First Presbyterian Preschool

Philosophy

The Preschool at First Presbyterian Church is an extension of the ministry to the children and families of this church and outreach to the children and families of this community.

Children are a gift from God. We are given the privilege of guiding them as they grow through the most formative years of their lives. We are dedicated to assisting families in all areas of their child’s education: spiritual, mental, physical, social, and emotional. We believe that children learn best through play and a variety of hands-on experiences. Emphasis is placed on the whole child, and our goal is to provide experiences that will help the child develop to his/her full potential as a child of God.

Specific Objectives

To provide a positive environment in which the child will develop an interest in learning.
To provide activities that are conducive to developing listening, vision, motor, and social skills.
To aid the child in developing a positive self-image.
To introduce cognitive material in a developmentally appropriate manner.
To explore the world of the child through art, music, and nature.
To recognize and celebrate certain religious and national holidays.
To provide experiences that enhance religious awareness.
To develop an awareness in the child of caring for God’s world.
General Information

Preschool

Our Preschool program builds upon skills learned throughout the years. Children, 10 weeks through 5 years of age by August are enrolled in preschool program. Children will engage in many activities that will develop their social, emotional, and developmental skills. Our goal is to prepare your child for a smooth transition into kindergarten.

Chapel

All children will participate in weekly Chapel times. This is an incredibly special time. We believe that all children are an amazing gift from God. The children will hear stories, sing, and have prayer. We want all children to know that God created them and loves each one in a special way.

Hours

Our regular day hours are from 9:00-2:00 each day. Children in the 2, 3, 4, and K-Prep classes are dropped off and picked up in “carline” each day. The hours for carline are 8:50-9:10 and 1:50-2:10. Children in the Infant, Toddler, and 2-year-old classes (if you choose not to do carline) are to be walked into the front doors. We will check them in from there. Our Extended Hours are from 7:30-8:50 and 2-4:30. Your child must be registered for Extended Hours to participate in that program.

Fees and Tuition

We are a self-supporting, non-profit organization, and all fees are used to provide the best teachers, equipment, and supplies possible.

A registration fee is due along with the application in order to register for the upcoming school year. Church members and currently enrolled children and their families have priority in registration.
If your child must withdraw from First Presbyterian Preschool at any time during the year, we request 2 weeks to allow us to fill the opening. Please notify the Preschool Director of this need as soon as possible.
Supply and snack fees are due in August and January of each school year.
Parents will receive a tuition envelope on or before the first of each month, which should be returned with your tuition by the 10th of each month.
Months with holidays have the same monthly rate as others.
Deductions cannot be made for sickness or absence of any kind.
If your child misses their regularly scheduled school day, they cannot make those days up on other school days.
Checks should be made out to First Presbyterian Preschool and placed in your child’s folder inside their tuition envelope.

Late Payment Charges

There is a $25 late fee for all checks received after the 15th of the month.
There is a $25 fee for all returned checks. Two returned checks will result in cash only payments.
If your child is not picked by 2:10, they will go to our aftercare program and the extended care fee will be charged.
There is a $5 fee for each 10 minutes of late pick up after 4:30 each day.
We realize that emergencies do arise. If something comes up to delay you from picking up your child, please call the preschool office and let us know as soon as possible.

