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We are fully enrolled for the 2010-2011 School Year. We invite you to submit an application to be included on our waitlist.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Cedar River Montessori School

15828 SE Jones Road

Renton, WA 981058

P: 425-271-9614         F: 425-271-6934

www.CedarRiverMontessori.org

Key Contacts

Charis Sharp, Head of school             misscharis@cedarrivermontessori.org

Cindy Toko, Business Manager          misscindi@cedarrivermontessori.org

Staff – all staff email follows the same format as above: miss or mr followed by the staff member’s first name followed by @cedarrivermontessori.org.

Mission

Cedar River Montessori is a place where students engage their innate love of learning
to realize their potential for social, emotional, and academic growth.
Our community teaches independence, responsibility, and peace through
care of self, others, and the world around us.

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of Cedar River Montessori School that no person shall be subjected to discrimination because of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, marital status, disabled or Vietnam Era Veteran status. This policy is consistent with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the 1974 Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Assistance Act; the 1994 application of Title I of the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Governor’s Executive Order 85-09 and the Washington State Laws against Discrimination, RCW 9.60. This policy applies to the School’s programs, practices, policies and activities including client services and employment practices.

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The Cedar River Montessori School (CRMS) Communication Center is the area immediately inside the main front door of the school (aka the foyer). Each family and staff member has a separate box for announcements, notes from teachers, staff, etc. Because of the importance of information, students are not allowed to pick up the family’s mail. Please check your box daily.

Staff members can be contacted in person, by email or through a message in their box. Questions regarding admissions, fees and payments and school events should be directed to our Administrative office. Questions about activities or concerns involving a child should be discussed with the appropriate staff member.

Questions about classroom activities or concerns involving a child should be discussed first with the classroom teacher. Please make an appointment by calling the school after 3:45 p.m. or emailing the teacher. If further discussion is needed, the matter will be referred to the head of school. Please call the school to schedule an appointment with the head of school.

Communication about student progress is provided at parent/teacher conferences in the fall, then in writing in February and June. Parents will receive a detailed evaluation of their child’s progress. Student evaluations include a checklist to allow parents to follow a child’s progressive mastery of educational concepts and facts. Reports also include personalized comments. The faculty is happy to meet by appointment to further explain our non-graded, noncompetitive approach to student evaluation.

CRMS also communicates with parents through regular, ongoing publications. Our newsletter goes out to the entire community of current families, alumni families and friends three times a year. The Compendium goes out weekly and contains upcoming dates and events, reminders, and notices about school and class projects, the auction, and other school business. Additional information from the community on the bulletin board in the Communication Center.

Snow and Emergency Closures

In the case of snow or other weather-related emergencies, please listen to the radio or check the KING 5 or KIRO 7 websites. If you do not see CRMS listed, check for the Issaquah Public School plan. We have chosen to align with the Issaquah district because their conditions are usually the closest match to our own.

If Issaquah district is closed, then CRMS will be closed. This means that all before and after school events will be canceled even if the weather improves during the day.

If Issaquah has a late start the staff will work to arrive on time and you may drop of children as soon as staff has arrived. You child will not be marked as tardy until 10:00 a.m. for a one-hour delayed start or 11:00 a.m. for a two-hour delayed start. Please note, we will do everything possible to have staff arrive safely and provide before-school extended care.

In the event that Issaquah closes mid-day while school is in progress all services at CRMS will also close at that time and we will contact you via telephone to pick up your child. Occasionally there are emergency situations that are peculiar to CRMS and that don’t affect Issaquah such as electrical blackouts during cold weather; a severe storm forecast or an earthquake or other emergency. In such cases we will contact you by phone to pick up your child. We will also attempt to post this information on the CRMS web-site (www.cedarrivermontessori.org) and, if possible, contact the television stations with a separate CRMS closure announcement.

Since a mid-day closure usually indicates dangerous weather conditions or other unsafe situations, we have a duty and responsibility to get everyone safely home including school employees and therefore will not hold after-school Extended Care. Staff will only remain on duty long enough to see to it that every student is picked up.

 There are no refunds for school closures due to weather or other emergencies.

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Entering the School Grounds

When arriving at CRMS you will turn off Jones Road onto a long driveway. The speed limit on the driveway is 10 mph for the safety of all on foot or in cars. Please escort your child whenever you are in the school parking lot. Unattended children are at risk.

