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Welcome to school!
Your child's first school is an education for you, as a parent! We
have organized the handbook in alphabetical order; see the table of
contents, scroll down, or find your topic on this page.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
- Apparel: Please help your child choose
play clothes to wear. We are an extremely active school, and
occasionally we get very messy. A helpful stain remover is Simple
Green.
Please
help your child choose clothing that is easy to manage when he/she needs
to go to the bathroom.
Please
be sure footwear is safe for climbing and running and for damp
grass! We try to go outdoors as often as possible, so please send
appropriate outerwear.
Label clothing, then look
in our lost and found, located near your class’ coathooks.
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- Arrivals: :
It is best to arrive at the scheduled time. Too early is awkward because the
teachers really do need their preparation time, and too late is hard on
your child. In addition, class
arrival and departure times are scheduled to minimize impact on our
neighborhood. To help you if
you do arrive early, we have a basket of books in the large activity room
so you and your child can have a quiet time together.
The
curb right in front of the school is reserved for parents who have to
negotiate heavy carseats for younger
siblings. To help arrivals (and
departures) go smoothly for everyone, if you park right in front of the
school, please pull as far forward as possible. While it is tempting to stop right in
front of the entrance, it is more considerate of others to pull forward.
After settling your child into school, if you want to
converse with other parents, the deck and large activity room are great
places for chats. Some families
with younger siblings also enjoy reading a story or two in the large
activity room before heading out the door.
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Auction: Our annual auction is a highlight of our school
year. This year’s dinner auction
takes place on Saturday, April 26th. Please mark your calendars so you can
join us at this terrific event.
Also, please see the separate Auction page in this handbook so you
can start planning on how you can help with this most important fund-raising
effort.
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- Birthdays
and Half-Birthdays:
We celebrate these special days.
Often, parents want to send a snack to share at snack time. Please note this on the calendar so
everyone is aware of your plans.
Please send just a simple snack.
This is not a full-blown birthday party, so please don’t
send party favors.
Because of children with allergies, please send either
the complete list of ingredients or the packaging which shows
ingredients. Please try to avoid any peanuts, traces of peanuts or peanut oil
and any tree nuts. Also, we strongly, strongly discourage
cupcakes because they result in sticky, crumbly messes, the clean-up of
which cuts into our class schedule.
We are happy to suggest alternative snacks.
If
your child cannot eat various foods, please send a few special items so
he/she can have an appropriate treat with the others. We’ll keep these in a labeled
container.
Party invitations (as
in, NO!) – Even
if the entire class is invited to a party, please do not put
invitations in the children’s cubbies or baskets. Please mail them. Extra phone lists should be on each
lesson plan board.
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- Book
Orders: Periodically
you will receive flyers from publishers of children's literature. There never is any obligation for you
to order, and unless you choose their book club option, there never is
any obligation for subsequent orders. You may pay with cash or check or
you can go directly on-line to order from Scholastic Books. If at any time you order books and
don't receive them, please see Carolyn.
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 - Carpools: We encourage carpools! Please give us a note so we know which
children are allowed to ride in which cars. A safety note –
please observe child restraint system laws and make sure everyone
has the proper car seat or booster seat.
Also,
please make an effort to get pertinent school handouts to each
child’s parents. Please
deliver papers and please pass along information on school reader
boards.
It is still important,
though, for all families to get into the building occasionally so you can
keep in touch.
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- Children's Cubbies: Each child has a special cubby or
basket, which you should check for announcements, newsletters, book
orders, and art projects. If you
drive a carpool, please help your passengers gather their things. There are usually bags nearby so you
can separate the children’s stuff.
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Class
Calendars: Be sure to read and save the Class
Calendars for your child's session.
It will help you know what your child is learning. We try to be accurate with our
information, but sometimes mistakes or changes occur. Please watch for notices on lesson plan
boards, on classroom doors or on outside reader boards. If you carpool and haven't received
information lately, please check with a teacher. You may also view these on-line at Curriculum Guides and Class Calendars
page.
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- Conferences: We are always willing to share our observations
of your children with you. Most
often, these will be informal conversations or phone calls. It’s okay to call us at
home. This is not an
intrusion! If you need a more
formal conference, we will schedule one at any time. It
is most helpful for you to have spent time in the classroom before we
confer.
