Cambridge
Day School

2620 Cambridge Beltway
Cambridge Md. 21613
410.228.8397

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Parent Handbook

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Cambridge Day School provides a quality educational environment for children ages 2½ through kindergarten. The program offers sensitivity to the individual child and a challenging academic program. The environment is carefully planned and stimulating in order to help children develop within themselves the habits, attitudes, skills and ideas which are essential for a lifetime of creative thinking and learning.

BILLING PROCEDURES

Payment Plans: Parents may choose one of the following payment plans. Payment plans may not be changed once a plan is in effect.

Plan A:       Two Payments – One half of the total annual bill for tuition and fees is due and payable on September 1 or at time of enrollment. The remaining half of the annual bill is due and payable on or before December 1.

Plan B:       Monthly Payments – One eighth of the total outstanding tuition will be due on the first of each month commencing on September 1 and concluding on April 1.   The total annual tuition will be divided by eight to calculate the monthly fees.

Plan C:      Two Payments – Parents of Returning Students may choose a third payment plan. The returning student tuition is the tuition paid the prior year or 20% discount from the upcoming year's tuition, whichever is higher. Early Bird and Day Care fees are not discounted. In order to qualify for Plan C, March 31st is the registration deadline and a 10% Registration Fee is due at registration. The remaining tuition and fees are due in two equal payments. These payments are due prior to 1:00 pm on August 1st and November 1st. Payments are considered late after 1:00 pm on August 1st and November 1st and a Late Payment fee of 5% of the payment will be added. In addition to the Late Payment fee, an Administrative Billing Fee and a Finance Charge will also be added.

Payment Due: Tuition and Day Care payments are due prior to 1:00 pm on the 1st of the month. Day Care payments for special request day care needs are due either prior to or at the time the services are provided. Late payments not made prior to being due are subject to the Administrative Billing Fee.

Late Payment Fee: The Late Payment Fee of 5% (five percent) of the payment due is applicable to Plan C.

Finance Charge and Returned Checks: There is a $20.00 charge for handling returned checks. There is a finance charge of 18% (1½% per month) on unpaid balances. If the scheduled payments are more than sixty days overdue, the School may refuse to release academic records or may not permit the student to attend class.

Administrative Billing Fee: An Administrative Billing Fee of $15.00 will be added when a bill or invoice is prepared. A bill or invoice is prepared whenever a payment is late. This fee will be applicable for late payments (e.g. monthly or two payment plans) or for Early Bird or Day Care when the program is not paid in advance or payment is not received at the time the services are provided.

Late Pick-Up Fee: There will be a fee for students who are picked up late. For each 5 minutes beyond the end of the program hours, a fee of $5.00 will be assessed (e.g. at 5:10 a late pick-up fee of $10.00 will be assessed). Pick up time for morning students is 11:45; for afternoon academic programs is 2:30., Monday - Thursday; and for afternoon day care is 5:30.; Friday pick up for Kindergarten is 11:45.

GENERAL POLICIES

The educational program takes place 5 days a week purposely to allow and encourage repetition, order, sequence and independence. Consistency helps children to feel safe and secure. It is important to arrive at school on time as it is sometimes difficult for children to walk into an environment once class is underway. In addition, children coming in late often disrupt the concentration of those already present. We want to include all children in the information and lessons shared at group time, which is at the beginning of the morning. For security, the front doors will be locked at 9:10 am each morning.

ADMISSIONS

Parents of pupils interested in enrollment for their children visit in a classroom followed by an interview with the Director. Siblings of children enrolled in the School are given preference in enrollment as well as a discount.

1. Children entering the three-year-old program must be three by September 1st and potty trained.
2. Children entering kindergarten must be five by September 1st.
3. Children entering first grade must be six by September 1st.

The Cambridge Day School Fee Sheet is available at www.cambridgedayschool.org/CDSFeeSheet.pdf.

ARRIVAL

Drop off for the Primary (3-6) class is between 8:45 and 9:00. Please leave your child with the person in charge. The time before class is important for the teacher preparation and for setting the tone for the day. Promptness is important in a child’s life. Children who arrive late and are picked up late feel uncomfortable. A quiet and peaceful beginning helps make a productive and peaceful day. Discussions with the staff members may be arranged before morning drop off or after afternoon pick-up times.

DISMISSAL

Three and four year olds are dismissed at 11:45. The class is typically outdoors at this time.

Afternoon dismissal for kindergarten is at 2:30, Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, Kindergarten is dismissed at 11:45. Please do not come into the hallway or classroom prior to the children’s dismissal by the teacher. It is important to bring closure to the day in an organized manner. Parents may wait in the commons room.

ATTENDANCE

Please notify the school if your child will be absent. Communicable diseases must be reported to the school immediately.

