STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK / 2023-2024 Academic Year

WELCOME TO THE MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF CARROLLWOOD

Dear Parent(s),

Welcome to MAC! We are honored that you have chosen our school for your child's early education and care. We are proud to share that we are one of the few Montessori preschools in the Carrollwood area with a high teacher-student ratio, and a dedicated staff of teachers who have been around for many years.

At MAC, we strive to foster and develop the child in a loving environment, that feels like home.

Our teachers are committed to embrace the “whole child” approach to education; they guide and respect each child’s right to work toward intrinsic reward through honoring freedom of choice and movement, self-discovery, and self-discipline.

Our mixed-age classrooms are culturally diverse and constantly promote leadership and collaboration by allowing older students to help the younger, and for the younger to learn from the older.

Your child is about to embark on a wonderful journey, and we encourage you to be a part of it. A solid connection between parents and staff is essential for your child’s success. The first step of this journey is taking the time to read through this handbook, learn about our school policies, and keep it accessible for future reference.

Sincerely,

Mr. Anuj Desai, Owner & Director

Mrs. Angela Desai, Owner & Head Administrator

Ms. Dana Bobik, Administrator

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child's own natural desire to learn”

~ Maria Montessori

OUR MISSION

The Montessori Academy of Carrollwood is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment that meets every child’s developmental needs, fosters their innate curiosity, and shapes a lifelong learner capable of leading a meaningful life.

OUR VISION

Love.

Teach. Inspire.

The Montessori Academy of Carrollwood will use the proven effectiveness of the Montessori educational model to teach a broad spectrum of students, successfully nurturing each child on their journey towards knowledge. Teachers will “follow the child” and, by using the Montessori method and materials, will be able to find ways to best encourage each student’s learning style and individual talents. Multi-age classrooms will stimulate personal growth without stigma and students will work within a cooperative environment of support with their peers, teachers, and parents. The result will be a MAC graduate who has learned how to truly respect others and to be respected, who has become a confident learner and who has amassed a body of knowledge that can lead and support the graduate for the rest of his/her life.

“Imagine a world where each adult is independent, confident, resourceful, and acts with a purpose. That is the future with Montessori”

~ American Montessori Society (AMS)

GOALS

Foster the development of a happy, well-rounded child who forms healthy peer relationships.

Create a peaceful environment that promotes respect for each child, parent, and staff member.

Ensure excellence in academics where art, music, and physical development are in harmony.

Recognize each child’s learning style and guide them to become a life-long learner.

Maintain excellent, caring staff who see each child as a beautiful, unique individual.

MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY

Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator, the first woman to receive a medical degree in Italy. Born in 1870, she developed her method of education early in the 20th century.

She devoted her life to the education of children and was honored and respected through the world at the time of her death in 1952.

The Montessori Method emphasizes the potential of the young child. The method cultivates the potential of every child through a prepared environment using specially trained teachers and unique teaching materials.

During the time spent in the Montessori environment, the children’s consciousness is exposed to stimulation that is represented in an attractive and encouraging orderly world. This love for order will last a lifetime. Planting deeply in our children a good sense of order will foster children’s discipline and enable them to be successful in attaining their goals under any circumstance that life brings along.

The Montessori Method teaches children in objective, realistic ways which maximize their sensorial experiences, and then explore the wonderful realm of abstract thinking and imagination.

This early learning experience will enable them to learn faster and increase their own self-worth.

The Montessori Method has demonstrated that children can learn more lessons in a shorter period of time.

FUNDAMENTAL GROUND RULES

All students are enrolled on a trial basis of 90 days contingent upon good behavior and attitude.

We expect students to demonstrate kindness, courtesy, and respect toward their peers and staff.

When a student finds it difficult to follow the school’s expectations about interpersonal conduct or the guidelines established in the Student/Parent Handbook, we will bring the student, his/her family, and staff together to work towards a solution.

Our ground rules are essentially the same at every age level of the school, although the language and emphasis changes somewhat for the older student. Please review the following rules with your child at home:

Be kind and gentle to each other.

Everyone has the right to privacy and concentration.

Everyone has the right to personal belongings.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure.

We encourage all people to use words that do not offend or threaten someone else.

Everyone has the right to be physically safe.

No one is allowed to push, kick, bite, or use any other aggressive behaviors.

Use the playground equipment as intended. For instance, do not walk up the slide.

Give everyone who wants to play the opportunity to join your game.

Do not throw sand, mulch, sticks, or rocks.

Do not pick flowers/leaves – respect nature and all living things.

Do not intend to climb the fence or trees.

Montessori materials are to work; not to play.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Montessori Academy of Carrollwood is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable law.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

As per DCF regulations, we must maintain accurate health exam, immunization, and medication records prior to expiration dates provided by your child's pediatrician. Past those expiration dates, your child cannot attend school.

NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please do not ignore these types of requests from the Administration.

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

In order to facilitate the adjustment to school, an orientation program of shortened, introductory sessions is highly recommended. These typically begin with a one (1) hour session and gradually increase to the full program of choice over a period of one week.

Gradual orientation helps children adjust more easily to classroom procedures, routines, and people, and it greatly reduces anxiety the child may experience when entering a new environment. During this orientation period, basic presentations of materials are made by the teacher on an individual basis as well as a general introduction to the classroom. This interaction provides the child with a sense of security and lays the foundation for established trust between child and teacher.

