Spruce Street Nursery SchoolParent HandbookTable of Contents

Calendar……………………………………………………. inside front coverWho We Are ………………………………………………… 1Programs ………………………………….......................... 4

Acorns ………………………………………………………. 4Willows …………………………………………………….. 5Maples ……………………………………...................5Oaks ……………………………………….................... 6Music ………………………………………………………… 6Movement/Gym ………………………………………. 6Early Arrival ……………………………………………. 6Extended Day …………………………………………. 7Summer Program ……………………………………. 8

The School DayAttendance ………………………………................ 8Transportation and Parking …………………. 9Door Access ……..…………………………………….. 10Arrivals ………………………………....................... 11Sample Daily Schedule …………………………. 11Lunch and Snacks ………………………………….. 12 Daily Outings ………………………………………….. 13Pick Up Time …………………………………………… 14Late Pick Up ……………………………………………. 15The Elevator………………………………............... 16

Home/School CommunicationCommunication at Spruce……………………… 16Primaries………………………………………………….. 18Contacting Your Child’s Teacher…………. 18Contacting the Administration...…………. 19

Behavior Management in the Classroom ……………….19Assessment/Parent Teacher Conferences ………….. 22Clothing/Diapers ………………………………………….. 23The Home School Connection ……………... 24

Home Visits ……………………………………………..24Host Families ………………………………………….. 24Guest Readers ………………………………………… 25The Share Bag ……………………………………….. 25Class Mascots …………………………….............. 25

Special Events At SchoolBirthdays …………………………………………………. 26Field Trips ………………………………………………. 26The Fly Away Ceremony ………………………. 26

Events For Parents and FamiliesOpen House-First Day of School………. 26

Parent Coffees………………………………………. 27New Parent Night………………………………….. 27All School Pot Luck… ……………………………. 27Meet the Schools Night……………………….27Curriculum Nights…………………………………. 27Holiday Party…………………………………………. 28Auction……………………………………………………. 28

Parent Participation ………………………………… 28Fundraising……………………………………………………… 30Admissions and Re-enrollment…..………. 31Tuition and Tuition Assistance.............. 33Next-Step School Admissions…………… 34Policies and Procedures

Holidays ………………………………………………… 36Gift Giving Policy ………………………………… 37Birthday Parties …………………………………. 37Play Dates ……………………………………………. 38Toys at School ……………………………………. 38No School Announcement …………………. 39Babysitting …………………………………………… 39

Health Care Policy …………………………………… 39Appendixes

A. Behavior Management Plan ………….. 44B. Common Childhood

Illnesses and Conditions ……………….. 45C. Evacuation Plan…………………………………. 46D. Referral and Termination Policy…… 47E. Organizational Flowchart……………….. 48F. Board of Directors…………………………… 49

Who We AreStatement of PurposeFounded in 1996, Spruce Street Nursery School strives to create a nurturing environment that supports the development of the young child and fosters creative thinking, while providing families with the opportunity to participate in a community committed to excellence in early learning. Spruce Street maintains outstanding teacher to child ratios so that every child’s thoughts and feelings are heard and valued, and each individual’s learning style and development is given careful attention. Fostering respect and compassion for one another is a fundamental tenet of our educational approach. Through honoring other’s ideas, children come to value their own as well. At Spruce Street, children develop a strong sense of themselves as learners, while coming to understand their importance as members of a larger community.

Educational PhilosophyChildren learn about the world around them through active exploration and play. With an awareness of individual strengths and interests, teachers develop curriculum to honor and explore each child’s creative potential. Classrooms are designed to offer many opportunities for a child to learn at his or her own pace. Art, music and children’s literature are essential elements of our program. Concepts and skills are presented at appropriate developmental stages and then expanded upon through both structured activity and imaginative play.

Many children begin attending on a part-time schedule that allows both the child and family to achieve a comfort level with school and the separation process. Scheduled days increase in subsequent years as the child becomes acclimated to school, allowing greater continuity of curriculum as the child grows and develops.

We feel that children of all ages should come together to learn from and with each other. Although our classrooms are grouped and defined generally by age, all of the children have ample opportunity to work with other teachers and age groups as well. By encouraging interchange between classrooms children both younger and older come to know and appreciate one another, facilitating a sense of community.

Spruce Street is located in the heart of downtown Boston. The city provides us with many opportunities for concrete experiences that broaden the children’s understanding of the world around them. Cart rides along city streets and our trips to the park contribute to an essential understanding of

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what it means to be part of a larger community. The many resources available to us in the city are invaluable teaching tools. The richness and diversity of our urban environment both inform and enrich our educational mission.

Spruce Street Nursery School admits students of any race, color and national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the school. Spruce Street Nursery School does not discriminate on the basis of race, cultural heritage, national or ethnic origin, marital status, religion, political beliefs, disability or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and school administered programs. History Spruce Street Nursery School was founded in 1996 by Christie Guevin and Renata Pappin with the goal of providing a school that recognized the extraordinary cognitive capacities of toddlers and preschoolers, and honored and accommodated their emerging social skills and sense of themselves. The two Directors had been conducting playgroups since 1987 from Renata’s home. Though they had developed a committed client base, their aspirations did not necessarily include expansion. Yet when Renata saw an ad in a local paper for “Space ideal for Nursery School, Beacon Hill” they could not resist taking a peek. The space was a lovely old room with hardwood floors and enormous windows. They took it on the spot.

Though committed to starting a school on the Hill, the two women soon ran into obstacles. Zoning variances, ADA compliance, egress variances and historical commission considerations soon began to daunt. Additionally, the two had little in the way of capital, so the plan was nearly abandoned. Fortunately, the landlord expressed his faith in Christie and Renata in the form of a loan, and in the fall of 1996, Spruce Street opened its doors.

Spruce Street enjoyed six successful years in the old facility. During these years the enrollment increased from 14 families to a total of 55 families, and the school developed a waitlist longer than the daily enrollment. During Spruce’s fifth year Renata and her family moved to London, and Spruce Street came under the sole Directorship of Christie Guevin. It was also during this pivotal fifth year that the old building went on the market. Through the enormous efforts of a committed group of parent volunteers, Spruce researched scores of options and came upon the remarkable opportunity on Avery Place.

The parents and administration of Spruce Street raised the funds to support

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the build out of the new space through a combination of a bank loan and extraordinarily successful fundraising. In the summer of 2002 Spruce Street moved to our current location at 5 Avery Place.

OrganizationSpruce Street Nursery School is a nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the school as well as assisting with long-range planning and development strategies. The Board consists of the Board Chair, the Clerk, a Development Chair, a Finance Chair, committee members and members at large. Board members are elected for three year terms at the annual meeting held in June. An organizational flowchart is attached in Appendix E; Board members are listed in Appendix F.

FacultyWe are enormously proud of our dedicated and energetic staff. Our teachers have been carefully selected for their strong interest in Early Childhood Education, and for their patience, exuberance and warmth. All teachers at Spruce Street have extensive education in a variety of disciplines; Spruce teachers are required to have a Bachelor’s degree, and many either have or are pursuing their Master’s degrees. By bringing varied and extensive skills and experience to their work; they make Spruce Street the joyful and creative environment that it is.

Every classroom has at least one EEC certified toddler or preschool teacher. Teachers are required to do 20 hours annually of ongoing training, and Spruce Street offers tuition reimbursement for coursework in the field of Early Childhood Education. We work in teaching teams to develop programs based on cooperation, sharing of ideas, and respect for the individual. Staff and team meetings to plan curriculum are an essential part of our program. Teaching plans are reviewed and approved by the Director. In addition to our 9 classroom teachers, we have a Float teacher who helps where needed and a Music specialist who engages the children with fun and developmentally appropriate music classes twice weekly.

Assistant DirectorLeslie Rhodes began her time at Spruce Street as a parent in 1996. After her daughter Chloe flew away in 1998, Leslie took a one year sabbatical from the school. Since her return in 1999, Leslie has been helping in the office, classrooms, and wherever needed, and has become invaluable to the school and the community. Leslie officially became Assistant Director in 2005.

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Director Christie Guevin received her undergraduate degree from Skidmore College and her graduate degree in Child Development and Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College in 1996. Before starting Spruce Street, Christie taught infants, toddlers and preschoolers in a home-based program for eight years. Christie also taught dance in the Brookline Public schools, as well as at many ballet studios in the greater Boston area. Christie is the mother of two grown children, Mariah and Nate.

ProgramsThe primary focus of all of our programs at Spruce is to promote independence, compassion and social competence. Each class is designed to meet the unique developmental needs of the age group they serve. Children learn best through interactions with caring teachers, friends and materials that excite their curiosity and imaginations. With 10 teachers, a music specialist, an Assistant Director and a Director on the premises throughout the morning program, our average teacher to child ratio of 1 to 4.5 ensures that your child’s interest is stimulated and their questions quickly responded to. A wide variety of materials and experiences are provided to foster exploration and nurture creativity.

The AcornsThe Acorn classroom offers many opportunities for discovery in an environment that is warm and welcoming. Our teachers help your child to form and negotiate friendships with gentle guidance. Language development is enhanced through interactions with peers as well as conversations with loving caregivers. Meeting time provides the children with the opportunity to practice songs and word plays with their friends, while introducing pre-academic skills such as colors, letters and number concept. Picture books and stories are read to the children individually or in small groups, and each child keeps a journal to fill with their first explorations with pen and paper. Sensory exploration with sand, water, paint and playdoh fosters creativity and social interaction. A climbing structure is ever present for the active Two’s boundless energy. Physical mastery is further enhanced as children explore the playground or the enclosed field on the Boston Common each day (weather permitting). The Acorns ride in carts, safely buckled, to all their destinations.

