Methodist Day School Handbook
Welcome to Methodist Day School! We are proud of our school and hope the following handbook answers any questions you may have. Please call our Director at 972-563-6274 for any further information you may need.
Mission Statement
Our Program is designed to provide an opportunity for children, ages 3 years through kindergarten, to interact in a friendly, happy and Christian atmosphere. The children have developmentally appropriate learning experiences in an environment that nurtures their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth.
Our Hours
Methodist Day School operates during the following hours:
Kindergarten:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Four year old pre-kindergarten:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Three year olds:
Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Licenses and Affiliations
Our preschool program operates under the minimal standards for child care centers. The school is fully licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. You may review these minimum standards and our license compliance forms by calling 1-800-582-6036 or online at
– “info for child care professionals”. The local licensing office of the Texas DFPS is located in Dallas. The child abuse hotline phone number is 1-800-252-5400. Methodist Day School is also a member of the Methodist Nursery School and Kindergarten Association (MNKA).
Enrollment
Methodist Day School follows Terrell Independent School District guidelines, which require that children be of age for their particular class by September 1st of the school year. All children aged 3 years by September 1 must have toilet mastery in order to enroll. Toilet mastery means: being able to tell us when they need to use the restroom; having control over bladder and bowel; not having daily accidents.
Methodist Day School does not discriminate in the enrollment of children upon the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Clothing
Please print names on all raincoats, coats, jackets, sweaters, hats, backpacks, etc., worn or used by your child.
All children should bring a backpack to school daily in order to transport belongings home. The backpack should be clearly labeled with your child’s name.
The safety of your child is our prime concern. Rubber soled shoes and play clothes are appropriate for our program. We love party clothes, but long dresses and slippery shoes are not safe. Jackets, tights, slacks, and warm hats will be needed for chilly days and outside play.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please bring your child to his/her classroom no earlier than 7:55 a.m. for classes. If you need to, you may drop your child off as early as 7:40 a.m. for our Early Bird Program. Our Early Birds play in the Welcome Room and have the same activities as children arriving later. The cost for children arriving between 7:40 a.m. and 7:55 a.m. is $7.00 per day.
School is dismissed at 11:30 a.m. for preschool classes and 12:00 noon for kindergarten. Your child will be released only to people you have designated on your child’s release form. If additional names are needed, please notify the director or your child’s teacher. When any change is to be made in the hour or method of your child’s departure from school, please notify the director or your child’s teacher by note or telephone. Messages delivered verbally by your child cannot be accepted. Unidentified persons will not be permitted to take a child away from the school.
Our Curriculum
Our program is carefully planned to provide successful opportunities for the children to investigate, discover, and learn about the world around them. Activities of a typical day include:
Kindergarten:
Opening Activities, include:
Pledge and prayer
Academics, emphasize:
Science Social Studies
Language arts Math
Other Activities:
Art Computer
Chapel Music
Outside play Snacks
Pre-kindergarten and 3-year old classes:
Opening Activities include:
Pledge and prayer
Academics
Other Activities:
Art Computer (Pre-K)
Story time Music
Chapel Outside Play
Snacks
2010-2011 Tuition and Fees
Three Year Olds: Monthly tuition is $135.00
Pre-Kindergarten: Monthly tuition is $145.00
Kindergarten: Monthly tuition is $185.00
Monthly tuition is due on the first of each month from September through May. A late charge of $5.00 will be assessed for tuition paid after the 10th of each month. Any fees incurred for tuition payments not being honored by your financial institution will be passed on to you. Tuition is non-refundable.
A non-refundable registration fee is required with the enrollment application.
2010- 2011 Registration fees are as follows:
Three Year Olds: $135.00
Pre-Kindergarten: $145.00
Kindergarten: $185.00 plus $45.00 book fee.
No Tax Statement will be sent or available. Please retain your own cancelled checks or cash receipts for income tax purposes.
For further information, please contact the director. Make checks payable to Methodist Day School.
Health Concerns
Please notify the school promptly of a known exposure to or contraction of a contagious disease. Parents of exposed children will be notified.
