Family Handbook
2007-2008
School Hours:
Preschool meets
1/2 Day Kindergarten meets
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Full Day K/1st Grade meets
Before and After School
Care Available
Friends School is a Nut-Free Program
Friends School, Inc., a family cooperative since 1980, does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex,
gender, age, sexual orientation, or handicapping condition in any of its
programs or policies.
Preschool
through First Grade
901 Breckenridge Lane
Phone:
502-899-1822 Fax: 502-899-1850
Director:
Kris Christensen
Mission Statement of Friends School, Inc.
Parent Co-Op and Volunteer Hours
Parent Co-Op Responsibilities and Advantages
Clothing and Personal Possessions
A Positive Approach to Discipline
Weather and Emergency Situations
Tuition and Financial Responsibilities
Friends School Confidentiality Policy
Friends School Enrollment Policy
Appendix A – Contagious Disease Chart
Welcome to
We are very excited about the coming year and hope you
are, too!
I hope that you will not only read this document, but
use it as a guide throughout your time at Friends. In addition, I encourage you
to contact me at any time for questions, suggestions, concerns or just to talk!
Kristina Davis Christensen, M.Ed.
Executive Director
· Providing a nurturing, caring, and loving learning environment.
· Valuing the uniqueness of each child.
· Teaching tolerance, kindness and understanding as well as good citizenship and social values.
· Requiring family involvement.
· Providing classes with a low student-teacher ratio to help meet individual needs.
· Providing a highly individualized, developmentally appropriate program aimed at the whole child.
Ongoing assessments and parent-teacher communication enable the teachers to determine the child’s strengths and needs, and to effectively present concepts through appropriate materials and programs. Fostering the social, academic, physical, and emotional growth of each child is accomplished by keeping a very low student to teacher ratio.
The developmental program enables each child to progress at his or her own rate, thus strengthening a positive view of self and gaining confidence in his or her abilities. The needs and interests of each child are taken into account when developing the hands-on, creative learning environment. Offering a variety of choices within a well-planned setting helps children learn to make good, responsible decisions.
Parental involvement is a vital component of
Teachers at
The staff strives to teach children the social skills to resolve conflicts and work together, while allowing each child opportunities for self-expression and development at his or her individual rate.
Teachers and parents communicate to determine each child’s strengths and needs and to set appropriate goals.
As a family cooperative school, Friends requires parent involvement by asking each family to spend time working for the school each month, either in the classroom, fundraising, or serving on the board of directors. Parent participation not only enhances the programs, but also gives parents the chance to examine and validate their own childrearing strategies. Their involvement in the school helps parents develop skills to better relate to their children and empowers them to remain active in the pursuit of the best education for their child.
History of
The preschool curriculum at Friends was developed to enhance each child’s inborn curiosity about the world and his or her place within it. Our creative, hands-on environment allows each child to move at a pace appropriate to that child. Individual, small group and large group activities interweave in an atmosphere that fosters respect for differences, non-competitiveness, and cooperation.
Children’s knowledge and experience is the basis for our curriculum development. There is a balance between teacher-initiated thematic units and units developed from the children’s own interests.
Communication in the form of teacher newsletters, calendars, and flyers will be sent home at least monthly. They will communicate general themes and planned areas for exploration, field trip plans, and other school activities.
