Marlborough, MA 01752, 508-597-1416 
Saint Anne Montessori School
720 Boston Post Rd, East,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Click on the desired item
and go directly to it)
(Or Scroll Down thru the
Handbook)
Organizational Information and Services Provided 3
General Policies and Procedures 5
Appreciating Different Cultures
Parent Teacher Conference Reports
Termination 13
Abuse and Neglect Procedures 14
Emergency Healthcare Procedures Transportation Plan 15
Medication 16
Criteria for Excluding an Ill of
Infected Child From an Early Childhood
Program 17
List of Illnesses or Infections
Procedure for Children’s Records 19
Research and Experimentation: Unusual Treatment
Parent Information On Our Emergency Action Plan 21
Curriculum Guide 23-27
Hours for the First Week of School 30
P A R E N T H A N D B O O K
Saint
Anne Montessori School is a school that strives to be faithful to modeling and
fostering Gospel values in care, in understanding, in education. “Let the little children come unto “Me for
of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”.
Saint
Anne Montessori School is owned and operated by the Sisters of Saint Anne of
Saint Marie Province. It was founded as
a non-profit institution in 1964. Our
school provides a preschool experience for children between the ages of three
and six. An interview is required
before acceptance is granted.
Saint
Anne Montessori School does not discriminate in providing services to children
and their families on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, political
beliefs, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
Maria
Montessori based her philosophy on respect and love for children. We believe in and support these ideals in
all that we do. We strive for a
harmonious balance of freedom and structure.
We encourage the children to be
independent, assisting them only when necessary. We provide the limits necessary for comfort
and security while allowing the children to make their own choices.
Careful
observation of each child allows us to draw conclusions about what interests a
child. It allows us to see not only how
the child approaches a task but gives us a clear indication of his/her
coordination, ability to concentrate and his/her sense of order. These basic skills are vital for all future
learning. This information becomes
essential as we prepare to introduce the child to new activities. We build on what the child already knows and
then increase the challenge and interest level as the child progresses. This is the premise on which any true
developmental program is based.
What a
child learns in school reflects how successful the school is in helping the
child make the academic and social connections necessary for his/her
growth. However, no child can be
successful without the support and understanding of his/her family. The family is the vital link in the child’s
development. What a child learns at
home reflects the values which the family considers important for the child’s
development within the family structure.
The triangle which this creates, the school - the child - the family,
forms the structure upon which the child’s security depends. By sharing the responsibility for the
child’s support we
can
witness together the child’s joy in his/her success and participate with the
child in his/her continued progress.
The Saint Anne Montessori program is designed with the following goals
in mind:
-To assist children in their
learning process by presenting developmentally appropriate lessons.
-To develop a positive self-image by
helping the child to grow in both physical and mental independence,
self-confidence and self-discipline.
-To foster global awareness by exploring
cultural diversity and similarity.
-To increase environmental consciousness
by modeling environmental respect.
-To develop a life long love of learning.
Organizational
Information and Services Provided
The
Province Leaders for the Sisters of Saint Anne are the Licensee for the Saint Anne Montessori
School. As Licensee, the Province
Leaders and their Council have designated Kathleen Finn to act as an agent for the
licensee. Kathleen Finn shall be
responsible for the center administration.
The individual designated meets
the administrator requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education anc Care (EEC).
The
finance director maintains an accurate
account of the finances.
Chapter
28, Section 10 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
mandates to the EEC the legal responsibility of promulgating rules and
regulations governing the operation of day care centers (including nursery
schools). Therefore, the EEC is the licensing authority for Saint Anne
Montessori School.
Saint
Anne Montessori School provides educational services for children between the
ages of 3 and 6. Children of this age
can be enrolled for a half-day program only.
Children who are 5 on or before
September 1, will be considered as members of the Kindergarten class for
purposes of school placement the following September.
We
believe that children benefit most from the
program if they attend a Montessori School for three years. Children who enter at age 3 and remain through Kindergarten will have
the best opportunity for success. At times, some of our Kindergarten children
attend a half day program here as well as a half day program in the public
school. In January, the public school system switches children from one
session to the other. They do not
make exceptions for any child. Please be informed that it is impossible for
us to accommodate “switching sessions” in January. Please be aware of this policy before signing the contract.
The
Montessori materials are designed to meet the needs of children operating at
various levels of development. They
progress from the simple, familiar activities which our youngest children do, to those which are more complex and
appeal to a more advanced student. The children also gain valuable social
skills while working within a mixed age, family-like grouping.
1. Parent calls for information and has
child’s name put on wait list.
2.
In January, parent and child are invited to come in for a tour of the
school, meet the teachers,
and have a meeting
with the director.
3. A
non-refundable registration fee is required after acceptance to the
program.
We try
to enroll children from various cultural backgrounds and religions, and strive
to have a balance of ages and genders
in our groupings. Acceptance is
on a first come, first served basis,
bearing in mind these parameters.
