Meadows Preschool
Operational Policies August 2021 - May 2022
Meadows Preschool Mission Statement
Meadows Preschool offers young children the opportunity to feel love and a sense of self-worth while engaging in activities that will nurture the development of the whole child. Caring teachers, who live by Christian attitudes and behaviors engage children in experiences of active learning using all five senses, helping to bridge the gap between concrete experience and concepts that are new.
Time and Days of Operation:
Monday - Friday
Early Birds: 8:00 am
Classes: 9:00 am - 2:00
Meadows Preschool will close for HISD holidays, in-service days, continuing education, religious holidays and weather emergencies.
Information Sharing
A Newsletter will be emailed the last week of each month for the following month, weekly emails will be sent by class, a yearly calendar will be distributed at the beginning of this session of Meadows Preschool. Recalls will be added to the monthly email Newsletter.
Late Pick-up Fees
$1.00 per minute after 2:04 or 4:04, will be charged for each child picked-up after their class ends. This fee is due at pick-up or next day.
Financial Obligation
Upon enrollment, children are enrolled for, and tuition is due & expected for, the session of August 2021 – May 2022.
Weather Closures
Meadows Preschool will close when HISD Closes due to weather.
Tuition is due the first full week of each month.
Tuition is paid in nine equal payments beginning the first week of August 9,2021. Tuition paid after the first week will have a late pay fee of 15.00 added. The August 2021 payment is a non-refundable payment for May 2022. See the Enroll & Payment Polices for more information.
Health and Safety
All children must have a current Immunization Record and Certificate of Health on file. Update the Immunization Record and Certificate of Health with each birthday.
Daily Health Checks will be performed each morning upon arrival.
Child Release
Children may be released only to adults listed on the enrollment card, including name, address, phone and TDL #. Children will not be released to adults not listed or listed without a TDL #.
Illness
When a child is ill, they may not be in attendance at preschool. Parents are asked to call Pastor Cyndi and report when a child will be absent and state the symptoms.
Exclusion Due to Illness (Always Call or Email Pastor Cyndi with any absence)
If a child has a fever, but no other symptoms, that child must stay home for 48 hours after the fever is gone without fever reducers being given.
If a child has a fever with any COVID-19 symptoms, they must stay home for seven days after onset. A COVID-19 test results note from a doctor will be needed for return.
If a child comes in close contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, they must stay home for 14 days A COVID-19 test results note from a doctor will be needed for return.
If a child develops COVID-19, notify Pastor Cyndi, immediately.
Children need to be free of fever for 48 hours, and free of diarrhea and/or vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school. Children with thick, cloudy, or excessive mucus from the nose, undiagnosed rashes, wheezing, wet or barking cough, head lice, or other infectious symptoms, with or without fever, must not attend.
Medications
Medications cannot be dispensed by any staff of Meadows Preschool.
Allergies
Children with allergies that require an Epi pen will need a physician’s emergency plan on file. Form provided & signed by the pediatrician.
Restroom Use
The Ladies’ and Men’s restrooms in the main hall are off limits to parents and other adults between 9:20 am - 4:00 pm.
Hearing and Vision Testing
Hearing and Vision testing needs to be performed at your child’s pediatrician’s office, when a child turns four years old, and a copy will be required by the preschool.
Safe Sleep
Safe Sleep will be practiced. Babies will be place on their backs and nothing will be added to the crib. Please bring Sleep sacks or footie PJ’s. Only pacifiers without attachments are permitted.
Immunizations
Children must be up to date on immunizations at all times. Provide a copy of the immunization record to be kept in the office. Provide updated immunization records and Certificate of Health with each birthday or as children receive update immunizations. TB tests are not required by the TX Dept. of Health.
Teaching staff at Meadows Preschool are not required to receive some vaccine preventable disease immunizations. Ex. Flu shots.
Hygiene
Children will be taken to wash their hands before going to class.
Bumble Bees and Leap Frogs Are Diaper and Pull-up Free
These children will be expected to be fully toilet independent. To meet Health Codes, a parent will be called to change BM’s.
Breast Feeding
Breast Feeding Moms may provide breast milk for babies in care.
Sunscreen and Insect Spray
Sunscreen should be applied to your child, each morning, before they attend Meadows Preschool, by their parent. Help us prevent skin cancer.
Insect Spray should be applied to your child, during mosquito season, before they arrive, by a parent.
Drop-off and Pick-Up
Drop-off and Pick-Up will be in the drive through area.
Parents will pull into the drive through area.
Roll down the window by the child
Wait until the temperature is taken – w/a non-contact thermometer
When the child is cleared, the parent will take the child out of the car.
A teacher will walk them in to wash hands and go to class
Arriving on time to preschool is a sign of respect, will prevent class disruptions and is a positive example for children.
Drop-Off Schedule
Early Birds: 7:55am - 8:20 am
Classes: 8:55am - 9:20 am
Pick-Up Schedule:
Classes: 1:45 pm - 2:00 pm
Kid’s Club: 3:35 pm - 3:55 pm
For Safety
For the safety of your preschooler Meadows Preschool does not provide transportation, a swimming pool, nor house animals. We perform background checks and FBI fingerprinting on all staff. Teachers receive a minimum of 24 hrs. continuing education, for each year of employment, have taken the HHS required CoVid19 classes, and are current in CPR, First Aid and brain development.