Parking

The school has a parking lot designated for use by parents. The circle in front of the main gate must be kept clear for emergency and maintenance vehicles. Please do not park or wait in the fire circle. Parents are welcome to take any open space in the staff parking lot if the parent lot is full. Please drop off and pick up punctually to make room for others.

Checking In and Out

In accordance with the guidelines of the Department of Health and Social Services, all students must be signed in and out daily. We use “the clipboard” to sign students in and out and to keep track of where they are at all times. The clipboard is carried by CRMS staff or is by the main doorway of the school. Signing in and out occurs simultaneously to when the child checks in or out for the day. It is the parent/guardians responsibility to sign the child in and out every day. Staff members will enter the time of arrival or dismissal next to the parent/guardian signature.

Changes

In the Communication Center you will find “Today Only” forms to notify us in writing of pertinent information about your child for that day such as change in pick-up time, change of person coming for your child, etc. Please use these whenever a change in your regular schedule occurs. A completed and signed “Today Only” form is to be given directly to the staff member on duty when you arrive in the morning. CRMS cannot take responsibility for information passed verbally without being written down.

Arrivals

Checking In

The parent/guardian or other authorized person shall sign in the student upon arrival on the clipboard form.

School starts promptly at 9 a.m. for all children with opening ceremonies that include the raising of the flag, flag salute and song. CRMS recommends arriving at 8:45 am to help settle students and allow for good-byes. Students arriving at 8:45 a.m. or after are not charged for extended care fees. Please make every effort to arrive on time. Students who arrive late miss the opening routine that helps them enter the classroom ready to learn and can also be a distraction to a class that is settling into its day.

Dismissals

Checking Out

Once your child is checked-in to the playground after school they are not considered checked out until you sign them out on the clipboard and you and your child are walking up the walk away from the playground. Once your child is checked out they must stay with you at all times, whether you are in the building or playing in the courtyard (see below).

Once you are checked out you are welcome to go to classrooms to gather items, homework, etc., but we ask that you please be respectful of our teachers’ time after school. Of course we want you to be able to ask a quick question or two or check in with a teacher, but this is critical time for lesson planning and scheduled appointments and having an empty classroom helps them focus on those tasks.

If you have a scheduled appointment with a teacher or are volunteering for the school, you must tell the staff with the clipboard. At that point you will not incur Extended Care charges, but your child can remain in supervised care on the playground until you are all ready to leave.

CRMS releases students only to adults authorized on the registration form unless we have written or, in case of emergency, oral permission from the student’s parent/guardian. In this case the staff member taking the call must recognize the parent’s voice. The following steps are for the safety of your child:

1. Please make sure that all those who are authorized to pick up your child are listed on the initial registration form. Contact the office if you have any questions.
2. The authorized person will be required to show his or her driver’s license. The license number may be recorded. The staff member dismissing the child may take the additional precaution of recording automobile license plate and/or making a copy of the license.
3. When an alternate person not listed on the registration form picks up the child they will need written authorization from the parent. This written authorization will require the parent/ guardian signature. It is the law to decline to release a student to a parent or other person who is visibly under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
4. This applies to parents who have organized carpools as well.

Extended Care

CRMS offers extended care before and after school for the convenience of our families from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. We provide these services on a regular or occasional basis for students enrolled at CRMS. Extended Care services are billed separately from tuition. Refer to your Fee Schedule for current rates. Students in extended care are supervised school staff and provided with a variety of group or individual activities of active or quiet nature, indoors or out as the weather allows.

Extended Care charges begin either when the child is checked in before 8:45 a.m. or after 3:45 p.m. Extended Care charges end at 8:45 a.m. or when the

CRMS closes promptly at 5:30 p.m. and employees are expected to lock the school and leave the campus at that time. If your child is not checked out on the clipboard by 5:30 p.m., you will be billed $5.00 for each minute you are late.

After-school Play Area

It’s great to be able to hang out a little after school, let your children play some with friends, and chat with other parents. Our challenge is that it is difficult for us to know which students are being supervised by whom on the playground and to keep our required teacher/student ratios clear. For this reason we allow families who have checked out to go to the courtyard to play and hang out. We ask that you follow these guidelines:

• Students need to stay in the courtyard on the grass on the far side of the walkway from the main building to the Farrell building.
• Parents must be with and supervise their children at all times.
• Parents need to make sure that the code of conduct is followed at all times.

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Lunch

At CRMS students bring their own lunch. The following nutritional guidelines are in force at school as required by WAC 246-370-070. Your child’s lunch must contain at least: 1. A diary product. 2. A protein food including lean meat, fish, poultry, egg, legume, nut butter or cheese. 3. Bread or bread alternative, whole grain or enriched. 4. Fruit or vegetable, two total servings.