Parents can expect a normalization/adjustment time of approximately 8 – 10 weeks depending on the age and social/emotional development of the individual child.

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY

Even though attendance is not mandatory for preschool students, a child usually benefits the most from participation that is as continuous as possible. We request that your child arrives and departs according to the school day schedule:

Arrival no later than 9:00 am

Dismissal no earlier than 2:45 pm

Arriving on time is part of preparation for the day. Please arrive promptly!

Leaving school early on a regular basis is also disruptive to the learning environment and can compromise the students’ routines and academics. MAC strongly discourages early dismissals (before 2:45 pm).

If you need to pick up earlier, you MUST email the school at least 2 hours prior to the requested dismissal time.

KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is essential. Students are expected to be punctual and in attendance each day. The school requests that medical and/or dental appointments be scheduled during non-school hours to avoid interruption of the student’s school day. It is also requested that parents plan family outings and vacations during regularly scheduled school holidays. Absences may cause problems for the absent child or may disrupt the teacher’s lessons when additional explanations are needed.

TARDY POLICY & PROCEDURES

Tardiness is disruptive to everyone in the classroom. Please be considerate of the teacher and the other students by being on time. All students must be in their classrooms and ready to begin lessons at 9:00 a.m.

If you are planning to arrive late or pick up earlier, you MUST email the school at least 2 hours prior to the requested arrival/pick up time, keeping in mind office hours: Monday - Thursday from 9:00pm to 5:00pm and Fridays from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

If the school does not receive notification in advance, you may have to wait for a staff member to attend the gate as the administrator is busy with virtual/in-person tours, licensing inspections, parent meetings, etc. and those tasks cannot be interrupted.

*Rest/Nap Time hours: We request that you avoid arriving at school or picking up your child during rest/nap hours (12 – 2 pm) as this can seriously disturb the sleep of the other children in the classroom.

ABSENCES

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or any other reason, please send an email or leave a voicemail.

If your child is sick and he/she has seen a doctor, you MUST inform the school about your child’s diagnosis as soon as possible.

COVID-19 related Absence: If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please NOTIFY the school immediately.

PARKING POLICY

We strongly urge you to turn off and lock your car if you anticipate you will be inside the building longer than 5-10 minutes. MAC will not be responsible for items lost or stolen from cars or from the parking lot area.

Also, in the event of a collision (a vehicle hitting another vehicle) in the parking lot area, MAC will not be responsible for any damage(s) that may occur.

PARKING LOT SAFETY RULES

Be safe! Drive slowly and with awareness when entering and exiting the parking lot.

Turn your car off and close all doors.

Hold your child’s hand or carry your child while in the parking lot.

A child should never walk through the parking lot unless accompanied by an adult.

REFRAIN from using your CELLPHONE during arrival & dismissal. Your child needs your FULL attention.

Do not record or take photographs of the premises WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT.

Always take the time to buckle your children into the back seat. DO NOT rely on them to do so themselves.

Do NOT start the car until everyone is buckled up.

NEVER leave a child unattended inside a car.

DO NOT loiter or allow children to wander/play in the parking lot.

The Gate Teacher will ask your child to use some hand sanitizer prior to entering. (This does not apply to infants.)

The classroom teacher(s) will:

1) Wash your child’s hands upon arrival.

2) Change their shoes (as applicable).

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES ARRIVAL DISMISSAL

3) Check the child’s temperature (100° F or higher is considered a fever). If your child has fever, you will need to pick him/her up within an hour.

If your child expresses separation anxiety during arrival time, it is important to remain calm and confident – your demeanor will speak volumes. It is normal for adjusted children to express anxious behavior upon returning to school after a break/vacation. We suggest making your drop-off as short as possible.

At time of arrival, your child must be awake. No exceptions

You must always provide your child’s ID # and show your Driver’s License to the Gate Teacher when picking up.

The Gate Teacher will only dismiss the children to the people listed on their authorized pick-up list with proper ID.

Please allow the Gate Teacher to pay full attention while dismissing the children. If you have questions and/or concerns about your child, you must contact the Administration directly.

At time of dismissal, your child must be awake. No exceptions.

OUR STAFF

All staff and teachers have been thoroughly betted, interviewed, and undergone a *Level II Background Check (which cross references state and federal criminal records including child abuse reporting records). In addition to that, each employee is required to have:

45 hours of Childcare Training by DCF (Department of Children & Families)

10 hours (annual In-Service training hours)

CPR & First Aid training

Fire Extinguisher training

We firmly believed in training and continued education for all our staff. The director, teachers, and assistants have attended specific ECE courses to learn about the emotional, social, behavioral, developmental, and academic needs of children.

*Level 2: a state and national fingerprint-based check and consideration of disqualifying offenses and applies to those employees designated by law as holding positions of responsibility or trust.

STAFF & CLIENT RELATIONSHIP

MAC considers it inappropriate for parents/clients to solicit our employees to work for them either in their businesses or homes. We are not legally or financially liable for our employees or any of their actions when they are off the clock or no longer employed by MAC.

All employees have signed a statement saying that they will not engage in “care for hire” (i.e, babysitting) or any employment by or for any past or current client while currently employed by MAC or for eighteen (18) months after their last day of employment. An employee who violates this policy has violated their employment agreement and is subject to termination.

