teaching on the basis of EEC regulations, and certification requirements for each position, professional and personal experience and personal qualities. To be hired, all staff, including substitute teachers, must submit a C.O.R.I. Report (Criminal
Offenders Record Investigation), must have a personal interview and a working interview in a classroom, provide two references, become certified in first aid, and supply medical records which approve their edibility to work with young children. Each classroom has a lead teacher and an assistant teacher who are qualified by EEC standards.
Substitute teachers work under the supervision of the classroom teacher and
Director. Substitutes are paid employees and they must meet the same HNS hiring standards and procedures as regular teachers. They receive an orientation about the philosophy of the school, policies, and procedures.
2. Enrollment a. Application for New Families & Re-Registration for Returning Families
The application and re-registration process for enrollment for the following
September begins in January and confirmation of a place at HNS begins in
February. Priority for filling spaces for the following September is given to: 1) current enrollees; 2) eligible siblings of current enrollees and (3) legacy families. Once these applications are processed, remaining spaces are open to new applicants for placement.
The Hancock Nursery School requires interested families to visit the school with their child to tour the facilities. At that time, the school philosophy and policies are discussed and program options are described. A family interested in enrolling must submit their application form with the non-refundable application fee. If space is available for the requested schedule in an appropriate group, the family will be notified of the placement of their child in the program. That place is reserved when the non-refundable deposit of the first month’s tuition is paid in full. If a specific request for a schedule or age group or classroom cannot be accommodated, the Director will contact the
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Placements, class lists and teacher assignments for the coming school year are announced in the late spring. b. Rolling
Even though the vast majority of placements begin each year in January, applications are accepted continuously throughout the year and rolling admissions are made as space is available. c. Termination
If a family decides to withdraw from HNS, the family continues to be responsible for their child’s tuition payments until a replacement can be found.
This policy applies to families who have been admitted and then withdraw before attendance has started or while attending during the school year.
If the nursery school determines it cannot continue having a child attend HNS for whatever reason, parents will be notified, both in person and in writing.
Tuition will be charged through the last day of attendance. If pre-payments have been received, HNS will refund the balance. Circumstances for termination by the nursery school will include, but are not necessarily limited to, failure to meet tuition payments, the inability of the school to meet the needs of the child or the family, or the failure of the family to follow procedures and/or policies in a routine and respectful way.
3. Operating Schedule
Preschool typically starts at the beginning of September and ends mid- June.
• Preschool classrooms are in session from 9 a.m. until 12 noon Monday through Friday. The pre-K classrooms are in session from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. which includes lunch.
• The Lunch Program is in session from 12 noon until 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• The Extended Day Program is in session from 12 noon until 3 p.m.
Monday through Wednesday.
• Early Drop Off is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. on a drop-in basis.
These additional programs begin after the start of school and end approx. a week before the end of school in early June.
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HNS operates roughly on the Lexington Public School calendar year. An annual
HNS calendar is published, posted and distributed each year in the summer for the coming school year. The calendar lists the dates of the start of school, the end of school, national holidays, school closings and school events. Daily events are posted on the announcement board in the entrance hall and via email as well.
Closings
In severe weather, HNS closes when the Lexington Public Schools close, or when the Lexington Public Schools have a delayed opening of either one or two hours.
Check with local news stations for school closings and delays. If
HNS must close mid-day, parents and/or designated emergency contacts will be called.
If HNS must close during the school day for reasons other than weather, the staff will contact parents and/or designated drivers with instructions about the problem and the time and place for picking up their child. In extreme emergencies, children will be kept in protected areas of the building or will move to a safe neighboring building with food, clothing and water, according to a general plan designed by the Preschool Association of Lexington in cooperation with the Lexington Fire Department. Names and telephone numbers of parents, caregivers, guardians, emergency contacts and designated drivers must be kept current, and telephone numbers at home, at work and the cell phone must be accurate.
There are no refunds, exchanges or credits given when HNS has to close for weather or other emergencies.
4. Getting Started
Over the summer, HNS will send all families an orientation package consisting of:
• The orientation schedule
• An invitation to the Parent Committee “Welcome Coffee”
• A tuition invoice
• An emergency form
• An annual physical and immunization form
• A developmental history form
All forms must be completed and mailed back to HNS before the first day of school.
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In August the classroom teachers send a card or letter to each child in their group welcoming them to school.
During orientation in September you will be asked to fill out other necessary paper work that can be completed during the parent coffee. a. Attendance
Parents are expected to notify/call HNS when their child will not be at school, or will arrive late or depart early. There are no refunds, credits or exchange days for absences or time missed from school.
