Good Shepherd United Methodist Church

Shepherd's Care Preschool

Kathy Schloesser                         Tina Marie Intoppa
Director                                           Assistant Director

Our part-time preschool program serves potty-trained children ages 2 – 4 and their families. Our 3 day classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 am – 1 pm. Our 5 day VPK classes meet Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 1 pm.

Shepherd’s Care Preschool is Christ-centered. We use the A Beka curriculum for phonics and numbers and Scripture Bites for our Bible lessons.

NAC ACCREDITED

As a NAC accredited center, Shepherd’s Care Preschool has been recognized as an early care and education program that exemplifies excellence in the care of young children.  NAC accreditation benefits everyone involved.  Parents can be assured that Shepherd’s Care Preschool has met standards that exceed the minimum necessary for licensing, the staff of Shepherd’s Care Preschool has benefited from professional development and the children enrolled at Shepherd’s Care Preschool have an environment that is conducive to their individual growth and development.

VPK PROVIDER

The VPK program is FREE for all four-year-olds born on or before September 1 who reside in Florida and has high quality standards that include:

• Qualified instructors

• Age appropriate curriculum with a strong emphasis on early literacy skills

• Manageable class sizes

OUR PHILOSOPHY

To teach all children in Shepherd’s Care Preschool about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to teach scripture in such a way that it becomes evident in the choices they make at home, at school and at play. We want to build safe and positive relationships between the children and the Shepherd’s Care Preschool staff.

2010-2011 School Year

We are excited begin our 2010/2011 program and look forward to a fun-filled year ahead.  Our Open House will be on Friday, August 20th between the hours of 9:30am and 1:00pm.  The first day of preschool is Monday, August 23th.

The following information must be completed by the first day of school. 

• Signed field trips / pictures permission (included in this packet)
• Immunization record (form #680)
• Student Health Exam (form #3040) valid for two years from the date of physical exam.
• Photo IDs (driver’s license) for persons authorized to pick up your child

During open house, will have tables set up in the Fellowship Hall to accept any forms or payments and to copy driver’s licenses that are needed to complete your child’s application.

The first tuition payment of $185.00 is due on August 1st.  Please make checks payable to Shepherd’s Care Preschool and write your child’s name in the memo portion at the bottom.  The $70.00 activity fee will be due when school begins on August 24th.  At Open House, you will receive a packet of tuition envelopes to use during the remainder of the school year.

Optional Supplemental Services For VPK Students

            Throughout the school year, we schedule special programs that come to us; we never take children off campus.  The optional supplemental services fee makes it possible for us to schedule programs and activities for your child in addition to the VPK provided by the state.  If you would like your child to attend on the 12 school days that are not VPK days, there is a one-time fee of $365.00.  If you have paid the $85.00 deposit, the balance of $280.00 is due on August 1ST.  Please make checks payable to Shepherd’s Care Preschool and write your child’s name in the memo portion at the bottom.

Important Information For Parents

Signing in/out:  There will be a sign in/sign out sheet attached to a clipboard for each classroom.  You must sign the attendance sheet TWICE each day.  In order to help the drop off and dismissal run more smoothly, you will be able to sign your child in/out while waiting outside the classroom each day.  All signatures must be LEGIBLE!  No abbreviations or scribbling!  This is a requirement by the PBC Health Department.

Curriculum:  We are using the A Beka curriculum for beginning phonics, letter & number recognition and the Scripture Bites curriculum for Christ-centered bible lessons.

Dropping off:  Class begins at 9:30.  Please bring your child to the bathroom before bringing them to the classroom.  Please be on time as it is a disruption to have children entering the classroom after class has begun.  It’s not uncommon for children to cry the first few days, since this is the first time many of them have ever been away from you.  Our staff is trained to handle this.  The best advice is a quick departure – the longer you stay, the more your child will want you and the longer they will cry.  We will notify you if your child is unable to be consoled within a reasonable amount of time.
PLEASE DO NOT LINGER IN THE CLASSROOM.
Due to Health Department regulations, children not registered as students are not allowed in the classroom.

Dismissal:   The school day ends at 1:00.  Please be prompt in picking up your child.  If you are going to be late, contact Tina Intoppa at 965-4311 ext. 242 or Kathy Schloesser ext. 228.  If your child hasn’t been picked up by 1:10, you must pick them up from Tina’s office.  Late charges apply starting at 1:10.

Snacks:  Please label your child’s snack and snack time drink and place them in the snack basket upon arrival.  Only 1 snack per child is needed.  A few healthy suggestions include:  fruit, vegetables, raisins, crackers, pretzels, and cheese sticks.

Lunch:  Please pack a healthy lunch for your child.  We encourage them to eat their healthiest item first.   NO SHARING OF FOOD IS ALLOWED – we have several children with food allergies and special dietary concerns.  NO CANDY OR SODA!
**NOTE**:  We do not have a microwave or refrigerator available for classroom use, so please pack your child’s snack & lunch accordingly.

Change of clothes:  Every student must bring a complete change of clothes that will be kept in the classroom all year, or until needed.  We understand that you may not expect your child to need a change of clothes, but they are often needed because of spills or “potty accidents”.  Older clothes that your child will not miss are recommended.
Please put the following in a gallon ziploc bag clearly marked with your child’s first and last name:
                        Shirt
                        Shorts
                        Underwear
                        Socks

PBC Health Department does not allow any items within easy access to children that states on the container “keep out of reach of children”.  This includes hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes.  Please check the labels of any items you place in your child’s backpack or lunchbox for this warning and DO NOT send them to school.

Teacher conferences:  Parent/teacher conferences will be scheduled for all students in the spring.  If there is a need to have an additional meeting with the teacher, please write a note explaining the need for a conference and give it to Tina or Kathy.  We will then schedule a time with you and the teacher and schedule a substitute to help in the classroom during that time, if necessary.  Conferences cannot take place in the classroom while other students are present.

2010 / 2011 SUPPLY LISTS FOR EACH AGE GROUP

Please label only the supply box and paint shirt with your child’s name.  Some items may be used in the classroom as “community supplies”.  Individual teachers may request additional supplies as needed during the school year.  Please choose traditional colors when possible.  Bring supplies with you to open house.

Backpacks are not required, but if you would like your child to use one, backpacks with wheels are not allowed.

3 year old classes #2, #3, #4
                                    1- 2 pocket folder (no prongs)
                                    Supply box (no larger than 5”x10”)
                                    1- 8 count box of large Crayola crayons
                                    1- 8 color Crayola watercolor paint set
                                    1- 8 count box of Crayola large washable markers
                                    2 large Elmers glue sticks
                                    1- 4 oz. bottle of Elmers white school glue
                                    Blunt tip Fiskars scissors
                                    Solid color adult t-shirt for painting
                                    1 box of baby wipes
                                    2 rolls of paper towels
            1 box of gallon or quart size slide-lock storage bags or 1 box of sandwich size zip-lock bags

• HEALTHY SNACKS
• PARENT HANDBOOK
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
• GOOD SHEPHERD UMC HOME PAGE