On the same note, as per our school policy, employees are NOT permitted to accept invitations or “friend requests” from parents in order to maintain a healthy professional distance.

Also, parents must not discuss sensitive school matters with other parents using social media networks.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

Please make sure your email and phone numbers are updated as needed.

E-signatures are highly recommended for most documents. You may choose to download free E-Signature mobile apps such as Adobe Fill & Sign, DocuSign, or PDF Extra.

No mobile app? No problem – print documents at home, sign, take photos of documents, and attach/send them all together via email.

Daily Communications:

Infant & Toddler classes only – a daily report is sent home; please check your child’s lunchbox.

Weekly Communications:

Infant Room #2, Toddler, Early Preschool, PreK & Kdg classes – a weekly happy gram sharing classroom activities is sent via email (except during the summer months).

Monthly Communications:

School Wide – a monthly newsletter is sent via email sharing classroom curriculum and/or upcoming events (except during the summer months).

Quarterly Communications:

Infant Room #1 – a quarterly happygram sharing your child’s individual progress and/or classroom activities is sent via email (except during the summer months).

Other IMPORTANT Communications:

Infant, Toddler, and Early Preschool classes – a request for supplies (diapers, wipes, and ointment) will be sent home when running low. If the request is not fulfilled, and your child runs out of diapers, we will provide them to you automatically for a fee of $5 per diaper.

If you have any questions, please check with the office.

VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS

We will try to be communicative during Arrival & Dismissal times. However, this is not a good time for extended conversations since the teachers and their assistants are constantly supervising the children. Furthermore, the person caring for your child at the time of arrival & dismissal may not be the individual who has spent the majority of the day with your child. This is due to the fact that many children spend 10 hours a day at school and our employees only work 6 - 8 hours. Since children learn best in the morning, we schedule most of the lead teachers for the earlier hours and the majority of the day.

We suggest that you CALL/EMAIL the school to check with Administration/Management how your child’s day is going or address any specific concerns.

Our office operates Monday – Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm.

MINOR ACCIDENT/ INCIDENT REPORTS

It is the school policy that parents be informed either verbally or in written form if their child is involved in a minor accident or incident.

The report will contain the cause of the accident/incident to the degree that it can be determined as well as the action taken.

Please DO NOT ASK for names of parties involved as we cannot reveal them due to privacy laws.

Administration will call any of the parents in the Emergency contact list. If the parent is not available, we will leave a voicemail and follow-up with an email.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Each Fall & Spring, parents may choose to attend Parent/Teacher Conferences to discuss student progress, areas of special interest of concern, provide parent education, and set individualized student goals. A progress report will be provided to parents of students in Rooms 3 & 5 only.

Upon request conferences are available to parents at any time during the year.

Rooms 3 and 5 are closed on BOTH conference days – please check our Annual School Calendar for exact dates.

EXTERNAL RECORD REQUESTS

Evaluation/Recommendation requests such as School, Behavioral, Therapeutic, etc., require a minimum of two (2) weeks’ notice. These reports are CONFIDENTIAL between MAC and the requesting facility – copies WILL NOT be shared with the student’s family.

SCHOOL WORK & ASSESSMENT

Your child will work and learn primarily in the concrete – meaning with physical objects. Written learning – the abstract – will come over time with skill, interest, and motivation. Please do not expect weekly take-home work. We assess individual learning throughout the year. There is no formal testing.

CHILD ABUSE

Parents should be aware that the school is obligated by Florida state laws to report any and all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

CUSTODIAL PARENTS

At time of registration, enrollment forms should be complete and accurate according to your relationship status (married, separated, divorced).

By law, both parents are allowed to visit and bring or remove a child from school, unless the school is provided with official court papers stating otherwise.

FAMILY-RELATED EVENTS AND CHANGES

Children often do not possess the maturity to keep knowledge of exciting home events and life changes out of mind while at school. We recommend parents avoid discussing events and changes at-length until the time arrives. “Out of mind until the time” and “Put it away until the day” are two reminders we employ at school.

Please inform the school of changes to home routines – be it a vacation, work travel, life event, family changes, etc. as these can have an impact on your child’s behavior and learning.

NUT-FREE ZONE

Effective August 2, 2023, MAC will become a “nut-free zone” for health reasons.

Lunches must not contain peanuts, nuts, peanut butter, nut butters, or peanut products. This includes almonds, filberts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nut, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.

Please read labels carefully to make sure the products are nut free. This includes labels that read “May contain traces of peanuts/nuts” or “Processed in a facility that processes products that contain peanuts/nuts.” Note that food labels and ingredients change over time; thus, always read the label each time before purchasing snacks.

The easiest way to avoid accidental exposure is avoiding these types of food all together!

Thank you very much for your consideration and support in keeping food-allergic students safe from having a life-threatening allergic reaction at school. We appreciate it.

FOOD ALLERGIES & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

Some students may follow a special diet due to allergies, medical, eligious, or personal reasons. Please be sure to notify the teachers or administrative staff if your child should avoid certain foods.

LUNCH & SNACKS

All students should bring their lunch to school daily in a clearly labeled lunch box. Please choose a lunchbox with built-in cool packs if possible.

If your child is 3 years old or older, he/she should be able to open his/her lunch box independently.

We discourage the use of “Lunchables” and other items that contain highly processed foods and candy with excessive packaging.

