Parent Resources

Parents HandbookEnrollment Forms & PoliciesMeal PlansFee ScheduleSick Children PolicyDear Mommy and Daddy

WELCOME TO POLKA DOT PRESCHOOL!

When your child is new to our Centre, it is best if the parents allow their child to explore at their own pace. We encourage the parents and child to visit a couple times before your child’s scheduled start date in order to get him/her familiar with the teachers and program. Remain with your child until you feel comfortable leaving; do not hesitate to discuss your feelings or concerns with a staff member. Parents are always welcome at Polka Dot Preschool! Take time to enjoy this new and exciting experience in your child’s life. Each child is unique; some children enjoy group environments immediately, while others take time to adjust to new surroundings and new individuals.

Philosophy

It is our privilege to teach your child at Polka Dot Preschool. The goal of our character building readiness program is to help each child at our school to believe that he/she is special through a loving and caring environment. We provide a positive learning environment in which your child can reach his/her optimum level of development in all areas: cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. In light of this tremendous goal, we have several key objectives for our children at Polka Dot Preschool.

To help each child experience cognitive growth and education stimulation with a positive attitude. This can be accomplished through experimentation, participating in language activities, sensory awareness and many other creative and educational activities.
To help each child to become socially well adjusted by building positive relationships with his/her family, peers and adults. By being in a group situation, your child will learn to respect others, co-operate and participate with others, and to share and care for the belongings of others.
To help each child to become emotionally sound by building in him/her a positive, healthy self esteem and by developing a confidence in him/herself and others because of experiencing success. We encourage each child to express his/her emotions freely, but appropriately. We also encourage the child to build empathy for the feelings and emotions of others.
To help each child to acquire a physical well being by developing large and fine muscle control and co-ordination. We establish desirable health habits and positive attitudes towards bodily functions, exercise, self image and nutrition.

Our Program

Your child will have many new experiences at Polka Dot Preschool. We encourage your child to explore, create, talk, touch, listen, build, manipulate, experiment and join in with group activities.

Throughout the day, a child is given many opportunities to choose from a variety of planned activities. The preschool children should be at the Centre by 9.00am, as classes begin to hold creative activities and programming at this time. The Junior and Senior Kindergarten children are required to be at the Centre by 8.30am for their programming. This is imperative for your child in order for him/her to receive the full benefit of the program.

According to the Early Years Act, all children must have at least two hours of regular outdoor play times all year round, weather permitting. Please be sure that your child wears appropriate clothing every day and have an extra change of clothing in his/her cubby at all times.

Field Trips

Throughout the year, trips are made to special places on interest. A notice will be sent home in advance of the excursion, informing you of the destination, time and date. Parents are welcome to accompany us on our field trips and a parent sign up list will be posted for each trip. A Calendar of Events will be given to you at the beginning of your child’s enrollment, which details all field trips, other special events and school closures. There are additional costs for these special programs & field trips for the children and parents who are attending. Be sure to mark these on your calendar. We also have weekly Music & Movement classes for the children. Preschool & Kindergarten – $ 16.00 per month ( Every Thursday) and Toddler – $ 10.00 per month (Every Thursday) will be added to your monthly invoice.

Discipline

Our goal is to help the children to achieve a sense of self discipline by accepting the consequences of their own actions. Limits on behaviour are set with the health and safety of your child in mind. The program at Polka Dot Preschool is arranged appropriately in order for the children to know what is expected of them and where. The teachers remain consistent in their discipline which promotes security amongst the children. Children are encouraged to express their emotions, but in an appropriate manner. They are encouraged to verbalize their feelings of frustration and if unable to manage at an activity, they are gently removed from the situation and redirected to another. Physical punishment is strictly prohibited and never used at Polka Dot Preschool.

Snack And Meal Times

Regular snack and meal times are set throughout the day. Breakfast is served at 8:30am and we encourage you to give your child a light snack before they arrive.

Weekly menus are posted at the front entrance for your reference. We plan a Spring/Summer Menu and a Fall/Winter Menu which are rotated accordingly. Hand and face washing before and after eating are part of our daily routine.

Arrival Procedures

It is imperative that you escort your child into the Centre. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your child in the hallway unattended. Each parent must inform a staff member once they have arrived and your child will be signed in by the teacher. Only at this time does our responsibility of your child begin. Please give the staff any relevant information concerning your child’s well being. There may be something which has upset your child either at home or on the way to school. If so, please be sure to tell a staff member so it can be talked about with you and your child will be comforted.

Please do not forget to say good-bye to your child. Perhaps if your child is upset, which can happen, you can tell him/her that you will be leaving in 5 minutes. This gives your child time to adjust and expect your departure.

Departure Procedures

All parents are required to inform a staff member when you are departing with your child. Do not, under any circumstances, remove your child from his/her classroom without verbally notifying a staff member.This will allow the teachers to say good-bye to your child and speak to you about your child’s day. At this time, your child will be signed out and your responsibility begins. This also ensures that the staff knows which children are leaving and who are still in their care. Check your child’s cubby or art box for art work and letters which are needed to go home. Don’t forget to look on his/her cubby for soiled clothing to be washed. Please be sure to replace this clothing the following day.

