Exemption and Liability Insurance
Thomaston FMC Preschool and MMO are not licensed and are exempt from licensing by the state of Georgia. Thomaston FMC Preschool and MMO do carry liability insurance.
School Hours and Pick-up/Drop-off
(Please make sure your pick-up/drop-off person(s) is aware of these rules)
9:00AM – The door is unlocked, and the preschool day begins. Please walk your child to the preschool door all year. The preschool drop-off door will be locked at 9:10 each morning, so if you arrive late, please enter through the office door on the opposite end of the building. Please do not text or call teachers for the doors to be unlocked early.
11:45AM – The door is unlocked again, and pick-up begins.
12:00PM – All students must be picked up. If you arrive after 12:00 you will be charged $5 for every five minutes that you are late. We will use cell phone times for consistency, and you will be issued a late slip with the amount you owe. We do understand that emergencies do occur so please let your child’s teacher know by text if this should happen.
If your child needs to be dismissed early this is not a problem, but please be sure to notify your child’s teacher by text and enter through the office door.
Pick-up and Drop-off will always occur at the main Preschool door unless you need to enter after 9:10 or before 11:45 in which case you must notify your child’s teacher and enter through the office door. You may need to buzz in to enter the Preschool hallway if entering at this time. Parents are allowed to walk Preschool children to their classroom all year. There will always be teachers in the hallway to assist them if they decide they would like to walk alone.
Allergies/Medical Conditions
Though the information is included on your child’s registration, please make sure your child’s teacher is aware of any allergies or medical conditions that your child has. We are also willing to meet with parents to discuss particular conditions or treatments that may be needed at school (i.e. insulin checks or Epi-pen). We will do our best to inform you ahead of time of any special meals, snacks, or interactions that your child may participate in.
Attendance
We will be keeping attendance records as a requirement of our exemption status through the state of Georgia. Your child is not required to attend a certain number of days to remain in the program, but you are responsible for tuition payments whether or not your child attends.
If your child needs to miss school because of sickness, family time, vacations, etc. this is also not a problem at all, but, if possible, text your child’s teacher, just to make them aware of the situation.
Birthdays
Special snacks are welcome for your child’s birthday. Please coordinate with your child’s teacher for details on what and when. Mini cupcakes or cookies are suggested. No full-size cupcakes. We are happy to send party invitations home in folders as long as all children are included. If you are only inviting certain children, please send invitations on your own.
Biting and other aggressive behaviors
Biting, though frustrating, is a typical toddler non-verbal response. However, we do our best to respond quickly and appropriately. We will deal with an initial biting incident in the classroom, usually by separating the child into time out and notifying parents. A second biting offense (or other aggressive behaviors) will result in a call
to parents and dismissal from preschool for the remainder of that day. A third offense will result in a child being dismissed for a one-week time period. This is intended to allow parents time to address the behavior and to separate the children for everyone’s benefit.
Cameras
For the safety of staff, children, and visitors, there are security cameras throughout TFMC including the preschool classrooms.
Chapel
Our 2-Year-Old, 3-Year-Old, and PreK classes will attend chapel weekly. Bible lessons and verses, songs, and life values are taught.
Communication
Please be sure to keep your yearly preschool calendar! Please know that at times, activities may be added or deleted. We may add special days to our calendar so be sure to watch for notes and reminders. Teachers may ask for volunteers to send items in for these special days.
Your child’s teacher will let you know the appropriate avenue for communicating. Some teachers will prefer text or email or a communication app. Please DO NOT contact your child’s teacher outside their requested method or contact them after 6 p.m. or on the weekends. This is for the benefit of our teachers and their own families.
For safety reasons, it is very important that you DO NOT text or call your child’s teacher during the preschool day. If you have an emergency during the preschool day and need to reach us immediately please call the church office at 706-647-3335. If you cannot reach the church office, you can call your child’s teacher in an emergency.
Please check your child’s backpack, folder, and lunchbox daily for preschool notes and artwork. Including a note in your child’s folder is a very effective way to communicate with your child’s teacher.
Discipline
Discipline is teaching, done positively and with respect, and is appropriate to the situation and age of the child. We will engage in positive reinforcement every day to head off behavior issues before they start. Every effort is made to handle discipline in the classroom. Separating a student for just a few minutes to calm down and talk
(through taking a break) is usually effective. Removal from the room by the director and/or a call to parents may be necessary when time out is not working.
