The Greenwood School 2008 Policies Manual   The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) require many of the following policies. Thank you for your careful observation of these policies.   The mission of The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is to protect children, the elderly, and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by working with clients, families, and communities. The standards that Greenwood must follow are available for your review in the school’s office or at the following website. http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Child_Care_Standards_and_Regulations/default.asp The most recent licensing inspection report can be found on the bulletin board at Greenwood or online at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Search_Texas_Child_Care/default.asp Reporting Abuse and Neglect—Texas law requires caregivers to report suspected child abuse or neglect to The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or law enforcement. Call 1-800-252-5400 to make confidential reports. Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a crime. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against caregivers who make reports in good faith.   The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is located at 14000 Summit Dr., Austin, Texas 78728 Phone: 512-834-3195 Web site http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/       Table of Contents   Open Door Policy 2 Enrollment 2 Communication 2 Health and Immunization Requirements 2 Assessments and Screenings 3 Classroom Activities and Special Events 3 Arrival and Departure 3 Snacks and Lunches 4 Birthdays and Celebrations 5 Behavior Guidelines and Discipline 5 Transportation 6 Hours of Operation 6 Tuition and Fees 6 Baby-sitting Services 7 Withdrawal, Re-Enrollment, Changes in Enrollment 7 Animals and Plants 7 Media 8 Dress Code 8 Emergency Situations 9 Water Activities 9 Field Trips 9   Open Door Policy Parents are encouraged to visit the school at any time during business hours. You may observe your child’s participation in class as long as your presence does not create any distraction for your child, other students or teachers. Greenwood staff members are required to stay focused on the children. Please do not talk to the teachers during your observation time. You may schedule a conference or use email to communicate with your child’s teacher. Parents are encouraged to volunteer during festivals, celebrations and field trips. There are a limited number of volunteer positions available during school days. Coming into the school environment as an assistant to the teachers is a productive way to gain understanding of Greenwood practices and policies, while discretely observing your child’s interactions and play.   Enrollment Prior to enrollment, parents should explore The Greenwood School by reading the web site (http//www.greenwoodschool.net), meeting the staff and taking a tour of the school. When the decision to apply is made, parents should submit an application to the school office along with a non-refundable application fee of $50. A teacher will schedule a "visit day" for the applicant followed by a meeting with his or her parents to discuss enrollment options. If the child is accepted and space is available, parents will receive an enrollment packet to be completed within two weeks and submitted with the non-refundable supply fee. If space is not currently available, the child’s name will be placed on a waiting list and parents will be notified as soon as there is a space in the class. Parents and guardians are required to attend a school orientation. School policies will be discussed during the orientation. Parents will be notified of policy changes via email or the school newsletter. The Greenwood School is governed by The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), which requires that all enrollment forms be completed prior to the student's first day of school. All required fees must be paid and all forms/agreements completed before a child is enrolled.   Communication We believe that communication is a vital part of our mutual success. There are numerous ways to communicate with the staff and owners of The Greenwood School. Communications are best put in the form of a note or email so that staff members can read them during their conference time or breaks. A conversation between a parent and a staff member should be scheduled for a time when the staff member is not supervising children. The Policies Manual is your guide to the parent and student expectations at The Greenwood School. You will want to keep it accessible for reference throughout the school year. Should it be misplaced, you may request another copy via email. The school's website should be checked regularly for posted events and information. The Canopy newsletter will be posted on the web site bimonthly. Each issue contains very important information about upcoming events in addition to messages from teachers. Stay informed. Please read your newsletters carefully and mark your calendars with important dates. Should you not have access to the Internet, a hard copy of the newsletter will be furnished to you upon request. School meetings and parent-teacher conferences may be held whenever a parent or teacher deems it appropriate. These meetings help to assure that each student is receiving the appropriate education and services. These meetings provide parents the opportunity to visit with staff and to stay informed of their child’s progress. Check the bulletin board daily. You will find special notices, field trip information, etc. You may also use this space to communicate with other parents or post your business card. Any concerns you have about your child or other school-related issues should first go to your child’s teacher. If you and the teacher are unable to resolve the matter, the owner or director may be consulted. Keep in mind that a private conversation should be held after hours or during the teacher’s conference time. See item 7 for how to request a conference. You may use the tuition box or email as a means to correspond with the teachers, director, or the owner. Submit your requests, suggestions, comments, questions, etc., in writing and place them in the tuition box or email them to teachers@greenwoodschool.net. Keep in mind that email messages may not get to the teachers until the next business day. Your messages will be printed and placed in the teacher’s box within 24 hours. Please include a phone number where you can be reached and the best time to call.   