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Cornerstone School: Family Handbook |
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Cornerstone School: Family Handbook |
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MISSION STATEMENT The Cornerstone School is deeply committed to laying the foundation upon which each child can build in order to become the architect of his or her own future. The foundation consists of an open, inquiring mind, a loving heart, and a solid inner confidence that permits respect for our earth and its inhabitants. The groundwork is laid in an environment of intellectual challenge, and close, supportive relationships among students, teachers, and parents. [top]
MARIA MONTESSORI: THE WOMAN, THE EDUCATOR The Montessori experience is the result of the observations and genius of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952). Upon graduation as the first woman medical doctor in Italy, Dr. Montessori became interested in the education and training of young children. Dr. Montessori's observations of children convinced her that each child carries within himself or herself the person he or she will become. Each child's potential is reached through a process of striving, aided by a growing sense of order and self-discipline. Each child must be free to develop at his or her own rate. Montessori designed materials and techniques which allowed her students to work in a way previously considered beyond their capacity. Montessori quickly saw a new and valuable relationship develop within the classroom. No longer was the student dependent on the teacher. The child was now free to use the environment and other children as tools in his or her learning. The teacher (director/directress), through the study and observation of children, prepares the environment to attract the child. As the child is drawn toward learning, the director/directress is free to provide small lessons and observe each child. In turn, each child is free to chose enticing work and repeat it continuously, if desired, until he or she is satisfied. Thus fostered at an early ace, concentration and self-discipline become the cornerstones upon which the child's confidence and competence as a learner are built. Montessori children grow learning, to observe, to think and to judge. Natural curiosity and tendencies toward learning become the roots from which the older child evolves and emerges as a socially confident and intellectually disciplined adolescent. Dr. Montessori died in 1952. Today, after almost 75 years of international application, the Montessori method thrives in many countries. In the United States, more than 3,000 schools have been established since 1957. In addition to the national Montessori certification now available to ensure quality Montessori care and education, the National Independent Schools are preparing to include Montessori schools in their certification process. [top]
HISTORY OF THE CORNERSTONE SCHOOL The Cornerstone School was incorporated in December 1985 as a non-profit organization with the goal of meeting the growing need for a non-traditional private preschool and elementary experience in the seacoast region in New Hampshire. Parents of Montessori students immediately joined to establish the school and continued to work in support of the school's mission. Classes were first in session in September of 1986. The school opened with two classes: one primary and one elementary. The founding, student body was comprised of forty-two students ranging in age from two and one half to twelve years of age. We have added to the original classroom building to accommodate our growth at all levels and provide a quality before and after school care setting for our students. In 1992, additional class space was completed to house the expansion of the elementary program. The Common Room/Gymnasium and classrooms were opened to students in the winter of 1997. Although we have enjoyed rapid growth, we are committed to a school which is small enough to maintain a feeling of community. Ultimately, we hope to house approximately 140 students in the facility at High Street. This number will allow diversity within both the student body and faculty. Thus we can maintain individual attention and foster the development of each child in our care. While the faculty maintains individual memberships in several different organizations, the school is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS). In order to qualify for that standing, the school must meet national standards for the faculty and the facility. Consultations must be executed biannually with AMS to assure the necessary ongoing dialogue which promotes professional growth. Currently, Cornerstone has been invited to be part of the joint Montessori-Independent Schools effort to prepare the appropriate certification process for Montessori schools within the National Independent School body. [top]
ADMISSIONS Children two and one-half to twelve years of age may be considered for admission. Admission shall be determined after consultation between the administrator and the director/directress of the appropriate class. The school arranges a tour of the facility with parents. To be considered for acceptance, each family must apply and pay a onetime registration fee. Following the initial visit, a second appointment allows directors/directresses to meet with the student candidate; the administrator chats with the parents. Admission priorities are in accord with the following school policy:
Because a complete Montessori education is built on a series of three-year cycles from preschool through the elementary program, admission to the program at extended day, six to nine-year-old level and nine to twelve-year-old level without prior Montessori experience is considered only after careful discussion with parents. All admissions are provisional for new students. The first six week period each year is one of observation and adjustment for the students and the faculty. If for any reason during this time it is apparent that a Montessori placement is not appropriate for a newly admitted child, the director/directress will be in direct contact with the family to consider an extended transition period with specific goals to be achieved within our classroom or to examine alternative placement possibilities. If a child is asked to leave or a new family chooses to leave during this time the tuition contract is non-binding, but the deposit and materials fee are non-refundable. If any new student leaves the school after the six-week period (with the exception of any child relocating out of the area), the tuition contract is binding and the payment is expected in a timely fashion. Materials fees and deposits are non-refundable. [top]
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY The Cornerstone School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or religion. [top]
