Parent Handbook

Sky Valley Preschool Academy 

Parent Handbook 

"Growing Great Kids"

Mission Statement:
The mission of Sky Valley Preschool Academy is to provide a superior foundation for early childhood education, emphasizing holistic student development. We integrate a rigorous academic program with specialized physical education, utilizing our exceptional on-site gymnastics center to build a well-rounded child with confidence and strong self-esteem. 

Class Description:

The Two's Program

Our Two's program is a child's first step into an independent learning environment, focusing on a supportive transition away from parents. Offered for 3.5 hours a day, two, three, or five days a week, the curriculum introduces foundational skills such as sentence formation, color and shape recognition, following directions, and developing positive social behaviors. The supportive transition is encouraged through interactive play, songs, and creative arts and crafts. A highlight of the daily schedule is a dedicated gymnastics class and supervised playtime in the gym. This class maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1 to ensure personalized attention.

The Three's Program

The Three's program is designed for children becoming more independent and socially adept. Available two, three, or five days a week, the curriculum revolves around "Circle Time" themes that align with holidays, seasons, and various world cultures. Daily activities are designed to build essential skills through number recognition exercises, language development, manipulative centers, science exploration, creative art projects, and a daily gymnastics class. The program maintains an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

The Pre-K Program (Fours & Fives)

The Pre-K program prepares children for kindergarten through a comprehensive, engaging curriculum offered two, three, or five days a week (half or full days). This class introduces more advanced math concepts, language and writing skills, utilizing a variety of learning modalities including manipulative centers, a computer and reading lab, art, and a daily gymnastics class. Similar to the Three's program, "Circle Time" follows themes that incorporate holidays, seasons, and world cultures. The primary objective is to ensure each child is fully prepared for kindergarten to the best of their individual ability. This class maintains an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

A Typical Day at Preschool:

Our daily schedule is designed to provide a balanced mix of structured and flexible activities, though the flow of the day may be adjusted to accommodate spontaneous learning opportunities and the children's interests.

• Arrival & Free Exploration: Children transition into the classroom and engage in quiet, self-selected activities at various learning centers as their peers arrive.
• Recess & Active Play: Students enjoy open gym time that includes both free play and organized, teacher-led physical activities designed to develop gross motor skills.
• Circle Time: This teacher-led group time fosters early literacy and math skills through activities like discussing the calendar, current events, weather, stories, and music.
• Centers & Creative Expression: Children explore a variety of learning centers and craft activities that align with our monthly theme.
• Snack Time (Mid-Class): A healthy snack is provided roughly mid-morning. We operate a monthly snack rotation where each family is assigned a day to bring a snack for the class. Snack menus are sent home in advance, so you are always aware of what your child is eating each day.
• Gymnastics & Small Group Instruction: The class is divided into two groups. For 30 minutes, one group receives instruction from a trained gymnastics coach while the other participates in small group/work time with the teacher, focusing on individualized learning or fine motor skills. The groups then switch activities.
• Lunch & Full-Day Transition: Children staying for the full day transition to lunch as the half-day students are dismissed and the afternoon class arrives.
  

Daily Preschool Gymnastics Classes:
Led by experienced coaches, our 30-minute daily sessions introduce preschoolers to the foundational elements of gymnastics, including vault, bars, beam, floor, trampoline, and rock wall activities. Our curriculum emphasizes fun, safe exploration, developing core skills like balance, agility, and body awareness, while fostering individual growth. 

Clothing:

When selecting attire for preschool, prioritize safety, comfort, and ease of use to promote independent dressing skills. Weather-appropriate, comfortable clothing that allows for a full range of motion, such as a leotard or a T-shirt and shorts/leggings, is ideal for activity in a gym environment. Avoid garments with dangling strings, zippers, or excessive buttons, which can pose a safety hazard or be difficult for young children to manage alone. For footwear, ensure your child wears or brings socks and athletic shoes that are easy for them to put on and take off without adult help (slip-on or hook-and-loop closure shoes/boots rather than complex laces).

Tuition & Payment Information: 

Payments are expected by the first of the month. A 10-day grace period is provided; however, a $25.00 late fee will be assessed for payments postmarked or received after the 10th. We encourage you to contact our office in advance if you foresee any payment difficulties. Your monthly payment reflects the total academic year tuition spread over ten equal installments. You can select your automatic payment to process on the 1st, 5th, or 10th of each month for convenient scheduling.  

To discontinue classes, a formal [30-day written notice] is required. You remain responsible for all payments due throughout the 30-day notice period. If proper written notice is not provided, your account will automatically be charged for the following month. Please note that all registration fees are non-refundable.

