Policies

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Children must be dropped off and picked up on time. It is very important to bring your child on time to school each day. Establishing a class routine is critical to the success of our program and morning activities address a wide range of skills and learning opportunities. Equally important, is picking up your child on time each day. Every child eagerly looks forward to being greeted by his/her parent or caregiver at the end of the day. As well, our staff need to be able to finish their after school duties and leave on time to fulfill their own family obligations.

Drop-Off
The entrance to the school is located in the back of the building, adjacent to the rear of the Grace Church parking lot. All children must be escorted to their class and signed in upon arrival. No child is permitted to enter the school without an adult escort. Sign in/out sheets are located in each classroom. Every child must be left with a staff member who has acknowledged the presence of the child in the classroom.

Pick-Up
At the end of the school day, each child is to be signed out and escorted to the car by the adult picking up the child. No child is to be in the parking lot unaccompanied by an adult. Parents are responsible for their children during dismissal.

Philosophy on Discipline

Preschool students want to do well and please others. Little Graces Staff members will work hard to catch students "being good" and will incorporate positive reinforcement all day every day. Praise is a very effective way to direct students to appropriate behaviors. Staff will help students learn the skill of self-control by fostering self-esteem and providing role models. Some techniques might include:

• Fair and clear limits, both consistently and patiently enforced
• Redirection to more appropriate activities
• Encouragement to use words to express feelings and resolve conflicts peacefully
• Role playing/Practicing
• Modeling
• Offering choices
• Discussing "Good Choices" vs. "Poor Choices"

God's Little Helpers

Each month in Chapel, we will discuss a virtue such as "kindness", "compassion", "sharing". As students are caught exhibiting these virtues, their names will go into a special drawing. Several times a month, students' names will be drawn and they will be recognized as "God's Little Helpers." They will receive a certificate, a small treat to remind them of God's love, and their pictures will go up in our display on the entryway wall. Watch our "God's Little Helper" wall grow as our Little Graces shine their lights.

Snacks

Snacks will be provided by the school during snack time.

*Allergies: We will do our best to accommodate food allergies. It is the responsibility of the parents to inform the Preschool staff of their child's allergies. If a child suffers from a serious food allergy, we strongly recommend that the parents provide snacks for the child.

PEANUT FREE CLASSROOMS- if a classroom has a child with a peanut allergy, it will be designated as peanut free. Please do NOT pack any peanuts or products containing peanuts in your child's lunches if he/she is in a peanut free class. Thank you.

Toilet Training Policy

Little Graces prefers that all of our students be toilet trained before they begin school. We do accept 2½ year old children in our 2-day Enrichment Program who are not toilet trained with the stipulation that the diaper changes will be kept to a minimum. Should diaper changing become disruptive to the class, the child will be sent home at the school's discretion until the child has reached a more advanced level of toilet training acceptable to the teacher and the Director. The Preschool does NOT accept nor keep in school any child who has reached the age of 3½ and is not toilet trained. Children in our 3 Preschool Programs must be fully potty trained (no pull ups). Children in our 5-day Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten Programs must be potty trained and have independent toileting skills.

Absences

If your child will be absent due to illness or for any reason, please notify the Preschool before the school day begins. An answering machine will be available for you to leave your child's name, teacher, and reason for absence (this helps us with daily planning and the monitoring of school illnesses).

Weather-Related Closings

Little Graces follows the Fauquier County School system schedule.

If Fauquier County is one hour late, the Preschool will begin one hour late and end on time.

If Fauquier County is two hours late, the Preschool will open two hours late and 2 and 3 day classes will end at 1:00. Kindergarten classes will end at normally scheduled time.

If Fauquier County is three or more hours late or if Fauquier County Schools are closed, the Preschool will be closed. If Fauquier County closes early, please come and pick up your child as soon as possible, as roads can become dangerous rather quickly. The Director will remain at school until every child is picked up.