Home Page |  Preschool Calendar

Arrival/Dismissal

Birthdays

Clothing

Communications

Daily Schedule

Field Trips

Goals

Health and Safety

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Philosophy

Show and Tell

Snack Time

Staff

2009-2010 Class Schedule

Welcome to Notre Dame of Bethlehem Preschool.  We believe we have a creative learning environment that will foster in each child a 'love' for learning. We provide a secure, warm, and happy environment for each child to grow spiritually, socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

Our program curriculum follows the Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education. We offer developmentally appropriate and enriching play and learning activities to enhance a child's potential for growth during their early childhood years.  From these experiences, each child has the capability of becoming complete, creative, independent, and loving individuals.  Our Catholic-based Preschool program will lead each child to awareness that he or she is special and unique in the eyes of God and others.

We urge you to contact us at school, (610) 866-2231, if you have any questions or concerns at any time.  Open doors of communication between home and school will allow your child maximum room for growth.  We look forward to an exciting and enriching Preschool year.

Our goal is to maintain the highest quality of care and educational services for our students, parents, and the greater community.  All of our preschool teachers have been trained and certified in the field of Early Childhood Education.  Teachers remain current in the philosophies of their profession through yearly workshops and seminars. 

Preschool Director:  D. Brita 

Three-Year-Old Program:  M. Jurcak (teacher), D. Goodwin (Assistant)

Four-Year-Old Program:  D. Brita (teacher), E. Demyan (Teacher)

We thank you for giving us the opportunity to care for and educate your child.  We are confident our program will provide a loving and enriching experience for your special boy or girl.  Please address any questions regarding the preschool program to the program director, D. Brita. 

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The first years of life are of vital importance to a child's growth and development.  Foundations are laid which influence the ability of a child to accept himself/herself, relate to others, and respond positively to their environment.  Family relationships provide a young child with the best models for developing attitudes, value, and appropriate behavior.  Interactions with other adults and children in an atmosphere of Christian love and concern further promote the healthy development of each child. 

Early Childhood education provides the transition from home to a school atmosphere.  Educational research indicates that these early years form the basis for all future learning.

Through developmentally appropriate play and learning experiences, we will foster joy in the learning process and encourage each child to think, ask questions, and realize his or her capabilities.  Our goals as educators are:

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Supervised Free Play
Dramatic Play
Constructive Play
Learning Centers
Creative Art Activities

 Socialization Skills
Cooperative Play & Games

Language Development
Story Time
Show & Tell
Flannel Board Stories
Finger Plays
Sign Language
Phonics Activities

Music and Rhythm
Rhythm Activities
Rhythm Instruments
Singing
Action Songs

Movement and Physical Development
Creative Movement
Fundamental Movement
Large & Small Motor Activities

Spiritual Development
Bible Stories
Songs
Prayers

Our curriculum of  'Learning Through Play' is developmentally appropriate for children in their early childhood years.  Our educators apply their authentic knowledge of child development to plan engaging learning activities to further growth and development.

1.       A child must be three years-old by October 15th to be admitted into the preschool three year-old program.

2.     A child must be four-years-old by October 15th to be admitted into the pre-K four year-old program.

3.     Children enrolled in the three year-old program will be able to pre-register for the pre-K four year-old program prior to open registration.

4.     Children in the three year-old class will not be allowed to advance into the pre-K four year-old class during the school year.

5.     All children MUST be toilet-trained before entering preschool.

6.     Completed and signed registration forms, copies of birth certificate, baptismal certificate, and updated immunization records are required for enrollment into the program.

A non-refundable registration fee of $50.00 is paid upon registration of a child in our Preschool Program.  This fee is not applicable to the tuition. Current tuition rates can be obtained from the Preschool director.  To see the current tuition schedule, click on the following link.  Tuition Schedule

Options for Payment

1. Pre-payment of the entire year's tuition by August 15th will entitle you to receive a 2% discounted rate.

2. Payment of the entire tuition in two installments, August 15th and January 15th, will entitle you to a 2% discounted rate.

3.  10 Monthly automatic withdraws from a checking or savings account from August through May (full tuition rate).

All tuition payments are handled through Tuition Management Systems. 

Notre Dame Dollar Fundraiser

In an effort to control the necessary tuition increases, all families are required to raise $100.00 in profit for the Notre Dame Dollars program (you may buy-out this requirement for $100.00).  GOOD NEWS~Purchasing Notre Dame Dollars will ALSO earn you credit toward tuition payments.  Notre Dame Dollars are sold in the school office during the school year and after Mass on the weekend.  Notre Dame Dollars Program

4 Year-Old Classes

Afternoon Sessions

Calendar
Preschool will begin after Labor Day and will end the week before Memorial Day.  A preschool calendar will be distributed prior to the beginning of the school year with exact dates.  This calendar will inform you of School Holidays and other dates when the school is closed.  See current preschool calendar.

Monthly Newsletters
A monthly newsletter will be sent home from your child's teacher.  This newsletter will inform you of class activities, unit topics, and provide further information/ clarification of special events outlined in the preschool calendar.

