Philosophy: At SAPUMC, we believe the parent is the first teacher, the classroom teacher is second, and the environment

is third. Children learn through their play and the school environment must be flexible to change and also responsive to the needs and interests of the children as they develop. Through their daily interactions with one another and teacher-facilitated exploration, the children will develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. Our goal is to help produce happy, imaginative children, who are prepared for the next school experience. Doctrine and Governance SAPUMC Nursery School is owned by and housed in the SAP United Methodist Church. It is neither the goal of the church nor the school to teach religious doctrine, but rather to teach compassion for one another, value of community, and stewardship of the earth. The Nursery School is under the direction of the Education Work area of the SAPUMC. A Parent Board supervises the daily operations of the school and meets monthly. Board meetings are open to all currently enrolled families and attendance is welcome. Licensing and Insurance SAPUMC Nursery School does not discriminate based upon race, national origin, or religion and welcomes children of all backgrounds. The school is licensed to serve up to twenty children per day from the ages of 33 months to five years of age. This Nursery School is licensed through the state of Minnesota and complies with the requirements of the MN department of Human Services: 651.296.3971. The Nursery School is covered by the insurance policies of the SAP United Methodist Church, including general liability.

Program: The SAPUMC Nursery School contributes to the education of children through a planned program that is age-appropriate. The program includes: y y y Appropriate space and materials to help the children learn through creative use and care for the school environment. Intellectual interest and growth through opportunities to explore, investigate, and experiment in a well-planned classroom. Emotional development through daily interpersonal interaction in an environment where the children feel accepted and understood, their expression is encouraged, and healthy independence is nurtured.

y y y y y

Daily reading Outdoor exploration Integrated art, music, dance, and language activities Integrated fine and large motor activities An atmosphere which values the child, encourages respect for others, and promotes joyful living and learning together.

Staff and Administration

Nursery School Office Direct Line: Church Office Direct Line: office@sapumc.org Teachers: Molly Breen Director and Lead Teacher sapnurseryschool@gmail.com Julie Lee famlee01@gmail.com Teaching Assistant 651.647.6385 651.624.0115

651.230.5552

651.645.1676

Bookkeeper Barbara Cain cainbarbara@comcast.net Parent Board Kara Hirdman deBonilla, Chair khirdman@hotmail.com

651.636.3389

Tuition Tuition payments are due on the first day of each month. A non-refundable deposit of $160 is due at the time of application/registration along with the first month s tuition. Tuition rates for 2011-2012: Five Days per week Four Days per week Three Days per week Two Days per week $250 $215 $180 $145

Checks should be made payable to SAPUMCNS and placed in the tuition box in the hallway outside of the classroom. Late Tuition Payments A $10 fee will be charged for tuition payments received after the 10th of the month. If there are special circumstances which prevent timely payment, please contact our Bookkeeper, Barb Cain to make arrangements. In the case of non-payment of tuition, parents will be asked by the Board to withdraw their child from our Nursery School program. Two weeks notice will be given to parents in this circumstance. Best Practices Parents are encouraged to dress their children in comfortable play clothing which may occasionally get soiled with classroom materials like paint, clay, and dirt. Footwear should be secure and easy for the children to adjust themselves. If you prefer, families may leave a dedicated pair of school shoes in their child s cubby. No slippers may be worn in the classrooms. All children should have a back-up set of clothing labeled with their name and brought to the school at the time of the parent meeting or before the school year begins. Other items like school bags and outerwear should be clearly labeled with your child s name and last initial. Gum chewing is not allowed at Nursery School Each child will be assigned a weekly sharing day. On this day, your child may bring a special item from home to share with the class during our welcome circle (items which relate to our big idea are best, but not required). Valuable or fragile toys and toy weapons are discouraged. If your child has a special lovie or blanket, those items must be kept in their school bag and out of the classroom but may be brought along for security. Before coming into the classroom each day, we ask that you take your child to visit the restroom at school to try and to wash hands before we begin our day together. Please allow a couple of extra minutes to make this part of your morning routine at Nursery School.

