County Line United Methodist Church

1183 County Line Rd
Acworth, GA 30101
770-428-0511

Our Purpose

The purpose of County Line UMC Preschool & MMO (Mother's Morning Out) is to extend the ministry of the church by providing educational and developmental opportunities in a Christian atmosphere for every child enrolled and by providing a program of ministry and outreach to the families fo the children involved.

Policies & Procedures:

Arrival:
Our doors will open in the morning at 8:55 am and will remain open until 9:15 am. One of our staff members will greet your child every morning and assist him/her from the car and into the building (rain or shine). When loading and unloading, always place your car in PARK. If you arrive after 9:15 am, please park in the designated area and walk your child into the building and to his/her classroom. To ensure the safety of the children, doors will be locked from 9:15 am to 11:55 am.

The staff at CLUMC Preschool & MMO is sensitive to the well-being and safety of our children. We expect some "tears" during the first couple of days of carpool. Rest assured, every effort will be made to console the children and make their first days at County Line happy ones. It is much easier on everyone if you do not walk your child to his/her classroom door. Please use the carpool line. The teachers are prepared to greet the children as they arrive and introduce them to the daily activities and routines. Having to separate from parents at the classroom door can be very disruptive for everyone!

Request from teachers: We are very busy working with the children when they begin arriving each morning. As much as we would like to stop and visit with parents, we feel that this is unfair to the children. If you bring your child in, you may leave your child's teacher a note, but if you need to speak with a teacher, please see her after dismissal or you may email her. If you need to speak with a director, please wait until carpool has ended.

Dismissal:
Please make every effort to be punctual. The teachers plan very carefully for each day's activities and wish to start promptly. Late arrivals mean that an art or learning activity is missed. You will be given a "sign" with your child's name on it. This is your child's "dismissal sign". Please line up (see the carpool map for directions) and make sure that your child's sign is showing in your car window. Dismissal will begin at 12:00 for preschool and 1:00 for MMO. The staff will bring the children and help them into the car (rain or shine). It is your responsibility to buckle your child's seat belt. To keep the carpool line moving, please pull forward to the handicap parking spaces to buckle your child.

You may park in the designated area if you wish to walk in to pick up your child. You will need to show your child's dismissal sign to the staff member at the doorway and she will get your child for you.

We must have written permission or phone confirmation to send your child home with someone other than you - NO EXCEPTIONS. Please send a note with your child and give your child's dismissal sign to the person picking up your child. This is for your child's protection.

Attendance:
We encourage children to be in attendance every day that he/she has registered for school. However, if a child shows signs of illness, please keep her/him at home (please note the "Health" section of the handbook). If the absence is planned in advance, please send a note ahead of time. It is not necessary to call the school on the day that he/she is out. We do request that you call the school if the absence is due to a communicable disease so that we may notify the other parents.

Balloons:
Balloons cause the deaths of more children than any other toy, therefore, balloons are not allowed as decorations, and they cannot be distributed to the children. Please understand that we are putting your child’s safety first. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Birthdays:
You are welcome to provide a special snack on or near your child’s birthday. If your child has a summer birthday, you may discuss with your child's teacher a special day to celebrate with classmates. Please remember that this is a special snack and NOT YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY - NO BALLOONS! We will try to schedule your turn for snacks to coincide with your child's birthday. Please check with your child’s teacher before bringing a birthday treat. We will distribute birthday invitations if there is one for each child in the class. If there is not, you will need to mail them. Goodie bags and gifts that were not given at the party need to be given to the parent directly and not sent to school.

Clothing:
We recommend that children wear play clothes that are practical, comfortable, washable and easy for the child to take on and off. Tennis shoes are the best choice for preschool feet because of the mulch, dangers of slipping on the playground, and little toes can be stepped on accidentally.

Any piece of clothing that your child may take off at school (sweaters, coats, hats, gloves, coats, etc) should be clearly marked with your child's name. Also, please make sure his/her name is n the lunchbox.