5. Daily Life a. Curriculum
The curriculum at HNS is built on what are understood as the best practices in the field of early childhood education. These include developmentally and age appropriate activities that are offered in a secure, supportive environment. Play and spontaneous exploration are fundamental to childhood and are essential to learning. Through play children explore their world, find out how they get along with others, test their skills and muscles, try out new ideas, and feel confident enough to try different activities. We follow the lead of the children’s expressed interests and abilities to develop curriculum that will allow them to explore and discover the world around them. b. Typical Day 9:00 – 12:00
Activities include times for:
• Arrivals and greetings
• Free play
• Meeting/circle time for conversation, a story, and some music
• Choice time: Planned activities and open-ended areas of activity (blocks, sensory table, water table, painting, books, housekeeping, manipulative, writing and drawing)
• Bathroom, hand washing and snack
• Bike room for gross motor play
• Playground
• Special activity such as music, movement or yoga on certain days
• Goodbyes and Departures
The specific schedule for each room is posted outside the classroom door.
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Classroom doors open promptly at 9:00 a.m. It is best not to linger in the classroom but to leave promptly so that your child can get on with the business of the school day. Parents may never sneak out without saying goodbye. This is always alarming to a child who discovers his parent has disappeared, undermining basic trust. If separation is difficult, we will work on a plan together to help ease the struggle. Children respond best to a decisive and prompt farewell, with reassurance that you will be back at the end of their day. d. Departures
During pick-up time some groups may be on the playground, in the bike room or in their classroom. It is important that parents arrive on time to pick up their children. Late pick-ups confuse and unsettle your child, inconvenience the staff by interrupting their end of day duties or planned meetings, and put constraints on our compliance with licensing. If you cannot avoid being late, please call the school so that we can make appropriate accommodations .
If there is a pattern of late pick-up, the school will begin charging for the extra time teachers must spend caring for your child. e. Snack
Snack is a social time for the whole class to sit together with the two teachers for conversation and refreshment. We provide a variety of raw fruits and vegetables along with cheeses, whole grain cereals, breads, crackers and pretzels. We try to serve foods that are organic and without hydrogenated oils.
Occasionally the children cook foods that are related to the curriculum and they may also enjoy homemade snacks. Filtered water is served every day. f. Toileting
Children do not have to be fully toilet trained in order to attend HNS. Teachers always accompany children to the bathroom and assist with toileting, dressing and hand washing. g. Discipline
In early childhood education, discipline is not about punishment but about helping children learn to control their impulses, to understand what is appropriate behavior and to modify their own behaviors to become socially acceptable. By interacting respectfully and clearly with children, we help them negotiate the ups and downs of daily living with some give and take, with
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When children are frustrated, we use re-direction and distraction with acceptable alternatives and we always encourage what children can do.
Corporal punishment is never used and children are not “punished” or humiliated. Sometimes a teacher removes the child(ren) from the situation to a safe place, especially if there is a danger to one’s self or others. We talk over what has happened and how each person feels and agree on an acceptable solution. h. Celebrations,
Seasonal festivities around holidays, traditions and birthdays are always enjoyable. We enroll children of all faiths, ethnicities, and cultures and we value and honor the variety of these backgrounds by introducing the children to the food, music, stories, dress and crafts of the various festivities. We invite families to share traditions and celebrations at school, making the appropriate arrangements with the teacher ahead of time.
Children enjoy having their birthdays recognized at school. Parents are welcome to provide ice fruit bars for the celebration. It is always nice to celebrate your child’s special day by visiting your child’s classroom with a favorite story to read aloud.
Issuing your invitations for celebrations being held at home must be handled carefully so that children are not excluded and feelings hurt. Unless everyone in the class is invited, it is best to issue invitations outside of school. i. Graduation
There is a special graduation celebration for the pre-kindergarten children during the last week of school. The children, their teachers and the Director board a school bus for a ride to a neighboring school and a visit to the kindergarten classroom where the teacher talks with the children, answers their questions, and reads them a story. The parents must provide a written permission for their child to travel on the school bus. When they return, they receive their diplomas and portfolios in their classroom.
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6. Money Matters a. Tuition
Tuition rates and application/re-registration fees are announced each year in
January. The rates/fees are voted on by the HNS Board of Directors.
Payments
Tuition is charged at an annual rate and invoiced in eight (8) equal payments.
