2016-2017Parent Handbook

16548 Ferris AvenueLos Gatos, California

95032408.356.8816

info@mariposamontessori.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME …………………………………………………………………………………………..…...4

SCHOOL SERVICES .………………………………………………………………………………....…4ENROLLMENT............................................................................................................................... 4SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION/CONTACT INFORMATION............................................................5ABOUT MARIPOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL…………………………………………………….…..5OUR PHILOSOPHY....................................................................................................................... 5INFORMATION ABOUT MONTESSORI EDUCATION ……………………………………………….6BRINGING MONTESSORI HOME.................................................................................................7BEGINNING SCHOOL: TRANSITION WEEK PLAN...................……………………………………8SOME HELP FOR THE FIRST DAYS AT SCHOOL......................................................................8OBSERVATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………...9

PARENT OBSERVATION WEEKS...................................................................................................................9OBSERVATION GUIDELINES..........................................................................................................................9

PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATIONS....................................................................................9CARLINE - SCHOOL ARRIVAL ..……………………………………………………………………..10

DROP-OFF................................................................................................................................................ 10DRIVEWAY SYSTEM...................................................................................................................................10PROCEDURE................................................................................................................................................10SAFETY PROCEDURE RULES.......................................................................................................................11

CARLINE - SCHOOL DEPARTURE............................................................................................11PROCEDURE................................................................................................................................................12SAFETY PROCEDURE RULES.......................................................................................................................12CHANGE IN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZATION.......................................................................................12

NEIGHBOR RELATIONS.............................................................................................................12CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARING.....................................................................................................................12

LUNCH AND PLAY (AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS).................................................................13LUNCH & PLAY.........................................................................................................................................13

PERSONAL ITEMS...................................................................................................................... 13PROPERTY BOXES/CUBBIES.......................................................................................................................13CLOTHING..................................................................................................................................................13SHARING/SHOW & TELL............................................................................................................................14

SUPPLY CHECKLIST.................................................................................................................. 14PARENT PARTICIPATION ...……………..…………………………………………………………... 15POTTY TRAINING POLICY.........................................................................................................15BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION POLICY..........................................................................................16

BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITATIONS AND GIFTS..............................................................................................17

VALENTINE'S DAY CELEBRATION POLICY.............................................................................17PHOTO AND VIDEO POLICY……………….……….…………………………………………………17

ABSENCES.................................................................................................................................. 17PHONE-IN ABSENCES.................................................................................................................................17MARIPOSA ILLNESS POLICY.......................................................................................................................17SHOULD YOU KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME?...................................................................................................17READMISSION.............................................................................................................................................17MARIPOSA MEDICATION POLICY...............................................................................................................18

DISCIPLINE.................................................................................................................................. 18

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BITING POLICY...........................................................................................................................................19MANAGING INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.....................................................................................................19

GRIEVANCE POLICY/CHAIN OF COMMAND............................................................................20PARENTS.....................................................................................................................................................20

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES..................................................................................................20ROOM PARENTS..........................................................................................................................................21VOLUNTEERS..............................................................................................................................................21

QUESTIONS WHOM TO ASK ......................................................................................................21BOARD OF DIRECTORS.............................................................................................................21

BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES..........................................................................................................22

INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION..................................................................................................22CLASS NEWSLETTER..................................................................................................................................22SCHOOL UPDATES......................................................................................................................................22PARENT BULLETIN BOARDCALENDAR.................................................................................................................................................22

TUITION........................................................................................................................................ 22WITHDRAWAL/REFUND.............................................................................................................23EXPECTATIONS FOR MARIPOSA MONTESSORI TEACHERS................................................23

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................................................24

STAFF HIRING AND ELIGIBILITY..............................................................................................24ADDITIONAL TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES...........................................................................24

HEALTH AND SAFETY PREPAREDNESS.......................................................................................................24PAPERWORK...............................................................................................................................................24STAFF DAYS...............................................................................................................................................25

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL.......................................................................................................25MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................................................................26

NO PETS ON CAMPUS..................................................................................................................................26PEANUT FREE SCHOOL................................................................................................................................26RAINY DAYS..............................................................................................................................................26SCHOOL CLOSURE......................................................................................................................................26EMERGENCY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS………………………………………………………………….26

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.................................................................................26SIGNATURE PAGE...................................................................................................................... 27

WELCOME

Welcome to Mariposa Montessori School! The word mariposa, which means, “butterfly” in Spanish, helps to capture the creative and independent spirit of the children’s educational

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experience. A butterfly symbolizes a new beginning and awakening to something novel and exciting; also, the wings of a butterfly signify independence and freedom. Mariposa Montessori School prides itself in helping to develop and encourage the independent spirit of children - allowing them to soar to uncharted heights.

A blend of dedicated teaching, administrative leadership, and notable parent involvement creates a remarkable community at Mariposa Montessori School that fosters positive and interdependent relationships among the children, their families, peers and the world around them.

Mariposa Montessori School warmly welcomes both new and returning families and looks forward to the upcoming 2016-2017 school year.

SCHOOL SERVICES

Mariposa Montessori School serves children 2-6 years of age. The school offers a preschool program based on the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori and offers the following programs:

Classroom Information

2 Day morning

3 Day morning

5 Day morning

5 Day until 1:30

3/5 Day afternoon

Stage First time Separation

Progressing Preschool

Traditional Montessori

Traditional Montessori

Traditional Montessori

Age Range*

2-3.5 years 3-6 years 3-6 years 3-6 years 4-6 years

Days Tuesday/Thursday

M/W/F Monday thru Friday

Monday thru Friday

M/W/F

Hours 9:15am-12:00pm

9:15am-12:00pm

9:15am-12:00pm

9:15am-1:30pm

1:30pm-3:30pm

Maximum Class Size

12 12 14 24 14

Teacher: Student Ratio

1:6 1:6 1:7 1:9 1:7

*Exceptions may be made to the age range listed above, by the administration, in any case with an emphasis on fall birthdays.

ENROLLMENT

Mariposa Montessori admits new children on a first-come, first-served basis. Our enrollment process allows families to first tour the facility, then to observe the classrooms to be certain of the match between our program and your child. Returning children and siblings may be given priority registration for the next year within the given time frame.

We believe the relationship between home and school is vital to a successful preschool experience. As a parent shares with the director pertinent information regarding his/her child, the director is able to make a match between the needs of the child and the classroom. Mariposa Montessori reserves the right not to admit a child to a particular class if they feel it is not an appropriate placement for the child.

Once a match is made, the necessary documents for enrollment are given to the family. All paperwork, including a physician’s report and immunization information, must be completed before the child’s first day.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION

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Executive Director: President, Board of Directors:Shahana Shah Elizabeth Jourdin(408) 356-8816 ejourdin@gmail.comEmail: shahana@mariposamontessori.org

Office Manager: Maria Nugent(408) 356-8816Email: maria@mariposamontessori.org

Website: Tuition payments:www.mariposamontessori.org Mariposa Montessori School

16548 Ferris AvenueEmail address: Los Gatos, CA 95032info@mariposamontessori.org

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 8:30am–3:00pm

Tuesday & Thursdays 8:30-2:00The office is closed during school holidays and school closures.