Discipline:
We use positive discipline in our program. We try to concentrate on the positive by telling hte child what we want them to do rather than what not to do. We structure the classroom, the daily schedule, and activities in such a way as to prevent problems from occurring. However, when discipline becomes necessary we follow the steps below:

1- We gently remind the child of acceptable behavior.
2- We will redirect the child to another toy or area in the room.
3- If the inappropriate behavior continues, we will remove the child from the situation or the group within the classroom. The "time out" will last as many minutes as the child's age. This time allows the child to exercise self-control and regroup. The parent will be notified if the child repeatedly exhibits inappropriate behavior.
4- If this "time out" is not effective or if the child is extremely disruptive or dangerous to the other children or adults in the room, the child will be removed from the classroom and taken to the director's office. If the child has to be removed from the room for more than a short time or for repeated incidents of the same behavior, the parents will be called.

Emergency Procedures:
We will conduct a monthly fire drill or tornado drill. In case of an actual emergency, we will contact the emergency contact person for each class. They will then call each parent in the class with the information and the procedure for picking up the children. Please make sure that we have your current emergency phone number and that your cell phone is turned on when your child is at school!

Faculty:
Every member of our staff is a Christian who is committed to teaching your child in a loving and nurturing manner. Continuing education workshops are attended annually so that they may be better informed of current trends and better teach your child. All teachers and aides are certified in CPR and First Aid. All staff members of County Line UMC are required to have a GBI background check, yearly health check-ups and TB screening.

Food & Gum:
The only food sent to school should be a snack and your child's lunch. Children should not come to school in the morning with food in their hands or gum in their mouths.

Fund Raising:
Our fund raising committee sponsors fundraisers to help maintain a high quality program at an affordable price for the parents. This money helps us to buy materials, furniture and other items that are not in the budget. You are not expected to participate in any fundraising activities you do not choose to join. If you would like to be on the committee, please contact a director by September 1st.

Health:
We follow hygienic practices in our program including regular hand washing, use of disposable gloves when changing diapers and exposure to body fluids, and disinfecting tables used as eating areas and toys. We also encourage children to use and dispose of Kleenex properly and to wash their hands afterwards. We encourage you to make washing hands the routine at home as well.

We ask your cooperation in keeping your child at home whenever he/she is sick. We will contact you to come and pick up your child if he/she becomes sick while at school. Health conditions that may represent a contagious disease are:
-- Fever within the last 24 hours
-- Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
-- Rash of unknown origin
-- Cold symptoms -- yellow or green running nose, frequent cough, etc

Any child exhibiting the above symptoms should not be with other children until the symptoms are not present for 24 hours.

If your child is diagnosed with a contagious disease, please notify the office immediately so that we may contact the other parents. Any child who has had a communicable disease or condition may return to school only after the following procedures have been met:
--Strep Throat Must be on antibiotic for 24 hours
--Conjunctivitis Must be on medication for 24 hours
--Chicken Pox All spots must be dry
--Ringworm, Impetigo Notes from doctor
--Head Lice, Scabies Proof of treatment is required and no nits in hair
--Whooping Cough After 2 weeks & with note from doctor
--Scarlet Fever Note from doctor
--Infectious Hepatitis Note from doctor. Children in families with this disease
need a Gamma Globulin shot to protect against it
--Meningitis Note from doctor
--Measles, Mumps, Rubella Return after 7 days & note from doctor
--Tuberculosis Return 14 days after treatment & note from doctor

We will give no medication at school. It is best that a sick child who needs medication during school hours to be kept at home. The exceptions to this rule are Epi pens for allergic reactions and asthma inhalers. Please do not leave medications in your child's school bag. It could be given directly to your child's teacher in the original pharmacy container with the exact instructions from the doctor and a medicine form filled out. If your child has an allergy of any kind, please see that we have written information explaining what offends him/her and what his/her reactions are. We will try to keep your child as comfortable as possible.

If your child is not well enough to go outside on the playground, he/she is not well enough to come to school. Please do not ask the teacher to allow your child to remain inside during this time. We do not have the staff to stay inside with one child.

Your child's health form and immunization form (#3231) must be kept up-to-date and on file in the office. The Georgia Health Department requires this form. If we do not have it within 30 days of enrollment, your child cannot remain in the program.