Health and Immunization Requirements A record of all required immunizations must be on file with The Greenwood School, or you may provide proof of exemption for health or religious reasons. If your child is enrolled in a different school and participating in our after-school program or camp, the immunization record must be on file with your child’s regular school.  Helpful web sites: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/default.shtm, http://www.vaccineinfo.net/index.shtml The Greenwood School staff does not dispense over- the-counter or prescription medications. As necessary, we will assist with homeopathic remedies, but because of the fast pace of our school day, the timing of doses cannot be guaranteed. It may be necessary for a parent to briefly visit the school during the day to administer a dose of remedy or medication. Most medications have side effects that impede a child’s ability to learn and play safely. Side effects of drugs often include sluggishness, hyperactivity, dizziness, irritability, etc. If over-the-counter or prescription medication alters the child’s ability to participate fully, appropriately and safely, the child must be kept at home until fully recovered and medication is no longer necessary. If your child is taking an over-the-counter or prescription drug, please provide the staff with a package insert or drug information sheet from a pharmacist or reputable web site. In the event of an emergency, this information will be given to EMS. Do not bring your child to school if they are ill. Our program is physically demanding and we do not have adequate staff to offer special care for children who are not well. Students must be fever-free (98.6°F) for the 24-hour period following an illness prior to returning to school. A normal temperature is about 98.6°F when taken orally (by mouth). Temperatures taken rectally (by rectum) usually run 1° higher than those taken orally. So a normal temperature is about 99.6°F when taken rectally. Should a student become ill while at The Greenwood School, all parties listed as contacts on the child's enrollment form are contacted, and a responsible party is asked to pick up the student. Students who become ill while at school will be separated from the other students. We will provide a comfortable, quiet place for the child to rest while waiting for his or her parents to arrive. Some contagious infections may warrant a school closing. If we are not confident that we can prevent the spread of a disease, we will close the school until the contagion can be controlled. This might be the case with stomach or intestinal viruses and head lice.  Children enrolled in The Greenwood School must have health insurance coverage for illness and accidents. It is the responsibility of the parent to provide health insurance for the child. The child’s current insurance information must be on file at the school. If you do not have health insurance, a school administrator will be glad to assist you in finding an affordable policy.   Assessments and Screenings Licensing regulations require that enrollees who are four years of age or older by September 1 of each year be screened for vision and hearing at some time during each school year. Parents must provide Greenwood with documentation of the screenings. Although we encourage parents to have a speech screening done, documentation is not required. Teachers may recommend other types of screenings and assessments. The recommended screening or assessment subsequent therapy or treatment may be made a condition for your child's continued enrollment at The Greenwood School.   Classroom Activities and Special Events Parents are responsible for cleaning out their child’s basket and drawstring bag everyday. Check for old food, water bottles, soiled clothes, etc. Make sure that your child has several clean changes of clothes in their drawstring bag. All students are responsible for keeping up with their own belongings. We are not responsible for lost, misplaced or stolen articles such as clothes, gloves, shoes, books, papers and toys. Label everything! A lost and found basket is provided in a designated area. Please do not allow your child to bring toys or games from home. On special occasions, arrangements may be made with a teacher to make an exception to this rule. Communication and planning is the key. Media characters, electronic toys and toy weapons are never permitted. All students are required to participate in all classes, activities and special events. If a child is not well enough to participate or refuses to participate in ordinary school activities, the parents will be called to come and pick up the child as soon as possible. Occasionally, pictures may be taken of students participating in class activities. If you do not want your child to be photographed or to have his or her photograph published, please make this request in writing. We reserve the right to use these photographs for our flyers, brochures, web sites and advertisements without compensation. Parents are discouraged from photographing or videotaping during Greenwood performances and activities. If the photo opportunity is important to you, please speak to the school director in advance about scheduling a photo shoot after the performance. Photos taken by school personnel will be shared via the Internet.   