ABOUT MARIPOSA MONTESSORI

Mariposa Montessori opened its Los Gatos site in September 2001. The Los Gatos campus utilizes four classrooms; a kitchen/art room, and an outside learning area (OLA), library, and playground area, which are all comfortably situated in a relaxing, natural setting.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Maria Montessori’s son, Mario M. Montessori believes that as an educator, we need to help the child help him/herself to adapt to the physical and social aspects of the world. The word “adapts” means capable of being happy, comfortable and at ease with the environment. To achieve this, the child must have stability; a solid foundation to stand on. To achieve a positive outlook in life, a child needs to understand the world, how it works and how it affects the behavior of the human race. He/she needs to understand their role in this world. If he/she can learn to understand how mankind contributes to the world, that each man is and forever shall be dependent on each other, he/she would have a much deeper understanding, gratitude and compassion for both God and man. To help a child accomplish this destiny, there are some basic tendencies that must be fulfilled to ensure mental health. For a child to realize his destiny, to become a contributing member of society, his/her human tendencies need to be fulfilled. Once the foundation, the stability is formed, this child, when grown, can adapt to any environment he/she puts him/herself in. However, his/her sense of self depends on the type of environment he/she is placed; on the depth and breadth of activities available to him/her in his/her environment and on how well he/she learns to communicate his/her thoughts, feelings or emotions.

The first phase of the child’s educational development begins from zero to six years. The child is partly at home and partly in school, so the school should emulate as much of the home environment as possible to make it inviting and comfortable for the child. Children need to be with other children or other people beside their parents to begin the process of independence. For example, they can learn the practical things in life like dressing themselves and feeding themselves as well as cleaning and cooking. They need to do this in a social setting. They need their environment in their own size to have the freedom to do what they need to do themselves. Dr. Montessori said it best. “Liberty is not to be free to do anything one likes; it is to be able to act

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without help”.1 In this social setting, they learn to be socially responsible. They learn manners and respect for others. They learn to emulate people who dress well and want to know how to care for themselves. In this small environment, they are in their own home and feel a sense of dignity and control over their own life. They feel safe in this environment. They feel belonged and it belongs to them. Once they feel that ownership, they will feel the need to protect it. They become more careful, more harmonious with each other so as not to disturb that sense of peace and order. This kind of environment is vital to the periods of sensitivity for the child. Social development is not only interaction through play. It is the daily activities in our community.

The environment of the modern era is so varied and complex. A child facing the world for the first time could not help but feel confused and even scared. Eventually, they must come to terms with the world. This can be achieved only through experiences. We must give them the freedom to gain these experiences in their own way, free from adult interventions and prejudices. They must learn to live with the rules of life. The Montessori education bridges the gap between the adult world and the child’s world through prepared environment. A general characteristic of a Montessori environment is a child-centered environment. We are developing the child’s whole personality and not simply academics. We are respecting the child’s rate of development and each child varies. The environment fosters a type of self-education and this requires repetition to develop physical as well as intellectual skills. The environment builds the skills for independence because it fulfills a biological need, necessary and vital for the formation of child’s personality. This independence means that they can choose any material to work with, repeat it as often times as needed and terminate it when their inner self felt that the work has been done and their needs satisfied. They use concrete objects that have abstract purpose. They are helped only when absolutely needed for every useless aid hinders the development of the child.

In a prepared environment, all the equipment’s are proportionate to the size of the children so that they can freely move about intelligently. Shelves are low and very simple for the children to reach. Materials are carefully spaced so as not to feel too crowded. The prepared environment is not meant to reproduce an adult world in miniature size, as if it were a dollhouse. Neither is it to distort reality into a make-believe world like Disneyland. The prepared environment brings the big wide world of the adult “within reach of the child at whatever stage of development it is at any given moment”. Mario M. Montessori, Jr., Education for Human development: Understanding Montessori. The CLIO Montessori Series Volume 11, Oxford, England, 1999, Page 18.

INFORMATION ABOUT A MONTESSORI EDUCATION

There are typically three elements found in a Montessori environment.

The Montessori Teacher: The teacher in a Montessori environment has several important roles within the classroom. It is his/her job to be a facilitator of learning, preparing the classroom on a daily basis for each child. The teacher also acts as a guide for the child, directing the child’s learning in a progressive manner. This gentle guiding enables the child to develop at his/her own pace and allows the child opportunities for self-mastery, learning, and success.

The Montessori Materials: Materials designed by Maria Montessori are the signature pieces of a Montessori classroom. Each piece is self-correcting in nature and allows the child mastery through successful repetition. The materials are considered the second teacher behind the Montessori teacher herself.

Prepared Environment: The third component in the design of the classroom is the prepared environment. Each day, the classroom is made ready for the children, ensuring their success by careful attention to detail. Pitchers are filled, paper restocked, cloths unfolded, awaiting the children to enter and discover what awaits them on the shelves. The order of the classroomgives opportunity for order within the child, allowing the child to be a more peaceful participant within the community of the classroom.

BRINGING MONTESSORI HOME1

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Areas that help encourage independence:

Waking up on time:Have a discussion the night before and set an alarm clock.

Dressing:Choose clothing the night before and hang it up/lay it out where your child can reach. Make sure they are easy to put on and comfortable to play in. Encourage hanging and folding clean clothes and putting dirty clothes in a hamper. Shoes should be easy to put on and comfortable to play in. Covered tennis shoes with Velcro are best.

Caring for the environment:Encourage and discuss with your child about keeping their room and home clean. Make the bed and put the toys away. Also, invite your child to help you dust, run the vacuum etc. When you work in the garden, invite your child to help you water the plants, pull weeds and rake the leaves. Give your child a special area or a potted plant to care for.

Cooking:Invite your child to help you in the kitchen, making a grocery list, putting away groceries or bringing things out of the fridge or cupboard. Allow your child to help you wash, cut vegetables and mix ingredients in. This will help your child to learn names of vegetables and healthy eating habits. Encourage your child to help set the table. Count plates, silverware, glasses and cups. It would be nice at the beginning to have placemats with outlines for plates, glasses and silverware. Allow your child to help you with washing and drying dishes or loading and unloading the dishwasher. Use practical dishes, not your best china! At the end of the day, they can also help empty the garbage and recycling cans.

Make sure to have at least a half an hour everyday for personal time. No television or phone. Try reading a book, coloring, drawing a picture or playing a game.

Also, have discussions about fantasy and reality, especially after a movie or television program. Expose your child to more reality and nature.

Promoting self discipline:1. Maintain a constant routine.2. Use natural and logical consequences.3. Be firm but not dominating.4. Provide child with choices.5. Be consistent.6. Avoid a power struggle (the adult never wins).7. Talk with your child rather than at him or her.8. Show respect for your child and ask for respect in return.9. Stimulate independence.

BEGINNING SCHOOL: TRANSITION WEEK PLAN

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Transitioning into class without a parent can be a challenging experience for young children. It is important that families assist the teachers in this endeavor so that the child will be able to transfer his/her feelings of safety from the parent to the teacher.

Mariposa Montessori School believes in the importance of making time for a successful transition so please keep the following guidelines in mind:

If the child is comfortable with separation and will permit the parent to leave without any distress, then it is perfectly appropriate for parents to leave at this time.

If a child is having some difficulty with separation, it is recommended that a parent be available on-site until the child is comfortable in the classroom. As an alternative, the parent may designate another individual (i.e. grandparent, caregiver, etc) to be the on-site person during this transition period.

It is requested that a parent refrain from walking around the classroom to speak with or otherwise engage his/her child. Other children who have not yet experienced any separation anxiety may begin to feel distress when they see other parents being active in the classroom.

Please do not leave the site without notifying the teacher and, if appropriate, the child of this decision.