The
EEC requires thirty-five square feet of
indoor activity space per child. We
more than exceed this requirement. The EEC
teacher/student ratio for our age grouping is 1/12. Our class
has 36 children, and 3 full time teachers.
Our
Montessori program supports the view that
we learn from each other during all stages of life. In this view, we strive for a balance of ages in our classrooms
so our youngest students may learn by
modeling older children and our older children will have opportunities to share
their accomplishments with younger members of their group.
1. The registration fee is non-refundable.
2. The
tuition deposit is non-refundable.
3. The
full tuition will be paid if a family decides to withdraw a child from the
Program.
4. If the staff requests that a child be
withdrawn from the Program, the tuition will be prorated.
5. All children will be immunized according to
the EEC Regulations and the parent will provide the school with
a completed, current physical examination form
prior to admission.
6. The law states that every child in
Massachusetts must be tested for lead.
The first test must be done between the ages of 9 and 12 months. Children must be tested again at ages 2 and
3. If you live in a high risk
neighborhood, your child must have a lead test before they begin Kindergarten.
General
Policies and Procedures
Transportation Transportation
is the responsibility of the parents.
You will be given a class list which
includes the names, addresses and phone numbers of our families. It is your
responsibility to set up car pools, if desired. You are solely responsible for the care and safety of all
children in your car pools.
Please
notify us in writing of your car pool arrangements. If there is to be a change, even for one
day, you must notify us. We will not
release your child to any unauthorized person.
? Please
keep your child in the car until the car reaches the school entrance.
? Please
have your child get in and out of the car by the left side of the car.
It is good training to have
your child arrive on time. Children
feel very uncomfortable when they walk
into an “already” busy room.
? It
is equally important to pick up your child on time. There are many little
chores to be done during the lunch break as well as after school.
? When
picking up your child, please advance your car a little before putting on the
seat belt. This will help to keep
things moving.
? Please
place your child’s name card in the driver’s window at pick up time.
? Please
do not block the entrance to the
parking lot.
If you need to talk to a
parent or teacher, please park your car
in the parking lot.
? The
Massachusetts State Law requires all
children under the age of five to wear a seat belt or appropriate child
restraint.
Students of Saint Anne Montessori
School do not go on field trips.
Inclement
weather necessitating school closing will be announced on WSRO 1470.
Please
be good enough to listen to the radio or
T.V. channels 4 , 5, or 7,or go to the Internet: cbs4boston.com, the bostonchannel.com, whdh.com, click on school closings
in the early hours of the
morning.
? If
Marlboro schools close for the day, we will be closed.
? If
Marlboro delays, we will have school in the afternoon.
Should it be necessary to close in the afternoon,
we will call you after 10 A.M. If you are not going to be home in the morning
to receive our phone call concerning
the afternoon session, please be good enough to call the school to see if we
are open. Our leaving a message on your phone does not guarantee that you will get the
message on time.
School
clothing should be easy for your child to manage. Overalls, while very comfortable and attractive, are sometimes a
hindrance to a child who might need to use the bathroom on short notice. An extra set of clothes (if you think there
may be a need) should be left at the school, which includes but not
limited to, a shirt, pants, socks,
and underwear. Please assist us by labeling all
clothing that might be changed at school.
When your child wears boots to school he/she must bring a pair of shoes
in a bag. It is much too warm to wear
boots in the classroom.
Please
send us your child’s photograph for his/her file. We would appreciate having this photo before the opening of
school.
We will
have a special celebration on your child’s Birthday. Part of the celebration will be a Birthday walk around the sun (a
candle). The purpose of this walk is
to:
?
to help
the child understand the passing of a
year
? to
recognize how he/she has grown and changed during the years
? to
give the other children an opportunity
to join him/her in celebrating this event.
The
Birthday Walk consists of the child carrying
the globe and walking around the circle. A candle representing the
sun is placed in the center of the
circle. As the child walks around the
circle, the teacher recalls for the
child each year of his/her life,
highlighting special events, people and places. At the conclusion, the child will open his/her little gift from
the school, the group will sing “Happy Birthday” to the child, and then share the special Birthday snack the
child has brought for the occasion. We
would invite you to send in cookies or
small cupcakes for the whole class. We
ask that there be no nuts or peanuts used in the baked goods. We always have children with allergies, so
please keep this in mind.
The
Birthday information sheet you will fill out for your child will help the staff
to make your child’s celebration more meaningful. Children who have weekend Birthdays will celebrate in the week prior to or after their Birthday, summer Birthdays will celebrate
their special day in the month of May.
You, the
Parents, are invited to participate in the “Family Snack Program”. If you choose to participate in the Program,
you would be expected to provide a simple, nutritious snack for your child’s
class, approximately five or six times
a year (this would include your child’s Birthday snack). A calendar would be prepared by the school
at the beginning of the school year, so you would know in advance the snack
days for which you would be responsible.
