First Congregational Church of Darien Nursery School

Teri Manning, Director 
Janis Atha, Assistant Director

Nursery School Phone: 203-655-3150
                               Fax: 203-857-5474

Email: fccns@sbcglobal.net

PHILOSOPHY, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH NURSERY SCHOOL:

The First Congregational Church Nursery School’s principal goal is to provide each child with a meaningful experience favorable to growth and development. We create a friendly, social atmosphere where a child’s feeling of self-respect and self-confidence is developed, as well as respect and consideration for others.

We provide developmentally appropriate activities which revolve around our three-year old, four-year old and Pre-K curriculums. We do not force academic learning. Instead, we aim to develop pre-reading, science and math skills in a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere.

 We will follow the Darien Public School system for school cancellations due to bad weather. We will not broadcast on the radio for bad weather conditions. If the public schools have a delayed opening, we will also delay our opening.

Our program will meet at the following times:

5-day Pre-K program: 9:00-11:45, Monday and Friday, 9:00 - 2:30 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

5-Day program: 9:00 to 11:45,  Monday-Friday, 4 and 5 year olds

3-Day program: 9:15-12:00,  Mon, Tues, Fri - 3 year olds
                                                   Tues, Wed, Thurs - 3 year olds
                                                   Wed, Thurs, Fri - 3 year olds

Good Morning Group: 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. – Monday – 3 year olds only

Lunch Bunch hours are 11:45 – 2:30 Monday – Thursday and 11:45 – 1:30 Friday

At Home Visits: Your child’s teacher will visit you at home. Teachers will call you the first week in September to schedule a visit.

Get Acquainted Days: Only half of your child’s class will come to school on each of these days. This will be a full preschool morning. These days will give the children and teachers a chance to get acquainted before classes begin.

Tuition: call for more information.

Health: You must file with us a health form signed by a physician. State health laws require that each child attending nursery school have a physical at least once a year. If possible, schedule a summer physical for your child and remember that the health form is due by the first day of school. Do not send your child to school with a cold. All children with heavy runny noses and harsh coughs will be sent home. All children attending our school must be toilet trained. Our 3 year olds will need an extra set of clothing at school as we realize accidents do occur.

Clothing: Think of your child’s comfort and provide clothing that is washable. If your child wears boots, please send a pair of sneakers to be left at school. Label and mark all clothing. Please no sandals or clogs. Please do not bring pacifiers or blankets to school.

Transportation: Transportation must be provided by the parents. You are asked to notify teachers in writing if your child is going to be picked up at school by someone else or if your child is included in a car pool. Car pools must be on file with the Director. Kindly be prompt at the beginning and end of the school day. Please make sure that children are always with you and not running in the halls. It is so easy for children to slip out the door.

Toys From Home: We ask that you leave your child’s toys at home or in your car. If an item is brought to school we cannot be responsible for it. If you have a book or CDs that might be of interest to all the children, we would appreciate having it to share with the class. Toy guns and weapons are not allowed at our school.

Good Morning Group: This program will take place on Monday morning. The hours are from 9-11:45. This will be a group of three-year-olds. Special days will be planned filled with craft activities and outdoor play. This will enable children in our three-day programs to spend an extra morning at school.

Lunch Bunch: This program was also developed in response to the needs of our school parents. It is an afternoon adventure for our children filled with music, movement, crafts, cooking, quiet time and outdoor play. The program is from 11:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. each day.

Numbers and Science Enrichment Program: This is a once a week program for four-year olds on Thursday afternoons from 11:45 – 2:30.  The children bring their lunch.  The children learn about numbers and participate in simple science experiments. We involve the children in special projects to help foster their awareness of the environment.  Staff teachers design the curriculum and team-teach the program.

Letters and Literature Program:    This is a once a week program for four-year olds on Wednesday afternoons from 11:45 – 2:30.  The children bring their lunch. The children will be exposed to different letters of the alphabet and their sounds each week.  We will practice writing readiness in developmentally appropriate ways. Staff teachers design the curriculum and team-teach the program.

Snack Menu: Snacks given to our children are crackers, vegetables and juice or food made and baked by the children. Snacks sent in from home are always welcome. Snack menus for each month are posted on each classroom door. We strive to create a nut-free environment.

Parents’ Saturday: We will invite you to visit on a Saturday in October. The times of scheduled visits will be sent home to you in a flier in early October.