As the child becomes comfortable with separation, the teacher will invite the parent to leave the classroom environment for short periods of time. Please have a cell phone handy, in the event that the teacher needs to contact a parent during this time of transition.

Please provide a family photo that may be left with your child while they are in school. Having such a photo where they can recognize the people in the photograph will help reassure the child that the parent will indeed return for the child.

The goal of this transition period is to make the presence of the parent as invisible as possible, while ensuring that he/she is visible enough to meet the child’s needs.

Upon the child’s successful transition into the classroom, parents are encouraged to use carline for arrivals and departures from school.

SOME HELP FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Adaptation: Each child’s adaptation is dependent on his/her experience and the initial connections that they make with the new environment and the adults within it.

Your family plays a crucial role in this transition. We encourage yours to be consistent. Your family may have a “going to school” routine that both you and your child enjoy. A talk about school, fun activities they will be doing, the playground equipment and new friends may be helpful in getting your child prepared for the first day of school. It may also be helpful to watch a television program or read a book about school. In addition, having your child spend an extra few minutes in bed or choosing a special breakfast for the first day of school can be helpful. Whatever you choose, just ensure it is pleasant and leads to “going to school” as a positive experience. When you and your child arrive at school, encourage them to walk independently (unless your child is ready and runs to school!). You can also walk holding hands, skipping or singing a song. This will make your child feel secure and independent about the experience.

Make sure you both participate in putting away their belongings (bags, coats, slippers, etc.) and then proceed to your child’s class (unless they wish to go to class independently.) As your child becomes more able to trust their new environment and the adults within it they may change the routine by becoming more independent about the experience.

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Separation: Goodbyes, hugs and kisses are very important to your child and also good for you. Enjoy and relish every second of this special moment. However, please be brief and do take your child’s feelings into account. When you overstay, you are sending the message that you are not sure and your child will become insecure and sad.

We understand that you may feel like “staying awhile,” but this only prolongs your child’s pain and your departure is inevitable. If you feel secure in the knowledge that this is the place for your child, he/she will see this as well. Please encourage your child to go into the classroom and promise to be near by. Stay close to the school (library, kitchen or playground). Have your cell phone on for the first few days so we can get a hold of you easily. The family pictures are very helpful at the beginning. When the adaptation period is over, your child will be happy and self-assured and will show you gratitude that you love and trust them to be in control of their own emotions and feelings.

OBSERVATIONS

Parent Observation WeeksParents are invited to observe their children during the Parent Observation Weeks held in the fall. The sign-up sheets will be posted online prior to the observation period.

Observations at Mariposa are available anytime with advance notice. It is nice to let our teachers know in advance when a parent may visit so they may prepare the children.

Observation GuidelinesThe best observation is one where the parents can truly see their child as he/she is in his/her classroom setting. To be able to best observe your child, we ask that you follow our observation guidelines. These guidelines help assure the most typical behavior of the children during the time of observation. Please be mindful of the following:

* Refrain from talking.* Please observe your child without other siblings present. An exception to this rule is if the child is an infant and in a carrier.* If visiting with a resting or sleeping infant in arms, please remove yourself if the baby becomes a distraction.* Write your questions down and then give us a call. We will be happy to discuss them with you.

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION

As parents, you want to know how your child is doing. Please keep your child’s teacher informed of changes at home, emotional or developmental changes you’ve noticed, a change in eating patterns, etc. This helps the teacher understand where your child is coming from and helps them remain attuned to their needs. Feel free to note minor things (a poor night’s sleep, didn’t eat breakfast, parent out of town, etc.) on the "note to the teacher" pad in the office or outside the classroom.

We offer these opportunities for parent/teacher discussion:

Regular informal conversations with teachers before or after school: Please remember when children are at school, they are the teacher’s first priorities. Please do not use class time to talk to the teachers. If you have a particular issue you wish to discuss, you may call the school to set up an appointment with a teacher at your convenience.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Twice a year we will offer the opportunity to schedule parent/teacher conferences. This is a 15 or 20-minute period for you to review your child’s progress with his or her teacher during school hours. Our fall conferences are by request.

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Written Communication: Written communication is sent home with the child, as needed, when the child displays unusual behavior in the classroom such as separation anxiety, fatigue, illness, problems following directions, or inappropriate behavior. An assessment may also be sent home when a child achieves various milestones – made a new friend, mastered a new skill, etc. We encourage you to call or email your teacher to discuss these occasional reports.

Some children have difficulty settling into the routine of a Montessori classroom. In these cases we like to create a partnership between the teacher and the parents to better understand the problem. In many cases these partnerships and plans resolve problems within a few weeks. In some cases, we discover that the child may need either a more or less structured environment than the Montessori method provides. Our goal is to ensure that every child enjoys and thrives in our classrooms.

In rare cases, exceptional behaviors will require immediate help and intervention from the parent. Children may not come back into the classroom until a parent/teacher conference has been held and appropriate plans made. These include:

A child who harms or frightens other children or teachers. A child who harms him or herself. A child who is emotionally distraught and inconsolable. Other situations where the health and happiness of any child or staff member may be at

risk.

CARLINE – SCHOOL ARRIVAL

Drop-OffThis year we would like to encourage and request that all families use the carline for your children drop-off and pick-up. Each day all of our staff are present and ready to help our students make the transition from home to school. While there are many reasons to use the carline including safety, here are two key benefits for your child:

1) The carline process encourages children to become more independent. It helps very much with students arriving on time and entering the classroom in a peaceful and smooth manner. It helps to minimize traffic in the hallways. This provides the children to integrate quickly into the classroom environment and minimizes separation anxiety.

2) It also helps with security, ensuring parents sign in so we know who has been dropped off, which helps us greatly with keeping in accordance with licensing.

We encourage families to use our carline system described below: It is important to bring your child to school on time. Carline begins at 9:03am ends promptly at 9:15am. Please arrive in a timely manner. It is very difficult for young children to join in to the

classroom environment after it has begun. It is disruptive to the teachers and other children when this happens.

Any parent arriving late, after the above time, will need to bring his/her child to the office and have an administrator take your child to class.

Driveway SystemMariposa Montessori uses a driveway sign-in procedure as a method for the daily screening and receiving of children for each school day.

During carline Mariposa staff: Quickly assesses the health readiness of each child who is present and refuses to admit

any child with contagious symptoms. Assures that children are properly signed in and signed out by their parents (or other

designated individual. Requires parents to provide a complete signature of their first and last names. Verifies that only the individuals designated by the families (at the time of enrollment) are

permitted to pick the children up from school.

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ProcedureCars SLOWLY enter the school driveway (5MPH) and begin to line up alongside the “loading zone” area of the parking lot. Please have your child’s name card visible before entering the parking lot and keep visible in your car at all times when you are on the church property.One staff member greets each family on the PASSENGER SIDE of the vehicle. This individual has the school sign-in sheet and obtains the parent’s or other authorized person’s signature to release the child into the school’s care. DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR AT CARLINE.

During this time, another staff member has positioned herself on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, ready to greet the child. Please unbuckle your child’s seatbelt. Please note: children are only permitted to exit on the RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE of the vehicle. For safety reasons, children are not allowed to exit on the driver’s side.

Once the appropriate signature has been obtained, the staff member on the passenger’s side of the vehicle greets the child and walks with the child to his/her classroom.

Upon the child’s arrival at the classroom, the head teacher is positioned at the classroom door to welcome the child into the classroom environment.

At 9:15am orange cones are put out indicating that carline has ended. If you arrive after the cones have been placed, please park your car and walk your child to the office. Never let your child walk to class on his/her own. Make sure you only release your child to a Mariposa teacher or staff member.

