Information for Parents to read before Registrating at Noah’s Ark Preschool for the 2010-2011 school year

DESCRIPTION OF NOAH’S ARK PRESCHOOL 

Noah’s Ark Preschool, 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington, Illinois, is a non-profit school, operated by a Board of Directors under the auspices of the Congregational Council of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Noah’s Ark Preschool has liability insurance through St. John’s Lutheran Church. The policy is placed with State Farm Fire and Casualty Insurance.
Noah’s Ark is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and is inspected regularly. Noah’s Ark is affiliated with the McLean County Chapter of the National
Association for the Education of Young Children and the local Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
 

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of Noah’s Ark are as follows:

• To provide a rich curriculum which encourages opportunities to explore, live, and understand the world intelligently.
• To help children to behave in ways that are appropriate for responsible preschool citizens. Practicing cooperation, sharing, respect for people and property, self-control, and recognition of responsibilities.
• To help a child develop an awareness of his own feelings and to teach him to express his feelings in socially acceptable ways.
• To meet the child’s needs for gross and fine motor development, rest, exercise, good nutrition, and safe behavior.

ENROLLMENT
 

Admission Policies 

Application for admittance for the next school year may be made beginning January 15 of the same year. A child, to be eligible for the coming year, must be toilet-trained and reach the age appropriate for the class they will attend. Noah’s Ark enrolls a maximum of 55 three year olds (one classes of 16 children and three classes of 13 children), 60 Pre-K four year olds (two classes of 20 children meeting three days a week and one class of 20 children meeting five days a week) and 20 Pre-K five year old children (one class of 20 children who are 5 by Dec. 1). Noah’s Ark will now enroll a maximum of 10 two year old children who do not need to be toilet-trained.  Class size is determined by room size. Admission to any particular class is on a first-come, first-served basis. We reserve the right to balance the number of boys and girls within each class and change teachers as necessary. 
 

Enrollment Procedures
 

To be enrolled at Noah’s Ark, fees must be paid, the application form must be completed along with parental consent forms regarding table prayer, photographs and possible trips away from the school. Completion of emergency cards is mandatory by August 2010. After receiving the Parent Handbook parents must agree to uphold all policies and procedures of the preschool and sign necessary document stating their agreement by August 2010.
Additionally, DCFS requires each child to have a physical and health form on file with the school. The physical must be done within six months prior to the beginning of the school year. The health form must include:
 Required immunizations/dates
TB skin test by the Mantoux method and dated results of the test (unless the examining physician has a written determination that the test is unnecessary).
Screening for lead poisoning or a physician’s notation that a lead risk assessment has been completed.
These forms must be completed and returned to Noah’s Ark Preschool by OPEN HOUSE which is usually the third or fourth Sunday in August. If a child transfers from one preschool to another, the medical report may be used at the new center if it is less than one year old. Children who are returning to Noah’s Ark and have a physical form on file do not need to have another physical. However, a new application form must be filled out each year for re-enrollment. All forms must be completed and returned to Noah’s Ark before a child can attend class.
 
Special Needs 

When a specific educational plan is necessary to accommodate a individual child’s special needs, the staff and the Director may request the parents to furnish professional assessments to assist Noah’ Ark in developing this plan. The staff shall consult with parents before implementing any special procedures required to meet the child’s individual needs.
 

Waiting Lists
 

Noah’s Ark Preschool does not keep a waiting list prior to registration in January. Persons interested in registering a child for the fall should call the Director after January 20. Once classes are filled, a list of interested persons will be kept to fill any class vacancies that may occur.
 

Withdrawal Procedures
 

If a child is withdrawn from the school during the school year, a two week’s written notice must be given. Tuition fees of any months paid in advance will be refunded if:
   1.  A. The child is withdrawn to attend a public school early childhood special education program or
        B. The family is transferred to another community
AND
  2. The preschool is able to fill the vacancy created by the child’s withdrawal.
The $60.00 registration fee is non-refundable.
 
Fees and Support

Noah’s Ark is a self-supporting school. Operational funds come from tuition charges and registration fees. A non-refundable registration fee of $60.00 is due when submitting an application. The registration fee and one month’s tuition must be submitted with a child’s application materials for the child to be considered enrolled in the program. This first tuition payment will be applied as the September tuition payment.
To help defray the cost of snacks and juice, a non-refundable snack fee will be due at Noah’s Ark open house in August.
 
Tuition

Tuition is to be paid monthly and is due on or before the first day of the preceding month. Tuition charges are as follows:

• Two year old class — $95.00 per month 
• Three year old classes (T & Th) — $85.00 per month
• Three’s classes (MWF) — $105.00 per month 
• Pre-K 4’s class (MWF)— $115.00 per month
• Pre-K 4’s & 5’s class (M-F) — $195.00 per month
• Pre-K Enrichment — $45.00 per month for 1 day or $90 per month for 2 days                               

Tuition is payable whether the child is present in school or not. No refunds or allowances are given for absences due to illness, vacations, etc., during the time the child is enrolled.

If tuition is not paid by the 5th of the month, the Director will send a reminder notice home to parents. If not paid by the 10th of the month, a $5.00 late charge will be added to the tuition fee and another reminder will be sent. If tuition is not paid by the 15th of the month, the child will not be allowed to attend school until the amount due is paid.
 
NSF Charges 
All NSF checks will be assessed a service charge of $15.00. After three NSF checks are received within a school year, all further tuition must be paid by cashiers’ check or money order. Failure to pay tuition when due may result in the suspension of the child from school until tuition is paid in full. Form letters will be sent to those whose checks are returned for insufficient funds. 

  Registration dates and fees are subject to change annually.