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Greenfield Hill Church Nursery School
Susan Rippey , Director
(203) 259-7597
1045 Old Academy Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
The Greenfield Hill Church Nursery School, which was opened in 1954, is operated as a community service by the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. The school is non-sectarian and has always maintained an open admissions policy.
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Enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year opened on October 12th, 2007. Please contact us to determine program availability.
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The program for three to five year old children offers focused activities to stimulate and provide opportunities for growth and learning each child's individual and development level.
Our goals are:
1. To create a warm and loving atmosphere where each child's uniqueness and creativity are encouraged.
2. To provide a balanced program designed to involve the child in the excitement and joy of learning.
3. To encourage the freedom of each child to follow individual interests while providing the opportunity to participate in group activities.
We want to know each child well, to help him/her develop his/her own potential and self-respect, and to learn to respect others as well. To accomplish these goals, the school provides small classes (a teacher - child ratio of no more than 1-10), a building and playground built and maintained to its purpose, a well qualified staff of teachers, specialists, a director, and an active parent committee and program.
PROGRAM
THREE YEAR OLD PROGRAM
FOUR YEAR OLD PROGRAM
ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS
TUITION
HEALTH
SICK CHILD
EMERGENCY CARE PROCEDURES
FIRST DAYS
HOURS
SNACKS
SPECIAL DAYS
PARENT GROUP
SNOW DAYS
TRIPS
PARKING
TOYS
STAFF POLICY REGARDING DISCIPLINE
CLOTHING
HOME SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
CONFERENCES
PROGRAM
The Nursery School recognizes that all children develop differently, at individual times, and have individual needs. Therefore, each teacher assesses her children's levels of development, and plans her program within a framework that has evolved from staff discussion, workshops and common planning. This procedure not only provides continuity, but encourages a creative individualized program which reflects new educational theory and sound practices.
A variety of activities develop large and small motor skills. Language and concept imagery is explored through stories, poetry, and nature investigations. We strive to introduce the children to a variety of art media, and music occupies an important place in our curriculum.
THREE YEAR OLD PROGRAM
The three year old classes occupy separate rooms on the main floor and have special playground times. For the very young child, a gentle transition from home to school is important, and his/her first one. Therefore, time is allowed for creative choices and for learning more about ourselves and each other, understanding feelings, and how to share. Field trips are kept to a minimum until later in the year, since the security of a familiar environment and routine are important for the three year old.
FOUR YEAR OLD PROGRAM
The expanding abilities and enthusiasm of four year olds are exciting and these children flourish in a program that broadens their horizons of skills and experiences. Field trips, wider varieties of activities, expanding social relationships among their peers and in the community help them grow in their awareness of the world around them.
ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS
The State of Connecticut requires a medical form on file for each child when the school opens. Medical forms must be renewed annually for both children and teachers. Connecticut State law requires that a child must be 2.9 months old the month of September in order to begin a 3 year old program. All beginning 3 year olds must be trained in order to begin their school year. No diapers or pull-ups allowed.
TUITION
At the time of registration, $50.00 will be required. This is the registration fee and is non-refundable. Following acceptance, a contract is signed and a tuition deposit of $500.00 is made. This is credited to the last tuition payment and is also non-refundable.
Tuition is made in three installments, May 15, November 15, and February 15. Once a payment is made it shall be non-refundable. Accounts fifteen days past due on any due date shall receive a late charge of $25.00. A $15.00 late fee for returned checks will also be added. In the unlikely event that the professional staff judges the child's behavior to be detrimental to the child, other children, or staff and withdrawal from school is necessary, tuition will be refunded on a pro-rated basis.
Payments are to be given (or mailed) to the Director.
HEALTH
A physical examination by the family doctor and the completion of medical forms are required by Connecticut State law. No child can be admitted without a form completed by his/her physician and on file with us. It is mandatory that all children are up to date with their inoculations. Emergency numbers are needed for our files in case the parents cannot be reached at home or work. In addition to the parents' home and work numbers, three emergency numbers are required.
SICK CHILD
If your child starts the day with a sore throat, stomach-ache, persistent cough, or fever, please keep him/her home. This is very important, since there is not a nurse present at the school. Should your child become sick during the school day, the teachers will call you so that you can take him/her home before further symptoms develop, or other children are exposed to infection.
EMERGENCY CARE PROCEDURES
In the event of an emergency, appropriate first aid care will be given (as indicated in the Red Cross First Aid Course). Urgent life-saving care will be given first and then the parents will be notified. The child's physician or the physician-on-call will be consulted and his/her instructions will be carried out immediately. If indicated, the Town of Fairfield's Rescue Squad will provide ambulance transportation to the child's hospital of choice or the nearest hospital. Parents are responsible for paying the ambulance transportation fee. The Nursery School is staffed with several individuals certified in first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
FIRST DAYS
To aid our little ones in their first experience in school, special times are arranged for classroom visits before school starts.
The teachers also visit each child at their home during the week prior to the opening days of school. These visits are invaluable aids in easing the child from his/her home to school.
A child's first few weeks in school are very important ones. When it is time for good-byes, it is good practice to say good-bye quickly and cheerfully, being careful to reassure the child that you will be there to pick him/her up at the end of the session. It is important to the child that the parent pick him/her up promptly.
