RULES & REGULATIONS

Arrival & Departure (Sign In & Sign Out) - It is imperative that arrival and dismissal times be closely adhered to. The time before class is vital for teacher preparation to ensure a smooth and productive day. Promptness in a child’s life is very important. Children who arrive late, or who are picked up late tend to feel uncomfortable.

Tardiness can be very disruptive to the teachers and classes in session, and creates an awkward beginning for a child’s day. Children arriving at school on time have the opportunity to meet with friends and adjust their schedule before their work cycle begins. If a child arrives late to school adults do not need to further disrupt the class by entering the classroom, please say good-by to your child outside the classroom.

Each child must be accompanied by an adult into the building. Children must be signed in and out of the school. Please be sure to sign your child’s attendance record for each day. This requirement is a state law and assures the School that your child is actually in attendance. California law requires the school to dismiss children only to those authorized to take the child from the school—parents or others on file with the school office. Any changes must be in writing.

Health & Medication - Each child’s health form must be filled out BEFORE they begin school. State law requires your child’s medication to be in the original prescription container with written instructions and a signed release permitting staff to dispense the medication. The medication must be delivered to the classroom teacher by the adult, not the child. Do not send your child to school on days when any of the following symptoms are present: fever, rash, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, discharge of mucous from nose or eyes.

Signs of illness may be non specific. The child may look and act differently. There may be unusual paleness, irritability, unusual tiredness or lack of interest.

Antibiotics prescribed until the medication has been given for at least 24 hours. Many illnesses are considered non contagious after administration for 24 hours. Please ask your physician specifically and relay this information to the center's staff. Any new medication, never prescribed before, should be given for 24 hours before returning to the center.

Some Helpful Hints on Illness
TEMPERATURE : 100.6 rectally. Child should be without fever for 24 hours before returning to school CONJUNTIVITIS which is an eye infection commonly reffered to as “pink eye“. The eye is generally red with a burning sensation and there is thick yellow drainage secreted. The eye may get stuck after sleeping. RASHES that you cannot identify or that have not been diagnosed by a physician. BRONCHITIS: This can begin with hoarseness, cough and slight elevation in temperature. The cough may be dry and painfull, but generally becomes painful.
IMPETIGO; A skin condition that shows up as red pimples. These eventually become small fluid filled spots surrounded by reddened area. When the blister breaks, the surface is raw and weeping.
DIARRHEA : Watery or greenish bowel movements that look different and is much more frequent than usual. Ths school usually uses a criteria of two diarrhea BM’s before calling the parents for pick up. MEASLES: Incubation period of 10 - 14 days. First symptoms: fever, runny nose, cough, rash. Period of communicability: from cough, runny nose - nine days; after rash appears - five days. GERMAN MEASLES: Incubation period 14 - 21 days. Same symptoms as measles. Period of communicability: four days after start of rash. CHICKEN POX: Incubation period 13 - 17 days. First symptoms - slight fever and rash. Period of communicability: not more than one day before nor six days after appearance of rash. MUMPS: Incubation period: 12 - 26 days. Symptoms: fever, swelling, and tenderness in salivary glands. Period of communicability: seven days before symptoms until nine days after appearance of symptoms. POISON OAK: What can be said? Late at night when you’re sleeping...?!! HEAD LICE: No nits, no lice—clothes, beds, everything and everyone needs the treatment if we’re to prevent infestations. COMMON COLD: Discharge? Green stuff? Stay home. Fever? Stay home. Vomiting? Stay home. Diarrhea? Stay home.


Clothing - Play clothes are encouraged—simple, washable, sturdy and easy-to-manage clothes are recommended

. The school has many activities that include paints, oils and solutions that stain clothes. Montessori environments are “hands-on” classrooms—clothes get dirty and stained. Pre-school children should be able to manage their own clothes—take them on and off. Belts, leotards, and overalls are often too unwieldy for young children. Avoid “accidents” with clothes they can remove. If they can’t yet tie their own shoes they should be wearing velcro-closing shoes. Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes are recommended.

Clogs, “flip flops,” and other fashion driven footwear are potentially dangerous and a deterrent to active participation in all aspects of school activity. (Clothing motto: Function not fashion!)

  • All clothes must be labeled. Clothes without a name tag that are lost (and we have many) will be collected and donated to the Goodwill store.
  • A complete change of clothing or two must be kept at school.

Sleeping Facilities - The law requires us to provide sleeping facilities for children under 5 years of age. However we have sleeping facilities available for all children.

Parents to supply and keep one (1) crib sheet and one (1) blanket for your child. These are taken home every Friday, washed and returned on the following Monday.

Food Guidelines.

  • Snacks - Two snacks are provided free of charge by the school daily.
  • Lunch- Parents much send lunch for thier children.
  • If you are sending lunch, please help them pack a well balanced, nutritional meal, excluding candy and
    other highly sugared foods with excessive quantities of additives, salt and preservatives. Nutritious foods include whole grain products, fresh fruits and vegetable and proteins. Chips, nuts and other chokable foods are not appropriate for infant/ Toddler diets.
  • No glass containers. Please make sure your child’s name is clearly marked on lunch boxes and interior containers—which your child should be able to open and close.
  • Lunches are to be packed in a container with the child’s name on it and need to include his or her lunch beverage. No plastic bags! No juice boxes! We are trash-free! Reusable containers that your child can open and close.
  • Lunch is a ceremonial meal at school, with several key lessons based on developing independence. We (every student in every class) compost, recycle, and reuse.

