Rising Stars Preschool
Parent Handbook
All About Us
Our Mission
Rising Stars Preschool's mission is to provide a safe and structured learning environment for children in La Pine and surrounding area. We strive to deliver an age appropriate, low cost program that meets the needs of all children and families. With the goal of preparing children to readily transition from Preschool to Kindergarten, we will contribute to the beginning of their individual success and to future of their educational years.
Management
Rising Stars Preschool is a non-profit corporation managed by an Executive Board of Directors who provides continued management for the preschool program. The Board oversees all business aspects of the preschool. Our Board meets monthly to continually focus on funding and aides in the day to day operations of the preschool. They make up the "behind the scenes" success of our program! The Board of Directors work closely with the teacher's to enhance the success of every child's early educational experience. Ask your child's teacher how you can become a member of our team!
Services Provided
We are located at the La Pine Community Campus, in the 2nd classroom on the right. We strive to offer an affordable preschool experience for you and your child. We are a non-profit preschool that runs by the way of volunteer support, fund-raisers, grants and donations. Parent volunteers are an important factor to our programs success! If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please see "Parent Volunteers" for further information.
We serve 36 children and families with an age appropriate early childhood educational experience. We offer one 3/4 Blend Class three days per week with a total of 18 children per class and one 4 year old class with a total of 18 students. At Rising Stars your child will be served a healthy snack daily as well as an opportunity to participate in a weekly exercise program called "Fun Fit", which is geared towards the health and well being of young children. Your child will experiment, make new friends and learn many skills that will encourage growth and development.
Class Schedules:
45 min. - Welcome / Exploration Centers
15 min. - Circle Time
20 min. - Learning Centers
10 min. - Calendar / Weather
30 min. - Outdoor Play
20 min. - Snack Time
10 min. - Handwriting
15 min. - Story Time / Goodbye
SNACK:
Daily snacks are provided by the preschool for every enrolled child.
FOOD POLICY:
It is our policy that meal substitutions will not be allowed without a doctor's note. If your child has any food allergies you must inform your child's teacher and provide us with documentation from your health care provider stating the doctor's food recommendations for our records, so that we may maintain the health and safety of your child.
BIRTHDAYS:
If you would like to provide a treat in honor of your child's birthday, they must be store bought, unless you use our approved kitchen on campus. Let your child's teacher know so that preparations can be made.
Class Times and Fees:
A.M. 3/4 Blend Class: Tues. Wed. Thurs. 9:00-11:45 A.M.
$125.00 per Month
P.M. 4 Year Old Class: Tues. Wed. Thurs. 1:00-3:45 P.M.
$125.00 per Month
TUITION:
Monthly tuition is $125.00 per month. If you volunteer during the month for the required hours, you will receive a $20.00 credit towards the next month's tuition fee.
Tuition is due in full by the 5th of the month. If tuition payment is not recieved by the 15th of the month, you will be harged a $50.00 late payment penalty. If payment is not received by the 20th of the month, your child will be dropped. Returned checks will be subject to a $35.00 fee along with any applicable bank charges. If checks are returned more than once, we will be on a cash only basis for the rest of the school year. Tuition payments will not be able to be "held" under any circumstances. A deposit of $65.00 will be collected by August 5th for early registrants or along with 1st month's tuition if registering later than August. Regular tuition payments will begin in September and end in May.
Where to send payments:
Tuition may be delivered to your child's classroom and placed in the payment box or mailed to the school at:
Rising Stars Preschool
PO Box 866
La Pine, OR 97739-0866
DISCOUNTS:
A 10% discount towards tuition will be given to families with more than one child enrolled in the preschool, or for children enrolled in both the A.M. and P.M. classes.
SCHOLARSHIPS:
Scholarship applications are available to families who are in need of financial assistance to aid in the cost of tuition. Scholarship Funds vary annually and are awarded at the Board of Directors discretion. Initial scholarship applications will be reviewed during the months of July and August, with the intent to award scholarships before the beginning of the school year. We at Rising Stars Preschool work diligently to insure that families of all income levels are able to attend. Scholarship Forms are available in the office; if you feel your family can benefit from financial assistance please see the Office Administrator. Failure to pay regular scholarship payments will result in the loss of your scholarship. Please see "Tuition" requirements for further information regarding payments. *Tuition payments are to be paid in full monthly from start date through the month of June.
TUITION REIMBURSEMENTS / DROPPING FROM PROGRAM:
Tuition reimbursement will be honored when tuition is paid for the month in advance of the child no longer attending. In order for tuition to be reimbursed and/or to avoid further charges to your account, you must give a two week written notice in advance that your child will no longer be attending school. To recieve your "June Deposit" back you must give written notice of dropping by 15th of the month. No reimbursement will be given if the child comes for part of the month and then drops from the program. Written notices must be given to the Director / Office Administrator.
Registration Fee:
A non-refundable $35.00 registration fee will be collected upon registration for preschool. These funds will be used to provide needs for the classroom throughout the school year. The registration fee covers costs towards classroom purchases which provide basic classroom materials and needs for every child throughout the school year which is managed by the Staff at Rising Stars.
