1. BASIC SERVICES
The school will provide an educational program based on the philosophy and teaching of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952). Daily activities include individual work time in the areas of Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, Social Sciences, the Arts, Physical Sciences and Physical Education. The school is open year-round Monday through Friday with the exception of the vacations/holidays listed on the school calendar. Parents are responsible for providing lunch and snacks for their children.
2. OPTIONAL SERVICES
Occasional field trips, supervised walks in the neighborhood, and trips to nearby parks are arranged periodically. Optional enrichment electives such as dance, drawing, gymnastics, science, arts and crafts, Spanish, and music are available through arrangements with outside organizations or instructors, and parents may choose to have their child participate. Schedules and additional fee information are available through the office.
3. PAYMENT PROVISIONS
Two payment plans are offered to accommodate parent schedules. PLAN A is designed for parents who have schedules that require that their children attend school year-round (12 months). Under PLAN A ,tuition payments are divided into 12 equal monthly payments. PLAN B is designed for parents who choose to have their children attend during the typical school year from September 3rd, 2024 through June 6th, 2025 according to our school calendar. Under PLAN B tuition is divided into 10 equal monthly payments. There are no reductions in tuition for the following: holidays, absences due to illness, family vacations, or for other reasons including acts of god and school closure due to acts of god, including but not limited to pandemic such as COVID-19. Payments are equal regardless of the number of days that school is held during a parcular month or number of days a child attends. If a child is enrolled more than 3 weeks after school starts, tuition is prorated. Parents may enroll their children in the morning and/or afternoon daycare program on an occasional use or monthly basis. Monthly extended daycare fees are payable with tuition payments. Occasional daycare fees are paid when billed following the close of each month.
4. TUITION DUE DATES
Tuition and flat rate extended care fees are due on the 15th of the month prior to attendance (i.e. the first payment is due on the date of enrollment, the second payment is on the 15th of September for October, the third payment is due on the 15th of October for November, and so forth). If tuition is not received by the 25th of the month prior to attendance, a 10% late fee will be applied. If the payment is not received by the first of the month, an additional 10% late fee will be charged on the first of each following month until paid, and the child may be dropped from the program.
5. ENROLLMENT FEES
There is a non-refundable application/enrollment fee of $300 for all new students. This fee covers insurance, processing of application and follow-up, and placement of the entering student. Each year there is a $250 re-enrollment fee for all continuing students. This re-enrollment fee is waived for students who enroll after January 1st, 2025.
6. RETURNED CHECKS/ACH
A $25 service fee will be assessed for returned checks or declined ACH transactions. If the school receives two returned checks or ACH transactions, the student’s account will be placed on a cash only basis for the remainder of the year.
7. PARENT HANDBOOK
Each enrolling child will be provided with the Parent Handbook. The parents agree to familiarize themselves with the informaon contained in the handbook.
8. WITHDRAWAL / TERMINATION
Parents are required to give 30 days written notice if it becomes necessary to withdraw the student from the program for any reason. The student’s term of enrollment extends to 30 days beyond the date of written notification, whether or not the student attends school. If the parents, guardian, or responsible party of an enrolled student breaches its notice obligations under this section, then the parents, guardian, or responsible party shall pay to Environments for Learning, Inc. an amount equal to 30 days tuition. Environments for Learning, Inc. reserves the right to terminate services with no prior notice required. If a student is terminated from the program, tuition will be pro-rated as of the student’s last date of attendance.
9. PICKING UP STUDENTS
Children must be signed in and out by a parent or authorized person each day. Time and full signature are required by state law. Failure to pick up a student later than our grace period allows (five minutes after 6 pm) will result in a $15.00 per quarter-hour charge; this late fee may not be waived. Students will be released only to a responsible person documented in the student’s file under ‘Names of Persons Authorized to Take Child from this Facility’. Parents agree to notify the school in writing if anyone other than an authorized person will come for the child.
10. ILLNESS AND MEDICATIONS TO BE ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL
The parents/guardians will not send a student to school with a fever or vomiting; the school will not accept a child who has been exposed to an infectious disease. If a child becomes ill at school, the parent will be contacted to arrange for the child’s care. The child will be kept isolated from the rest of the students until the parent arrives. Parents are expected to pick up within 30 minutes, as the school does not have a facility for ill children. Children must stay home for 24 hours after symptoms have cleared before returning to school. Medication is to be dropped off only in the main office. Clear directions and an outline of dosage amount and schedule must be provided. All medications will be only given to a student if written permission is recorded in the school’s medicine book, and the dosage administered must match the instructions printed on the medication package or bottle. Prescription medications must be in the prescription container outlining the physician’s instructions and phone number. In case of illness, accident, or injury to a child, the parent will be notified, and instructions for the course of action to be followed will be requested. If the nature of the illness or accident requires immediate care and parents cannot be reached, emergency care will be obtained at Saddleback Community Hospital. The parent hereby authorizes such emergency action taken by the school.
11. INCOMING 60 DAY REVIEW
Environments for Learning, Inc. reserves the right to withdraw any child after a 60-day trial period if said child struggles with the Montessori philosophy and guidelines set by the school. This is to ensure that our environment is beneficial and will support the growth of all children in the environment.