    We are glad to help plan and implement the introduction of new foods to your child. Each new food should be given at home for four days prior to use at the school. This will enable you to check for allergy or other negative reactions, other than dislike, such as vomiting. Please make sure that the care provider is made aware of the times and the amounts of food to be given. These guidelines were suggested by the school consulting pediatrician.

Discipline - At Rainbow Montessori, we use the latest and most innovative approaches to solving behavioral problems that your child may have. One of our guiding principles is to reduce or prevent behavioral problems from happening before the fact, by observing the following

  • Respecting and trusting children
  • Listening to children
  • Using positive approaches
  • Encouraging and accepting expressions of feelings
  • Carefully preparing the environment and giving choices
  • Setting realistic limits
  • Giving plenty of advance notice when activities must end and carefully planning for transition times
  • Being a model for the behaviors you would like to see increased in children.

These guiding principles are then adopted into an intervention strategy. These include comment on behavior rather than the child, catching children being good, only making statements you are willing to back up and allowing children to learn the natural consequences of their behaviors. Once a behavioral problem has manifested itself we deal with the situation as follows:

1. Time-out.

When children are disruptive or out of control, they may need to be removed from the situation for a few minutes. One to five minutes depending on the child’s age. (No more than five!). This could be a particular chair or quiet spot as the time-out place. This is a calming device for the child and the teacher. When the time out is over, communication with the child is followed through with an activity.

2. Trade-off.

When children scribble on the wall, we give them paper and crayons. When they race dangerously indoors, we take them outside for a game of chase. When they throw books at each other, we gather them for a story or organize a bean bag toss game.

3. Fix-up.

Another strategy we use is asking children to help fix up the results of their actions. If they throw or spill food, we calmly offer them a cloth to clean it up. If they break a toy, a suggestion is made that perhaps they can help fix it. If they make another child cry, have them help with the soothing and make it a learning experience.

As you can see we take an innovative approach to care for your child. No corporal punishment, caning or any form of physical punishment is administered at Rainbow Montessori School. If all else fails, parents may be contacted at their workplace and asked to talk to your child to ascertain the situation and make every effort to calm their child. In some cases if the school feels necessary, parents may be asked to take their child from school for part of the day or a few days until the situation stabilizes. Parents may be asked to consult their physician to ascertain if a medical problem exists that may be the cause of the child’s behavioral problems, so appropricate action can be taken for the well being of your child. In an extreme case, if the child’s behavior still does not improve and disrupts the activities of other children in the school, the school reserves the right to dismiss your child from school.

Emergencies - In the event of an accident or sudden onset of illness the school will not hesitate to seek proper care for a child. The child’s individual emergency instructions on file in the School office are consulted immediately and the parents are called. If necessary the child will be transported to a hospital emergency room by the police or fire departments, or by private ambulance carrier. Consent statements signed by parents will accompany the child so that treatment can be given immediately. It is IMPERATIVE that PARENTS keep emergency contact information up-to-date.

Care Supplies (Infants only) - You will be providing food, bottles, (formula to be prepared at home and put into individually marked plastic containers, diapers (disposable are required) and extra clothing, crib sheets and blankets. No glass or styroform containers are permitted as these can be dangerous, especially for toddlers

Breast Feeding (Infants only) - If your schedule and location permit, your child may be breast-fed at the center. Please discuss with the director at the time of enrollment.

Before Starting Center Care (Infants only) - If your child has been breast-fed at home and will be using a bottle at the school, please introduce your child to the bottle prior to enrollment. This does not mean you must switch to formula if you do not wish. Breast milk can be expressed, frozen, then warmed and fed to your child by bottle. Please discuss with the Director, if you need further information.

Replenishing Supplies - It is the responsibility of the parent to check your child’s cubby to ensure a sufficient supply of extra clothes, crib sheets, blankets, formula and baby food, diapers and diaper supplies are available as applicable and provided sufficiently. Please make sure that all items are marked with a non toxic marker and remain readable as identification frequently becomes difficult. As clothes are outgrown, replacements need to be made and marked again.

Late Pick-Up - Every child picked up late will be charged a late fee of $5.00 for every 5 minutes. It is payable to the staff member who is waiting with your child.

8.30 a.m.- 2.30 p.m. (Half Day Program)
Late fee charges after 2.30 p.m.
6.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m. (Full Day Program)
Late fee charges after 6.30 p.m.

Authorization For Pick-Up - California law requires the school to dismiss children only to those authorized to take the child from the School—parents or others on file with the school office. Any changes must be in writing. The designated person must show valid identification (driver licence) prior to the release of the child.

Special Notes on infant/toddler program

  • Infants set their own schedule and we basically follow the schedule the parents want and also what the child wants.
  • We can follow a basic schedule with older toddlers.
  • Children’s diapers are changed as needed, very frequently on an average day we change a minimum of six times.
  • Children are fed when they are hungry.
  • Infants/Toddlers attention span is very limited. Hence the activities we do with them are very short and simple and is age appropriate.