View - Hudsonville Christian Schools

Preschool Handbook
For Parents
2013-2014
Elementary School
Middle School
3435 Oak Street 3925 VanBuren
Hudsonville, MI 49426 Hudsonville, MI 49426
616-669-6689 616-669-7487
1

HUDSONVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Challenging minds and lives for Christ
Our Core Values
Hudsonville Christian School…
• pursues academic excellence and achieves state standards.
• establishes and upholds a biblically-based curriculum.
• teaches from a Reformed, Christian perspective, intentionally integrating faith and learning.
• welcomes God’s children of varying abilities and backgrounds, celebrating their uniqueness.
• challenges each student to develop his/her God-given gifts to the best of his/her ability.
• nurtures the whole child as an intellectual, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual being who bears
the image of God.
• provides a safe and caring community in which to learn.
• partners with parents and churches to encourage students in their faith and learning.
• equips God’s children to serve Christ in our global and diverse society.
• assists students in discovering their place in God’s Kingdom so they can be a witness to the world.
PHILOSOPHY
Hudsonville Christian School exists because parents desire to have their children taught from a
Christian perspective and learn a Christian worldview. What does this mean? Here are some thoughts
we need to be aware of:
1. Christian education arises out of faith commitment. Everything in this world and everything
we learn about belongs to God. This we believe.
2. In all of our teaching, we give recognition to our Creator for the gift of life, the gift of His
creation, the gift of knowledge, the gift of His Word, and the privilege of being His people
in this world. We must remember that all truth is God, and all knowledge is a window to
God.
3. Christian education addresses the mind and the spirit. We must maintain high standards
and desire to teach our children well. Academic content in the Christian school is the
springboard to teaching our children about spiritual matters and talking with them about
their relationship with their Lord.
4. Christian education must be faithful to God’s Word and honor Jesus Christ. In a Christian
school this can be done in all areas of learning. Our Christian school classrooms are
training grounds for building the peaceable Kingdom. Humility, patience, bearing with one
another, speaking the truth in love, and the other fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22ff.) are
taught and practiced in everyday school life.
While we are supportive of public education, in a Christian school we can give glory to God! Honoring
the Lordship of Jesus Christ and integrating faith and learning is not an easy task. It requires Christian
educators to take careful thought, to plan carefully, and to use every opportunity in the classroom to
teach God’s Word, and to praise Him for His creation and His saving love.
2

PURPOSE
The children at Hudsonville Christian School are taught that God loves and cares for them and His
world. The purpose of our preschool is to provide a stimulating and enriching experience for each
child in preparation for later academic learning. The program will nurture the social, emotional,
physical, spiritual and intellectual growth of the pre-school child. This will be provided in a secure and
loving environment.
Hudsonville Christian Preschool is licensed by the Child Day Care Licensing Division of the
Department of Consumer and Industry Services of the State of Michigan and is under the authority of
the Hudsonville Christian School Board.
STAFF SCREENING
Staff members at Hudsonville Christian School are chosen because they love children and are devoted
to Christian education. Staff feels it is an honor to be chosen for a child’s first school experience and
enjoy teaching young children. The following is our hiring process and our qualifications:
1. The candidates for preschool teachers are screened by the Administrative Principal, Dan
Pott.
2. References and work history of previous employment are checked.
3. Preschool teachers are certified through the State of Michigan.
4. The teachers are certified in CPR and first aid.
5. Teachers profess their commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and are determined
to honor that commitment in the loving way they treat children.
6. Preschool paraprofessionals who work with the teachers are hired by the Administration
and work closely with the teachers to ensure that the classroom runs smoothly.
7. Preschool teachers and paraprofessionals are screened by the State Police, including a
criminal background check.
8. In addition, the Family Independent Agency of the State of Michigan checks for a history of
substantiated abuse and neglect.
STAFF TRAINING
Hudsonville Christian School will provide staff training for the preschool teachers in conjunction with
our K-8 Professional Policy. Teachers need to earn 25 points within four (4) years. Courses and
workshops that are chosen must be in the area of preschool education so that they can learn and grow
within their field. Course work that is taken must be approved by the administration and teachers are
reimbursed up to $150.00 each year to earn these 25 points of professional advancement. Since not all
of our professional advancement or in-service work applies to preschool teachers, we are encouraging
them to find outside resources for training in this area of preschool so that their earning of 25 points
will be specifically dealing with preschool education. Hudsonville Christian requires that their
preschool teachers attend at least one preschool workshop or conference each year.
3