With younger children, it is a good idea to prepare food in small, easy-to-handle servings, such as cutting sandwiches into quarters, slicing fresh fruit, and preparing bite-size slices of cheese. Do NOT send any meat with bones; especially fish as it can be a choking hazard.

Warm food should be sent in a thermos; teachers cannot microwave food.

DO NOT send your child to school with sugary desserts or drinks.

Water is the best “thirst quencher” - send a reasonable amount in a reusable hard plastic/aluminum bottle.

Food sharing will not be allowed between students to ensure each child’s safety and sanitation.

All uneaten food which can be contained will be sent home. Please monitor your child’s lunchbox to determine likes or dislikes and to determine the correct amount of food to pack.

Stauffer’s Animal Snack Crackers are offered daily during snack times.

INFANT ROOMS: MILK & FOOD POLICIES

Bottles

Glass bottles are not allowed

Breast Milk

Must be in bottles (not frozen bags).

One bottle per feeding – teachers cannot wash bottles or nipples.

Send in an insulated lunch bag with ice packs. Teachers will refrigerate at school.

Breast milk will only be heated once. Leftover breast milk will be discarded after 1 hour.

Formula

Pre-measure formula powder and place in formula dispenser.

Pre-measure water in bottles for feeding.

One bottle per feeding – teachers cannot wash bottles or nipples.

Only send enough formula for one (1) day.

No medication or cereal in bottles – please see Admin for medical authorization form for administration of prescription medication.

Food

Can be given as early as 4 months old.

Plastic containers with proper lids only – NO GLASS.

Store bought food must be unopened; homemade food is permitted. Try food at home for 3 days prior to sending it to school.

Send in spoons and silicone bibs.

Only send food enough for one (1) day.

Food must be pre-cut into small pieces (applies to all fruits and vegetables). Use a thermos container to keep food warm or an ice pack to keep food cold.

Miscellaneous

Water can be given to infants 6 months and up, but it must be authorized by a pediatrician and put in writing.

Teachers are unable to microwave bottles/food.

Please label all items with first and last names, including bottles, sippy cups, utensils, containers, and bibs.

Do not send backpacks, only a small size lunchbox. (No totes, backpacks, or diaper bags).

DRESS CODE

Uniform orders must be placed online on www.hellonella.myshopify.com

Please contact the provider directly with any questions about your order. The Admin/Staff has NO access to the provider’s website/manufacturer.

Wearing the MAC uniform helps a student feel a sense of belonging and school pride. Every student in attendance (except infants in Rooms 1 and 2) must wear a school uniform – NO exceptions.

Uniform dress code is as follows:

GIRLS:

Shirt: MAC Polo – light blue, royal blue, and purple.

Pants/Shorts/Skorts: Khaki.

Skorts/Jumper: Plaid (must be worn with light. blue polo only; sizing starts at 4T this year).

Socks/Tights: Solid white.

Shoes: Closed toe or athletic shoes with hook & loop straps (2 pairs - one for indoor and one for outdoor). NO boots, crocs, sandals, or light up shoes.

Cold Weather: Cardigan sweater, sweatshirt, hoodie jacket, or windbreaker jacket in solid colors (no graphics) - blue, purple, or white colors only OR MAC logo approved outdoor wear sold online by our uniform provider.

Accessories: regular-size headbands and hair bows that match the school colors. Limit jewelry.

BOYS:

Shirt: MAC Polo – light blue, royal blue, and purple.

Pants/Shorts: Khaki.

Socks: Solid white.

Shoes: Closed toe or athletic shoes with hook & loop straps (2 pairs - one for indoor and one for outdoor). NO boots, crocs, sandals, or light up shoes.

Cold Weather: Cardigan sweater, sweatshirt, hoodie jacket, or windbreaker jacket in solid colors (no graphics) - blue, purple, or white colors only OR MAC logo approved outdoor wear sold online by our uniform provider.

All uniform clothing must be properly labeled with child’s first and last name.

REST PERIOD OR “SILENT WORK HOUR”

Rest is a vital part of the day to help your young child’s mind reconcile the stimulating morning experiences and rejuvenate for the afternoon.

As per licensing requirements, ALL students must participate in a “rest period” (except for the Pre-k & Kindergarten classroom) immediately after lunch and play times. Classical music is played, the lights are dimmed, and children are invited to relax and rest for approximately 2 hours.

Required standardized rest mats must be provided by the parents and must be purchased at Lakeshore Learning (“The Indestructible Folding Rest Mat”). You can order it here

Please do not send blankets, comfort toys, or pacifiers – the children quickly adapt to resting without these items.

Silent Work Hour: Pre-K & Kindergarten students have the choice to either rest on a mat or quietly work on an activity in an individual manner during the rest period, which typically lasts about 1 hour in this classroom.

PRIVACY

Bathroom and emotional privacy are regularly modeled and expected. Please support us in teaching your child to expect and respect privacy. Bathrooms are not a play area and mocking others for any reason is not acceptable.

FRIENDSHIPS & CONFLICTS

Infant & Toddler Age Level: At this age, children are becoming aware of friendships. Typically, they move back and forth between independent and parallel play with priority on the self. A toddler can become frustrated easily when interacting with friends, so please actively practice turn-taking at home. Also, remember that however the family plays with the child, the child may bring that type of play to school (for example: avoid wrestling or “the floor is lava” type of games).