The first payment is paid as a non-refundable deposit at the time of enrollment to reserve a space for the upcoming school year. The remaining seven (7) payments are invoiced at the beginning of each month starting in August and continuing until March (no payment is due in January).
Monthly invoices can include: tuition payments, monthly drop-in fees for lunch and/or extended day programs attended, application/registration fees, credits and late fees.
In the event that HNS incurs a bank fee for a returned check we will charge your account for reimbursement of that fee.
A late fee of $15.00 will be assessed to your account for balances over 30 days.
Timely payment is expected and is important to maintain the cash-flow and operations of the school. Please speak to someone in the office if you are having difficulty meeting the monthly payment, so that a manageable plan can be arranged. c. Lunch (12:00-1:00 Monday through Friday)
Lunch is charged at a flat rate. Families have the option to sign up for the semester (fall, winter and spring) or on a drop-in basis. The cost of a semester is calculated based on the actual number of days for that period. Payment is due at the time of registration for each semester. There are no refunds, credits or exchanges for days missed. Drop-in usage is invoiced the following month. d. Extended Day (12:00-3:00 Monday through Wednesday)
Extended Day is charged at a flat rate. Families have the option to sign up for the semester (fall, winter and spring) or on a drop-in basis. The cost of a semester is calculated based on the actual number of days for the period.
Payment is due at the time of registration for each semester. There are no refunds, credits or exchanges for days missed. Drop-in usage is invoiced the following month.
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Aid
Hancock Nursery School (HNS) has funded a scholarship account to enable children to attend a year of preschool prior to starting kindergarten. The scholarships are funded on an annual basis at the discretion of the HNS Board of Directors. HNS allocates funds to be awarded in partial to full tuition scholarships. Applications can be obtained at the school office. Scholarship funds would be directly applied to the recipient’s account for payment of tuition and program costs. Any amount not used by the recipient in payment of tuition and program costs will be returned to the scholarship account and set aside for future scholarships.
7. Parent Responsibilities a. Parent Agreement and Contract
Parents are required to sign a release in which they either give or do not give their consent for their child’s participation in school activities; to take walking excursions in the neighborhood; to receive emergency medical care; to have student teachers observe the classroom; to be photographed for school purposes; to have the child’s records viewed by the Massachusetts licensing inspectors. The parent must agree to keep their child at home in the case of a fresh cold, vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever. The parent must read and abide by all that is set forth in this Parent Handbook.
Parents must sign a contract at the time of enrollment acknowledging responsibility for payment of tuition for the school year. b. Transportation
All children must be picked up from school by the parents or a designated driver or walker listed on the transportation release form. In order for HNS to release your child to another parent or friend or family member; a release form must be submitted on the day of the special transportation arrangements, even if the transporter is listed on the general release form. When there is a permanent arrangement for a sitter, grandparent or friend to pick up a child from school routinely, the parent must indicate this on the general transportation release form and talk with the classroom teachers about the plan.
Any transportation arrangements made between a family and a staff member is entirely private and is entirely outside the liability and responsibility of HNS. If
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Please dress your child in washable, comfortable clothing which is suitable for active, messy play, and for easy toileting, as well as clothes that do not require special care. Please label your child’s clothing – especially jackets to be worn outside. We ask that you keep ample changes of correctly sized and seasonable clothing in your child’s cubbie and replenish clothing as necessary. d. Toys
Guidelines on bringing toys, books, games, and cuddly things from home differ somewhat from group to group. Teachers use their discretion in deciding how items from home are affecting the child, the other children and the program.
8. Parent Involvement
Even though HNS is not a parent cooperative nursery school, parent involvement is a very important part of the school. Parents can get involved in school in a variety of ways.
In October HNS holds a “back-to-school night” for parents in the evening. All members of the staff are on hand to talk informally with the parents, the Parent
Committee is available with information, aspects of the program are on display, and the teachers in each classroom present a description of the program to the parents for discussion. b. Parent-Teacher
A formal Parent-Teacher Conference is held in late fall. Both classroom teachers attend each conference and provide parents with their written observation of your child’s participation and development at school. Classes are not in session on conference day.
In the spring the teachers prepare a second written evaluation of your child’s growth and development at school. Though there is no specific conference day at that time, it is possible to request a time to meet with your child’s classroom teachers either before or after school.
Informal conferences may be arranged as needed throughout the school year.
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Parents are welcome to volunteer in classroom activities in coordination with the Lead Teacher. The special interests and talents of parents greatly enhance the children’s preschool experience. The teachers and parents coordinate plans together in advance regarding the visit.