Your
child will take home the snack basket the day before you are scheduled to send
in the snack. Please remember that this
is a “snack” not a meal. We ask that
you send in “ONE TYPE OF SNACK”, ENOUGH FOR 36 CHILDREN. Sending in more than one kind of food, e.g.,
a combination of raisins, cookies, yogurt, for less than 36 children makes it
almost impossible to have snack at the snack table. Children must make a choice of one food and this can cause
confusion.
In the interest
of keeping all of our children safe, we are a NUT FREE school. Because many of
our children have severe nut allergies, please do not send in any food that
contains, may contain, has been processed on machinery, or in a facility with
any type of nut or sesame seeds.
If you
purchase the snack, please leave it in its original package/container so we can
read the ingredients before serving it.
If you bake the goodies, please include a list of ingredients (including
packaging from cake mixes, chocolate chips, etc.) We must be able to verify the ingredients before we serve
it. If the snack does not contain the
list of ingredients, we will have to return it to you. TELLING us that it is a “Betty Crocker” cake
mix is unacceptable. A snack that is
deemed unsafe will be RETURNED TO YOU.
-crackers and cheese
-raisins / yogurt apple sauce
-nutritious cookies / mini muffins
-food that contains plain M & M’s
(often contaminated with nuts)
-nuts (of course)
-popcorn / celery / whole grapes (food
that may cause choking)
-gummi bears / fruit rollups / fruit
strings / gogurt
Please
have your child leave toys, gum, candy, etc. at home. Sometimes toys from home become lost or broken at school causing
disappointment and eventually tears. We
have a number of materials in the classroom
so that toys are not
needed. We also discourage the wearing
of any jewelry other than small non-dangle earrings. Bracelets, rings and necklaces have proven over the years to be a
hindrance to the child and others.
Parents
with a special talent, career, or hobby
they think would be of interest to the children, are encouraged to make
arrangements with the school office to
set up a time to share this information with the children.
Appreciating Different Cultures
In
today’s world, it is increasingly important for children to understand people
of other nationalities. If we ever want
to achieve peace, we have to begin by teaching children how to understand and
accept very real similarities as well as differences. The impressions and values of respect for each other will be
with them forever.
If you
can help us in any way to make that which is truly foreign to the child’s
experience come alive, please call the school office and share your ideas.
Parent/Teacher Conferences/Reports
Communication
between staff and families is important
to us.
Informal communication is encouraged.
Feel free to discuss any concerns you may have. Please inform us of any
changes or problems occurring in your child’s life which may affect him/her
during the school day. Any kind of
change affects your child whether it be something positive such as going on
vacation or starting school or something negative such as sickness in the
family or a parent away on business. No
matter what the change is it can be stressful for the child.
Keep in
mind that your children interpret experiences and what they overhear through
their three to six year old filter.
Very often, they misinterpret the information.
If you are
concerned about your child’s behavior, it is helpful to inform us of changes in
your household so that we can better help you to understand and address a
change in your child’s behavior. Some
of these changes could be:
-illness of anyone in the household or
extended family
-a sibling home sick from school
-extended visit from a friend or family
member
-parent business trip
-divorce or separation
-new baby
-arguments that have been overheard in the
household
-loss of job
-your own stress from events in your
personal or professional life
The
staff will bring any special problems or significant developments to your attention as
soon as
they arise. Sometimes a brief
conversation can clear the way for excellent communication.
You
may, at any time, request to have a
conference with any of your child’s teachers or with the director. It is difficult to discuss any
issues in depth when the children are arriving or departing. Additionally, we do not like to discuss issues
in front of the child. Please
call the office to set up an appointment should you wish to have a
conference. In the months of November
and May, a written progress report will
be sent to the parents and the staff will be available for individual
conferences with parents at parental
request.
Parents
may make suggestions as to the program or policy of a center, but it is up to
the center to decide whether or not these suggestions will be implemented. The center
shall provide an explanation to the parent when the suggestions are not
adopted by the center. If the parent requests a written response, the licensee
shall respond in writing to the parent.
Parents
may visit the school while their child is present. These visits may be unannounced.
We have two Observation Days in October, February and
May. This is an excellent
opportunity for your child to share with you a dynamic picture of what
life is like Montessori style.
We know
from experience that what you will
actually see is colored by the excitement that your child has at having you here. To observe accurately, we must have deep
respect for whatever we are observing.
To respect the child means just to look at the child, without any
interpretation or judgment...we are thoughtful, sensitive, and caring. Since this
is your Montessori child’s special day, we ask you not to not bring any
siblings. We know your Montessori child
would appreciate “all” your attention.
Though
you may interact with your child, in order to foster individuation and
independence, we appeal to your kind consideration to allow your child to make
his/her own work choices. The children
draw inspiration from their spontaneous activities as they follow their inner
guides.