We are compelled by law to “supplement meals that are deficient in meeting nutritional requirements,” and will provide any missing item for your child as needed but we will charge you up to $7.00 depending on what was needed for these supplements. This also applies if you forget to send your child with a lunch. We will communicate with you about the deficiency and ways to meet the nutritional guidelines. We also reserve the right to interpret the guidelines concerning nutrition and will strictly adhere to the above except in cases of medically modified of allergy diets (see below).

Snack

CRMS serves a morning and afternoon snack to our early childhood students. Elementary students may snack from their lunch boxes during the day. The snack menu is prepared in advance and is posted in the nutrition book in the kitchen and on the kitchen refrigerator.

Dietary Restrictions

If your child has food allergies or has other nutritional needs beyond the scope of the normal diet outlined above then we MUST receive written directions from your child’s health care provider to provide nutrient supplements, a medically modified diet or an allergy diet. (WAC 246-370-070). For allergy diets the parent or student’s health care provider must identify the foods the student cannot consume. Once we know this we will notify all staff about the allergies and reactions, avoid serving the foods the student is allergic to and maintain the allergy diet provided by your child’s health care provider.

Extended Care Snack

All students in after-school Extended Care are offered snack at about 4:30 p.m. daily. This snack is meant to tide over those students who will be staying until school closes.

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The CRMS curriculum offers students a non-graded, individualized learning experience based upon their developmental needs and abilities. Emphasis is given to activities which develop creative thinking and support the growth of social maturity and inner discipline.

Early Childhood Program

The Early Childhood Program is designed to serve children three to six years old. The final year in the primary program is equivalent to kindergarten. Activities to promote use of the senses, refine skills of discrimination and observation, strengthen memory, develop coordination and promote concentration are presented with varying degrees of challenge. Students are introduced to concepts of geography, mathematics, language and science. The classroom also provides the young student who is ready to explore environments away from home a peer group to whom he or she can relate. It offers the older student opportunities to help younger students, developing empathy and other social skills.

The half-day program is available to three year-old students only (as September 1st of that school year. The full day program is mandatory for all children 4 years or older. There are a limited number of half-day spots and once filled, only the full day is available regardless of the child’s age.

A Typical Early Childhood Day

8:45 a.m.         Students arrive, put away their things and say goodbye to their parents.
9:00 a.m.         The day starts with a “circle-time.” Circle is a time for students to practice together as a class lessons such as days, months, and seasons as well as a sharing time and time for singing and dancing together.
9:20 a.m.         Work time begins and students receive and practice their lessons. During this time students are invited to have a snack, provided by the school.
11:45 a.m.       The class comes back together for circle time.
12:00 p.m.       Lunch, brought by the student, is eaten in the classroom.
12:30 p.m.       The class goes out for a half-hour recess, rain or shine.
1:00 p.m.         The class comes in for story-time. Students who take naps often fall asleep at this time. Teachers will allow children to nap if it appears the child is tired.
1:30 p.m.         There is a second work time.
3:10 p.m.         The class day wraps up with a circle time.
3:30 p.m.         The school day ends.
Extended Care runs from 7:00 a.m.to 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Half-day students can either be scheduled for morning, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. or afternoon, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Time that the student stays outside of the scheduled session is subject to extended care charges.

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Elementary Program

Students six years and older are ready for intellectual work on a more abstract level. Their previous Montessori academic experience forms the basis for this work. Imagination, moral conscience and cultural awareness can be said to be the “sensitive periods” of this stage. As the student’s skills in mathematics and language are being perfected, the elementary curriculum presents opportunities to explore cultural subjects - history, geography, and the arts and sciences. Besides this handbook and other policy documents you have been given, our elementary teachers will provide you with specific elementary program information.

A Typical Elementary Day

The elementary schedule is similar but takes into account other activities that are specific to student needs. The elementary teachers will provide their parents with the schedule.

Field Trips

Our elementary students may go on field trips to attend plays, visit museums, visit natural sites or cultural events. Sometimes an admission fee is involved. We rely on teachers, staff and parents to transport the students. Drivers need to provide proof of a valid driver’s license and insurance (staff will make a copy to be kept on file). For safety, all students are individually seat-belted and car seats may be used for students small enough to need one. Teachers and staff accompanying the field trip are certified in CPR and First Aid. We ask for your written authorization for your child to participate in field trips at the time of enrollment and we welcome your help as chaperone/driver when needed.

