SCHOOL POLICIES

ABSENCE: Please report your child's absence to the school office on the day of the absence. It is not necessary to repeat the call on subsequent days of the same illness.

Extended vacations during the school year are not encouraged. If such vacations are planned, notify the school office one week prior to the planned absence. Excessive absence and tardiness are not beneficial to the student's progress.

No reduction or credit in tuition is granted for absence.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: During the school year, staff members escort students to and from cars at arrival and dismissal. If you are late at arrival or dismissal, you must park your car and enter the school through the main entrance. No student should enter or leave the school unescorted.

If picking up students from classroom or dismissal area, inform the directress that the child/children are leaving with you and stop at the MCS office to sign out your child/children.

If you are late at arrival, escort your child to the classroom and inform the directress of arrival. If you are late at dismissal, your child may be signed into the extended hours program and you will be billed accordingly. (See Late Fees.)

Several classrooms begin the day with presentations of new materials and important announcements. It is extremely important that you arrive at school on time in order for your child to benefit from this information.

Often students become anxious when parents are late. It is important that you give your child a sense of security by arriving on time at the end of your child's school day.

Early arrival and/or late dismissal is available for most of the students. Please contact the school office for information.

Procedures and times for arrival and dismissal are published at the beginning of the school year.

CHILD ABUSE: The school shall implement procedures to insure that existing public laws regarding child abuse are followed.

CLASSROOM PARTIES: During the school year, your child's room parent will schedule your snack day to coincide with your child's birthday. Please keep treats simple and not too messy. (No cake and ice cream, please!) Due to dietary restrictions, personal beliefs, and safety concerns, individual party favors or special holiday treats will not be sent home with the students.

Students often enjoy celebrating their birthday by donating a special book or CD to their classroom.

The room parent will also schedule a parent to provide an appropriate snack for special occasions such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter.

Party invitations and gifts will not be distributed at school. If you need an address, please contact the school office. Only extended day/kindergarten and elementary students will exchange Valentine cards with their classmates. Information regarding this exchange will be sent home with your child.

CLASSROOM SNACKS: Snacks for the classrooms are furnished by the parents. A snack calendar will be sent home monthly specifying when each student is responsible for refreshments for the class. Suggestions for nutritious snacks will be distributed during the school year.

Please do not forget your scheduled snack day. If you do, please send in a non-perishable item for later use.

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE SCHOOL: All notes, payments, messages, and other correspondence are to be delivered to the school office. The office staff will channel information to the appropriate person.

DISCIPLINE: Students are expected to show respect for themselves, each other, the environment and each adult with whom they associate within the school environment. This includes outside activities related to school functions.

Students are encouraged to discuss mutual problems. In the event that discipline is needed, a staff member will intervene in a firm, positive manner. Procedures include talking to the student, removing the student from the situation, re-directing the student to another activity, "time out" on a chair, the line, or the school office, and conferring with the parents. Continued inappropriate behavior may lead to suspension or withdrawal. Corporal punishment is prohibited.

DIRECTRESS: If you wish to speak with your child's directress, we suggest that you either send a note with your child requesting that the directress call you at her convenience, or call the office and leave a message for her to return your call.

DISMISSAL: MCS strives to offer quality programs for its students. In the event that your child's directress does not believe that the program meets your child's needs, your directress will confer with you regarding placement.

In the event that dismissal of a child is recommended by a directress, the parent is only responsible for tuition and fees used during the enrollment period.

DRESS CODE: Students should dress appropriately and comfortably to suit the weather. Washable clothes which are easily manipulated are strongly recommended. Students who are enrolled in the extended hours program, the extended day/kindergarten program, and the elementary program should be prepared for outside activities.

All outer garments should be labeled with your child's first name and last initial. Snow boots may not be worn during the school day. An extra pair of canvas/athletic shoes may be left at school. Only shoes with backs may be worn at school.

The staff and/or administration reserve the right to use its discretion in determining the type of clothing appropriate for the school setting.

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING: In case of severe weather conditions, parents should rely on their own judgment as to whether to transport their child to school. Classes will be canceled as little as possible. We realize that an emergency school closing can be extremely inconvenient, especially if both parents work. We will make every attempt to give you as much advance notice as possible. Please remember that if school must be canceled, we do so only for the safety and well-being of the students. If it becomes necessary to close the school due to severe weather conditions, information regarding school closing will be broadcast on the local radio station (WJOB 1230AM) and WGN.

EXTENDED HOURS PROGRAM: This before and after school program is open to students enrolled in the preschool, extended day/kindergarten and elementary programs. The program is available on a daily or part-time basis. It is recommended that students enroll for a minimum of two days per week in order to benefit socially from the program. Students must attend their regular class session in order to attend the extended hours program.