The WillowsThe Willow classroom celebrates the energy and curiosity of three year olds. Activities are planned along thematic units, and are developed from the interests and ideas of the children. These activities increase a child’s

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knowledge of the world around them through hands-on discovery, while introducing fundamental pre-reading and pre-math concepts. Each child keeps a journal with drawings, letters and the child’s words (transcribed by the teacher) to document his or her days at school. Knowledge of topic areas is expanded through music, art, dramatic play and children’s literature, while children are provided with opportunities to work cooperatively and form friendships. Daily meeting provides children with a forum to practice group etiquette while expressing their ideas and discussing the activities and themes they’ve been exploring in the classroom. Through play, active inquiry and teacher-initiated activities, children develop self-esteem while gaining social, cognitive and physical skills.

The MaplesThe Maple classroom respects the curiosity and exuberance of those children newly and nearly four. Curriculum provides exposure to a broad range of topic areas with an emphasis on integrating pre-academic skills throughout. The Maples’ journal entries often begin to include representational drawings, elaborate transcribed stories, and inventive spelling. The children’s ideas and interests are validated and thematic units are developed from these interests as well as from the teacher’s goals for each child and the class as a whole. Meeting becomes a time for listening, sharing and finding out more. Children’s literature, art and music continue to be integral to the learning process as the Maples work both cooperatively and independently in their process of discovery. Close friendships are formed and respect for one another is fostered as the children work together. Through guided inquiry, planned activities and dramatic play, each child’s sense of him or herself as a competent learner and good friend develops.

The OaksThe Oak class will help familiarize your nearly school age child with key abstract concepts while maintaining a strong commitment to active learning. Journals are an integral part of each day, with an emphasis on emerging literacy through encouraging drawing and writing and transcribing the children’s increasingly complex stories. Letter sound associations are reinforced as the children practice their letter of the week both on paper and aloud and begin to recognize letters and words in text. Simple equations are demonstrated with hands on counters, and geometric concepts are explored through tangrams and geoboards. Experiments in kitchen chemistry produce delicious edible results as well as fabulous flubber to manipulate. In the Oak classroom children have the opportunity to pursue their own areas of interest, as well as participate in multi-step,

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teacher directed projects.

Music At Spruce we have a music specialist that comes to sing, dance, and engage with the children twice weekly. Each class, beginning with the Acorns, and ending with the Oaks, has Music for one half hour twice per week.

Movement/Gym ClassSpruce Street uses the fitness studio at Sports Club LA for movement and gym class every week for one hour on Tuesdays and Fridays. Each class uses the gym for a half hour on a rotating schedule to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience movement/gym at the Sports Club.

Early ArrivalEarly Arrival is available every morning from 7:30-8:30. Children in the Early Arrival program have small breakfast, play in the Acorn room and are supervised by one teacher until 8:30, when the students join their classroom. Early Arrival is a separate fee and can be enrolled in advance or on a drop in basis. If you do need your child to come for Early Arrival on an occasional basis please let both your classroom teacher and the Director know in advance. The fee for a single early drop off is $15.00. Classroom teachers are busy preparing for the school day, so when you bring your child for Early Arrival please bring him directly to the Acorn class and please do not arrive before 7:30 AM. Please also be sure to email earlydropoff@sprucestreet.org to let the early arrival teachers know that you will be arriving early.

Sometimes children who are having a difficult time with separation benefit from arriving early, before many other children are at school. If you think that your child would benefit from Early Arrival please talk with your teacher or the Director.

Extended DayThe Extended Day Program, available from 1-3:30 daily, provides a small, mixed age setting for guided exploration of a specific activity daily. Led by two teachers each day, the children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of projects planned just for them. Rest time, snack and stories are also important elements of Extended Day.

Extended Day has a deliberately more restful pace than the morning program. The morning program, while fun and stimulating, can be tiring. Extended Day is a time to unwind and spend time with friends and teachers resting, refueling and exploring a project at the child’s leisure.

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Extended Day is available either on a contractual basis or on a drop in basis. Contracting for Extended Day is the more economical option but does not afford you the flexibility of the drop in option. If you decide to enroll your child for the fall semester for Extended Day on Mondays for instance, then we will expect your child on Mondays. If you decide you would prefer to come on Tuesday instead for a particular week, you will be charged the drop in fee for the Tuesday Extended Day.

You may contract for Extended Day until the 15th of October for the fall semester and until the 1st of February for the Winter/Spring semester. After these dates any changes in Extended Day schedules will be billed at the drop in rate of $35.00 per day.

To reserve your spot for any given Extended Day on a drop in basis sign up for your desired day in the book provided in the elevator foyer. The enrollment limit for Extended Day is nine. There will also be a waitlist for Extended Day on the daily sheet. We will take up to three waitlist names per day. Please keep checking your status, as cancellations are fairly common. If you are still on the waitlist the morning of, and an opening occurs during the day, we will call you. Drop in Extended Day is billed quarterly.

The Summer ProgramSummer at Spruce Street is a fun combination of indoor and outdoor activities, with regularly scheduled trips to the Frog Pond, as well as plenty of playground time and weekly group swim lessons for the Maples and Oaks at the Sports Club! Scheduling is flexible. We only ask that you enroll your child for a minimum of four mornings throughout the six weeks. The curriculum is deliberately more play-based than the school year and the pace more relaxed. In addition the groups are mixed age, allowing children the opportunity to ease into their next year at Spruce. Because of the smaller group size we are also able to do some great field trips for all ages. Last summer’s Spruce campers went to the Zoo and Honeypot Hill to pick blueberries! More detailed information and registration forms are given to all enrolled families in the spring. Spruce kids love Summer at Spruce!

The School DayAttendancePlease arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 AM so that your child has a chance to explore free play and get acclimated to his or her day. Please do not arrive later than 9:30, unless your child has an appointment and you have let the classroom teachers know in advance. With advance notice you may bring

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your child as late as 10:30 AM, but please do not bring your child after 10:30, even with advance notice, as it can be disruptive to the class.

If your child is unable to attend on a given day please let us know by 9:00 AM because everyone, particularly the others in your child’s class, will be wondering where your child is! Consistent attendance is important for the development of social relationships, as well as for full participation in the program’s curriculum. Try to ensure as consistent attendance for your child as possible.

Please do not take extended vacations during the scheduled school calendar. Though we understand that during the preschool years families do not yet need to worry about missed homework assignments and tests, these are very important years for acclimating to the routine of school-difficult to do if the routine is inconsistent! An occasional long weekend is understandable, but please do try to take your family vacations during the many scheduled school vacation weeks. If your older child has a different school schedule, we do understand if your preschooler is absent during those vacation weeks. Please let the school know in advance if your child will be absent during the February or April vacation weeks.

Transportation and ParkingSpruce Street provides one hour of free parking in the Ritz Carlton garage at the beginning and end of each school day. The garage entrance is off of Boylston Street. You may either apply for a parking pass to be issued to you, or take a ticket upon entering the garage. The parking pass, which you simply wave in front of the reader to enter and exit the garage, allows you one hour from the time you enter the garage until the time you depart. If you stay over the allotted hour your credit card will be charged garage market rates. An application for the pass should have been sent to you, additional applications are available in the Spruce office. If you choose to take a ticket instead when entering the garage, please get a yellow ticket from the Spruce Street front desk. Before retrieving your vehicle insert your both tickets into the kiosk located near the elevator on each floor of the garage. The machine will give you back your validated ticket which you then insert into the reader as you exit the garage for your free hour. To keep your car as secure as possible in the garage please remember to close your windows and lock your vehicle.

You may park in any unreserved spot in the garage, or you may use the valet garage parking on levels B2, B3 and B4. There is no extra charge to valet your car in the garage. While parking in the garage is a convenience, it also can be a challenge to manage particularly if you have multiple children.

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Please keep a hand on your children at all times in the garage, and be mindful of the vehicles entering and exiting the garage. Once you’ve parked, take the elevator to the Lobby level, and cross the street to our entrance on Avery Place. Please be very cautious crossing Avery Street, as the traffic in front of the Ritz can be busy.

Cars from Spruce Street are not permitted to drop off or pick up on Avery Place. Avery Place is the access point for all deliveries to the North Tower, and is closely monitored by building security. Spruce Street is also near the Silver Line Tremont Street bus stop, as well as the Park or Boylston stations on the Red and/or Green Line, as well as the Chinatown stop on the Orange Line.

Many families arrive by foot to Spruce Street. Please approach the school’s entrance from the opposite side of Avery Place and use the crosswalk to approach our door. The drive at the entrance to the resident tower is very busy, and cars zip in and out without regard to small children that may be approaching. Similarly, when you leave the school please do not take a sharp left outside our door, but rather cross the street using the crosswalk before heading out toward Avery Street. Strollers, scooters and bikes may be left downstairs in the lobby during the school day.Door Access Every egress door, both in and out of Spruce Street, is fitted with a magnetic lock. Prior to your child’s September start date each family is issued two fobs programmed with your family name. You will need a fob to both enter and exit the school. If a person does not have their fob with them, the entry door can also be released from the front desk, office or the classroom intercom. There is a camera trained on the front door that is viewed on a monitor in the office and front desk.

Please remember your fob when you come to school. Drop off and pick up are busy times of day for everyone, and it makes these times even more hectic if we are trying to answer the door.

There is a motion-activated release on both the entry door of the school from the elevator vestibule, and the exit door from the downstairs lobby to the street. Your card does not release these doors. Should the door not release automatically there is button that reads “Push to Exit” adjacent to each door. Just push this release and the door will open. All of the magnetic locks automatically deactivate in the case of a fire alarm.

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Arrivals The transition to the beginning of the day is an important time for young children. Arriving on time helps to make that adjustment easier. Please arrive at school between 8:30-9:00 AM so that we may get our day underway. Late arrivals can be challenging for the child and disruptive for the class. If you anticipate being late, please call so we know when to expect you. We ask that you respect our policy of no arrivals after 9:30 without advance notice, and no arrivals later than 10:30 even with advance notice.