Summer Program

CRMS holds a summer program for our presently enrolled families and may open enrollment to the community as space allows. The summer program provides academic time, daily swimming lessons and outdoors activities. When the summer program is in session the rules and policies in this handbook also apply. Please refer to our website for more details.

Swim Program

CRMS has a 40,000 gallon heated outdoor swimming pool. The pool is open for the summer program and occasionally the first and last month of regular session, weather and faculty permitting. An after-school recreational swim is offered during times the pool is open from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. daily. During the Summer Program (late June through late August) the pool is open for daily swim instruction during school hours. CRMS provides a certified lifeguard and swim instructor.

Swimming Pool Policies

• Each student must bring his or her own bathing suit and towel. These are to be taken home every day to be laundered and returned the next day. CRMS recommends bringing a separate waterproof bag for swim things, labeling everything, and using a regular bath towel instead of a beach towel.
• If a student forgets his or her suit we will provide one but charge you $3.00 per day to rent one. Parental approval will be obtained before one is provided.
• If a student forgets his or her towel there is also a $3.00 per day charge to rent one. Parental approval will be obtained before one is provided.
• Goggles are only allowed during swim lessons with lifeguard permission.
• In the event of lightning, extremely cold weather, pool maintenance or other emergencies the pool will be closed. Notice of these closures will be posted.
• Your child will only be allowed in the pool if you signed the parent release allowing your child to swim. This release is a part of the general parent release form.
• Both boy’s and girl’s hair that is below the ears must be braided or securely tied up. This needs to be done before coming to school for the day.
• Sunscreen needs to be waterproof and can be applied at home before your child arrives. Freshly applied sunscreen dissolves rapidly and weakens the pool’s chlorine.
• Only toys and flotation devices provided by CRMS are allowed in the pool. Some additional items may be allowed at swim instructor/lifeguard discretion.
• Extended Care fees apply for after-school swimming. No additional fees are charged.
• Street shoes are not allowed on the pool deck during swim instruction except by school staff. Dirt tracked in on street shoes is potentially infectious and when kicked in the pool weakens the chlorine.
• Parents are not allowed on the pool deck during swim instruction times (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). Parents are invited inside the fenced perimeter during the after school swim from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Student Belongings at School

To avoid disappointments please do not allow your child to bring toys, pocket money, pets, hand-held video games, radios, cameras, candy, gum, umbrellas or any other valuables to school. If these items show up, the staff will hold them until the end of the day when they will be returned to the parents. CRMS cannot take responsibility for lost or missing personal items. If in doubt, don’t send it in.

Cameras and Camcorders on Campus

CRMS allows parents to take photographs and videos during school events and on campus within reason. However the school reserves the right to refuse permission to parents or other visitors if the photography, video or other communication recording device creates a disturbance to the educational process or is used in a manner that the school deems detrimental to the peace and order of our campus.

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You are welcome to visit school at any time as long as your visit does not disrupt the classroom. Scheduled observations of the classrooms may be arranged after the second week of October or after your child has been enrolled for four weeks.

Guidelines for Observing:

• Please sit in the designated chair and remain seated throughout the observation and avoid conversation with the students. If the students talk to you try NOT to engage them in conversation by politely stating something like, “thank you but I would really enjoy watching you work instead.”
• Any student’s behavior might be a reaction to your presence in the room. This is particularly true in the case of your own child.
• Write down questions and comments so that you can ask the teacher(s) or other staff about them after the observation.
• While observing you will gain more from your visit by first watching the classroom group as a whole and then observing your own child in relation to the following points:
• Notice the students’ response to the total classroom environment and each child’s independence.
• Notice how your child and other students initiate activities.
• Check which activities are initiated by your child and which by the teachers.
• Note the different lengths of time the students are involved in their work. Note how the ability to concentrate and be absorbed in the work varies from student to student.
• Notice how some students even when distracted return easily to their work.
• Notice student spontaneity and enthusiasm
• Note the variety of small group, large group and individual activity
• Note the materials; how they are chosen and how they are used.
• Please let the teachers know your questions and comments. Depending on the classroom situation, they will answer your questions then or schedule a separate time to continue the conversation.

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Birthdays

We really enjoy celebrating birthdays. Each child receives a birthday button on his or her birthday and we share a treat from home with everyone. We also ask you to consider donating a book of your child’s choice (a quality reference, poem or story-book). We have bookplates that will be permanently placed within the book. These will then be a treasure for all to share for many years to come.