BUSINESS OFFICE All business transactions should be directed to the office. The office is located inside the front entrance of the school on the right. Office hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday during the regular school year. During summer vacation the administrative staff works a limited schedule, but messages may be left by calling or writing the Cornerstone office. [top]
ENROLLMENT The enrollment process includes submitting admission forms and a one-time application fee. Admission will be provisional until the parents submit the following fees and forms: tuition deposit, materials fee, developmental history and personal data sheet, emergency forms and physician's report (which covers the child's general health, physical and emotional status, special needs or problems and immunization). A child may be exempted from the immunization and medical report requirement if: a) his or her physician recommends against immunization on a medical ground or b) his or her parents sign a notarized medical exemption application based on religious beliefs. Parents exempting their child in this way must be aware that no child care institution is required to admit a child who waives immunization. Also, if an outbreak of measles or other contagious disease occurs, any child who has not been immunized must be kept home until the contagious period for all the children is over. [top]
PARKING Cars entering and leaving the school driveway should proceed around the drive in a counter-clockwise direction. Students enter and exit vehicles from the right lane and on the right side only. Cars will stop at the appropriate walkway for children to enter the building. Be prepared for cars to stop, park or pull out to exit. If it is necessary for you to park for any reason, please pull into one of the parking spots opposite to the building. Proceed to the building using one of the sidewalks. Parking, spaces close to the building will be used by the directors/directresses. In this way, we can more easily control traffic on the circle during drop-off and dismissal. It is essential that we move traffic through the parking area smoothly in order to avoid lines or parking in the street. There is never any parking on High Street. Please do not leave unattended cars parked in the driveway while running, even if locked. Do not leave children unattended in cars. Do not leave children unattended in cars. [top]
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE Cornerstone is proud to be part of a rural setting,. Please respect the calm of the surroundings by approaching the school slowly and safely. Arrivals: The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. for Elementary and 8:30 a.m. for Primary. Children may arrive between 8:15 and 8:30. Children entering, the building, prior to 8:15 will be considered part of the Children's House program and will automatically be charged accordingly. It is important to have your child arrive at school on time (see LATENESS). The morning greeting and plans for the day are a valuable part of your child's day. All Primary children will be met and escorted into the school by a staff member from the child's class. Elementary children will go to the appropriate classroom and check in with their director/directress. Departures:
NO CHILD MAY LEAVE THE SCHOOL WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN A PARENT-AUTHORIZED DRIVER UNLESS EITHER WRITTEN OR FIRST-HAND VERBAL PERMISSION HAS BEEN SECURED THROUGH THE SCHOOL OFFICE FOR EACH OCCURENCE. We appreciate your understanding of this policy. However inconvenient it may seem, it safeguards your child against an unexpected or confusing incident. Early Dismissal: Parents are requested to inform the office in advance if they plan to pick up their child prior to his or her scheduled dismissal time. This will help the director/directress to prepare the child in a timely way without disturbing the classroom. Rainy Days: On rainy days, children will be kept under cover. Staff members will escort children from the normal exits. [top]
LATENESS Repeated unexcused lateness to school is observed and recorded by the director/directress and reported to the administrator. The parent is contacted by phone and asked to correct the problem. In the event that tardiness is disruptive, it must be stopped within twenty-four hours of the request. Otherwise, a week is allowed for adjustment. In the event that the request for ending tardiness is ignored, a conference with the parents, administrator and director/directress will be called and a request in writing for punctual arrival submitted. If an agreement cannot be worked out, the director/directress and the administrator may wish to withdraw the child. [top]
OBSERVATION OF THE CLASSROOM After the first four weeks of school, parents are invited to make appointments to observe. One observer is welcome to the classroom at a time, so be aware that impromptu class visits may not be possible. Please check in at the office before visiting the classroom. After signing in, an observation sheet will be given to you with guidelines for your stay. You will be escorted to the classroom. Please sign out at the office after your visit and leave the observation response there. The director/directress will call you to answer questions concerning your visit. [top]
PARENT/DIRECTOR CONFERENCES Parent/director conferences are required three times annually and are scheduled as part of the school calendar in the early Fall, Winter and late Spring. Junior Class conferences may be scheduled independently due to high school admission requisites. If an emergency on conference day makes an appointment inconvenient, early release days have been scheduled to provide an alternative to the conference dates. Children's House will be available on these days in order of first call. Regular Children's House students will have precedence on these days, but parents must call to confirm their need. A director/ directress may invite a child to a conference when appropriate. Special meetings may be scheduled at any time during the year as desired by the school or the family. Please Note: These are child-centered environments. The classroom, coatroom, the playground and during class hours are not times for conferences and conversations with teachers. During school hours their attention is to be focused on the children. Please understand, the teachers will excuse themselves from conversations to rejoin classroom activities. Teachers will be glad to conference by phone or in person at school if you leave a request for them to set an appointment. In case of emergency, teachers can be reached at home no later than 7:00 p.m. [top]
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Cornerstone will publish a newsletter every two weeks, which will include news of the school community, individual classes and announcements of school and parent events. Each class director/ directress will write a class newsletter to parents periodically to inform families of class activities, words to songs and upcoming events. [top]
