Mission: We believe that the Church of the Good Shepherd is called to provide a developmentally appropriate environment in which each child can grow in wisdom, stature, and in relationship with God and others.

We believe that each child is created in God’s own image, with an innate capacity to learn, understand, create, and serve.

We believe that the diversity and mystery of God’s creation are to be welcomed, embraced, and explored.

Our School, as a mission of the Church of the Good Shepherd, will provide a faith-filled Christian environment which honors each child and equips each child to live in a world of diversity and change.

Philosophy:‍ ‍We believe that children are rich in their capabilities and in their curiosity; strong in their desire to relate to other people. We provide a safe, nurturing environment that encourages active exploration and free choice. We offer a stimulating curriculum that challenges physical, social, emotional, creative, spiritual, and intellectual growth.

Vision: The Good Shepherd Preschool is a child-centered, sensory-rich environment that provides for varied educational needs, fosters hands-on inquiry, and celebrates the spirituality of children from all walks of life.

To provide a loving and relaxed environment where the children’s physical and emotional needs are met.

To establish an atmosphere of respect for others and self.

To establish respect for the equipment and materials.

To provide an opportunity to become independent and responsible through self-directed and individualized activities.

To provide children with appropriate alternatives to anger & aggressive behavior.

To help children learn how to participate and function well in a group.

To help children develop self-control and a clear understanding of the expectations in this environment.

To provide an environment where children will develop enthusiasm for learning, exploring, and creativity using constructive play activities in the areas of art, drama, literature, cooking, music and movement, social science, woodworking, large-motor skills, science, manipulative activities, and field trips.

To provide ample opportunity to develop coordination and large-motor skills through physical activity and outdoor play.

To ensure a safe environment, both indoors and out.

To document developmental milestones and reflect individual progress through parent/teacher conferences.

To be supportive of parents and encourage open, honest communication.

To develop the spirituality and faith exploration of young children in an inclusive Christian environment.

Teachers as Facilitators: Our teachers and assistants are facilitators of your child’s play. They set up an amazing environment that not only invites children to play but also give the children opportunities for growth in all areas of their development.

Babysitting/Transportation: Good Shepherd Preschool would like to request that teachers and assistants not be asked to babysit or transport your child. Good Shepherd Preschool claims no responsibility for activities between families and Good Shepherd Preschool employees that are not part of the regular program.

Social Relationships with Staff: We understand the desire for positive relationships between teachers and students, but teachers shouldn't have close relationships with their students' families outside of the school setting. This is for a few important reasons:

• Maintaining Professional Boundaries: Teachers are responsible for maintaining professional boundaries with their students and their families. Having personal relationships with students' families can blur these boundaries, making it difficult to provide equal attention and support to all students.

• Fair Treatment: It is crucial to ensure that all students are treated fairly and without bias. Building personal relationships with some students' families may inadvertently lead to favoritism, perceived or real, which can undermine the learning environment.

• Confidentiality: Teachers often have access to sensitive information about their students. Maintaining professional boundaries helps protect the privacy and confidentiality of this information.

• Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Personal relationships can lead to conflicts of interest. For example, if a teacher is friends with a student's family, it might be challenging to objectively address academic or disciplinary issues involving that student.

Our main goal is to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for all students. Encouraging professional boundaries helps in achieving this goal. It is important to remember that teachers are available to discuss a student's progress and any concerns you may have, but these conversations are best held within the school's official channels.

Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool offers an enriching preschool program beginning at age 2 and continuing up to age 6.

Registration: Registration begins in February for the following school year. Parents will be informed of the exact dates through the Brightwheel app, email, or Newsletter. Before registration opens to the public, the following groups receive a priority window of time to register:

1. Active members of the Church of the Good Shepherd and presently enrolled families
   *Active pledging church members receive a 15% tuition discount

2. Previously enrolled families (Alumni)

3. Families on our interest list

Eligibility: To be accepted for enrollment, every child must be deemed by the preschool to be able to participate in the program. A pre or post-enrollment visit may be necessary to assess a child’s ability. Parents should seek developmental screening before registration, as we do not have staff to offer one-on-one assistance.