HOURS
Doors open at 9:15 AM. It is important that teachers have time to meet and set up the classrooms before the children come to school. Children should be brought to their classrooms. School ends at Noon. Lunch Bunch, science, and cooking end at 2:00 p.m.
SNACKS
Each child brings a healthy snack. Juice is provided by the school. Snacks sent from home for the whole class are always welcome. Sometimes the class may do their own cooking and have a special treat. We are a nut free school.
SPECIAL DAYS
Holidays are important to children and provide new themes for creative and dramatic play - pumpkins around Halloween, clay menorahs for Chanukah, glitter decorations for Christmas, paper hearts for Valentine's Day.
Birthday Parties at school should be simple. Let your child's teacher know in advance, and then bring a special treat and napkin for each child. The party is given at snack time and the school provides juice for the occasion. Please do not bring favors for the children. Invitations and presents for after-school birthdays should not be brought to school. We are starting a tradition at GHCNS - give the school library a present - a favorite book would be most welcome.
Valentine's Day: Each child brings a Valentine for each child in the class. No names on the envelopes, please.
PARENT GROUP
The Nursery School has a parent support group, the goal of which is to foster interaction, communication, and support between the parents and Nursery School. If you would like to be involved with any of the committees, our new chairmen will be in attendance at the welcome coffees which take place the first few weeks of school. They will tell you about the committees which serve our children and our parents throughout the year. Nursery School Committees include: Scribbles - the school newspaper, Breakfast with Santa, Hospitality, Scholastic Book Club and Wine and Cheese Silent Auction - a fund-raiser.
SNOW DAYS
We follow the Fairfield Public School System for school cancellations due to bad weather, snow or weather emergencies. We will not broadcast on the radio for bad weather conditions. If the public schools have a delayed opening, we will delay our opening until 10:30 AM. Listen to WICC 600AM, WEZN 100FM or WEBE 108FM for information about delays and cancellations.
TRIPS
Trips are an important part of the school's educational program. The children will go with their teachers to visit places of interest in the community. This is also an interesting experience for mothers who volunteer to drive and accompany them. The 3's do not take trips outside school since we feel it is very important for them to become secure in the nursery school environment before they venture further afield. The 4's trips are a valuable contribution to their curriculum.
Parents will be notified in advance. Room mothers will be asked to help the teacher arrange for drivers and collect money when necessary. Seat belts are mandatory for every child. Teachers may not drive.
Permission slips must be signed by a parent prior to taking a trip. All school sponsored field trips must depart from the school and return to the school at the designated times.
PARKING
Parking can be a problem at our school and is always a concern. There is no parking or entering the parking lot at drop off or dismissal because it is too small and with the large SUV's children are hard to see when backing out. Parking is available by the church or in the street. For the safety of the children, parents are requested to walk their child directly into the classroom. Please hold your child's hand once you leave the building or your car.
TOYS
We do not encourage children to bring toys to school, since the school has excellent equipment and a great variety of media with which to work. However, books, tapes and records are always welcome.
We urge parents to set limits. NO GUNS, WAR THINGS, OR OTHER TOYS OF DESTRUCTION - are allowed at our school.
STAFF POLICY REGARDING DISCIPLINE
We at Greenfield Hill Church Nursery School present discipline in a positive way. Inappropriate behavior is discouraged in ways that help the development of a negative image. We insist that no child be allowed to physically harm another child. Our strongest disciplinary measure is to have a child “take time out”, in order to think about his or her actions. All physical punishment is forbidden, as well as any physical or verbal action that would be demeaning to a child.
CLOTHING
We will work with materials like paint and clay, so your child should wear comfortable clothes. Children are encouraged to dress themselves; therefore, it is wise to select clothing, snowsuits and boots that are easy for them to manage. Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes are safest in the classroom and on the playground.
Clothing for outdoor play is necessary year-round as we go out every day, providing it is not raining. Since the playground is a grassy one, it is a good idea to provide boots. No open sandals or jellies.
All outerwear and extra clothing left at school must be clearly labeled with your child's name.
TRANSPORTATION
Many of our parents share transportation to and from school. If someone other than a child's parent will be picking up the child, the school must be notified in writing. It is important that your child be picked up promptly at dismissal time.
HOME SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
In order to work effectively with your children, we (parents and staff) need to work together and to communicate honestly. We encourage parents to keep in close touch with us and we attempt to communicate freely with parents. We welcome telephone calls and are available for conferences whenever necessary. Formal parent conferences are scheduled in January. Parents are welcome to come to school to observe at any time. The parent group committee works closely with the Director in order to channel ideas and questions and to facilitate communication. Parent's programs are offered during the year to provide opportunities for parents to get to know each other and to learn about areas of family life and child development.
CONFERENCES
Conferences are very helpful to both teachers and parents. Formal parent conferences are scheduled in January by the teachers to give parents a picture of their child's progress. Should there be any reason for a teacher to discuss your child with you, she will call you at once. Don't hesitate to call for a conference with teachers or the Director whenever you feel a need for one. You are invited to visit the school during the year to observe your own child, the activities of the groups and the nursery school procedure. To be certain that only one visitor comes at a time, please check with your child's teacher in advance.
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