DISCIPLINE The Cornerstone School enrolls students from 2 1/2 through 14 years of age. In order to provide an environment which promotes respect and safety for each individual and the space we share, the following policy will be applied as is developmentally appropriate. If there is a problem at school, parents will be notified. The student and the teacher will work toward a resolution. During that time we appreciate parental support. If there is a persistent problem and it is necessary to involve parents, it is done with a spirit of cooperation. Through conferences, coals will be mutually agreed upon. If the goals are not met within an allotted time, further professional help or other school placement will be discussed for the child. Parents or directors/directresses can call upon the Administrator as facilitator at any time. When further consequences after inappropriate behavior are necessary they will be determined by the Administrator upon consultation with the faculty. Consequences may include community service, suspension or expulsion. Should it become apparent that a family cannot be supportive of the school's mission or goals, the Administrator may notify them not to return for the balance of the year or in the coming year. The Board of Directors is notified in the event that disciplinary action is taken. [top]
ACADEMIC HONESTY A cornerstone of Montessori philosophy is respect: respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment. Because this is an educational environment, intellectual honesty is a quality that we hold dear. As a community, trust is earned through caring and working together. The faculty at Cornerstone takes their work with each student seriously. We work with both their academic and social needs. It is our expectation as a teaching community that through our modeling and community efforts the students understand and do not take for granted the importance of respect and integrity. Should it become apparent that a student is not clear about the importance of these qualities and how they relate- to academic issues, we will take the following course of action.
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ACADEMIC TESTING Did you say a test? That's not Montessori! Well, it is. In a Montessori environment it is important for a student's director to observe and measure your child's work and growth. We generally have students demonstrate their skills for us as individuals during the third part of each lesson a child is given: Part one: Lesson
Introduction; Annual standardized testing at The Cornerstone School is supported as a Practical Life exercise. We want the students to learn to take tests and be confident of their preparedness for the process. Testing begins at the Elementary level. Tests for all students will be scored to obtain raw scores. At the Lower Elementary level Grade One and Grade Two tests will be scored, but scores will not be shared unless specifically requested. Raw scores for Grades Three, Four and Five will be available to parents as a routine part of discussion relating to a student's performance. For Grades Six, through Eight teachers will prepare raw scores and percentile rankings in a reporting format which can not only be discussed with parents, also included as part of a school application. In addition, Juniors will include some preparation for taking the SSAT'S in their work each fall. [top]
HOMEWORK Homework is periodically assigned at each level of the school following the Primary years. Homework is designed to reinforce the concepts of carrying, work to and from school, following directions, setting up work space, planning time and observing due dates. This is a learning process for your child. Research supports the notion that the goal of homework through the elementary years is to reinforce patterns for future years. So, assignments might be fun, practice and sometimes creative and multisensorial. Homework focused on acquisition of knowledge becomes more frequent in the later Junior High and High School years. You can best support your student by providing a means for securely carrying work, and establishing time and space in the evening to plan and accomplish assignments. Modeling behavior by turning off the television and reading or working quietly in proximity to your child will be most helpful. While asking questions and helping your child to formulate questions can help build your student's confidence doing their work for them does not. At school the children describe that as stealing their learning. The process of learning to do work at home takes time and patience for all. [top]
EMERGENCY CARE In case of a life threatening situation, the school will call 911 and request assistance. An ambulance will be dispatched. The ambulance will call their station for instructions as to where to take the injured child. In the meantime, the school will contact the parents to advise them of the situation and where the child has been taken so they may proceed there. In the case of non-life-threatening injury, first aid will be given and the parents will be called immediately. The parents will tell the school what procedure they wish the school to follow. If parents are unavailable, the procedure indicated on the Emergency Health Form will be followed. Parents are advised that while paramedics will give treatment to minors in a life-threatening situation, hospitals will not give care for a non-life threatening situation without parental consent. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PARENTS PROVIDE THE SCHOOL WITH CURRENT PHONE NUMBERS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. [top]
ILLNESS AND MEDICATION For the sake of others as well as the child, parents must keep any child at home who has a fever or other symptoms of illness. Should a child become ill at school, he or she will be isolated. Parents will be notified and will make arrangements to take the child home. Those parents whose children are exempted from immunization due to medical or religious belief will be notified when communicable illness is present in the school. The children must be kept home until officially notified to return. In order to maintain a state of wellness in the school community, the school may exercise the option to exempt any child from attendance due to illness. If it is necessary for a child to take any medication, the prescription must be currently dated with a doctor's note stating that the child is not contagious and requesting (with exact instructions) that the prescriptions be administered by the school. A form must be filled out by a parent and attached to the doctor's note. This form is available from the office. Not permitted at school are: vitamins and non-prescription drugs (e.g. aspirin, cold medicine or other over the counter medication). [top] |