Parking: This is a serious problem at our school and is one of our biggest concerns. We try very hard to keep the parking places in front of the school for our parents, but that is not always possible if there are meetings here at the church. Please hold your child’s hand once you leave the building or your car. If you are unable to park in front of the building, please use the parking lot. Do not park across the street from the school building on the road. Not only is this unsafe for you and your child, but it is a posted NO PARKING zone. We ask that you use the parking lots located in front of the main door of the church school building or across the street from the church when you are leaving or picking up children.

For the safety of the children, parents are requested to walk their child directly into the classroom and pick them up there after school. If your child’s class is on the playground at dismissal time, please speak to your child’s teacher before leaving so we know that the child is in the hand of an adult.

Staff Policy Regarding Discipline: We at the First Congregational Church Nursery School present discipline in a positive way. Inappropriate behavior is discouraged in ways that help to prevent the development of a negative self-image. We insist that no child be allowed to physically harm another child. We use positive guidance, redirection and set clear limits.

Our disciplinary policy specifically prohibits abusive, neglectful, corporal, humiliating or frightening punishment and physical restraint, unless such restraint is necessary to protect the health and safety of the child or other people.

Emergency Procedures: In the event that your child becomes ill or injured at school, we follow this procedure:

Administer First Aid and/or CPR.

We will try to telephone the parent or guardian.

If you are unable to be reached, we will try to call one of the emergency numbers listed on your child’s personal history sheet.

If we are unable to reach you or your emergency numbers, we will care for your child in the office until dismissal time.

If your child is seriously ill, we will consult with your doctor.

If it is necessary to call 911 or Post 53, one of the teachers or the Director will accompany your child in the ambulance to the hospital.

Please remember that we will always try to call our parents first and that we have staff members who are trained in First Aid for children and CPR.

If your child is not picked up after school, we will try to call you or one of your emergency numbers. We will activate our emergency pick up procedure 15 minutes after pick-up time. If you are late, your child will be waiting for you in the Lunch Bunch classroom. The teachers cannot give your child a ride home. State of Connecticut laws state that we must have written permission for a child to go home with someone other than a parent. For this reason, we require at least 5 emergency numbers. A child who is not picked up from a child care center must, after a specified amount of time, be placed in the care of a foster agency.

Medical Policy: Teachers at our school are not allowed to administer medication. You are welcome at any time to come and administer medication to your child.

Weather and Natural Disasters: Please remember that we follow the Darien school schedule for closing due to snow or weather emergencies. If the Darien schools have a delay, we will delay for the same time period. If the Darien schools close early, we may also. The following radio stations make school closing announcements: WEZN (100.0FM), WICC (60 AM), WGCH (1490 AM), WNLK/WYLPA (1350AM/96FM), WSTC/WYRS (1400 AM/96.7FM), WABC (770 AM/95.5FM). Seven blasts of the local fire whistle at 7 a.m. indicates that school will be closed.

Please do not call the school on snow days as we need to keep our telephone lines open. Thank you for your cooperation.

In case of weather or natural disaster, we will transport the children by foot or by car to a shelter approved by Darien. The Director and/or teachers will notify parents as to which shelter the children are to be picked up at.

Fire Emergency: We hold fire drills at least once a month to prepare the children in case of a fire. All classes meet at designated places on the playground. Classroom teachers take the children out through approved exit doors to the playground. Teachers bring their attendance books and close all doors to the classroom. If we should have to leave the school in the event of a fire, a note will be left on the front door at our school advising parents as to the children’s location. In the case that our school is destroyed, our children will wait for parents in the parish hall or the minister’s home or our local fire shelter. Teachers will transport the children by walking and the director and floating teacher will notify parents as to where to pick up.

Ways We May Be Of Help to You: When you enroll your child in our school, we assume the responsibility of giving you assistance with special needs in relation to your child’s adjustment, growth and development.

Conferences:   Conferences will be held in November and March to discuss your child’s progress. If there are any indications that your child needs further evaluation of school progress, he or she will be referred to individuals who provide special services.  This will only be done with your written consent.

We welcome your participation in our program and hope you will include your interests on our volunteer sheet. We want you to know that you are welcome at our school any time. If you would like to participate in a particular class activity (baking, etc.) make sure to share this with your child’s teacher.

If you feel that we can help you in any way with regard to your child’s growth and development, please ask the Director. We want you to know that you are a part of our Church school family

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