SNACK POLICY
As a licensed preschool we are required by the state to serve only nutritionally valuable food.
Developing healthy eating habits is also one of our goals for your child’s preschool experience.
Nutritious snacks and milk or water will be provided by the school.
Parents will provide the snacks for the children by special arrangement. We will be preparing some of
our own snacks and will contact you ahead of time for specific items to bring when needed. If your
child has a food allergy, please notify your child’s teacher in writing.
The snacks provided should be nutritious with as little added sugar as possible.
SHOES
Hudsonville Christian School asks students in grades K-5 to have two pairs of shoes, one pair for inside
use and one pair for outside use. The extra pair of shoes is not necessary for preschool students.
POLICY OF ADMISSION
1. Parents who wish to have their child taught from a Christian point of view are welcome to enroll at
Hudsonville Christian Preschool.
2. Preschool students must have had their 4 th birthday before they begin preschool.
3. Parents have to be willing to support the program and the staff.
4. Their children are required to have the following:
a. A physical by a doctor prior to enrollment.
b. A birth certificate issued from the state in which they were born.
c. They need to have an immunization record for their child.
d. They need to have completed the Child Information Record Card.
5. Parents agree to pay the tuition on a monthly basis.
6. Parents sign the enrollment form that includes these two statements:
a. I understand that Hudsonville Christian School provides a preschool program taught from a
Christian perspective.
b. We promise to pay our tuition as stated in the financial statements on the enrollment form.
4

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
It is the intent of Hudsonville Christian Preschool to treat each child as a child of God. We will do our
very best to include them in our preschool program. However, if this does not seem like the best
placement for your son or daughter, we reserve the right to withdraw your child from the program
following a conference with the parents. Some of the possible conditions would be the following:
1. The child is not adequately toilet trained.
2. The child creates an unsafe situation for other children in the classroom.
3. As a preschool we are unable to meet your child’s needs, and after the teacher has consulted with
the administrator, we recommend withdrawing from the program.
4. Failure to meet the monthly payment schedule.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
It is our goal that the attitude of the classroom will promote love and respect for one another. Positive
methods of discipline, which encourage the child’s own self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and
cooperation, will be emphasized. Rules are communicated in a positive way, as things to do out of
consideration for others. We attempt to encourage the children to feel the desire within them to
make a proper choice.
Children who are making poor behavioral choices will be asked to stop and offered alternatives.
Diversion works well for the preschool age child. If the behavior continues, a consequence will be
stated to the child.
With aggressive or persistent behaviors a child will be removed from the others for a quiet talk and
time out. If the problem persists, the teacher will arrange a conference with the child’s parents. Our
staff will not use any form of physical or corporal punishment, deprive children of snacks, or use
methods that frighten, shame or humiliate students.
HAND WASHING POLICY
Children will be taught proper hand washing techniques. They will be reminded to wash their hands
after using the bathroom, and supervised when washing before eating or preparing food.
Staff members will wash their hands frequently throughout the day to help prevent the spread of germs
or infection. These times include before and after eating or food preparation, after using the restroom,
after assisting any child in the bathroom, after helping children with tissues or any contact with body
fluids.
5

TOILETING POLICY
Children enrolled in Hudsonville Christian Preschool must be toilet trained and independent in the
bathroom. Preschool staff does not assist children with personal hygiene in the bathroom. In case of
an accident, the preschool staff will assist the child with dry clothes and will notify the parents. An
adult will never be alone in the bathroom with a child with the door closed.
NON-VIOLENCE POLICY
We have all seen stories in the news involving violence and young children. Preschool children are just
beginning to distinguish between what is real and what is pretend. It is not too early to talk to your
preschool age child about guns, both real and pretend.
Often times, young children mimic what they see on television. Because of this we have a no weapons
policy at preschool. Toy guns and weapons are not permitted in the classroom. Any building of
weapons from blocks or Lego’s will be discouraged.
ACADEMIC SKILLS
Through a variety of learning activities the preschoolers will be exposed to (but not expected to
master!) the following:
• Letters of the alphabet
• Counting to 30
• Numerals 0 to 10
• Writing his/her name
• Colors
• Shapes
LETTERS AND NUMBERS
In preschool, the children will be introduced to the sounds and symbols of the alphabet. Each month
they will be exposed to 1-4 letters. Letters will be introduced, not necessarily in alphabetical order.
Preschool children are expected to progress in learning all letter names, sounds and formation. By the
end of the preschool year, most children are able to identify 8-10 letters (usually those in their name
plus a few more).
Although mastery of letters is not required at this age level, preschool children often become
interested in letters and ask parents for help writing them. The chart on the following page can be a
helpful tool in helping your child form letters. The arrows indicate the direction and sequence of the
strokes that form the letters. Letters are always formed beginning at the top of the letter.
Sometimes children come to preschool already writing their name. Often, they have been practicing
their name in all upper case letters. At preschool, children practice writing their name the “school
way”, meaning they start their name with an upper case letter and follow it with lower case.
Children will also be exposed to numerals. They are also included on the next page for your reference.
6

