Our Policies
Hours of Operation:
We offer Half Day and Full Day schedules with flexible Extended Care drop off and pick up times. Our core hours are 9:00am-12:00pm. Optional Before Care is from 8:00am - 9:00am. After Care is from 12:00pm - 4:30pm. Children may attend Preschool on the days for which they are registered. Per state requirements, your child must be signed in and out with your full signature. This is done via a mobile device using the Brightwheel app. Your cooperation is needed to have children here on time and picked up on time. If your child is not picked up on time they will go into the Extended Care program at a hourly rate billed on the quarter hour of usage. There will be a late pick-up fee of $5/minute beginning 1 minute after school closes for the day.
Admissions:
The intent of this preschool is to serve children ages 2-5 years. It is to be operated on a non-discriminatory basis, affording equal treatment and access to services without regard to race, sex, color, religion, nationality or ancestry. Registration preferences shall be given to children of families previously enrolled, to children of communicant members of the church, and to children on our wait list. Our registration for the following school year and the current year’s Summer Fun Program opens in February.
Registration Fee:
There is a $150 registration fee required to hold your child's spot and will be collected upon initial registration. For church members and military families, the registration fee is discounted to $125. The registration fee is non-refundable. The registration fee is an annual fee and only one is collected per family
Enrollment:
Our enrollment period for the fall term opens in February. Priority registration is given to existing Preschool families for the following school year. If there are openings during the current school year, we will offer the spot to families on our wait list first. All enrollment paperwork, including a current copy of your child's immunization card, is due upon enrollment. If enrollment pack is incomplete, your child will not be able to start. We will be accept applications online using Brightwheel. Please note that you will need to create a Brightwheel account using your email address. After you submit your enrollment application you will receive an email from the Brightwheel Team with the additional steps in the enrollment process.
It is our policy to meet with all new families and their children before accepting registrations. This will give you a chance to tour the school, see the classrooms and decide if our curriculum and policies are a good fit for your child and family.
Tuition:
Tuition is due on the 1st of each month and is paid monthly through Brightwheel. There is a late fee of $65.00 if paid after the 5th of the month. If a family becomes delinquent in paying tuition more than 1 month the child(ren) may be dropped from the program until payment has been made. Tuition is due despite holiday breaks, natural disasters, pandemic closures, illness or personal vacations. Preschool families with more than one child enrolled simultaneously will be given a 10% discount on tuition for the younger child. We also offer a 10% discount to active military families. One discount may be applied per family.
Withdrawal:
A two week notice prior to the 1st of the month bill date must be given to discontinue enrollment or tuition will be forfeited
Face Coverings:
We follow the CDPH guidelines for masking in a childcare setting which could change based on community COVID numbers in San Diego. The masking rules at the Preschool are up to the sole discretion of the Director. As of this writing it is optional to wear a face covering while you are indoors at the Preschool. Children can be unmasked while outside, while eating and while napping regardless of inside masking guidelines.
Holidays/Calendar:
We primarily follow the same calendar as the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) for holidays and school closures. Our first day of school is 2 weeks after SDUSD starts and our last day is the Friday before they end. We have a summer program in June and July, but we are closed most of August. Our first day of school for the 2024-25 school year will be on August 26, 2024. A calendar will be provided at the beginning of the school year outlining all school holidays.
Food/Snacks:
We provide a healthy mid-morning snack every day for your child. If your child is staying for Lunch Bunch and Extended Care, we ask that you pack them a lunch. Parents are welcome to volunteer to bring in snacks for your child’s class on Thursdays or Fridays and for holidays and birthdays. Please arrange a special snack with your child’s teacher. If your child has an allergy to a certain food, they are required to bring in their own daily snack.
Illness or Emergency:
If a child becomes ill at school or an emergency arises, every effort will be made to reach you or one of your emergency contacts. Arrangements must then be made to have your child picked up immediately. An ill child awaiting transportation home will be brought to the office. Please inform the office if your child becomes exposed to a contagious disease. Please refer to the attached link for Our Health and Wellness Policy and our COVID-19 Policies.
Vaccinations:
In accordance of California state law, as of 1/1/16 all newly enrolled children must be vaccinated in full (vaccination requirements) to meet the state requirements. Non-vaccinated children without a signed medical exemption cannot be enrolled. Only a medical exemption signed by a California licensed physician will be accepted.
Cleaning and sanitizing:
All classrooms and playgrounds will be throughly cleaned and sanitized at the end of the day. All toys used during the day will be cleaned and sanitized. High touch points in the classroom, on the playground and bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized multiple times throughout the day. We charge a monthly fee per student for enhanced cleaning and sanitizing due to COVID.
Medication:
The only medication we are able to administer are epi-pens and asthma inhalers. Those medications must have a medical action plan filled out and signed by your child's doctor and be on file with the preschool before we can accept the medication in the office or administer the medication to your child. We are not able to administer or apply any over-the-counter medication, prescribed medication (except those listed above) or sunscreen.
Clothing:
We recommend comfortable play clothes that the child can manage by him/herself. Sneakers and rubber soles make the best play ground shoes. No bare feet, sandals, plastic high heeled shoes, open-toed shoes, open heeled shoes or crocs allowed. Please bring in an extra set of clothes, shoes and socks for your child's teacher. Please label all personal belongings clearly.
Potty training:
Children in our 2 year old program do not have to be potty trained. However, Northminster will begin charging a monthly diapering fee beginning with our Summer Fun 2024 program. Please provide diapers or pull ups for your child. We highly recommend that your child is fully potty trained by the time they are 3 years old so they can be grouped in classrooms with other children of the same age. A child is considered potty trained when he recognizes the need to eliminate and is able to access and use the toilet with little to no assistance.
We ask that all parents provide a change of clothes as well as socks and shoes in case your child has an accident. If your child has an accident, their soiled clothes will be sent home in a plastic bag that day. Please check your child's bag daily.
Discipline:
Corporal punishment or humiliating or frightening techniques will never be used. If your child is inappropriately physical, verbally abusive and/or violent to children or staff, we will first redirect and notify you of a problem, separate the children involved and if necessary create a problem solving team including parents, the director and appropriate staff. If your child continues to require assistance for behavior that is ongoing and disruptive or violating the rights of other students we will consider the needs of your child beyond the scope of our objectives at Northminster Preschool. You will be asked to immediately seek a preschool program elsewhere. The preschool shall maintain a current Discipline Policy. All parents must sign this policy as an indication of their agreement.
Parent Group:
We’ve always had very involved parents at our Preschool. They would meet once a month to help with fundraising and other Preschool events. Our Parent Group Meetings have been put on hold until further notice due to COVID-19.
Volunteering:
Our Parent Volunteering opportunities have been put on hold until further notice due to COVID-19.
Not Allowed at School:
NO toy guns, knives, sharp toys, gum, candy, vitamins or coins. No pets of any kind within the gates of the preschool without prior approval from the director. Please leave any items of value at home. The preschool cannot be responsible for personal items. Please have your child leave toys at home unless they are bringing them in for their sharing day.