Saint
Anne Montessori School will use behavior management in a consistent, reasonable
and appropriate way based on an understanding of the individual needs and
development of a child and for protecting the group.
The
goal in discipline is to assist the child in establishing an inner discipline. A
child who needs to be corrected will be spoken to in a quiet but firm voice
about the problem at hand. If the
problem is physical in nature (hitting, pushing, fighting, etc.) the child will be removed from wherever
he/she is and invited to sit in the reading corner or on a chair at the table,
for a few minutes. He/she will be asked
to observe the other children working well together. When the child is calm, he/she will be free to return to work.
-spanking
or other corporal punishment
-subjecting children to cruel or severe
punishment such as humiliation, verbal or physical abuse, neglect or abusive
treatment
-depriving
children of snacks
-force
feeding children
-disciplining
a child for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet
-forcing
a child to remain in soiled clothing
-forcing
a child to remain on the toilet
-using
any other unusual or excessive practices for toileting
When
appropriate and feasible, children shall participate in the establishment of such rules, policies and procedures.
Occasionally
a staff member may have a particular
concern about a child’s academic or
social progress or a child’s well being.
If one of the staff members has
a concern about a child, it is called to the attention of the other
staff members, including the director.
All staff members will begin to
observe the child in question more carefully and examine the observation book for clues.
If staff members agree that a problem exists, an observation report will
be made and the child’s record will be reviewed. Staff members will continue to
document progress of the particular problem in the daily observation book.
Parents will be called in for a special conference
to notify them of the school’s concern about their child. Information shared by parents and staff
members will determine what if any kind
of a referral is needed.
The
director/staff member will be responsible
for documentation in the child’s file.
Recommendations will be placed in the file. The center will advise parents of their rights under Chapter 766 and will also give other
referrals should they choose to go an alternate route. The director/teacher will offer assistance to the child’s parents
in making a referral. If parents
need extra support, the center, with written parental consent, will
contact the referral agency for them.
The
director/staff member will keep contact with parents whose child has been
referred and will be available to speak
with consultants or share in group
meetings at a parent’s request. The
director/staff member will be in contact with the family in question to make
sure that an evaluation is in progress
if needed and to offer any assistance that is needed. If it is determined that
the child is not in need of services or is ineligible to receive services, the
school will review the child’s progress every three months to determine if
another referral is necessary. The
school will maintain a written record of any referrals, including the parent
conferences and results.
When a
child’s behavior warrants an evaluation and a parent is not taking
action after an appropriate amount of time, the director may give the parent a
time frame in which action must be initiated for the child to remain in the
center.
Child at Risk Hotline
1-800-792-5200
Parental Stress Hotline
1-800-632-8188
Marlborough Hospital
508-481-5000
Department of Mental Health
617-626-8000
Poison Prevention Center
1-800-682-9211
Special Education Department Phone Numbers
Marlboro
508-460-3559
Ashland
508-881-0155
Framingham
508-626-9123
Natick
508-647-6510
Sudbury
978-443-1058
Wayland 508-358-7728
The
Staff at Saint Anne Montessori School tries to meet the individual needs of all
children. The program is tailored as
much as possible to recognize that each child
is special and unique and
that each child is
at different stages of development, socially, emotionally and
academically.
The
staff spends a significant amount of
time observing and recording the activities and behaviors of each child to
assist both staff and parents to come to understand the child better. Should the staff have a concern about a
child’s progress after working with and observing a child, the parents will be
asked to come to the school for a conference.
Most concerns are minor and can be easily addressed when parents and
teachers work closely together
for the good of the child.
A child
may be terminated from the school under the following circumstances:
-the health and safety of the child at the
school cannot be assured
-the child’s developmental needs are not being met at the center
-failure to pay tuition fees
Parents will be notified in writing and at a face-to-face meeting when possible,
about the circumstances including the
reasons for termination. A copy of this
letter will be kept in the child’s record.
When
any child is terminated from the school, whether initiated by the school or the parents, the teachers
will prepare the child for termination from the school by talking with the child and the other children about the departing
child and give simple reasons for the departure.
The
child will be given a gift and a special snack will be served. Occasionally, a
child’s departure is sudden and the
child and the school are not given an
opportunity to say goodbye. The
teacher will write a simple goodbye note
addressed to the child.
All
Staff of St. Anne Montessori School are mandated reporters and shall report
suspected child abuse or neglect. Any
suspected cases of child abuse will be brought
forth to the
Director
who will notify the Department of Social Services and then the EEC that a 51A
report has been filed.
Evidence
of abuse will be carefully recorded and documented and placed in a special file. When appropriate, parents will be notified that a 51A is being filed. A system of documentation that addresses the issue of confidentiality will be
exercised throughout the procedure.