Arrival and Departure Upon arrival at school, the student must be walked onto the school property by an adult and delivered to the teacher in charge. Students must never be dropped off in the parking lot nor may they leave by running out to an adult waiting in a car. The adult that accompanies the child onto the property must sign them in on the school sign-in sheet. [Texas licensing regulation as of September 1, 2003.] Upon being picked up, students are expected to stay with their class and teacher until an adult comes and signs them out. Students are never to walk alone to a car or run out and greet parents in the driveway. In nice weather, children may be outside at pick up time, and held there while the parents go into the building to sign them out and pick up their lunch box and belongings. Our students are expected to demonstrate mature social behavior while at school. After the initial greeting with your child, please have him or her walk with you to the car. Likewise, children should walk onto the campus in the morning without being carried. It is recommended that the students carry their own lunch container. The director must be notified if someone other than a parent or legal guardian will be picking up a student. They will be asked to show identification until staff becomes familiar with them. Be sure you list all alternatives on your child's enrollment form. You are responsible for the behavior and actions of anyone acting on your behalf while they are at The Greenwood School. If a relative or friend picks up your child late, you will be billed for the extra time. Once an adult makes contact either verbally or physically with a child being picked up, the adult assumes full responsibility for that child. Children must follow school rules at all times; therefore, parents are expected to know and enforce the rules once they arrive to pick up their child. Gardens and gardening equipment are off limits to students except when being supervised by staff. Children are not allowed to play indoors without the supervision of a staff member. Clover Garden children are not allowed to play in the Ginger Garden and vise versa without specific permission from the staff member that is supervising them. Please notify the teacher in advance if you plan to pick up your child early or late. When picking up a student during class, please do so quietly to minimize the distraction. Picking up a child during rest time is strongly discouraged. Rest-time is over at 2:30. You must notify the director if your child will be absent from his or her routine bus or carpool arrival. We strive to maintain a natural environment with few reminders of our technical society. When you arrive to pick up your child, be prepared to focus your attention on your child. Please mute pagers, cell phones and two-way radio devices while on school property or leave the devices in your car. Children who are not enrolled at Greenwood may not play at Greenwood during drop-off time or pick-up time. They have not made behavior agreements with our staff, and therefore cannot be held accountable for those agreements. To further complicate the situation, parents do not know all the rules of play at Greenwood. This combination puts staff in the awkward position of correcting a parent who is unknowingly allowing their child to break a play rule. Please do not linger at drop-off and pick-up time. Do not distract staff members that are supervising children. (See the policy section on communication.)   Snacks and Lunches We provide a morning and afternoon snack. (Snack schedule is posted on the bulletin board) If your child will not eat the snack that Greenwood provides, please discuss the situation with the teacher. She may ask you to send a snack for your child on certain days. You may send your own snacks provided they are nutritious (cheese, fresh fruit, boiled egg, sandwich, etc.), and require no preparation. Make sure that your child can self-serve the snack with little assistance from staff. Let your child know which item is intended for snack. You may want to designate the color of the container or tie a ribbon around the snack item. Please provide a nutritious lunch from home. Desserts, cereal bars, pastries and sweets are not permitted. Any sweets will be put aside and returned to the parent. Lunches must meet a high standard for a nutritious balanced meal. Simple sugars have no role in a nutritious meal. For some children, special consideration should be given to the glycemic index of the foods that you send. Consult library references or the Internet for more information about glycemic index as it relates to children's nutrition. Candy, gum and carbonated sodas are not permitted at Greenwood. Partially hydrogenated oils should be avoided. Please do not send snacks that contain these harmful fats. Please do not send chips with the lunch. Carrots are a nice substitute for the crunchiness of chips. The Lunch Box and containers – Please purchase the Igloo Cool 8™ to be your child’s lunch box. Use a cold pack such as "blue ice" or a frozen water bottle. Lunch boxes should not have zippers or latches of any kind. There should be no fabric or nylon straps on any part of the cooler. The cooler must be large enough that a child can quickly drop all containers and lids into the box without special arrangement for fit. Thermoses and coolers must be free from media characters and decorative stickers. Your child's