PARENT HANDBOOK
Join Our Early Childhood Committees
We want your expertise!! We invite you to work together with the Early Childhood Director, Early Childhood Assistant Director, Early Childhood Administrative Assistant, teachers, assistant teachers and other parents to plan and staff our preschool fundraising activities and special programs. At the JCC, parents provide critical input on curriculum, marketing, and facilities, which helps to improve our school. Each activity is meant to benefit our program. In addition, each classroom has one or two class parents who provide acrucial communication link with classroom families. (See class parent job description). Please get involved in our school for your child’s benefit as well as your own.
Class Parent Job Description
This critical volunteer position is designed to help other parents, the classroom teachers, the Early Childhood Director, and/or the Early Childhood Committee. More specifically, the job includes:
1. Attendance at all Early Childhood Committee Meetings (approximately 8 meetings held, generally held the first Wednesday of the month)
Welcome all first time parents in the class to CPS, extending hospitality, encouraging involvement, explaining policies & procedures, and answering questions/concerns throughout the year.
2. Helping teacher, director, or Early Childhood Committee to contact parents by phone related to specific events, snow days, calendar changes, etc.
Parking Lot Etiquette
When driving down the lane towards Center Play School, maintain 5 m.p.h. and do not use a cell phone. For the safety of all, we ask for your utmost alertness. Parking for drop-off/pick-up or longer term is permitted along the fence, around the back circle, and along all non-yellow or blue curbing. Ten minute parking for drop off/pick up is permitted directly to the side of the school. Otherwise, this area must remain clear during the day in case of emergencies. NO PARKING (other than handicapped) IS PREMITTED IN THE AREA DESIGNATED FOR THE BUS. Ocean Township Police do monitor the area and will ticket.
Parent Teacher Communication
At Center Play School we view our program as a partnership among our staff, our parents, and our students. We encourage open communication between parents and teachers. Please share any concerns you may have as well as successes. Many factors from your child’s personal life may influence their behavior and success in school. Sharing any changes, both positive and negative, help us interact with your child for the benefit of all. Our teachers provide regular communication through newsletters so that you are informed about what’s happening. Center Play School also publishes a general monthly newsletter.
Informal initial reports are prepared for each child in November. At mid-year more formal progress reports are sent home to parents and teachers. Parent-Teacher conferences are available twice a year for all students and are scheduled specifically for our Kindergarten students. Our teachers and director are available at any time to set up an appointment with a parent to address any concerns. Please call Center Play School office to set up a meeting at any time.
School notices are distributed to each child either in his/her lunchbox or backpack. You are asked to put any communications you might have with the teacher in writing and place in the lunch box. Please make sure to alert the teacher and office of changes in after school plans, by phone and/or in writing by 2 PM.
Attendance and Absence
Our 3-day programs are run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our 2-day programs are run Tuesdays and Thursdays. THERE ARE NO SUBSTITUTIONS OF DAYS due to absences. This is only fair.
Center Play School Policies
Arrivals
Classroom doors will open 5 minutes before start time and teachers will be available at that time for your children. Teachers use the time before classes to set up their rooms for the day. If you arrive earlier, please gather in the Center Play School lobby or utilize our before-care service (for a fee).
Children are walked to their classroom by a parent and must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times in our school.
Children who are brought to school by our van service or public school transportation are met by one of our staff members and escorted to their classroom.
Dismissal
Children are to be picked up promptly at dismissal time.
Children who use our van service are walked to the van by a staff member.
Each child will only be released to the authorized custodian, parent, or guardian. WE MUST HAVE AUTHORIZATION FOR A CHANGE IN THESE ARRANGEMENTS. Legal documentation must be provided to the JCC in the event of special situations.
In case of an emergency we have asked for emergency names and phone numbers on our information form. Any unfamiliar person will be asked for identification.
Lateness
If you are bringing any child late after arrival time or picking up earlier than dismissal time, please check in first at the early childhood office.
We will not leave any child unsupervised at any time. However, we ask that you respect our school hours and pick your child up promptly.
Children not picked up ten minutes after dismissal time will be placed in after-care and parents will be charged a minimum $3.00 fee.