In winter,
parents of older preschoolers often have kindergarten readiness
questions. By then, each family
should have had at least 2 chances to help in the classroom and observe
their child. If you want, we will
share our assessments to try to help you in your decision-making.
The bottom line is ---
please remember that is fine to call us at our homes. Sometimes that is a more relaxing way
to talk. Some of the teachers also
welcome emails. Please check the
class phone lists for information.
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- Curriculum Outlines: Be sure to read and save the
Curriculum Outline for your child's session. It will help you know what your
child is learning. We try to be accurate with our information, but
sometimes mistakes or changes occur. Please watch for notices on lesson
plan boards, on classroom doors or on outside reader boards. If you
carpool and haven't received information lately, please check with a
teacher. You can also find this on our Curriculum
Guides and Class Calendars page.
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- Departures: PLEASE READ - FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL
THE CHILDREN!
Because going home
time can be confusing with excited children and lots of adults in a small
space, we ask your help in the following ways:
Please do not be late. Your child assumes the worst, no matter
what we say. (Also see Overtime Fees.)
As we
finish, teachers need to watch to be sure all the children leave with the
appropriate adults. While we like
to share conversations with you, please understand that our primary
responsibility at this time is the children's safety.
Tues-Wed-Thurs
parents – You must come into the building.
Even if you are standing a few feet away on the deck, for the
safety of your child, we will not allow your child out the door.
Please do not let your
children run ahead of you. If you and another parent stop to talk
before your children are in your cars, please be especially aware of your
children. (Also see Overtime Fees, Releasing
Children, and “Traffic Safety”.)
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- Diapers and Beyond: Children in the youngest class
(Tues. & Thurs.) should come in disposable diapers or pull-ups if not
completely trained. Please send extras and extra clothes in a labeled ziploc bag which we will keep in the bathroom.
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- Discipline: Our ultimate goal is
self-discipline and consideration for others, so we approach situations
as learning experiences. Everyone has the right to be safe at school, and
collectively as staff, parents, and helpers, we assist the children in
learning how to interact positively.
Usually, we can re-direct a
child to a more positive action or we can help children talk out their
differences. Sometimes, we may have to remove a child from a situation,
but we never leave such a child without adult supervision. We also try to
involve the child in arriving at solutions. We do not insist that
children say "Sorry", because sometimes children just mimic the
words. We do try to encourage the children to see how they can comfort
each other.
We communicate with parents
so we can work together. If a problem seems to be developing, we may ask
families to come observe in class. Families are welcome any time
to observe and take part in our school.
We want to be an inclusive
school so we may have students with various needs, including behavioral
needs. We would hope that families would celebrate all children's steps
toward self-discipline and consideration for others. Sometimes, however,
staff, family, and possibly outside resource people may come to the
conclusion that our school setting is not the appropriate one for a
particular learner.
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- Dogs & Cats at School: Our insurance policy specifically
requests that the students not come in contact with dogs or cats during
school times. So, if you travel to school with your pooch in the car,
please leave it there --- please don't walk Fido to the door! If your child wants to show off a new
puppy or kitten, please arrange to do so around the corner and “off
the school clock”!
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-
E-mails
From School: We send occasional e-mail notices about work parties
or other school announcements to everyone for whom we have an address. We
don’t use this for “unofficial” messages, so we
won’t clog up your inbox. You also may find this a convenient way
to communicate. Carolyn reads hers
daily, so your message should get through. During school hours, the most expedient
address is wirkmanc@verizon.net.
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- Emergency Information Forms: : Included in this handbook is a special
Emergency Release form. For your peace of mind and your child's safety in
the event of a major emergency such as an earthquake or unexpected winter
storm, please complete and return this form. Remember to inform us of
any changes as the year goes on.
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- Field
Trips: We
believe field trips are an important part of our curriculum and will be
having various trips throughout the school year. The trips progress from
neighborhood walks for the youngest students to full-blown adventures for
the oldest children. We almost always meet at the trip location, so we
give everyone maps and directions. We encourage you to arrange your own
carpools.
Information comes home in
with the Class Calendar and in the parents' newsletter Sharing Times. We assume each preschooler
is going, unless you notify us otherwise.
There may be additional
charges for trips to offset costs of admission, parking or
transportation. If this presents a
problem, please see your teacher or Carolyn. We don't want to exclude anyone. (Also
see Scholarships.)