name must be written on both sides of the cooler, on the cold pack and on each container and container lid. Please use durable, reusable containers and cloth napkins. CLOTH AND UTENSILS -- Lunches must include a small towel or cloth napkin and all necessary utensils such as a fork and spoon. Children will use the cloth as a place mat. You may include an additional cloth to be used to wipe hands and face. NO PACKAGING -- Help us prevent litter on the playground while promoting sustainability. Please do not send foods that are sold in disposable packaging such as individual juice packs, Cereal bars, prepackaged applesauce, cheese crackers, fruit cocktail, etc. Do not send plastic straws, paper towels, foil, plastic wrap, zip lock bags, etc. Please do not use glass containers in the lunch box. Do not send food wrapped in plastic, paper or foil. String cheese should be removed from the wrapper at home. Yogurt should be transferred to a reusable container. DRINKS -- Drinks must fit inside the lunch cooler. Drink containers should be spill proof and leak proof. Drink containers must be washable and reusable. Disposable straws are not allowed. Water is required; however, unsweetened soymilk or rice milk is acceptable for a second beverage. Juice may be included as a second beverage, but must be limited to 6 ounces, unless it is diluted. FRUIT--Fruit should be pealed and cut at home and placed in a reusable container, or you may teach your child how to peal the fruit prior to sending it in the lunch box. Please do not send more than half of a banana. Ripe bananas have a very high glycemic index. The half banana should be placed in a container to protect it from bruising. TRASH--Lunches should not contain any trash items. Children will not have the opportunity to deposit items in the trashcan. Naturally occurring wastes such as crusts, pits, cores, seeds, peels, etc. will be returned home in the lunch box. Lunch items that need to be served warm should be brought in an insulated thermos-type container. Staff will not heat food for children. Write the child's name on the outside of the thermos and the top. If children cannot easily eat directly from the thermos, send a plastic dish and we will help them transfer the food to the dish. Children who arrive before 8:00 a.m., may bring a nutritious breakfast to be eaten between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. and a late snack to be eaten at 5:00 p.m.. All of the above rules apply. Make sure that the containers fit in the lunch box cooler.   Birthdays and Celebrations A special circle-time celebration is observed for each child's birthday. Parents should bring wholesome sweet bread or muffins and assist the teacher in serving at snack time. Teachers put a great deal of thought and planning into each child's celebration. Please be considerate and plan the event with the teacher several weeks in advance. Please notify the teacher if you will be unable to attend or participate. If a birthday falls on a day that the school is closed, the celebration will be scheduled on an alternative day that is convenient for the teacher and the parents. Invitations to a party or celebration away from school may be handed out at school only when all members of the child’s class are invited. Place an invitation in each child’s basket. As part of the regular curriculum, students will learn about cycles in nature and special days celebrated in a variety of cultures. Festivals and celebrations of a particular season may be combined for a broader theme. With the help of parent volunteers, we will pick and choose occasions to celebrate and sprinkle them throughout the year. Special days observed at school may include solstices and equinoxes, Chinese New Year, May Day, Halloween, Martinmas, Thanksgiving (Blessing Day), Saint Nicholas Day, Santa Lucia Day, Hanukah, and Christmas/Yule. Please make suggestions for celebrations observed by your family.   Behavior Guidelines and Discipline By keeping these simple agreements, students learn to respect others and play cooperatively and safely. Each morning, Greenwood students will agree to use… * Walking feet (indoors and on concrete) * Listening ears * Golden words * Loving hearts * Gentle hands * Inside voices One of the ways we provide children with a creative, magical, non-biased and non-competitive environment during these early years is to limit their exposure to media characters, i.e., Disney, Barbie, cartoons, super heroes, etc. while they are in our care. This policy applies to clothing, lunch boxes, and thermoses. If a child arrives at school with media characters on their clothing, your child’s teacher may have the child put on their extra clothes from their bag or turn the shirt inside out. We promote self-discipline, self-control and a healthy respect for authority. Physical punishment is never used. We expect students to follow our teachings, rules and directions. We expect parental support in the maintenance of respectful behavior. A brief separation or cooling off period may be implemented. As consequences for inappropriate behavior, suspension from certain activities may be implemented. Repeated inappropriate behavior will result in the child being sent home for the day. If a child threatens or intentionally hurts another child or a teacher, he or she will be suspended immediately and possibly expelled following a parent-teacher conference. Spanking or threats of spanking are not permitted on school property. Violence or threats of violence toward children or teachers will result in suspension or expulsion. The Greenwood School reserves the right to suspend or expel any student without a refund. [The following discipline and guidance policy is set forth and required by the Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Chapters 746 and 747, Subchapters L, Discipline and Guidance]  Discipline must be: (1) Individualized and consistent for each child; (2) Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding; and (3) Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.  