The
program director or designee shall cooperate in all investigations of abuse and
neglect, including identifying parents of children currently or previously
enrolled in the program; providing consent
for disclosure to the Office of information from, and allowing the
Office to disclose information to, any person and/or any agency the Office may
specify as necessary to the prompt investigation of allegations and protection
of children. The director understands
that failure to cooperate may be grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal
to issue or renew a license.
Should
there be any allegation that child abuse by a Staff member has occurred, the
Department of Social Services will be notified and then the EEC. An allegedly abusive or neglectful
staff member will be relieved of his/her duties and will not have direct contact
with children until the DSS investigation is completed and for such time
as they or EEC requires. If the Staff
member is proven guilty of child abuse, he/she will instantly be dismissed and
will not be eligible for rehire.
Emergency
Health Care Procedures Transportation Plan
All Staff at Saint Anne Montessori School are
trained in both Pediatric First Aid and CPR.
While we hope never to have to use our skills, we have a carefully
thought out plan to assist with both the injured child and the other children
in the class.
For
minor injuries, the Staff will treat the injury with minor first aid
measures. Parents will be notified of
any minor incident. The school will
inform parents immediately of any injury which requires emergency care beyond
minor first aid and shall inform parents in writing of any first aid
administered to their child within 24 hours of the incident.
In case
of a medical emergency, we will make every effort to contact you. If we are unable to reach you, the person on your child’s emergency form will be called. In case of serious injury, we will call a
rescue/ambulance service (911). They will transport your child to the hospital
listed on your child’s emergency form.
We will take your child’s medical record with us. We will continue to try to reach you with
instructions to meet us at the hospital.
The EEC will be notified as well
if outside medical care is needed.
Any
illness or injury that occurs at the center and requires overnight
hospitalization will be immediately reported to the EEC
Occasionally,
children may become ill while at school.
If a child exhibits symptoms of illness while at school, he/she may rest
in the reading corner while awaiting parental pick up.
Please be sure to notify us of any
change of phone numbers
Saint
Anne Montessori School will not administer any medication to any child except
in the case of a child having severe
allergies and would need an epi pen.
The
necessary medication will be
stored in the First Aid cupboard in the
Montessori office. Dispensing
prescription medication requires written permission from the physician as well
as from the parents. This written
permission must be in the child’s file at the beginning of the school year.
A
written record including child’s name,
date, time the medication was given, the
name of the person who gave it, will be recorded in the medication log.
Criteria
for Excluding An Ill Or Infected Child
From
An Early Childhood Program
Chicken pox: must remain home five days after the onset of the rash or when all
lesions have dried and crusted, whichever is later.
Diarrhea:
must remain home 24 hours after having diarrhea. (more than the child’s
normal number of stools, with increased
stool water or decreased form) that is not controlled by toilet use, or stools
that contain blood and/or mucus.
Head
lice: must remain home 24 hours after
treatment has begun.
Hepatitis: a
virus infection - must remain home for 1 week after onset of illness and jaundice (if any) has disappeared or until
immune serum globulin has been administered
to appropriate children and staff in the program within 2 weeks of
exposure, as directed by the health
department.
Impetigo: must remain
home for 24 hours after treatment was begun.
Measles: must remain home for 4 days after the rash
appears.
Mouth sores: in a child who cannot control
his or her saliva, must remain home, unless
the child’s physician or local health department states the child is
noninfectious.
Mumps: must remain home for 9 days after onset of
gland swelling.
Pertussis: must
remain home until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy has been completed.
Pinworm: must remain home for 24 hours after
treatment has begun.
Purulent conjunctivitis: Pink or
conjunctiva with white or yellow eye discharge, often with matted eyelids after sleep, and eye pain or redness of
the eyelids or skin surrounding the
eye), must remain home for 24 hours after treatment has begun.
Rash: with fever or behavior change, child must remain home
until a physician has determined that the illness is not a communicable
disease.
Ringworm
infection: must remain home until after treatment has begun.
Rubella: must remain home for 7 days after the rash
appears.
Scabies: must remain home until after treatment has
been completed.
Strep throat: must remain home for 24 hours after treatment was begun and
the child has had a normal temperature for 24 hours.
Tuberculosis: must remain home until the child’s physician or local health
department authority states the child
is noninfectious.
Vomiting: twice
or more in the previous 24 hours, unless the vomiting is determined to be due to a noncommunicable
condition and the child is not in danger of dehydration. Child should remain
home for 24 hours after vomiting as a
result of illness.
Children
do not need to be excluded for other minor illnesses unless:
? they
are too sick to participate comfortably in program activities.
? they
need more care than the staffing level allows.
? they
have unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing,
or other signs of possible severe illness.
(Adapted from American Academy
of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases)
If your
child is sick and will not be coming to school, please call to let us know.