When you arrive, greet your teacher, and let her know about anything that might impact your child’s day such as a lack of interest in breakfast, a disrupted night’s sleep, or visiting relatives. Initially, plan on spending a few minutes easing your child into their day. A pre-established routine often helps, such as one book, three kisses and then Mommy (Daddy) has to go! Even if your child is sad when you say you’re leaving, try not to linger, as that can cause more anxiety for you and your child. If your child is crying when you leave, we will call you or send you a picture during the morning to let you know how your child is doing.

As the year progresses and both you and your child’s comfort level with school and the separation process increases, it’s helpful to make your child’s transition brief, give a hug and kiss, say goodbye and leave. This speedier transition assures your child that you are comfortable with the environment and the teachers and helps your child to feel confident about their surroundings as well. Sometimes it is tempting once your child is comfortable to linger a while and chat with your friends and your child’s teachers. While this is a testament to the community we build here, it can be difficult for your child to separate if you stay too long! If you wish to chat with friends please head downstairs to the lobby.

Sample Daily ScheduleThe following is a general framework for the day at Spruce. Depending on the class, as well as the Music and Gym class schedule, this timetable will be modified. A more accurate schedule will be posted in your classroom near the beginning of the school year. Morning Program8:30-9:00 Arrival and Table Activities9:00-9:30 Open School Free Play

9:30-9:45 Snack9:45-10:15 Meeting10:15-10:30 Bathroom10:30-11:00 Project

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Extended Day1:15-2:00 Rest Time2:00-2:30 Free Play

2:30-2:45 Snack2:45-3:15 Project3:15-3:30 Goodbye Circle

11:00-12:00 Outside12:00-12:30 Lunch12:30-12: 50 Journals12:50-1:00 Good Bye MeetingLunch and SnacksNO NUTS!In an effort to minimize children’s’ exposure to potential allergens, we ask all families to keep nuts, peanut butter and any sweets containing nuts or peanut butter (such as granola bars) at home. Items that indicate on the label that they have been processed in a facility that also processes (pea)nuts will be sent home unopened. Please also avoid packing go-gurts (very messy)!

Children bring their own snacks, lunches and lunchtime beverages. Snacks should be labeled with the child’s name and placed in the snack bin upon arrival. Popular snacks include fruit, veggies and crackers, but anything your child will eat that will get them through the morning is perfect! Lunches should be packed in a lunch box that is clearly labeled with your child’s name and placed in his or her cubby. Please also label any plastic ware or sippy cups, as many children have the same items. We have limited refrigeration, so do pack a reusable ice pack to keep perishable foods fresh. Warm foods can also be brought for lunch if packed in a thermos, but we are not able to heat food for students, as it takes a teacher away from the classroom during a very busy time. Please do not expect your teacher to heat your child’s lunch.

Sometimes our youngest students are still learning to feed themselves. In order to encourage independence we do encourage children to do just that. While sometimes this can be a messy process, it’s an important skill and contributes to the child’s burgeoning sense of self. Please dress your child in clothing that is washable and that you won’t mind if it gets messy!

Packing foods that your child enjoys helps to keep spirits and energy levels high! Here are some suggestions for wholesome, popular lunches:

Sandwiches- Sun butter, Cheese, Tuna-fish, Deli Meats.

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Yogurt (can be frozen the night before) Soup (in a thermos) Pasta- Spaghetti, Macaroni and Cheese, Tortellini (in a thermos). Fresh Fruit- Apples, Pears, Peaches (peeled and sliced if necessary) Fresh Veggies- Carrot Sticks, Celery Sticks, Cucumber Slices. Squeeze Applesauce Cubes of meat, cheese or tofu Cheese and Crackers Cereal, Cereal Bars (without nuts)

Please include a beverage, any utensils your child may need and a napkin.

Some foods, such as grapes and hot dogs, provide a choking risk to young children. We ask that if you pack either of these that you cut them in half lengthwise. Please keep chips and cookies to a minimum. Please do not bring any candy, soda or gum to school.

Daily OutingsOne of the joys of childhood is experiencing the wonders of the outdoors. The following are our guidelines for outside time at Spruce Street:

Acorns: The Acorns ride to all destinations in the carts designed to hold six children safely and comfortably and wear brightly colored pinnies whenever they are outside. The Acorns only disembark from the carts in enclosed fields and playgrounds. The Acorns go to the Chinatown playground or the fields in the Boston Common but do not go to the Tadpole Playground. We do not take the Acorns outside when it is below 40 degrees, except to go to the Sports Club.

Willows: The Willows begin the year riding in carts, and like all Spruce Street children, wear pinnies when they are outside. The Willows, too, disembark only in enclosed areas to play in the fall, but may, by the spring, play in the little fields on the Common or walk to the Tadpole Playground with specific guidelines about which areas of the playground are “open”. The Willows also do not go outside when the temperature is below 40 degrees, except to go to the Sports Club.

Maples and Oaks: The Maples and Oaks walk to the field in the Common as well as to the Tadpole Playground, but ride in carts to farther destinations such as the Chinatown Street Playground. The Oaks and Maples also use open areas in both the Common and the Public Garden for playing. In the winter, snowpants, boots, hats and

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mittens are a must for the Oaks and Maples so that they can enjoy the weather!

We value your child’s safety and happiness above all else. Toward these ends:

Before the children are allowed to play in the park, we check the area for hazards.

Teachers monitor specific areas at the playground and constantly take a head count. If there are insufficient teachers to monitor the entire park, we will close certain areas to the children.

The children wear brightly colored pinnies to ensure we can count them easily and quickly.

We closely supervise children on climbing structures, particularly those that have fire poles or ladders.

We always take attendance before we depart the school and again before we leave the park.

Pick Up TimePick up time is 1:00 PM for the morning program. Because we end our day with a goodbye meeting, we ask that you wait downstairs until Christie comes down, or until 1:00 PM, whichever comes first. Christie will generally be downstairs to welcome you, watch any younger siblings in strollers and check departing children out, but if for any reason she is not there by 1:05, please come up.

Pick-up time is busy, so be aware that once you are on the premises you are responsible for your child. Before you leave the classroom, please look in your parent communication cubby for artwork and school communications, and be certain to check out with your teacher. Please check out again downstairs with Christie before leaving the school.

Please do not use the time at the end of the day to chat with teachers or parents, as your child(ren) are so excited to see you and deserve your undivided attention! As the year progresses, we have so much more to discuss with one another, but the children’s safety at day’s end needs to be paramount. Toward that end:

Families with multiple children in the school should pick up the older first, then the younger.

Children need to remain in the circle or on the rug until the teacher dismisses the child to the parent.

Parents are responsible for supervising their own children once the parent is on the premises.

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Parents should focus on transitioning the children from the school safely and with a minimum of chaos and have conversations with other parents downstairs prior to pick up. Anything more than a very brief teacher/parent conversation should happen post-pick up via phone or email.

Children must always be picked up by a parent or caregiver, except if an older sibling is helping. If you would like an older sibling to help with pick up he or she must be listed on the Authorized Pick Up Form. If an older sibling will be coming without a parent or caregiver please call us so we know who to expect and where the children are meeting you. Spruce Street students should never come up or down in the elevator unsupervised.

Late Pick UpThough we understand that sometimes unforeseen difficulties arise, please do your best not to be late to pick up your child. If you are unavoidably detained, let us know as soon as possible. The morning programs end at 1:00 PM, and Extended Day ends at 3:30.

The teachers give their all to the children every minute of the day, and it is enormously unfair to ask them to stay past the scheduled school day to oversee children. In addition, Extended Day begins promptly at 1:00 and late arrivals are disruptive to the children trying to get settled for rest time.

If you are more than 15 minutes late for 1:00 PM pick up, your child will be placed in Extended Day and you will be charged accordingly.

If you are more than 15 minutes late to pick up your child from Extended Day you will be charged for an additional Extended Day ($35).

The ElevatorThe elevator can be tricky, particularly at pick up when it is very busy!The following are a few guidelines:

The elevator has a sensor that is motion sensitive. If the door begins to close before you are ready for it to, wave your hand between the door and the frame. It should retreat.

The door will remain open for a maximum of 25 seconds before it will close.

If the door does not retreat when a hand is waved in front of it, please get out of the way-the door will close. Do not try to force the door open with your body except in an emergency.

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Please do not attempt to hold the elevator for extended time for friends at pick up time.

Home/School CommunicationCommunication at SpruceAt Spruce Street we seek to build a community of engaged and supportive students, parents, teachers, and administrators. One way we build this sense of community is through shared understanding of the daily happenings here at school as well as the values and traditions that contribute to the unique character of Spruce Street. To reduce our paper consumption, and to make information easily accessible, much of the information that you receive from the school and parent volunteers will be in the form of email.

Here are the kinds and frequency of emails you can expect:

Announcements– Monthly - from the Director, these are informative all school missives with upcoming dates and other reminders/information. I try to keep them succinct, but sometimes I have more to say than can be easily summarized in a sentence or two! I send announcements mid-month, or as issues come up.

Medical Updates- As Needed- also from the Director these are very quick updates sent to let you know about contagious illness in the school.

Class Newsletters- Weekly- Each week a newsletter from your child’s classroom is emailed home and posted on the parent portion of the website. You can access the website at www.sprucestreet.org, and the password is acornstooaks123. You can also request a paper copy of your classroom newsletter. The newsletter is an important tool for teachers to convey information about what your child is studying as well as any classroom announcements, such as a pressing need for baby food jars or a proposed field trip to the Post Office. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO READ YOUR CLASSROOM NEWSLETTER. They are chock-full of information, and a valuable tool to help you stay connected to your child’s experience here at Spruce.

Monthly Photo Slideshows- Once monthly we post a slideshow of images from the classroom on the parent portion of the website. You can access the parent portal from our website www.sprucestreet.org. The password is acornstoooaks123. These glimpses into your child’s day should be informative and fun, and not in place of personal conversations or parent

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teacher conferences. Please enjoy these communications, and allow them to be the beginning of conversations!

