FAQs for Parents
W
hat are your enrollment options?
The Harvey Browne Preschool is a nine-month school starting in August and continuing into May. School hours are from 8:50 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Children entering our Kindergarten program attend school five days a week. We also offer a five-day program option for four-year-olds; a three-day option for three- and four-year-olds; and a two-day option for two-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church operates a separate Parents' Day Out program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You may contact the church for more information.
How much is tuition and do you offer scholarships or discounts?
Tuition and registration fees are adjusted yearly and varies depending on whether your child is enrolled in Kindergarden or enrolled for five, three or two days. We do offer a discounted tuition for members of the Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church. Tuition is payable in three installments, on May 1, October 1, and February 15.
There is a financial aid program. Applications for financial aid must be received before March 1 for the following school year.
The Harvey Browne Preschool is a nine-month school starting in August and continuing into May. School hours are from 8:50 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Children entering our Kindergarten program attend school five days a week. We also offer a five-day program option for four-year-olds; a three-day option for three- and four-year-olds; and a two-day option for two-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church operates a separate Parents' Day Out program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You may contact the church for more information.
How much is tuition and do you offer scholarships or discounts?
Tuition and registration fees are adjusted yearly and varies depending on whether your child is enrolled in Kindergarden or enrolled for five, three or two days. We do offer a discounted tuition for members of the Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church. Tuition is payable in three installments, on May 1, October 1, and February 15.
There is a financial aid program. Applications for financial aid must be received before March 1 for the following school year.
To find tuition rates for 2011-12 click on the application tab.
What are the teacher qualifications?
Our teachers meet the rigorous standards required by NAEYC. All teachers have a college degree and hours from an accredited university in Early Childhood Education. In addition teachers complete a minimum of 24 hours of professional development each year.
Do you have a lot of faculty turnover?
We have very little faculty turnover. Our director has been the director at Harvey Browne since 1987 and most teachers have many years experience at Harvey Browne Preschool.
How will I know how my child is doing at Preschool?
We will communicate with you in writing on a regular basis keeping you updated on all the activities in the class. Additionally, you will receive an informal checklist assessment about your child's progress along with work samples and written notes to help you know exactly how your child is doing at school. Anytime you have concerns or questions, we also encourage you to call the teacher or write a note. There are parent teacher conferences scheduled in the fall and spring to share information about your child but additional conferences can also be scheduled at any time at the request of a parent or teacher.
How do I contact my child's teacher?
You may contact teachers through phone calls (502 895.2577), conferences, and written notes sent in on the backpacks. We will return all calls and notes promptly. Our teachers are busy with carpool and greeting the children before school. Teachers also have carpool duties or other things to get to after school. Therefore, we request that parents do not walk in to talk to teachers. Instead, please put a note in your child's backpack and the teacher will contact you by phone or call to schedule a meeting.
How do I contact my child's teacher?
You may contact teachers through phone calls (502 895.2577), conferences, and written notes sent in on the backpacks. We will return all calls and notes promptly. Our teachers are busy with carpool and greeting the children before school. Teachers also have carpool duties or other things to get to after school. Therefore, we request that parents do not walk in to talk to teachers. Instead, please put a note in your child's backpack and the teacher will contact you by phone or call to schedule a meeting.
Why do you have a carpool?
Approximately 230 children attend Harvey Browne Preschool — and nearly as many cars entering and leaving the parking lot in a short time frame. The carpool allows us to ensure all children arrive at and depart from school safely.
How does carpool work?
Arrival time is 8:50 a.m. to 9 a.m. Please do not drop off children before 8:50 a.m. During this time, Harvey Browne faculty members will be at the doors to supervise the arrivals.
We encourage you to drop children off through the carpool line. A Harvey Browne faculty member will help your child get out of your car and walk your child safely into the school, whether they will be escorted to their classroom.
If you are late, you must park and walk your child to class.
Dismissal time is 12 noon. At the end of the day, we use your carpool number to ensure your child is waiting at the door when you pull up. After all the cars have turned off their engines, a faculty member will walk your child out and help your child get into the car safely. Harvey Browne faculty members will bring your children and place them in the car. We ask that you wait to fasten seat belts until you've pulled out of the drop off / pick-up area to facilitate an efficient dismissal.
Please note if your child is in Kindergarten or stays for the extended day, the pick-up procedure is different.
Children will only be allowed to leave with their parents or someone the parent has authorized in writing to pick up their child. Your child will not be released to anyone but you or someone you have authorized in writing.
How should I prepare my preschooler for the first day of school?
We know that all children will go through a period of adjustment as school begins. We will work closely with you to make the transition as smooth as possible. Here are a few things you can do to help:
Approximately 230 children attend Harvey Browne Preschool — and nearly as many cars entering and leaving the parking lot in a short time frame. The carpool allows us to ensure all children arrive at and depart from school safely.
How does carpool work?
Arrival time is 8:50 a.m. to 9 a.m. Please do not drop off children before 8:50 a.m. During this time, Harvey Browne faculty members will be at the doors to supervise the arrivals.
We encourage you to drop children off through the carpool line. A Harvey Browne faculty member will help your child get out of your car and walk your child safely into the school, whether they will be escorted to their classroom.
If you are late, you must park and walk your child to class.
Dismissal time is 12 noon. At the end of the day, we use your carpool number to ensure your child is waiting at the door when you pull up. After all the cars have turned off their engines, a faculty member will walk your child out and help your child get into the car safely. Harvey Browne faculty members will bring your children and place them in the car. We ask that you wait to fasten seat belts until you've pulled out of the drop off / pick-up area to facilitate an efficient dismissal.
