Operations Policy

Operating Hours: Mona Montessori Academy is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. McKinney Montessori Academy is open 6:30 P.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday year round. The school is closed on certain Holidays. School Calendar will identify the Holidays for each year.

Registration: Registration fee specified in the Fee Schedule and the completed registration packet are due on or before your child’s first day with us. Any difficulty in meeting this requirement should be discussed with the director. Payment of registration fee can also hold the spot for your child for up to two months. Class sizes are limited. Registration fees are non-refundable.

Tuition : Tuition is due on Monday for the current week. Late fees are $5 per day is assessed beginning on Wednesday of each week. Monthly payment is due on 1^st working day of the month. Late charge will be assessed after one week.

Returned Check Fee: A $25 fee is charged for any returned check. NSF checks must be picked up and the fee plus check amount must be paid in cash. We are sorry for the inconvenience, but after two returned checks, checks will not be accepted.

Monthly Activity Fee: Children age 4 through 13 may participate in field trips from time to time – particularly during public school vacations and during the summer months. Please refer to the monthly newsletter for information regarding fees for these activities. We strive to keep these at a minimum. (For children younger than 4, we have the field trip come to the school, such as a visit from firefighters.) Pick Up Fee: Parents of public school children must notify the office if a child is not to be picked up from public school on any given day or a $10 fee will be assessed.

Withdrawal: Please provide written notice two weeks in advance should it be necessary to withdraw your child. Families are responsible for tuition up to that date. Open Door Policy: Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy has an “open door policy” which means that parents are welcome to visit and observe their child’s classroom any time. However, if you need to speak with your child’s teacher, please schedule a conference through the office so that someone else can supervise the children while the teacher gives you her full attention.

Arrival & Departure: Upon arrival please take your child to the classroom and ensure that s/he is greeted by the teacher. Parents must sign children in on the appropriate clipboard at the front desk and sign them out at the end of the day.. Children must arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. each day. If your child needs to arrive later, due to a doctor’s appointment for example, please call the office prior to 9:30 a.m. Children must arrive and depart through the front door of the school only. (Example: Children cannot be delivered to a teacher or be picked up while the class is on a field trip.)

Pick Up: We take our responsibility to children very seriously and reserve the right to ask anyone for a photo ID before releasing a child. Anyone picking up a child should bring photo ID in hand – this includes parents. Children can be picked up only by the parent(s) and those whose names appear on the registration form as being authorized by the parent to do so. If there are custody issues, the parent should discuss the situation with the director as it will probably be necessary for the custodial parent to provide a legal document which defines the custody agreement. If you need someone whose name does not appear on the registration form to pick up your child on any given day, please write the information on the Daily Log at the front desk when you bring the child that day or fax a letter to the same affect. You can either add the name to the registration form or write it on the daily log as being in effect for that day only. Please avoid picking up your child during nap time as it can be disruptive to the sleeping children. Nap time is 12:30 to 2:30 for children 18 months through pre-K.

Daily Notes and Information: Please communicate information for the teacher through the office. This enables the director to make certain that every teacher coming in contact with your child is aware of the information should your child’s teacher have to leave school unexpectedly. You can tell someone in the office or write the information on the Daily Log clipboard at the front desk.

Inclement Weather Closing: While closing due to bad weather is extremely rare, Mona/McKinney School reserves the right to close at any time due to inclement weather. We usually follow along with the area Independent School District. When in doubt, call the school before leaving home to ensure that the school is open.

Illness: Illness requiring pick up includes but is not limited to: temperature of 100 degrees or higher, rash, open sores, diarrhea, or vomiting. Ill children will be isolated from the other children and cared for until they are picked up. Children who become ill at school must be picked up within 30 minutes once the parent or other authorized person has been notified. Children must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school. We reserve the right to require a doctor’s release particularly in the event of surgery, or prolonged or serious illness. If your child should experience a contagious illness, please notify the director so that parents of children who may have been exposed can be notified. As required in Texas Minimum Standards for Day Care, we go outside every day that weather permits. The length of time depends on the relative temperature due to wind chill or heat index. We usually do not go outside if the temperature is below 50 degrees or above 93 degrees. Generally speaking, a child who is too ill to go outside is too ill to come to school.

Medications: We give meds at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. We are obligated to follow the dosage amounts printed on the med container. Medicine must be signed in by the parent on the Medication Log located at the front desk. Medicine must be in the original container clearly labeled with the child’s first and last name. Prescription meds can only be given to the person for whom they are prescribed. Over the counter medication can only be given if the age-appropriate dosage is listed on the container. If not, a signed and dated doctor’s note on prescription form or doctor’s letterhead is required. The doctor’s phone number must also appear on the note. If pain med which is also a fever reducing med (such as Tylenol) is signed in, the child’s temperature will be taken before administering the med. If the child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, the parent will be called to pick up the child.

Nutrition: Snacks and Meals There is no extra meal charge for children enrolled in an all day program. Menus are available at the front desk. Allergies Children with food allergies, as stated by the child’s physician, will be fed equally nutritious alternatives. In some cases it may be necessary for the director to request that the parent send ready-to-eat food. The same policy is true for children whose religion prohibits certain foods.