Parent Coordinator Emails- Periodically our Parent Coordinator will email the community about upcoming events, online sign ups, or a birthday party reminder-(no lunch needed!)

Class Parent Emails- Class Parents also will email periodically about class get-togethers, staff birthdays, collections for the teachers at the holidays and end of year, and end of year festivities.

Auction Chairs- Throughout the year you will receive emails from our auction chairs letting you know what’s new and due for our fabulous spring auction fundraiser!

Musical Notes- Occasionally during the year you will receive an update from Maggie Magner about what’s happening in Music Class!

We recognize that this is a lot of Spruce communication in your inbox. Feel free to read what you need and skim the rest-though of course you do so at your own peril-you may miss a vital date! We’ll all try to keep our communication to the point, and if you feel you may have missed anything don’t be afraid to ask!

PrimariesWhile all of the classroom teachers teach all of the students in the class, at the beginning of each school year teachers in the Willow Maple and Oak classes are assigned primary students. The Acorn teachers prefer to do everything together, and so don’t have primaries. In the other classes your primary teacher is the person who will be your principal point person for information about your child’s days at school. He or she will also be the person who writes your spring and fall parent teacher conference reports and your next-step school reports, if applicable. Should an incident occur at school that requires a phone call, for instance if your child fell and injured themselves, the teacher who witnessed the accident would make the call, rather than your primary teacher. Generally, however, any questions about your child’s experiences in the classroom should first be directed to your child’s primary teacher.

Every year the issue of how exclusive the primary teacher relationship should be comes up. Primaries are designed to help you have one consistent person to speak with, and the teachers to divide the observation, documentation and writing tasks equally. All teachers in the classroom

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teach all of the students however, and communication from your teacher will come from the class email so all teachers will be on the same page. It is our goal to make communication both easy and cohesive.

Contacting Your Child’s TeacherThe best way to connect with your child’s teacher is through email. You can also arrange to talk with your teacher on the phone or in person before or after school if the teacher is available. If you would like to speak with your child’s teacher for more than the quick moment drop off or pick up allows there are four avenues:

1. Email your teacher at class@sprucestreet.org. 2. Let your teacher know at either drop off or pick up that

you would like to talk with him or her and arrange a time to speak on the phone or in person,

3. Leave a message at school. We check voicemail every morning, and if you call during the day we can always give a message to your teacher if they are too busy with the children to take your call.

Contacting the Director and Assistant DirectorIf you have a general question about our programs, policies and procedures, incoming or outgoing admissions, or if you want to talk with the Director about your child’s development or experience in the classroom setting, please contact Christie either via phone or email. You can also set up an appointment via the parent portal on our website if you wish to schedule a time to talk together in person. The email address to reach Christie is christie@sprucestreet.org. Our website is www.sprucestreet.org. The password to access the parent portal is acornstooaks123.

If you have any questions regarding billing, payments, parking, or any other general program questions or comments; you can speak with Leslie Rhodes, Assistant Director. Leslie’s email is leslie@sprucestreet.org.

Behavior Management in the ClassroomSuccessful classroom management begins with positive discipline. At Spruce we strive to create a “yes environment”, praise positive behavior, and use logical consequences to help children understand the implications of their actions. That being said, children do sometimes behave in ways that are not pro-social! Though our official Behavior Management Policy is listed in

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Appendix A, we thought some information about how we specifically handle behavior in the classroom might be helpful.

There are two general types of “misbehavior”: non-compliance and aggression. Misbehavior is in quotes because although sometimes a child’s behavior is intentionally naughty, more often the child is distracted, anxious, tired, frustrated, hungry, needs attention or simply wants to play with another child and is uncertain how to approach her or him. Adults have these feelings too, but have learned socially appropriate ways to cope with them. In large part, children come to school to learn the beginnings of these pro-social behaviors.

Non-Compliance Non-compliance, such as not coming to meeting, refusing to participate in activities, or refusing to get ready to go outside, typically stems from distraction, difficulty with transitions or a need for attention. Rather than focusing on the non-compliant child, thereby distracting the other children from the task at hand and rewarding the non-compliant behavior with attention, we strive to make the meeting, activity, outside time etc. as appealing and irresistible as possible, drawing the child in. If that tactic is unsuccessful, we will talk quietly with the child, apart from the group, and use our powers of persuasion to encourage him or her to join in the fun!

AggressionAggression in children is a matter of poor impulse control. Children may be feeling any one of a number of emotions and are unable to modulate their responses. A push may mean “I want to play with you”, and a hit may mean “I’m so excited!” A grab could be either an attention getter or an honest desire to play with that toy. Bites are often a matter of proximity. The most common occurrences of biting are when two children are each pulling on a toy and their hands are engaged.

We respond to a push, hit or grab by first reprimanding the child (“Don’t push, Sally. Use your words.”), and then helping them with the words they need to navigate the situation (i.e. Sally, “May I have a turn, please?”, Bob, “In a minute.”). If the child on the other side of the hit/push/grab is upset by the aggression, we encourage him or her to use words (“No, don’t pull.” or “I don’t like that.”). We focus the majority of our attention on helping both children to use words, even very simple words, to resolve their differences, so that in the future they may resolve these small conflicts themselves.

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If a child is truly hurt by another child we focus our attention on the hurt child and issue a clear reprimand to the aggressor. We then encourage the child who did the hurting to look at the other child’s face and identify what he or she sees. (sad, mad, etc). We encourage the child to see if he or she can help his or her friend feel better (giving a boo-boo bear, a hug etc). This teaches compassion and encourages understanding of the consequences of aggressive actions.

Two strategies that we avoid at school are:1. I’m sorry. Too often children learn to say “I’m sorry” without understanding the meaning of the words. It becomes a quick way to be absolved of wrongdoing and, as such, does not teach consequences or compassion. While a truly heartfelt apology can be cathartic for the offender and a balm for the offended, young children do not yet have the innate capacity to see another’s point of view. Sympathy, and eventually empathy, must first be taught in order for an apology to have meaning.

2. Time OutsIn theory a time out removes the aggressor from the situation and provides a cooling off period. In reality, time outs do not teach young children about appropriate alternatives to aggression for dealing with their emotions and their behavior. Time outs also can be punitive-punishing a child for acting in ways that are developmentally normal by removing them from their peers and caregivers.

If a child is out of control, time away from the group may be indicated so that the child can regain composure, and the other members of the class can go on with their day. In this case, a child may come to the office and spend a little time with the Director, calming down and talking about what happened. This is however, a very rare circumstance, (sometimes a whole school year goes by without an upset child visiting the Director!) but a successful strategy if a child is having too hard of a time self-regulating. If a child has sufficient difficulty that they need time away from the group, we will call to let you know what happened and how we handled it.

AssessmentAt Spruce Street we believe that preschool children develop along a predictable progression at their own pace. Accordingly, we assess children constantly to evaluate their development in each of the following domains:

Social Emotionalo Sense of Selfo Responsibility for Self and Others

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o Prosocial Behaviors Motor

o Fine Motor (writing)o Gross Motor

Cognitive o Learning and Problem Solvingo Logical Thinking/Matho Symbolic Thought/Dramatic Play

Language/Literacyo Listening and Speakingo Reading and Writing

The methods we use for assessment are: Notes-each child’s primary teacher takes regular notes about the

child’s experiences and development. Portfolios-Each child has a portfolio that contains samples of their work

from throughout the school year, self-portraits done at the beginning, middle and end of the school year, and photos of important developmental touch points.

All of these methods are used to: Ascertain where children are in each of the aforementioned domains, Plan curriculum to help them overcome challenges and maximize areas

of strength, and Evaluate the efficacy of our lesson plans and make adaptations as

warranted.Parent Teacher ConferencesParent Teacher conferences are held twice during the school year, in the fall and spring. School is closed on conference days so that teachers can meet with parents. At the conference you will have a chance to hear about your child’s progress at school and ask any questions you may have about your child’s school experience. Conferences also provide a chance to have a frank dialogue with your child’s teacher about your child and her or his strengths and challenges, as well as your and the school’s goals for the school year.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT CONFERENCES ARE SCHEDULED ON ALLOTTED DAYS ONLY. While we understand that things arise that may make it inconvenient to meet with your child’s teacher on the designated days, teachers at Spruce have multiple obligations and are unable to meet with parents on days other than those specified. If neither parent is able to make a conference on the days provided your teacher will provide you with

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a copy of the conference report. If you need further clarification a telephone conference may be scheduled for a mutually agreed upon time.

Please do not bring your child to your Parent Teacher conference.

Please be on time for your conference. Please do your best not to go over your allotted time, as

teachers have many conferences scheduled for each day.

Practical ConsiderationsClothingIn order to keep our environment as comfortable and clean as possible we ask that each child have a pair of non-skid inside shoes (slippers) at school. Outside shoes should also have flexible rubber soles and closed toes for ease in running and climbing. (No crocs, flip-flops, or dress-up shoes for outside time please!) To promote independence clothing should be non-restrictive and easy for the child to manage. Elastic waist pants or dresses work best, particularly while toilet learning. Your child will be exploring a wide variety of materials at school, so please do not send your child to school in clothing that you are concerned about getting paint on! A complete, seasonally appropriate change of clothes should be kept at school at all times in the labeled box in your child’s cubby area. Be certain to replace these clothes as your child uses them and as your child grows and the seasons change. Slippers should also be left in the cubbies. Please label your child’s belongings clearly to prevent mix-ups.

In the winter months, your child should come to school in hat, mittens and snow boots. Sometimes the sun comes out after a snowfall, and a brisk walk in the winter sunshine is just the thing! On snowy days, snow pants are a must for the Maples and Oaks so we can tumble in all that fluffy white stuff! Extra mittens and socks should be tucked into your Maple and Oak child’s box at the first snowfall to ensure dry fingers and toes.