Please notify your child’s teacher of any occurrence at home which might affect your child’s behavior at school.
Children with symptoms of severe coughing, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, or evidence of lice should not be in school. Only when symptoms are gone will a child be readmitted to school. If your child has an oral temperature of 100.4°, or higher, he should not be in school. If your child needs to take medication during school hours, parents must sign an authorization and include times for us to administer the medication. The medication must be in the original container, with your child’s name on it. For further information, please contact the director. In case of a medical or other emergency, our staff will contact 9-1-1, and we will immediately notify you at the emergency phone numbers you have supplied us.
Your child needs to be current in his/her immunizations. Our staff will be happy to make a copy of your child’s immunization record and return it to you. A TB test is not required to attend MDS.
All children who are four years of age or older, must be screened for possible vision or hearing problems. We will make a vision/hearing screening available at school during the fall semester, or you may provide your own screening.
Discipline
We employ classroom procedures that prevent potential discipline problems from happening. When necessary, we redirect children to other activities. Rules are explained at the beginning of the year, and the children receive positive reinforcement by our staff. If a problem should arise, time out is used. Our staff does not use spanking as a means of discipline. Of course, we are unable to meet the needs of all children. If a child has a severe problem which requires specialized attention or which is not responding to the approach used by our staff, we will request a parent conference and together will seek out other solutions.
Parent Conferences
At scheduled conference times, the teachers will talk with you at length, in person or by phone. If you feel a need to discuss your child with your teacher or the director, please call the office at 972-563-6274 to schedule a conference. If you have any questions or concerns relating to Methodist Day School, which the director is unable to answer to your satisfaction please call the office.
Snacks
Snacks are provided by the school on the first week of each month. On the remaining school days, parents provide snacks on a rotating basis. A snack list will be sent home at the beginning of each month. The school will provide the drink each day. Please send nutritious snacks, such as raw vegetables, fruits, cheese cubes, crackers, Jell-O, etc. Please, no chocolate cupcakes!
Birthdays
We love to celebrate birthdays! If you would like to provide a special snack on your child’s birthday, please feel free to do so. Check with your child’s teacher for further information.
Schedule
Generally, the Methodist Day School schedule follows the schedule of the Terrell Independent School District. Notices will be sent home as to particular holidays.
In case of bad weather, Methodist Day School will follow school closing decisions of the Terrell Independent School District. Listen to radio and television stations for TISD closing information. On days that TISD starts school late, we will not have school.
Parent Participation
We are proud of our parents and their many talents. We want you to be as involved in your child’s school as you have the time and inclination.
We are delighted to have parents drive on our field trips, as we do not provide transportation, and accompany us on walking trips. If you have a skill that you would like to share with your child’s class, we welcome you to come and join us (i.e. playing an instrument, a specific field of interest, vocation, hobby, etc.)
Field Trips
The trips away from the school are limited. We walk to the library one day per month, weather permitting. All children wear an ID tag with the name and address of the school on it. A first aid kit is taken on all field trips. If parents drive, all children must wear a seat belt.
Kindergarten Academy
Kindergarten Academy is our after school enrichment program offered on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. for kindergarten students. Kindergarten Academy students bring their own lunch and also have a recess period outside on the playground.
Expectations for today’s Kindergarten students are increasing every year, and Kindergarten Academy allows Methodist Day School students the opportunity to enhance their daily learning activities. The tuition for Kindergarten Academy is $75.00 monthly, and is due at the beginning of the month.
An Extra Word About Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch is our extended day program for Methodist Day School students. It meets from school dismissal until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Kindergarten students are eligible to attend Lunch Bunch only on Wednesdays. (They have Kindergarten Academy on Tuesdays and Thursdays.) Younger students can attend all three days. The children play and have different activities until it is time to go home. Please register for Lunch Bunch ahead of time, as space is limited, and we do not want to disappoint you. Cost is $7.00 per child, per session. Please pay when you register your child. You may register and pay for Lunch Bunch on a monthly basis.