Pre-K & Kindergarten Age Level: At this age, children are becoming aware of experimenting with complex friendship dynamics. Please actively teach your child about qualifying friendships, conflict resolution strategies, and self-advocacy to involve adults when necessary. If a friendship complaint continues over time, please contact us so that we may address the situation.

DISCIPLINE & EXPULSION POLICY (Toddler

Ages / 1 - 3 years old)

At MAC, our teachers are trained to use appropriate practices to promote a toddler’s self-control and help him/her understand the consequences of his/her actions. To achieve this goal, the teachers and staff will proceed as follows:

Model the appropriate behavior through their daily actions and words.

Establish fair and consistent limits, using clear and simple instructions that are appropriate to the child’s age and developmental level.

Encourage the child to verbalize their feelings and help them work through strong emotions.

Redirect challenging behavior, offering acceptable choices.

Provide reasonable/logical consequences.

In addition, the Administration will keep parents informed about their child on a regular basis. Because communication and consistency in guiding behavior are important to a child’s development, we will request the parents’ feedback/input and have a conference with them when needed.

Under no circumstances is corporal punishment permitted. Discipline will not be associated with food, rest, or toilet use.

We believe that it is our responsibility to provide children with positive guidance, and in our experience, most children will respond well to that approach. If a child does not respond adequately, we will notify the parents and develop a specific plan to help the child gain self-control and have a positive attitude toward their peers and teachers.

Occasionally, a child may not be ready for our program. MAC reserves the right to ask parents to permanently remove a child from our school, especially if behavior issues involve any of the following:

1) Frequent class disruption to the point where the teacher cannot perform her daily duties.

2) Extreme tantrums that happen many times a day.

3) Actions that involve hurting themselves and others (hitting, biting, spitting, kicking, etc.)

4) Damaging school property (breaking materials on purpose).

We strongly believe that the key to effective discipline is consistency, and we strive to be as consistent as possible in all areas.

Thank you, in advance, for your assistance with any behavior issues that might arise throughout the year.

BITING POLICY

Biting is not unexpected behavior for young children. Some children, especially toddlers, communicate through this behavior. However, biting can be harmful to other children and to staff; therefore, a biting policy has been developed.

Our main goal is to identify what is causing the biting and resolve the issue. If the issue cannot be resolved, this policy serves to protect the children that are bitten. Names of the children are not shared with either parent for confidentiality purposes.

When Biting does occur:

The staff’s job it to keep the children safe and help a child that bites learn different, more appropriate behavior. We do not use techniques to alarm, hurt, or frighten children to correct unwanted behavior.

For the child who was bitten:

1) First aid is given to the bite. It is cleaned with soap and water. If the skin is broken, the bite is covered with a bandage.

2) Parents are notified.

3) An incident report is written/documented; parent must sign it at pickup.

For the child who bit:

1) The teacher will firmly tell the child “No biting. Biting hurts! Teeth are not for biting.”

2) The child will be seated for a few minutes.

3) The parents are notified.

4) An incident report is written/documented; parent must sign it at pickup.

When biting continues:

1) The child who bites will be observed by the classroom or administrative staff to try their best to determine what is causing the child to bite (teething, communication, frustration, etc.)

2) The child will be given positive attention and rewarded for positive behavior

When biting becomes excessive:

If a child inflicts 2 bites in a one-week period, a conference will be held with the parents to discuss the child’s behavior and how the behavior may be modified.

If a child inflicts 2 bites the following week, the child will need to be sent home for 24 hours.

If a child once again inflicts 2 bites the week after that, the parents will be asked to shorten the school day (reduce hours) or withdraw the child from the school until the biting phase has subsided.

If a child, who has been through steps #1 and #2, goes three weeks (15 school days) without biting, and suddenly bites again, we will go back to step #1.

DISCIPLINE POLICY & EXPULSION POLICY

(Preschool Ages/ 3 – 6 year olds)

Discipline does not equate to punishment; rather discipline is the art of developing inner self-control through both internal and external mechanisms, including negative and positive consequences.

*Please note - children in classrooms #3 and #5 are not toddlers

The following is considered inappropriate behavior at school:

Leaving the area or group without permission; not wanting to return to the classroom.

Becoming too disruptive, especially during lessons.

Throwing equipment, furniture, mulch, rocks, etc.

Breaking or damaging equipment/materials on purpose.

Using work materials inappropriately (i.e.: poking/scratching others with pencils)

Aggressive behavior.

Inappropriate language, including name-calling.

Lack of cooperation/constant defiance.

Extreme tantrums.

Hurting themselves or others (including the teachers) - hitting, biting, spitting, kicking, etc.

Safety related issues (i.e.: climbing on shelves or playground fence)

Attempting to or destroying a classmate’s personal belongings (i.e.: eyeglasses, headpieces, etc.)

Behavior determined by the director or staff to be unacceptable

At MAC, discipline is achieved through a variety of measures, including but not limited to:

Redirection to appropriate behavior.

Positive reinforcement. Verbal instruction and warnings.

Activity removal for rest/reflection; various prep activities to return to work with desired behaviors.

Logical loss of freedoms/privileges.

Under no circumstances is corporal punishment permitted. Discipline will not be associated with food, rest, or toilet use.