Enrollment: Once registered, you will receive an email confirming your spot and class. To complete the enrollment, you must complete all the tasks listed in said email, including but not limited to:

• Admissions Agreement (online form)

• Birth Certificate

• Licensing Forms (online form), which include:

  • ID & Emergency Form (LIC 700)

  • Health History (LIC 702)

  • Physician’s Report (LIC 701)

  • Personal Rights (LIC 613)

  • Family’s Rights (LIC 995)

  • Consent for Treatment (LIC 627)

  • Immunization Record*

Immunizations: A specific Health Certificate form included in the licensing packet AND an Immunization Record showing your child is complete on all required vaccinations must be signed by your child’s pediatrician and approved by the school before the child attends school.

Immunizations must be kept up to date throughout the school year.

If your child has not had all immunizations required by the California Department of Public Health on schedule because your child needs a medical exemption, register with The California Immunization Registry now with an email address to request the exemption from your child’s doctor. The website will walk you through the process. 

Instructions to Request a Medical Exemption

During the late summer, the Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool hosts an in-depth, fun-filled orientation of your child’s daily schedule. This is an actual “Hands-On” orientation. You are put in your child’s place for a morning. It is beneficial for all parents and teachers. This orientation brings us closer as an extended family, which is an important piece in developing trusting relationships between school and home. There will be a visiting day before your child’s first day of preschool.

Personal Rights, See Section 101223 for waiver conditions applicable to Child Care Centers.

(a) Child Care Centers. Each child receiving services from a Child Care Center shall have rights which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. To be accorded dignity in his/her relationships with staff and other people.

2. To be accorded safe, healthful, and comfortable accommodations, furnishings, and equipment to meet his/her needs.

3. To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse, or other actions of a punitive nature, including but not limited to interference with daily living functions, including eating, sleeping, or toileting; or withholding of shelter, clothing, medication or aids to physical functioning.

4. To be informed, and to have his/her authorized representative, if any, informed by the licensee of the provisions of law regarding complaints, including, but not limited to, the address and telephone number of the complaint receiving unit of the licensing agency and of information regarding confidentiality.

5. To be free to attend religious services or activities of his/her choice and to have visits from the spiritual advisor of his/her choice. Attendance at religious services, either in or outside the facility, shall be on a completely voluntary basis. In Child Care Centers, decisions concerning attendance at religious services or visits from spiritual advisors shall be made by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child.

6. Not to be locked in any room, building, or facility premises by day or night.

7. Not to be placed in any restraining device, except a supportive restraint approved in advance by the licensing agency.

Agency to contact for complaints:

Monterey County / Community Care Licensing
2580 N First Street, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 324-2148

1. Enter and inspect the childcare center without advance notice whenever children are in care.

2. File a complaint against the licensee with the licensing office and review the licensee's public file kept by the licensing office.

3. Review at the childcare center, reports of licensing visits, and substantiated complaints against the licensee made during the last three years.

4. Complain to the licensing office and inspect the childcare center without discrimination or retaliation against you or your child.

5. Request in writing that a parent is not allowed to visit your child or take your child from the childcare center, provided you have shown a certified copy of a court order.

6. Receive from the licensee the name, address, and telephone number of the local licensing office.

7. Be informed by the licensee, upon request, of the name and type of association to the childcare center for any adult who has been granted a criminal record exemption, and that the name of the person may also be obtained by contacting the local licensing office.

8. Receive, from the licensee, the Teacher’s/Aide’s Background Check Process form.

NOTE: California state law provides that the licensee may deny access to preschool to a family/authorized representative if the behavior of the family/authorized representative poses a risk to children in care.

The Department of Justice “Registered Sex Offender" database: www.meganslaw.ca.gov.

Agency to contact for complaints:

Monterey County / Community Care Licensing
2580 N First Street, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 324-2148

The State of California Licensing Agency (Community Care Licensing) has the following authority:

1. To interview children or staff, and to inspect and audit child or facility records without prior consent.

2. To observe the physical condition of the child (ren), including conditions which could indicate abuse, neglect, or inappropriate placement and to have a licensed professional physically examine the child(ren).

Compliance Reviews are conducted by the State to ensure compliance with regulations governing the facility, health, safety, admissions, personnel qualifications, policies, monitoring of fiscal attendance data, and program quality.

