Below are a list of topics related to our Preschool. Please feel free to choose your topic of interest:
Philosophy
Chestnut Grove Preschool is a Baptist preschool that provides a moral, loving, supportive environment for children. God has created each child with differing physical, mental, social and emotional needs. As a Christian preschool we are here to help your child to develop in each of these areas with a caring, well-educated staff. In order to facilitate the growth of your child, our staff will provide creative, stimulating, and entertaining activities. By following the examples of Jesus Christ, we will love support, and care for the children he has created.
Program
The program covers all areas of learning. Through play and circle teaching time, your child will be exposed to the bible, science, math, language development, music, art and social studies. Play is a child's work and the way that they best learn at this age. Your child will have the opportunity to learn about their family, community and world through stories, field trips, and meeting those in our community i.e. dentists and doctors. Simple experiments will provide your child with tactile experiences, and provide an avenue for individual expression. Math and language development will be incorporated daily with songs of faith and songs of fun. Bible instuction will teach your child of the wonderful stories and lives that fill its pages.
Registration, Admission and Withdrawal
Registration for Chestnut Grove Baptist Church members and current students runs from January 1st through January 31st. On February1, registration begins for siblings of current students, then siblings of previous students, and then to the general public on a first come first serve basis. Consideration may be given to gender in each class if proportions are uneven.
The Director will keep a waiting list for interested families. Please contact us if you are interested. You are not guaranteed a place until you registration form and fees have been collected.
There is a non-refundable registration fee of $50. In addition, at registration we require a deposit of 1 month's tuition. This is non-refundable, but will be applied towards your child's first month of tuition.
To enroll in the 3-year-old program, a child must be 3 by September 30th and be toilet trained. To enroll in the 4-year-old program a child must be 4 by September 30th. Any exceptions must be approved by the Preschool Committee.
To withdraw from the program a written note must be given to the director two weeks in advance. A telephone call will not substitute for a written notice. If you are unable to provide a two weeks written notice, that month's tuition will be required unless the student's slot can be filled.
3-Year Old Orientation
We want our children in the 3-year-old program to have a positive and happy transition to school. You will find we orient your child at a pace that he/she can integrate new friends and places. For the first few days of school the class will be divided in half so that the teacher can have more one on one time with each child. You will receive details of this orientation process in you August newsletter.
Tuition
Tuition is due the first of each month. Checks can be placed in the check box provided. They should be made payable to Chestnut Grove Preschool. These funds provide for our teachers' salaries, supplies and equipment. There will be times when your child will not attend school due to illness, weather or holidays. Tuition is still required during these times. There is a $20 late fee for tuition paid after the 10th of each month.
The tuition rate for 2005-2006 is as follows:
There is an optional Friday Fun Day for the 3-year-olds. This is an elective day for your 3-year-old to come enjoy the company of his/her friends. We play more games and activities on this day. The rate is the same as the 3-day program listed above.
We follow the Albemarle County School calendar, with a few exceptions. Our school year begins on the first Tuesday after Labor Day in September. We are closed on Good Friday, even if the Albemarle County Schools are open. Our Preschool Graduation is on the Thursday before Memorial Day in May. When school decisions need to be made due to weather, we follow the Albemarle school system. When school is delayed 1 hour, we will be delayed 1 hour. If the Albemarle school system is delayed 2 hours, we will be closed for that day.
Arrival and Departure
Classes will begin at 9:00 am and will dismiss at 12:20 pm. We ask that you try to arrive on time so that the program can run smoothly without interruption. We do ask that your child be picked up on time.
If your child is to be picked up by anyone other than his/her parents or guardian, we ask that you inform the teacher that morning at drop off. If an emergency arises and you will be delayed or someone else will have to pick up your child please call the preschool to inform us.