A caregiver may only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self-direction, which include at least the following: (1) Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior; (2) Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements; (3) Redirecting behavior using positive statements; and (4) Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age. There must be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline and guidance are prohibited: (1) Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment; (2) Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training; (3) Pinching, shaking, or biting a child; (4) Hitting a child with a hand or instrument; (5) Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth; (6) Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child; (7) Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language; (8) Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed; and (9) Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child’s age. [End of Administrative Code, Title 40, Chapters 746 and 747]   Transportation Aftercare enrollees from Oak Hill Elementary shall be transported to The Greenwood School by the A.I.S.D. bus system. Parents must notify Oak Hill Elementary that their child needs bus transportation to The Greenwood School (8319 Haskel Drive). Students riding on the bus are the responsibility of A.I.S.D. until they are delivered to staff at The Greenwood School. Please direct your questions or complaints to your public school institution. Check with them for rules and regulations pertaining to bus behavior. Parent volunteers and staff may transport students going on field trips. The liability insurance of the driver will apply during transport. Students who are difficult to manage during a field trip may be suspended from future trips. A suspended student may not attend school on the day of the field trip. There is no refund or compensation for suspended time. Children must use child restraint seats according to state laws. If the child is both less than five years old and less than 36 inches in height, they are legally required to be in a car seat or booster seat. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/seatbelt.htm   Hours of Operation The Greenwood School is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. After-school program Mon. - Fri. 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. After-school care will not be offered on selected days as outlined on the school calendar. Please refer to the most recent school calendar for specific closings, early dismissals and events. Reminders are listed in the school newsletter. Early-morning and after-school childcare is available at the drop-in rate of $10.00/hour. Aftercare children must be picked up before 6:00. Please arrive by 5:50 so that you are out the door by 6:00pm. Your account is charged $I.00 per minute after 6:00 p.m. The authorities may be contacted at 7:00 p.m. if no one has arrived or called. Be sure you list several emergency contacts on your enrollment form to avoid communication delays. Holiday closings and early dismissals are listed on the school calendar. Early dismissals will occur on occasion throughout the year. In general, the school will close early when necessary for planning meetings and setting up for special events such as the festivals and celebrations. The Planning Committees may arrange on-site childcare for the children of volunteers during meetings and event set-up. Charges are listed below under Baby-sitting Services. In the event of severe weather, we will make a decision to close the school based on the road conditions and safety concerns for everyone involved. During inclement weather, a class representative or teacher will attempt to contact you letting you know when the school will reopen. Generally, we follow the A.I.S.D. decisions; however, our hours are different so we may make adjustments that they do not make. Please stay in touch, as we do not want to risk having children or staff stranded at the school. You will want to keep a copy of the school directory at home and work.   Tuition and Fees Monthly tuition payments are due on the first of each month. If the first falls on a weekend, the tuition is due on the Friday before the 1st. Tuition is late after the 5th of the month and a $10 late fee will be assessed. Enrollment may be suspended until tuition and late fees are paid. Please place your payment in the tuition box just inside the front door. Greenwood does not give make-up days or refunds for missed days due to illness or school closings Your monthly tuition payments cover the complete cost of tuition for that school year. The tuition rate has been determined with consideration to dates we are closed, possible bad weather dates, and the months that contain five weeks or extra days. Your payment is due on the 1st of each month. If you choose to go on vacation or keep your child out of school for any reason, the student’s place at The Greenwood School is held by your monthly tuition payment. There are no partial or prorated months. Partial months during the school year will be billed at the drop-in, hourly rate. Deposit, application fee, and supply fee are non-refundable. Field trip fees should be paid in cash prior to the field trip. Drop-in care must be paid in the morning before a child is left in our care. If you pick up your child after 6:00 p.m., you will be charged $1.00 per minute that you are late. Please call the school at 512 394-9171 as soon as you know that you will be late. Returned check charge is $25.00. All delinquent accounts will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law until collection of funds is satisfied.   