If any fathers,
grandparents, aunts or uncles would like to help, they are also welcome,
but they should plan on really helping. Some trips are open to siblings,
while some are not appropriate.
Occasionally, dates of field
trips may have to be changed due to inclement weather or unforeseen
conflicts, but we will try to give adequate notice of schedule changes or
cancellations. The school answering machine should have schedule changes.
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- Fires, Natural
Disasters and Accidents:
Please see the specially marked handouts. It is especially important that
you give us any changes in your emergency phone numbers and instructions.
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- Illness: PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME IF
HE/SHE HAS:
1. A cold. Keep him/her home
the first three days.
2. A temperature greater
than 100o. Please wait 24 hours after the fever subsides
before allowing him/her to return to school.
 3. A rash on the face, behind the
ears, legs, arms or trunk of body.
4. Ear ache, sore throat,
red runny eyes, cough, or runny nose.
5. Dull eyes or if your child
is overly tired and/or cranky.
6. Diarrhea, vomiting or a
headache 12 hours prior to school.
7. Lice. Keep him/her home
until nits are gone.
If you miss school and have
time to call, we appreciate knowing why your child is not in school. We
particularly appreciate a call if several days are missed or if there is
a contagious condition of which we need to make other parents aware.
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- Informational Flyers
from Outside Organizations: Occasionally we are asked to send home flyers from
music, dance, gymnastic or vacation Bible schools, etc. This may also
include commercial outfits selling children's or family products. We do
not particularly endorse or not endorse any of these. We trust your
judgment as adults to discard anything not pertaining to your lifestyle.
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- Late
Fees: Unless
a prior arrangement has been made with Carolyn, tuition paid after the 10th
of any month needs to be accompanied by a $10 late fee.
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 - Lending
Library: In the large activity room we have a
small library available with parenting books, tapes and videos. There are some special books to help
children deal with hard topics like death or social skills. In addition, there are some videos for
children, which are fun and age-appropriate. There are a few videos more suitable for
older children as well. Please be
considerate of the other families and return items in a timely fashion.
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Letters of Recommendations for Other
Schools: We
take these requests very seriously and spend considerable time completing
them accurately. We will complete
any requests for special needs classes.
We will complete 1 request per family for early kindergarten or
private kindergarten admission.
Each additional request from a family needs to be accompanied by a
$50. fee to cover the teachers’ time. Please include this when you give us
the paperwork. We will not
complete any requests for other preschools because we value your children’s
involvement at our school and we feel we offer excellent education for
all children.
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 - Medications:
Since children are only in school for a maximum of 2-1/2 hours, there
would probably be no reason for teachers to administer prescription medicines.
Important exceptions, however, are life-saving devices such as Epi-pens
or inhalers. These should be in well-labelled,
original packaging, and teachers should be provided with clear
instructions. We keep these in an easily accessible and clearly marked
location in each classroom and carry them with us on all field trips.
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- NSF
Checks: Any
checks returned marked NSF need to be resubmitted with a $20 processing
fee.
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Objects
From Home: Please - no gum! Also, no food from home, unless we
have made arrangements because your child has allergies. Toys should also
stay home unless your child is having trouble separating and the toy is a
"security" item. Let the teacher know, though, so she can help
the other children understand.
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 - Opportunities to
Support our Community:
As part of our curriculum, we help the children learn how to give back to
our communities. For example, at various times of the year, we provide
opportunities for the children to bring in food for the food bank or toys
for a toy drive or pet supplies for the animal shelter. We try to keep
these low key and approp riate to the children's understanding.
Of course, no one should feel pressured to participate. If you do want to
contribute, try to involve your child. Please share suggestions for such
activities with Carolyn.
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- Opportunities to Support
our Schools:
One of the features of our school is the wonderful support and
encouragement families offer the staff and each other. There are many
ways to get involved - helping in your child's class, contributing to the
parent newsletter, helping on field trips, or helping with the upkeep of
our school.
We also encourage you to
share any special talents or family customs, so all our children can
benefit.
In addition,
we provide equipment and children’s activities for our Norkirk Neighborhood
Picnic in late August. We welcome
your help if you also live in the neighborhood.
Finally, like most
non-profit schools, tuition does not cover all the expenses. Through the
generosity of many supporters, we are able to keep our campus and equipment
in excellent shape and are able to provide lots of "extras" to
enhance the children's learning experience. In addition, we are working
to retire the considerable loan we took on to finance the school's
remodeling.