Safety Procedure RulesWhen in carline please remember the following:

The speed limit in the parking lot is 5 MPH. Only Mariposa Montessori staff members should open and close doors during carline,

NOT the children or their siblings. The child is only permitted to exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. At all times we ask that you keep your child inside the car, (this includes windows and

sunroofs). No one is permitted to walk behind or between vehicles. Each parent or designated adult must sign the child IN and OUT each day. Adults should not, at any time, leave their vehicles unattended while they are in carline. If you wish to chat with another parent, please park your vehicle and conduct your

conversation outside of carline. While in the driveway area, please be mindful of pedestrians, as well as bicyclists or

those in wheelchairs. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CELLPHONE USE DURING CARLINE. If you need to finish

or begin a call please pull over and complete the call. It is very important to say goodbye to your child for the day.

The driveway is not the place for conversations between parents and teachers. Please do not attempt to converse with teachers during this time. If it is necessary to communicate with the teacher at arrival or departure time, please be mindful to pull into a parking space, walk to the classroom with your child, request a mutually acceptable time for discussion with the teacher, or leave a note for the teacher in the office or outside the classroom.

Licensing Title 22 101229.1 SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT 101229.1 (1) The person who signs the child in/out shall use his/her full legal signature and shall record the time of day. (b) The person who brings the child to, and removes the child from, the center shall sign the child in/out. CALIFORNIA-DSS-MANUAL-CCL-GENERAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS 101230 (Cont.) 101229.1 SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT (Continued) 101229.1 (c) A person who removes the child from the center during the day, and returns the child to the center the same day, shall sign the child in/out.

CARLINE – SCHOOL DEPARTURE

ProcedureCarline begins at 11:45am and continues until 12:00pm for the morning programs.

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Please walk in to pick up your child if they are in the 5 day extended or Lunch and Play program. Pick up time for these programs are from 1:15pm-1:30pm. Please note your ledger will be charged $3.00/per minute after the end of each listed program.

Vehicles again enter the school driveway at 5 MPH, and align themselves with the “loading zone” area of the parking lot.

One Mariposa Montessori staff member greets each family on the passenger side of the vehicle. This individual now has the school sign-out sheet and obtains the parent’s or other authorized individual’s signature to release the child back into the family’s or other authorized individual’s care.

Once the parent or guardian arrives in carline, a Mariposa Montessori staff member accompanies the child to the appropriate vehicle.

Families or designated drivers should have the family or child’s name displayed on the dashboard or front window of their vehicles for quick identification.

Staff members are unable to buckle or unbuckle any student. When departing from carline pick-up, please pull over to a parking area and buckle your

child. In the event that a child is unable to enter on the passenger side of the vehicle, then the

driver must pull out of carline into a parking space and walk to pick up the child. AGAIN, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CELLPHONE USE DURING CARLINE. It is very

important to greet your child after their day at school.

Safety Procedure RulesParents are welcome to park their vehicles and walk into the gated area to pick up their children. However, no child may leave the classroom area until the teacher has dismissed your child and the child has been signed out by the parent or authorized individual.

Children may only be dismissed to a parent or other authorized individual.

To ensure your child’s safety, the Mariposa staff asks that children be transported to and from school in an appropriate car seat. All children leaving in a vehicle must leave Mariposa Montessori in an appropriate car/booster seat.Children should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Change in Transportation AuthorizationIf your child is to be dismissed to an adult who has not been previously authorized, you must provide the office with a written, dated, and signed authorization. We prefer that such notes be delivered to the office via the parent or given to the teacher at arrival time. Should the note accompany the driver, parents should call the office with such information prior to dismissal.

Please note: Mariposa Montessori has a strict policy regarding dismissal to unauthorized persons. Should a friend be needed from time to time for pick up, please designate that individual on your authorization form on file in the office. Also, their photo ID must be shown to Mariposa staff before the child will be dismissed. Friends/classmates will not be a substitute for written authorization. Please write on the sign in/out sheet if your child is leaving from school with someone (an authorized individual) other than you that afternoon. Children can only be released to an adult over 18 years of age.

NEIGHBOR RELATIONS

We are required to monitor the neighborhood courtesy of our parents and staff when arriving and departing from school. It is important to remember that:

Cars should never park in or block the driveways of neighbors. Cars should never be double-parked. Entrances and exits are utilized in a safe manner. Young children are not to be left unattended in vehicles. Groups/families do not cluster in front of neighbors’ homes. When arriving or departing with a child, parents must maintain responsibilities for the

child’s behavior and safety.

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Please be especially careful to observe all speed limits. Please remember that the speed limit is 5 MPH in the parking lot.

Your child’s name card should be visible in your automobile at all times on school property as well as in the surrounding neighborhood.

Do not park in spaces designated for Church Use Only.

CarpoolingFamilies are strongly encouraged to carpool with other families. While carpooling is not required for families, it is suggested as a viable means to lessen traffic congestion in the neighborhood.

It is imperative that Mariposa Montessori families help to set the standard for good neighbor and church relations, safe transportation and respect for others within the town of Los Gatos.

LUNCH AND PLAY (AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS)

We offer a variety of after-school programs at . Lunch and Play is offered 2, 3, or 5 days a week and pairs nicely with our morning sessions. Lunch and Play is offered daily after the morning classes. The children enjoy their lunches and then spend the remaining time playing outside (weather permitting). Lunch and Play offers a unique opportunity for the children to build friendships with students from other classes. Lunch and Play tuition is an ANNUAL amount that is divided into 9 installments for your convenience.

Lunch and Play:Time: 12:00pm-1:15pmThe children are grouped to go wash their hands and go to the lunch room/playground where they set up their lunches. They are encouraged to use good manners while eating (i.e. chewing with mouths closed, saying please and thank you when asking for help, etc.) and are introduced to the rules of society when sharing a meal (using a moderate voice when speaking, talking only with people at our own table, no singing, etc.) When the children are done, the children are shown, then encouraged to clean up their belongings and table space. All of the children are made aware of time control with reference to the clock helping them learn how to manage their time. Teachers aim to allow at least 40 minutes of playtime. Dismissal is made from the playground (weather permitting).

PERSONAL ITEMS

CubbiesEach child will have a small amount of personal space for a jacket and items to take home from school. As space is limited, please limit the number of items that are brought to school.

ClothingPlease send your child to school in clothing that is comfortable and washable. Additionally, in keeping with Montessori philosophy, children should come to school in clothing in which they can dress and undress themselves. It is important that parents dress their child in clothing that your child can easily take off and on when using the restroom. It is also important that your child has shoes that they can easily take off and put on independently.

Examples of appropriate clothing include:Shorts, jeans, T-shirts, short dresses, skirts, and sturdy closed toe rubber-soled shoes

Examples of less appropriate clothing include:Long skirts, long dresses, sandals, flip flops, crocs and boots

Examples of clothing that hinders the independence of children are:Overalls, jumpsuits, belts, non-Velcro shoes, etc.

Note: All clothing and personal items should come to school labeled.

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Extra ClothingA complete set of extra clothing (long pants or shorts, underwear, shirt, and socks) should be brought to school in a labeled shoebox or plastic container. Should your child's clothing become soiled, we will use the extra clothing and return the soiled garments to you. New clothing should be brought back to the school upon your child's next visit to school.Please note: Extra clothing should be season and size appropriate. Remember to change out the extra clothing when your child's size changes or the seasons change.