If your child has any type of contagious
infection he/she must remain at home until the infection is controlled and your
pediatrician says the child may return to school. This would include:
a. severe
colds
b. pediculosis
(nits)
c. chicken
pox
d. impetigo
e. conjunctivitis
f. rash
accompanied by fever
g. earache
h. sore
throat
-children
should remain at home for the first 24 hours on any antibiotic medication.
-children
should remain at home if there is a suspected reaction to food or medication.
-if
your child is mildly ill, we discourage
you from bringing the child to school.
-if a child becomes mildly ill while at
school, you will be notified and requested to make arrangements to pick up your child as soon as
possible. Until you arrive, your child
will be invited to sit quietly in the reading corner or will be attended to by
the director in the office.
Procedures For Children’s Records
The
information contained in your child’s file is privileged and confidential.
a) The school will not distribute or
release information in a child’s record to anyone not directly related to implementing the program plan for the
child without the written consent of
the child’s parent(s). The school shall notify the parent(s) if a
child’s record is subpoenaed.
b) The child’s parent(s) shall, upon
request, have access to his child’s record at
reasonable times. In no event shall such access be delayed
more than two business days after the
initial request without the consent of the child’s parent(s).
Upon such request for access the
child’s entire record shall be made available regardless of the physical
location of its parts.
c) The school shall establish procedures
governing access to, duplication of, and
distribution of such information, and shall maintain a permanent,
written log in each child’s record indicating any time a child’s record has been released.
? each
time information is released or distributed from a child’s record the following
information should be recorded: the
name, signature, and position of the
person releasing or distributing the
information; the date; the portions of the record which were distributed
or released; the purpose of such
distribution or release; and the
signature of the person to whom the information is distributed or released.
? such
log shall be available only to the
child’s parent(s) and program personnel responsible for record maintenance.
a)
A child’s parent(s) shall have
the right to add information, comments,
data or any other relevant materials
to the child’s record.
b) A child’s parent(s) shall have the
right to request deletion or amendment of any information contained in the child’s record.
? If
the parent(s) is of the opinion that adding information is not sufficient to
explain, clarify, or correct objectionable materials in the child’s record, the
parent shall have the right to have a conference with the licensee to make his/her objections known.
? The
school shall, within one week after the conference, render to the parent(s) a
decision in writing stating the reason or reasons for the decision. If the decision is in favor of the parent(s), steps shall be taken
immediately to put the decision into
effect.
At any
time, representatives from the EEC may request to see school records. They are required to respect and maintain confidentiality. They
may not remove the records from the school.
When
the child is no longer in care, upon written request of the parent(s), the
licensee shall transfer the child’s record to the parent(s), or any other
person the parent(s) identifies.
The
school shall not charge an unreasonable
fee for copies of any information contained in the child’s record.
Research and Experimentation:
Unusual Treatment
The
school will not conduct research, experimentation, or unusual treatment
involving children without the written, informed, consent of the affected
child’s parent(s) or guardian, for each occurrence. At times, Saint Anne
Montessori School has student teachers observing the classroom. Observation shall mean that there is no
unmonitored interaction between the
child and the observers and no identification of the individual child. In no case shall the school allow a child to
be harmed during research, experimentation or unusual treatment. Research and experimentation shall not mean
program evaluation or date collection for purposes of documenting services of
the program which do not identify
individual children.
The
school shall not allow children to participate in any activities unrelated to
the direct care of children without the written, informed consent of the
parent(s), or guardian.
“Activities”
shall mean, but not be limited to:
a) fund raising
b) publicity, including photographs and
participation in the mass media.
PARENT
INFORMATION ON OUR EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
It has always
been the policy of this facility to maintain an effective fire safety and
disaster preparedness plan. The primary
purpose of our fire safety and disaster preparedness plan is to provide a
course of action for all personnel to follow should a fire, severe weather, or
other disaster occur that would affect the normal operation of our facility.
The
following is a brief “summary” of the fire and safety disaster preparedness for
the entire house which includes the school.
-our facility is equipped with an
automatic fire alarm system that will automatically activate when pull
stations, or a fire or smoke/heat are
detected within the facility.
-our fire alarm system is connected to the
All Safe Alarm Company in Westborough, MA, who in turn sends the alarm to the
Marlborough Fire Department.
-our building is separated into zones so
that fire areas can be easily identified and immediate action can be taken.
-our local Fire Department conducts
unannounced fire safety inspections in accordance with current laws.
-ongoing review of the fire safety and
disaster preparedness plans are made with the Fire Department.
It is
the policy of this facility that written arrangements with other related
facilities and support organizations be maintained in the event a disaster
occurs within our facility.
In the
case of a power outage, our emergency generator will provide auxiliary
power. Our emergency generator is
tested weekly and such test results are recorded on our Weekly Alarm and Life
Support Systems Test Record. The
Administration and Maintenance personnel are knowledgeable in the location and
use of all control valves, cut-off valves, main power switches, and emergency
power systems of this facility.