If your child’s birthday will be celebrated at a party away from school to which classmates are invited, the invitations are to be mailed or conveyed by phone. Please do not use the Communication Center. Children invited to a party off campus can be released to the parent in charge of the party by a “Today Only” form.

Dress Code

CRMS does not have a formal dress code but we do expect children to be dressed appropriately in clothing that is not a distraction from the learning process or which can endanger self or others. Dress your child for work at tables and on the floor. Considering how often we go outside and the nature of CRMS, we caution against wearing formal types of clothing at school. It is also recommended that students keep a change of clothing at school. This is required for early childhood students in case of lavatory accidents or slips in the mud during winter. We require all students to have appropriate outside gear for all times of year. Each student is to have a coat with a hood (or a hat) and a pair of boots at school every day. Even in fair weather a jacket may be necessary if the student has wet hair from swimming or if the weather changes. Boots are worn outside, every day. We go outside every day regardless of the weather conditions and make no exceptions. Please label all your child’s belongings with his or her name so that if misplaced they can be reunited with their owner. CRMS is not responsible for lost or damaged student clothing or other items.

V.I.P. (Show and Tell)

We do not have a traditional show and tell in the classrooms. The learning environment is carefully prepared and is meant to be a laboratory of learning. Things such as toys, perfume, or electronic gadgets will disrupt this special environment. But if, sometimes, your child has a special item he or she wants to share the school allows this to occur. The item must be stored in his or her cubby except at the special sharing time. Please help us by keeping things out of pockets that should not be brought to school. The Elementary class holds a weekly Very Important Person (VIP) show and tell at the end of each Friday circle. Teachers will let you and your child know what to do for this.

Holidays

Students at CRMS are invited to sing a general grace before lunch. They may sing or sit quietly as they wish. Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays of a religious nature may be part of classroom study or school events. Children of all faiths are encouraged to share their family’s cultural and religious customs and celebrations at school. CRMS recognizes the basic underlying values common to all faiths and teaches morality and ethics but not doctrine. We do not promote any particular religion but we do try to reflect and respect the diversity in our community. If you have concerns or questions about this please contact the faculty or administration.

Christmas: CRMS provides each student with small gifts each year. You are invited to donate a gift to the school. These gifts are opened up at the all school circle on the Friday before the holiday break.

Valentine’s Day: Cards are exchanged in classrooms. For the primary class you will be informed of how many students are enrolled at the time of Valentine’s Day. Your child should sign each card but DO NOT address the envelopes to individual children. That morning ask your child to store them in his or her cubby on the patio. Later in the morning time is set aside for the card exchange. Children in the elementary class may address and sign their cards. Teachers will provide a roster for each student to use. Elementary students are allowed to bring their cards in prior to Valentine’s Day.

Other Celebrations and Holidays: Besides our annual drama in June each year, you will be informed through newsletter, classroom notices and handouts of celebrations of other holidays that the faculty and staff choose to include in the yearly calendar of events.

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Parents play an integral role at CRMS. Not only you they make the existence of the school possible by enrolling your child, but much of the work around the school would not happen were it not for the generous and dedicate work provided by you.

Each year families are asked to participate by donating time, talent or materials to the operation of the school. This is one way we work to keep our expenses down and continue to upgrade the quality of our students’ experience. It also serves to promote a sense of community among out families as we work together on various projects.

Our main area of volunteering is helping with our annual auction, Other areas besides the auction are construction and repair projects, maintaining the grounds, helping at lunch time in the early childhood classrooms, and providing support to our classroom teachers. The teachers and/or administrators are in charge of contacting volunteers for in-school activities.

Volunteering

There are many opportunities to contribute your time to the school. Helping with morning reading time in the elementary classes, helping in a primary class or on the playground at lunch, or going on a field trip are all ways to help during the school day. Doing an odd job or two around the school, feeding the animals on the weekend, or taking home a mailing to assemble are ways to help outside of the regular school day. Please see the 10 Hour Power Volunteer notebook in the Communications Center for more information or talk to Kathy Imahara, Family Network Coordinator for more information or ideas.

Auction

We hold an annual auction. The purpose of the auction is two-fold. One, it is a wonderful opportunity for our parents to come together to celebrate our school and our community. Two, it is one of three key pieces of our fundraising efforts each year. Our auction is usually held in late March. Keep an eye out for information throughout the school year.