FIELD TRIPS: Each school year the directresses (either individually or in combination) may take the students on field trips. Special permission from the parents of each student is required (FIELD TRIP RELEASE FORM or special release form.) School is not in session for students not attending field trips. There is usually a fee charged for admission and/or rental of buses. (The activity fee covers transportation and/or admission costs for elementary students.)

FINANCIAL AID: Minimal funds are available to assist families with economic hardships to enable their child to continue in our Montessori program. Please contact the school office for additional information and an application. All information is confidential.

HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATION: A Health and Immunization Form must be completed upon initial enrollment, when a toddler transfers to a preschool program, and when a student enters the extended day/kindergarten program.

Those students who have not returned the completed Health and Immunization Form by the due date will be suspended from class with no tuition reimbursement.

ILLNESS: When your child is ill, call the office and leave a message for your child's directress.

Sometimes factors unrelated to a child’s illness influence the decision on whether or not to send a child to school. The parent’s work schedule, the car pool arrangements, the money spent, or the child’s desire to attend sometimes incline us to allow a child to attend who really should not.

If the spread of colds, flu, and other illnesses can be decreased, the total days missed will also decrease, and we will all benefit. To help decrease the spread of illness, the following policy should be adhered to in deciding whether or not to send a child to school.

RELATIVE NO-SHOW

1. After initial 48 hours of uncomplicated common cold when secretion has become less runny.

2. Upper respiratory infection where the cough is not severe enough to be disruptive to the child or to others.

3. Injuries where ambulation can be maintained without help. Plaster casts and slings should not keep a child from attending school.

ABSOLUTE NO-SHOW

1. Childhood diseases --- mumps, chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, etc. Communicable disease should be reported to the school office immediately.

2. Any fever, vomiting or diarrhea: The child should not return to school for 48 hours after problem ceases.

3. Any skin rash which has not been diagnosed by a doctor.

4. First 48 hours of common cold with very loose secretions. (Nasal discharge which is green or opaque yellow may indicate bacterial infection.) Although the child may not feel ill, it is during this phase of the upper respiratory infection (URI) that the infection spreads rapidly through respiratory droplet dispersion.

IF CHILDREN COME TO SCHOOL WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS, THEY WILL BE SENT HOME.

INSERVICE/RELEASE DAYS: During the school year, inservice/release days have been set aside for our staff to utilize for special visitations to other schools, workshops, or staff conferences. Parents will receive ample notification of the closing of the school for these days. (See the attached school calendar for specific dates.)

LATE FEES: A late fee is automatically charged to your account each month on any payment received more than five business days after the due date. (See Tuition Agreement and Tuition Agreement-Extended Hours.)

A late fee is charged for any hour (or portion thereof) beyond closing of the extended hours program. (See Tuition Agreement - Extended Hours.)

Students who are not picked up at their regular dismissal time will be considered late and charged according to the extended hours rate schedule. After the third such late pick up, there will be an additional late fee charged.

MEDICATION: When a student is in need of any medication at school, a written note (signed and dated) from the student's parent/guardian is required with the following information:

student's name,

name of medication,

prescription number,

dosage of medication, and

time(s) to be taken.

The medication must be delivered to the school office by the parent/guardian in the original container with the student's name and dosage.

Medication may be administered by the principal, office secretary, or student's directress.

OBSERVATION: Parents are welcome to observe the classrooms. Contact the school office to schedule an observation.

OFFICE: The school office will be staffed from 8:00 until 5:00 week days during the school year. The principal may be called at home in the evenings or on weekends.

PARENT CONFERENCES: Conferences are scheduled in the fall. Your child's directress will notify you as to the specific time.

Observation-conferences begin during the first week in January for students enrolled in the toddler, preschool, extended day/kindergarten, and first level of elementary programs. Your child's directress will notify you as to the specific date. During this time, you will have an opportunity to work with your child, observe the classroom, and meet with the directress.

If you would like a conference with your child's directress at any other time, please contact the school office or your child's directress.

PARENTS' RIGHTS: Both parents of a student enrolled at the Montessori Children's Schoolhouse have a right to participate in all school functions, confer with their child's directress and receive school information. A student may be released to either parent. In cases of divorce or legal separation, these rights will be granted to both parents unless the school receives a copy of a court order which affects these rights.

PAYMENTS: The Board of Directors sets tuition, fees and payment plan options each year. Any alternative payment schedule from parents must be presented, in writing, each year to the Board of Directors for approval.

If payments are not made pursuant to the agreed upon procedures, your child will be suspended from class until all due payments are received.

All charges incurred by the school for checks returned for non-sufficient funds will be passed on to the payer.

Payments may be made at the school office or mailed to the school.

If payment on a student’s account is not paid in full by the end of the school year, the Board of Directors will turn the account over for collection. No student will be enrolled for a new school year unless the student’s account for the present school year is paid in full by the last business day in June.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: All students who remain at school for lunch will have an outdoor recess unless it is rainy or severely cold. These students need to be dressed appropriately for the weather.