Schedule
Field Trips
We will have several field trips related to our themes throughout the year. We try to keep them as close to the school as possible. The children are required to use a child restraint as required by Virginia State Law. The parent is required to secure the child restraint in the vehicle on the day of the field trip. We may take the church van, or ride with parents. If the child restraint is not available, the child will not be able to leave the preshcool. All emergency forms and information are carried on all field trips, along with a first aid kit.
Lunch and Snack
The preschool does not provide lunches but we ask that your child bring a lunch each day. Lunch is between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm. Parents are welcome to join us too!
Your child will be provided a snack each morning. This will usually consist of crackers, pretzels and other finger snacks. We usually have apple juice to drink. Please let us know on your application if your child is allergic to any food substances. We invite you to provide treats on your child's birthday. If your child has a summer birthday, and you would like to celebrate in May, please let your child's teacher know.
Health Issues
When a child has a fever or is visibly sick, they should not come to school. If the child begins to feel bad while at preschool, the teacher will contact the parent immediately to pick the child up.
If a child comes to school with a contagious illness, we should notify the other parents as soon as possible. The child must be kept in a separate room from the other children under the state guidelines until a parent can pick them up from school. A letter will be sent home with each student in the event of any contagious illness (lice, chicken pox, etc.).
Teachers or Chestnut Grove Preschool staff will not dispense medicine. If medicine is required to be taken during preschool hours, the parent must come to the school to give it to their child. The only exception is in the case of asthma or other life threatening illness that is required in an emergency. If this is necessary, the doctor must sign a note, and specific instructions must be given to the teacher.
Conferences
A conference is scheduled each year in April/May to discuss the progress of your child. A conference can be set up at any other time during the year by contacting your child's teacher. Conferences will be held before school or after school on specific days. There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the school bulletin board prior to that time.
Communication
One of the important components of any educational program is open communication between parents and staff. Each day you will have the opportunity to communicate to your child's teacher as you bring and pick up your child from the program. We recognize that this short period is often not sufficient enough for extensive conversations. You are welcome to call your child's teacher at home until 9:00 pm, or to request a conference. There is also a message slot for each teacher where written correspondence can be placed.
A newsletter and calendar will be sent home each month to help keep you up to date with what exciting things we are doing.
In January, your child's teacher will have a progress report to communicate how well your child is doing in preschool.
A survey will be sent out each year where you are welcome to provide comments about the program. This provides the preschool committee with vital information, since we are not involved in the every day activities of the preschool. Please feel free to contact us at any time with any questions or concerns you may have. We treasure your children and want to provide the best possible preschool experience! We want to thank you for choosing Chestnut Grove Preschool. The Preschool Committee is continually making decisions to enhance our preschool program at Chestnut Grove. If you ever have any concerns regarding the program or its staff please contact our chairperson.
Discipline
Discipline is always approached in a loving, positive manner. The staff will voice to the child the desired behavior rather than denounce the negative behavior the child is demonstrating. For example, if your child is yelling school he/she will be asked to use their inside voice, rather than "stop that loud talking". If we feel a behavior warrants further actionwe will use a short time out. This will be done without embarrassment or humiliation. The guideline we use at the school is one minute of time our for the age of the child. When you come to pick up your child if we fell it is necessary, we will inform you of any incident.
State Required Information
Our staff must meet specific qualifications and experience. Each of our teachers has a degree in early childhood education or a closely related field. They must also have at least a year of experience to be considered for a position as a teacher.
The school is located in Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. The church has approximately 9,000 sq. ft. We occupy 700 sq. ft. in 2 rooms that we use for the school. The 3-year-olds occupy one room and the 4-year-olds the other. We have access to the kitchen and fellowship hall, which we use occasionally. We have a fenced playground that provides many experiences for large motor development.
We have a limited capacity of 20 children stipulated by our license. We will not provide prepared food, but we do provide a time for lunch. Each child is to bring a boxed lunch for this period. We are required by the state to certify that our teachers are free from a disability that prevents them for caring for your child. Chestnut Grove Preschool is covered by public liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000.00.