Families have unlimited access to their children, including written records concerning their children during normal hours of operation and whenever the children are in attendance. Additionally, Agency staff and regulatory agencies such as CDE, DSS, etc., may request immediate access.

SECTION 1596.857 HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

(a) “Upon presentation of identification, the responsible family or guardian of a child receiving services in a child day care facility has the right to enter and inspect the facility without advance notice during normal operational hours of the facility. Families and guardians, when inspecting shall be respectful of the children's routines and programmed activities...

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the person present who is in charge of a child day care facility may deny access to an adult whose behavior presents a risk to children present in the facility and may deny access to non-custodial families or guardians if so requested by the responsible family or guardian. ..."

If you would like a check-in to know how your child is doing, inform the teacher either in person when you drop off/pick up your child or via the Brightwheel App and they can send you an update through the Brightwheel App.

1. Teachers must focus their attention on the children during the school day, so please limit communication with teachers or staff at arrival/dismissal time or during class time to time-sensitive information only.

2. Do not join teachers and children on the playground for conversation as this creates a distraction from the teacher’s supervision of the children.

If you would like to speak with a teacher, please schedule a time with them. Please do not call staff members at home or on their cell phones. Our valued teaching staff gives their all at work. Please respect their private time so that they can revitalize and be 100% present for their families. Most teachers have audible notifications turned on in the Brightwheel app and school emails. Please make sure to send messages at appropriate times of the day. We do not discuss children in their presence.

Messages: The Brightwheel app is a fast and simple way to connect with your teacher for regular communication. Feel free to call or email the office, and the Director should you need further assistance. The school office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. We check our messages frequently and can respond quickly. We are happy to make appointments with parents at any time.

Bulletin Board: Please take a moment to check the bulletin board and notes on the sign-in table. They contain current and pertinent information regarding Preschool programs, notices of special events, parenting seminars, contagious illnesses, resource materials, snacks, and calendars.

Newsletter: Bi-monthly newsletters and photos, from the Director and your child’s teacher, are posted on the website. These newsletters are our main source of providing you with valuable information and dates, i.e., field trips, cultural arts events, special announcements, etc.

The Preschool utilizes Brightwheel, a childcare management application. This program provides business assistance while providing a mode of communication between the school and families. The program allows tracking of attendance and room ratios, sharing of photos and videos, a streamlined method for collecting payments, and other management features. Each family will receive an invitation to join the Preschool’s Brightwheel community and instructions for downloading the application to their cell phone. Please be sure to add an up-close face photo of your child and yourself when you sign up. This program allows you to add individuals approved for picking up your child. Please make sure to send messages at appropriate times of the day.

If you give your child a birthday party soon after school is dismissed for the day, please be sensitive to the feelings of young children by including every boy, every girl, or every child in the class. It is natural for children to talk about the party at school, and a child can be wounded very deeply if not included. This is something you would not want to happen to your child, and our hearts are broken when it happens to any child. Invitations should be mailed instead of delivered to a child’s cubby or sign-in book if the entire class is not invited.

Developmentally – Your child’s Birthday should be small. A good rule to follow is one child more than your child’s age.

Birthday Observance: Birthdays are a special celebration for your child. We make birthdays special by giving your child an opportunity to decorate a birthday crown for themselves. We have a small wooden birthday cake that the birthday child puts the candles in as we all sing, “Happy Birthday.”

Birthday treats are welcome and your child will appreciate passing them out to friends. Cupcakes with no frosting, cookies (one per child), or just a special snack of fruit is appropriate. Please talk to your child’s teacher about treats!

We have Summer Birthday parties for preschoolers with summer birthdays. These birthdays usually take place in the last few weeks of school.

Children love to celebrate special events. Your child’s teacher will have a list of special celebrations provided during the school year. Mark your calendars!

The Harvest Celebration in November: This is a time when children are learning about agriculture and seeds. We cook and make many things with seeds and celebrate with a feast and fun activities to follow.

Christmas 4 & 5 Year-Olds: Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool staff and the 4 & 5 year-old students and families will gather in the Church for Songs of Christmas. It is a meaningful way for the entire school family to share the Christmas season.

