FOREST HILL PRESCHOOL ORIENTATION
PARENT NOTES 2015-2016
Dear Parents:
Please take time to read the Preschool Guidelines:
SECURITY ID CARDS
Security ID Cards will be given to parents at Orientation. No one will be permitted
entrance to the Preschool Center at any time without the designated Security ID
Card. Please request replacement cards or an extra caregiver card at the Welcome
Desk.
SECURITY INSTRUCTION LOG
If anyone other than a parent will be picking up a student, the parent must sign the
Security Instruction Log prior to the dismissal of the student. No child will be
released to anyone other than the parent without written instruction. Identification
(ID) will be requested. The Security Instruction Log is located at the entrance to the
Playschool Wing.
PARENTAL ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents are responsible for their child’s safety during arrival and departure. Parents
should escort their child/children in and out of the Preschool each day by holding their
hand. Do not allow them to run ahead to the classroom or the car. Our campus is large
and traffic can busy! For safety purposes, we ask that your child/children remain with you
or an authorized adult at all times.
PARKING
Please be aware of moving traffic when exiting your car after parking. Use the main
Playschool entrance for security purposes.
Observe the following:
 Drive slowly during arrival departure time.
 Children can get away from Mommy or Daddy and run free! Please have them stay
with you at all times. (Hold hands).
 Do not leave children locked in car unattended.
 Do not leave car running.
 Do not leave purses or pocket books in car where they are visible.
PRESCHOOL DROP_OFF
We love our relationship with each of our families!
Our drop-off procedure plays a very important part of your child’s day… every morning.
When you accompany your little one to the classroom it gives them a feeling of security and
creates an easy transition for your child. The one-on-one communication developed
between parent and teacher each day creates a strong, trusting relationship. The daily
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encounters provide an opportunity meet other families or participate at Preschool. The
relationships remain meaningful during the preschool years! We want to partner with you
in Christ, loving your child and helping him/her to have a wonderful preschool experience
every day!
PRESCHOOL ARRIVAL
Our day begins at 9:30am. Classroom doors will not be open before 9:30am due to teacher
preparation and Staff Devotion. Please wait at the Welcome Area door, which will open at
9:25am. Upon classroom arrival, please place your child’s belongings in his or her cubby.
Sign the WHERE I”LL BE form before leaving. Phone numbers may change and we need
to be able to reach you immediately. Parents and siblings are to remain outside the
classroom as we greet your child and bring him/her into the room. We will direct them to
an activity after welcoming them with a smile!
TEARS
Tears are inevitable when separating from loved ones… for both mommy and student!
Give your child a QUICK reassurance that you love them, give them a hug and a kiss, and
then say a quick good-bye. While this is very difficult to do, especially when your child
cries, it makes for a brief and much easier transition. This adjustment period is very
common and we will give your child lots of love, hugs, attention, and reassurance. Please
know that we will call you if the tears are long-lasting. Our goal is for our little ones and
Mommy to be happy and secure during Preschool days!
PRESCHOOL DISMISSAL
Dismissal is between 12:50pm and 1:00pm at the classroom door. Please remain outside
the door. To maintain the security of all our little ones. The teacher will call your child to
the door where you may greet them!
LATE PICK UP
At 1:05pm all children will be taken to the Reception Area for late pick up. We realize that
emergencies occur; however, our teachers can not be responsible for children after 1:00pm.
Many teachers have school age children to pick up, appointments, and other plans after
Preschool.
LATE PICK-UP FEES
A late charge must be paid at pick-up after 1:10pm. The late charge will be $10.00 and then
$1.00 per minute. A parent/student sign-out log will be available at the door (room to
insure safe dismissal. Check or cash only.
LABELING
Please label the outside of your child’s book bag, lunchbox and cups. Please label all
diaper bags and diapers.
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TUITION
Tuition is due one month in advance, on the 1st (example: September tuition is due on
August 1st, October tuition is due on September 1st). This eliminates a payment in May, as
tuition will be paid August through April. A $20.00 late fee will be charged after the 10th of
the month. A Drop-In Tuition Box is located at the Welcome Desk during drop-off and
pick-up for your convenience or you may mail your payment to:
Forest Hill Church Preschool
Attn: Preschool/Robyn Krausse
7224 Park Road Charlotte, NC
28210
CLASS COMMUNICATION
Communication is of the utmost importance as we work together in the best interest of
your child. Once a month a Director’s newsletter is sent home. Each teacher will send
home a class calendar, forms, and important information to keep you up to date about the
activities taking place in class. Please keep this on your refrigerator to remind you of each
day’s plans! Copies of all communications are available upon request at the Welcome Desk.