Children in the Preschool Program enjoy the following activities:
· Circle Time - themes, songs, and special activities introduced and discussed
· Small Group Skill Time - developmental skills introduced or reinforced through planned activities
· Snack Time - nutritious snacks and beverages brought from home
· Large Motor Activities - exercises, games, outdoor play
· Art-emphasis on self - expression rather than modeled art
· Music-singing, rhythm instruments, creative movement
· Quiet Time-books, puzzles, listening centers, writing centers
· Sharing-sharing an item or idea special to the child
The primary years are critical in establishing the
love and excitement of learning and inquiry. At
In mathematics, we use manipulatives and problem solving. In science, we use theoretical and empirical methods in our experiments and observations of the world around us. Throughout the curriculum, we interweave field trips, conflict resolution, values, and community service. By teaching concepts and skills through a caring curriculum rich in academics, arts, values, self-understanding, self-discipline, and a genuine respect for community, the teachers at Friends strive to make sure your child’s primary school experiences are challenging, satisfying, and meaningful.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OFFICE MANAGER /
ACCOUNTANT / DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
LEAD TEACHERS / SUBSTITUTE
COORDINATOR
ASSISTANT TEACHERS
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
All staff report to the Executive Director; when the Director is off site, the office manager, accountant, and development director (in keeping with the Director’s policies and wishes, and at times, in contact with the Director via phone) are in charge of day-to-day decision-making.
June 2007
Friday, June 1 Last
Day for Teachers
Thursday,
June 14 Board
Meeting (
Monday, June 18 Summer
Staff required for set up
June 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 Summer School Program,
July 2007
Thursday, July 12 Board
Meeting (7pm)
July 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 Summer School Program, 9am–1pm
Friday, July 20 Summer
Staff required for clean-up
Monday, July 30 All
Staff Orientation, 9am-4pm
Tuesday, July 31 All
Staff Inservice, 9am-4pm
August 2007
Wednesday, August 1 Staff
TB Test Check/Staff Inservice, 9am-12pm
Thursday,
August 2 Parent
Orientation, K/1 (7pm)
Wednesday, August 8 Opening
Day for K/1Teachers
Monday, August 13 Opening
Day for K/1 students
Tuesday, August 14 Opening
Day for Preschool Teachers
Thursday, August 16 Parent
Orientation, Preschool (7pm)
Monday/Tuesday,
August 20/21 Opening Days for Preschool students
Monday/Tuesday, August 20/21 Coffee and Kleenex for preschool parents
Thursday, August 23 Board
Meeting (7pm)
Friday, August 24 Family/Staff
Picnic,
September 2007
Monday, September 3 NO School, Labor Day
Saturday,
September 15 Parent
Workday, 9am-1pm
Thursday,
September 20 Board
Meeting (7pm)
October 2007
Friday, October 5 NO School, Teacher Inservice Day
Monday, October 8 NO School, Teacher Inservice Day
Tuesday, October 9 NO School, Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday,
October 11 Board
Meeting (
Friday, October 12 Family
Night, 5:30-7:30pm
November 2007
Tuesday, November 6 NO School, Teacher Inservice Day
Thursday, November 8 Board
Meeting (
Thursday, November 15 Parent Education Night
Wed-Fri, November 21-23 NO School, Thanksgiving Break
December 2007
Thursday, December 6 Board
Meeting (
Friday,
December 7 Staff
Appreciation Luncheon (
Thursday, December 20 Half
Day, School closes at Noon
Fri., Dec.21 – Mon., Jan. 7 Winter Break
January 2008
Jan. 1 – 7 Winter Break
Tuesday, January 8 First day back after
Winter Break
Thursday, January 10 Board
Meeting (
Monday, January 21 NO School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 2008
Thursday, February 7 Board
Meeting (
Monday, February 18 NO School, Parent Teacher Conferences
Saturday, February 23
March 2008
Thursday, March 6 Board
Meeting (
Friday,
March 7 NO School, Teacher Inservice Day
Friday, March 14 Family
Night, 5:30-7:30
April 2008
Mon – Fri, April 7-11 NO School, Spring Break
Thursday, April 17 Board
Meeting (
Thurs-Sat April 24, 25, 26 Plant
May 2008
Friday, May 2 NO School, Oaks Day
Thursday, May 8 Board
Meeting (
Thursday, May 22 Last Day of School –
Preschool and Kindergarten
Friday, May 30 Last
day for Teachers
June 2008
Thursday, June 12 Board
Meeting (
Monday, June 16 Summer
Staff required for set up
June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 Summer School Program,