In the spring and fall, it is wise to leave a sun hat or cap in your child’s cubby for our time outside. In the summer months, when swim lessons are planned, slip on shoes without socks are fine to go to and from the pool. Please apply sunscreen before your child comes to school. We will provide more as needed.

DiapersSpruce Street provides diapers for those who need them, as well as Pull Ups for children who are in the process of toilet learning. Swim diapers are provided in summer.

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The Home School ConnectionThe connection between home and school is vital to the success of your child’s first school experience. If English is not your first language please bring a friend or relative who is fluent in English to school so we may communicate our policies and procedures to you. Spruce employs a number of strategies to connect the child’s life at home with their experiences at school.

Home VisitsPrior to the first day of school in September, your child’s teachers will contact you to arrange a time to visit with you and your child at your home. These visits are designed to provide children with a comfort level with their new teachers and a sense of mastery as they show their home and precious possessions to their visitors. Home visits are an important element of a successful transition, and are a frequent topic of conversation between teacher and student for months afterward.

Host FamiliesEach year, we organize a Host Family program which has been designed to help our new families make the transition to our school with as few anxieties as possible. We pair each new family with one of our returning families, providing a forum for asking questions that inevitably arise when you send your child to school the first time and a family to call on throughout the year as new questions arise. It also gives the incoming child the opportunity to get to know another child at school, lessening the anxiety of beginning Spruce Street on that first day.

Host families are asked to help their incoming family get acclimated and meet other families in the class, as well as navigate social events at the beginning of the school year, such as the All School Pot Luck and the Curriculum Nights.

Guest ReadersBeginning in mid to late fall parents, grandparents, special friends, siblings and alumni have the opportunity to sign-up to come into the classroom at 12:45 to read a story. The book can be a favorite from home or one of our books from school. Children adore having guest readers, and it’s a great way to get a glimpse of your child’s classroom life! Please remember that as a guest reader you are visiting the classroom to read, and reading should be the primary focus. Please do not bring toys or treats for the children when you guest read.

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The Share BagBeginning in early winter, each child will have the opportunity to bring home the Share Bag. What the child puts in the bag can be entirely the child’s choice but ideally should be some items that she or he can talk a little about and be willing to share, if only briefly! Some ideas for appropriate share bag choices include items collected on a family vacation, photos or favorite stories. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ELECTRONIC TOYS TO SCHOOL IN THE SHARE BAG.

Class MascotsGenerally after the holiday break the class mascots arrive in the classrooms, complete with backpacks and travel journals! These stuffed friends will join each child for an overnight or two at his or her home over the course of the school year. The travelogue included in their backpack is for you to document the time the mascot spent with your child doing just what you normally do-taking a rest, drawing a picture, reading a story-but with the company of a small stuffed animal from school! These animals and their journals become very popular with the children during the school year and are raffled off at year’s end.

Special Events at SchoolBirthdaysBirthdays are a magical time and we love to celebrate them with the children! Every month one day is designated to honor each child who has a birthday during that month. Pizza, cupcakes and cake for the birthday children is provided, so no one needs to pack a lunch on those days. We even have gluten and dairy free cupcakes available for our friends with allergies. Parents of the birthday children are encouraged to attend the festivity, held at 12:15 in the Willow classroom. During months that many children have birthdays, it may not be possible to have the celebration on a day that every celebrant is scheduled to be at Spruce. In that instance, we will figure out the day that accommodates the most children and ask that other birthday children and their parents join us for the festivity. There is no change to dismissal time on birthday party days.

Field TripsDuring the school year; we take the Willows, Maples and Oaks to visit farms, museums, theaters and other points of interest. The Acorns do not come on the field trips in the fall; generally, the first Acorn field trip is in the late spring. We use a school bus equipped with integrated car seats to bring us to our destinations. When a field trip is planned, we will send a notice and permission slip home as much in advance as possible. Parent volunteers

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are nearly always appreciated on field trips to ensure an optimal adult to child ratio.

The Fly Away CeremonyOne of Spruce Street’s most revered traditions is the Fly Away ceremony. Coordinated by the Class Parents and held on the Boston Common on the last day of the school year, the Fly Away ceremony honors all of the children of Spruce and their transition to a new class or to a new school. The children all wear wings that they’ve decorated, we set the butterflies free that we‘ve hatched, sing a few songs and cry a few tears and then have a great big picnic. It is an important tradition; children who are in high school now still remember the day they flew away from Spruce!

Events for Parents and FamiliesOpen House-First Day of SchoolAfter Labor Day we have our annual Back to School Open House for new and returning students from 8:30-11:30 AM. This is a time for you to come to school with your child, meet the teachers, find your cubbies, stock your child’s drawer with an extra set of clothing and spend a little time orienting yourself and your child to the new school year!

Parent CoffeesEach year we host a series of Parent Coffees in the fall, winter and spring. These coffees will be held in the downstairs lobby from 8:30-9:30 AM and will provide an opportunity to get together with other parents in your class, discuss shared experiences, and ask any questions about upcoming events of the Class Parents, the Director and the Assistant Director. We hope you will join us!

New Parent NightThe New Parent Night is an opportunity to meet other new parents in the school, find out more about all that happens here at Spruce Street and discover ways to get involved in your child’s fist school experience!

All School PotluckOur All School Potluck is a chance for the entire community to come together for a picnic on the Common. Traditionally held on the ball field, the Potluck provides a relaxed forum to meet families and teachers while enjoying an early autumn evening together in Boston.

Meet the Schools NightLiving in the city provides families with a wide variety of options for elementary schools. From large private suburban schools, to small urban

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elementary schools, to excellent public school options, there are a plethora of choices for children and their families in the Greater Boston area. Each year we host a Meet the Schools Night to introduce you to some of the many options that exist for elementary schools and help you to sort out your best options. A variety of schools are represented. We also publish a guide to the various schools. More information about placing your child in an elementary school can be found in the section titled “After Spruce-Elementary School Applications”.

Curriculum NightsThe Curriculum Nights are evenings designed to introduce you to all that goes on during the day at Spruce Street. You will decorate your child’s journal cover, and we will take a picture of you at Spruce to put inside that journal. There is also a slide show presentation, with pictures of busy children at school and a handout with a curriculum overview for your class. There may even be a surprise for you, made by your child!

Curriculum Night is also an opportunity to spend a little time with the other parents in your class. Class Parents organize a light supper, and beer and wine are served. The Curriculum Nights are very fun and informative. Please do not miss your class Curriculum Night!!

Holiday PartyEach year we celebrate the many holidays of Spruce families with the Holiday Party, a wonderful, festive, family party. The school is magically transformed by a hardworking team of elves, a potluck feast is organized, entertainment is provided, and a great time is had by all! We hope you and your family will join us for this year’s Holiday Party!

AuctionThe Auction is a wonderful party and a huge community effort. It is also our single biggest fundraiser and an important line item in our budget. Everyone gets involved in the auction, from making donations, to placing an ad, to working at the event or simply (and importantly!) attending the event and bidding!

Parent ParticipationOpportunities for ParticipationSpruce Street Nursery School encourages active parent participation in their child's school experience. There are many ways to participate, with varying degrees of time, commitment and responsibility. Ways to participate include chaperoning a field trip, being a class parent, picking up the cake for our monthly birthday celebration, organizing Scholastic Book Club orders,

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helping with fundraising such as the Book Fair, the Spruce merchandise and (of course) the Auction, helping with various gatherings and events such as the Potluck, the Admissions Open House, the Holiday Party, and clothing or toy drives, and helping to clean up the school in the middle and at the end of the year. Descriptions of some of the many ways you can become an active volunteer at Spruce are detailed on the Parent Involvement Form sent in August. You can bring your form and your questions to the New Parent Meeting.

Class ParentsClass Parents are volunteers who work closely with the teachers and the Director to facilitate interactions among their peers and support the school. Class Parents represent the class, and are important liaisons in helping new families feel acclimated. There are two Class Parents for each class, representing the scheduling options of the class, so that each family is familiar with at least one Class Parent. Each set of Class Parents is responsible for arranging a class party at a playground so that all the members of the class can come together to play outside of school, helping to host a parent get-together, assisting with the set up and clean up of the class Curriculum Night, helping organize the class for auction excursions, and coordinating the Fly Away Ceremony and subsequent picnic. Class Parents are generally established before the start of the year so that they can be effective from the beginning of school.

At holiday time as well as at the end of the year the Class Parents are responsible for coordinating group gifts from the class to the teachers. Collected monies are pooled and then distributed equally among all teachers. Over the years we have found that the most appreciated gift, besides a thoughtful card or homemade gift from a child, is a monetary one-one size fits all! Participation in the class gift is optional, and anonymous. Please see the Gift Giving Policy for further details.

Parent Visits While of course parents may visit the school at any time during the school day, we find these visits are often most successful when planned in advance. There are many opportunities to plan a visit to your child’s classroom, including Guest Reader, coming in to prepare a dish or celebrate a holiday, or talk with the class about your profession, culture, or area of expertise. While these opportunities are often eagerly anticipated by the parent, having a parent at school can be challenging for the child, particularly in the beginning of the year. Separating from the parent in order to come to school is a major task of the nursery school experience. To then find one’s parent at Morning Meeting can be truly disconcerting! As a

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result, the child may exhibit behaviors not typically seen at school, such as exaggerated possessiveness. Sometimes visiting parents are upset by their child’s behavior and feel that they must somehow be at fault. Rest assured that your child is just showing you how very important you are to them. While we love parents to visit, please strategize with your child’s teacher the best approach for your visit, and please don’t be overly concerned if your child behaves in a way that is out of character!