Personal Items

Your child’s name should be on their bags, lunchbox, cups, coats, hats, and gloves. For infants, please label bottles, formula, pacifier, and other items they might bring.
Children will go outside each day that weather permits, so please dress you child accordingly including hats and gloves. Cold weather will not keep us in unless temperatures are below freezing.
Children should wear play clothes that they can handle independently. One-piece “bubble” suits for girls and overalls for boys are difficult to get off and on in the bathroom, so these should not be worn. We recommend pants or shorts that pull up without a belt.
Dress up clothes should not be worn to school. These things that are special to your children can get stained or torn during activities at school. Play clothes are the most appropriate clothing for school.
Each child must bring a COMPLETE (shirt, pants, underwear, and socks) change of clothes in their bag each day. Accidents do happen, and it helps the children if they have their clothes to change into. Please send several extra sets if your child is potty training.
Children must wear shoes that support and protect their feet. Cowboy boots, flip flops, and clogs are not permitted. Accidents are likely to occur indoors or on the playground, when the children are not wearing appropriate shoes. Tennis shoes are the BEST and should be worn each day.
If your child will be bringing a special blanket or “lovie” for rest time, please have those in their backpacks when they arrive at school.
Please do not allow your child to wear or to bring jewelry to school. We do not want hurt feelings over broken or lost jewelry.

Health

A current physician’s immunization is required by the State of Arkansas for each child. We require you to supply a new up-to-date form each year. We recommend your child be immunized to attend First Presbyterian Church Preschool. If your child is not, a letter is required from the State of Arkansas to be exempt and from your doctor stating the reasons.

The State Department of Human Resources states that a child who is ill should not attend school. These are the guidelines that you should use before sending your child to school:

Children should be fever free without the aid of medication (Tylenol or Advil) before returning to school for 24 hours or on antibiotics and fever free for 24 hours. If a child is sent home from school with a fever, they should not come back to school the following day. If a child is sent home during the school day, the parent will need to sign a form acknowledging they are not to return the next day.
A child with a bad cold/flu-like symptoms should not attend school.
Any child who has vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours cannot attend school for at least an additional 24 hours.
Any child with a suspected concussion should not attend school.
Any child with fever 99 degrees or above, cough, and/or has tested positive for COVID or has a family member (who resides with them) that has tested positive for COVID should not attend school.

If you child becomes ill at school, we will call the mother first to pick up the child, father nest, and then move down the child’s emergency list in their file. If you plan to be unavailable when your child is at school, notify someone on your emergency list and send a note letting us know who to call if there is an emergency. If a parent cannot be found in an emergency, it can be an even more frightening experience for your child.

Accidents

Accidents will happen with young children, even with careful monitoring. Any time we treat your child following an accident, you will receive an accident report. If the accident is severe, we will call you immediately. If your child has a hard blow to the head or a major cut, we will call you and 911. It is our policy to always notify you in the case of an accident; however, please be aware that sometimes you might notice bumps or scrapes that the child did not call to our attention.

Medicine

It is our policy not to administer medication to any child. However, if the child has food allergies, is allergic to insect stings or any bites, we need to have prescribed mediation on hand at all times. If your child has a severe food allergy, we MUST have written instructions from you and your child’s doctor describing the allergy and steps to follow in case of a reaction. If your child’s allergy is severe enough to require an EpiPen or possibly need an inhaler, you must send it each day in your child’s bag, or we cannot accept your child that day.

Special Days

Birthdays are very special days at First Presbyterian Preschool. We want to celebrate with your child. You are more than welcome to send a special snack to help celebrate your child’s birthday. We will be happy to send party invitations home with the children in your child’s class if there is an invitation for each child. Children see things clipped to their bag, and we do not want any hurt feelings if someone is left out.

We love to celebrate the holidays as well. Your child’s class will have several parties throughout the year. Your child’s teacher will notify you about ways in which you can help with party.

Food and Snacks

Children are to bring a lunch from home each day. Lunches should be in a lunch box or container separate from their backpack. You know which foods your child enjoys. However, children often bring too much food, and it is wasted. These guidelines are provided to cut down on waste.

Please make every effort to send healthy foods. Fruit and a few chips or crackers are good. Pre-cut up meat and cheese or vegetable sticks are also good ideas.
We do not allow carbonated / canned beverages of any kind. If your child has a “lunchable” please remove canned and / or carbonated drinks.
Please do not send items that must be heated.
Please do not send gum or candy in your child’s lunch.
All lunch boxes and containers must be labeled with your child’s name.
DHS requires that lunches are to be well balanced each day. We are required to supplement fruit, veggies, etc. if needed. Please keep this in mind when packing your child’s lunch.
We ask that you do not bring your child into the school in the morning while they are still eating breakfast. Allow them to finish it in the car. It is difficult for the other children if one brings in food.