-in the
case of a power outage, we would close the school.
-in the case of a loss of heat, we would
close the school until such time that heat would be restored to the facility.
-in the
case of a loss of water, we would close the school.
During
a shelter in place (lock down) we must stay inside with the children. A shelter in place could take place as a
result of a hazardous materials’ spill on a nearby road, a hurricane or a
storm. In the case of a shelter in
place, toys / games can be found in the corridor storage cupboard. These activities will help to keep the
children calm and occupied. It is the
policy of this facility that a supply of food and bottled drinking water be
available at all times for all residents, employees and children.
An
immediate area evacuation occurs when we are forced to leave the building but
stay fairly close. In the case of an
immediate area evacuation, the staff and children of our school would go to the
ramp leading to the playground. We
would evacuate as we do in a fire drill.
Jin Sim would hold the flame poster and the children would follow her in
silence. Our her way out of the door,
Jin Sim would pick up the attendance list.
Jessica Laliberte would follow at the end of the group, and Jeannie
Korona-Treveloni would check the bathrooms.
Once the children have reached the ramp leading to the playground, Jin
Sim would take attendance. Kathleen
Finn would take the emergency backpack.
In the case of her absence, Sr. Doreen Scott / Sr. Constance Gosselin
would take the emergency backpack. In
the case of a minor problem, all staff and students would go to the Assembly
room until such time as they can return to the classroom.
In the
case of a general evacuation, necessitating evacuation of the building, the
staff and children of St. Anne Montessori School would be transported to
Marlborough High School on Bolton Street.
A bus having place for at least 42 passengers would transport the staff
and children. The designated person will take the necessary steps to see that
the building is open and accessible.
Staff will count children and match names to attendance lists before
leaving the building as well as at the end of the evacuation procedure. A backpack containing parent emergency
contact information, medication, (if we have epi-pens in the first aid
cupboard) cell phone, books to read to the children, flashlights, etc. will be
ready and taken to the new location by Kathleen Finn.
Parents
will be notified as soon as possible.
Kathleen Finn is responsible for notifying the parents. Staff will help with phone calls, if needed.
Each
Staff member is aware of fire alarms and extinguishers, knows the evacuation
routes for the various evacuations, and the code that indicates different types
of disasters. These codes will be
reviewed periodically and are posted in the classroom. Since a great plan does not make a great
evacuation unless it is practiced, and everyone knows her duties, we will
practice the different scenarios.
These responsibilities will be reviewed periodically at training
sessions so that each member will be clear about her duties and
responsibilities.
Curriculum
Guide
I have
studied the child, I have taken what
the child has given me and expressed it, and that is what is called the
Montessori Method” (Maria
Montessori)
Every
Day Living Activities
These
activities are the ones that appeal instantly to our youngest children. They are designed to develop order,
coordination, independence and concentration.
The activities are
intimately related to hand function and
its ultimate precision.
The activities
include but are not limited to:
? scooping
? squeezing
? twisting
? pouring
? stringing
? rolling
and folding
? care
of the environment
? care
of the person
Sensorial
Activities
“The
senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge”
(Maria Montessori)
The
child absorbs through contact with his surroundings - contact which comes
through his/her senses. The sensorial
materials are designed to give a child a system by which he/she can discover
similarities and differences.
The
materials include but are not limited to:
? matching
? sorting
? dimension
? color
? shape
? texture
? auditory
Language
Activities
The
language materials begin with simple exposure to vocabulary and progress to
reading experiences.
The
materials include but are not limited to:
1. Phonetic sounds
a. sandpaper
letters
b.
matching objects with their initial
sounds
c.
matching pictures with their
initial sounds
2. Blending sounds to make simple phonetic
words
a. matching
simple, printed, phonetic words with objects
b. matching
simple, printed, phonetic words with pictures
c. making
simple, phonetic words using the
movable alphabet
3. Phonogram (consonant and vowel combinations)
a. matching
word cards to objects
b. matching
word cards to pictures
c. making
words containing phonograms using the movable alphabet
d. composing
short sentences using the movable alphabet
e. composing
short stories using the movable alphabet
4. Reading
a. matching
sentences to pictures
b. matching
stories to pictures
c. simple
readers
d. more
advanced readers
5. Printing (Several activities such as pin punching,
cutting, coloring, tracking, etc. are done to prepare the hand for writing)
a. printing
individual letters and numbers
b. printing
simple words
c. copying
simple sentences
d. printing
own words and/or sentences
e. printing
full name
f. printing
created stories in a composition book
Spanish
The
program includes but not limited to:
a. greetings
b. colors
c. shapes
d. numbers
e. parts
of body
f. members of the family
g. clothes
h. animals
i. days
of the week
Mathematics
Maria
Montessori designed concrete materials to represent all types of quantities, after she observed that the
child who becomes interested in counting likes to touch or move the items as
he/she enumerates them. Montessori’s mathematical materials are designed to
isolate the concept being taught.
