Welcome to Joliet Montessori School. We are honored you have entrusted your children to our care. We look forward to developing relationships with you as members of our community. Please continue to ask questions and to look to your children’s directors to help guide you in understanding the richness of the Montessori education. As partners with you in your children’s development, we will do all that we can to ensure that they are thriving in a safe and engaging environment.
In light of this continuing partnership, we ask that you read this handbook with care. Allow us to respond to any questions or concerns you may have at any time during the year.
With our shared dedication to your children, we are certain that your experience at Joliet Montessori School will provide a positive influence well into the future.
Absences
If your child will be absent, please contact the office at 815-741-4180. Should your child contract a contagious disease, please notify the school immediately so that we may alert the faculty and other parents. Contact your family physician for time frames for children returning to school. You may also refer to this page for further information.
Children who are ill should recuperate at home. We ask you to be considerate not only of your own child’s health but also that of the other children and the staff. Your child may be removed from the classroom, at the discretion of the director, to help prevent the spread of illness and contagious diseases.
Arrival and Dismissal
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. All children should be in their classrooms and engaged in their morning work cycle by 9:00 a.m. Please keep in mind that late arrivals are disruptive for children who are already working. Parents are expected to escort their children to the office following the close of carpool at 9:00 a.m. A staff member will see your child to the classroom.
Dismissal for Half Day children begins at 12:00 p.m. and concludes at approximately 12:15 p.m. Please be on time to pick up your children. Half Day children who have not been picked up by the close of carpool will be sent to Extended Care, and parents will be billed accordingly. Dismissal for Full Day children begins at 3:00 p.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. Children who have not been picked up by the close of dismissal will be released to Extended Care, and parents will be billed accordingly.
Please follow the designated carpool route and inform anyone picking your child up to do so also. Turning directly into the driveway will cut off those families who are following the route. Please be considerate of all our families and follow the designated carpool protocols.
Birthdays
Please do not deliver birthday party invitations at school. The parent directory is provided to facilitate these types of communications outside of school.
If your child is celebrating his/her birthday at school, you may send in a healthy snack for all to share. Some suggestions are fruit trays, nutritious muffins or breads. Any sweetened treats must be individually wrapped so that they can be sent home with the children at the end of the day.
If you would like to present a gift to Joliet Montessori School or your child’s classroom in honor of your child’s birthday, we are always grateful for such support. Please contact the office for suggestions.
Carpool
Please follow the designated carpool protocol.
Class Placement
Parent requests to change directors will not be honored. The age, gender and Montessori experience of the children involved are all considered when establishing each classroom and these decisions are made with great care. Class lists are determined by the directors to best serve the needs of all of our children. Very rarely, the Head of School may initiate a classroom change when it is clearly in the best interest of the child and the class, with the support of the directors and the family affected by the decision.
Clothing
Children should dress comfortably so they can sit at the tables or on their floor rugs to work, play, paint, etc. Individual directors may have their own dress guidelines, which will be communicated to parents as appropriate. Children may be asked to change when deemed necessary by the director. Shoes should be sturdy, closed toe with non-skid soles. Please refrain from sending children in shoes that flash or light in any way. These types of shoes can be very distracting to children working on floor rugs. It is not necessary to purchase new shoes. We find that first aid tape works well to cover flashing lights on shoes.
Communication
JMS is committed to providing timely and effective communication to the members of our community. Valuable information is conveyed via the Parent Handbook, parent education evenings, our website, newsletters and news briefs, notes sent by classroom directors and letters mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.
We ask our families to assist us in this effort by familiarizing themselves with the policies and procedures necessary to operate the school, to stay informed by reading all written communication provided by JMS and to address any concerns immediately using the appropriate channels.
Conflict Resolution
Parental concerns relating to curriculum or classroom management issues should be addressed with your child’s director. Administrative and communication issues are handled by the Director of Parent Relations. Parental concerns requiring additional assistance will be directed to the Head of School.