Annual Fund

An annual fund is a very common way for schools and other not-for-profit organizations to fill the gap between what is charged for services and the cost of providing those services. All board members, staff and families are asked to contribute to the annual fund each year. This not only helps fill the funding gap but helps the school in seeking funding from grant- and loan-making organizations. When we have 100% participation in the annual fund, it tells these organizations that we have a dedicated community of support and they are more likely to help us. No gift is too small. Please see the website for more information.

In-Kind Donations

CRMS happily accepts most donations but please check with administration or your classroom teacher first. You can also check the wish list on our website.

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The safety of our students is top priority at CRMS. Our precautions involve screening all employees as well as volunteers who work directly with the student, consistently emphasizing safety procedures and implementing the articles of our Discipline Policy.

All employees and direct-contact volunteers are required to have background checks. As employees of a state-licensed agency, CRMS staff members are “mandated reporters” and compelled by Washington State Law to immediately report to the police or Child Protective Services (CPS) any suspicions we may have of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and any suspected child neglect or exploitation. We are NOT allowed to notify parents if this occurs except upon the recommendation of CPS or the police. If you contact the school concerning communication from CPS or the police in child abuse/neglect matters, we can neither affirm nor deny that we contact CPS or the police. Any questions you have about this requirement may be directed to the head of school.

Daily security procedures are guided by Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) and require that you sign your child in and out each day at when you drop off and pick up your child. No one is allowed to pick up your child except you and your spouse or those persons you have given permission to and that the school is aware of. Anyone picking up a child who is not recognized or known by staff will be asked to show photo identification. This is done for your child’s protection. See the section in this handbook of Arrivals and Dismissals for more detail.

Other daily security measures are that children are escorted and/or observed by faculty and staff during times that they are in attendance. No children are allowed to leave the school’s fenced perimeter except with staff members or when being picked up by parents.

Due to the small size of our school community, strangers stand out and are quickly challenged as to the purpose of a visit. Our staff is very responsive when dealing with unknown persons who enter the campus. The school and campus are open during regular hours 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on all days that school is in session.

The campus is closed at other times. The school cannot take responsibility for persons on campus at other than normal times. For safety and liability reasons, please plan your campus visits when you know that staff members will be on duty.

Disaster

CRMS (CRMS) implements this policy to meet the requirements of WAC 388-295-5160. Since the “early childhood” component of the CRMS is in proximity with the elementary component this policy draws on WAC 388-295-5160 (3) “In areas where emergency plans are in place, centers may follow those procedures and actions in developing their own plan.” We are doing this by building this disaster policy around the already existent emergency policy at CRMS.

This policy is developed to provide the staff and families of CRMS with the possible options that we would follow in the event of different sorts of disasters such as fires, natural disasters and other emergencies.

Fire Plan

In the event of a fire students are instructed to stand and quietly file out assigned exits. (There are exit diagrams by all exit doors). Faculty and staff will teach students during practice drills. In the event the usual exit is blocked each class is instructed as to alternative exits. Staff check bathrooms and search the building for students.

After exiting the building, students and staff walk to the south-east side of the main parking lot. Individual classroom teachers or assigned staff members take attendance. Once all children in all classes have been accounted for, this information is given to the head of school or his/her designee who will take whatever further action is required. The Fire Department is less than three minutes away. This person will respond to requests from fire department or other emergency responders or, in the case of a drill, give the “All Clear” and allow students and staff to return to the building. In the event of a real fire no one will reenter the building until given permission by the emergency responders.

Earthquake Plan

In the event of an earthquake, students and staff will immediately duck and cover under the nearest available furniture or other protective places. They will remain there until authorized to evacuate by the head of school or his/her designee. If asked to evacuate, students and staff will exit the building in the same manner as in a fire drill and go to the south east end of the parking lot and await further instruction either from the head of school/designee or emergency responders such as police or fire department.

If the building is badly damaged and cannot be entered, children will be sheltered in as safe as place as possible under the emergency situation. Blankets, lighters and other survival supplies are stored in the barn and can be used as needed. Staff will contact the 911 dispatcher if an earthquake has badly damaged the building and it cannot be re-entered. We will follow instructions from the dispatcher.

Flood Plan

In the case of the Chester Morris Dam bursting there is a window of about 45 minutes before the waters would arrive at CRMS. The State and local officials are aware of our presence and have stated they would send a Sheriff’s patrol to contact us if there was a problem. We will then evacuate the school as per the fire drill procedure, load children into staff cars or other vehicles that are available and take the children to the Fire Station up on the top of the hill to the north of the school. The fire station is on 158th nearby 128th SE on the main arterial route up the hill from the school. We would remain there and have parents pick up children from there.