We believe it is important for children to have plenty of opportunity to experiment with pencil,
crayons, paper, cutting, gluing, etc. Your goal should be to make these tools available at home so that
your child is comfortable and familiar with a variety of art and writing media. To prepare your child,
please practice writing their name using the Manuscript Letter Formation as shown above. Be sure to
teach the format of initial capital letter followed by lower case (small) letters, e.g., John not JOHN.
7

FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are exciting to preschoolers and exhausting to parents, however, preschoolers learn a great
deal about the world around them – where their food comes from, what adults do at work, and the
wonders of nature. Field trips encourage the children to investigate, ask questions, and enjoy the
experience.
We will be asking for parent volunteers to drive for field trips. Field trip drivers must follow these
guidelines:
1. Vehicle Requirements:
a. Good operating condition – tires, brakes, horn, lights, wipers, etc.
b. No loose, heavy objects in passenger area.
c. Seats facing forward.
d. Safety belts in good operating condition – one (1) for driver and each passenger.
e. Children and adults occupy designated seating positions – capacity in car in accordance with
manufacturer’s rated seating capacity.
f. No children in front seat positions. Children must ride in back seats only.
g. Have a first aid kit provided by the preschool.
2. Driver Requirements:
a. Valid driver’s license.
b. No more than six (6) active points on driving record.
c. Provided with a list of children in vehicle and names/phone numbers of parents and/or
guardians.
d. Be familiar with first aid kit, and will be required to carry a first aid kit.
3. Children should enter and leave from curbside.
4. Children may not be left unattended.
5. Children need to be helped in and out of the vehicle and assisted with seatbelts. Effective July 1,
2008, each child must be in a child safety seat or booster seat.
6. Each driver must have a certificate of no fault insurance in possession
7. Field trips are planed so children are not in transit longer than one (1) continuous hour.
8. Siblings are not permitted to come along on field trips.
9. Parent(s) signature approving of field trips is required and is obtained at the beginning of
the school year.
8

SCHEDULE FOR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSIAL
Preschool classes for 4 year olds will be two-day sessions (M-W a.m., M-W p.m., T-Th a.m., T-Th p.m.)
or three-day sessions (M-W-F a.m., M-W-F p.m., T-Th-F a.m., T-Th-F p.m.). The morning preschool
sessions will meet from 8:35 to 11:00 a.m. The afternoon preschool sessions will meet from 12:00
noon to 2:25 p.m.
Preschool begins the first full week of school in September and will end by Memorial Day. The
preschool will follow a schedule that is similar to the schedule of Hudsonville Christian School.
Children should arrive no more than five minutes before the session begins. This is to allow the
teachers to prepare the classroom and needed materials and speak to their aide before the session
begins.
Please see that your child is in the building and that an adult is aware of his/her presence before you
leave. At dismissal, your child will remain inside the building until he/she is dismissed by the teacher to
his/her parent or car pool.
Children may be released to parents or designated guardian only. For your protection, your child will
only be released to the persons whose names appear on the child release card. If there is any change in
persons authorized to pick up your child, you must send a written note.
DROP OFF AND PICK UP POLICY
Drop off and pick up times are very busy times at preschool. Our primary concern is for the safety of
your children. Because of this, we ask that you follow these guidelines for dropping your children off
and picking them up:
Park on Oak Street facing west or on the west side of the elementary building. Cars must be
moved from the west side of the building before 2:30 p.m. when busses begin to arrive. Parking
is also available at the Reformed Church parking lot. Make sure your car is not left running.
Please walk with your child and hold hands while crossing the street.
Regardless of where you park, children should always be escorted to and from the classroom by the
parent or person responsible for picking up and dropping off the child. We appreciate your
cooperation in providing for the safety of the children of our program.
If you will be bringing your preschooler to school at the same time with older HCS students, you are
responsible to supervise your preschooler until 5 minutes before his/her session begins.
The preschool is not responsible for carpools established among parents. Please inform the teacher in
writing of carpool arrangements with other children to assist with dismissal time.
COMMUNICATING WITH TEACHERS
For the good of our students at Hudsonville Christian, we place a very high priority on Parent/Teacher
communication. We have just informed you of some fairly strict regulations regarding drop-off and
pick-up, which precludes the opportunity for chatting with the teacher for more than a minute or two
at those particular times of the day. We encourage you to set an appropriate time with the teacher
whenever you find it necessary to discuss some aspect of your child’s’ life at home or school.
Alternatively, our teachers all welcome phone calls at home.
9