Effective August 2, 2023, if a student has three (3) or more incident reports in one (1) week, the Administration will request a Behavior Intervention Meeting with the teacher(s) and an appropriate disciplinary plan will be established for the individual student. If behavior continues to be disruptive, disrespectful, and unkind, the child will be sent home.

At this point, it will be upon discretion of the Director/Head Administrator to require the following:

Shortening the school day hours, or Requesting a school aide for the student to continue to attend.

If the above steps are ineffective in dealing with behavior concerns, we reserve the right to permanently dismiss the student from our school.

We strongly believe that the key to effective discipline is consistency, and we strive to be as consistent as possible in all areas.

Thank you, in advance, for your assistance with any behavior issues that might arise throughout the year.

BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION MEETING

A Behavior Intervention Meeting may be called by the teacher(s) or parent(s) at any time as they deemed appropriate.

Our first goal will be to determine and identify the behavioral difficulties that the child is having. The child’s teacher(s) will document the circumstances surrounding the behavior and the current actions that are being taken to correct this.

Parents will then be asked to provide information concerning any changes in the home and will give input if they have noticed this behavior and what actions they are currently taking to correct it.

A plan of action will then be established and agreed upon by all members present. We expect 100% parental involvement after a Behavior Intervention Meeting has been called. If the plan and/or strategies are not effective, and problems continue or worsen, we reserve the right to permanently dismiss the student from attending our school.

Please note that we also reserve the right to to dismiss a child whose parent/legal guardian has developed an un-cooperative, aggressive, dissatisfied, or angry demeanor towards the school, its policies, and its staff.

SCHOOL PROPERTY DAMAGES

Parents are responsible for the repair or replacement of school property that is damaged or lost by their child.

Occassionally, a child may take home part of an equipment he/she is fond of – often these items are small and may seem insignificant , yet each is vital to the completed teaching materials. Items include cubes, cylinders, knobs, puzzle pieces, beads, holiday objects, etc. Replacement pieces are very difficult to obtain and an entire exercise may become useless if just one piece is missing. Therefore, it is very important to stress the return of any item your child brings home from school and/or contact the office if you are not sure the origin of a foreign object your child has brought home.

Birthday Walk

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

In Montessori, children celebrate their birthdays by doing a “Birthday Walk”. It is a meaningful way to further their understanding of the passage of time and a great way to introduce the concepts of months, days of the month, years, and how the earth revolves around the sun.

The Birthday Walk helps students recognize how they have grown and changed since they were born, understand why they have turned a year older, and foster a sense of community and celebration in the Montessori classroom environment.

Please request a Birthday Walk Form for more details. All celebrations MUST be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance.

You may provide a birthday treat for your child only.

Party decorations (hats, balloons, garlands, etc.) or “goody” bags are not permitted.

BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITATIONS

Invitations to private parties will not be passed out at school unless the whole class is invited. The school requests that parents consider the impact of leaving out a few students from a classroom group when sending invitations.

SUMMER PROGRAM

MAC operates year round (12 months) and offers a summer program for students who meet the following criteria:

1) Student is returning for a new academic year (Fall term/re-registered in March)

2) Acceptance is contingent upon behavior and classroom availability

The summer weekly themes include various art projects, music, water fun, sports, stories, theatre, etc. Special events and guest visitors are scheduled during those months. A nominal fee will be charged to help cover the cost of guest visitors and special events.

A separate tuition agreement, a summer calendar, and event(s) permission form will be sent home in May.

ANNUAL EVENTS

A wide range of activities and events are scheduled throughout the year to enhance and enrich the school experience for MAC students and their families. An outline of these events follows:

Open House:

A fun hour that will include information about the Montessori approach and curriculum and provide an important opportunity for your child to share their individual learning and work progress with family. School closes early at 2:45 pm on this day.

International Week:

Students explore customs and cultures from around the world. The week ends with a parade of cultural clothing (student event only). Families are invited to present their cultures – please contact Administration for scheduling.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

A valuable time to meet with teachers to discuss your child’s growth, learning, and goals for both school and home. Rooms #3 & #5 – parents only. Classrooms are CLOSED during these two days. Childcare will not be available.

“Upon Request” conferences are available for all other classrooms throughout the year – please contact Administration for scheduling.

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot & Food Drive:

An opportunity to emphasize the importance of gratitude, empathy, and community service by acting for a good cause! The trot will include fun fitness challenges and music. Students will take home an appreciation treat. Donations will be collected.

Thanksgiving Reenactment & Feast (Room #5 only):

This event will help immerse the children’s imaginations into the past and foster perspective-taking as they role-play history. While the “First Thanksgiving” is often portrayed as conflict-free, we spend time age-appropriately acknowledging each side’s struggle and focus on the importance of working to understand each other. Following the reenactment, students will enjoy traditional Thanksgiving desserts.

Little Elves Holiday Party:

A fun hour for our youngest and their families! Please join us for delightful games, activities, dramatic story reading, and light snacks all related to holiday joy! School is open for event time only. Rooms #1, #2 and #4 only – students dismissed immediately after event ends.

Winter and Spring Concerts:

Come join us for a delightful performance of reading and songs by our older students! A parent/guardian must be present for your child to attend school that day. School is open for event time only. Rooms #3 & #5 only – students dismissed immediately after event ends.

Caterpillars Garden Party:

A fun hour for our young toddlers and their families! Please join us for delightful games, activities, dramatic story reading, light snacks, all related to springtime fun! A parent/guardian must be present for your child to attend school that day. School is open for event time only. Room #4 only – students dismissed immediately after event ends.