School closings, delayed openings, and early dismissals due to inclement weather will be announced on radio station 790 WAEB and TV station channel 69 WFMZ.  We follow the decision of the Bethlehem Area School District (BASD). If BASD is closed, Notre Dame is closed. In the event of delayed openings, please be aware of the following modified schedule.

1 Hour Delay
AM Preschool classes ~ 9:30AM-11:00AM
PM Preschool classes ~ 12:00PM-2:30PM (regular times)

2 Hour Delay
AM Preschool classes ~ 10:30AM-12:00PM
PM  Preschool classes ~ 1:00PM-2:30PM

FRONT ENTRANCE ARRIVAL
Preschool children should be brought directly to the classroom.  Please use the main entrance of the school.  Teachers will monitor arrivals from 5 minutes prior to scheduled arrival time until 5 minutes after scheduled arrival time.  If you arrive later than 5 minutes after arrival time, please ring the office bell and advise the office you are dropping off your child to their preschool classroom. 

REAR EXIT DISMISSAL
Teachers will be dismissing preschool children 'one at a time' from the RAMP stairway in the school’s back parking lot. Please meet your child at the ramp.  Children will NOT be permitted to walk through the parking lot unattended.  Dismissal will begin promptly at scheduled dismissal time until 5 minutes after scheduled dismissal time.   

If you arrive more than 5 minutes after scheduled dismissal time, please use the FRONT entrance to the school.  You MUST ring the office bell, check-in with the office staff to advise them you are picking up your child from their preschool classroom.  Teachers will remain with children until ALL parents / guardians arrive for dismissal.

IMPORTANT
For the protection of you child.  Children will only be allowed to leave school with an adult listed on the RELEASE AUTHORIZATION list (provided during registration).

Before and after school care is available, if you need it, for your preschool child.  Extended Care staff will pick-up and/or drop-off your child directly from/to your child's preschool classroom.

The Extended Care classroom is located near the playground.  Extended Care is open from 7:15AM until 5:45PM.  Reservations are necessary with a 24- hour notice for attendance.  Extended Care rates and reservations can be obtained by contacting the Extended Care director at 610-861-9178.  See current Extended Care rates.

Comfortable clothing and rubber soled-shoes are suggested for preschool.  We explore many art materials and even though a smock is used, materials can be messy.  Indoor and outdoor movement activities and games will engage children in active play ~ please refrain from clogs and flip-flop sandals. 

NOTE FOR THREE YEAR-OLDS: Teachers request you send an extra change of clothes to school for your child, in case of accidents.  The clothing you send will be kept in your child's 'cubby box'.

You will receive a snack calendar once a month. Approximately every 4-6 weeks (depending on class size) your child will be scheduled to provide the snack and drink for his/her class. 

IMPORTANT: Some classes may have food restrictions due to allergies.  Snack suggestions for classes with food restrictions will be sent home. 

Healthy snacks are ideal for growing preschoolers.  Please try to avoid foods that have high sugar content.  Fruits, crackers, pretzels (to name a few) are healthier alternatives than cookies or cupcakes.  Snacks that we try to avoid in preschool are popcorn, potato chips, nuts, and whole grapes or fruits with skins.  These foods can cause choking.

If your child's birthday is during the school year, we will try to schedule 'snack day' on or near this special day.  Summer birthdays will be celebrated during the month of May.  Parents are welcomed to share a story, craft, song, or game with the class on their child's birthday.  Please communicate your plans in advance with your child's teacher.

Classroom distribution of invitations to outside birthday parties and/ or celebrations will be permitted only if all children are invited. EXAMPLE: invitations for ALL girls, ALL boys, or the WHOLE class.  If your plans differ, please mail invitations.

Field trips are scheduled for Pre-Kindergarten classes ONLY.  Our three year-old classes will not participate in field trips because of school policy.

Parents will be notified prior to each class field trip.  A permission slip must be returned before the child will be allowed to participate.  Parents are encouraged to chaperone.  If parents can not attend and decide to make arrangements with another parent / volunteer driver, please make arrangements using your own discretion. 

Please note PA. STATE LAW requires car seats/booster seats for all children until 8 years of age or 80lbs.

Show and Tell will be scheduled at various times throughout the school year.  You will be notified through monthly class newsletters when Show and Tell is scheduled.  We kindly ask that toys from home remain at home unless they are brought to school for a special occasion, or for a scheduled Show and Tell day.

In the event of an emergency requiring medical assistance, teachers will follow the parent directives noted on the Notre Dame School  Emergency Form.  This form must be signed and dated by parent or guardian.

Please refrain from sending your child to school when they are sick.  If your child has a temperature or is ill during class, you will receive a phone call to pick-up your child from school.  If your child contracts a communicable disease (ex. Flu, Chicken pox, measles, lice, etc.) the school MUST be notified. 

Bethlehem Area School District has a strict medication policy.  ONLY if medically necessary will teachers distribute medication during school hours.  All over-the-counter and prescription medicine require a doctor and parent to complete an authorization-to-dispense form.  These forms are available in the school office.