Policies

OPEN DOOR POLICY/CLASSROOM OBSERVATION

AAKMS’s parent visitation policy is an open door policy. At any time parents who have students enrolled in the program, are welcomed and encouraged to visit their child throughout the day. A parent’s visit can be scheduled or unscheduled.

• When you visit please sit down, children (including your own!) may come up you; please try not to engage them in conversation. A polite “hello” and direct response as to who you are is fine – and then quietly ask the child to return to work.
• Please stay seated during your observation. If you have questions, we have attached a communication from that you can fill out and return to the office. The teacher will get back with you within one week.
• Twenty to twenty-five minutes is ample time for classroom observation. Please leave the room as quietly as possible. It is best if your goodbye to your child is brief and positive. It is helpful if you prepare your child for the fact that your visit to the classroom will be limited and that you will leave and then see him or her at the regular dismissal time. Rest assured that even the most agitated child would calm down very shortly after you leave.
• Classrooms are open for observation during school hours from 9:30 am – 11:30 am. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE POLICY:

All behaviors, which respect others, oneself and the school environment and materials, are acceptable in a Montessori environment. Our focus as trained teachers is the preparation of an environment, both physical and psychological, which promotes the development of self-discipline in children. Concentration, focus, and independent learning are our values. Children must always be respected. Physical harm to oneself, others, or the materials is not acceptable. Parent/guardians and staff will work together to be consistent at home and at school with child guidance methods and limit setting.

General school rules are as follows:

• Toys are for home
• Walk inside the building
• Running is permitted outside.
• Respect yourself, others, and materials.
• Put away what you take out.
• Stay with staff members and adults.
• Respect designated boundaries
• Use respectful language – if it hurts someone, it’s not respectful.
• Follow teacher’s directions.

Parents are required to read and sign our Discipline policy.

• I (parents) understand the following behaviors are prohibited in all child care settings:
• Corporal punishment, including hitting, spanking, swatting, beating, shaking, pinching and other measures intended to induce physical pain or fear.
• Threatened or actual withdrawal of food, rest or use of bathroom.
• Abusive or profane language.
• Any form of public or private humiliation, including threats of physical punishment; and any form of emotional abuse, including shaming, rejecting, terrorizing, or isolating a child.
• Children shall not be disciplined for toilet accidents, times outs will also not be used at AAKMS.

DISCIPLINE AND GUIDANCE

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services requires that all licensed schools have a written discipline and guidance policy. Staff members and parents/guardians are required to read the policy and sign a document stating that they have done so.

A positive guidance approach is used to help children develop positive self-esteem, build trust in the world around them, and develop autonomy and pride in their work. A supportive, nurturing environment with caring adults is the first step in the development of inner control and appropriate behavior.

The goal of discipline is to teach children to function in a social setting with respect. Discipline is not a punishment, but rather a way to help children maintain self-control, follow the rules for classroom behavior, and treat one another with kindness and acceptance. By allowing children to assume responsibility for their actions, they develop self-control and become aware of the rights of others. Consequences (logical or natural) developmentally related to the child’s behavior/act might include reinforcing positive behavior, modeling appropriate behavior, and assisting the children with finding the words to describe how they are feeling. We believe that discipline involves teacher planning to prevent problems, simple and clearly stated rules and expectations, redirection when problems arise, and appropriate adult intervention when necessary. Each classroom will review and discuss the basic code of behavior for our school which is:

1. We do not hurt ourselves.
2. We do not hurt others.
3. We do not hurt the things around us.

Teachers are responsible for handling discipline for the children under their care. This is to be done in a positive but firm manner, privately and individually. Discipline is used when a child’s behavior becomes disruptive to the functioning of the class, is disturbing to other children or is potentially dangerous for the child or other children. In general, children who have lost control of their behavior are given the opportunity to regain control in a quiet place in the room. Redirection to another activity or individual project often helps children to regain composure. A teacher will be near the child and removal from the group will not exceed one minute per year of age. If a child hurts herself or another child, or behaves in an unusually disruptive manner, the teacher will document this behavior in writing. Limits and consequences are clearly explained, consistently enforced, and discussed with children as part of any disciplinary action. When a specific plan has been developed to respond to a child’s pattern of unacceptable behavior, all staff members who work with the child will be aware of the plan and responsible for its implementation.

OUTDOOR PLAY

The children play outdoors whenever the weather permits. In general, this means any day when it is not raining and warmer than 20 degrees. On days when the temperature is between 20-32 degrees, factors such as sunshine and wind chill are taken into account. The Director will make the best judgment call on these days. Please accept the Director’s decision, even if it is not one you might have made. Remember to dress your child appropriately so she/he can enjoy play outdoors.

RELEASE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

All information in a child’s file is strictly confidential and will be seen only by his/her classroom teacher and the Director. In order to release this information as well as information regarding a child’s social/emotional development and adjustment to the school, the parents/guardians must sign Permission to Release Information Form, which may be obtained from the office.

CALL US!

Naptime phone calls are always welcome if you’d like to chat with your child’s teacher. Pick up and drop off time is too busy for parent teacher conferences, but teachers are always available when its quiet mid-day.