Christmas 2 & 3 Year-Olds: The two & three-year-old classes have a special Birthday Party for Jesus. We celebrate with songs, lunch, and a gingerbread cake.

Sweetheart Lunch and Mother’s Day Lunch: Each year we will have a day to join lunch with your child, one in March for dads and one in May for moms (sometimes the other parent or a grandparent or a guest comes instead). Check the Preschool calendar in advance so you can arrange to be there. This is an important date for your child.

Spring Sing: Children will sing some of their favorite songs

End of Year Celebrations: Classes will have a Circle of Friends celebrations to end the year

Field trips are arranged for your child by his or her teacher or the Director. During the year, your child’s teacher will notify you in advance of field trips and give you the needed details. Please notify the teacher of any valuable field trips that you may know of too. All field trips are taken in parent/teacher-driven cars or vans. Your child is required to be in a car seat during all vehicle transportation. Your child will wear a Good Shepherd Preschool name tag on all field trips. Permission forms for your child to participate in field trips are part of your Admission Agreement form. If your child requires an Epi-pen or inhaler or other medical needs the parent must attend the field trip. Field trips are not available for 2- & 3-year-old classes. We offer in-house field trips for the younger ones.

ALL PERSONAL BELONGINGS MUST BE MARKED WITH THE CHILD’S NAME.

Clothing should be practical and comfortable. Non-slippery shoes are MANDATORY. Tennis shoes are the best shoes for everyday wear at Preschool. NO SLIP-ON SHOES OR OPEN-TOED SHOES are allowed as they can cause accidents.

The children are encouraged to build self-help skills, so ease is an important consideration in choosing school clothing. Velcro shoes, socks that are easy to put on, and elastic waistbands on pants and shorts are some examples. Pants that require belts and overalls are difficult for young children. Lost & Found

All articles of clothing, especially jackets, are to be labeled with your child’s name. Items not claimed will be given to charity.

Unless it is necessary for the child’s emotional adjustment to school, toys should be left at home. We aim to have the toys at school be “school toys” for everyone to share and enjoy. Electronic items, candy, gum, jewelry, weapons, money, and make-up may NOT be brought to school.

Children often need transitional objects (lovie) to help with the switch from home to school. Transitional objects are used only during the time in which the child is adapting to the center. This usually takes 1-2 weeks. Temporary transitional objects such as a small stuffed animal or blanket are welcome.

Please label all transitional objects with the child's name to help the teacher keep track of whose belongings are whose.

Children are not required to share their transitional objects. Other objects that children may want to bring from home are not allowed as they may get lost, or broken, or may lead to situations where children are unable to share the toy. If your child will not leave the house without their treasured action figure, allow them to take it, but tell the child that you will keep it safe in the car so it will be there on the drive home. You can also encourage your child to tell the teacher about the special toy.

To accommodate the special requests and arrangements necessitated by marital separation and/or divorce, a copy of the parents’ most recent custody agreement may be required for their child’s file. Our goal is to respect the privacy of the family while always assuring the safety of the child.

If the other parent of your child and you are divorced or separated, Church of the Good Shepherd will follow the instructions of the parent having legal custody of the child in the most recent applicable court order or the absence of a court order, the instructions of the parent with whom the child is then residing, in determining the person to whom the child will be released.

Please legibly sign in/out your child on the applicable class sheet; this is a LEGAL LICENSING REQUIREMENT. Please initial the small grey box acknowledging your child is free from any signs of illness every day.

The person who delivers your child to school or picks your child up from school must sign their attendance sheet. This is a licensing regulation and is for your child's safety.

The person bringing your child to preschool must contact a teacher before leaving the premises. The person picking up your child must inform a teacher of their departure in addition to signing out in the book.

Please arrive a few minutes before closure to ensure a timely departure by 5:30 p.m. so staff can complete their closing duties on time. Check in with a teacher verbally before signing in and out your child. The teacher needs to have an accurate record of how many children are present at any time in case of emergency.

This is important as the same teacher who greeted your child in the morning may not be present in the late afternoon.

Children will only be released to the parents or people authorized by the Brightwheel App. If you have other family members or friends who will be picking up or dropping off your child, you will need to authorize them via the Brightwheel app. When a person is not familiar with staff, they will need to provide picture identification before a child is released. We will not accept phone authorization to allow someone not listed in the Brightwheel App. This is for the safety of your children. No exceptions will be made.