LUNCHES
Please label lunch boxes! Send whatever your child enjoys. Please no food that has to be
heated or refrigerated. No yogurt or applesauce for the Toddlers because they have a very
difficult time managing these food items. Hot dogs and whole grapes can be a choking
hazard… Please see the Suggested Food Ideas List to help with creative options for your
child! Don’t forget to send spoons and forks.
SPECIAL DAY – 3’s and 4’s
Once a month, your child will have a special day where he/she may bring in a special “show
and tell”. They will be the Special Helper of the day as well as participate in many special
“duties”. A calendar will be sent home to indicate your child’s “Show and Tell” day. Items
brought from home with the exception of “Show and Tell” must stay in the cubbies.
FORMS
Please make sure your All About Me form, Emergency Health Plan form, and a copy of
your child’s Immunization Record is turned in by the first day of Preschool. You may turn
them in to your child’s classroom teacher at Orientation/Open House as well.
BIRTHDAYS
Please feel free to bring in a special treat for your child. We have all birthday parties in
our rooms after lunch at 12:30pm. If your child has a summer birthday, we suggest
celebrating with a half-year party.
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SICK POLICY
If your child is sick, PLEASE keep them at home. They want Mommy on these days! Our
goal is to keep the germs from spreading and to keep all of our little ones healthy.
Sickness in the last 36 hours includes:
99* Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea/loose bowels
Congestion/ Rattling chest cough
Thick/yellow nasal mucus discharge
Pink eyes/discharge
Skin lesions/blisters
Any contagious viral/bacterial infections
POTTY TRAINING
Diapers (no pull ups or cloth diapers are allowed due to strict NC Health Guidelines) must
be worn until your child is completely potty trained and can go an entire preschool day
without accidents. “Big kid” underwear can be worn only when students are successfully
independent in bathroom needs.
THREE YEAR OLDS
All Students entering a Three Year Old class must be completely potty trained and
independent of bathroom assistance before entering a Three year old class in September.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
When inclement weather prevails, please watch the local Weather Bulletin announcements.
We will follow Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' decision with the exception of make-up
days. We are unable to “make-up” inclement weather days due to weekday class program
scheduling. Emails will be sent to families by 8:00am if Preschool is cancelled for the day.
Because teachers have children that attend school and are effected by school cancellations,
Preschool staffing is not available on these days. Refunds are not given for missed days due
to Inclement Weather or unforeseen circumstances.
DISCIPLINE/BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES
The mission of Forest Hill Preschool is to provide a Christian learning environment for our
children. Our Preschool environment is intended to provide the safety/security of every
child, as well as to maximize the ongoing learning process, and is to be as free of disruptive
behavior as is reasonably possible. Disruptive behavior can include BITING, frequent
tantrums, inconsolable crying, aggressive behavior towards others, disrespect toward the
teacher, and disregard of other’s safety. We understand that young children develop social
skills through interactive play, however, persistent, harmful play/behavior greatly affects
the entire class. Issues resulting from disruptive behavior will be addressed first by
classroom teachers and then, by the director, and resolved with Christian compassion.
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DISCIPLINE BEHAVIOR POLICY
At Forest Hill Preschool we want to provide a safe, secure, loving, Christian environment
for all students. Our main objective is to provide consistent boundaries, positive
reinforcement and redirection, and individual encouragement to help manage classroom
behavior. Our goal is to help children learn discipline by:
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Providing an age appropriate stimulating environment
Setting age appropriate limits that are understood and consistently carried out
Giving children an opportunity to make wise choices concerning their behavior
when a disruptive behavior/situation occurs
Re-directing the child is attempted first
An “age-minute” timeout is then implemented to give the child time to rethink the
behavior. The child will then be allowed to rejoin the classroom activities when time
has passed and the situation is discussed.
When frequent “time-outs” are not an effective method, a conference with the
parent and teacher will be arranged to discuss other positive methods to encourage
positive behavior. The shared ideas can be implemented at home as well as
Preschool.
If after the conference, the negative behaviors continue and are frequent throughout
the morning, the child will be sent home for the remainder of the day. Our goal is to
make sure that the preschool class environment provides an safe and optimal
learning experience for all of the students.
An additional conference with the Director may be needed to follow up on the
progress of the student.
Forest Hill Preschool may recommend other helpful resources to help identify
positive alternatives to help the student develop appropriate behaviors.
If the Preschool resource recommendation is not an option, and the student
continues to exhibit inappropriate disruptive behavior, Forest Hill Preschool has the
right to dismiss the child from the program for a period of time, or recommend
another program.
Thank you for your cooperation and especially for allowing us to be a part of your child’s
life. We look forward to many precious moments with them. Please feel free to call with
any questions or concerns you might have. I hope you and your child are as excited about
the coming year as we are! We look forward to serving the Lord as we minister to your
children.
In His Service,
Susan C. Kincaid
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