Late Charge

A late charge of $15.00 for the first ten (10) minutes and then a $ 2.00 per minute thereafter will be charged for any child(ren) who are not picked up by 6.00pm. For siblings who are not picked up on time, the late charge will be $ 15.00 for the first 10 minutes (10)) minutes per child and then a $2.00 per minute per child. Please understand that this fee is for the extra service which has been provided beyond the designated pick up time. All children MUST exit the building at 6.00pm, as the staff must lock the facilities before their departure. Our insurance agreement does not permit parents and children to remain in the building past our 6.00pm closure. The late fee charge will be strictly enforced for anyone who has not exited the building by 6.00pm.

Parents

As parents, we value your input and involvement in our program. Your co-operation in our field trips, special events and parent meetings are vital in maintaining a high quality program. You are a valuable resource and we welcome your ideas and contributions to our program.

Clothing

Children should be dressed comfortably in play clothing so they are free to explore without fear of getting dirty. Shoes should be suitable for play, both inside and outdoor play. The shoes should be well fitted and durable with soles that will give your child traction when running and walking. Remember that outdoor play is a regular and important part of our program and proper clothing depending on the weather should be in his/her cubby at all times. Be sure there is an extra set of clothing in your child’s cubby in case he/she needs to be changed. Children wear protective smocks during messy activities to protect their clothing. Please label all of your child’s possessions in order for the teachers to identify them and to make sure they are not misplaced.

In Closing...

We know that your child’s time at Polka Dot Preschool will be a fun and enriching experience. Although process reports are completed twice a year for each child at our centre, we want you, as parents, to feel free to talk to the teachers on a regular basis about your child’s development. It is our privilege to care for and teach your child at Polka Dot Preschool and we are extremely pleased that you have chosen us for your child’s education!!

Download a PDF of the Handbook

Forms Required For Registration

Other Forms

Meal Plans

SPRING / SUMMER MEAL PLANS

FALL / WINTER MEAL PLANS

Fee Payment Schedule

Fees are payable on the 1st of every month in advance by cheque. Any adjustments, which are necessary as a result of prolonged illness, should be arranged with the Director at such time. We require a Last Month’s Security Deposit of 2 weeks and a $50.00 Registration Fee for all children enrolled at Polka Dot Preschool.

Toddler Fees	$68.00 per day per child
JR. & SR. Preschool Fees	$62.00 per day per child
JR. & SR. Kindergarten Fees	$60.00 per day per child

Sick Children Policy

At Polka Dot Preschool, we thrive to create a happy and healthy environment for the children to learn and grown in. According to York Region Public Health, children who are ill cannot attend child care programs if their own well being or the well being of other children is in jeopardy.

Families need to make alternative care arrangements and seek medical attention for the following conditions:

Unexplained or undiagnosed pain
Acute cold with fever, runny nose and eyes, coughing and sore throat
Difficulty with breathing
Fever over 38 degrees centigrade (100.4 °F) accompanied by general symptoms such as listlessness
Sore throat and difficulty swallowing
Undiagnosed skin or eye rash
Headache and stiff neck
Unexplained diarrhea or loose stool, combined with vomiting and abdominal cramps
Severe itching of body and scalp
Known or suspected communicable diseases

Children who have some symptoms of illness may continue to attend Polka Dot Preschool. Such circumstances include:

Minor upper respiratory infections with no fever;
Taking antibiotics with no fever or other symptoms of illness; and
Chronic symptoms such as a low-grade fever or cough that have been diagnosed as non-infectious.

When a child is diagnosed with a communicable disease (e.g. chicken pox), Polka Dot Preschool is required to advise York Region Public Health Department and the parents of the centre. A child who has recovered from a contagious disease, such as chicken pox or impetigo, will be required to be examined by a medical doctor before returning to Polka Dot and a doctor’s note will be required stating the child is no longer contagious.

Dear Mommy and Daddy

Dear Mommy and Daddy,

I’m writing this letter to tell you how much I enjoy my time at Polka Dot Preschool. Sometimes, I start my day with a few tears to make you a little sad because you are leaving me. Usually I’m fine after one minute! Sometimes I cry longer to make sure you hear me on your way out the door. But the tears get wiped away and my teachers give me hugs and kisses. They have a different hug depending on my situation. “Teddy Bear” hugs for good morning. “Squeeze and Laugh” hugs for fun and “Gentle Embrace” for don’t worry, I’m here for you.

I love to jump, climb, run and kick, but for some reason, I have to walk in the classroom and sit at the table. The teachers know that I love the food but I think they are being funny when they ask me to eat it with this shiny thing called a “spoon”. My fingers are much better for picking out those peas from my bowl at lunch time!

And the next thing – the washroom. There are many fun objects there: long paper to unroll, toilets to make noise and sinks to play with the running water. I can’t stay there too long because I have many other important things to do.

Finger painting and play dough are my favourite things. I also like to have sleeptime so that I can dream about my sweet snack, stories my teacher reads to me each morning and all the fun things I’m going to do when I wake up.

I have lots of friends. They make me laugh and sometime angry, especially when they want to play with MY toys, in MY dramatic centre, and with MY teachers. Don’t they understand that everything belongs to me? Sometimes my friends use this strange word “sharing”, but I try not to pay attention since THEY belong to ME too.

I’m happy and busy here. All day is full of excitement and learning fun. There is however, one moment which makes my day… it is the time when you come with a smile on your face and love in your heart that I know you’re the best in the whole world!!! I love you mommy and daddy!!

With love from your wonderful child,
xoxoxoxoxo

WELCOME TO POLKA DOT PRESCHOOL!

Download a PDF of the Handbook

Forms Required For Registration

Other Forms

Meal Plans

Fee Payment Schedule

Sick Children Policy

Dear Mommy and Daddy

Download a Word Doc version of this letter

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