If for some reason the school wasn’t notified and we noticed rising water, the head of school or his/her designee shall make a determination to evacuate the school. We will contact the 911 dispatcher and inform them that the school is being evacuated and to send emergency help. In a worse case scenario, we will walk the children up the hiking trails behind the school until they are well above any flood levels. Before doing this we will inform the 911 dispatcher that we have taken this measure.

Dangerous Intruder Plan

If any unauthorized person comes on campus while children are on the playground, staff will take all children inside the school and the 911 dispatcher will be called. Staff will challenge any unauthorized person attempting to enter the school and stop him or her from entering. The 911 dispatcher will be called immediately with information about the intruder. If the intruder appears to be armed with a weapon, we will lock the doors and inform the 911 dispatcher of this situation. If the school building is breached, we will evacuate all children out the back of the school and up the hillside along the hiking trails.

Person Responsible for these plans: Head of school or designee. Individual classrooms and their children are the responsibility of classroom teachers during the school day or the before and after care staff during those times.

Accountability Procedures: Teachers in the classrooms or other staff if at non-instructional times will visually scan for all of their students during an evacuation. They will do this as best possible. Then students will be accounted for using classroom rosters. This will be done by the individual classroom teachers after evacuation. If the emergency happens during before and after care then the sign-in clipboard will be used by the appropriate staff at those times.

How to Evacuate the Premises: Maps are posted in critical areas of each classroom showing the evacuation route and alternative evacuation route for emergencies. Besides having maps posted normal monthly drills will follow the route of these maps so that staff members and students will have memorized the routes.

Care of Special Needs Children:Depending on the nature of the emergency, children with special needs will be monitored and their special things such as medications will be located and brought to the evacuation rally point. The emergency first aid kit in the kitchen will be brought along for all emergencies.

Providing for Children until Parent Pick Up: Staff will remain on premises and with the children until all children have been removed by their parents/legal guardians or by order of emergency responders (police or fire department) if they take the children or order us to remove them.

Contacting Parents/Guardians: Parents will be contacted by whatever means are possible but most likely by telephone if an evacuation is needed. We will also contact the 911 dispatchers and the radio and television stations and provide information on rally points or how and where to pick up their children.

Transportation: In an emergency that calls for immediate evacuation of the campus (floods) we will load children into staff or other available vehicles and take them up to the Fire Station on 158th SE.

Documentation: CRMS will document time and place of drills, any useful information that should be added concerning the drill and anything else that is relevant to the drill or the potential disaster. We will do this after our monthly fire drills, our quarterly disaster drills or any other drills. We will debrief and discuss the event and record this in our weekly Staff Meeting Notes. We will keep records of the drills on site for two years as required by the WAC.

Dissemination of the Policy: CRMS has made the disaster policy part of its Parent Handbook since the 2004-2005 edition. Parents will also sign a release stating that they have read and reviewed this disaster policy. CRMS will also keep the signatures and dates of any persons completing the annual disaster plan review. This will, in most cases, be the head of school.

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The first step in the admission process is to explore the website form information about the school and its programs. Interested families should then either attend our open house in late January or attend one of our Wednesday morning tours. Available tours are listed on our website calendar. If a family would like to apply they can download an application from off the website and return it to the school.

Upon receipt of the application form the child is placed on our waiting list. This occurs for all new children. Once we determine how many openings are available from our currently enrolled families, we open up enrollment to families on the waiting list. As openings become available, we invite parents and child to visit the school for an interview. There is no chronological order to the waiting list because enrollment decisions are based on age and gender balance as well as overall compatibility of the child for the program. An interview is not a guarantee of enrollment.

At the interview parents meet with the head of school or other staff member and the child meets with a teacher. The purpose of the parent interview is to acquire basic information about the child and to ensure that the parents’ questions are answered. The purpose of the child interview is to determine the child’s readiness for the classroom and compatibility with the Montessori method.

The school administration contacts the parents with the decision within the next few days. If the child is accepted, then the enrollment fee and registration deposit must be provided within 10 working days to secure enrollment for that child. Failure to do so opens enrollment another student and the previously selected child returns to the waiting list. If a child is not accepted parents are notified of the non-acceptance.

