Welcome to Parent Orientation 2012-2013 School Year

1. Welcome to Parent Orientation 2012-2013 School Year

2. Administration Staff • Shetal Walters – Executive Director • Tracy Pace – Human Resources • Karen Hurlbert – Enrollment & Development • Lecia Michels – Public Relations • Alice Armenta – Field Trips & Front Office • Lisa Edson – Front Office • Sonia Jain – Communications & Events

3. Mission Desert Garden Montessori’s mission is to create an environment for children in which they are encouraged to explore, create, learn, socialize, and celebrate their unique talents. The school is committed to developing within each child a sense of responsibility and interdependence with their community and the world. Accordingly, Desert Gardens philosophy encourages children to appreciate and respect nature and the environment. Like the flowers in a garden, the children will learn and grow together in peaceful coexistence. Thus the name “Desert Garden Montessori”

4. Emergency Cards & Immunizations Emergency Cards MUST be turned in before your child may start school. If we do not have your emergency card on file your child will not be allowed to attend!

5. Signing In and Out Desert Garden Montessori maintains a Sign In/Out book which must be signed each time the child is dropped off or picked up from the school. The Sign In/Out book must be signed with at least a first initial and full last name by each child’s parent or designated individual.

6. Release of Children • Students will be released to those persons listed on the Emergency and Immunization Card only. Before releasing a child to an individual other than a parent, Desert Garden Montessori requires each individual collecting a child to present picture identification. Any staff member may require proof of identification from any adult picking up a child upon request. • If a person picking up is not listed on the Emergency Card, prior written authorization from the parent is mandatory and needs to be left at the front desk to release the child at time of pick-up. Written authorization must include the child’s name, date written, date of pick-up, authorized person’s full name, address, phone, and signed by the parent. No verbal / call-in pick-ups are allowed. A written form must be signed and submitted prior to release, these forms are available on our website at http://desertgardenmontessori.org/parent/authorization-to-pick-up-form/

7. Attendance and Arrival Times Parents are asked to notify the School when your child will not be attending for any reason or will need to arrive late or leave early for the day. There is no reduction in tuition for absences and/or vacations. Punctuality is a school value. We ask that you make a commitment to have your child attend regularly and be ready to begin class at the scheduled start time. School Day Schedule:Infant: 8:30-3:00 Toddler: 8:30-2:30 Primary: 8:00-2:30 Elementary: 8:00-3:00 Middle School: 8:00-3:00 High School: 8:00 – 3:00 (*unless attending Mountain Pointe High School)

8. Illness • Parents must notify the front desk when child has a contagious illness. • Students must be free of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea without the assistance of medicine for 24 hours before returning to school. If any of these symptoms occur while the child is at school, parents will be called for immediate pick up, and the child may not return to school until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. Children who are on an antibiotic must complete a fill 24-hour dosage period before returning to school in addition to being symptom free as described above. • To minimize incidences of communicable disease, direct notification may also be sent to parents of children who may have been exposed. A doctor’s release may be requested upon the return of students who were absent due to a communicable disease and/or a health condition (i.e., head lice).

9. Medication Policy • All medications will be administered by front desk staff based on a doctor’s prescription schedule. In addition to a doctor’s prescription that accompanies the medicine in its original container, a Request For Administering Medication form must be filled out completely by a parent. • No over-the-counter medications will be administered without a doctor’s prescription.  (Tylenol, cough drops, calamine lotion, etc.) • A Request For Administering Medication form must accompany topical medications; this includes sunscreens, lotions, diaper rash ointments, and Chap Stick. All medications must be dropped off at the front desk upon arrival.

10. Curbside Hours of Operation As a courtesy to our families, Desert Garden Montessori offers curbside drop-off and pick up during regularly scheduled school days. AM Drop Off • 7:00-7:55 a.m. All children PM Pick Up • 2:30-2:45 p.m. Primary • 3:00-3:15 p.m. Elementary, MS, & HS

11. Curbside Protocol • Drop-off and pick up during regularly scheduled school days. • No curbside service on Child Care or Summer Program days • Morning service only on Early Release days. • No parking in front of the school at any time. • Car seats and children on passenger side • Allow DGM staff to take children out of the car. Do not let children out of the car or get out of vehicle to assist your child. • Do not exit your vehicle at any time. • Every parent must sign-in and sign-out for all curbside drop-offs and pick-ups • If you are an unfamilar parent/guardian to curbside faculty/staff then you will be required to show proper identification for authorization

12. Late Pick Up Fees and Times • We close promptly at 6:00 p.m. If you pick up your child at 6:01 p.m. or later, you will be billed as follows: $15.00 per child for the first 15 minutes, from 6:01 to 6:15 p.m. After 6:15, an additional $1.00 per minute will charged. As a courtesy and respect to our staff, please pick up your child before 6:00 p.m. • This fee schedule also applies to Early Release days; the first Friday of each month when the school closes at 4 p.m. for teacher in-service.