Baby-sitting Services Baby-sitting services during school functions such as meetings, social events and festival setup may be provided for a fee if there is sufficient interest to cover the cost. The money to pay the sitter will be collected from the parents at the time of the event. Parents will pay a fee of $5.00 an hour per child. Parents must sign up for childcare in advance to assure that an adequate number of caregivers can be arranged.   Withdrawal, Re-Enrollment, Changes in Enrollment To provide children with a sense of security, we need the opportunity to prepare them for changes in our enrollment. It is not in the best interest of any child to have their friend disappear suddenly from his or her life. It is also not in the best interest of any child to be suddenly removed from their school with no opportunity to process the changing circumstances and say "good bye." Greenwood, therefore, requires that parents give a full calendar month's notice of withdrawal in writing. If at least 30 days notice is not given, the responsible party will be billed for a month of childcare, plus late charges and any other fees owed the school. Partial months are billed at the drop-in rate. Tuition and fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. In the event that you change your mind about enrollment, tuition and fees cannot be applied toward any other Greenwood program. A $200 re-enrollment fee is assessed to any student returning within six months of withdrawal or dismissal. To change to a different program or schedule, such as full-time to part-time or to withdraw from extended care, etc., you must make your request in writing at least one calendar month prior to the month that you wish to make the change. Changes are contingent upon teacher approval and an opening existing for the space that your are requesting.   Animals and Plants Children are expected to behave compassionately to all animal and plant life. Children may not capture any living creature unless a teacher supervises its capture and the creature is needed for a legitimate educational purpose. All captured creatures must be treated humanely. Under strict supervision, children will occasionally play a part in pest management, such as digging up grubs and feeding them to the chickens or releasing ladybugs in the garden. Children may not be destructive to plants. Children may not pick flowers, pull grass or remove leaves from trees, vines or shrubs unless supervised by a teacher and the sample is needed for legitimate purpose. The Greenwood School currently has two Guinea Pigs on the premises. There are also laying hens in the hen house. There is a parakeet named Sebastian. The Schagen's dachshund, Dixie, is resident at Greenwood, and a guide dog puppy, being trained by Tracy Schagen. Ms. Kristen brings her dog, Amani, to Greenwood on school days. Children will occasionally pet the dogs under strict supervision. Dogs spend most of their time in kennels or locked in a separate room, however they do often share the playground in the early morning. Physical contact with the chickens is not allowed. Physical contact with the Guinea Pig may occur under strict staff supervision. Walking or running after an animal is considered inhumane and is prohibited. Children are encouraged to observe domestic and wild animals, but are to keep an appropriate distance and not attempt contact. It may be educational and fun to have a pet of a Greenwood student to visit the school. Any animal's visit must be announced in writing to all parents at least 24 hours prior to the actual visit. Visiting dogs must remain on a leash that is no longer than five feet and under the direct control of an adult at all times. If the pet is not on a leash, it must remain in a kennel, cage or other secure container as long as it is on the school property. Any visiting pet must have a statement of health and a current vaccination record on file with Greenwood. If the school adopts additional pets, parents will be notified. Donations for pet support are always welcome.     Media Studies show that a moderate amount of television viewing with discretion may benefit school-age children. However, children enrolled in The Greenwood School are not school-age children. Television viewing may actually impede normal language development in early childhood. Any time spent viewing video, television, electronic games, etc. takes away from the time spent actively learning and developing. We ask that you eliminate television, computer and radio exposure all together. However, if you choose to expose your preschooler to media, please do not do it on school days and limit your child's viewing to less than two hours per week. Television programs and advertisements are full of gender bias, stereotypes, aggression and violence. Many programs teach children that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems. These images are contradictory to what we teach at Greenwood. In the good vs. evil scenario, we do not believe that violence is justified by the fact that a "good" character is fighting an "evil" character. Please make sure that you are aware of the program content, and that you are not undermining our lessons of peace, equality and compassion. Children at Greenwood are not allowed to play-out or discuss stories and images from television and movies. We will redirect their play or conversation and hold a conference with the parents to discuss the problem. If the behavior continues after redirection, the child may be suspended or expelled from Greenwood.   