Communication

Each child is to bring a full-size backpack to school each day. I should be big enough for a folder to be place inside. You child’s name should be clearly written on the bag. The folder in your child’s bag is our daily line of communication, please keep this folder in their bag and check it daily. Notes to parents and from parents should be placed in their folder. We will check the folder daily and ask that you do the same.

This handbook provides most of the information that families need to know concerning school. Please read carefully and keep handy throughout the school year in case questions arise.
Teachers will send home a monthly or weekly calendar or newsletter detailing plans for the classroom and school wide. Please read them carefully for dates, items you child should bring to school and information about what your child is doing at school.
Monthly tuition envelopes will be sent home in your child’s folder at the beginning of each month with the monthly invoice.
There are always opportunities for you to assist at school. Please watch for ways you can be of assistance in your child’s classroom or around our school.
Written reports are sent home periodically. Conferences are not routinely scheduled, but you may request a conference with a teacher or the Preschool Director at any time

Preschool Special Activities

We typically offer Kindermusik and Compuchild each week. We will send information home in your child’s folder about these opportunities. The times for the activities will be determine based on the number of children who register.

Toys

We are fortunate to have many wonderful things for the children to use and to play with at school. There will be special “show and tell” days that children can bring something from home to share with their friends. We ask that children do not bring toys from home on other days. We have plenty to share, and toys from home can be lost, broken, or cause hurt feelings.

Play

Outside play is a very important part of our day. We will play outside each day, weather permitting. Please make sure your child is dressed for lots of outside fun. Remember to send jackets, coats, mittens, hats, etc., if it is a cold day. We will play outside each day that the temperature is above freezing. Tennis shoes are the best choice and the safest for indoor and outdoor play. Remember to also label all jackets since some children may have jackers that similar.

Safety of School Grounds

First Presbyterian Church Preschool is equipped with cameras on our campus for our children’s safety as well as staff security. All exits and classrooms are monitored. We take safety issues very seriously. The FPC Preschool staff take all precautions to keep every child safe.

Arrival and Dismissal Time

Children enrolled in the Infant and Toddler classes should be walked into the building each morning. You may park in a designated space in front of the building and walk to the front door check-in table when temperature will be taken and signed in. Either a floater or their teacher will greet them and take them to the classroom. Teachers will be in their classrooms ready to receive children at 8:50 a.m. Dismissal is from 1:50-2:10 p.m. If you have children in the front building and in 2’s, 3’s, 4’s or K-prep, please drop your preschool child off in the car line then walk your younger child to their room. Again, we highly encourage all 2 year olds to participate in car line. All children MUST be signed in and out each day.

Children enrolled in our 2, 3, 4, & K-Prep classes will be dropped off and picked up in the carpool line. You will enter the church parking lot and drive through the circle so that your passenger door is facing the building. A teacher will come and unload your child. The hours for carpool are 8:50-9:10 and 1:50-2:10. If you arrive after carline has ended, you will need to check your child in at the front door.

It is recommended that all children arrive on time each day. Preschool children enjoy being “big kids” and going through the carline. The beginning of each day is an important time where the children are allowed free play and a special time to visit with their friends. When children arrive late, they miss this special time. Teachers want to greet each child and help them come into school and get ready for the day. After 9:10, the day has begun, and it can be difficult for teachers to pull away from activities that have already begun. Please make every effort to be on time. If you know your child will be absent from school, please let us know. We worry when our friends are absent. If your child will be arriving at school after 9:30, we ask that you notify your child’s teacher before the beginning of the day. Late arrivals are a distraction for the other children, and it can be difficult for your child when they miss the beginning of the day.