Dress Policy
Please send your child in clothing and footwear appropriate for activities such as art and playground time. We ask you to send a full change of clothes (including socks and underwear) in a large Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. Also, make sure clothing is appropriate for diaper changes and potty training.
Emergency Numbers
In the event of an emergency at school please make sure you have given us a number that is reachable at all times. For instance, if both parents work and do not have access to cell phones, please provide an alternate emergency number.
Fundraising
We will have at least one fundraiser during the year to help raise money for preschool improvements (playground, technology, furniture, etc.). We ask that you please participate in any fundraisers so that we can keep our school in top-notch condition.
Illness
It is very important that you do not bring your child to school until they are completely recovered from any illness. Please do not send children to school that have experienced a fever or vomiting in the past 24 hours. This also means a child must be fever free WITHOUT medication for 24 hours BEFORE returning to school.
In an effort to contain the spread of illnesses as much as possible, we will do daily cleaning of all surfaces and rotate toys as needed. In the event of multiple or severe illnesses at school we will give you any information necessary, but we will not violate the privacy of other students and families.
We are not allowed to administer any medication to children including ointments. If your child needs medicine (such as hydrocortisone cream for a bug bite) you must give it before school.
Immunizations
We must have an official, up-to-date immunization form (form 3231) or exemption form on file for every child issued by the health department or your private physician.
Inclement Weather
With very few exceptions we will follow the Upson-Lee School System calendar. We will also follow school closings for weather/emergency-related situations. As soon as we are aware of any closings, we will try to let you know by text, but please listen to FUN 101-WTGA radio for public school closings.
Personal Items
Please make sure that any items your child brings to school are labeled with their name. This includes cups, pacifiers, jackets, wipes, toys, hats, lunchboxes, and backpacks.
Potty Training
Children in the 3 and 4-year-old program must be bathroom independent. No pull-ups. Children in the 2-year-old program or Mothers Morning Out do not need to be potty trained.
Snacks
We ask that each child bring a small snack for themselves in their own lunch box each day. This may include any food and drink of your choosing. Children are generally given about 20 minutes to eat. Please make sure that you label all reusable cups and containers with your child’s name. Food not allowed: nuts, whole grapes, popcorn. These foods will be sent back home unopened.
Social Media
We take lots of pictures that may be posted on our Facebook page, in local newspapers, etc.
Toy Policy
Please do not allow your child to bring toys from home unless specifically requested by your child’s teacher. If a requested toy is sent, please make sure it is labeled with your child’s name.
Tuition
Tuition is due on the first day of each month that your child’s class is in session. For every school day that your tuition is late, there will be a $5 charge. If tuition payments are not up to date before the next month begins your child will not be able to return until payments are up to date. We are sorry, but delinquent payments are subject to the loss of your child’s preschool enrollment in his or her classroom.
Tuition must be paid with a check or money order. Please put your child’s first and last name on the “subject” line of checks and put them in a Ziplock bag or envelope with your child’s first and last name. Tuition payments are to be put in your child’s lunchbox or folder (do not place them in lunchbox pockets, place payments in the
snack area only). DO NOT HAND CHECKS TO ANY STAFF MEMBER. Tuition payment MUST be sent in either the lunchbox or folder.
CLASS DAYS IN SESSION ANNUAL TUITION MONTHLY TUITION
Mother’s Morning Out: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00AM-12:00PM; $1395 Annually, $155 Monthly
2-Year-Old Class: Monday & Wednesday 9:00AM-12:00PM; $1665 Annually, $185 Monthly
3-Year-Old Class: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM; $2070 Annually, $230 Monthly
4-Year-Old Class: Monday-Friday 9:00AM-12:00PM; $2700 Annually, $300 Monthly
Thank you for allowing us to love and teach your child. As always, our hearts and doors are open to you. Please feel free to contact us with any comments or concerns. We are only able to address your concerns if we are made aware of them. We hope you will continue to pray for our preschool staff, children, and families. Our teachers work very hard to provide a fun-loving environment for children to learn preschool academics with God’s love as our guide.