FundraisingFundraising is critical to the long-term financial health of the school. As with most non-profit schools, tuition does not fully cover operating expenses. Traditionally, we have had two significant fundraising opportunities during the school year. Both vehicles have helped to address the gap between tuitions and operations, maintain our excellent teaching staff, and contribute to the long-term stability of the school:

Annual Fund:  We make our annual appeal in the fall to both current and alumni families. The goal of the Annual Fund is to raise important funds for Spruce through the involvement of the entire community. In 2013-2014 we had great current family participation, an record alumni participation. Donors to the Annual Fund are acknowledged in our Annual Report, but giving levels are not published. We hope this year to reach our goal of 100% current family participation in the Annual Fund!

Auction: The Auction is not only a major source of funds but also our most significant parent social event. Countless volunteer hours go into the Auction, and helping out is a wonderful way to get involved at Spruce.

In addition to our major fundraisers, we have a number of smaller initiatives that fund specific needs:

Book Fair: The Book Fair is held during Parent Teacher Conferences in the fall. It’s a wonderful opportunity to do some holiday shopping while supporting your school!

Spruce Street Merchandise: Various Spruce merchandise is for sale in the lobby. Spruce merchandise is a great way to support the school and show your Spruce pride!!!

Admissions and Re-enrollmentThe Admissions ProcessInterested families are encouraged to call Spruce Street to request a packet and to review the information on our website at www.sprucestreet.org. Applications and brochures are sent between August 1st and January 13th.

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The Open House for parents and children will be held this year on Saturday, November 1st from 9:00 AM-12:00 noon at Spruce Street. Prospective families come to meet with the Director, our current teachers and parents who give tours and answer questions. Volunteering at the Admissions Open House is a wonderful way to showcase your child’s school, and lots of volunteers are needed! Please let us know on your Parent Involvement form if you would like to be a part of this year’s Admissions Open House.The following factors influence our admissions decisions:

Number of Slots for Each Scheduling Option Age of the ChildGender Balance Racial and Cultural Diversity

We seek to balance schedules, gender and diversity in all of our classrooms, and preference is given to siblings of children previously or currently enrolled at the school.

Advocating for FriendsWhile it is understandable that currently enrolled families would like to advocate for friends that are applying, please refrain from doing so. The admissions process is complex and classroom composition is carefully constructed, so lobbying for a particular family over another is unfair both to the family and the school.

SiblingsThough siblings of currently and previously enrolled students receive preference in the admissions process at Spruce Street, sibling enrollment is not guaranteed. Sibling applications should be submitted by December 14th. No family visit or application fee is required of sibling applicants. Families will be notified on March 10th of the status of their sibling application.

Re-enrollmentThough your child’s place at Spruce is guaranteed through Oak year, neither your next classroom placement nor your exact schedule can be guaranteed until we know how many Spruce students are placing out. Children from the Willow and Maple classes apply to the independent schools, and the number of students who leave Spruce after the Willow and Maple year directly impacts the enrollment in the Maple and Oak classes the following year. Additionally at Spruce our older Acorns traditionally become Maples the

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following year rather than Willows, and our older Willows become Oaks rather than Maples. Which class a child is placed in is largely determined by birthdates, and each year we decide the date at which I will draw these “lines” based on available spaces in each class as well as social and developmental considerations. Therefore, while we will ask for your scheduling preference for the following school year in January, your contract with your child’s class and confirmed schedule is sent on March 15th, after families hear from the independent schools.

Occasionally, a child may clear the waitlist at an independent school after March 15th. If this is the case and your child is one of the oldest in the previously assigned class, he or she may be moved into the next class. Though this usually happens by April 15th, rarely there are changes that happen over the summer months. Please be assured that if we would like to change your child’s class at a late date, we will call you to discuss the implications for your family and child before making the change.

The following are the parameters for re-enrollment:

We strive to balance schedules in each classroom grouping to maintain continuity and enhance friendships. Scheduling requests are not guaranteed. If you do require a particular schedule for work or logistic reasons, please indicate so on the scheduling request form you receive in January.

If adjustments need to be made to your requested schedule the Director will contact you as soon as possible to come up with a mutually agreeable schedule.

Contracts with finalized schedules and classroom placement will be mailed March 15th.

Signed contracts and your deposit of $1,000 are due by April 1st. Your deposit is deducted from your second tuition payment. Once your contract is signed you are responsible for the full amount of tuition for the school year.

Deposits are non-refundable unless you accept a placement at a primary school before April 15th.

Tuition is non-refundable. Your signed contract is your agreement to pay your child’s tuition for the school year in full.

If you are applying to the independent schools, you should

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submit the schedule you would like should you be returning to Spruce Street.

Scheduling ChangesWe strive to balance our classes to ensure that every child has an appropriate peer group in their class on the days that they attend. Scheduling changes are rarely possible because the classes are generally filled to capacity every day.

Rarely a family may wish to reduce their child’s scheduled days. While we understand that school can be tiring, we do count on each of our students to attend on his or her scheduled days both from a revenue and a programmatic standpoint. Parents are responsible for the full amount of the school year tuition for the schedule indicated on the enrollment contract unless the school is notified of a scheduling change in writing prior to June 1st.

Tuition Tuition is due in two installments. The first half is due by June 1st, and the second half, minus the deposit, is due December 1st. Payment plans are available upon request.

In order to facilitate cohesive groupings, we generally do not fill openings that may arise mid-year in any of our classes. We rely on families to honor their contracts to the school, as even when all tuitions are paid, they do not fully cover the cost of operations. Therefore once your signed contract is received, you are responsible for the full year’s tuition, even if your child does not attend for the full year.

Tuition AssistancePartial tuition assistance is available for all eligible families. Spruce Street’s Tuition Assistance program is designed to enable families to attend Spruce Street who may not otherwise be able to do so for financial reasons. All families who feel they may need tuition assistance are encouraged to apply. Parents are expected to contribute as much as they reasonably can to tuition costs. We also wish to support as many families as we can with limited tuition assistance funds. Therefore, no awards of full tuition will be made.

Spruce Street belongs to the School and Student Service (SSS) of the NAIS (National Association for Independent Schools). Parents who wish to apply for financial aid must complete the Parents Financial Statement (PFS)

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available through the SSS to determine eligibility. Only families who demonstrate need through the SSS are eligible for SSNS assistance.

Timeline Submit PFS and application to SSS by January 15th

Submit copy of SSS application and tax returns to SSNS by January 15th

TA applicant families will receive award determination from Spruce Street by March 15th

After Spruce-Elementary School AdmissionsWhen should we begin the process?At Spruce Street, it is our general recommendation that if you are applying to the independent schools, you begin the process the fall before your child is four and a half to five years old. This does not mean that we feel Spruce Street is an inappropriate environment for children who will be turning five, just that by beginning to research options, you will become familiar with the process and better able to make an informed decision regarding your child’s placement. These are some of the steps in the process:

1. Request information from independent schools you are interested in. (August-September)

2. Talk with the Director about your thoughts.3. Attend the Meet the Schools Night at Spruce to find out

more about options. Attend the Open Houses at schools you are interested in. (October-November)

4. Schedule your tour/interview at the independent schools you are applying to. (ASAP-interviews sometimes are scheduled for as late as March)

5. Submit your applications to the schools.6. Finalize the list of schools you are pursuing with the

Director and your child’s primary teacher. (November-December)

7. Give all independent school forms to your child’s teacher (before the December holiday break).

8. Decisions from the independent schools are mailed March 10th.

9. Notify the Director and your child’s teacher of your options.

Meetings to discuss ongoing schoolsSpecific days are scheduled for parents and the Director to sit down together to discuss the next step school process. This is a deliberate

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attempt to minimize the schools discussion at the fall parent teacher conference so that we can more completely focus on your child’s adjustment to the school year during that important hour. Meetings to discuss ongoing school plans can be scheduled on October 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. Keep in mind that in addition to discussing schools with the Director is imperative to keep your child’s primary teacher informed about your choices. Please be sure to touch base with your primary teacher regularly as you navigate the next step school process.

AISNE FormsAt Spruce we put a lot of effort into the reports we produce for the schools. Not only do the teachers spend hours on each child’s reports, but the Director also writes a personal note to each school for each child. In order to enable us to do our best for your child, please get your forms to us in a timely way, and please understand that the school reports are strictly confidential.

DiscretionThe admissions process is personal (after all, it is about your child!) and can be stressful. Please try to be sensitive to others, both as you make your choices about where to apply, as well as after you hear from schools. Though we do ask that you let your teachers and the Director know about the various steps in the process, as well as placement decisions, it is important that you do not discuss where you are applying, the process, or the letters you receive on March 10th in any common area of the school.

What should I tell my child about the visit?The amount of information you convey to your child about the next steps in their education should be guided by their age and development. Because young children are very concrete thinkers and live so completely in the moment, generally it is best when faced with the school visits to simply tell your child that they are going to a school to play. Try not to imply that your child gets a vote because the next step is not a decision that should be decided by a 3 or 4 year old! Try also not to express that he or she is going to a place for big kids because they can’t stay at Spruce forever because, unless your child has a well developed sense of time, that could produce anxiety about the amorphous future. Try to keep it simple and truthful. If your child asks questions, of course answer them, but try not to lead with more information than he or she needs or is able to understand.

When should I tell my child about where they are going to school next year?

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It is also important that you do not talk about the next step with your child until May, when we discuss class placements for the entire school with the children. Children are very concrete thinkers, and changes at an indeterminate time in the future can cause anxiety. We will introduce the next step in the context of the whole school moving forward as a natural extension of growing up.

Policies and ProceduresHolidaysAt Spruce Street, we respect and honor the traditions and the cultures of all the children involved in our program. This means we endeavor to acknowledge holidays that are important to our families from a cultural, rather than a religious, perspective. Children are encouraged to share traditions from their families as well as from their cultural heritage with their classmates. Projects and activities that reflect themes relevant to each holiday will be planned. Often parents will come in to share a special family tradition with the class, such as making latkes or celebrating Diwali. Suggestions and input about particular holidays or traditions are important to our understanding of your family and are always welcomed.