9. Communication
Publications
This HNS Parent Handbook outlines expectations for both the school and the parents. It is given to every enrolled family in September.
The Family Directory, which includes class lists and phone numbers, is published and distributed to every family and staff member in September. b. Quarterly
HNS publishes the “Hancock Hullabaloo” newsletter seasonally with a current calendar, up-coming events, classroom news, information or comment from the
Director, a Parent Committee report, timely information and reminders. Each month a reminder entitled “Tidbits” is distributed school wide. c. From
The teachers keep a notebook and a bulletin board outside their classrooms with notes, news, photos, announcements, sign-up sheets, and helpful information and displays about the goings on in their group. Please take a few minutes to review these postings each day. d. In the Hall
• The white board has announcements and reminders for each day.
• The Parent Committee has a bulletin board for its announcements, calendar of events, photos of recent school events, and fliers of events and services around town.
• There are rotating displays of children’s work on walls, bulletin boards, tables and counters for everyone’s enjoyment.
• Each family is assigned a mailbox to receive communication from the HNS staff and the Parent Committee
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It can be very helpful to connect by telephone during the school day to reassure parents about their child, or to discus health questions or changes in plans for extended day or transportation. We welcome your call and the school will call you as needed. Although the teacher cannot be called out of class to come to the telephone, messages can be relayed to teachers in a timely fashion. f. Parent
Complaints and suggestions
Constructive criticism and helpful suggestions are always welcome for consideration, and they provide ideas which can help the school improve.
Should a concern or problem arise which requires discussion between the parent and the school, please request an appointment with either the classroom teacher or the Director to sort things out. In an extraordinary situation, when the parent(s) and the Director cannot resolve the issue together, either party may take the case to the Board of Directors. After review, the Board will make a final determination for the parent(s) and the school.
Compliments and satisfactions
Positive feedback is equally as important as constructive criticism to building good communication in a smooth running program. We appreciate hearing when things are going well and when you are pleased with the quality of the program, so that we can build on these successes.
Annual survey
During the school year, a questionnaire is distributed to parents to give us your evaluation of the school. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and can be anonymous if you wish. g. Confidentiality
We protect the child’s and the family’s right to confidentiality. HNS personnel will use family information and records, in its professional capacity as educators, only to serve the best interest of the child at school. Disclosure of the child’s records and family information beyond HNS personnel requires consent by the family. We respect the family’s right to privacy and will not enter into relationships with family members that might impair our teaching relationship with the children.
In the case of suspected child abuse or neglect, HNS employees are mandated reporters and may reveal confidential information to agencies of individuals who act as child protectors on the behalf of children.
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10. Health and Safety a. Health
HNS maintains the help of a health care consultant to advise us when we need guidance and/or instruction in medical procedures. b. Regulations and Guidelines
HNS is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care
(EEC). To be licensed we must comply with the EEC regulations. The published
Regulations are kept in the HNS office for reference on all issues including those pertaining to health and safety.
In addition, for answers to specific health and safety questions, we refer to “A
Guide for Child Care Providers in Massachusetts: Health and Safety in Child
Care.” This publication by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is a definitive work on all aspects of health and safety affecting children. When there is a communicable disease or an acute medical condition at school, we reprint the guidelines regarding the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for distribution to anyone affected or exposed. We follow the step-by-step instructions for understanding symptoms and care for all illnesses and conditions and accidents that may occur while at school.
Hand washing is the most effective universal precaution. Everyone at HNS washes their hands before school, before preparing food and drink, after cleaning up meals, after helping children with noses and mouths and hands, after using the bathroom, after helping children with toileting and hand washing, being sick or having accidents, and before and after providing first aid. We use gloves for handling situations involving blood or stool. Parents visiting and participating in school must follow the same practices of hand washing. c. First Aid and Emergency
All the teachers and the Director are certified in pediatric First Aid every three years and are certified in pediatric CPR annually. The teachers are trained in using Epi-pens which are supplied by parents for use as needed with regard to specific allergies.
For emergency situations, HNS calls 911. Then we immediately contact the child’s parent(s) or emergency contact. If a child needs to be taken to the hospital, we go to the hospital requested on the parent’s emergency form. If
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To begin enrollment each child must have an annual physical examination by a licensed physician and must have the immunizations required by the
Massachusetts Department of Early Childhood Care. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in suspension of enrollment. Enrollment resumes when the physical examination record is complete and on file in the HNS office.
