Sunshine Acres Montessori School

2141 Maple Lane • Lawrence, Kansas 66046 • 785-842-2223

 

Parent Notices

 

PAPERWORK AND RECORDS

It is vitally important for our office to maintain up-to-date files concerning your child.  At the beginning of each school year in August, you will be given an enrollment packet.  One document must be notarized and another must be completed by your physician.  All other papers should be read carefully before completing the documents and adding your signature.  All completed paperwork must be turned in to the office staff in order for your child to attend school.

 

Dressing Your Child

Please dress your child as comfortably as possible.  Some enjoy dressing up and others do not.  Also, your child will be enjoying art materials and is still developing eye-hand coordination, so spills happen in spite of efforts to cover clothing.  Children often work on the floor and play on the ground or in the sand outside.  Clothing should not restrict their enjoyment.  Pants, belts, and shoes must not be too tight.  No cowboy boots shall be worn, as these are uncomfortable when sitting in group and can be harmful weapons.  Flip-flop type shoes are only appropriate for swim afternoons in the summer.  Children feel good if they can dress themselves.  Keep this in mind when purchasing boots, shoes, coats, pants, etc.  During the year, encourage your child to dress him/herself.  Show your child how to hang up things in the correct place.  Check hooks, and the Lost and Found basket daily.

 

We encourage the children to enjoy all kinds of weather, so we count on your help to dress them appropriately.  Children go outside every day and we must have a doctor’s note to allow them to stay inside.  We will keep the children in on rainy, excessively windy, extremely hot, or bitterly cold days.  Physicians support that most children, provided they are dressed appropriately, should be able to go outside if they are well enough to be at school.

 

Bringing Things to School – NO TOYS, FOOD, GUM, CANDY, OR MONEY, PLEASE!

The class bulletin boards will inform you of items needed for special activities.  If your child wants to share a book, animal, or other item, please arrange it ahead of time with the teacher.  Help your child to understand that we have many wonderful things for him/her to do at school and that it will not be necessary to bring toys to school.  If your child refuses to leave home without something, you might permit taking it in the car and leaving it there to be available when you return at pick-up time.  Toys may be lost or broken, and create distraction or friction at school.

 

If your child arrives home with something in a pocket that looks unfamiliar, please put it in an envelope and let your child return it.  We provide many lovely and exciting things for the children to use and they sometimes love them so much they want to take them home.  We appreciate your help in getting these items returned to the school.

 

Illness or Absence

Please call the school when your child will be absent or late.  We ask this courtesy for several reasons.  We make lunch counts early in the morning.  In the event that your child might be late, a telephone call would assure you of having a lunch prepared for him/her.  We also become concerned if a child is missing from school.

 

If your child is not acting normally before school, please check carefully.  We cannot accept a sick child.  This would be unfair to your child, classmates, and the teachers.  We need to be aware of any illness in order to protect the health of the school community.  The most contagious stage of illness is when the symptoms have just started to appear.  Your child is required by law to stay home a full 24 hours after a fever is gone (48 hours for strep).  Please refer to our health policy for any additional questions.

 

Administering Medications

To safeguard your child, protect the staff, and follow health department regulations, no medicine is given without a completed, dated medication authorization form that includes dosage and the signature of a parent.  Clearly labeled medication is also required and should be in the original container.  Many pharmacies will issue a bottle for medications to be given at school.

 

Bad Weather Closing

When the Lawrence Public Schools close due to bad weather, Sunshine Acres will be closed also.  The public school announcements are carried over KLWN 1320 am radio.  A calendar and posted notices will keep you informed of school closings.

 

Checking Your Child’s Box

Since the space is small, please check daily.  If your child has nothing, be casual and positive.  Some of the most important work your child does in the classroom does not yield an end product.  Let your child show you something that he/she enjoys doing in the classroom.  If there is something in the box, let your child know you are pleased with the work and provide a special drawer or hanging area in your home for these treasures.  Ask the teacher if you want to know more about what your child is doing or what that “something” in the box is all about.  Try to avoid general labels for your child’s work, such as “that’s good or pretty”.  Rather, use specific remarks such as, “I see you like yellow,” or “I can see you worked hard on that,” or “Tell me about it.”

 

Parent Bulletin Boards and library resources

The teachers work hard to keep you informed of class activities and needs.  Children often cannot explain what they did because they do not have the language skills, but they may tell you things if you can help them.  Please check the bulletin boards for lesson plans and other important notices.  Also, feel free to check out books and magazines in the hall or director’s office.  Please return them to the office within a week.

 

School Zone Speed Limit

Please drive 15-25 miles per hour on Maple Lane and 21st Terrace as these are within school zones.  We ask that you slow down to 10 miles per hour on our driveway.  Remember to stop on the way out.

 

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times

Children need to be dropped off and picked up at the agreed upon times.  Extra care will be charged to your account.  Please see the Tuition and Fees sheet for this charge.  If you need to talk to one of your child’s teachers, please avoid long conversations at the door or on the playground.  It is dangerous for supervision and doesn’t allow privacy.  Feel free to arrange for a special time to call them at school or home to discuss anything of concern.  You may also contact the director or assistant director.  Finally, be sure to ALWAYS come into the school when you bring or take your child and sign him/her in and out.

 

Label Your Child’s Clothing

Using a permanent marker, please label all items clearly with full name.  This includes coats, boots, mittens, hats, sweaters, scarves, as well as all items in the extra clothes box.  Check daily to see that your child brings home his/her belongings.

 

Keep Extra Clothing Seasonally Appropriate

Be sure to change the items in your child’s extra clothes box as the seasons change.  Also, make sure you replenish the box when the clothes are used.  Select clothes that are not “favorites” so that your child will not have accidents in order to wear them.

 

Invitations

It is wonderful when your child makes friends with the other children at school!  However, when it comes to handing out invitations to school friends, please drop the invitations off at the office.  The office staff will be sure to bring the invitation to the attention of the invited child’s parent/guardian.  This prevents uninvited children from feeling left out.  If your event includes all your child’s classmates, feel free to place the invitations in the cubbies of all the children in your child’s class.

 

Thank you for not throwing wrappers and cigarettes on school grounds, and for wiping your feet at the door each day.  You are setting a great example for your child!