In special circumstances, please call the early childhood office if you see that you will be unavoidably late so we can prepare your child. After ten minutes past dismissal time, children will go to our after-care service and a minimum fee of $3.00 will be charged.
J-Zone
The J-Zone is available most days after school from 3:00 - 4:30 for CPS students and their families and JCC members. Exceptions to this are for scheduled JCC birthday parties or use by our after-care program. Guidelines for use are as follows:
1. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, both in the J-Zone and to the water fountain or bathroom.
2. Other than the bathroom, no one is permitted in the classrooms. Children must be accompanied to the bathroom by an adult.
3. Shoes are to be removed when using the J-Zone.
4. No rough housing.
5. No adults permitted on the equipment.
6. No food is permitted in the J-Zone at any time. Please remove any trash when leaving.
7. The inflatable moon bounce may not be operated during these hours.
Emergency School Closings
School Closings will be announced on FM radio WJLK 94.3, Television or internet News 12 New Jersey, as well as a call provided by class parents. Parents may also call the JCC main number or the CPS number - 732-531-9100 X180 - for a recorded message. There are times that CPS is open when public or other private schools in the area are closed. There are times when CPS will have a delayed opening at 10am for all students without transportation provided. In the event of a weather-related closure a decision will be made by 7 AM. In the event of a closure during the day, the phone chain will be activated and parents will be asked to pick up children as soon as possible. On these days the director will remain until all children are picked up.
Food
The JCC and Center Play School follow kosher dietary laws and is “J.S.O.R.”(Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate) kosher. Children attending all of our programs will eat lunch as part of the school day. Please send your child to school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with a dairy pareve lunch. Please send your child to school on Tuesday and Thursday with a meat or pareve lunch. Suggestions for a pareve lunch are pasta without cheese, tuna, egg salad, or peanut butter and jelly. If any foods are not allowed in your child’s classroom due to allergies, you will be notified before the first day of school. Please send a beverage along with your child’s lunch. Make sure your child’s lunch containers are labeled with your child’s name. All packaged food should have one of the following labels: (Kosher Symbols)
· A daily snack is provided to all children.
· Friday is Pizza Day. For an additional monthly fee handled through your child’s teacher, a special lunch is provided to those participating children.
· Center Play School offers an optional, Kosher lunch for an additional fee, prepared by our J-Café.
· If you have any further questions on what to send for lunch, please speak with your child’s teacher or the director.
· The Café lunch program was created as a convenience but is a great alternative if you are not able to meet our standards of Kashrut.
The teacher reserves the right to return food items if not properly marked.
Security
Center Play School is a locked facility. During the l hours of 8am- 3:30pm, entry and exit is by either the CPS lobby door or the JCC hallway door. You press the buzzer, will be identified through camera and voice, and then permitted entry. Please report immediately to the Early Childhood office to check in. Before and After these hours, all entry is through the JCC main entrance in the middle of the building.
Birthday Celebrations
A birthday is a very special time for your preschooler and kindergarten child. We welcome classroom celebrations. Please discuss your plans with your child’s teacher at least one week before the planned celebration. We will not distribute party invitations or thank you notes. Please be considerate of children’s religious observances and plan parties at times other than Shabbat.
All food brought for a party must be certified kosher. No homemade cakes are acceptable. Please look for the following symbols on packaged food such as cakes, cookies, ice cream, or cupcakes. The teacher reserves the right to return food items if not properly marked. Goody bags, balloons, outside entertainment, and pizza are generally not a part of our in school celebrations. Our teachers plan something extra special for each celebration. We have a “Birthday Books” program in honor of your child’s special day. You may choose a new book for your child’s classroom. A special bookplate with your child’s name is placed in the book and the parents may come is to read the book as part of the Birthday celebration.
Jewish Holidays
As a Jewish Pre-School, Center Play School only observes Jewish, Israeli, and American holidays. The holiday of Halloween and Valentines Day are not celebrated. As such, no candy or cards can be sent in or distributed at school for either of those or any other non-Jewish holidays.