Sharing:We would like to offer these tips to help you in making our “Sharing Day” more meaningful. Children are NOT to bring toys but instead to be prepared to tell us about something special or unusual: an object, an outing, an activity, a hobby or a trip. Objects that they themselves have found and can tell us about are very worthwhile. A favorite book from which they have chosen a page to share works very well. Art projects or science experiments are always fascinating. If your child has a toy that is special because it was brought from a foreign country or takes a skill to operate that he has mastered and he would like to demonstrate, that would be fine. We feel these items encourage the exchange of information and are meaningful.

Please know that we make this time available to the child but he is not required to participate as a speaker every week. During the year you will find great sharing subjects, other days it will require lots of research, or you won’t find any. It’s okay, don’t force your child to bring something that he does not want to share or does not really know.

Oral reporting needs lots of practice to develop. By listening to others who have prepared a report that they themselves can give, the children will learn to do it in turn.

Of course the teachers will have some sharing as well. They will contribute to the children’s general knowledge and will be good examples of presentations.

Thank you for your attention in this matter. We look forward to knowing more about your child as he shares with us.

Personal Belongings/ToysToys should remain at home. Please discuss this with your child in advance to assure your child that toys are for at-home use. Remind your child of the special items and materials that are at school for him/her. Mariposa Montessori will not be responsible for lost toys.

Any personal belongings should be labeled. Please check the Lost and Found bin located in the hallway across from the office at the end of each week for any of your child’s missing items. Unclaimed Lost and Found items will be donated at the end of each month to a chosen charity.

Requested Items Occasionally, a teacher will request items for cultural study or other classroom interest. The teacher will provide information about these items when needed.Please send them to school labeled and take them home when the sharing for that unit has been completed.

SUPPLY CHECKLIST

Please supply the following items for each enrolled child. Bring them in to school on the first day of class and submit to their teachers:

Slippers. Slippers help bring a sense of quiet to the classroom environment. Please make sure that the slippers are relatively plain, with no characters or commercial brands on them. Please label the soles with your child’s last name. Montessori Movers have

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slipper option; please mention Mariposa Montessori School at check out and we will receive a percentage of you proceed from your purchase. http://montessorimovers.com

Change of clothing in plastic rectangular box (approx. 13”x 7”). Please include a shirt, a pair of pants, socks and a change of underwear for your child. Also, please be sure to label the box with your child’s full name so that the clothes are identifiable when needed.

Children in 2 Day AM who are currently potty training will need to supply 2 extra sets of clothes and an extra pair of shoes along with:

LABELED 2 week supply of diapers LABELED Package of wipes-at least 60 count

2 small photos of your child that can be kept and used at school. Please submit:- Individual photo of your child- Family photo

A 3-day supply Earthquake Kit (LABELED) Please verify the dates for all perishable items in your child’s kit and make sure they are good through June 30 th, 2017. You can assemble your own earthquake kit or you can purchase one from:

Farsight International www.1stfarsight.com for ordering details We recommend the Econo-Life Pack.

PARENT PARTICIPATION We welcome parent volunteers at Mariposa Montessori. Parent volunteers are essential to the success of our school. It is entirely optional, but can be a fulfilling and rewarding way to be a part of your child’s preschool experience. It is a way to get to know other parents, the teachers, and staff, as well as a way to make wonderful memories. In order to comply with Community Career Licensing, parent volunteers who come in contact with the children must complete a statement of good health and get a TB screening. TB screenings are valid for 3 years, and are often required for parent volunteers at the elementary school level as well, so please retain your results so they can be used in the future. In addition, all volunteers are required to find alternate care for siblings while volunteering at Mariposa Montessori.

POTTY TRAINING POLICYPotty training – TTH Non Potty Trained ClassThe process of teaching a young child to use the toilet is both an exciting and a challenging time for parents as well as their children. As teachers we are committed to facilitating each stage of your child’s growth and development. The following signs can indicate your child’s readiness for potty training.

When to Start Potty Training child can sense the need to go to the bathroom child can let you know when he/she has to go potty child understands what is expected when using the potty child cooperates with your requests

When your child displays 3 or more of these signs it may be an indication that they are ready to begin toilet training.

Please let your child’s teachers know when you have begun potty training so they can support your endeavor. Teachers will encourage children to use the bathroom throughout the morning. We will not force any child to go to the bathroom.

Please send your child in underwear or cloth training pants after they have been able to stay dry at home for a minimum of 1 week. Because a child’s first day at preschool is very busy with activities, it is often more difficult to achieve this. Please be patient with your child during this process as every child will be toilet trained when he/she is ready.

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Diapering and suppliesPlease be sure to keep your child’s diaper/pull-up supply stocked. If your child is in diapers or pull-ups, be sure to bring the following to class the first day of school:

LABELED two week supply of disposable diapers or pull-ups LABELED box of wipes-at least 60 count

If your child is in the process of toilet training, we ask that you bring an additional change of clothes along with an additional pair of shoes in case of an accident.

Because our school time is 3 hours in duration, diaper and pull-ups will only be changed if they are soiled with a bowel movement or if your child appears to be uncomfortable.

It is very important that your child has at least one change of clothes at school. If your child has an accident, we will use the change of clothes you have supplied. We will put the soiled clothes into a plastic bag to send home with you that day at pick-up. We ask that you return a new change of clothes on your child’s next day of school. If for some reason your child does not have a change of clothes we will call you to bring a set in. WE DO NOT CLEAN SOILED CLOTHES.

If a child has repeated accidents in their underwear at school, the teacher and director will meet to determine a more helpful approach. We may require you to put your child in pull-ups if they are having repeated accidents. This is for health and safety reasons. Please send your child in underwear or cloth training pants only when the above steps have been accomplished. Consistency is very important. All other students must be fully toilet trained and responsible for themselves in the bathroom.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION POLICYBirthday celebrations are a highlight of a young child’s social life. Children enjoy having their birthday’s celebrated at school. The teachers do a special birthday circle dedicated to each child on their birthday. It truly makes the children feel so important and special on their birthday. They get to share pictures of themselves from their birth to their current birthday, they wear a birthday crown and they get to share a birthday snack. The teachers will lead the birthday celebration and ask you to share the pictures and serve snack.

If your child would like to celebrate his/her birthday during school, please speak with your child’s teacher about an appropriate day and time. Some children enjoy bringing in a snack or a special book on their birthday. If you bring a book, we will put the child’s picture and birthdate in it. If you choose a snack, it must be from the Approved Treat List and cannot be homemade for the safety of our students. The approved list includes:

Pirate Booty Brand Snacks Aimee’s Prepacked items (except granola bars) Fresh Fruit – Must be whole and not cut – to be cut or cleaned at school Any product that clearly stares “Baked in a peanut free facility”

All treats must be approved by the office prior to being served.

We ask that you bring in a photo for each year of your child’s life for their birthday celebration. Please discuss any ideas that you may have with your child’s teacher prior to your child’s birthday.

WE ARE A PEANUT FREE SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY PEANUT PRODUCTS, AS THEY WILL NOT BE SERVED. IN ADDITION, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN A PEANUT FREE FACILITY AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE OFFICE.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND GOODIE BAGS, STICKERS, TOYS, OR PARTY FAVORS TO SCHOOL FOR ANY OCCASION UNLESS PRE-APPROVED BY YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER. SOME EXAMPLES OF WELCOMED ITEMS WOULD BE HOMEMADE CRAFTS (NO FOOD

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ITEMS) OR ITEMS FROM A TRIP THAT RELATE TO DISCUSSIONS IN THE CLASS, ALL OF WHICH MUST BE PRE-APPROVED BY YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER.