Abuse and Neglect
Meadows Preschool teachers are trained annually in the prevention of and how to respond to abuse and neglect. Information will be available on the Parent Support Center for awareness and warning signs of abuse and neglect and prevention techniques. A posting will be available on the big bulletin board with contact information for reporting and gaining assistance for teachers and to help a parent that may need to report or obtain assistance. If you suspect abuse or neglect: speak with Pastor Cyndi or call the Child Abuse Hotline. 1-800-252-5400 or www.txabusehotline.org
A copy of the Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers and the most recent Licensing inspection report are kept in the Meadows Preschool office for parental review. The local licensing office can be contacted at (713) 940.5283.
Tx. Dept. of Family and Protective Services website www.dfps.state.tx.us
General Information
Lunch
Send a lunch of healthy foods the child can feed themselves, and include a thermos of water – please no sugary or caffeinated drinks. A snack will also be needed for some age groups. Turtles may bring baby foods and milk bottles as age appropriate.
NO GLASS CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED IN PRESCHOOL. All items must be marked with the child’s name.
Gang Free Zones
House Bill 2086, states; an area of 1000 ft. around Meadows Ps is a gang free zone allowing for greater prosecution of gang activity.
Discipline and Guidance
Discipline and guidance will take the form of redirection, direct conversation, and when appropriate, time out with the time appropriate for that child. Corporal punishment is not allowed. Children that continually cause a safety hazard for others due to their behavior will be withdrawn from the preschool, after a conference with the parent.
Playground and Gym
The Playground is open only to persons with a background check on file, for big body play and social development.
Gym use during Preschool hours is for Meadows Preschoolers for big body play and social development.
Enrollment and Information Sharing
Enrollment
Enrollment in Meadows Preschool is open to children 5 months by August 2021 through Pre Kindergarten. A child is fully enrolled when a completed enrollment card, health certificate with immunization record, and the enrollment fee are on file.
Contact with Teaching Staff
To speak at length with your child’s teachers, please make an appointment to speak with them during napping times. During drop-off / pick-up the teachers are actively involved with the children. Teachers may not give cell numbers to parents, or receive texts during school hours.
Discuss Policies
Parents that wish to review and discuss policies, procedures, or concerns of Meadows Preschool with Pastor Cyndi, may call the preschool office during office hours. 713.255.7025
Class Emails
Class emails will go out weekly to help keep you informed and Newsletters will go out the last week of each month, also by email.
What and What Not to Bring
What Not to Bring
Medications of any kind – Rx or OTC
TOYS–stay at home.
Sick preschoolers-stay home.
Anything glass.
Cloth rest mats and sleeping blankets.
What to Bring
A lunch and drink, each marked w/ name – bring foods the child can self-feed.
A small snack, marked with name & K C, for Kids Club (2:00-4:00).
A vinyl rest mat & towel to be left at the school, labeled w/ name.
A change of clothing; to be kept at the school, labeled w/ name.
Children in diapers or pull ups need to bring a box of wipes.
Children in diapers or pull ups need to bring paper diapers or pull ups.
Backpack large enough to transport art projects, papers, lunch box, etc.
All diaper bags, back packs, lunch containers, etc. not clearly labeled; will be labeled at preschool by the teachers. Labeling is mandatory.
Birthday Policies
First, send a note to your child’s teacher, and arrange a date, so, we can request permission from the parents for their child to eat the birthday treat. Please give a weeks’ notice to the teacher.
Parents may bring: store bought fruit cups, applesauce, two bite cupcakes, cheese sticks & pretzels, small muffins, ice cream cups, etc.
All food items must be in the original packaging – to meet health regulations.
Meadows Preschool Safety Guidelines 2021-2022
No adults/parents in the building
Drop-Off Procedures:
a teacher-wearing a face shield & mask, will take the child’s temperature, while the child is in their car-seat
when the child is cleared, parent-wearing a mask– helps the child out of the car
a teacher will then take the child inside to wash hands and to class-where the fun begins!
ALL preschoolers in by 9:20*
Classes are sprayed with a hospital grade germicide while children are on the playground and again at the end of the day.
Teachers will wear cloth masks and wash hands continuously.
Children presenting symptoms of illness during the day will be quarantined. The ill child will need to be picked-up within 20 minutes. Parents must have a phone # on file to be answered during school hours.
Anytime your child will be absent – call Pastor Cyndi 713.255.7025.
If a child has a fever, but no other symptoms, that child must stay home for 48 hours after the fever is gone with no fever reducers given.
If a child has a fever with any CoVid 19 symptoms, they must stay home for seven days after onset. A CoVid test result will be needed.
If a child comes in close contact with anyone with CoVid 19 symptoms, they must stay home for 14 days. A CoVid test result will be needed.
If a child develops CoVid, Pastor Cyndi must be notified, immediately.
Families will be quickly notified if someone on campus is diagnosed with COVID.
Classes will not mix, for example: music, playground, gym play.
No toys or stuffed animals will be allowed on the campus except 1 lovey for nap, if needed.
Napping will take place on vinyl mats brought from home. Children will also need a towel labeled w/name. The towel will be sent home weekly to be laundered. All mats will be sanitized after each use.
No cloth sleeping mats.