Once all appropriate channels have been exhausted, any unresolved issues should then be submitted, in writing, to the Head Support and Evaluation Committee.
It is our goal to work collaboratively with our families to resolve issues and find solutions.
Decision Making Process
Circumstances sometimes dictate that changes be implemented in the operation of JMS. These suggestions may come from faculty, staff, parents or external agencies such as AMI or ISM. The following process is in place for adopting procedural changes:
1. All changes are evaluated in reference to Montessori Pedagogy.
2. Classroom issues are referred to our faculty.
3. Administrative issues are decided by the Head of School.
4. Issues requiring parental input and implementation may result in the formation of an ad hoc committee.
5. Issues resulting in a change to the by-laws must be voted on by the Board.
6. Decisions will be communicated to parents in a timely fashion.
Early Release/Late Arrival of Students
One of the foundations of Montessori education is the uninterrupted three hour work cycle. In order for your child to receive the full benefit of his/her Montessori experience, he/she must attend regularly. Late arrivals are not only detrimental to your own child’s education, they are also disruptive for children who are already working.
Please schedule appointments after the 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. dismissals. If you must pick your child up early, please send a written note to your child’s director in order to minimize classroom disruption.
Emergencies
It is imperative that we be able to notify you if your child becomes ill or injured at school. All families are required to submit a competed Emergency Information Sheet. Your child will not be allowed to attend class unless this form is on file. Please contact the office immediately if you have any address or telephone changes on your Emergency Information Sheet. If we cannot reach you directly, we will call your designated emergency contact person.
Emergency/Weather Closing
Please listen to WJOL, AM 1340 for school closing information. We are also registered with the Emergency Closing Center (www.EmergencyClosings.com). Each parent should exercise his/her own judgment as to the advisability of driving in severe weather. The school will be open when we feel a majority of parents can safely bring their children to school.
Extended Care
Extended Care is provided as a service for our working families. Early Morning Extended Care opens at 7:30 a.m. and remains open until the children move to their classrooms at 8:30 a.m. Afternoon Extended Care begins at 12:00 p.m. and is open until 6:00 p.m. Half-day children who require Extended Care services will be dismissed to Extended Care at noon. Please send an extra set of clothes to keep in the Extended Care area.
All children remaining on campus at the close of 3:00 p.m. dismissal will be immediately released to Extended Care. For rates and fees, refer to the Payment Policy.
Space is limited and official registration for Extended Care is required to ensure we have an appropriate number of staff on site to care for your child. If you will occasionally require Extended Care services and have not registered, please contact the office, so we can inform the Extended Care staff.
Contact the Director of Parent Relations with any questions concerning Extended Care.
Family Directory
The school directory is provided to our families to facilitate communication outside of school. Please utilize this in order to coordinate school related functions, birthday parties, play dates, etc.
Do not use the handbook for any business or commercial solicitations.
Field Trips/Going Outs
Full-day Primary children are scheduled for one field trip per academic year. Elementary and Adolescent students schedule their own small group going outs, which are generated by the children’s interests and stem from the children’s work in the classroom. Each small group handles all necessary details in the classroom, including permission slips, in accordance with the guidelines established by the class director.
Children must exhibit responsible behavior in the classroom before they are given permission to plan a going out. This responsibility is exhibited in they way they choose their daily work, maintain their work journals and care for the environment and each other. Questions concerning going outs should be addressed with your class director.
Permission slips must be submitted for children to be transported off campus. Chaperone opportunities are available.
Fire, Tornado and Stay-Put Drills
These drills are held regularly throughout the school year, in accordance with state regulations. Children are instructed as to the proper procedures, when to leave and when to stay, exits to be used, safety procedures and the danger of fire and smoke in a public building. Parents should discuss the safety practices to be followed at school as well as develop a plan to use at home.