If the authorized pick-up person is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, all reasonable steps will be taken to prevent the person from leaving with the child, including offering to call a cab or another contact person. While we cannot legally withhold a child from their designated pick-up person, we will not hesitate to call the local authorities if we feel the child is in danger.

If your child has difficulty separating from you, walk him/her to the door or drop-off location. Always say goodbye to your child so they can trust that they will be included in what is happening. If they are experiencing separation anxiety, reassure them that you will be back right after story time. Exude confidence in your child that you know they will have a fun time and be well taken care of. If your child is experiencing undue stress, talk to the teacher or Director about a “Slow Start” opportunity for you and your child.

The school day begins at roughly 9:00 a.m., based on your enrolled class. If you arrive late, please message your child’s teacher. You must wait for the teacher to meet you. We attempt to start the day promptly on time. Children who arrive late miss the important beginning-of-the-day activities and interrupt learning for the rest of the students. Never drop off your child without communicating with the teacher; always take a moment to connect with the teacher at drop-off time.

In adherence with California law (Senate Bill 255, also known as Kaitlyn’s Law), do not leave any children in the car without an adult when on the property/premises of Good Shepherd church or Preschool.

Families are required to supply the diapers and wipes that their child will need.

Teachers/Aides check diapers every two to two and a half hours as well as when children wake up from naps.

When your child is running low on diapers or wipes, you will receive a message from the teacher.

Teachers/Aides try to give families advanced warnings when supplies are getting low.

Children will NOT be accepted if they are out of diapers/wipes.

Additionally, families are required to check their child's diaper upon arrival and change the child if needed. This is for the health of your child and will ensure that they can start the day with no interruptions. Children will be refused services for that day if a family and/or drop-off person refuses to do so.

See below for additional information on potty learning.

In the event of an emergency that requires immediate medical attention, 911 will be contacted for ambulance service. All 911 calls and emergency services provided to the child will be at the family/guardian’s expense. In no instance will staff transport children for medical or dental care. The Preschool staff is authorized to consent to whatever medical treatment is deemed immediately necessary to maintain the health and well-being of a child. Parents and people listed as emergency contacts in Brightwheel will be notified as quickly as possible, as will the child’s pediatrician, if deemed necessary.

Insurance: Health insurance is not provided. It is the responsibility of each child’s family.

Evacuations: Emergency drills are held once a month. In the event of a required evacuation, the staff will immediately transport the children in the staff’s vehicles to the Corral Market parking lot at Hwy 68 and Corral de Tierra Road or Washington Union. Parents will be notified immediately. Each child is required to have an Earthquake/Emergency Kit at the Preschool. Information on what should be included in the kit will be provided by your child’s teacher before the start of school.

Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool makes every effort possible to protect the health and safety of your children.

Illness: A child with a sore throat, pink eye, runny nose, excessive coughing, fever, rash, earache, vomiting, diarrhea, head lice, or other physical ailments must be kept at home. If such signs are evident when a child is brought to the Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool, he/she cannot be admitted without documentation from your pediatrician that the symptom(s) exhibited are not contagious to other children, e.g., rash due to a reaction to medication.

Children must be free from fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and other ailments for 24 hours prior to returning to the program. A FEVER IS CONSIDERED 100 DEGREES OR HIGHER. Should a child exhibit symptoms of illness during school hours and we are unable to contact either parent, we will contact those indicated on the Emergency Contact Form. It is our policy to have sick children picked up from school as soon as possible to avoid further infection. Should your child become ill during school, he/she will be cared for in the office until being picked up.

Parents should notify the office and teacher immediately if a child contracts a communicable disease. It is also suggested that the teacher be notified regarding significant changes in the home routine, such as hospitalization of a parent, divorce, death in the family, etc.

• Allergic Reactions: If a child exhibits symptoms of an allergic reaction to medication, food or beverage, insect bite, etc., the parent will be notified and/or 911 called if it is serious.

