Our summer session is a relaxed extension of the regular school year, where the children will have the opportunity to continue to work in the prepared classroom environment with Montessori materials, along with outside activities, art, cooking projects, gardening, water play, and neighborhood walks & visits to Allsopp Park, etc. for the older children. We do not plan to make extensive trips away from the school, except for the Junior Elementary Class*. Any field trips for the Juniors will be scheduled by the teacher and will include visits to the swimming pool**. With the exception of any scheduled vacation time, our staff will be the same as during the school year. This, along with a relaxed schedule, makes for a pleasant and stress- free summer for your child.

The last day of school is Thursday, May 26, 2022. We will be closed Friday, May 27 for teachers’ workday and Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day. Summer School will start on Tuesday, May 31. School will be closed Monday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. There will be no school or childcare provided on that day. The last day of summer school will be Wednesday, August 31, 2022. The 2022-2023 school year will start on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

We do not offer “drop-in” child care. Your child should be at school by 9:00 am at the very latest; otherwise, we will assume he/she is not attending school that day. Tuition is due and payable in advance on the first of each month. Accounts not paid on the 1st will be assessed a late charge of $35.00. Credit will be given for vacation (2 weeks maximum) if advance notice is given. Any child with an unpaid tuition balance after the 15th of the month may not continue to attend summer school until the balance is paid in full. There will be no exceptions.

Please dress your child comfortably and safely for summer school. Appropriate footwear must be worn.
Inside or No shoes will be worn inside, all children must have non-slip house shoes for indoor wear and appropriate footwear for outside. Open-toed sandals, flip-flops, “jellies,” clogs, etc. are a danger when children are running, playing, and climbing, and we ask that you not send your child to school wearing such footwear. We will not be held responsible for injuries if appropriate footwear is not being worn.

Sunscreen and, if necessary, insect repellant, will be applied if permission is given – please see the Application Form. You may send your own sunscreen and/or insect repellant if you wish; otherwise, we will use what is on hand at school. Please label your child’s sunscreen/insect repellant with his or her name.

To enroll your child for the summer session, please fill out the Application Form and return it to school, along with the registration fee and a current Immunization Record. If your child is new to Children’s House, please complete additional forms as listed below (pages 3-5.)

We look forward to a pleasant and safe summer, and hope that your child will join us.

* We retain the right to exclude from field trips any child whose behavior is a danger to himself and/or other children in our care. More information pertaining to Junior field trips and planned activities will be provided once the schedule is finalized.

** The pool available for CHMS Junior use is a Private Pool and only 4 blocks away from the school.

Montessori discipline is an inner discipline – control which the child develops over his own behavior, through his interest in the Montessori materials, positive social orientation, and in caring for both the learning environment and other individuals. The Children’s House Montessori School offers an educational program with freedom of movement for children, and freedom within limits for work choices. Some children are more successful in an environment with a more direct instructional method of teaching. Parents of children who experience impulsive or aggressive behavior, may be advised to seek a school that specializes in direct instruction.

If the ground rules are consistently followed and positively reinforced, the necessity of external discipline will be diminished. When such external discipline is deemed necessary, the following guidelines will be observed:

• Rules are stated on the child’s first day of school. Daily reminders are given, if necessary, to the group as a whole.

• Inappropriate behavior is stopped by the teacher or assistant/aide.

• If possible, work/activity is offered as preferable to isolation if the child appears to be ‘in control.’ However, if the child needs to regain control, he is isolated from work/classroom activities for a short time to re-think his/her behavior; the child is then asked if he/she is ready to return to the class.

• Problem-solving skills are reinforced as well as suggestions for alternative behavior choices.

• Continued misbehavior may mean the child is isolated from the group with adult supervision.

• Parent will be called to discuss the child’s continued behavior.

• Parent will be called to take the child home immediately. A conference will follow If the inappropriate, unwanted behavior persists, suggestions will be made that an alternative school may better meet the needs of the child in question.

Policy regarding biting: Biting is normal behavior for some toddlers. Toddler bites are not intentional. Our staff supervises closely at all times. Everything possible is done to keep all the children at our school safe and secure.

Just as falls and other minor mishaps cannot always be prevented, neither can all bites. Injury reports are completed on all bites that leave a mark. The parents of the children involved are informed of the incident. When older children bite intentionally, the above guidelines are followed. Parents who have further questions about biting are invited to discuss the matter with our Director.

*That children may be subject to interviews by licensing staff, child maltreatment investigators and/or law enforcement officials for the purpose of determining licensing compliance or for investigative purposes. (Child interviews do not require parental notice or consent.)

*All caregivers are mandated reporters under the Child Abuse Law. The caregiver/director shall notify the Child Maltreatment Hot Line Number at 1-800- 482-5964 when there is a reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected. (AR Code Annotated 12-12-501 et seq.)

*A written daily schedule available for review by parents and licensing staff, which includes age-appropriate activities.

*Children shall be protected from overexposure to the sun. Sunscreen shall be used if needed and as directed by the parent. Suntan lotions and/or sunscreens used for infant/toddlers and pre-school children shall be kept out of the children’s reach and shall be administered only with written parental permission. (Blanket permission may be obtained annually.)