ILLNESS
If your child shows any symptoms of illness or is running a fever, please keep him/her home. This is for
the benefit of our entire school. A child should stay home 24 hours after the fever or illness has
subsided. Please call the ChildWatch line if your child will be absent. The number is 669-
7485.
Inform the teacher if your child develops a communicable disease such as chicken pox, pink eye, head
lice, scarlet fever, strep throat, etc. If your child should need to take medication during preschool, it
can be given only with prior written permission from the parent. Contact the teacher for a special
Medication Information Sheet if this is necessary.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
We are required by law to have your child’s physical form on file by the first day of school. You have
received a health form (green sheet), which should be filled out and signed by your physician and
returned to school by the first day of school. It is extremely important that we have your child’s
immunization record on file. Please do not put off having this form completed by your child’s doctor or
the health department. We must have this sheet in our files before your child will be allowed to
participate in class. You will also receive an emergency information sheet, which must be filled out and
returned for our files. It is extremely important that these sheets are kept current, so please notify us
of any changes. Health forms will be returned to you at the end of the school year or can be retained
for kindergarten.
SCHOOL CANCELLATION/DISMISSAL
If school is cancelled because of heavy snow or other weather conditions, announcements will be made
over the following Grand Rapids radio and TV stations. Please do not call school at these times unless
absolutely necessary:
RADIO STATIONS
WBCT FM 93.7
WCSG FM 91.3
WCUZ FM 101.3 AM 1230
WGNB FM 89.3
WGRD FM 97.9
WGVU FM 88.5 AM 1480
WJQK FM 99.3 AM 1260
WKLQ FM 94.5
WLAV FM 96.9
WLHT FM 95.7
WMUS FM 106.9
WODJ FM 107.3
WOOD FM 105.7 AM 1300
TELEVISION STATIONS
WOOD CHANNEL 8
WGVU,WGVK CHANNELS 35 AND 52
WXMI CHANNEL 17
WZZM CHANNEL 13
10

SEVERE SPRING WEATHER POLICY
TORNADO WATCH: Students will remain in school until normal dismissal time. The school will
monitor conditions closely.
TORNADO WARNING: Students will not be dismissed during a tornado warning, but will remain in
designated take-cover areas until the warning is lifted. If the warning is lifted during school hours,
students will be dismissed at their normal time and transported home.
DO’S and DON’TS: You may pick up your children during a tornado watch, but inform the school
office first. You should not pick up your children during a tornado warning. Everyone must take cover
properly as soon as a warning issued. Don’t pick up other children unless authorized. Be sure the
office is informed if you have permission to do so. Call school ONLY if an emergency exists.
Goals for Spiritual Development of Preschoolers
Hudsonville Christian School
1. To help children know they belong to God and are secure in His love and care.
• Students will learn about God through stories of Jesus and Bible characters.
• Students will grow in understanding of who God is: Jesus the Savior, God the Father and
Creator, and God the Holy Spirit, who helps us to live in Christ.
• Students will develop dependence on and trust in God.
• Students will grow in awareness of their place in a community of believers.
• Students will be taught that all of life is connected and has a divine purpose. They will observe
simple signs of God in nature and in human life.
2. To help children experience awe and wonder about God and His work.
• Students will be presented with opportunities to wonder together about Creation and God’s
plan for His people.
• Students will be encouraged to talk about their faith. Preschool teachers will actively listen to
students and affirm them in their stages of faith development.
3. To help children respond to God in attitudes and actions.
• Students will delight in God’s love shown in our lives and our stories.
• Students will reflect together about how Bible stories teach us about God.
• Students will participate in simple prayers and praise singing with classmates.
• Daily classroom rituals will nurture students to develop the spiritual gifts of love, trust,
thankfulness, wonder, obedience, and praise.
Students will look for ways to be Christ-like, e.g. helping someone who is feeling sad, taking care of our
world and surroundings, etc.
11

HUDSONVILLE CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL
I have read the information in the Hudsonville Christian Preschool Handbook and I understand the
rules and guidelines for the Hudsonville Christian Preschool. I agree to support the preschool
program, the teachers, and I agree to pay the fees that I agreed to at the time of admission.
Superintendent
__________________________________________
Parent or Guardian
____________
Date
Child’s name:_________________________________________
12