We also have
an ongoing “Pass the Hat” opportunity. If you decide to make an out-and-out
contribution, it is tax-deductible.
In addition, we can be designated as a recipient of United Way
(our number is 9064727), Microsoft Giving Campaign or Boeing Good
Neighbor Fund giving (A-50410). Several
community-minded businesses, such as Microsoft, offer matching funds as
well, so we encourage you to check your employer’s policies and
also to let grandparents know about these opportunities to help their
grandchild’s school.
Our biggest effort is our annual Dinner Auction held this year on
Saturday, April 26th.
Each family is expected to help in some way, and we hope you can
also attend. Please see the
special Auction page in your Handbook and watch for on-going
announcements, information and invitations to help. We try to include everyone in the
preparations because we want everyone to feel ownership in our
community. On one hand, this
experience is good training for future opportunities at subsequent
schools or other organizations. In
addition, our Dinner Auction is, hands down, the most fun way to
contribute as you get to work with and better know new friends.
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- Overtime
Fees: We try
very hard to finish on time, and the children expect to be picked up on
time. Not only do the teachers have a lot to do at the end of each
session, your child becomes worried, no matter how we try to comfort him
or her.
We certainly understand if
there is an emergency such as a flat tire or if a family needs a little
leeway in order to pick up other children at other schools. If the latter
is the case, please make arrangements with your child's teacher.
Unfortunately, we have had problems each year with some people who are
consistently late because they apparently try to squeeze in "one
more thing". This has led us to reluctantly form the following
policy:
Unless there is an
emergency or we have an agreement about a family's need for a different
pick-up time, we will charge $10.00 for every 10 minutes (or portion thereof)
after a 5-minute grace period. We do not offer extended childcare.
 Each classroom has a clipboard on
which late pick-ups are noted so we can see if a pattern is developing
which needs to be corrected.
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- Parent Agreement Form: Included in the hardcopy of this
handbook provided to each family are two copies of the Parent Agreement
Form. We need one signed by both parents, please, and returned. The other
is for your records. If you have questions, please call Carolyn.
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- Parent Helper Days: Please see 1st page of
this Handbook. Since children
often think Mom or Dad is theirs, alone, it is helpful to prepare your
child by telling him or her that you are coming to help ALL the
children. Be sure to accompany
this with a hug and assurances that your child is still the most special
one!
We count on
each family taking its turns. If
the parents of a family cannot help, we are delighted to have other
family representatives come in, as long as they understand that they are
there working to help all the children, not just their own.
As school
starts, each family signs up for their desired days. If a family doesn’t select their
total, we will assign days. Then
families can arrange any trades with others in their class. Please try to keep track of your
helping days. To help you, we will
post names and dates for upcoming helpers. If we do not have a helper on any given
day, we reserve the right to cancel class.
If for
whatever reason, your family has trouble meeting your obligation, please
see Carolyn so she might recommend some other fine schools which do not
have this requirement.
We sincerely
thank you for your vital part in helping us provide a vibrant, successful
educational experience for your child.
We hope you see this as an opportunity, not drudgery. We hope this sets the tone for your
involvement throughout your child’s educational path.
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- Parking and Parking Lot: Please be respectful of our
neighborhood. If you park on the
street, please observe our neighbors’ mailboxes and driveways. If you have a stroller or wheelchair,
our accessible ramp is located behind the rambler, off the alley. You are welcome to pull in behind the
teacher cars for a short length of time, but please remember to never
totally block the alley.
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Phone
Lists: Unless
you notify us via your returned Parent Agreement, the class phone list
will include this information for each child:
Child’s full name
Phone
Parents’ first names
Home address
Email address
These phone
lists are posted in the classrooms, office and in our emergency
backpacks. They are carried by the
teachers and kept at their homes, and each family in the school receives
a copy. If you have particular
information you would prefer to NOT be printed, please use the Parent
Agreement to tell us. (The
emergency and teachers’ copies show all information.)
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 - Registration for the
Next Preschool Year:
No one is automatically registered for next fall's school year. Information comes home in January, and
the teachers are happy to share suggestions about your child’s next
steps. All currently-enrolled
families or formerly-enrolled families will be able to register before
new families, but you need to please pay attention to the announced
registration date. Some classes do
fill rapidly, so please act in a timely fashion. If you are undecided about
kindergarten, we suggest you reserve a preschool spot "just in
case", because we will refund your money if you let us know by
August 1st.