Arrival:

To ensure a smooth start and respectful transitions, please ensure your child arrives on time and not more than 5 minutes before class begins. A late pickup fee of $25 will be applied to your account after the first 5 minutes. Please call us if you anticipate a delay, as children become distressed when they're the last one left.

Absence: 

Please call the office if your child will not be attending class. You can also message your child's teacher on Remind.   

What to bring to class: 

Children need a backpack that is spacious enough for bringing home worksheets and projects, as well as a change of clothes in case of an accident, and a coat. They also need a refillable water bottle each day. Please ensure that water bottles arrive filled with clean water at the start of class each day. No juice or milk.

Nap or Rest Time:

Children who stay at school all day will be provided a scheduled rest time after lunch. We will supply a rest mat. Please send a sheet and cover (e.g., small blanket) for your child's use. These washable items will be sent home for laundering on Fridays and must be returned to school on Mondays. 

Folders/Communication: 

We will regularly send home school work and craft projects with your child; please make it a habit to check their backpack daily for these items. For consistent and up-to-date communication, we rely on the Remind app, which is our primary platform for announcements. This is where you can expect to find our regular communications, school calendars, monthly snack menus, and sign-up sheets for classroom parties and events. 

Field Trips: 

Field trips are an included component of your registration. Occasionally, a special event may be planned that requires an additional fee for which you will be responsible.

To ensure participation, please submit all necessary permission slips by the designated deadline. A signed permission slip is mandatory for your child to attend any field trip, regardless of your presence.

Transportation will be provided via private vehicles. If you wish to drive, you must provide a valid driver's license and current proof of insurance.

To manage logistics and maintain focus on the registered students, siblings are generally requested not to attend. This policy ensures that accompanying adults can fully dedicate their attention and supervision to the students during the outing.

Non School Days: 

Please note the following scheduled breaks and holidays. For specific dates, please consult the official school calendar:

• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving and the following day
• Christmas Break
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day)
• Presidents' Day
• Spring Break
• Memorial Day
  

Snack: 

Snacks will be served daily during class. We ask that parents provide these daily snacks on a rotating basis; please consult your child's lesson plan or class schedule to determine your assigned day.

Snacks will be specified on the snack menu so that you know exactly what to bring on your assigned snack day. 

Due to student allergies and safety regulations, all food items must be store-bought and in their original, sealed packaging. Home-prepared items will not be accepted.

Lunch:

If your child stays all day, you are responsible to bring a healthy sack lunch for them. They will eat lunch each day from 12:00-12:30PM.

Illness:

To maintain a healthy learning environment for all students and staff, please adhere to the following guidelines regarding student illnesses:

• Symptoms of illness: Students exhibiting symptoms such as a cough, a green or gold runny nose, or general signs of being unwell must not attend school.
• Fever, vomiting, or diarrhea: If your child has experienced a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the last 24 hours, they must remain at home.
• Reporting absences: Please contact the school office to report your child's absence and the reason for it.
• Illness at school: Should your child become ill during school hours, you will be contacted immediately and are required to pick them up promptly.

Allergies:   

It is your responsibility to provide updated information regarding your child’s health and dietary needs to the school office and your child's teacher.

Please inform us immediately if your child has any allergies (food or otherwise), or if any new allergies develop during the school year.

Additionally, please notify us of any specific dietary preferences or restrictions your child may have. This includes requirements for religious reasons, or choices such as vegetarian, vegan, or the exclusion of certain meats (e.g., pork).

Discipline and Behavior Management Policy: 

Behavior Guidance

Our program emphasizes redirecting behavior before a time-out is necessary. When challenging behavior first appears, we proactively guide the child toward more positive actions or a different activity. The goal is to correct the behavior and encourage self-regulation without resorting to removal from the group activity. This might involve prompting them to use their words, offering a different toy, or moving them to a less stimulating area to help them regain control on their own. 

If redirection is unsuccessful and a child continues with aggressive or disruptive behaviors that require immediate cessation (such as hitting or biting), a brief, supervised "cool-down" or "thinking time" is used. This is not a punishment, but a safe space for the child to regain emotional control and prepare to re-engage positively.

• Duration: The cool-down period is brief, not exceeding one minute per year of the child's age (e.g., a 4-year-old would have a maximum of 4 minutes).
• Re-entry: Children are welcomed back into the group activity as soon as they are calm and ready to participate appropriately.
• Usage: Time-out is used sparingly and consistently only for behaviors that pose a safety risk or severely disrupt the environment.

Program Dismissal Criteria

Consistent behavioral challenges that are unmanageable despite intervention may result in a request for the child to un-enroll from the program. We work with families to the best of our ability to prevent this outcome.

Attendance and Enrollment (DSHS Clients)

For clients receiving services through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), enrollment requires consistent attendance. Clients who are absent for more than five program days may be subject to disenrollment from the program.