Valentine’s Day Celebrations:

All students are welcome to dress in Valentine’s Day outfits! Only Rooms #3 & #5 will have a card exchange. No candy allowed.

Pet Food/Supplies Drive:

An opportunity to help our animal friends! Each classroom will feature various levels of Montessori lessons related to this drive and guest visitors that will bring together learning from all the domains of our classroom.

Kindergarten Tea Party:

A capstone event for our graduating class to demonstrate with immense pride and joy their skills in Grace & Courtesy: handling glass, serving others, manners, conversation, and more! By invitation only for families of graduates. Room # 5 will be closed for the day.

Kindergarten Graduation:

A beautiful ceremony recognizing the amazing accomplishments of our Kindergarten graduates! By invitation for families of graduates. Room # 5 will be closed for the day.

SICK POLICY

Everyone in the MAC community - including students, staff, and parents - has a shared responsibility to keep our school in good health by adhering to our "sick policy" to prevent and/or mitigate the spread of viruses. The staff reserves the right to send any child home if they observe a sick child in any of the classrooms.

In the event you are called (due to your child being sick), you MUST pick up within 1 (ONE) hour. If the parents are unreachable, we will call the emergency contacts listed.

When to stay home

Fever of 100 °F or higher – student must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication IF not diagnosed COVID positive or presumed positive.

Excessive runny nose/green nasal discharge.

Conjunctivitis (eye discharge).

Persistent cough.

Chest congestion/wheezing.

Vomiting – 24 hours since last episode.

Diarrhea (even if caused by diet change/medication) – 48 hours since last episode.

The first 24 hours of various antibiotic treatments (i.e., strep throat, conjunctivitis, etc.)

Spots or blisters on or around hands, feet, or mouth – If diagnosed with Coxsackie virus (commonly known as “Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease”), student must be out until s/he is no longer contagious and must return to school with a doctor’s note of clearance.

Open skin lesions that can get easily infected.

When a child will be sent home

Fever of 100 °F or higher.

Any episode of projectile vomiting.

Any episode of diarrhea. Persistent cough.

Chest congestion/wheezing.

Injury requiring medical attention.

Open skin lesions that can get easily infected.

Any two (2) of the following symptoms: sore throat, headache, fatigue, nasal congestion, body aches, stomachache, red eyes with discharge.

If your child returns to school and any of the symptoms listed above have not fully subsided, we will have to send your child home again.

Also, keep in mind a doctor’s note will not override or shorten the length of time your child will need to be out.

MEDICATIONS

Over-the-Counter: Parents must complete an “Authorization for Dispensation Form” with the office and obtain a doctor’s note in order to have over the counter medicine distributed to their child. This includes aspirin, pain medications, cold and flu medications, cough medicines and drops, vitamins, topical creams, etc. DO NOT send flower essences or homeopathic remedies to school.

Doctor Prescribed: Medication prescribed by a doctor must reflect your doctor’s information on the container itself. Also, the “Authorization for Dispensation Form” must be completed by the parent.

Narcotics will not be administered at school even if prescribed by your doctor.

*If your child requires the use of an EpiPen or similar allergic/asthmatic reactionary medication, please see the School Administrator.

DO NOT place medications in your child’s lunchbox – ALL medications (OTC or prescribed) must be brought to the office. Parents are responsible to pick up medications at dismissal unless otherwise arranged.

FIRST AID

The school will follow first aid procedures in providing basic care for illness/injury that is NOT deemed an emergency. This will include rest, water, Band-Aid, ice pack, soap and water wash, and basic abrasion/bite medications. Parents are contacted upon onset of illness and depending on the nature of the accident.

INFECTION CONTROL

Our classrooms are equipped with HVAC systems that have UV light purifiers, which help sterilize moving air and reduce the transmission of viruses. Our bathrooms have touchless soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers to prevent the spread of germs.

Montessori materials, chairs, tables, shelves, etc. are sanitized with a water/bleach solution throughout the day. But to add another layer of sanitation, the school has acquired hospital-grade surface disinfectant wipes that also prevent and/or reduce the spread of several contagious diseases.

EMERGENCY CARE

In the event of a situation that requires immediate medical attention, we will want your child to see a doctor right away. Please remember to keep your Emergency/Medical Information form up to date in the office. We must be able to reach you at any time during the school day. If you cannot be reached, we will call 911 and your child will be transported to the nearest hospital.

Parents will be responsible for all medical expenses, treatment, and transportation.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: FIRE DRILLS, LOCK DOWN & SECURITY DRILLS

Fire drills are held monthly. During a fire drill, all children are evacuated according to a predetermined route. We will take attendance to have an accurate account of all children.

In the event of a county or state emergency, the school will follow the recommendations from Hillsborough County officials.

Our main priority is your child’s safety and as such, it is necessary to keep all school doors and gates locked, and to screen all visitors during normal hours of operation. Only authorized Arrival/Dismissal Teachers may open the front gate.

Parents must always provide a photo ID and the child’s ID number when picking up.