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- Releasing Children: We can only release your child to
the people you have designated, so if a different adult is picking up
your child, please send us a note or give us a call. If we don’t know the person, we
may ask for ID. If you have
arranged a carpool, please write it down for us. (Also see Departures.)
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- Scholarships: :
A limited number of work scholarships are available in case a
family finds itself in need. Usually,
a family helps prepare materials for the children to use. Scholarship arrangements are usually
for the entire school year, but we can also offer short term
scholarships. Please ask for an
application.
In addition, if a
particular field trip with a fee presents a problem, please talk to your
teacher or Carolyn. (There is no
need for paperwork for this request.)
We don't want anyone to forego a trip because of finances.
All
discussions and decisions remain confidential.
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- "Sharing Times": The school publishes a newsletter
called Sharing Times. ". This is another way to keep up with our
calendar of activities. You may
view issues on-line at the link above.
Our editor always welcomes suggestions or articles to
include. You may email any
contributions to AnneMarie.
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- Snacks: The school provides snacks each day
(unless a family sends something special).  We try to teach healthy eating
habits, but even so, there sometimes may be a particular snack to which
you object. Please read the lesson plans in your classroom, so you can
talk to your teacher if you have a concern.
We do check on food
allergies or restrictions. While we try to provide snacks that all can
eat, we do have to work within a budget, so we may ask parents of
children with food restrictions to provide some snacks that are
especially liked by their children.
If someone in your family
has special cooking skills or a menu item to share, please see your
teacher so we can work it into the schedule.
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-
Suggestions: We always welcome comments and
suggestions. Occasionally, we ask families to complete a school survey.
All of these suggestions and comments are considered and if not acted
upon, we at least try to explain why via the newsletter.
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Summer school: Watch for information and special
registration material. We must
have specific summer registration paperwork for each child attending.
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- Suspected Cases of Abuse: Under Washington State Law, school staff are obligated to report suspected cases of child
abuse. For your information, a good non-profit community resource for any
questions you might have is the Children's Response
Center in Bellevue, 425-688-5130.
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- Tuition: Tuition is payable on the first school day of each month, and
no later than the 10th. After the 10th,
please include a $10 late fee. If you need to make an alternate
payment schedule, please arrange with Carolyn. Checks may be made
payable to Kirkland Preschool and deposited in the tuition basket near
the lesson plan board. We can
accept VISA/MasterCard payments or we can hold pre-dated checks for
you. Please see Carolyn to make
arrangements. Monthly tuition will
not be adjusted for days missed due to illness or family vacations.
(Please see the section under "Withdrawal and Re-enrollment".)
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- Visiting: Parents are always welcome
to visit. Occasionally, however, if teachers and family have agreed that we
need to help the child with separation anxiety and we have agreed on a
course of action, we may strongly urge parents to not linger or return
early until the child has developed a sense of confidence.
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 - Weather Related School
Closures: One way to check our status is to log onto the Lake
Washington School Districts “emergency closure” section of Public School Emergency Communication
System. If Lake Washington School
District is even an hour late, then we are
totally closed. This is because many of our families come from areas
which receive more severe weather than downtown Kirkland, and we don’t want
anyone to drive in hazardous conditions. Unless the school’s electricity
is down so there is no answering machine, you can call the school number
to confirm whether we are in session.
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- Web
Site: You're looking at it! Our web site can keep you up to
date with most of our regularly printed material. The web site displays the class
calendars, school newsletters, and much more. For safety’s sake, no
children’s last names appear.
(A piece of artwork or a quote from a child may show a first
name.) Also, we only use
children’s photographs if we have your permission (via the Parent
Agreement Form). Usually, we delay
running pictures until a few years after a child has attended our school.
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- Withdrawal and Re-enrollment:
If a student is withdrawn from the school, his/her place is filled
by any names on our waiting list.
If space is available for re-enrollment, a new registration fee of
$50.00 must accompany the request.
The registration fee is non-refundable. If you are withdrawing, please notify
us as soon as possible, so we do not charge you tuition for subsequent
months. Fees are not normally
refunded for partial attendance.
If a family takes a trip, for example, tuition still needs to be
paid.
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© 1999-2008, Kirkland Preschool. All photos used
with parents' permission.
Last updated January 6, 2008
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