Policies and Procedures

Firstly, it is very important for you to know that the teachers are always available to speak to you, should you have any questions or concerns. At our preschools we strongly believe in an open door atmosphere for communication between families and teachers. If a parent has any concerns, we hope they will feel free to discuss them with the teaching staff. We as professionals do not feel it is appropriate to discuss any concerns pertaining to any child’s behaviour or development while in the presence of the child. Privacy is of the utmost importance. Sensitive issues should be discussed privately amongst parents and teachers only. Appointments can easily be arranged before or after class for a personal meeting with the teachers, or since the teachers can regularly be contacted at the school, a phone call may suffice. As teachers of young children, we find it advantageous to communicate with parents in several different ways.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Formal parent/teacher conferences is scheduled in January to discuss your child’s progress. The teachers schedule this conference, however, if a parent feels a need for a conference at any time during the year, it will be arranged with pleasure.

Parents will receive a monthly calendar and newsletter informing them of upcoming themes, field trips, and special activities and events. Also, important notices and information are communicated through the newsletters; please take time to read them. Your teachers and the administrative staff of school can also be contacted at any time via email (firstchoicemontessori.com) regarding questions or concerns.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

It is very important for your child to arrive on time so they can fully participate in the classroom activities. Promptness when picking up your child is expected at all times. Please be aware that no child will be released to a person not approved in writing by the parent or guardian. If an emergency should occur while your child is attending class, please call the school to notify y“if you are going to be late or if someone else has to pick up your child

PHASE-IN PERIOD
The first few weeks of classes are directed towards setting a positive tone and atmosphere of fun within the classroom. Time is spent going over the limits and guidelines, introducing children to their new classroom, and getting to know one another. We want to ensure that each child begins the year positively, so we have a phase-in period. Beginning with shorter class time benefits all the children; most have been home for the summer, and some have never been away from their caregiver. The gradual entry gently brings a child through the variety of adjustments and changes associated with starting school. The phase-in period is crucial in developing a secure, predictable and loving atmosphere, which will lead to an enjoyable, productive year for all.

We ask that all families exercise patience and tolerance as we support the children in a successful beginning to the school year. As the children make their individual adjustments to preschool, parents and teachers jointly evaluate the appropriateness of the child’s placement in class. Rather than discussing these issues at drop off and pick-up times, which are a time to focus on the children and can be very busy, the teachers will be available for telephone and/or in –person conferences to discusess your child’s situation.

PROFESSIONAL DAYS
There will be Professional Developmental Days scheduled throughout the year in order the staff may attend workshops, lectures ad conferences pertinent to Early Childhood Development and the Montessori development. Parents will be given at least two weeks notice of an upcoming Professional day.

FIELD-TRIPS

During the school year the children have an opportunity to go on variety of field-trips. Siblings who are not enrolled in the school may not accompany the class on field-trips due to restrictions of our liability insurance. ). In circumstances where the sibling does attend, the parents are responsible for them physically and financially Notices are sent to you, two weeks in advance of the trip to inform you of the date, time and destination. Our field-trips require all parents to attend with their child.

BATHROOM POLICY

All children enrolled at First Choice Montessori must be fully trained and be able to manage all aspects of toileting independently. Diapers and/or training pants of any kind are not acceptable at school. Naturally, mishaps do occur and the staff will handle these situations with sensitivity and understanding. Any further concerns and/or possible ways to work around these issues can be discussed with the teachers.

The following consists of minor incidences and/or accidents that may occur on a daily basis but are not severe enough to constitute taking extreme actions or to call for medical assistance. In this policy, minor incidents and/or accidents are recorded in the communication book, and the parent is made aware of what has taken place and what actions were done by the staff to rectify the situation. In cases where severe situations occur, there is another form, called the reportable incident form that is filled out and a copy is sent out to licensing if and when the medical attention is required, then the appropriate actions taken as a set out in the form.

Any child in the care of First Choice Montessori will only be released to the designated persons known to the caregivers. We will require that the parents notify us of any individuals who will pick up their child prior to it happening and who must possess a picture ID upon arrival. The school requires that this policy be respected and be followed by all parents. We at First Choice will not compromise the care, safety, and welfare of the children at any cost.

On the occasion that for some unforeseen reason, a child is not picked up at the designated time, the teachers at First Choice will remain with the child until the matter is resolved. We keep the numbers of the parents as well as a couple of emergency contacts in order to avoid problems relating to late pick-ups. After the time has passed for the child to be picked up the teachers will go down the list of phone numbers to get in contact with the persons responsible for the care of the child in question

If a teacher finds a parent or guardian to be incapable to safely transport a student home in the best of the teacher’s ability, she will use her discretion to phone the appropriate individual from the emergency contact list provided by the parents. If the matter gets to where the teacher cannot reason with the individual, then she is required to call 911. These measures are our policy for the safety and security of the children.

First choice Montessori does not administer any types of medication, either orally or by any other means to any students in our care. The only exception to this rule is if a child has an allergic reaction that requires as a form of response by the use of an epi pen, then if it is already discussed by the parent to our staff, then we will administer the epi pen.

Medication that is required by a child should be given to that child prior to coming to class, and or after class.

Outdoor play is an important part of a child’s physical development and provides learning opportunities different from the indoor environment. The outdoor play will occur in the playground area, which is enclosed by a fence to aid in supervision. Weather permitting; there will be outdoor play for fifteen to thirty minutes a day

The School requires that child not attend class within 24 hours of following lists of symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bad cough, rash and colored discharge from nose.