Clothing and Blankets
We encourage a hands-on atmosphere throughout preschool. This means getting messy and dirty. Please dress your child in clothes that are easily laundered and that are carefree. This includes comfortable footwear, which is suitable for gym and playground play.
· Each child should have a complete set of labeled clothing to be left in school in a shoebox. This includes underwear and socks. This clothing should be updated for each seasonal change. If your child brings home a soiled article of clothing, please replace it promptly.
· On swim days, please send your child with a bathing suit and a towel and make sure your child is wearing clothing that is easily taken off and on.
A swim bag will be provided for you.
· On gym days make sure your child is wearing socks and sneakers.
· During the winter months make sure your child has a hat, gloves, and boots as we enjoy outdoor play whenever the weather permits.
· Children in our 10:00- 3:00 or 9:00-3:00 Alef Bet and Kindervelt programs will have a ½ hour rest period each day. Please send to school a fitted crib-sheet and a small blanket. Make sure each item is labeled with your child’s name. These items will be sent home periodically to be washed.
Health
The following guidelines are to be followed when evaluating your child’s health. Please keep your child at home when any of the following conditions occur.
- Fever of 101 F (rectally) or higher
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rashes (unless confirmed by a doctor to be non-contagious)
- Breathing problems
- Conjunctivitis or pink eye
- Bronchitis
- Impetigo (red pimples surrounded by a reddened area)
- Severe cold with fever, sneezing, green and yellow mucus
- Ear infection that is draining
- Any contagious disease (a child must have a doctor’s note to return to school after a contagious disease such as chicken pox, strep throat, or head lice)
- Severe pain or discomfort
- Strep throat, severe coughing
- Infected skin patches
- An usually tired, pale, lethargic child whose behavior is different from his/her norm.
This will protect your child as well as others
· Children on antibiotic medication must remain at home for at least one calendar day after beginning medication
If a child becomes ill at school, the parent or other emergency contacts provided by the parents will be notified to pick the child up. The child will be cared for in the school director’s office until the child is picked up. For the sake of the health of the staff and students alike, the teacher and director reserve the right to refuse attendance of sick children, or to send sick children home early. Sick children awaiting parental pick-up will be separated from the classroom to wait for a parent in the CPS office.
Medication Policy
The school will administer medication to a child only if the parent or guardian gives the teacher the medicine in its ORIGINAL packaging and signs an authorization form stating the type of medicine, reasons for administering it, the time it is to be given, and the amount to be given. Each child MUST have a current medical form and an emergency authorization form on file in the Center Play School office before the first day of school.
Toys from Home
While children may bring toys from home during special “show and tell” programs in each class, we discourage children from bringing toys from home at other times. We cannot be responsible for broken or lost toys. We do not permit toy weapons at the JCC.
Toilet Training
We welcome children to our Aleph Bet and Kindervelt program who are toilet trained or not. If your child is not toilet trained, please send in diapers and wipes to be kept in your child’s classroom.
If you begin toilet training your child, please inform your child’s teacher so that she can reinforce the training and arrangements can be made for extra clothing, pull-ups, etc.
Children in our nursery program are expected to be toilet trained at the start of school. We begin our swimming program in our nursery classes and any child who is not trained may not take part in this program. Parents are encouraged to discuss any difficulties with toilet training with the director prior to the start of school.
Children in our Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Kindergarten Enrichment programs must be toilet trained.
Extended Care
Center Play School offers before care for students, their siblings, and JCC members. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8am - 1:00 pm. Half-day students can extend to full day (1 - 3 pm) as staffing allows. After-care is provided from 3:00 - 5:30 pm for CPS students. Extended care is a fee for service payable through vouchers purchased at the JCC Front Desk. Regular daily usage of the service will be billed on a monthly basis payable by the 5th of the following month. Vouchers must be presented to the Extended Care Staff on duty in order to use the service. Credit will not be extended for this service.
Parents of infants are asked to provide diapers, wipes, bottles, change of clothes, and a blanket. Babies in diapers are expected to be clean or changed by a parent upon drop-off. Emergency and medical information must be provided for all non-CPS students. Advance reservations are requested by calling 732-531-9100 Ext. 163; otherwise children will be accepted on a first come/first serve basis.