Birthday Party Invitations and GiftsWe ask that you do NOT use cubbies to distribute invitations, thank you notes or gifts to ensure that there are no hurt feelings UNLESS they are distributed to ALL children in the class. IF THIS POLICY IS NOT ADHERED TO, THE ITEMS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CUBBIES AND THE ITEMS CAN BE PICKED UP IN THE OFFICE.

Parents should feel free to exchange their own contact information with one another, should they desire to coordinate special activities for their children.

PHOTO AND VIDEO POLICYYou will be permitted to use your phone/video to take pictures during special events at our school. We only ask that you please NOT post these pictures/video’s on any social media. We are working on the honor system that you will comply with our policy.

BIKE AND SCOOTER POLICYPlease be respectful of our grounds, please do not enter through the Faith Lutheran Church area. Please enter and exit through Mariposa Montessori gates. Once you arrive at the driveway entrance, please walk your bike or scooter in.

VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION POLICYIf your child would like to send out Valentine’s Day cards, please follow the guidelines below:

1. Ensure that there is a card for each student in your child’s class 2. No candy 3. Cards can be distributed by placing in the cubbies4. It is the parents’ responsibility to place the cards in the cubbies

ABSENCES Phone-In AbsencesIf your child is unable to attend school due to illness or personal reasons, please call or email Maria before 9:00am. This allows us to begin our classes on time.

Mariposa Illness PolicyArrival Health ScreeningThe State of California requires Mariposa staff to screen students daily for entrance to school.

Teachers are trained to carry out an entrance health screening within seconds, during morning greeting. If a teacher determines that a child is too ill to remain at school, the teacher will refuse admittance and request that the child return home. Please be aware that this is a state requirement to minimize unnecessary spread of infection at school.

Should you keep your child home?If your child becomes ill or develops symptoms of illness, please let us know as soon as possible. This allows us to alert parents before infections have time to spread. Please keep your child home should your child develop any of the following:

Unusual behavior Excessive runny nose Fever 99.5 or above Diarrhea Vomiting Eye discharge Severe coughing Difficult or rapid breathing Skin rash Severe itching of body or scalp or scratching of the scalp

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Infected skin patch Pain White or gray stool

It is Mariposa’s Montessori’s sole determination to reserve the right to ask you to pick up your child if there are any concerns.

ReadmissionThe 24-hour rule applies in most cases of illness

24 hours since the child last had a fever 24 hours on antibiotic medication 24 hours of good health with typical activity levels

All contagious diseases are governed by the Santa Clara County Health Department guideline. Please notify the school office promptly upon diagnosis, so that we can distribute appropriate exposure notices. All names and illnesses are kept confidential. The following are the rules for the return to school for contagious illness:

Chicken pox – blister must be dried and scabbed Head lice – NO nits

Mariposa Medication PolicyThe staff of Mariposa Montessori will give medication to your child only in case of emergency provided the following procedures are followed:

Medication must be in its original container Medication must be given directly to the Office Administrator who will keep it in the office It is preferable to have only one day’s dose of medicine in the original container Epi-pens must be up to date (not expired).

AllergiesFood and bee sting allergies will be posted in the kitchen and classroom. Please be certain that you have noted all allergies on your child’s enrollment forms.Please inform the office and your child’s teacher of all allergies and medications (Epi-pen, inhalers, etc.).

WE ARE A PEANUT FREE SCHOOL. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY PEANUT PRODUCTS, AS THEY WILL NOT BE SERVED. IN ADDITION, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN A PEANUT FREE FACILITY.

DISCIPLINE Ground rules protect the rights and liberty of each individual child and the group as a whole. They promote the internalization of pro-social behaviors and values including: self-control of impulses, consideration of others, and a sense of responsibility for oneself and the welfare of the group.

Ground rules can help to make life at school easier, make the days run more smoothly, enable children to be more independent and help to develop responsibility. The number of ground rules is generally kept to a minimum, stated and presented in a positive manner with an emphasis on safety, respect for others/environment and how the results benefit all members of the group.

Here is a list of some typical, often automatic, ground rules used in most Montessori classrooms: The child selects material to use from the shelf and takes it to a suitable table, floor,

and/or other designated workspace. Children are free to use the material they have been shown by the teacher as long as

they like and as long as it is treated with respect. After using the material, the child returns it to its place on the shelf, in the same condition

in which it was found, for the next person to use. The children restore the environment; clean up spills and messes, put rugs away in

proper order, and push chairs in, etc., after each activity.

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The child is free to work alone. No child is forced to share materials they have chosen for an activity.

Many other common ground rules are established to insure safety if special equipment is used, when traveling as a group or when staying within supervised areas.

It is generally understood that children do not misbehave without a reason. To this end, we encourage positive behavior in the children by using natural consequences and redirection whenever possible.

Discipline is reached always by indirect means. The end is obtained, not by attacking the mistake and fighting it, but by developing activity in spontaneous work, which the child truly desires to do. It is in doing this work that the dawning of true discipline happens.

Biting PolicyWe recognize that biting, while it may not be acceptable, is normal and natural for toddlers and not unusual for 2 year olds and preschoolers. Biting occurs frequently in groups of children just on the verge of fluent language.

The staff will carefully observe the children during their playtime at all times. The staff will model and praise gentle behavior and pro-social play.

When a biting incident occurs: Staff will comfort the child that was bitten with lots of TLC and ice/bandage as needed.

Messages of comfort: “I’m sorry you were hurt.” “I hope you feel better soon.” Staff will quickly respond with a clear message to the biter: “NO! Biting is not OK! Biting

hurts!” Tone of voice, body language, and facial expression all clearly express disapproval.

Staff will acknowledge the biter’s feelings, “I know you are angry, but I cannot let you bite.”

Staff will suggest alternatives to biting behavior appropriate for the child’s age; “Next time, you can say, ‘Please move.’” The seriousness of the incident may need to be reinforced, “NO! Biting is not OK! Biting hurts!”

Because biting is a part of the young child’s normal developmental process, we take a proactive, rather than a reactive approach. This means that, while we deal with each biting situation in the manner outlined above, the teacher will inform the parents of the situation. It is not our policy to discuss children’s personal information with any other parents except their own. Biting is a concern to parents but is considered a normal part of most children’s development and each biting incident will be handled in a developmentally appropriate and professional manner.

The staff and administration will monitor the frequency and severity of bites. If the biting persists, our next step is to have the teachers and administration meet with parents to work together to find strategies to help the child who is biting work through this phase. In some cases, we may ask parents to withdraw their child from the school.

Managing Inappropriate BehaviorIt is our goal to help the child develop the conflict-resolution skills needed to function well, both in school and outside of school.

The limits are set that ensure the safety and well being of each individual at school, as well as encourage respect for materials and the environment.

If a child has difficulty observing the limits, we assist by following corrective steps: Explain the inappropriate behavior, Suggest alternative appropriate verbal and behavioral responses, Redirect the child to alternative activities if the child cannot handle the current activity

appropriately.

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Restrain the child from committing an action that might cause harm to self, another individual or property.

Remove the child from active participation and then invite the child to return in a more appropriate manner.

Notify the parents of the child’s difficulty and develop a plan of action for home and school.

With parental permission, request a specialist or childcare consultant (at parent’s expense) to assist staff and parents in working with the child.

If none of these steps are successful, and there is no sign of improvement over an observable period of time (to be determined by the school’s administration) or where the child may present a potential safety concern for themselves, other children, or the staff, we may ask the family to find another program that would better suit their child.

