Parent-Student H A N D B O O K
Preschool at HCA 9333 W 159 St. th Overland Park, KS 66221 913.681.7622
This handbook outlines the philosophy, policies, and guidelines used in operating our Preschool Program which serves children ages three to five.
School Mission Statement The mission of Heritage Christian Academy is glorify God by serving Christian parents and their children while providing a high quality, Christ-centered educational program marked by academic excellence and the development of a Biblical worldview and strong Christian character. Heritage Christian Academy’s preschool program is focused on training the whole child and bringing them to God through Christ and aiding in subsequent growth in that relationship. We also seek to provide whole-child training for a productive life beyond our world. Preschool Philosophy Spiritual Being
Emotional Being As emotional beings, we find wholeness only through a relationship with Christ. As a child grows in this relationship, he/she recognizes the talents and limitations God has given and learns to accept himself/herself as he/she is. Physical Being As a physical being, each child of God has a body which is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and is offered up to God for His use. The Christian has a duty to understand it, care for it, and develop it.
As spiritual beings, we are created for fellowship with God. Growth in this area is nurtured by prayer, study, obedience to Scripture, and participation in a Christian community. Rational Being As a rational being, each child is capable of developing those mental disciplines necessary for life. We are set free through faith in Jesus Christ to know God and to look at life from God’s perspective.
Preschool Curriculum Heritage Christian Academy is a teacher-directed environment. We believe our students need adult guidance in their lives to provide essential academic skills while providing a nurturing environment. We structure our days with a balance of playtime and intentional academic activities to ensure that each child is actively engaged. We believe that positive interactions and development during the preschool years are a foundation for future educational successes. We also believe spiritual needs are an element of this development. As a Christian preschool, we want our children to know that they are special and loved by Jesus. This message is conveyed daily by the teaching of prayers and God-directed songs, by the reading of Bible stories, and integrating our faith throughout the entire curriculum. About Our Preschool
School Hours 8:30AM - 3:00PM Class times vary according to age and program options. School Closings In case of inclement weather, Heritage Christian Academy will cancel classes when Blue Valley School District cancels classes. Parents/guardians may, at their discretion, choose to remove their children from school early when they believe weather or streets are hazardous. Backpacks Children should bring backpacks to carry their belongings. It should be big enough to hold a folder. Daily projects and correspondence will be in each child’s backpack. We ask that children have a complete change of clothing available in their backpacks each day. Birthdays Birthdays are a special time. If you would like to supply a special snack on or around your child’s birthday, please coordinate with the teacher. We are a peanut-free environment, please refrain from sending peanut-related snacks. You may mail or call children using our directory to invite to personal parties. If you would like us to distribute invitations, all children in your child’s class must be invited.
Absences To report any absences, please call the school and leave a message directly on the Preschool Director’s voicemail. 913-681-7622 x329 Classroom Parties Preschool holds four yearly classroom parties. We celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. Parents will have the opportunity to sign- up to send items in for these parties. However, due to limited space, extended day, and scheduling, our classroom parties will be run by the classroom teachers during the learning day. Therefore, parent help in the classroom will not be needed on party days. Please note that we do not celebrate the aspects of commercial holidays. We leave that up to individual households. We strictly embrace the Biblical principles around these holidays.
Clothing Each child must have a complete change of clothes in their backpacks: underwear, socks, shirt, and pants/shorts appropriate for the season. Please mark all items with your child’s name in permanent marker. Seasonal Dressings: We take children outside daily. During the winter months, children should wear mittens, hats, and warm, sturdy shoes. Please dress our child appropriately for active play and the weather. Dress Code: Children should wear comfortable play clothes. Dress shoes, boots, and flip-flops are not safe for running and climbing. Tennis shoes are best. Paint is a part of preschool, and while paint smocks are used, accidents will happen. Please dress for mess!
The philosophy of Preschool at HCA reflects the belief that the education of our students is best accomplished when parents and school personnel work as partners. Therefore, the following communcation venues are provieded: Communications
Daily Correspondence Each day, you can expect to see your child’s daily work. We will send helpful information home in your child’s backpack. This information includes upcoming school activities, local happenings, and teacher messages. Conferences Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled twice throughout the year. You may also schedule a meeting with your teacher any time throughout the year.
Regular Updates Regular progress reports and newsletters will keep you informed of your child’s progress.
Questions Please direct all questions regarding your child’s daily routine or behavior to their lead classroom teacher. If you have questions regarding payment, please contact the School Office at 913-681-7622. All other questions can be address with the Preschool Director at extension x329.
Discipline It is our desire to encourage and reinforce appropriate behavior for young children in a loving atmosphere where they can learn self-control. On those occasions when a child needs additional guidance, these steps will be followed: Explain to the child why certain behaviors are not acceptable and help them determine a better way to respond in the future. Redirect the child, if possible. Remove the child for a short time-out if the undesirable behavior cannot be corrected by explaining or redirecting. The time-out should not exceed the child's age in minutes. At the end of the time-out, the teacher will discuss the situation with the child, set appropriate limits that are easily understood by the child, and allow the child an opportunity to make decisions about his or her behavior. If the problem continues, a conference will be held between the teacher and the parents for added insight. The director will be included in this conference, if deemed necessary. Drop-Off and Pick-up procedures Valet Service: Drop-off and pick-up are handled primarily through the use of a carpool line. During drop-off and pick-up, HCA preschool staff will escort children to and from their cars. Please display your provided name card in the car window so the staff can clearly see it. Walk-Up: Parents who wish to walk their children to the entrance must park in the east/lower parking area near the pond. Parents must walk their child all the way into the preschool courtyard utilizing the pathed walkways only.
