The preschool is a non-profit organization sponsored by Trinity UCC Church. It is a mission of Trinity UCC and is responsible to the Preschool Committee and the Church Council.

We wish to provide a safe and secure learning environment where creativity is encouraged, where a progressive curriculum is taught, and where each child is recognized as one of God’s children. Our goal is to encourage the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child through meaningful play, creative learning, exploration and discovery.

Our developmental curriculum is theme based and consistent with the highest standards of early childhood education. All art projects, stories, songs, and creative movement activities revolve around the particular theme. The units are developed in alignment with the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Standards, in such areas as early literacy, early mathematics, creative expression (art, music, and drama), etc.

Terrific Twos is an opportunity for caregivers and our youngest friends to come together to play, learn and grow. The meeting space will be open to attendees and an adult for open play and fellowship. A teacher led class will follow. The class includes discovery and learning stations, music and movement, crafts and snack time.

The three-year old students will learn during circle time, at tables in small groups and during thoughtful play. These experiences will expose them to such educational opportunities as related to literacy and number sense as well as many conceptual ideas and themes throughout the year.

Kindergarten Readiness is the priority for our four-year old program. Students will gain a basic understanding of core content areas needed to be emergent in literacy, and develop number sense and other basic skills. These indicators describe the knowledge and skills that serve as the foundation for meaningful early learning experiences. These goals are aligned with the Eastern York School District.

Our PreK utilizes the Starfall curriculum for Language Arts and Reading Development. For math instruction, we follow the Math Counts program to prepare our students with the skills needed to be successful in meeting the requirements of Kindergarten. This program is the same mathematics program used by EYSD.

Registration for the following school year will begin in January for current students enrolled and in February for new students. Registration forms and a non-refundable $40 fee will be collected and received on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to those students/families who are currently enrolled in the program.

Tuition payments are due on the 15^th of each month. Tuition will be collected from August through April. Example: September’s tuition is due by August 15th and so on. Checks are payable to Trinity UCC Preschool. Parents are asked to communicate any circumstances or hardships that would make them to be unable to make tuition payments on time. Continual late or missing payments may result in dismissal from the preschool. Any tuition that is not paid by the 15th of each month will incur a late fee of $10.00 per week that it is late. Please utilize the drop box provided for tuition payments. If paying by check, please indicate child’s name and class in the memo section. If paying by cash, please place money in an envelope marked with your child’s name and class. A receipt will be provided.

$40.00 per month for 2-year old class or pay as you go basis $11.00 per class

$140.00 per month for Tuesday/Thursday 3-year-old class

$165.00 per month for Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4-year-old class

$245.00 per month for Monday through Friday PreK class

Parent involvement/communication is vital to the success of your child and the success of our preschool. Parents are encouraged and invited to participate in our program in a variety of ways including direct supplemental instruction, special events, classroom parties, field trips, sharing of special skills and talents.

A monthly newsletter will be provided to families to share classroom happenings and upcoming events and important dates.

Children should arrive no earlier than 8:55 AM/11:55 PM and picked up promptly at the end of class at 11:30 AM/2:30 PM. Students will only be released to adults listed on their emergency card. Should someone other than those listed need to transport your child, please contact the classroom teacher or aide and provide written permission.

Parents are allowed one late pick up, given a circumstance beyond their control of which they have informed the classroom teacher, at which time the late pick up will be noted and recorded. After the first late pick up, parents will be charged late fees as follows. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE FEES APPLY TO 11:30 AM (morning class session), 11:25 AM (Twos class), 12:15 PM (PreK), 2:15 PM (Lunch Bunch) and 2:30 PM (afternoon class session) SCHEDULES EQUALLY. Late fees may only be waived by the Preschool Director.

Up to 5 minutes late – $5.00

10-15 minutes late – $10.00

15-20 minutes late – $15.00

20-25 minutes late – $20.00

25-30 minutes late -$25.00

At ten minutes past the scheduled pick up time (11:35 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:25 PM, 2:25 PM and 2:40 PM) teachers will begin to call the parents. If parents are unreachable, the emergency contacts listed by the parents will be called after 20 minutes.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Each day the children have a fun time together around the table as they enjoy a snack. Snack time teaches patience, manners, independence, language development and nutrition. Families are asked to donate snacks, drinks and paper products throughout the year and will be assigned a specific week to do so. Sometimes special theme related snacks may be requested for donation. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the cubby room or hall indicating when special snacks are needed.

Children celebrating a birthday during the school year may bring in a special treat to share with the class, if desired. If possible, a special treat other than cupcakes is recommended. Children with summer birthdays will celebrate on a prearranged day as coordinated by the teacher and the parent.

Throughout the year, field trips will be planned to enhance the preschool experience. These are optional activities for all families. Field trip dates and times will be posted in advance. A parent or caregiver will need to provide transportation and must accompany their child during the trip.

Although most preschoolers are potty-trained, we realize that some children may need more time to be fully independent. The preschool staff will assist children with closures (buttons, snaps, etc.) during bathroom time. The staff will not assist children in cleaning up (wiping) after using the toilet. The staff will “coach” a child through a change of clothing, if an accident should occur, but will not clean or diaper the child. A parent or designated adult will be called should a child need assistance in cleaning up after a bathroom accident.

All families are asked to provide a copy of their child’s immunization record. We prefer that students be immunized in accordance with standard pediatric practice to be considered for admittance to the preschool. It is strongly suggested that students follow the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended immunization schedule and must be kept current. We ask that you provide documentation of such updates. Any deviations from the standard schedule must be documented by your physician with reasons for such deviation. Immunization records must be submitted within 30 days after enrollment.

For the health and well-being of your child and of others at school, keep your child home for the following reasons:

1. Fatigue (for any reason), lethargic behavior.
2. A fever (a child should remain at home for 24 hours after the fever is gone and/or prescribed antibiotics administered for 24 hours before a child returns to school).
3. Sore throat,
4. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (child should remain home for 24 hours after the last episode).
5. Red, “crusty”, itchy eyes (conjunctivitis or pink eye is very contagious). The child must be kept at home for 48 hours while being treated with antibiotics and should only return to school if there is no discharge from the eyes.
6. A runny nose if there is colored nasal mucous.

A parent or a person on the emergency contact list must always be available by phone during school hours. It is the parent’s responsibility to have someone available who can come to the school for emergencies or for a sick child.

Please call if your child has a communicable illness or infestation, such as chicken pox, conjunctivitis, ring worms, fifth’s disease, mites or head lice so we can exercise additional control methods and notify other parents. Your child’s identify is protected.

NOTE:  Our handbook is subject to change without notice.