Gift Giving PolicyThe most treasured gift you can give a teacher is a heartfelt thank you card. Class Parents provide cards for families to sign at the holidays and year end. In addition to the cards, at Spruce we request that families participate in the class gift at holiday time and the end of the year, rather than give individual gifts to teachers. As described in the Class Parent section, this is a cash gift from the parents to the teachers. Monies are collected by the Class Parents, pooled and distributed evenly among all of the teachers. A percentage of the donated dollars is given to our music teacher, and administrators are not included in the class gifts.  Of course sometimes children like to make something special for their teachers, and parents like to give a small gift or heartfelt card just from their family.  Please understand that any gifts from your child or your family should be small, personal or homemade, and given to the teacher(s) discreetly.

Please refrain from giving valuable gifts to teachers other than the group gift collected by the Class Parents. If one family gives something above and beyond the cash gift, then other families feel pressure to do so. As families have multiple children both in this school and others, this can become quite burdensome! It is critically important to the sense of community here that no one feels as though they should do more because another family does so much. If you want to give more than the requested donation, please feel free to give a larger cash donation to the group gift.

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Please keep in mind that participation in the group cash gift is optional and anonymous. It is very important that those families that are not able to give the suggested dollar amount to the class gift do not feel uncomfortable or obligated to contribute more than they reasonably can.   

Birthday Parties Outside of SchoolAll children love a birthday party! Therefore, if you are planning on having a party for your child outside of school, please try to invite all the children in your child’s class. If that is too large a group, please be very discreet about the children you are inviting.. We seek to teach inclusion at Spruce, and parties to which only a few are invited contradict that message, and upset children (and parents!) Please do not bring presents or gift bags to school and please, be sensitive and discreet when planning your child’s birthday celebration.

All children have the opportunity to celebrate their birthday at school with our monthly birthday celebrations!

Play Dates Play dates can be an important part of facilitating friendships in preschool, particularly for the Willows, Maples and Oaks. Though certainly it can be logistically challenging, try to help your child to have a few play dates with friends during the school year, particularly with children you might not typically cross paths with. Of course, our day is long and full, so play dates after school are not always advisable. Also play dates at your home can be challenging-it’s far more difficult to share your own toys than those at school! First play dates are often most successful at a neutral location, such as a playground or museum. Gauge your child’s energy and interest for getting together with classmates outside of school, and take your cues from them.

Just as birthday parties are a sensitive subject, so too are after school play dates. If your child has a play date after school, please try to encourage her or him not to discuss it during the school day. Friends can end up feeling left out, and feelings get easily hurt when two classmates are so excited about what is happening at 1:00 that they forget about what’s happening in school!

Toys at SchoolAt Spruce Street we have worked hard to create an environment rich with materials and experiences. We have found that toys from home can distract from this experience. Though we recognize that it is helpful for

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young children, particularly those who have not been in a group setting previously, to have a "transitional object" with them at school, we do ask that it be one consistent object, preferably a lovey. This transitional object can be used to comfort your child if he or she is stressed, or to cuddle with when feeling homesick, or to rest with during down times or Extended Day, but should not be a plaything, like an electronic toy or an action figure. Of course, all children do not attach in the same way to the same type of toy. If your child does need to bring a toy to school that is not a lovey, please alert the teacher. Once your child has let go of the object, we will ask her to put it in her cubby for the rest of the day. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY TOYS (besides a transitional object) TO SCHOOL.

No School AnnouncementSpruce Street is closed when Boston Public Schools are closed. Please download alerts from the City of Boston directly to your phone for snow emergencies at www.cityofboston.gov/alertboston. If Spruce is cancelled during Boston Public School’s February or April (!) vacation week, we will close if BB&N is closed, as they are our nearest private school on a similar calendar.

BabysittingBecause our teachers need to remain as professionally objective as possible about all of their students, teachers at Spruce Street are not permitted to baby-sit for currently enrolled families. While we understand that no one knows your child as well as his or her teacher (besides family of course!) we find that the relationships established when a caregiver is in your home are very different that those of a teacher in the classroom. Teachers always appreciate referrals to non-Spruce families by members of our community, and are often eager to work with families after your time at Spruce is done. Sometimes families ask if teachers can work for them during the summer if the family will not be at Spruce, but as long as the family and the teacher will be returning to Spruce in the fall the propensity for lines to get blurred is too great. PLEASE DO NOT PUT TEACHERS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION BY ASKING THEM TO BABYSIT YOUR CHILDREN.

Health Care PolicyWe realize that children do get the sniffles and that may not be reason enough to keep them home; a child with a slight cold who is otherwise energetic and able to participate in the full program is welcome. We will contact you immediately if your child's condition worsens or he or she suddenly takes ill while in our care. If you cannot be reached, we will try the emergency contact person specified on your enrollment register. We ask

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that someone come for your child as soon as possible if we feel he or she may be contagious, may need to be seen by your pediatrician or is inconsolable. Until you arrive, a teacher will stay with your child in a separate, quiet area.

Included in Appendix B is a list of common childhood illnesses or conditions. If your child is exhibiting the symptoms described, please keep him or her at home. Though this is certain to be an inconvenience, we hope you understand how important it is to safeguard the general health of the group. If your child is exposed to a contagious illness, we will notify you as soon as possible.

PhysicalsThe Office of Child Care Services requires a complete physical exam within one year prior to admission or within one month after admission, as well as a complete immunization record on file. These records must be updated annually.

Administration of MedicationAll medications, both prescription and non-prescription, may be given to a child only with the written consent of both the parents and a doctor. Medication consent forms are included with your forms packet and should be returned with your child’s medical record prior to the first day of school. Any prescription medicine that your child needs to take at school must be clearly labeled and stored in the original container. The label must include the child's name, the physician's name and the dosage. We are unable to administer any over the counter medication (i.e. Tylenol, Advil) without both a parent’s and a pediatrician’s signature. If you do bring medicine to school to be administered to your child, including epipens, be certain to give it to your child’s teacher when you arrive so he or she may place it out of the children’s reach.

Topical medications such as diaper cream and sunscreen require only a parent’s signature. Please indicate sunscreen/diaper cream on the medication form, and sign it so that we may apply if needed.

AllergiesThese guidelines are designed to ensure that the environment at Spruce Street Nursery School is as safe as reasonably possible for children with allergies. The guidelines describe measures to promote a safe environment for all students by educating all members of the Spruce Street community about allergies, life threatening and otherwise. These guidelines may be modified to accommodate individual students’ on a year-to-year basis.

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While every effort will be made to prevent children from being exposed to known allergens, the school cannot guarantee that such exposure will not occur.  

Parent/Guardian’s Responsibility: List any known allergens on the child’s profile forms, as well as on the

medical history form. Work with the School team to develop an Emergency Action Plan that

accommodates their child’s needs throughout the school including in the classroom, in extended day, and during field trips and celebrations.

Provide the required Spruce Street written medical documentation, instructions, and medications as directed by their licensed prescriber.

Educate the child in an age-appropriate fashion in the self-management of their allergy including:

o Strategies for avoiding exposure to allergens;o Symptoms of allergic reactions; ando How and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-

related problem.

School’s Responsibility: Include allergic students in all school activities. Students should not be

excluded from school activities solely based on their allergy. Because of the high risk of cross-contamination inherent with peanut

and nut products, peanuts, nuts and products that may contain peanut/nut traces, are not served at Spruce Street Nursery School. Parents are asked not to bring any peanut or nut products to school for snack or lunch.

A list of any allergies will be posted in each classroom in a privacy protected fashion.

All staff are made aware of individual children’s allergies and are trained in first aid and the use of an epipen in the event a reaction occurs.

Discuss field trips with the family of the allergic child to decide appropriate strategies for managing the allergy while on a field trip.

An Individual Health Plan is developed for each child in the school with allergies and signed by the parent, teachers and Director. The plan contains:

o Parent’s signed consent for the school to administer medication

o Parent’s signed consent to share information with school staff

o 2 current epiPens 37

o Location of EpiPens, and o Procedure for monitoring EpiPen expiration dateso Documentation of allergy, including type of allergy o Description of past allergic reactions, including triggers and

warning signso Description of child’s emotional response to conditiono Name and telephone number of the child’s allergist and primary

care physician, ando Method to reach parent in an emergency.

Additionally an Allergy Action Plan will be part of the Individual Health Plan. The AAP will include a photo of the child, name of the child, specific allergens, warning signs of reactions, and emergency management, including location of medication and names of those trained to administer, as well as parent and physician contact numbers.

Student’s Responsibility (age-appropriate): Should notify an adult immediately if they eat something they believe

may contain the food to which they are allergic. Should not trade food with others. Should not eat anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain

any allergen. Should be proactive in the care and management of their allergies and

reactions based on their developmental level.

Emergency First AidAll teachers at Spruce Street Nursery School are certified in CPR and First Aid. In the event of a minor injury, a teacher will administer first aid and notify you of the injury and the care given when you come for your child. If, even after care has been given, your child continues to be uncomfortable, we will contact you so that you may decide how best to proceed.

For injuries that require medical attention but are not an emergency, a staff member will contact you immediately so that you may come for your child. We will administer basic first aid and keep the child as comfortable as possible until you arrive. If neither parent can be reached, we will call the emergency person listed on your child's enrollment register. Every attempt will still be made to contact either parent. If neither the parents nor the emergency contact person can be reached, a staff member will accompany the child to the closest medical facility.

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In an emergency, a staff member will first call for an ambulance and then try to reach the parents. The emergency contact person will be called if the parents are unavailable. A staff member will accompany the child in the ambulance and stay with the child at the closest medical facility until a parent arrives.

If we are away from the school and a minor injury occurs, we will administer first aid and notify you as to the nature and extent of the child's injuries. If the injury needs medical attention, the parents or contact person will be notified and a staff person will bring the child to the closest medical facility. The staff person will remain with the child until a parent arrives.

Evacuation Procedures Each year we practice evacuation drills with the children regularly so that in case of fire or other emergency we can evacuate the school safely and efficiently. A copy of our evacuation procedures is included in Appendix C.