Release: Children will be released only to parents and/or guardians, unless written permission verifying an alternative driver is on file. Early Dismissal: If you need to pick up your child during school hours, please enter through the main entrance and check in at the office.
Traffic Safety Procedures Morning Drop-Off – Doors Open at 8AM & Noon Enter the carpool line off 159 Street. th Proceed to the school lot entrance and pull up carefully. Preschool parents should stop outside the Preschool east doors to allow students to exit the car. Teachers will aid the children in getting out of the cars and into the building. Note: The valet-style drop-off ends at 8:35AM and 12:05PM. If you are running late, please walk your child to his/her classroom through the main school entrance. This will ensure compelte safety for your child. Excluding emergencies, if a parent is late picking up a child at the end of the school day, a fine of $5.00 for the first 10 minutes, or fraction thereof, and $1.00 per minute thereafter will be assessed after receiving a first warning. Should you find yourself in an emergency, please call the school to let us know that you are delayed. Late Pick-Up Afternoon Pick-Up – Dismissal Begins at 11:30AM, 1:30PM, or 3PM Students are picked up in the same manner they were dropped off. To ensure complete safety, parents are responsible for assisting and buckling their child into carseats for departure.
illness and sick policy
Please do not send your child to Preschool if he/she has any of the following:
Conditions for Exclusion from Preschool
Conditions for Returning to Preschool
1. Auxiliary (armpit) temperature off 100°F or higher.
1. Free of fever for 24 hours without a use of fever reducing medicine.
2. Symptoms and signs of possible illness such as headache, coughing, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing, wheezing, unusual lethargy, or other unusual signs. 3. Diarrhea (two watery stools in a 4-hour period or one large volume watery stool mixed with blood).
2. Symptom free or physician’s written approval to return.
3. Free of diarrhea for 24 hours and able to take food.
4. Vomiting, upset stomach with more than just “spitting up.”
4. Free of upset stomach and vomiting for 24 hours and able to take food.
5. Yellowish tint to skin or eyes and/or unusually dark, tea-colored urine.
5. Symptom free or physician’s written approval to return.
6. Red, watery, or draining eye(s).
6. All discharge from the eye(s) has stopped or physician’s written approval to return.
7. Severe itching of the body or scalp and/or constantly scratching the head (i.e. lice).
7. After treatment, including free of lice and nits.
8. Infected areas of the skin with crusty, yellow, gummy dry area or rash. (i.e. impetigo, chicken pox, or ring worm)
8. Skin sores are healed or 24 hours after treatment has started or physician’s written approval to return.
9. Mouth sores with excessive drooling.
9. Physician’s written approval to return.
10. Rash with fever or behavior change.
10. Physician’s written approval to return.
11. Known contagious disease while in communicable stage.
11. Physician’s written approval to return.
Lunches & Snacks Snacks: Please send a small, healthy snack with your child each day. Please make sure there are no peanuts or peanut products in the snacks, as we have students with allergies. Water and juice will be provided during snack time. Lunches: For those children participating in the extended day, please pack a nutritional snack lunch. Please do not send items that require heating or preparation.
Other
Toileting All children attending HCA Preschool are expected to be potty-trained and able to use the bathroom independently. We have no facilities for changing diapers or pull-ups. We have scheduled bathroom times and children are allowed to use the bathroom anytime, always under supervision. Field Trips Occasional field trips may be planned. Because of child restraint issues, parents will be asked to transport their children to and from the field trips.
Emergency Drills Fire drills will be conducted once a month in compliance with state regulations. Tornado drills are conducted once a month during the tornado season. A complete emergency response plan is posted in each classroom. School Events & Fundraisers Preschool families have the option to participate in all-school fundraisers and events throughout the year. Participating in these events helps build community and raise funds for many school programs.
Enrollment Policy K3 students must be three years of age by August 31 and fully potty-trained for admission to the preschool. JrK students must be four years of age by August 31. Enrollment takes place in January and February for the upcoming school year. A complete application, Statement of Faith, and non-refundable deposit are required. The following forms must be completed and on-file with the Director BEFORE the child may attend: Preschool Application & Parent Agreement Statement of Faith Medical Record Form Authorization of Emergency Medical Release Form Parental Permission Form Tuition Agreement Tuition Payment Schedule Tuition is the primary means by which our program is sustained, and we rely on each family to steward this investment responsibly as part of their shared commitment to the community. Families may choose one of these payment plans: One Annual Payment - Full amount due the first Monday in August. 10 Monthly Payments - 10 equal payments automatically withdrawn monthly. Note: Monthly payments will be automatically deducted from your account August-May on the 9th of each month (unless the 9th falls on a weekend or banking holiday, in which case your account will be drafted the previous banking date). If you do not wish to utilize automatic withdrawals, there is an additional $100 tracking fee. withdrawal policy If you should decide to withdraw your child from the program for any reason, written notice must be given two weeks prior to withdrawal. Tuition payment for the last two weeks with be drawn on the 9 of the month following the notice. Failure to give notice will result in continual fee assessment. th Non-discrimination Policy Heritage Christian Academy admits students of any sex, race, color, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, physical handicap, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his Heritage! psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his Heritage! psalm 33:12
9333 W 159 St. th Overland Park, KS 66221 913-681-7622 hcakc.org
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