If your child has a minor accident at school, the staff will administer first aid and you will receive a note from the teacher (a "Boo Boo Report"). If medical attention is required, the staff will call the local ambulance service, which will transport the child to the local hospital. Every effort will be made to contact the child's own physician. You will be notified as quickly as possible.

Please inform your child's teacher of any illnesses or injuries that happened on the weekend.||please do not bring sick siblings into the classroom of a child that you are bringing to school. This spreads germs to the children in that room.

Items Brought to School:
We welcome books, tapes, and CDs (clearly labeled with your child's name), flowers, shells, insects (in plastic jars), and assorted treasures from nature. Small animals brought into the building must be in a carrier. Large animals must stay outside and on a leash. A parent must stay with the animal at all times. Please arrange a time with your child's teacher before bringing live animals to school.

We do not allow any poisonous plants in the classrooms (please check with your teacher - she has a list in the classroom).

Toys and stuffed animals should be left at home, except on days designated by the teacher as "show and tell" days. Please do not send anything that is a weapon (toy or real) at any time.

Lunches:
We ask that you send food that your child can eat independently. Please do not send foods that are a choking hazard: (hot dogs (unless cut into length-wise strips), whole grapes (unless quartered), hard candy, gum or nuts. Such items will be returned home in your child's lunch box with a note reminding you not to send it again. Please do not send any glass containers to school. Send any spoons or other utensils that your child will need to eat his/her food as well as a cold pack if it needs refrigeration. You also have he option to purchase a lunch from school on Tuesdays & Fridays. The cost is $2.50 per lunch if prepaid, otherwise it is $3.00.

Messages:
Please send all messages to the school in writing. Verbal messages are not dependable. Please let us know if you will be picking up your child early so that we can have your child ready. Please remember that the teachers are in their classrooms until the end of school and cannot answer the phone unless it is an emergency. You can leave a message in the office and the teacher will call you as soon as possible.

Please notify us in writing of any home, work, and cell phone number (or address) changes.

Parent Communication:
We will do our best to keep you informed of the activities of the program and the progress of your child. It is very helpful if you read this handbook and the other items that we send home. We will communicate through a monthly letter from teachers, monthly class calendars, progress reports and daily reports from the teachers. Of course there will always be casual conversation and phone calls and additional conferences when needed.

Parent Conferences & Progress Reports:
Please feel free to contact your child's teacher or the director anytime a question may arise. Parents of three and four year olds will receive a detailed progress report in April. Parent/teacher conferences for the four year olds (who will be attending kindergarten in the fall) will also be held in April. School will be open during conferences. Either the parent or the teacher of any child may request a conference any time there is a special concern.

Parent Involvement:
The staff and parents working together play a vital role in the growth of our young children. We value your time and talents in your child's classroom and appreciate any question or insight you may offer. You will have several opportunities to sign up to volunteer at Orientation and Open House or you can let us know when and where you would like to help. We need Room Parents, craft helpers, a fund raising committee, book fair volunteers and substitutes.

Parental Support:
-Make sure that you child has adequate rest.
-Make sure that you child has a nutritious breakfast. Proper nourishment is essential for children to do their best.
-Wake your child early enough so he/she is not rushed. Strive to maintain a pleasant emotional atmosphere in the mornings and on the way to school.
-Make sure that your child has an opportunity to use the restroom BEFORE arriving to school.
-Inform your child's teacher of any unusual situation or stress at home that may affect your child.
-A child that is not well enough to play outside is not well enough to be at school.
Encourage responsibility and accountability. Praise your child when he or she puts away play things; keeps up with his or her own things; puts on/takes off his or her own coat; respects other children and adults and their property; remembers his or her manners ("please" and "thank you"); and follows directions promptly.
-Teach your child to be revrant at prayer time.

Parents are requested not to bring siblings of students on special days unless absolutely neccessary. If possible, this time should be set aside to give your preschool child your undivided attention and the place of importance he/she needs. Please make prior arrangements if you would like to help in the classroom. Also, please remain sensitive to the separation anxiety of your child when you come in for a while and then leave. Some children handle this situation better than others. Younger children have a more difficult time having to separate from parents more than once during the day, especially at the beginning of the year. The teacher will let you know if she thinks your child and the class can handle it.