Elementary students have scheduled physical activity programs throughout the school year. Parents will be notified in advance as to the scheduled activity.

If any student is unable to participate in any physical activity/recess, a release from the child's physician must be sent to the school office.

RELEASE AUTHORIZATION: Prior to the start of each school year, parents will receive a release authorization. This authorization names the adults to whom the school may release your child. The school must be informed in writing if any changes occur in this authorization.

SCHEDULE CHANGES: Class assignments for a student will not be changed unless approved by the directress and the principal.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: Students are expected to participate in the various activities that occur during the school year. These activities are designed for numerous purposes. Some enable the students to broaden their knowledge, acceptance, and appreciation of others' culture, beliefs, and heritage. Some enable the students to become more aware of the world around them. Some encourage the development of life skills, sportsmanship, and cooperation. Some are scheduled for enjoyment in social situations.

All activities enable the classrooms to develop a community atmosphere and the students to foster respect for others. Every attempt is made to design these activities for the appropriate ages in the classroom.

SECURITY: Although the doors to the school are always "open" to you, the school does maintain a "locked door" policy. During the school day, all school doors are locked from the outside, a door bell has to be rung for entrance, and a code has to be entered for exiting. The school expects all staff members and parents to question any person entering or in the school that they do not immediately recognize. Please do not be insulted if you are questioned by any staff member or parent.

We are all responsible for the security of our students and the school. It is your responsibility to notify all authorized persons of pertinent school policies and/or procedures. All parents/guardians will be required to return a signed MCS SECURITY POLICY form each school year. Please help us maintain security.

Ø ONLY MCS STAFF MEMBERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE EXIT CODE.

Ø TO EXIT THE SCHOOL THROUGH THE FRONT OR BACK DOOR, FIND A STAFF MEMBER TO ASSIST YOU.

Ø REINFORCE with your child the school rule: ONLY STAFF MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO OPEN THE DOORS.

Ø STOP AND NOTIFY a staff member if the alarm is accidentally activated.

No weapons of any type are permitted within the school.

SPECIAL EVENTS: During the year, special events will be planned for the students and/or families. These events are planned by the committees of the Board. Parents will be made aware of all events well in advance through newsletters, bulletins, and/or special information releases. These events are great opportunities for the students and/or families to mix socially. Please try to participate.

STUDENT RECORDS: A student record file shall be maintained for each student for seven years after the student leaves the school. Information in a student file is confidential. Confidentiality of a student file shall not be viewed as being breached when the contents are viewed by staff personnel designated by the principal or in the event emergency or medical information is needed for the student.

Parents or legal guardians may examine information in a student's file upon written request. The principal and/or directress will be present when a student's file is reviewed. Parents or legal guardians may place signed and dated comments in the student’s file.

A student's records, transcript, and/or enrollment status will be sent to another school only upon written release from the student’s parent/guardian.

A student’s records, progress reports/transcript, and test results will be released to student's parent/guardian only when the student's account is current.

SUSPENSION: If your account is 30 days past due and alternative arrangements for payment have not been made, your child/children will be suspended from class until all outstanding payments are received.

A student may be suspended from class for up to five days if behavior is inappropriate (see DISCIPLINE).

If the Health and Immunization Form is not returned by the date due, the student will be suspended from class until the form is received.

No reduction or credit in tuition is granted for suspensions.

If a suspended student is not re-instated to class within five school days after suspension, the Board of Directors shall withdraw the suspended student from school. Parents of said student will have thirty days after withdrawal to pay in full tuition used during the student’s enrollment. If payment is not made within these thirty days, the Board of Directors shall turn the account over for collection.

TOILET TRAINED: Students entering a preschool program are expected to be toilet trained by the start of the school year.

TRANSPORTATION: Provisions for transportation to and from school are left solely to the parents. You may contact the school office for names of parents in your area.

TREASURES FROM HOME: Students are encouraged to share some of their special belongings with the class. Items such as books, a CD, plants, and scientific treasures are welcomed. Clearly mark all items with your child's name. Cars, dolls, or toys are not usually allowed in the classrooms.

TREASURES FROM SCHOOL: Many materials in the classroom consist of small pieces that are attractive to the students. Sometimes these small pieces "find" their way into pockets. These pieces are very important!! If you discover any items, please place them in an envelope addressed to the classroom and return them to school. Please do not reprimand your child.

VISITS FROM ALUMNI/ALUMNAE: The school welcomes visits from former students. Be aware that these visits must accommodate the classroom and school schedules. Please contact the school office to arrange a brief visit.

WITHDRAWAL: Reduction or credit in tuition will not be granted if a student is withdrawn, unless said withdrawal is made at the specific request of the school. If withdrawal is necessitated by an economic hardship, tuition refunds, or a portion thereof, may be considered by the Board of Directors on a written request basis.