If your child is registered for Extended Day hours, you may walk them into the building for Drop off at 7:30. All children in Extended Day hours must be picked up by 4:30 pm. Children must be signed out and picked up in the building.

Car Line Safety

If you have someone other than a parent picking up your child, please make sure those drivers are aware of our car line safety rules.

Drivers should not be using cell phones at any time the vehicle is moving on First Presbyterian property. We cannot put a child into a car when the driver is using a cell phone. We do not want the distractions of a cell phone call to risk the safety of our children or teachers.
When you load or unload, please place your car in park.
All cars must be loaded and unloaded from the door nearest the building to avoid walking in front of or behind another car.
Infant car seats need to be located behind the driver so that preschool children do not have to climb over infant seats to get out of the car.
Please do not get out of your car during car line. We will load all children into their cars. This is a safety hazard for all in the car line so please remain in your car.
The State of Arkansas requires all children riding in a car should be properly restrained. We must make sure they are buckled in safely.
Please do not pull out of line around other cars unless otherwise directed. This is to keep our teachers and students safe.

Inclement Weather

In case of extreme weather conditions (ice, snow, hurricane, flood, tornado threat, or national emergency), the Preschool will close immediately.
If Jonesboro Schools close due to weather or national emergency, make plans to pick up your child at FPC Preschool as soon as the announcement is made. If you hear that Jonesboro Schools have closed, FPC Preschool is closed, also.
We have a detailed plan for tornado watch and warning alerts. If there is dangerous weather, please wait until the danger has passed to come and get your child. We will stay in a safe place with your child as long as needed.
If you should decide to take your child with you during a weather warning, the Preschool staff will no longer be responsible for your child once you pick them up from FPC Preschool.
Children will not be escorted to or unloaded from cars by school personnel during tornado warnings or severe weather.
We will update our FPC Preschool/Parent’s Day Out Facebook page about weather delays or closings and Remind 101.

Staff

First Presbyterian Church if blessed to have a group of caring, dedicated teachers working with your children. Each staff member is required to attend training sessions each year. Every staff member has required licensing requirements for each year, including CPR.

Student Teacher Ratio

DHS FPC Preschool

Infants 1:6 2:5

Toddlers 1:8 1:10

Two’s 1:10 1:8

Three’s 1:12 1:10

Four’s 1:15 1:12

K-Prep 1:15 1:12

Tuition and Supply Fees

Class Days Monthly Tuition Supply Fee Snack Fee
(Aug & Jan) (Aug & Jan)
Infants (2:5 ratio) MWF $375 $90 $40
TT $275 $75 $40
M-F $500 $110 $40

Toddlers (2:10 ratio) MWF $375 $90 $40
TT $275 $75 $40
M-F $500 $110 $40

2-year-old (1:8 ratio) MWF $375 $90 $40
TT $275 $75 $40
M-F $500 $110 $40

3-year-old (1:10 ratio) MWF $375 $90 $40
M-F $500 $110 $40

4-year-old (1:12 ratio) M-F $500 $110 $40
TWTF $450 $110 $40

K-Prep (1:12 ratio) M-F $500 $110 $40
TWTF $450 $110 $40

* These prices are subject to change at any time. You will have sufficient notice.

Extended Hours (this fee is in addition to your monthly tuition)

Fees for extended hours are based on $14 daily. Each month, your tuition card will have the total due for the upcoming month. This can be added to your monthly tuition and included on the same check. Drop-in fee for Extended Hours is $20 per day. You must have prior approval to drop in so we can make sure there is enough staff on hand.

A Final Reminder

Please remember that nothing exceeds the power of a good listening ear. Nothing will advance your child’s education more than your willingness to listen to your child’s story about “what we did in school today.” Take time. Make time. You will, like we do, learn alot from your child. Listen for and enjoy the laughter of children. God is in their midst.