Dress Code By age three, children should be able to dress and undress themselves at school with limited assistance from staff. If your child is not able to operate buttons and zippers, then they should wear clothing without those types of closures at school. While we are willing to gently coach and direct children that are having difficulty with dressing, we encourage independence in all matters of personal care and hygiene. Over-all type pants are discouraged because of the difficulty fastening and because the straps often fall into the toilet. One of the ways we provide children with a creative, magical, non-biased and non-competitive environment during these early years is to limit their exposure to media characters, i.e., Disney, Barbie, cartoons, super heroes, etc. while they are in our care. This policy applies to clothing, lunch boxes, and thermoses. If a child arrives at school with media characters on their clothing, your child’s teacher may have the child put on their extra clothes from their bag or turn the shirt inside out. Sunscreen is required and insect repellent is encouraged during the warmer months. Parents should apply sunscreen and insect repellent before leaving the child at school. Parents are advised to use sunscreen containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Insect repellent should be effective against mosquitoes and chiggers and applied to the clothing and exposed skin. Seven percent DEET is recommended. No accessories please. Jewelry, belts, suspenders etc. are not allowed at school. These items will be removed and placed in the child's basket. Hats that protect from sun or cold are encouraged. On most days, children will wear their rain boots or water shoes on the playground. Shoes get badly soiled and may not be worn indoors. Rain boots should be a good fit for the child’s foot. Shoes from home should be sturdy and close-toed, with a rubber sole. Children should be able to run, skip, jump and climb in their school shoes. Leather and wood soles are inappropriate because they slip on tile and wood surfaces. Children often drop logs and rocks on their own feet Shoes should provide protection from abrasion. Crocks are not permitted because the rubber is soft and easily penetrated by sharp objects such as cactus spine, metal, and glass. We strive to keep our playground free from such hazards, however, this is an old property and children often dig up old metal or glass that was buried decades ago. Slightly worn shoes are better than new shoes. New shoes often cause blisters. Wearing them around the house a few hours at a time with thick socks will break in the new material without harming the feet. If the shoes or boots are new, please make sure the child is wearing quality socks to help cushion the foot. We understand that some children are fashion conscious. However, fitness and sensory integration are our priorities. Straight skirts, long dresses, tight slacks, sarongs, etc. don't allow full-range movement and freedom from worry. Please insist that your child dress appropriately for all types of school activities and current weather conditions. If your child cannot be convinced, bring a change of clothes and ask a teacher for assistance. Children are often more cooperative once that arrive at school. Stains happen. Teachers cannot promise that students' clothes will survive the day. Art and play naturally put clothes at risk. Save the new and expensive clothes for other occasions. Knitted materials often get caught on shrubs and fences, and we do not always use washable paint during art activities. Please make sure your child has a hooded raincoat at school. Students are not to wear cosmetics such as eye shadow and lipstick except when necessary for performances or festival costumes. Inconspicuous, non-toxic body art is acceptable as long as it does not pose a distraction for other students. Camouflage print is not permitted at Greenwood. Camouflage generally symbolizes hunting and military activities; both are counter to Greenwood philosophy.  The subject of either is too complex for comprehension by preschoolers.   Emergency Situations Greenwood staff will call 911 in the event of an injury or serious illness that cannot be adequately treated with a typical first aid kit. Parents will be called after the phone line is clear and the situation is in the hands of EMS. In the event of a neighborhood evacuation, we will relocate children to the Oak Hill Volunteer Fire Department on Circle Drive. For a building evacuation, we will keep children outside on the playground if possible or we will relocate children to the Fix’s house next door, east of Greenwood. In the event of any evacuation, we will attempt to contact parents by phone and leave a note on the front door   Water Activities During warm weather, Greenwood staff may provide for activities involving six to ten inch deep pools of water. Parents should apply sunscreen on their children before leaving them at school. Children are required to wear water shoes and swimsuits during water play. Toddlers may be required to wear a swim diaper.   Field Trips Field trips are rare at The Greenwood School. In general, school field trips for preschoolers are difficult to manage and have little educational value for the children. It is preferred that parents organize their own family trips to enrich their child’s understanding of the world. If a field trip is planned, it will be announced at least 2 days in advance. Students must have parent's written permission for field trips participation on file at the school. Parent volunteers and staff will transport students on field trips. Field trip participation will be optional. Any children that are not participating in the field trip will be cared for by Greenwood staff at the school. See additional information under Transportation.