GRIEVANCE POLICY/CHAIN OF COMMAND

Please note: This policy has been set forth for both parents and staff members involved with Mariposa Montessori School. In the event that a grievance with a parent or staff member should arise, please follow the procedures set forth below:

ParentsIf there is a problem between your child and another child, please do not attempt to correct the other child. Immediately inform the teacher of the situation so that they can handle it. The teacher is the ultimate authority in the classroom. Please do not confront another parent about his/her child’s behavior.

If there is a problem between a parent and a staff member, please take the other party aside privately (out of the children’s hearing), where you can then voice your concerns to that person directly.

If a situation still persists, please contact the Executive Director for resolution.

If there is still an unresolved grievance by a parent after the Executive Director has been contacted and given an opportunity to address the situation, the parents are encouraged to contact the Board President, Elizabeth Jourdin (ejourdin@gmail.com). After both the Executive Director and Board President have been contacted and given time to address the situation and if there is still an unresolved issue then the parent is welcome to bring the issue to the entire board at the next board meting. The parent can submit the issue in writing so that it can be added to the agenda and the parent can attend the board meeting if they would like.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

There are always lots of volunteering opportunities at Mariposa, whether you would like to do something small, really want to be involved, or somewhere in between. Volunteers are essential to a small pre-school like ours. They turn a good school into something very special and we are proud at Mariposa Montessori to have always had a very strong and active parent community. Volunteering is optional but strongly encouraged; it really makes a difference to our school and provides fun, friendship, and learning opportunities for you and your child.

Additional committees and volunteer positions may be created as needed. Feel free to suggest your own ideas for how you can be of service to the school. Please contact administrative staff or a board member for more information. Sign-up sheets containing more detailed information about each position are posted on sign up genius. Mail Chimp blasts are sent out. Please contact the office and ensure we have your updated email address.

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ROOM PARENTS:Room parents are responsible for organizing parent volunteers for specific class projects, parties and classroom help, as well as managing the class fund and purchasing teachers’ gifts. Time requirement varies.

QUESTIONS – WHOM TO ASK

Please note: Questions or concerns regarding a child’s class time activities or behaviors should be directed to the Lead Teacher. Parents who wish to receive a call from, or coordinate a conference with the Lead Teacher are encouraged to call the office. Once notified, the teacher will then follow-up with the parent directly to schedule an appointment.

Question Area Teacher Executive Director

(Shahana)

Office Manager(Maria)

Academics/Development

Specific questions about the curriculum and/or five areas of the classroom.

Continued concerns and questions regarding the development of curriculum and structure of the classroom.

General Classroom

Issues

Questions about a specific child’s academic and developmental progress.

Continued concerns and strategies regarding a child’s progress.

AdministrativeIssues

If Office Administrator is unavailable.

Questions about absences, calendar, events, children’s files, meeting requests, observations, etc.

Billing/FinanceConcerns

Questions/concerns about tuition invoices, materials fees, and registration fees.

Special Confidential

Issues/Scholarship

Discussions of a confidential nature, including scholarship requests.

Enrollment/Registration

If Office Administrator is unavailable.

Questions about enrollment process/packets.

School Policies Any questions regarding school policy.

If Executive Director is unavailable.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mariposa Montessori operates under the direction of a Board of Directors. The primary role of the Board is to:

Provide oversight and guidance for the success of the organization Serve as a positive representative to the parents and community through consistent

communication

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Board Member ResponsibilitiesEach Mariposa Board member, individually and as a member of the Board is committed to:

Support the mission of Mariposa Montessori and its effective realization in the community Assume fiscal and legal responsibility for Mariposa Montessori Develop and approve Mariposa Montessori’s budget in a timely manner Insure sufficient resources to operate Mariposa Montessori in a manner consistent with

the core operating principals of the organization, including:o Development of fundraising planso Participation in fundraising events, solicitation campaigns and membership driveso Development of programo Hire and provide support to the Executive Director and provide the evaluation of

the Executive Directoro Provide the policy framework for and participate in the planning, development

and evaluation of programs, presentations, outreach and other serviceso Attend all board meetings in accordance with ’s by-laws

INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION

Class NewsletterThe class newsletter will be issued at least once a month. The class newsletter serves as a comprehensive resource for parents with school and teacher information. The newsletter is sent via email and published on the website.

School UpdatesUpdates from the office will be emailed to all parents and are available on the website.

School CalendarEvery family receives a calendar at the beginning of the year and should refer to it on a regular basis for times and dates of events and school closures. The calendar is also available on the website and is subject to change.

TUITION The tuition for the school year (September through June) is based on an ANNUAL charge, which is divided into ten equal installments for your convenience. Installments are not reduced for holidays, illness, vacation, or school closures.

Tuition payments are due by the 10th day of the month. No statements will be mailed.

Please notify the school of any extenuating circumstances that are preventing the payment of an outstanding balance as soon as possible. Special arrangements may be made.

If payments are more than 30 days past due, the child will not be allowed to attend school until payment is received in full. The school reserves the right to employ a collection agency if a balance remains outstanding for more than 60 days. Please refer to Page 26 under Grounds for Dismissal.

Mariposa uses Tuition Express to process tuition payments. Families who choose not to participate will be charged an extra $30.00 a month.

Tuition payments by check should be made payable to Mariposa Montessori School.

Mariposa Montessori School16548 Ferris AvenueLos Gatos, CA 95032

Any billing inquiries can be directed to the Office Administrator.

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RETURNED CHECK CHARGESReturned checks will be assessed a $25.00 returned check charge including any additional late fees.

ONGOING LATE PICK-UPSIf a child is picked up after the pick-up carline ends, the late fee will begin to accrue. Morning class carline ends at 12:00pm. The following are pick-up times for all of our programs, late fees will apply after pick up time:

Morning Programs: 11:45am - 12:00pm Lunch & Butterfly Play: 1:15pm – 1:30pmExtended Program: 1:15pm - 1:30pm Afternoon Program: 1:30pm - 3:30pm

The late fee accrues at $3.00 per minute at the end of the documented pick-up times.

VACATIONSSince the tuition holds a space for the student enrolled, family vacations taken during the school year are not discounted.

WINTER AND SPRING BREAKSince tuition is divided into ten (10) installments, based on the days of school operation. Tuition is not discounted during the periods when school is closed.

WITHDRAWAL/REFUND If requested in writing, prior to June 30, 2016, 100% of tuition, 100% of materials and room parent fund and 0% of registration fee paid at the time of enrollment will be refunded. If requested in writing, prior to August 31, 2016, 50% of tuition*, 100% of materials and room parent fund and

0% of registration fee paid at the time of enrollment will be refunded. *Provided that Mariposa Montessori will be able to fill the withdrawing child’s reserved placement prior to the beginning of the school year. After September 1 , 2016, unless annual tuition has been paid in full for the current school year, no refunds will be issued.

EXPECTATIONS FOR MARIPOSA MONTESSORI TEACHERS

Academic RequirementsThe state of California requires preschool teachers to have a minimum of 12 units of Early Childhood Education study in the following three areas: 1) Child Development; 2) Child, Family and Community; and 3) Curriculum.

For Montessori certification, teachers are required to have successfully completed a one to two-year educational training and one year of a student teaching internship in a Montessori classroom. The educational training includes the preparation of more than 300 exercises covering mathematics, language, sensorial development, practical living skills and culture subjects (geography, history, science, and the arts.) The exercises, extensions of and rational for such exercises are prepared in manual form; each teacher is graded on each manual. Incorporated within each manual are extensions for each exercise, which should provide the teacher with information to challenge children showing interest in a certain area, or strengthen a child challenged in that same area.