BIRTHDAY

Children can enjoy a birthday snack at school. Parents can provide a special birthday snack for their child’s celebration. Please provide a healthy snack, prepared with minimal sugar. Honey and fruit juices are healthier sweetener alternatives. Please refer to the snack section for suggestions. If you would like to bring something different please check with the teacher first.

Birthday party invitations may not be passed out at school unless the entire class is invited, as many children feel left out and upset if not included.

CLOTHING

CDS has a uniform policy. The children may wear blue, black or khaki pants, shorts or skirts. The pants, shorts and skirts must come to the waist (no low riders, please). The skirts must be just a few inches above the knee. The tops are a collared polo type shirt or blouse. It may be white or a primary color (red, yellow or blue). The CDS t-shirts are acceptable to wear as well.

EXTRA CLOTHES

All primary children must have an extra set of clothes to be kept at school in case of a bathroom accident or spill. Please include a complete set of undies, socks, pants and a shirt. All children need boots to wear to and from school in bad weather and as we go outside every day. This will keep their feet warm and dry and help keep the environment clean. All children need a pair of plain, small, washable slippers to keep at school. (No fuzzy animal shapes or characters, please.)

SHOES

Please send your child to school in sturdy, comfortable play shoes. Sneakers or other sturdy lace up or buckle on shoes are suggested. Clog or flip-flop type shoes are not allowed, as they are dangerous for outdoor play.

If at all possible, send shoes that do not make black marks on tile floors.

CONFERENCES

Conferences are available whenever the need arises, mutually or from a parent or staff concern or question.

There are two scheduled conferences during the year. We believe conferences are valuable, as they enable us to communicate and share our knowledge about the most important topic, your child.

DISCIPLINE

All discipline is to be positive, appropriate, and meaningful to the individual child(ren) regardless of age or situation.

The Montessori approach espouses that discipline as primarily indirect. The children learn self-control through organized, calm, spontaneous work.

Certain behaviors are expected for your child to develop self-discipline in order to work cooperatively with others. We are asking you to discuss the importance of good behavior and a positive attitude with your child. Fighting, disrespect for others and materials, bad language will not be tolerated. Parents will be called in to help resolve these problems with students who break the rules of the class. If problems continue, the administrator or teacher will take necessary action that may include suspension or expulsion.

RULES OF THE CLASS

1. Be prepared.   Arrive at school on time.
2. Respect others and their belongings.  Respect the schools materials.
3. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
4. Stay in your assigned area.
5. Follow directions.
6. Participate and do you best.

COTS/NAPPING

Three and four year old students in afternoon day care will nap each afternoon from 1:00 - 2:30.   Please provide a bottom sheet (crib sheets work best), blanket and small pillow.   Bedding will be sent home weekly for laundering.

There will be a $5 charge for the use of school bedding in cases where the child's own bedding is forgotten at home.

HOLIDAYS

Holidays are celebrated in the classroom according to the discretion of the teacher.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween usually is celebrated in the classroom. Children are invited to wear their costume to school and in our Halloween parade around the playground.

FATHER’S NIGHT

An evening in March is set aside when each child may bring in his or her father or significant male adult. The teacher is in the background as the child gives lessons to the adult.

MOTHER’S DAY TEA

The children bake and prepare treats for this special event. Mothers are invited to share tea and pastries with their children for the special celebration.

LUNCH

If your child is eating lunch at school, please pack a well-balanced nutritious meal. Please do not send desserts, salty or high fat snacks, candy or other highly sugared foods or foods with excessive quantities of additives and preservatives to school with your child. We want the children to function at their highest potential. Foods that are not appropriate to a nutritious lunch will be returned home with your child with a note. Examples include, chips, pudding, cookies, candy, fruit roll ups, rice crispy snacks, sodas or sugary juices. Please put the child’s names clearly on their lunch boxes.

Lunch is to be packed in a plastic lunch container with compartments for various foods. These are called "obento" lunch boxes. This cuts down on waste from baggies and wrappers. The containers allow the children more independence at lunch time. These containers can be found at Wal-Mart, grocery stores and from Tupper Ware.

OBSERVATION TIME

You may observe your child’s classroom at any time. We ask that you plan a mutually convenient time to observe so as to have time to talk with your child’s teacher. If possible set up your observation time in advance, as too many adults in the classroom can be disruptive.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

The Cambridge Day School has an active Parent Teacher Organization. Meetings are held bi-monthly. All parents are expected to be involved and to serve on at least two committees each school year. The PTO carries out fundraising activities, book fairs, public relations activities, and organizes social gatherings for families on a regular basis.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

Parents who have a talent, career or hobby that they think would be interesting to the children are encouraged to make arrangements with the teacher to set a time to share this information. Parents interested in assisting teachers with material making, library work, classroom or office work are invited to volunteer.

ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS

The Cambridge Day School considers the records of all individual students to be confidential information available to a child’s parents or guardians upon written request.

Records will only be released to other schools or agencies upon written request from a parent or guardian and only after all accounts due are paid in full.

The school shall maintain a written log in each child’s record indicating any persons to whom information contained in a child’s record has been released.

REFUND POLICY

There is a two-month trial period for all new students. If at the end of two months the parents or the teacher decide that the child and program are not suited to each other, a prorated tuition will be refunded. If the child is withdrawn before the end of school year, a 30-day written notice is necessary or you will be charged the following month’s tuition.

SNOW POLICY / LATE OPENINGS

We generally will follow the Dorchester County School snow closure or late opening policy. However, if they open either one or two hours late, we open at 10:00.
We do not have any late openings due to fog delays, however, each parent is expected to use his or her best judgement.

SNACK PROGRAM

The school will provide snack. For special occasions, such as birthdays, snacks may be sent from home. Below are some suggestions:

• Vegetables and fruits (cut to child’s finger size)
• Dips (not too runny)
• Crackers and cheese
• Raisins
• Sandwiches cut into fourths or in different shapes with a cookie cutter, tuna, peanut butter, honey, cheese, etc. on various kinds of bread.
• Different baked breads (banana, carrot, etc.)
• Nutritious muffins (oatmeal, carob)
• Yogurt
• Cheese cubes
• Applesauce
• Hard boiled eggs

STAFFING PATTERNS

The Department of Human Resources states, “In a mixed (for day care) age group with preschool children 3 years or older, the staff to child ratio is one to ten."

STAFF/CHILD RATIOS AND GROUP SIZE

QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS

Teachers who provide instructions in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies must have a bachelor’s degree or 120 semester hours of college credit. This requirement applies to teachers of all ages & grades including nursery school programs for ages 2, 3, and 4.

TOYS

Please do not send toys into school. The children find these very distracting and it disrupts the rhythm of the class.

HEALTH CARE POLICES

All health forms and emergency cards must be on file in the office before your child enters school. The information must be accurate and up-to-date.

HEAD LICE POLICY :
If your child has been exposed to another child with head lice, then check your child's head for lice and nits (eggs) for the next two weeks. The incubation period is 7 to 10 days. If your child contracts head lice, you must notify the school immediately and keep your child home until they are nit free. That means there are no nits (eggs) on the hair. Your child must be checked by a Health Department professional or your doctor and given a note to bring to school saying he/she is free of lice and nits.

RINGWORM POLICY
Some medical conditions require proof of treatment before your child can be readmitted to school. Please use the following guidelines before sending your child back to school.

1. Ringworm of the scalp requires a doctor's note indicating that teatment is in progress and the student may return to school.
2. Ringworm of the body or extremities requires proof of treatment (such as sales receipt and packaging from treatment product, or a doctor's note): lesions must be covered while at school.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Ringworm of the skin or body has an incubation period of 4 to 10 days.
The infection involves the face, trunk or extremities. The rash is usually circular, slightly red with a scaly border and may be itchy.

Ringworm is spread by direct person-to-person or animal contact or indirect contact with contaminated articles such as clothing, hats, combs, brushes, bed linens, stuffed animals, telephones, gym mats, floors, showers and soil.

Ringworm is communicable until the rash/lesions heal.

Most cases are treated with topical antifungal medication for about 4 weeks. While being treated, exclude from gymnasiums, swimming pools and activites likely to expose others.

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Communicable Diseases

YEARLY PHYSICAL

All Children are required to have a yearly physical. It is your responsibility to provide a copy of the results of the physical to the office in a timely manner.

Immunizations must be up to date. Children without signed and dated immunization forms and immunities may be asked to leave the school until the form is provided or those shots are caught up.

SICKNESS

We reserve the right to make decisions concerning your child’s health based on observation and knowing your child’s “normal” behavior. If we believe that your child is too ill to be at school, we respectfully advise that you trust our judgment and pick him/her up as soon as possible. Children may not attend school with a fever (temperature above 99.0 F), diarrhea or vomiting. Please be considerate of the other students and families and keep your child home if coughing or nasal drainage is excessive due to a viral or bacterial infection.

MEDICATION

Medication may be administered to children in the school only upon the written order of a licensed physician. Pick up a Physician’s Medication Order Form from your child’s teacher.

SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

PARENT SIGNATURE

I acknowledge that I/we have received and reviewed the Cambridge Day School Parent Handbook.

Student Name

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Parent(s) Name (printed)

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Parent Signature and Date

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