• Severe Allergies: We do accept children with severe allergies. If a child’s allergy to food is severe, we make every effort not to use the food that the child is allergic to at preschool. If needed, we will provide an “allergy-free table.” If a child is extremely allergic to peanut butter, for example, we will have a lunch cart that says, “peanut-free lunch” or “peanut lunch.” We have separate tables for eating.

• Medications: To administer medication to a child at the Preschool, all prescription medication must be in its original child-proof container with the original label indicating the child’s name and instructions for administration from the child’s physician. Parents are required to sign a Medical Consent Form. For non-prescription medications, the staff will administer the medication in accordance with the product label instructions when the parents or designated guardian have completed a Medical Consent Form.

Accident / Injury: If your child has a major accident/injury, the parent (s) will be called immediately, and the accident will be described by the teacher. An Accident form from the Department of Social Services Accident Report form is filled out whenever a child is taken to the doctor as a result of an injury that occurred at the Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool, whether taken directly by the staff or later by the parent (s). To assist us in these reports, parents are requested to notify the Director if they take their child for medical attention because of an injury that occurred at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Minor accidents or injuries are reported on “Ouchi Reports” and given to the parents to read and sign.

Insurance: Health insurance is not provided. It is the responsibility of each child’s family.

Our program operates as a group-based learning environment and follows state licensing regulations for teacher-to-child ratios. To maintain a safe, positive, and productive environment for all children and staff, each child must be able to safely participate in all aspects of the daily schedule and classroom activities.

If at any time a child requires a level of care, supervision, or support that exceeds what our staff can provide within a group setting, without compromising other children or staff, the child may be dismissed from the program for the remainder of the day. In this situation, a parent/guardian or authorized emergency contact will be notified and must pick up the child within one hour of notification.

If the need for early dismissal or exclusion becomes ongoing, Good Shepherd does not provide one-on-one care or individualized staffing. If a child requires supervision beyond our established staff-to-child ratios on a continued basis, a conference with the family may be scheduled to discuss concerns, review expectations, and determine whether our program can continue to meet the child’s needs.

If it is determined that the child’s needs exceed what we can provide within our group setting, Good Shepherd reserves the right to discontinue enrollment.

Each teacher has a distinct way of introducing Show and Tell. Most teachers use the “What’s Inside Bag.” A Show and Tell that encourages self-expression and language development. Learning how to stand or sit in front of a small group and express oneself, building confidence in language expression, and enjoying the opportunity to speak about their item is beneficial to a child’s development. Nature objects, artwork, pictures of a trip, or a special toy are welcome contributions to be shared with the class. If insects or plants are to be shared, they should be in plastic or cardboard containers, no glass, please. Refrain from sending weapons of any kind, candy, valuable jewelry, or electronic devices, as we are trying to protect the innocent exploration of their natural world.

Lunch: Parents provide lunches for their children. Please provide a small, healthy lunch for your child. Sodas, candy, and gum are not allowed at preschool.

Snacks: Your support is appreciated. In accordance with the growing body of information on both nutrition and behavior, we make every effort to provide healthy, nourishing snacks for the children, including at least two different food groups. We also offer bottled water.

Once or twice a week, we provide Snack Lessons. We encourage a child-directed snack, but the Snack Lesson incorporates early literacy, letter/sound recognition, numeral recognition, math, science, following directions, and more. The recipe cards are poster-size, made by the teachers, and offer a wide variety of snacks. Our first lesson may be pouring water into a cup, a middle lesson may be grating cheese for bagel pizzas, and a final lesson may be making tortillas, scrambled eggs, pancakes, etc.

We recognize the importance of rest and sleep for the development and well-being of young children. To ensure each child receives appropriate rest, we have established the following nap time policy in accordance with Title 22, California Code of Regulations.

All children under the age of five who remain at school after 1:00 p.m. will have a designated nap period. Each child will be provided with their own labeled mat and fitted sheet. Families are welcome to send a small blanket and one comfort item, such as a stuffed animal (“lovey”), from home. Please note that pacifiers are not permitted, in line with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Research shows that pacifier use beyond 12 months increases the risk of ear infections, and prolonged use past 18 months can cause lasting changes to a child’s developing mouth and teeth. These changes include problems such as open bite, crossbite, and misalignment of the jaw, which may require orthodontic treatment later in life.

