Preschool Miscellany

Costs

Details on costs to attend First United Methodist can be found here.

Toilet Training

To attend preschool, your child must be independent in the bathroom. This means being completely potty trained (no pull-ups), able to wipe after bowel movement and able to handle their clothing with a limited amount of help. Please help us by going over these procedures with your child at home.

Accidents do happen occasionally, and we will assist them in difficult times. Please dress your child in clothing that can be undone and changed easily. Please send a complete change of clothes appropriate for the season. These will be left at school in case of accidents, and returned at the end of the school year.

Clothing

It is our intent to have children experience their educations. Please dress your child in comfortable, washable play clothes and shoes suitable for all activities indoors and outdoors. Children need to wear socks and lace-up or Velcro shoes. Flip flops, sandals, crocs, and jelly shoes do not provide enough security or protection when children are running, climbing, and jumping. Hoods with strings are choking hazards for children on playgrounds.

The preschool will furnish a canvas tote bag for each child for his/her belongings (hats, mittens, artwork, parent information, et cetera). Please have your child bring this bag to school each day.

Show and Tell

Each day a special child will be chosen to bring show and tell. Please encourage your child to participate and send only items that will fit into our Show and Tell Bags. By telling the class about a favorite object or experience your child will develop his/her vocabulary and language skills. Nature treasures such as bird nests are always welcome. Please do not bring toys or other possessions from home on other days unless the teacher has requested it. At preschool all things are shared and your child may not be ready to share his/her possession. There is also the risk of loss or breakage.

Please remember that preschool is not responsible for any personal belongings that may become lost or broken.

Communication

Parents are welcome to visit our preschool at any time. We will send home a newsletter and calendar each month to keep you informed of our activities. Please save the calendar and keep it as a reference. Your child's snack day and special activities are included on this calendar. Weekly notes will be posted by each classroom, detailing daily activities. Often special notices may be posted to relay important information between newsletters.

For this reason, please check the parent information area each day.

We will begin providing calendars and a newsletter archive online for your perusal at a future date.

Parent Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences for Preschool II and High Five will be held in February. Progress reports for Preschool I children will be sent home in February. If you have concerns at other times please feel free to call your teacher or director. They are here to help you and your child anytime.

Snacks and Lunch

Parents are asked to bring a nutritious snack for their child's class on a rotating schedule developed by the director. Some suggestions are fruit, vegetables & dip, pretzels, crackers & cheese, muffins, and fruit breads. Please send finger foods that can be easily eaten within our limited time frame. If you wish to send a beverage, please send milk or fruit juice. Please do not send juice boxes - we will be working on pouring skills. Children's birthdays are special events and if you would like to make a special treat for that day, you may do so. Please contact the teacher in advance to arrange the celebration. (All summer birthdays will be celebrated in April.) Snack lists will be on the monthly calendars, so please don't forget your child's snack day. They are the special snack helper on this day.

For more information about lunches, see our Lunch Bunch program.

Field Trips

As it is our philosophy that children learn by doing, Preschool II and High Five will be taking numerous field trips, both on foot and by riding in cars driven by insured parents. All trips are carefully planned and well supervised. You will be given advance notice of all trips. A permission slip must be signed and returned or the child will not be permitted to accompany us on the trip. Preschool I will not take field trips.

Outdoor Policy

Generally, any child well enough to attend preschool is well enough to tolerate at least a short period of time in the open air. State regulations stipulate that any child in preschool must spend part of their day outside. In addition, health care professionals state that fresh air, even cold air, will aid the body in killing disease-causing germs. Preschool is, therefore, unable to honor a requires by a parent/guardian to keep the child inside for the entire class time. A doctor's statement is required if a child is to be kept inside because of health reasons.

Children will not play outside during weather extremes (less than 30 degrees F, or warmer than 95 degrees F). We will not play outside in the rain or snow.