Vaccination Schedule*
By Two Years By Kindergarten By 7 th Grade
3 doses of Hep B
4 doses of DTaP/DTP
3 doses of Polio
4 doses of Hib
3 doses of Hep B
5 doses of DTaP/DTP
4 doses of Polio
2 doses of MMR
3 doses of Hep B
3 doses of Polio
2 doses of MMR
1 booster dose of Td
1 dose of MMR 1 dose of Varicella 1 dose of Varicella*
1 dose of Varicella (*2 doses if 13 years of age or older)
*Mass Department of Public Health Immunization Program www.mass.gov/dph e. Abuse & Neglect suspected
Whenever there is suspected child physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect, (teachers will alert their Lead Teachers with concrete evidence) the day/date/time of observation, the frequency of episodes observed. The Lead
Teacher will consult immediately with the Director to evaluate the situation.
The school will consult with the parents to plan for ways to change what appears to be happening and may report evidence to an appropriate community agency or individual who may be able to intervene on the child’s behalf. This may lead to a report to DSS, and remedial intervention may continue, depending on the situation. Since teachers are mandated reporters, they have an obligation to protect the best interest of the child. The Director is always responsible for filing a 51A report of abuse or neglect with the EEC.
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Parent Handbook f. Illness at School or at Home
If your child becomes ill at school, we will call you to come to get your child to go home. While we cannot diagnose diseases, we monitor the signs any symptoms of possible illness such as unusual lethargy, change in color, headache and aches and pains, cough and cold symptoms, or unusual rashes.
Often we will confer with the parent by phone as the discomfort increases or subsides. If a child vomits, has a fever, diarrhea, or signs of conjunctivitis or strep throat, he/she must go home. We keep in mind the welfare of everyone else at school as well as the individual child who is unwell and ask that parents be prepared to come to school promptly when called. g. Injury
Minor injuries that occur at school are treated with first aid and recorded in our
Injury Log. A copy of the report form is given to the parent to sign and keep. h. Well Enough to Go to School?
(See example of form used). Sometimes it is hard to tell when a child is sick.
Parents at HNS are very conscientious about monitoring their children carefully, calling the school to discuss symptoms, and keeping children at home when they require medical attention. i. Safety
Everyone at HNS considers safety and security our first responsibility.
• Please use caution in the busy parking lot. Drive very slowly. Supervise your children in the parking lot during pick-up and drop-off.
• Please keep the playground gate closed at all times.
• Please close the main entrance door and the double doors at the bottom of the inside stairs.
• We do not allow children to open the main door to go inside or outside. To open inside doors, an adult must be with the child.
Children may not open the outside door.
• HNS holds fire drills on a regular basis throughout the year, following our evacuation plan. The Lexington Fire Department inspects the school annually and conducts at least one or two fire drills using the fire alarms.
• The school has an evacuation plan in case of fire or other emergency.
(DETAILS) The alarm will be sounded, children exit the building calmly and quietly with a teacher at the front and a teacher at the back of each group. The teacher of each group has an attendance sheet. Teachers assist children who need extra help. The groups gather at the far side of
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Parent Handbook the parking lot near the dumpster. The Director checks all areas of the school, closes all doors to each area, and joins the groups at the designated location outside. If the school must evacuate the grounds of the building, plans are in place to go to either the Lexington Public
Library or the Unitarian Church across the Lexington Green.
• The Lexington Building Department inspects the school for building code compliance annually.
• The HNS insurance agent inspects our records and our facility annually.
• HNS buys group medical-accident student insurance for each child enrolled in the school.
• HNS occupies an open church building with many members of the community passing through. We monitor all individuals coming through the nursery school area. We accompany each child to all areas. A child is never left alone.
• The playground and the bike room in Clark Hall are used for play by not more than one group at a time.
• We greet all family members and individuals picking up a child, and require identification from those whom we do not know.
• The hiring protocol includes screening at two personal interviews with the
Director and the teachers, at least two recommendations, and a screening for a criminal record (CORI).
• The school is cleaned weekly. Toys are washed regularly.
• Field Trips: When we take children on field trips or walking trips near the school property, each child wears a tag with the name, address and telephone number of HNS. We use a walkie-talkie system. The teachers carry a list of the children present. Each child who attends a walk off the grounds must have written permission signed by the parent in the child’s file.
Occasionally an HNS classroom may take a field trip which requires transportation in a vehicle. Each child who goes on a driving field trip must have written permission for that trip signed and dated by the parent. HNS staff does not drive for field trips. Parent volunteers drive the children and accept liability. Each child must use their own car seat.
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