The nap room will be kept dim, with soft lighting from nightlights. Gentle music or white noise may be played to create a calming environment. To maintain a peaceful atmosphere, we ask that lovies be quiet (i.e., no noise-making features).

Children who have not fallen asleep after 25 minutes will be offered quiet activities for the remainder of the nap period. These may include puzzles, books, or drawing. If staffing permits, outdoor play may also be offered for non-nappers

We have and are still developing a terrific hardbound lending library for the children. About a month after school has begun, your child will have the opportunity to select a library book to take home and read. The “Library Time” is a special time for the teacher and child to look at books and choose one they would like to take home. Each child will have their own Library envelope. Reading is fun, and the children look forward to Library Day each week.

We would like to encourage you to read to your child as often as possible. Reading to a child opens a world of imagination while developing language and listening skills that are so important to language development.

As parents of a child attending the Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool, you are automatically a member of the Parent Group. The more you get involved, the more you will love our school.

The Open House will give you many opportunities to sign up to be part of the Parent Group. It offers a variety of opportunities for parents to become more involved with school activities. Parental efforts on behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at the Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool are invaluable. We cannot run this preschool without your help. Throughout the school year, room parents and the Parent Group are instrumental in helping to coordinate the annual Open House, Sweetheart Lunch, Mother’s Day Lunch, Teacher Appreciation Week, celebrations in the classrooms, and fundraisers. There are so many ways for parents to get involved and we look forward to the addition of your special talents.

Room Parents & Monthly Meetings: Each class needs that special person who is willing to help in specific ways to make the Preschool year a great one. During the Open House, there will be sign-ups for room parents with a description of their responsibilities. The room parents are the people who delegate those responsibilities. This job is a blessing to all teachers.

Good Shepherd Preschool’s philosophy involves creating a supportive, cooperative atmosphere that encourages self-control and positive self-esteem. Positive Guidance is based on our belief in each child’s ability to grow and learn. As such, we build on positive behaviors by:

• Demonstrating a respectful and responsive adult attitude toward the child

• Designing an environment that offers safety and many areas for children to explore and interact

• Creating a relaxed, flexible daily schedule

• Listening to, recognizing, and reflecting children’s thoughts, ideas, and concerns

• Responding to children’s individual abilities and learning styles

• Facilitating critical thinking skills

• Establishing necessary limits and boundaries

• Anticipating, intervening, and redirecting before disruptive behavior occurs

Staff is prohibited from using any punishment such as but not limited to: Corporal punishment; withholding light, warmth, clothing, or medical care; ridicule, embarrassment, humiliation, or use of ethnic, gender, or racial put-downs; or physical restraint other than the restraint necessary to protect a child or others from harm.

Sometimes a child’s behavior is such that more formal intervention is required. If a child engages in persistent or repetitive inappropriate behavior or behavior destructive to the health and safety of himself and/or others, we will use the following procedures:

Observe and record the child’s behavior patterns, the environment, teacher’s interaction with the child to help with their behavior. Methods teachers will use may include helping the child to find a quiet space within the classroom to calm their body, taking a walk while listening to the child, or finding areas of interest for the child. If behavior continues to be disruptive to the other children or staff, a teacher may need to call the parents.

Parents will be asked to participate in a parent/teacher conference to develop specific actions to address the behavior. The plan will outline all steps the staff and parent(s) will take to help the child develop new behavior patterns.

Our staff may request and work with outside resources to incorporate recommendations of outside consultants into the plan.

If the inappropriate behavior continues, we may request that the parent(s) withdraw the child.

We have discretion to request that parents keep a child home temporarily or withdraw immediately any child whose behavior creates a significant risk to the health or safety of other children or staff, without following the steps listed above.

Biting is viewed seriously. At the first bite, we notify parents that the child must be picked up immediately and continue with subsequent bites. When the parent picks up the child immediately from school, the child will begin to understand that he/she may not bite and remain at school.

Setting limits for young children provides them with the security of knowing that their strong emotions will not get them into trouble. We approach discipline as a “Teachable Moment.”  In an atmosphere of love and respect, teachers accept the responsibility for stopping unacceptable behavior until children can do so for themselves. This is an extremely important part of our daily curriculum. The following positive approaches to guidance are used to help children behave constructively:

• Redirection

• Consistency

• Setting limits

• Planning ahead to prevent problems

• Positive reinforcement

• Encouragement.