Health Records
The Health Records Program at JMS is under the direction of the Will County Public Health Department. For students attending school programs where grades are not assigned, health examinations are required to be completed prior to the date of entry to the school, for the year the child turns 5 (Primary, Year Three) and when the child turns 11 (Elementary, Year Six). Dental exams are required by law for children entering Primary, Year Three and Elementary, Year Two and Year Six. Eye exams are required for children entering Kindergarten.
Preschool, Vision and Hearing screenings are done periodically at the school. When screening tests indicate concerns, parents will be notified so that the family may follow up with the family doctor.
State and County Guidelines for health records are as follows:
1. All public and private schools are required to maintain up to date health examinations for currently enrolled children.
2. All exams must document immunization history or be accompanied by immunization records.
3. All exams must be completed by a licensed dentist/physician.
Medical History must be completed and signed by the parent. Physician is required to sign and date physicals upon completion. JMS has adopted a first day exclusionary policy. All required Health Examinations must be turned in prior to the child’s first day of school. Failure to provide required documentation will result in the child’s being held out of class until such time as the paperwork is submitted.
In accordance with Public Act 84-130, families must provide a certified copy of the birth certificate for newly enrolling children. In addition, an updated Emergency Information Sheet must be on file for each child enrolled, indicating any allergies or other health issues.
Information on physical and immunization clinics can be obtained by calling the Will County Community Health Center at 815-727-8670.
Lunch
Please send your children to school with a healthy, nutritious lunch. We suggest a simple lunch which includes a sandwich, a fresh fruit and/or vegetable and a 100% juice, milk or water beverage. Do not allow your children to bring soda, candy or excessively sweet foods. Directors may have their own lunch requirements, which will be communicated to parents as appropriate. Please do not drop off “fast food” lunches for your children.
Medication
We recognize that occasionally a medication must be administered during the school hours. All medications should be given to the office in its original container. A completed and signed authorization form must accompany all medications. Prescription medicine will not be administered without this form.
Parent Agreement
Parents are expected to abide by the terms of the Parent Agreement. This includes participating in the Annual Fund Campaign, attending the mandatory parent education presentations (3 for new families, 2 for returning families) and parent teacher conferences, staying informed about school functions by reading all communication and participating in all parent surveys. Primary families must also schedule at least one observation per year. If the expectations of the Agreement are not met, a conference may be scheduled prior to Registration. When space becomes limited, preference will be given to families who have demonstrated a commitment to the JMS Mission and to the Parent Agreement.
Parent/Director Conferences
Conferences are an essential component of communication between parents and classroom directors. These meetings are valuable tools in our continuing efforts to create and maintain productive working relationships that benefit our families and our children. Watch your newsletter for suggestions for making the most of these meetings. Conferences are scheduled very tightly, please be on time.
Directors are also available throughout the school year to address concerns that require immediate attention.
Parent Education
Several parent education evenings are scheduled during the school year. Parent participation is vital in understanding the full scope of the Montessori Method and how parents and directors can work together in helping children reach their full potential. New families are asked to attend at least 3 parent education evenings, returning families, 2. Child care is provided as a courtesy.
Supplies
All classroom supplies are provided by JMS. Due to limited space, it is advised that the primary children do not bring backpacks. Primary Directresses request that 3 and 4 year old children bring a change of clothes to keep in the classroom.
Toys, Cell Phones and Miscellaneous Articles
Please refrain from sending your children to school with items such as toys, cell phones, games, candy, money, etc. They will not be allowed to use them while at school. If your child has something interesting/educational to show the class, your director will have specific plans for how these may be shared. Please speak with him/her directly to help avoid any confusion or disappointment for your child.
Video Taping and Photography
Occasionally, JMS will utilize marketing techniques or receive newspaper coverage which includes videotape, interviews and/or pictures. Photographs of children taken in school or at school events will not be published or otherwise used without a signed release on file.
This handbook cannot be - and is not intended to be - all inclusive. The Head of School reserves the right to resolve issues and concerns not specifically addressed, in accordance with Montessori Philosophy and the guidelines and policies established by the Board of Trustees.