Calendar 2011-2012 SAPUMCNS follows the St. Paul Public School calendar with few exceptions. August 31st September 9th September 12th September 28th Parent Meeting School Open House First Day of School School Pictures

October 19th-21st October 31st November 11th November 17th November 24th-25th December 22nd December 23rd-January 3rd January 4th January 16th January 24th January 27th February 14th February 17th February 20th March 12th- 16th March 23rd April 6th April 27th May 18th May 21st

MEA- teacher meetings- NO SCHOOL Costume Parade at school Conferences- NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Feast at school Thanksgiving- NO SCHOOL Family Holiday Party at school Winter Break- NO SCHOOL School resumes MLK Day- NO SCHOOL Winter parent meeting at 7 p.m. SPPS NO SCHOOL- end of semester Valentine s Day Celebration at school NO SCHOOL- conference prep President s Day- NO SCHOOL Spring Break- NO SCHOOL Conferences- NO SCHOOL SPPS NO SCHOOL- end of quarter Week of the Young Child family event Last day of School Family Picnic

Daily Routine Our classroom doors open at 8:55 a.m. and children are dismissed individually to their parents/caregivers promptly at 11:30. The Nursery School routine is flexible and may vary. Below is an example of a typical day: 8:30-8:55 a.m. Large motor room available for parentsupervised play 8:55-9:15 Arrival time and free play in main classroom 9:20-9:40 Welcome Circle: songs, introduction of themes, unit concepts, names, and sharing time 9:45-10:15 Divide into two groups for large motor play and classroom play (Block I) 10:15-10:25 Bathroom and hand washing 10:30-10:45 Snack, story, and finger play time together in main classroom 10:45-11:15 Divide into two groups for large motor play and classroom play (Block II) 11:15-11:30 Goodbye Circle: story, song, and dismissal

Nursery School days may also include outdoor exploration, outdoor play, walking field trips, and visits from families and community members. Arrival and Dismissal Children must be brought into the classroom by a parent or caregiver. NEVER leave your child off at the outer doors or leave a child to wait alone. Children will be dismissed individually to waiting parents and caregivers in the hallway at the end of the Nursery School day. Please plan to be prompt in picking up your child at 11:30. If you will be late due to an emergency, please call the Nursery School. We understand occasional lateness, but if it becomes chronic we will assess a fine and evaluate your application. If someone other than the parent or authorized caregiver will be picking your child up, the teachers must have written notification. For the safety of our children, teachers will not release a child to anyone who has not been authorized in writing by the parent or guardian. Additionally, if there is anyone your child should NOT be released to, please let the teachers know in writing at the beginning of the school year. A word on good-bye: Your child may seem upset as you leave them off at Nursery School. This is not unusual, and typically disappears after a couple of weeks of coming to school. We encourage a brief ritual and a positive, loving good-bye. Rest assured your child will be nurtured and cared for in your absence and crying generally subsides within minutes of a parent s departure. Should your child remain upset and inconsolable for longer than 20 minutes, we may contact you to return to school. We will work with you to find a solution that is helpful for everyone and encourages your preschooler s independence. Bad Weather Closings Classes will be cancelled whenever the St. Paul Public Schools are closed due to bad weather. Please look for this announcement on television or visit http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/school-closings/ for further information. As soon as a determination has been made, you will be contacted via email and can check the school voicemail for updates.

Substitute Teachers Occasionally there is a need for substitute teachers at the Nursery School. Substitutes have been screened by the MN Department of Human Services background study and have a connection to the SAPUMC Nursery School or a background in Education. We will do our best to let you know ahead of time if there will be a substitute so you may prepare your child. Classroom Methods to Guide Behavior We believe in giving children a great deal of positive attention, which generally results in positive behavior. If necessary, we will use a time-out approach where a disruptive child is removed from an activity until he or she is ready to behave appropriately. If behavior is a persistent issue, a modification plan will be discussed with the parent. Generally, redirection and compassionate conversation are all that is needed to solve disruptive behavior. Snacks A daily snack is served at Nursery School. Each family is asked to sign up for two weeks of snack per year. Snack ideas could include: crackers, cereal, fruit, vegetables, yogurt, pretzels, cheese sticks, popcorn, or granola bars. We will keep an updated food allergy list posted on the parent information board for your planning. Please plan on enough to serve up to 20 children for 3 days. The school will provide juice or water and back-up snacks to fill in the gaps.

Special Activities Outdoor exploration and walking field trips: When outdoors, children are partnered together, holding hands with direct teacher supervision. For walking field trips, extra adult volunteers will be on hand to supervise the children with an adult at the front of the line, the middle, and the end. Free outdoor play will take place on the lawn of the church on Hillside, away from the street with direct supervision of both teachers. Extra adult volunteers are always welcome! Birthdays Children may bring a treat to share on their school birthday. The Department of Public Welfare requires that any foods brought in are factory packaged food products or washable foods such as fruits or vegetable. If you prefer, you may also request access to the church kitchen to prepare a treat. If this is your preference, please contact the teachers in advance to make arrangements through the church office. Instead of a birthday snack, families may also bring in a small token like a sticker or temporary tattoo to share with the class. Please let the teachers know your plans for your child s school birthday. Please do not distribute birthday invitations or wrapped gifts in the cubbies to prevent hurt feelings.