It is imperative that the school is notified as soon as possible if your child has any communicable disease.

If a child in pre-school or daycare becomes ill during a class time, staff will immediately address the situation with that individual to inquire as to the symptoms. Upon finding what the prognosis seems to be, the staff will then make a call to the parent of that child to inform them of what is happening and if the child is ill that parent will be advised to come pick up their child immediately.

In a case where a natural disaster or an earthquake occurs staff is trained to immediately gather every individual into one area, underneath the nearest table, then when the disaster subsides to take a name call checklist to insure everyone is accounted for.

At this point, a person in charge will address the situation and move everyone to the safest area of the room away from materials. The person in charge will make sure that the first aid kit and any food and water emergency kit to be accessible. The radio for the emergency communication will remain with the person in charge to await instructions while the disaster has passed. We make our way to the gravel field facing 152nd street, where it is our meeting place.

When all has passed, all the children will remain together until their suspected parents have come to pick them up, until then, the teachers will remain with them and keeping them safe.

Our alternative location due to a disaster situation will be Johnstone Heights School, located on the 99th avenue and 152nd Street. In case of an emergency situation where our phone lines are in active during a disaster, an alternative contact will be Paula Gaba at 250 768 3647

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First choice Montessori Pre-School does not provide snacks or lunches for the student.

Students are to bring their own healthy snacks and lunches to school. Snacks must be peanut free.

Next to love, a sense of discipline is a parent’s second most important gift to a child. Discipline means “teaching”, pure a simple, using a combination of explanation, reasoning and action, intended to train a child to learn appropriate and acceptable behavior patterns. Helping children develop respect, self-control and sensitivity in their interaction with others and the environment is an ongoing process. Learning self-discipline is key, and means understanding and accepting life’s limits and behaving accordingly.

Our schools approach to discipline is a logical extension of our belief of heaving consequences as oppose to punishment. A child’s own self-respect is a key element to independence, the state from which all higher learning can be achieved. The child’s social experiences are used to facilitate problem solving, and to promote strategies useful in the lifelong process of learning.

We have realistic expectations and take into account each child’s developmental stage. We provide the children with positive and consistent environment, which brings them a feeling of trust, comfort and security. In case of unacceptable child behavior, we will use supportive intervention strategies in order to preserve this climate.

We strive to help our students acquire self-discipline through methods which are not humiliating to children or to adults, and which are based on mutual respect and cooperation. No student of our school will be subjected to any form of corporal punishment, harsh, belittling or degrading treatment, whether verbal, emotional, or physical. No form of humiliating the child or undermining his/her self-respect will be tolerated. We will maintain the spirit, diginity and individuality of all children in our care.

In the classroom, we will have an area designated for the use of the child when he/she will need some time to collect their thoughts. This area will have teddy bears and books so that the child will have some quiet time to get their feelings in order. If a child is misbehaving, and the children will be made aware of the rules of the classroom prior to any actions being taken. We will believe that setting limits, by being clear, concise and reasonable will help the children to make better choices. If a particular child ends up in this designated area on a consistent basis, then the parent will be notified and a parent/teacher meeting will be set up to discuss ways that will put an end to behavior issues, and to promote a better learning enviroment. When the child is being talked to, he/she will be reminded in a clear, concise and reasonable manner, so that the child will understand the inappropriate behavior that has caused this consequence.

Under the provisions set out by the CCFL and the licensing department, we at First Choice will abide by the rules and regulations.

We at First Choice will ensure that no child will be subjected to any form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. If a staff member feels that a child has been abused physically and if the child has raised concerns, then the staff member will bring this to the attention of the other staff member and management immediately. The incident will be recorded in the reportable incident book and will also notify ministry of children and family development. Any suspected abuse will be immediately reported to licensing within 24 hours at 604-930-5405

Fraser Health: 604-930-5405

Ministry: 604-951-5928

Outside Contact: 604-660-8180

First Choice Montessori does not have any screen time in pre-school program.

After School Care

First choice Montessori understands the screen time can get in the way of exploring, playing and interacting with others which encourages learning and healthy physical and social development. Therefore, we will restrict screen time for after school care program, allowing no more than 30 minutes total every Friday and age appropriate screen time.

EVACUATION OF BUILDING

1. A fire bell will be used to notify all the residents that it is a fire situation.
2. There will be one door to exit from, considering at which location the fire is origination from
3. The students will meet at the gravel field by the parking lot facing 152nd street
4. All parents will be notified at the beginning of the school year for our practice and meeting place, and will have participation in the drill.
5. Practice will be conducted of the use, care and location of the fire extinguishers

DESIGNATED DUTIES FOR EACH STAFF MEMBER:

1. All staff will be trained in staying calm, and having the knowledge of the procedures before the start of the school year.
2. All staff will be knowledgeable in the procedures, and be confident in doing them.
3. The children will be escorted to the meeting place.
4. Staff will take counts for all the students and account for everyone’s whereabouts.
5. The staff will attend to the children to keep them calm.
6. Staff will assess the children to the ensure that each child is safe and cared for.

In a case where a child has what seems to be an allergic reaction, staff are required to stop the classroom proceedings immediately. One staff will direct the other students to one side of the room, and await instructions for care of this individual from his/her medical care sheet, and administer what is required.

Staff will remain with this child while a phone call is made to the parent and/or medical center if necessary or requested by the parent. Staff will monitor the child until help or the parent has arrived.