13. Childcare Registration • Registration is two weeks prior. • Staffing will be provided based on registration. • You must arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. to receive care on Childcare days. • It is the parent’s responsibility to register for these dates before the deadline. • Wait List - 9:00 AM day of – please call for availability • No organic lunch service - please provide a sack lunch • Billing • Extended Day - included (but must register) • Half day and Full Day tuition - $6.00/hour • $35/day for “No-Show”

14. Cell Phone Policy We prohibit the use of cellular phones at any time while on campus. We strive to model a cell-phone free environment for our students, and ask that all parents respect and honor this environment. To honor your children with complete presence and attention, we ask that you make sure your cell phone is turned OFF before you enter the school.

15. Observations in Classrooms • Observations are encouraged and may be scheduled through the front desk. • You will be provided with observation guidelines to maximize your time in the classroom. • Toddler Observations are held in a classroom other than where your child is enrolled • The Observation period for this school year begins in October of 2012.

16. Program Transitions • Internal decision about child’s developmental readiness • Placement and timing of move based on openings • Teacher selection will be decided by DGM faculty and staff

17. School Tuition Organizations A School Tuition Organization (STO) is a charitable organization that receives voluntary cash contributions from taxpayers and allocates those funds in tuition grants to school children.  The STO grants allow families who otherwise are unable to afford a nonpublic K-12 school, to choose a school they feel best suits the needs to their children. 

18. Support DGM & Save on Taxes • Desert Garden Montessori is eligible to receive funding from • Arizona Scholarship Fund (ASF) • Arizona School Choice Trust (ASCT) • Institute for Better Education (IBE) Ex. $1,000 Contribution -$1,000 +$1,000 +$250 (ex. 25% tax bracket) +$250 Charitable Contribution AZ State Tax Credit Federal Deduction

19. Benefits to You • Save money on taxes • These are taxes you are paying anyway – STOs allow you to direct your tax money to education • Support your child’s school

20. Benefits to Desert Garden • 90% of $ donated to STOs comes directly back to the school • Allows for more children to be able to afford DGM • Creates strong and robust programs • Numbers rise • More kids = more STO contributions = more robust programs • Upward spiral

21. Food Program Desert Garden Montessori has elected to make an Organic Lunch Program available to its students and staff featuring hot meals cooked daily on campus. Vegetarian and non-dairy options are available. Weekly menus for lunch and snack are available on the Organic Kitchen page at www.desertgardenmontessori.org. Wholesome, organic, and nutritious snacks will be provided for your child every day. Our snacks are based on seasonal, local and organic fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains. The following food items are not allowed on school grounds. There is little to no nutritional values to these types of foods: • no refined sugar • no fast food • no soda • no gum/candy • no “Lunchables” or other processed convenience foods

22. Birthday Celebrations • Birthdays are celebrated in the classroom with the traditional Montessori "Celebration of Life" theme. Each program celebrates birthdays differently, based on the developmental age of the child. See your child’s teacher for more specific details. • Birthday invitations are not to be passed out in class or to students individually at school, but may be placed in lobby folders.  • No food or drink may be brought from home. A birthday muffin will be made by the organic kitchen for the birthday child

23. Parent Volunteerism We value volunteerism as collaboration between family and school that contributes to building community, classroom programs, and to the enhancement of the School as a whole. Each year Desert Garden Montessori strives to facilitate even greater and more balanced support. We invite you to volunteer in activities in which you would most like to be involved. Supporting your children, the School, and the community is an integral part of the Montessori philosophy. *For regular parent volunteer opportunities in/out of classroom there are additional state requirements that must be met. See administration for details.

24. Life Skills Team • Marya Cota – Life Skills Coordinator • Laurie Roden – License Social Worker/Play Therapist

25. Photo Policy • Students attending Desert Garden Montessori may from time to time be photographed and/or recorded on digital video. This may occur during school events, classroom instruction, or at other times while students are on campus or off campus on school-sponsored trips. Desert Garden Montessori recognizes that the nature of digital media is such that it is impossible to consistently prevent the sharing or public display of such images, and therefore has issued the following policy. • By enrolling a child in Desert Garden Montessori, parents/guardians give consent that the child may be photographed or recorded, and that his or her image may be used in future school publications and/or development materials, including online publications.

26. Communication • Website for resources and information • Email; approximately 24-hour school-day response time. • Face-to-Face Communication. • Appointment scheduling is done through the front desk. • Coffee with the Director • Town Meetings are regularly scheduled events designed for our parent community. • Parent Lobby Folders • Monthly and Weekly Newsletters • School Cues • Parent Communications Team • Blog and Classroom Pages

27. Growth and Development • Join us for a Seeds of the Future Tour • Come and bring two others • Every other Wednesday from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. • Community members have an opportunity to come and learn about the school and its programs. • This is the most powerful way you can support the school!

28. Seeds of the Future Tours • Who To Invite? • Family • Friends • Faith-Based Organization • Colleagues • Gym/Book Club/Other Clubs • etc. • One of the most important things to know about these tours is that there are no expectations of the tour participants. Participants are invited only to come to Desert Garden and enjoy learning about what the school has to offer.