Other school security measures include the use of an in-school camera monitoring system, an alarm system, panic buttons in each classroom door, and a Lock-Down procedure in the event of an unauthorized person on the premises or if the school is alerted by law enforcement to engage in Lock-Down.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

In the event of Inclement Weather (including heavy wind, rain, or lightning), a possible DELAY at arrival/dismissal times may occur, and the following procedures will take place:

The gate teacher may PAUSE arrival and dismissal for several minutes as it is a safety issue for everyone.

Remain in your car if there's lightning in the area.

Hold your child's hand and walk fast, but please DO NOT RUN in the parking lot.

Our gate will be wide open. The gate teacher may skip applying hand sanitizer (at arrival) or checking ID (at dismissal) – visual recognition will suffice.

If a hurricane or tornado watch/warning is issued, we will follow Hillsborough County Public School procedures. Make sure to monitor your email, our social media pages, and the local news for updates as these events occur. If you are instructed to pick up your child, please be prompt.

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Emergency school closings may occur due to power outages, loss of water, inclement weather, or other hazardous conditions (flooding, chemical spills, etc.) We understand that unplanned school closings are a major inconvenience to our MAC parents who require childcare to attend work, but our main priority will always be the well-being and safety of our students and staff.

Please make sure we have your most up to date contact information on file. We will communicate critical information via email and/or post an announcement on our social media pages.

PAYMENTS,

REFUNDS & CREDITS

PAYMENT METHODS

We currently accept cash, personal check, money order, or online payments via Tuition Express/ProCare – processing fees are as follows:

ACH: $1.00/transaction

Debit Card/Credit Card: 2.6% + $0.10/transaction

Tuition checks/cash MUST be placed inside an envelope (clearly labeled with child’s full name) and either dropped on the school’s mailbox or handed to the Arrival/Dismissal teacher(s). Loose checks/cash will no longer be accepted.

*DO NOT place tuition checks/cash inside your child’s lunchbox – we will not be responsible if your payment gets lost/misplaced.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Full Tuition is required for the 10-month school year, August – May, under any circumstance and it is NOT REFUNDABLE. Also, FIRST month tuition (at any starting time of the year) is NON-REFUNDABLE; no exceptions.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE (2023-2024):

Checks will NOT be cashed until the 1st of every month

MONTH

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

DUE DATE

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 (First Day of School)

Friday, September 1, 2023

Friday, September 29, 2023

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Friday, December 1, 2023

Wednesday, Dec.20, 2023 (last day of school before Winter Break)

Thursday, February 1, 2023

Friday, March 1, 2023

Monday, April 1, 2023

Wednesday, May 1, 2023

Tuition is due by the 1st of every month or earlier if the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday. This remains constant regardless of attendance due to illness, vacation, or other.

Failure to pay on time may result in the automatic termination of services. Unpaid accounts will be sent to legal collections.

REFUNDS (Tuition, Registration & Incidental Fees)

Monthly Tuition: There is NO refund given for vacations, absences, illnesses, holidays, scheduled school closures, or closures due to force majeure events including, but not limited to, any: fire; act of God; hurricane or other weather event; war; government action; compliance with any law or government order, rule, regulation, or direction; act of terrorism; epidemic, pandemic, public health emergency, or local outbreak of communicable disease; quarantine or other shelter in place orders; rioting or civil unrest; and any other event beyond the school’s control.

Any temporary closure due to a force majeure event shall not impact on tuition payment obligations and the school is under no obligation to refund any portion of the tuition and fees paid.

Registration & Incidental Fees: There is NO refund for any of these items paid annually.

CREDITS

If you have overpaid tuition, the credit will be applied to your next month’s tuition. Also, if you have a credit balance after your student’s last day, all applicable fees including the 30-day withdrawal notice required will be subtracted from that balance prior to a final refund being issued.

*A Late Fee of $20 will be added each day if the account is not paid in full.

RETURNED CHECKS

A returned check may not be resubmitted and can only be redeemed in cash or money order. A $50.00 Returned Check Fee must be included in the amount. An account that has more than one (1) returned check requires future payments to be made in cash until timely payment and proper credit has been established.

BEFORE & AFTER CARE FEES

FULL DAY STUDENTS

The Full Day Program schedule is from 8:45 am – 2:45 pm. As a courtesy, Full Day students are permitted 15 minutes extra for PICK-UP ONLY (no later than 3 pm). A $30.00 per hour fee is assessed for late pick-up.

EXTENDED DAY STUDENTS

The Extended Day Program schedule is from 7 am – 6 pm.

As per licensing, the school MUST close promptly at 6 pm. A $5 per minute fee will be assessed after 6 pm, and parents will be required to sign a Late Pick-Up form before release. No exceptions.

RECEIPTS & STATEMENTS

Receipts and statements for tax and accounting purposes are available upon request for all accounts with a zero balance.

PROGRAM CHANGE

If you would like your child to switch/change programs (for example: Extended to Full Day hours or vice versa), you may do so only ONE-TIME during the entire academic year. This change must be requested at the very beginning of the month and not halfway through. No exceptions.

WITHDRAWAL

Parents must provide the school with a 30-day advance written notice for withdrawal from the registered school year. Tuition charges will be accrued until the end of the 30-day period whether the child is attending or not. NO EXCEPTIONS.

First month tuition (at any starting time of the year), Incidental Fees, Late Fees, Registration Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. No exceptions.

Personal Items: rest mats, extra clothes, and student work must be picked up within 7 days of the child’s last day at school. Personal items not retrieved after the 7-day period will be removed from the school.