Attendance:
It is our policy that you may not drop off your child any earlier than 5 minutes before class time. Please plan on arriving and departing on time. We all have places to go and time is precious to us all. Child care is not provided after class, a late fee of $2.00 for failure to pick up your child on time will accrue for every five minutes until the child is picked up from school. If your child will be absent from school, please call and let the teacher know. Communication is the key to success!
School Closures:
Refer to the Yearly Calendar for no school days. During the winter months, please listen to the radio, news casts or refer to 323-SNOW for school closures. WE FOLLOW THE BEND-LAPINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCHEDULE. The school district phone number 323-SNOW (323-7669), which you may call to check for delays or closures. We will also post on our web site school closures. Please be advised that if there is a *Two-Hour Delay all morning classes will be canceled for the day, although afternoon classes will run as scheduled. If there is a School Closure; (cancellation of school due to weather), we will not be in session for the day as all classes will be canceled. This doesn't happen often, but just be aware.
Our staff will make a courtesy call in the event there is a Two-Hour Delay or Closure for the first occurrence. After that, it is your resposiblity to check for school closures
Proper Dress:
We will attempt to go outside daily (weather permitting), so please send your child a coat to keep warm during outdoor play. Winter months: send snow pants, boots, hat, gloves and a coat to keep them dry. Please label your child's clothing! It's a good idea to send your child an extra set of clothing to be kept in your child's backpack, just in case an accident should occur.
*Please send a backpack with your child daily, for a place to keep their items they bring to and from school. Be sure to label the backpack with a first and last name. It's a good idea to label items from the inside, if at all possible, to avoid your child's name being seen by strangers.
Parent-Teacher Conferences:
Please plan to attend parent-teacher conferences for your child. At this time we will have a chance to visit one on one, to share information and discuss your child's progress. Your family may receive a minimum of two conferences per school year. You will be notified of the times for conferences by your child's teacher. Refer to Yearly Calendar for scheduled conference dates. There will be NO SCHOOL on conference days.
Discipline Policy:
Our policy is to re-direct a child to a more appropriate behavior, activity or language. Time out (child asked to sit in a chair) will happen for issues that involve injuries to other students. If the child has continued issues with behavioral problems, a parent-teacher conference and action plan will be made for the child. If failure to insure safety for all children due to an ongoing problem, and action plan does not help, the child will be expelled from school.
Parent Volunteers:
Parent volunteers are always welcome in our classroom! You may volunteer in the classroom or assist in many other ways. We have a program in place for parents to receive a discount in tuition by way of volunteering. You must attend an annual mandatory "Volunteer Training" which will be offered twice per year. Successful completion of a criminal History Background check is also required before permitted to volunteer in the classroom.
Admission Requirements:
Age Requirements:
Children who are three to five years old on or *before September 1st , are eligible to enter preschool. **Children must be potty trained and able to care for themselves while toileting.** If you have any concerns with your child's toileting, please see your child's teacher. If your child is older than 5 years old on September 1, then he/she is not eligible for our program.
Required Paperwork for Admission:
*Completed Registration Packet
*Parent Handbook Agreement Form Signed & Returned
*Immunization Form Filled Out & Signed
*Collection of Registration Fee
*Collection of Deposit & 1st Month's Tuition
Immunization Requirements & Illness Policy:
Fully immunized as required; or in the process of receiving immunizations
Illness Policy:
It is best to keep your child home until they are feeling well, and will not share their illness with others. However, minor illness such as a runny nose or slight cough should not keep our child home from school. Your child may not attend if they have any of the following conditions:
Fever- 100 degrees or higher.
Chicken Pox- All spots must be scabbed over before your child may return.
Vomiting- It must be 24 hours since they have last vomited before returning.
Diarrhea- It must be 24 hours since the last loose stool.
Lice- Child's hair must have been treated with lice shampoo and must be nit free. We will discreetly check your child's hair upon returning to school.
Contagious Illness- Any contagious illness that requires antibiotics; must have completed the dosage required for the first 24 hours before returning to school.
Guidelines for Dispensing Medications at School
If it is medically necessary for our staff to administer any medications to your child while at school, the following guidelines must be followed to insure the well being of your child;
A written note must accompany the medication stating the following; what it is for, instructions for administering medication, permission for the teacher to administer, parent signature and date.
Medication must be brought to school by the parent in the original prescription container. Medication will be returned home with parent.
Staff will never administer any medication sent to school in unlabeled containers (baggies, envelopes, non-labeled bottles). This is a violation of State Law.
Changes in your child's medication or dosage must be received in writing, change must be noted on the prescription label as well.
How To Contact Us: Rising Stars Preschool
Physical Address: Mailing Address:
51605 Coach Rd. P.O. Box 866
La Pine, OR. 97739 La Pine, OR. 97739
Phone Number:
541-536-8362
Fax: 541-536-5801
E-Mail Address: risingstarspreschool@hotmail.com
Website: www.risingstarspreschool.org
Director/ Office Adminstrator : Shawna James
Teacher: Christy Walsworth
Teacher: Jennifer Wilson
Board of Directors:
President: Aimee O'Ryan
Vice President: Amy Ringering
Secretary : Jolynn Ives
Treasurer: Heather Meeuswen
Parent Volunteer Coordinator: Aimee O'Ryan
Member: Jennifer Horn
Member: Rosanna Egger
Member: Heather Hook
We are looking forward to a great year together!
*Rising Stars Preschool is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
