Preschool
Parent Handbook
Policies & Procedures Parents
A preschooler's life is just beginning. During a child's first years, parents and teachers have the opportunity to lay a strong spiritual foundation on which to build in later years. Metro East Baptist Church is committed to laying strong foundations for spiritual development. We believe it is our responsibility to share God's word and His ways with every person, starting with the very youngest. We feel privileged that God had entrusted us with such an important task.
Your preschool child is an important part of our ministry. We want every child to know he/she is loved and that God has a special plan for each of our lives. Our goal is to make learning about Jesus fun and exiting for preschoolers!
We do want to welcome you to the "Kid's Harbor" at Metro East Baptist Church, Wichita, KS. In order for your child to have the best learning experience that he/she possibly can, we would ask that you please honor the following guidelines outlined in our parent handbook:
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE:
The Preschool Kid's Harbor area will open fifteen (15) minutes prior to scheduled activities and will remain open for 15 minutes after scheduled activities. PLEASE BE PROMPT.
The church preschool classes (Birth through Pre-K) are provided during church functions and special events only. No one shall leave a child in childcare for any reason other than to attend a church related function. No one will be allowed in the preschool area unless authorized by the coordinator.
*UPON ARRIVAL:
Please proceed to the age-appropriate classroom where you need to fill out the "sign in" sheet outside the classroom door. A numbered security tag sticker should be prepared for each child. The backing of the sticker will match the number on the child's sticker. You will need to show the sticker number to the childcare worker or teacher in the child's classroom before your child will be released. If someone other than a parent will be picking up the child, please inform the teacher AND the Coordinator before you leave the preschool area. This person may be asked to show identification. A child will not be allowed to leave our care with any unauthorized person. Numbered pagers are available for check-out at the Kids' Harbor Desk. Please include the pager number on the posted sign at the Kid's Harbor Desk, as well as your child's sticker and sign-in sheet.
*DEPARTURE:
Please return pager to Kid's Harbor desk and pick your child up in his/her classroom. The security tag sticker needs to be shown to your child's teacher in order to pick up your child. Please help us to make our children's safety a priority by following this procedure even in you know the child's teacher. Remember that our teachers are eager to join their families, so please be considerate and pick up all children on time.
*SECURITY:
The safety of all children in our care is a top priority. It is not our intent to offend or anger anyone, but we will adhere to a strict security policy.
You will be asked to complete a Preschool Information Sheet giving detailed information on who your child will be allowed to leave with. Unless specifically directed by a parent, the staff WILL NOT release your child to any person that is not on their information sheet.
The Preschool Coordinator or assigned person will remain visible in the hallway at all times in case of an emergency. An emergency procedure handbook shall remain in the kitchen for all staff and volunteers.
Your child(ren) will not be left unattended at ANY time for ANY reason!
Each preschool classroom and the preschool hallway is equipped with a security camera that can be viewed/monitored at the Preschool Kids Harbor Desk and many of the computers with in the church.
*SICK/ILL CHILDREN
For the protection of all children, please do not bring your child if he/she has the following:
- *Fever in the last 24 hours
- *Any Bacterial or Viral Infection
- *Vomiting
- *Diarrhea
- *Sore throat/Strep
- *Unexplained Rash
- *Eye Infections
- *Head Lice or Body Lice
- *Runny Nose with Colored Mucous
- *Severe Coughing
- *Pink Eye
- *Open Skin Lesions or Skin Infections (boils, ring worm,
impetigo, etc.) - *Respiratory Infection
- *Any symptom of childhood diseases
If your child becomes ill during church, he/she will be removed from the classroom and you will be paged or contacted. If you suspect your child has contracted a serious childhood disease (RSV, Chicken Pox, etc.) and you believe other children may have been exposed, please notify the Coordinator as soon as possible so that proper measures can be taken. Please consult with your physician before allowing your child to return to church to ensure the safety of the other children. Preschool/V.I.P. workers are not allowed to administer medication to any child. If your child needs to have medication during class time, please be prepared to administer it yourself.
**If your child is known to have a serious infectious disease such as HIV/AIDS or HEPATITIS B, we will make every effort possible to minister to you. A group consisting of the Preschool Coordinator, Children's Ministry Council and Associate Pastor of Christian Education will meet to assess how the church can be most supportive of any child who is known to be infected with a serious contagious illness. This group will work confidentially with the parent to help meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the child. To alleviate the concerns of others, volunteers will be asked to be with the child, playing and teaching him in an appropriate setting. The group, with the parents, will decide on the best way to integrate the child into the classrooms while considering the interest of all children and teachers. The group will seek advice from health care professionals and see that questions that arise from others are answered. Universal precautions will be used to handle spills of bodily fluids by all staff and teachers.
DISCIPLINE:
Even our most precious preschoolers occasionally have problems with discipline. During these times, we will use positive reinforcement and redirection. If these measures are unsuccessful, time out (one minute per age of the child) will be used. The child in time out will remain in full view of the teacher at all times. Any discipline problem that cannot be solved by these measures will be directed to the Preschool Coordinator. It may be necessary, under extreme circumstances, to remove the child from the classroom and call the parents in to discuss the problem and a solution. Violent/aggressive children, whose behavior may be a threat to themselves or others may be separated from others, but will still receive the same loving care as the other children. It is our goal to provide a quality church experience for ALL of God's children.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Please label ALL of your children's belongings (bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups, blankets, etc.). Please bring an extra change of clothes for your child in a ziplock bag, as accidents may occur. Parents of children who are in diapers or pull-ups need to bring extra diapers and wipes. Each child who is not bathroom trained should have a diaper bag that contains all necessary items needed during the time the child is in our care. It is very important that you advise workers of any special needs your child has including food allergies or other allergies. Special stickers are available for you to identify allergies and medical needs for your child. It is your responsibility to keep your Kid's Harbor Information Sheet up to date by notifying us of any changes. You will be asked to complete updated information forms each year. Please be sensitive to the demands of the teacher and their time constraints by not asking teachers to help "potty-train" or to spoon-feed your child solid foods. Children should not bring personal toys or play things to their classrooms.
COMPLAINTS:
Complaints and allegations of misconduct against any church staff/volunteer should be addressed to the Associate Pastor of Christian Education or the Preschool Coordinator. The pastors, the Preschool Coordinator and/or the Children's Ministry Council will determine the appropriate action for any complaints.