Potty Training Policy:
All children in the three and four year old classes must be fully potty trained at the beginning of the school year to attend class. Each child should be wearing underwear, not pull-ups or diapers, at school.

For the purpose of clarification, our definition of fully potty trained is:
-The child recognizes when he/she needs to go to the restroom
-The child verbally informs an adult of the need to go to the restroom.
-The child enters the restroom on his/her own.
-The child manipulates his/her clothing off and on with little or no assistance.
-The child sits on or stands at the commode and handles own cleaning needs.
-The child washes his/her hands and rejoins the class.

Reason a Child will be Sent Home for the Day:
-A child who has been crying nonstop for an hour or more.
-A child who is sick.
-A child whose behavior is harmful to the children or teacher, or is extremely disruptive to the class.

Reasons for Dismissal from the Program:
-Non-payment of fees - any account as much as 30 days post-due will make the child subject to suspension until payment is received.
-Extremely disruptive, destructive, or dangerous behavior of a child in the classroom.

Rest assured that every effort will be made to work with parents and child before dismissal.

Registration:
Each child must be the age of the class on or before September 1st to be admitted into the class. No exceptions will be made. Enrollment is limited to ensure a low student/teacher ratio and provide the best program possible for each child.

School Bags:
County Line UMC Preschool & MMO provides all of the supplies that your child will need, including a tote bag. Please do not allow your child to bring a backpack. Our storage space is very limited and the teachers strongly request the use of only the tote bags.

Snacks:
MMO: Each child needs to bring their own snack each day. Water will be provided. Please no drinks.
Preschool: We ask parents of children in the preschool program to provide healthy snacks for one week at a time for your child's class. Your week to provide snacks will be listed on the monthly calendar that your child's teacher will send home. You will receive a reminder note the week before your turn. We ask that you send an identical snack (same flavor, etc) for each child as well as the necessary cups, napkins & utensils. We serve water at snack time so there is no need to send any drinks. Your child's teacher will provide a list of snacks appropriate for your child's age group. Please remember to send in snacks that are ready to serve and easy to clean up. Also, please send in enough food for the children in the class plus 2 staff members.

Stay-N-Play: (Preschool only)
We will offer an optional Stay-N-Play on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays for all preschool classes. It is an opportunity for your child to stay at school an extra hour until 1:00 to eat his/her lunch and play.

The cost of the program is $4.00 a day, of you sign up at the beginning of the month - with your child's tuition. A sign-up sheet will be included in your tuition payment envelope so you can choose the days that you would like your child to stay. The money is due at the same time as tuition and can be included in the same check. There will be no refunds for missed days. If you would like your child to stay on a day that you have not made a reservation, please call the preschool office to see if there is an opening in the class. We will have staff available based on the number of children registered at the beginning of the month. There will be a charge of $5.00 a day for those who have not made an advance reservation.

Because County Line UMC Preschool & MMO falls under the Georgia state "exempt status for churches and preschools", we are not licensed. Therefore, we cannot legally operate more than four hours per day. Complete understanding and cooperation in this are is required & fully expected.

Tuition Payment:
Tuition is calculated on the number of weeks in our school year and then evenly divided into monthly payments. Prorating for illness, holidays, bad weather or moving is not a policy. Tuition is due on the 15th of the month. If it is not paid by the 20th a late fee of $10 will be assessed for tuition paid after this date. A $25.00 service charge will be applied to all returned checks. If a check is returned twice, you will be asked to pay future tuition on a cash basis only.

Each child will have an envelope with his/her name on it that will be sent home the week before tuition is due. Please put your check in the envelope and return it to school in your child's school bag.

Please notify the director immediately if there is a need to make a late payment.
Please see the Registration/Tuition page of the website for registration and tuition amounts.

Visitors:
Visitors are always welcome at our school. Out of courtesy, please check first with the director before entering a classroom. Please be sensitive to the teacher's need to devote her time and attention to her class while you are visiting. Conversations about your child should take place on the telephone or at a prearranged conference rather than in front of your child.


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