Information Guide

Preschool Program: Children must be 3 prior to September 1

Junior Kindergarten: Children must be 4 prior to September 1

Senior Kindergarten: Children must be 5 prior to September 1

Q. What are the Preschool schedule choices?

A. The schedule for Preschool is five days a week and will be offered as follows:

      Morning Half-Day Program (8:15-11:50 a.m.)
      Full Day Program (8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.)

Q. What is the deadline for committing to a half or full day of Preschool?

A. We would like to have your choice selections before decisions are sent. Your choice will not impact our decisions; we need to know so we can send appropriate acceptance letters and contracts. The deadline for new siblings and currently enrolled Catherine Cook students is January 7, 2022. For new students, the deadline is January 21, 2022.

Q. What will my child be doing if they stay for the afternoon?

A. After nap/rest time, Preschool students will have recess, free choice time, snack, and story time activities.

Q. Will we be able to choose fewer than five days a week for Full Day students to stay in the afternoons?

A. The Full Day is a five day program. Over time, Full Day curriculum will include projects that last over time and so children may feel that they are missing out if they are absent from afternoon sessions.

Q. How does lunch work?

A. All Preschool and Junior Kindergarten students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Parents can either sign up for the Lunch Program or send a lunch prepared from home. Please do not send lunches with peanut butter, peanuts, coconut, or any kind of tree nuts to protect students with allergies.

Q. How do snacks work?

Parents will provide two daily snacks for their children. The school has spare snacks on hand in case a child occasionally forgets one. Please make sure the snacks you are sending to school are allergen-free and that you inform your child’s teacher and the School Nurse of any food allergies or sensitivities your child may have so that we can ensure everyone is bringing snacks that are safe for the whole classroom.

Q. How do you handle allergies, sensitivities, and other health issues?

A. We encourage all families to learn about how to protect children with food and other allergies, asthma, and other health issues. To learn more, see the Catherine Cook Allergy Guidelines. Children wash hands with soap before snacks and lunch and after bathroom visits and recess; each classroom has a bathroom and hand sanitizer. Prior to the beginning of each school year, the School Nurse, teachers, and the Division Head will meet with families of children with allergies or other health issues to learn about your child’s specific health needs, and to develop an Allergy Action Plan or other protocols to keep your child safe and healthy at school.

 

Preschool nap/rest time is scheduled for 60 minutes. We recognize that many three-year-olds may resist or not need to go to sleep, but they need this quiet time to consolidate the learning and to refresh for the afternoon and evening. Children may lie down or sit on their cots and relax with a book if they do not sleep. Each child may bring three items for rest time comfort (e.g. a blanket, a stuffed animal, and a favorite book).

Junior Kindergarten nap/rest time is scheduled for 60 minutes at the beginning of the year with the expectation that this amount of time will diminish gradually over the year. Like Preschoolers, four-year-olds may resist or not need to go to sleep. Children need quiet time to consolidate their learning and to refresh for the afternoon and evening. Children who do not sleep can relax with a book. Each child may bring three items for rest time comfort (e.g. a blanket, a stuffed animal, and a favorite book).