1. Program Coordinator: Montessori Philosophy, Pre-Primary curriculum, after-school program, and discipline policy.
2. Program Director: Daily operations and concerns, licensing, scheduling, fees, statements, adjustments and parent meetings.
3. Classroom Teacher: Progress of a specific child. If parents have an urgent concern, they are asked to schedule a conference with the Program Director. For routine matters, please write a note (teachers may not leave the classroom to talk to parents).
4. Front Desk and Admissions: Phone calls, message relays, medication & special activity forms, special schedules, welcoming and releasing of children
A registration form and medical form must be completed before enrollment is accepted. The medical form must be given to the academy no later than two weeks after enrollment in order for your child to continue attending Montessori Academy. THE STUDENTS' NAME SHOULD BE ON EACH ARTICLE OF CLOTHING AND BACK PACKS SO THAT LOST ITEMS CAN BE RETURNED WHEN FOUND. THE ACADEMY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR MISPLACED ITEMS.
Morning classes begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Pre-Primary children enter through the hall main door near the front desk, or if they have a sibling, in the infant/toddler section. All children are encouraged to carry their own belongings to class. For the sake of security, parents may not freely roam the hallways at any time unless escorted by a staff member. The Academy of Infants opens at 6:00 a.m. and has a separate entrance.
It is natural for youngsters to have a little separation anxiety for several days or longer while adjusting to their new surroundings. Parents can help by making their good-byes as short as possible. Prolonged drop-off routines actually increase anxiety in the children. (if this is a good place, why is mom afraid to leave me here?) Children who cry when dropped off usually stop as soon as they get out of their parent's view. If their parents accompany them to class, the crying lasts longer and creates further anxiety in children who have already settled in.
Our buildings are open from 6.30 a.m. to 6:30 PM; children brought earlier than opening or picked up after 6:30 p.m. will be late. Late charges for children who are not picked up by 6:30 p.m. is $5.00 for every five minutes or any portion thereof. This should be paid to the person in charge.
The following holidays the buildings remain closed 2:00 p.m. on New Years Eve, New Year's Day., Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Enrollment at A-1 Montessori Academy is a perpetual monthly contract. Parents who wish to withdraw their child must give one month's written notice to the academy prior to the date of withdrawal. In case parents are unable to give one month notice, they are required to pay one month of tuition.
A child who is apparently ill will not be admitted to academy. If your child becomes ill, you will be notified and requested to immediately pickup your child. All parents will be notified of all communicable diseases within the center as soon as possible. If your child has a fever or contagious illness he/she must be kept at home. Parents are encouraged to observe their children for signs and symptoms of contagious disease. Students identified with symptoms of disease are to be excluded from academy until free of symptoms, or when a physician's statement of non-communicable illness is produced. After an illness, students should be free of fever for 24 hours (without fever reducing medicine) prior to readmission (fever is considered a temperature of 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit or above). If a child has vomited during the night, it is requested that he or she be kept home the following day.
Medication is administered as a courtesy to the Parent. All academy policies MUST be followed in order for your child's medication to be given. Students should never have any type of medicine in their bags during the academy day. All medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, should be given directly to the front desk in its original container. Times for administering daily are at 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. only. We ask that you adjust your medication schedule at home to accommodate ours to facilitate distribution. The academy cannot administer dosages in excess of doctor's or manufacturers recommendations. If you child is under the age printed on the bottle, a written doctor's notice MUST be given in order to administer.
Medication must be taken home every evening. A-1 Montessori Academy will not be held accountable for any misplaced or spilled medication. These guidelines are mandated by the Texas Department of Human Resources.
In general drop-in visits with the student are discouraged. However, parents may sign-in at the front desk and view class from the hallway with an administrative staff. Please select a time other than busy "Pick-up and Dismissal Periods" for observation. All visitors must be on an approved list to visit or pickup the child.
Positive redirection, time out, natural or logical consequence, isolation from the group (sit and think) are all part of our discipline structure. Use of the "Peace Table" has proven an asset with two students who need redirection with their interaction. If all resources fail, a parent conference will be scheduled.
Fire Drill procedures are posted in each room. Practices are held regularly.
Change of Address, Phone Number or Emergency Contact
The Program Coordinator and front desk should be notified immediately of a change in the cell, home or business telephone numbers or change email or address. Up- to-date information is essential for the academy, in order to handle emergencies successfully and to maintain communication with parents. All families will be required to complete a new enrollment form annually.
Even for young children, punctuality is important. All teachers start class with a group time (circle). During this time, procedures are detailed and demonstrations for the day's lessons are given. Children who are late miss out on this important learning experience and don't know how to do much of the day's work. They also feel isolated from the group when joining late. Regular attendance is important for continuity. If attendance is sporadic, the child forgets how to do much of the work. The teacher must "re-teach" before the child can go to the next lesson.
If your child will be absent from academy, please call the office so the teacher can be notified.
The academy vacation days are set well in advance. Parents are urged to avoid extended vacations during scheduled academy days.
All Pre-primary children are required to take a rest period. Sleeping mats are provided by school; and blankets can provide by the parents. Personal items from home are not permitted. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to the Program Director.
For your child's safety, dismissal is facilitated only through the front desk or through a teacher who recognizes all persons authorized to pick up your child. Please do not expect to pick up your child at a location on campus other than the front desk. The academy will not release a child to anyone without your authorization. If you wish for an "unfamiliar" person to pick up child, you must write a note or phone the academy in advance. The person picking up the child must have identification.
If your child is enrolled only for a class, a late pick-up fee of $15.00 per 15 (fifteen) minutes will be charged if the child is not picked up on time.
In case of bad weather, A-1 Montessori Academy will follow the leading school district. Stay tuned to radio (740 AM) and television (channels 11 and 13) for announcements of academy closings.
It is a policy of the management that records will not be released to another academy or day care if all debts are not paid in full.
Parents should keep in mind that most of the children's work is manipulative in nature and cannot be brought home. The best gauge of your child's development is the increase in vocabulary, general knowledge, increase in independence and social skills.
Lost articles will be placed at the front desk. After a reasonable amount of time unclaimed articles are given to the needy.
A-1 Montessori Academy will provide hot, nutritious meals.
Nutritional guidelines are still important on special occasions. Whereas each child has a birthday only once a year, the class as a whole can participate in a number of different celebrations in a single week. Please send food that does not require a great deal of teacher preparation time. Cake should not have a thick layer of icing. Please consider alternatives such as cupcakes without icing, pizza, muffins, chips and dip, etc. Please bring milk or fruit juice instead of soft drinks or fruit punch.
Favors are not necessary. Please do not send latex balloons, confetti or noisemakers. Do not send anything that can be considered a choking hazard.
Special occasions should bring out the best, not the worst, in children. Parties are not justification for misbehavior. Behavioral guidelines still must be followed, and natural and logical consequences still apply.
Before scheduling a party, please fill out the birthday party form, notifying the teacher of your plans. Classmates' listings are not provided. Distribution of birthday party invitations at academy is not permitted.
Please take time to label your child's belongings/backpack. Remember, we are taking care of more than one child. Other children may have similar clothing of the same brand. Please check your child's bag before you leave the academy to make sure all your child's belongings are present. The academy shall not be responsible for any lost articles of clothing, blankets, etc. Toys brought from home are not permitted. Please leave toys in the car before entering the building.
Communications between parent and academy are very important. Please contact the respective director if any of your concerns are not covered here. If your concern is not urgent, we would appreciate if you write us an email.