Teachers are then tested in their presentation of the material, along with oral examinations regarding information contained within the manuals.

STAFF HIRING AND ELIGIBILITY

In addition to education and experiential requirements for employment, each employee must be cleared through the necessary U. S. Government departments before his/her first day with Mariposa Montessori School.

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A Livescan fingerprinting appointment is made and the following services are used to determine eligibility for working with young children.

Department of Justice (DOJ) – This department reviews the criminal background of each individual. Any infraction, other than a minor traffic violation, will be listed and reported to Community Care Licensing, who will then alert the school program of the infraction. It is up to the program to determine whether or not it is suitable to apply for the necessary “exemption” needed to continue employment. This would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In the case of a felony conviction or violent misdemeanor, the individual will be removed from the facility immediately.

Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) - The CACI name check is an additional background check required for individuals associated with any facility that cares for children. The Police, Sheriffs, Probation, and County Welfare Departments submit their reports to the DOJ that pertain to pending investigations of alleged specific physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental/emotional abuse, and/or severe neglect of a child. The only reports that are not forwarded to the DOJ are those where the allegations are determined to be unfounded or are of general neglect.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – The FBI clearance is granted after a national criminal database is searched and no convictions in other states are found. This information is also transmitted directly to Community Care Licensing who then forwards any pertinent information to the facility.

In addition, we ask a comprehensive series of questions during our check of references. We want to assure our families of our dedication to find qualified staff and will take the necessary time needed to be sure our employees are cleared before they join Mariposa Montessori School. In the event that we must use a substitute teacher, we will use a professional staffing agency that follows the State of California guidelines listed above.

ADDITIONAL TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

PaperworkMariposa teachers are responsible for a significant amount of record keeping. Teachers regularly track the following kinds of information:

Lesson Plans (individual child’s, seasonal and cultural) Track individual children’s progress Regular log of lessons received (introduction, practice and mastery) Incident reports Parent/Teacher Conferences (time is allocated during the school year for teachers to

prepare for these meetings)

Staff DaysHere at Mariposa, we take the responsibility of being educators very seriously. Our staff is dedicated to giving your child the best educational experience possible. In order to do so, we encourage our teachers to further their knowledge in a variety of ways to learn how best to approach our students. Research shows that large benefits occur when teachers are professionally prepared and supported, and so, we feel it necessary to give our teachers the time and resources we have available to us. It is important to make time for the staff to meet and work as an entire team to plan and work together for all of the children at Mariposa Montessori School. This takes place in our monthly staff meetings. Professional workshops allow our teachers to be the students in what’s new in the world of education. There is an ocean of information and we want our teachers to be the best at what they do. These workshops and meetings are spread throughout the year on our Staff days. In the Montessori classroom it is also key for the teachers to have ample time to make sure that their classrooms are “prepared “thus providing the children with new, challenging, and appropriate materials. These are materials that the teachers make and place out with your child in mind. The Montessori philosophy looks at each child as an individual and teachers need the opportunity to be equipped to meet and challenge your child’s needs.

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Although Staff days can be a bit disruptive in your schedules, they are essential to making your child’s educational experience one of grand discovery, deep understanding, heartfelt joy, and true success.

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL

Mariposa Montessori School reserves the right to dismiss a family for the following reasons:

Failure of the family to follow an agreed-upon behavioral plan of action Falsification of the child's age, outside the bounds of the school's license age limits Continual behavioral difficulties, following implementation of behavioral action plan and

target deadlines Serious, slanderous, or inappropriate behavior of the parents, after Board intervention

and agreement of correction Failure to comply with the policies or Admission Agreement of the school Any account delinquent for more than 30 days Three incidents of late tuition payments If the parent or guardian refuses to sign forms required for the entrance or the continued

enrollment of their child Refusal by the parent, guardian, or emergency designee to pick up a child deemed

unable or unwilling to participate cooperatively in classroom activities due to illness, possible impending illness, lethargy, or uncontrollable harmful and/or disruptive behavior

When a child is causing harm to himself/herself or others due to dangerous or unsafe behavior

In the event Mariposa Montessori School is unable to meet the needs of the child and/or parents or guardians

Failure to provide Mariposa Montessori School with current work and home telephone numbers and to report any such future changes which would enable Mariposa Montessori School to contact parents/guardians in the event of an emergency or illness in the most expeditious manner

Disregard of mandatory sign-in and sign-out procedures Refusal to comply with the policy and procedures outlined in the Mariposa Montessori

Parent Handbook Constant late arrivals and late pick-ups Disregard to our Neighbor Relations Policy Behavior of the parent/guardian, which may be reasonably interpreted as harassment,

verbal abuse, or physical abuse toward the Mariposa Montessori staff or others present at the school. If a parent/guardian or caregiver is observed physically touching or speaking to a child, other than his or her own, in a way deemed inappropriate, it will be reported to the Executive Director for immediate action. This type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by Mariposa Montessori School.

It is Mariposa Montessori School's desire to provide all children the most ideal, safe and effectual learning environment possible. Parents will be notified if their child is not well enough to participate in classroom activities or otherwise require the undivided and individual attention of the teacher. Parents of children enrolled at Mariposa Montessori School understand that under such circumstances they must be available and willing to pick up their child or authorize their designated emergency person to do so. In the event the emergency persons listed are unable to make pick-up arrangements promptly (no longer than 60 minutes), it becomes the sole responsibility of the parents or guardians to do so.

MISCELLANEOUS

NO PETS ON CAMPUS

For safety reasons, no dogs or any other pets are allowed on campus. Even though your animal is not a threat, some children are still very afraid of animals. Please keep animals in the car or in the parking lot.

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PEANUT-FREE We have been peanut-free since 2007 due to the increase in severe, life-threatening peanut allergies. We felt safer not allowing peanuts of any kind on campus. Nuts are still allowed. If your child attends school with a peanut product i.e. peanut butter, granola bar w/peanuts, peanut butter crackers etc. it will be sent home for safety reasons.

RAINY DAYSFor safety reasons, please do not send umbrellas to school. Children will walk through puddles in their travels to and from the classroom and car, so rain boots and rain jackets are advisable.

SCHOOL CLOSURESchool will be closed for holidays, parent/teacher conferences and teacher in-service days.

Emergency, Disaster and Safety Preparedness

Mariposa has worked with the Red Cross and local law enforcement agencies as well as researching the internet in order to keep current on evacuation procedures and facility preparedness. All staff have Criminal Record and Child Abuse Index Clearance. State of California requires each school to have one individual trained in First Aid and CPR. Mariposa Montessori employees are trained in First Aid, CPR and preventative health practices including food preparation and sanitation that helps reduce the spread of infectious diseases. We hold fire, earthquake and code red drills monthly. Mariposa staffs hold bi-annual disaster drills to assess the ability of staff to handle serious emergency situations.

Community Service Opportunities

Our Program is located in the church facility. We have opportunities to work with this facility from time to time to improve our relationships with them and to serve within the greater community. We also take opportunities to work with other charitable organizations that support families in need. If you are interested in introducing us to other community service opportunities, please bring ideas to the school.

Signature Page

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Please sign below that you have read and reviewed our Parent Handbook. Please return this page to the office by September 2, 2016.

________________________________________

Child’s Name

________________________________________Parent’s Name Signature

________________________________________Parent’s Signature

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