Please note if your child is in Kindergarten or stays for the extended day, the pick-up procedure is different.Children will only be allowed to leave with their parents or someone the parent has authorized in writing to pick up their child. Your child will not be released to anyone but you or someone you have authorized in writing.
How should I prepare my preschooler for the first day of school?
We know that all children will go through a period of adjustment as school begins. We will work closely with you to make the transition as smooth as possible. Here are a few things you can do to help:
-
Share in your child's happy anticipation of going to Harvey Browne Preschool.
-
Encourage your child to manage his / her own clothing and make sure all outer clothing is clearly labeled.
-
Dress your child with easy to manage clothing — elastic waists and loose-fitting clothing.
-
For safety reasons children must wear shoes with rubber soles that either Velcro or
tie. Sandals, flip flops, crocs, cowbow boots, dress shoes, etc., make participating in play activities difficult and unsafe. - Arrange for your child to have a number of experiences with and without parents.
- Give your child lots of opportunities to do simple tasks.
- Provide a place which your child can independently hang jackets and coats without your help.
- Encourage your child to be independent.
- Encourage good health habits, such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing; starting each day with breakfast, as well as healthy eating throughout the day; washing hands before eating; playing outdoors; and establishing a regular bedtime routine that ensures your child gets plenty of sleep.
- Give your child opportunities for experiences with children his / her own age.
In the rare case when a child is unable to make the adjustment in a reasonable amount of time, we reserve the right to terminate the child's enrollment at Harvey Browne Preschool.
How do you handle discipline?
We use positive guidance techniques. No physical discipline or emotionally shaming or hurtful methods are used. We see discipline issues as an opportunity to teach children in a proactive way. If there should be a behavioral issues that cannot be managed at school, we will contact you confidentially and work with you to resolve the issue.
What's your weather cancellation policy?
Harvey Browne Preschool will be closed due to inclement weather whenever the Jefferson County Public School Elementary schools announce their closing or delay. If Jefferson County Public Elementary schools close early, Harvey Browne Preschool, and Extended Day (Lunch Bunch) will close at the noon dismissal time. You may pick your child up earlier if you wish.
What extra-curricular activities do you offer?
All children attend music class each week. Depending upon the age of the child, Creative Movement and Spanish are also part of the curriculum. There is a computer class that is offered once a week in the afternoon. We also incorporate art, math and science concepts, and language into our Circle Time, plus many other various activities during the day.
We also enrich and extend classroom learning by taking field trips throughout the year. This allows children to enjoy a safe and happy experience outside the classroom. It gives children an opportunity to ride in a school bus, which national statistics show is the safest transportation on the road. It gives children another opportunity to grow their feelings of competence as they journey into new adventures. We encourage parents to attend at least one field trip or special class activity during the year.
How do you handle discipline?We use positive guidance techniques. No physical discipline or emotionally shaming or hurtful methods are used. We see discipline issues as an opportunity to teach children in a proactive way. If there should be a behavioral issues that cannot be managed at school, we will contact you confidentially and work with you to resolve the issue.
What's your weather cancellation policy?
Harvey Browne Preschool will be closed due to inclement weather whenever the Jefferson County Public School Elementary schools announce their closing or delay. If Jefferson County Public Elementary schools close early, Harvey Browne Preschool, and Extended Day (Lunch Bunch) will close at the noon dismissal time. You may pick your child up earlier if you wish.
What extra-curricular activities do you offer?
All children attend music class each week. Depending upon the age of the child, Creative Movement and Spanish are also part of the curriculum. There is a computer class that is offered once a week in the afternoon. We also incorporate art, math and science concepts, and language into our Circle Time, plus many other various activities during the day.
We also enrich and extend classroom learning by taking field trips throughout the year. This allows children to enjoy a safe and happy experience outside the classroom. It gives children an opportunity to ride in a school bus, which national statistics show is the safest transportation on the road. It gives children another opportunity to grow their feelings of competence as they journey into new adventures. We encourage parents to attend at least one field trip or special class activity during the year.
Do you offer extended care?
We offer a before school program known as Early Birds from 8:00 a.m. until 8:50 p.m. The cost of the Early Bird program is $5.00 per day.
We offer a very flexible extended day option, Monday through Friday, from 12:00 p.m. until 3 p.m. It begins the second week of school. You may sign up for certain day or days
each week for the whole year, on a monthly basis or you may sign up as you need it. We do offer a discount for regular use and to families with more than one child enrolled in the extended care program. Please contact us for current rates.Because the extended day program is very popular, it is advisable to call as soon as you know that you need the program. Children enrolled at Harvey Browne Preschool can attend extended day in the afternoon even if it is not one of their regularly scheduled school days.
Children must bring their own lunch and drink.
Do you require uniforms?
No. However, during preschool years, we're trying to encourage children to gain as much independence as possible, so we do ask that children wear clothes they can manage easily. For instance, please choose clothes with large buttons or elastic bands, rather than zippers, snaps, or belts, so your child can dress and take care of bathroom needs without assistance. We do lots of fun, messy things at school, so please make sure your child wears clothes appropriate for playing, running, and exploring. For safety, children must wear tennis shoes that either Velcro or tie. Sandals, cowboy boots, flip flops, dress shoes, and other types of footwear make participating in play activities difficult and unsafe.
No. However, during preschool years, we're trying to encourage children to gain as much independence as possible, so we do ask that children wear clothes they can manage easily. For instance, please choose clothes with large buttons or elastic bands, rather than zippers, snaps, or belts, so your child can dress and take care of bathroom needs without assistance. We do lots of fun, messy things at school, so please make sure your child wears clothes appropriate for playing, running, and exploring. For safety, children must wear tennis shoes that either Velcro or tie. Sandals, cowboy boots, flip flops, dress shoes, and other types of footwear make participating in play activities difficult and unsafe.
