Parent Handbook 2023/2024
Bienvenue!! Welcome!!
Thank you for becoming a part of our community. Our group is dedicated to bringing quality education, through play-based activities in a full language immersion center. Les Castors is founded upon the knowledge that children are the future, and their nourishment both physically & mentally becomes tomorrow. We thrive for a cohesive relationship between nature & nurture, as the parents, our center and the child work together to create the most idyllic atmosphere for development.
Methodology
Les Castors learning is applied through mixed age group classrooms, with children ranging between 3-6yrs old in our Maternelle section, and children ranging from 6-8yrs old in our Elementary section and finally in our after-school program from 15h-17h for children between 3-10yrs old. Children will be introduced to activities, with different levels of comprehension possible depending on the child’s developmental need. Each project will integrate points of learning; imagination, exploration individually and cooperatively followed by expression. As Piaget said, “In order to know objects, the subject(child) must act upon them, and therefore transform them”. Les Castors will introduce the world to children and therefore permit them to explain it to us. *Please see the attached “typical day” page for more information.
Operational Information
Les Castors will be open Monday thru Friday, with three “sections”, maternelle, primaire (elementary) & after school. Please see below the hours for each, reference the tuition page for pricing. And reference our Calendar for all important dates (start dates-closures-holidays etc…). Hours;
Maternelle 8:30a-3:00p (half day options available)
Primaire/Elementary 8:00a-3:00p
Open ended activities, based on themes & projects and the children’s curiosity.
After School 3:00p-5:00p
Various activities; outdoor & indoor;focused on monthly themes to grow your child's comprehension of the french language. French language lessons oral & written.
Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures
Drop-off will be at the designated time as per registration. Drop off areas are below:
Maternelle : Osceola Street (garden entrance)
After 9a: Cosgrove Avenue (front-side door entrance-parent must call)
After-School: Osceola Street (garden entrance)
For the safety of all children & staff, each permitted pick up individual will have to be on the child's listed pick-up person(s). Any exceptions must be received 24hrs in advance, via email OR text message with photo of the permitted individual. We will require an ID upon pick-up and signature. Our goal is to protect everyone on our campus. IF your child’s pick-up time needs to be changed for any reason on a particular occasion, notice is greatly appreciated (same day is understandable) so that we may have the child ready with little disruption to the daily activities and to avoid any delay on your departure. Thank you for understanding. Pick-up areas are below;
Enrollment
Registration & placement is confirmed upon receipt of the following:
Registration Fee (non-refundable) *per program
Child Packet
1st payment
Enrollment is rolling (open), until maximum capacity is met, 12students total per day. *This is for the maternelle & primaire section. *Withdrawal (ending enrollment) from any program, must be given in writing(email is acceptable) 2weeks in advance, if possible. Payment for the month cannot not be refunded. Emergencies will be discussed on a need basis of course.
Food
Les Castors will provide a healthy snack, most will be made on-site by the children, when possible from our garden! Parents may provide a labelled water bottle if desired but we will have cups & water available for the children as well. IF your child has any allergies please let us know on the “About your Enfant” page provided in your child packet, we will then have that information posted in our kitchen for safety and will provide an alternate choice when necessary. *Celebrations*, the children will make a snack for their ami. Please please do not bring cupcakes, cake, sweets etc…At Les Castors the children are learning to provide for each other and allowing them to “surprise” their amis strengthens their bond and community skills. Lunch will served, but not provided, please provide for your child what your family enjoys! We will happily warm up any meals as necessary, just let us know. Please see below the snack times for each section;
Maternelle : 10:15a
After-School: 4:00p
Illness/Missed Days
Please follow your own guidelines for your children when they are ill by thinking of the Les Castors community. If your child exhibits a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, unusual fatigue, rash….keep them at home to rest and replenish their bodies. Les Castors is not permitted to provide ANY medication, we will have a first aid kit on hand, BUT if your child exhibits any of the above symptoms a parent must pick-up the child. If you will be out on extended vacation(2wks or more) during the school year, please let us know for activity preparation. Tuition will not change unless you are on a month to month basis in our After-School Program. All other programs costs will be due as usual. Thank you for understanding.
Behavioral Procedures
Les Castors is about the children, and thus our approach towards them is important in all situations. Children can express themselves in many different ways, depending on the form of their expression, the maitresses will approach the emotional expression by talking, explaining, demonstrating its effects on oneself and our amis, and why the child has decided to express their emotion in that particular manner. Les Castors focuses on community based learning, what we do effects those around us, we will explain this to the children through demonstration, and repeat this when an unfavorable expression of emotion is exhibited, i.e anger, hitting, yelling, unwillingness to share etc…. Children will be assisted with their emotions/actions by their amis, maitresse and activities. IF a behavior is repetitive and affecting greatly the community, we will discuss with the parents and work together both at home and in the center so that each child is balanced and comfortable in all surroundings.
Safety & Emergency Procedures
Les Castors staff are parents & community members, your children become ours and their safety is our 1st priority. Children will be shown emergency procedures (fire) regularly, so that they are comfortable and prepared. Our center staff are all CPR & First Aid certified, please feel free to ask for a copy, and as per state regulations all staff have background checks and fingerprints on file. Our trainings are throughout the year, feel free to ask for certificates on any of them. During school hours the front door and garden gates will be locked at all times, emergency procedures will utilize the back exits that lead to the garden. Our facility will receive regular visits from DSS and the fire marshal to ensure the safety of everyone on site.
Communication
Parents are welcome to visit, discuss, schedule a meeting with the directrice or maitresses at any time. Please contact us via email or phone to schedule, or wait a little at pick-up time and we will be happy to discuss with you any questions, suggestions, concerns or just talk! We will utilize an application to share events, special moments, key lesson points, songs etc…that each parent will be encouraged to join but is not necessary. Because, although children will not receive “report cards”, we will provide for the older children progression notes (TBD on individual basis), and each child will have a folder with all their work, this will be accessible to the parents regularly for your viewing pleasure. We will have regular “reunions” to discuss our center, and everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us!
Contact Information
Telephone: 843-640-5981
Address: 1935 Cosgrove Avenue North Charleston SC 29405
Email: directrice.lescic@gmail.com
Website: www.lescic.org
Payments
Our tuition is attached, and we also ask that you fill in your choices on your “registration page” provided. Payment will be accepted via, Check, Bank Transfer, Cash or Venmo with a receipt provided for any form of payment. Payments for all programs are due prior to the monthly start, 1st of the month; unless otherwise discussed all payments received after the 6th of the month will be considered late and a fee of $20 will be added to tuition due, with a maximum of 2wks late permitted. We can discuss pricing individually if childcare is needed all day, contact La Directrice. NOTICE: payments not paid by the of August 1st can result in loss of placement in any program! Please review our tuition page for more information.
Thank you for reviewing our handbook; if you have any further questions, suggestions or concerns please contact Dominique directly. Please sign below to acknowledge your understanding and acceptance of the Les Castors terms discussed. Merci!!