We
begin with the exploration of number and quantity, building on the knowledge
the child acquired using the sensorial materials and progress to fuller
understanding of simple numerical operations, place value and the idea of a
decimal system.
? counting
1-10
? recognition
of numbers 1-10
? sequencing
numbers 1-10
? counting
11-19
? recognition
of numbers 11-19
? sequencing
numbers 11-19
? counting
1-100
? recognition
of numbers 1-100
? sequencing
numbers 1-100
? composing
numbers 1-10,000
? writing
numbers
? adding
numbers to 10
? subtracting
numbers from 10
? adding
two-digit numbers
? subtracting
two-digit numbers
? exchanging
? time
concepts
? money
concepts
? calendar
skills
Science
Activities
The
science curriculum includes but is not limited to the following:
1. living and non-living things
2. plants
3 animals
a. insects
b. birds
c. fish
d. reptiles
e. amphibians
f. mammals
4. solar system
5. weather
History
The
idea of history is approached by using historical biographies chosen for their
interest and appeal to young children as well as for their importance to our
cultural heritage.
The
biographies include but are not limited to:
1. Martin Luther King
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. George Washington
4. Benjamin Franklin
5. Christopher Columbus
6. Maria Montessori
Geography
Children
become familiar with the world by
exploring globes and maps. As each
area of the world is studied, the
culture, resources and treasures of the area will be explored. This study includes but is not limited to:
1. Land and water formations
2. Continents
a. puzzle maps
b. flags
c. customs, cultures, celebrations
d. natural resources, treasures and animals
Music
Appreciation
Along
with songs, rhymes and finger plays, the following are included:
Biographies
of:
1. Hayden
2. Mozart
3. Bach
4. Handel
5. Brahms
6. Chopin
7. Schumann
8. Tchaikovsky
Art
Appreciation
Our
fine art curriculum includes but is not limited to discussion and imitation of
the following artists:
1. Cassat
2. Da Vinci
3. Hopp er
4. Michaelangelo
5. Monet
6. Picasso
7. Rembrandt
8. Renoir
9. Van Gogh
Art
Exploration
1. Color
a. primary
b. secondary
2. Finger painting
3. Marble painting
4. Drawing from set up models
5.
Open-
ended drawing
Suggested
Reading
The
Montessori Method is a system of educating young children. In order to fully understand and appreciate the opportunity for success
that you are giving your child, it is suggested that you read the following:
Available
at bookstores and libraries
Montessori,
A Modern Approach by Paula Polk
Lillard
The
Secret of Childhood by
Maria Montessori
The
Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
The
Montessori Controversy by
John McNichols
Nurturing
the Spirit by Aline D. Wolf
A
Parent’s Guide to the Montessori Classroom
by Aline D. Wolf
TUITION
FEE SCHEDULE 2010-2011
Tuition
for the 2010-11 school year is
$4,700. This amount does not include
the $50 non-refundable registration fee due forty-eight hours after the
interview.
To
secure a place for your child, a non-refundable $300 deposit is due two weeks after acceptance to the
Program. This deposit is
non-refundable and non-transferable to a sibling. Should you make other school choices after the deposit has been
made, we will place the $300 in a discretionary fund and use it to give a
scholarship.
The tuition balance of $4400 may be paid in four installments each of
$1100, due
June 1, 2010
September 1, 2010
November 1, 2010
February 1, 2011
? A
late fee of fifteen dollars ($15) will be assessed after the tenth of the
month.
? There
will be a ten dollar ($10) fee for checks returned due to insufficient funds.
? As
was indicated in the contract given at
registration time, a place secured in
the school at registration time
is taken for the entire school year.
You are responsible for the
annual tuition. If you cancel during
the summer months, please be aware that the deposit and June tuition payment
will not be refunded to you.
Please
make checks payable to:
SAINT ANNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Thank you for making every effort to send in
your tuition payments on time!
HOURS
FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL
The first day of school will be
the first Tuesday after Labor Day .
To facilitate the adjustment to school,
during the first week
for the children of the morning session, classes will be Tuesday through Friday from 8:15 - 9:45 A.M.
for the children of the afternoon session, classes will be Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 - 1:30 P.M.. REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS WILL BEGIN the second week ON MONDAY. Morning Session - 8:15 to 11:15 A.M. Afternoon Session - 12:00 to 3:00 P.M.. The school door will open at 8:15 A.M. and
12:00 noon. Dismissal will be at 11:15 A.M. and 3:00
P.M. We ask for your cooperation in prompt
drop-off and pick-up of your child. Children
tend to feel uncomfortable when they
arrive or are picked up late.
The time between sessions is
needed to prepare for the afternoon session as well as to give us sufficient
time to have lunch. We look
forward to greeting you and your child on Tuesday, after Labor Day.