Changes to PoliciesParents will be notified 7 days prior to any changes to policies outlined in this Parent Handbook or the Health Care Policy.

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Appendix ABehavior Management PlanAt Spruce Street Nursery School we encourage children to practice social skills that will allow them to resolve conflicts through negotiation and cooperation. We feel this prevents most behavioral difficulties and lessens the need for disciplinary action on behalf of the teachers.

The school endeavors to teach children to respect one another, their teachers and their environment. We reinforce positive behavior and ignore misbehavior, unless the misbehavior is causing harm to a teacher or another child. When a situation does arise that requires a teacher's intervention, a clear concise explanation is provided as to why the behavior was inappropriate. An alternative resolution is then sought.

Safety is paramount for all children. If a child remains unable to manage his behavior and is impinging on the safety of himself or another, a teacher will sit with the child in a quiet area away from the group in order to assist the child in regaining control.

Should the behavior persist over time, the family will be notified, and a specialist will be asked to observe the child. The school will obtain the family’s written consent to having the specialist observe the child in the classroom and review the child’s records. The written consent will describe the nature of the activities to be undertaken and whether and to whom any of the child’s records will be released. If the family consents to observation, the specialist will report his or her findings to the family and the Director. The teachers will also keep a record of their observations. A meeting between the child’s parents, teacher and specialist if available will be held to discuss the school’s concerns. If appropriate, the Director will make a referral in a manner consistent with the policy set forth in Appendix D.

Discipline is a tool designed to teach self-control. Punishment teaches anger and fear and is harmful to the self-esteem of the developing child. For this reason the following punishments are unequivocally forbidden:

Children will not be ridiculed or verbally abused. No child will be subjected to cruel discipline.

Children will not be hit, spanked, or subjected to any corporal punishment.

No child will be denied food as a consequence of behavior. Neither shall food be used as a reward for good behavior. Force Feeding is expressly forbidden.

Children will not be punished or criticized for soiling or wetting. No child will be punished or criticized for not using the toilet.

Appendix BCommon Childhood Illnesses and Conditions Fever: An oral temperature of 100 degrees or more. We require that the child stay home

fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to the group. His or her appetite and activity level should be back to normal as well.

Diarrhea: Usually caused by viral infections; however; bacteria and parasites (Giardia) may also be causes. Children may return to the group once the diarrhea is gone. If your child

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has an allergy or condition that regularly causes diarrhea, please let us know before leaving your child in our care.

Vomiting: Most vomiting is caused by viral infections. These stomach viruses are highly contagious and may spread through the school rapidly. A child should remain home for 24 hours after the vomiting stops.

Conjunctivitis: This is the contagious eye infection commonly called "pink eye". It is characterized by redness and tearing. Often there is a yellowish discharge from eyes and/or eyes are stuck closed. Children with conjunctivitis must be on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and free of eye discharge before returning to school.

Strep Throat: This is characterized by swollen neck glands, a temperature, a sore throat and often a stomach ache. It requires antibiotics, and your child should not return to school until he or she has been on medication for 24 hours, and symptoms have eased.

Ear Infections: Ear infections (otis media) are extremely common and are usually caused by fluid build up in the ear from a cold. The virus that causes the cold is contagious, but the ear infection itself is not. We ask that children take the prescribed medication for twenty-four hours before returning to the group.

Respiratory Infections: Respiratory infections are very common and are usually caused by viruses. Please keep a child with a fever, a frequent or deep cough, and/or a copiously runny nose at home until he or she is able to participate fully in the program.

Coxsackie Virus: This is characterized by small ulcers in the mouth and blisters on the hands, feet and occasionally the genitalia and buttocks. The child is contagious until the fever is gone (3 to 4 days) and should stay at home until then.

Fifth’s Disease: A common virus in children, Fifths’ Disease begins with a low fever and general malaise, followed by a red rash on the face and trunk. Fifths is no longer contagious once the rash appears, and children with the rash are able to come to school. Fifth’s is, however, dangerous for pregnant women, so if your child is exhibiting a low grade fever and complaining of being tired or just not feeling well, it is a good idea to keep her or him home for the health of the community.

Roseola: Roseola is similar to Fifth’s, but the fever associated with Roseola is often high, and the rash that follows, rather than being lacy, is bumpy. Once the fever breaks, the child is no longer contagious and may return to school.

Head Lice: The first signs of lice are generally clear or grayish nits (eggs) behind the child’s ears or at the nape of the neck. Lice are persistent and contagious, but are not dangerous and do not carry disease. Treatment involves applying olive oil or lotion to the child’s hair overnight and combing, combing, combing with a special nit comb. A child may return to school when he or she is bug and nit free, as verified by the parent and teacher.

Molluscum: is a skin rash caused by a virus that is common in children. While Molluscum are not dangerous they are spread through skin to skin contact so children should keep any exposed molluscum covered with a band-aid to reduce the spread of the rash on their own bodies, as well as to others.

Appendix CEvacuation Plan

Spruce Street Nursery School * 5 Avery Place * Boston, MA 02111

Building DescriptionSchool Location: 5 Avery Place, Millennium Towers, North Tower.

The school is located on the second floor rear of the steel and glass North Tower. Addresses in the tower include 1 and 3 Avery Street.The tower has 40 floors.

Emergency PolicyAll persons on the premises should evacuate the school promptly in case of a fire or other emergency. When an alarm sounds teachers should calmly gather the students in their classrooms and head to the closest designated emergency exit. All teachers should be certain that they have the attendance sheets, emergency book and first aid kit with them when they exit

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the school. The last teacher to leave the classroom should check the area thoroughly to be certain everyone is out. The Director will thoroughly check the bathrooms and each classroom before leaving the premises. If the Director is not on the premises then the Assistant Director will check to be sure everyone is out. All individuals are to exit the building and assemble for a head count at the designated assembly area.

Designated Emergency ExitsThe Willows and Maples will exit the building from the hall stairway exit, unless it is blocked. Should the exit be obscured or unsafe the Willows and Maples will exit from the rear stairwell, past Building Security.

The Acorns and Oaks will exit the building through the rear stairwell, unless it is blocked. Should the exit be obscured or unsafe the Acorns and Oaks will exit from the hall stairway, through the Ritz Lobby. The elevator should never be used in the case of an emergency.

Designated Assembly AreaThe Designated Assembly Area is the courtyard at Mason Terrace, directly across from the Spruce Street Nursery School entrance. Should the courtyard be unsafe we will convene in the Boston Common parking garage, entrance nearest the Frog Pond. If the towers are unsafe to return to, we will contact parents and have them meet us on the first underground entrance of the garage. If the parents are unable to be reached the BOD will escort children to their homes.

Re-Entering the BuildingThe Director or Director’s representative will be the liaison between building personnel, the fire department and the school staff. Once the all clear is given via recorded message the teachers and children may re-enter the building.

Emergency SituationsShould the school lose heat, water or power the parents will be contacted immediately and the children will be sent home. Should we need to evacuate due to a security threat or natural disaster we will follow the procedures detailed above. Should a child be missing at any time, such as during an evacuation, regularly scheduled outing or field trip we will immediately call 911 and then notify the parents.

Appendix DReferral Policy and Termination Policy

Referral PolicyIf a teacher has a concern about a child’s behavior or development, the Director shall be notified. The teacher and Director shall then gather information to enhance the understanding of the concern through written observations and will review the child’s developmental history and progress reports. If these measures substantiate cause for concern, the school will meet with the family, and the Director will provide a written statement including the reason for recommending a referral for additional services, a brief summary of the school’s observations related to the referral and any efforts the school may have made to accommodate the child’s needs. If the family has consented to observation by a specialist as set forth in Appendix A, the specialist will report his or her findings to the family and the Director. Based on the specialist’s findings, or the observations of the teachers and the family, the Director will give the family a referral to the appropriate resource. The Director will maintain a current list of community resources for social, mental health, educational and medical services. The list shall include the contact person for Chapter 766 and Early Intervention Services. All documentation of development, behavior and referrals by teachers, the Director and the specialist will be maintained in the child’s file.

Should the Director determine that additional support staff is needed to accommodate the child’s needs in the classroom, the cost of such an aide or support personal will be the sole

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responsibility of the child’s family.

Termination PolicyIf the school determines that we are unable to adequately meet the needs of a child, the Director will meet with the child’s parents to inform them of the school’s intent to terminate care for the child. The Director will detail in writing the reasons it is not in the best interests of the child or the program for the child to remain enrolled. This letter will refer to the following factors which may include but are not limited to:

The nature and cost of the accommodations needed to provide care for the child at the school,

ability to secure funding or services from other sources, the number of teachers employed at the school, the nature and extent of the teachers' training.

If a child is unable to receive adequate services at SSNS, due to any of the above considerations or those not specifically listed, it is within the school’s discretion to terminate the contract with no tuition refund. The Director will work closely with the family, the Department of Education, Early Intervention or the administrator of the appropriate social service agency to find a suitable placement. The school will prepare the child for this transition in a sensitive manner consistent with his or her ability to understand. Suspension from the program is an ineffective strategy for helping a child and their family. No child shall be suspended from Spruce Street Nursery School for any reason.

Appendix E

Spruce Street Nursery SchoolORGANIZATIONAL FLOWCHART

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Board of Directors

Program Director

Teachers

Parents

Office of Early Education and Care is the licensing authority1250 Hancock Street, Suite 120-S

Quincy, MA 02169Phone: (617) 472-2881

Fax: (617) 472-2722

Families are encouraged to contact EEC for Spruce Street’s compliance history

Appendix F

Board of Directors

Board ChairKevin Mohan

ClerkKristen Alexandrov

Finance CommitteeScott Carson Kevin Mohan

David NewbowerLeslie Rhodes

Development CommitteeJo Swani

Towne Williams

Members at LargeMatt Rowe

Christie Guevin

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