Emergencies and Accidents: In the unlikely event that your child requires emergency medical attention, you will be notified as soon as the situation allows. If a minor accident occurs at school, first aid will be administered and an entry made on the First Aid Log. Teachers and office staff will do their very best to tell the parent about the injury at pick up time, but parents should feel free to check the accident log themselves. Parents will be notified via a phone call in the event of a bump on the head or injury to the face. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PARENTS KEEP CONTACT NUMBERS ON THE ENROLLMENT FORM CURRENT AT ALL TIMES. IF YOU WILL BE AT A DIFFERENT NUMBER FOR JUST A DAY OR TWO, ENTER THAT INFO ON THE DAILY LOG LOCATED AT THE FRONT DESK.

Change of Information: Should you need to update the information on your child’s enrollment form at any time, please do so in writing and include your signature and an effective date. Information which should be current at all times includes work/home/emergency phone numbers, parent(s) home address(es), and persons other than parent authorized to pick up the child.

Clothing: Play is the foundation of growth, learning and development for children. Children enrolled at Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy will enjoy a variety of activities each day including painting, water play, shaving cream play, and playing outside. Parents are asked to send children to school in comfortable, washable clothes – not “Sunday Best.” Tennis shoes are the recommended foot ware. Cowboy boots, sandals without heel straps and flip-flops are not allowed as they do not allow children to run comfortably. Additionally, parents are asked to send change of clothing as listed below. Please label all clothing with your child’s name. Dirty clothes will be sent home in a plastic bag each day. Be sure to send clean clothes the following day to replace the dirty ones. A complete change of clothes includes pants or shorts, shirt, underwear and socks. Infants – 3 complete changes, 6 diapers daily, baby wipes

Toddlers and Twos – 2 complete changes, 6 diapers daily, baby wipes Threes and Older – 1 complete change While most older children rarely need a change of clothing at school, it can be embarrassing to the child to have an accident and not have clean clothes to put on and inconvenient for the parent to have to leave work to bring clean clothes.

Personal Belongings: Personal items from home are not allowed at school. The only exceptions are children’s books, a naptime blanket, and a naptime lovey (stuffed animal) if your child requires one. Make sure your child’s first and last name is written on everything brought to school, please.

Naptime: As stated in Texas Minimum Standards for Day Care, young children must rest each day. Our naptime averages 2 hours (12:30 –2:30) for children age 2 and older. Children are expected to rest quietly during naptime. Parents are asked to provide a twin size sheet, towel sheet or beach towel, or crib size blanket (labeled with the child’s first and last name) for their child to use at naptime. These items should be taken home and laundered each Friday and returned on Monday. Heavy blankets and comforters are not necessary and difficult to store.

Discipline: We believe in a positive approach to discipline. We tell children what to do instead of what not to do thus developing generous and kind instincts in children while guiding them toward self-discipline. Please do not ask your child or child’s teacher about behavior problems at school. Adults make mistakes each day and children are no different. Trust that we will let you know if your child’s behavior is outside acceptable boundaries. Ask your child what he/she enjoyed at school each day, who s/he played with, did s/he go outside, etc. Privacy and Confidentiality: Any concerns regarding children other than your own should be addressed to the director only.

After School Care: If your child will not require a ride after school, you must call Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy. Children picked up after school should be encouraged to go straight to the school bus or van within 5 minutes after school is dismissed. If public school is closed for any reason, well children are welcome to stay at Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy for the entire day for an extra charge. Unfortunately, we cannot care for public school children who cannot attend school for disciplinary reasons such as suspension or due to illness.

Childcare standards and Regulations: Texas Department of Family and protective Services (DPFS) and its Child-Care Licensing Division have established Child Care Licensing standards and regulations. A copy of the Minimum Standards for childcare facilities is available in our office for your review. You can also obtain a copy by visiting http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/child-care_standards_and_regulations. You can contact the local licensing offices at: Dallas2355 Stemmons Freeway, 2nd FL
Dallas, Texas 75207
(214) 951-7902
(800) 582-6036 Denton
3612 E. McKinney
Denton, Texas 76201 Plano
2205 Los Rio Drive
Plano, Texas 75074-3422
(972) 633-6600Hot Lines: Parents may contact the DPFS hotline to report any irregularities and neglect by calling 24 hours 1-800-252-5400.Childcare licensing inspection reports for our facilities are posted on our notice boards for 60 days after each inspection. You are encouraged to review them.

Return Page Please sign and return this page on or before your child’s first day at Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy. Thank you. I have received Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy Policies for Parents and agree to abide by the policies contained therein. Additionally, I understand that the owner and director of Mona/McKinney Montessori Academy reserve the right to change or amend these policies as needed and it is my responsibility to remain current on said policies by reading memos, newsletters and/or information posted on The Parent Bulletin Board located in the lobby of the school. Parent/Guardian signature___________________________ Date_____________________________