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Please see the ‘Tuition, Financial Policies & More’ document on the parent resources page.

The curriculum at the Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool looks at the Whole Child when understanding the developmental steps of growth in young children. The curriculum is designed to help each child grow in his/her intellectual, spiritual, social/emotional, and physical capacities. A myriad of experiences that enhance your child’s understanding of his/her world are provided daily. A typical day will include a daily routine, small and large group activities, experiences in art, role-playing, singing, creative movement, creating, building, math, science, literature, teacher-facilitated indoor and outdoor play, snacks, storytelling, and time to develop social and emotional interactions.

Children construct knowledge through active exploration and discovery. Play is the primary mode of learning in early childhood. Our goal is to help children become self-confident, independent, and inquisitive through enriching experiences. To accomplish the goals of our curriculum and to give your child a successful start in school, we work to organize the curriculum, environment, and daily routines to foster all these areas of your child's development:

Social development: To help your child make friends, trust their school environment, discover the values of cooperation and compromise, learn the value of using words in place of physical conflict, and feel they are an important part of the group.

Emotional development: To help your child form good relationships, experience self-confidence, develop self-control, and develop a sense of autonomy. To help identify and describe your child’s feelings for them and help them express themselves.

Cognitive development: To give your child the opportunity to try out and explore their own ideas, to solve problems, to ask questions, to create, to build, to imagine, to acquire learning skills that form the foundation for later more complex cognitive abilities.

Physical development: To foster large and small muscle development, to increase their awareness and confidence in what their bodies can do, to experience their senses, and to foster care of their bodies.

Spiritual development: To support your child in a meaningful spiritual experience by providing opportunities to interact with scripture stories, traditions, and a caring community of diverse children and adults.

Good Shepherd Preschool is a Christian school that believes children’s spiritual growth is important. The staff reflects this attitude throughout the day with activities, songs, and curriculum. Godly Play offers an opportunity for the children to see and hear scripture stories on a weekly basis. Through Godly Play training, the Storyteller brings God to our environment in a very developmentally appropriate manner with prayer, storytelling, acts of kindness, and songs. Our philosophy of building strong, capable children is supported by the knowledge that God loves each child just the way God made him or her. Recognizing and developing these gifts are lifetime goals.

The Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool is proud of being a mission program of the church. We are excited to be a school that integrates the spiritual side of life into our well-rounded curriculum. Children are led to pray before snack time and lunch, at chapel, and in songs that celebrate special events like Christmas or Easter during music class.

There will be two opportunities for scheduling a Parent-Teacher conference on our calendar: one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Additional conferences can be scheduled upon request of the teacher or parent(s). The Fall conference will be more about how your child is acclimating to the school and friends. The Spring Conference will focus on all areas of development.

We focus on the Whole Child approach. Through observations, note-taking, and the use of photos, we document the child’s developmental milestones.

ANY CONCERNS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LEAD TEACHER. IF THE CONCERN IS NOT RESOLVED BY THE TEACHER, IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR. IF THE CONCERN IS NOT RESOLVED BY THE PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR, IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Good Shepherd Preschool reserves the right to deny services to any person for any reason.

Cause for Termination:  Services may be terminated based on the following causes, which are not all-inclusive - funding limitations, constituting a hazard to self and/or others, or demanding we fundamentally change the nature of the program, abusive, and/or negative behavior of the family(s) toward the staff/other families, licensing, inability to meet the child and/or family needs, unexcused absences, child's inability to benefit from a group care setting, non-payment of family fees/tuition, failure to abide by any policies outlined in this Parent Handbook.

Good Shepherd Preschool is committed to providing an environment that is free from conduct that can be considered harassing, coercive, or disruptive, including sexual harassment.

Parking, classrooms, playground areas, and other Good Shepherd Preschool premises may be monitored/recorded with video or other surveillance for purposes of protecting Good Shepherd property. This system is in no way intended to provide anyone with personal security.

The school uses or may use video surveillance/recording in public areas (not in restrooms or other changing areas).

Both sites are serviced every other month by a local pest management company.