Students accepted into the Early Childhood program for 3 to 6 year olds must be toilet-trained because CRMS is not licensed for diapering. Students accepted into the elementary program who have not previously attended CRMS must provide their child’s academic records from the prior school. Elementary students are accepted with preference given to students with prior Montessori experience and subject to the same interview process.

Upon acceptance to the program, all enrollment paperwork must be completed and returned and all tuition and fees due paid BEFORE the student may attend school including:

• Parental release
• Health history
• Contracts
• Certificate of immunization status

If you have any questions, contact the business office at school.

Probationary Period

The Montessori method is not always a good fit for every child. For this reason, newly-accepted students are considered to be probationary students for the first four weeks of enrollment. If staff members develop concerns that the program is not appropriate for a child’s needs, we will contact the parents for a conference. In the event that the conference results in termination of the enrollment contract, CRMS will return any unused portions of tuition.

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CRMS pursues a vigorous infection control program. Our facility is cleaned daily with an emphasis on disinfecting desks, doorknobs and other surface areas that can spread infectious diseases. All staff and students wash their hands often. Staff members are required to have a negative TB test and are trained in precautions against transmission of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne pathogens.

A medical history form and medical release form must be completed for every student attending CRMS. This provides valuable information to medical professionals and gives us permission to seek medical attention for your student in case of emergency. Please update this form as necessary with any changes in home, work or medical phone numbers.

Illness

Each student shall be observed for signs of illness during the day. Students who are ill, tired or upset shall be given a chance to rest in a quiet area. In the case of minor illness, the decision to send a student home will be at the discretion of the head of school with information and guidance from the staff and the following health care policy. We adhere to Department of Health regulations and guidelines that require the exclusion of any student with certain symptoms. These are listed below under Procedures for Excluding Ill Students from School. A student who is severely ill will be separated from the other students, properly attended and parents contacted to remove their child immediately from the school. If parents are unable to remove their child in a timely manner (within the hour) we reserve the right to contact 911 and have the child removed to a medical facility. (In emergencies we automatically call 911). Therefore it is wise to have a couple of alternative plans for getting your child picked up from school.

It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify us in the event their child is found to have a communicable disease. We can then take the necessary steps to notify/protect the families of students who were in contact with the sick student if necessary. We keep the student’s name confidential and only inform other families of the presence of the contagion.

Since students are encouraged and expected to participate in all school and classroom activities, including outdoor play, before returning to school after an illness, your child should be recovered sufficiently to participate in all activities including those held outdoors. Minimally they should be kept home for 24 hours following the guidelines below. All our teachers, support staff and administrators are trained in CPR and First Aid and in case of a medical emergency will immediately call 911 then administer the proper First Aid and/or CPR as needed. We will notify you as soon as possible. If you cannot be reached, your designated emergency contact will be notified. If transportation to the hospital is needed, a CRMS staff member may, if possible, accompany your child in the ambulance and will stay with him or her until you arrive. CRMS uses the nearest facility, Valley General Hospital, for emergencies. A record of injuries and illnesses treated at school are kept in the First Aid notebook in a secured area of the kitchen. This information is confidential.

Emergencies

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Fire Department; Police and Rescue: 9-1-1
Poison Prevention Center: 206-526-2121

Hospital Used for Emergencies:
Valley Medical Center
400 S. 43rd St. Renton, WA
Telephone: 253-228-3450

Emergency Procedures

Minor Emergencies

1. Staff trained in first aid will take appropriate steps and refer to American Red Cross Standard first aid manual or equivalent as needed.
2. All incidents are recorded on the Incident Report Form and copies are kept in the First Aid Book and in the student’s file and a copy is given to the parents.

Life-Threatening Emergencies

1. Staff call 9-1-1 and notifies the school administration.
2. Staff provides first aid as needed.
3. Staff stays with the injured/ill student until a parent arrives. May include transport to a hospital.
4. Staff record incident.

Emergency Procedures If Parent(s) Cannot Be Contacted: The Emergency notebook in kitchen cupboard contains information about alternative contacts for each student. If CRMS employees are unable to contact anyone on this list or those contacted fail to arrive within the hour CRMS reserves the right to have the student removed to the hospital for care.

Serious injury/hospitalization will be reported to DSHS.

First Aid

When students are in our care, staff with current training in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid are always available. Training documentation is posted in a certificate in the main entranceway by the glass sliding door.

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Cedar River Montessori School | 15828 SE Jones Rd | Renton, WA 98058 | P: 425-271-9614 | F: 425-271-6934
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