This month's newsletter topics
Back to School – Frist Day of School – September Tuition and Billing – Afternoon Classes – Early Drop Off – Late Pick Up – Drop In Days and Credits – Immunization Form – See You Soon!
This month's newsletter topics
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Hands On Art and Play is excited to be celebrating our 17th school year! Hands On started in my home with 6 children, my youngest daughter included. We moved into classroom space in a neighborhood church that winter and Teacher Serena joined us as well as 6 more children. Teacher Kathy joined us in 2003 and this will be Teacher Julie’s 12th year at Hands On. Teacher Serena welcomed her new baby this summer and will be working two days a week so we will be adding a new teacher into our program this year.
It is wonderful to see how Hands On has grown from a small 2 day a week class to morning and afternoon preschool programs, summer camps, afterschool arts classes and a wonderful community of over 40 families and devoted teachers.
As our oldest graduates are entering their second year of college, we are excited to welcome our new class of students and families.
Hands On is looking forward to a great school year!
Back to School!
Tuesday, September 5th –
Parents and children drop in anytime between 10 AM and noon to see your classroom, make new friends and meet your teachers.
Wednesday, September 6th –
First day of the school year. School begins at 9 am.
First Day of School
Our first day of school is Wednesday, September 6. School begins at 9 AM and ends at 12:30. Please walk your children in and help them find their cubby, coat hook, and own name to put in the basket. Children can then get started on a table activity. You are welcome to work with your children at the table for a few minutes to help them get settled. Some children have a
hard time saying goodbye, but it seems to work the best to say goodbye and that you will be back after lunch. Pick up time is 12:30 each day.
Please make sure your child has a water bottle and a lunch from home each day. Cloth, steel, or any non-breakable food containers are the best for preschoolers as glass containers break too often.
It is also a good idea to have an extra set of clothes to leave at school, and a coat or sweater for outside play. We play outside every day, even in the rain, so feel free to leave boots or gloves in your child’s cubby.
September Tuition and Billing
Your first tuition payment is due no later than September 1. This will secure your child’s space in the preschool. If you need to make special payment arrangements, email Jennifer.
All other tuition payments are due by the 1st of each month and late after the 5th. You will be charged a $25 late fee if you haven’t paid by the 5th. A $25 return check fee will be applied to all returned checks.
The tuition is an annual fee made up of nine equal monthly payments. Our school year runs September 6 to May 25. Holidays are already calculated into the tuition structure so you are not paying for days we do not have school.
All students attending Tuesdays and Wednesdays mornings will be charged a one-time fee of $125 for the music program. The music fee can be divided into two payments, one in September and the other in January. Children enrolled in the afternoon preschool on Tuesday or Thursday will be part of the dance and yoga classes at no additional charge.
Afternoon Classes
Hands On and St. David’s work together to offer art enrichment classes after school. You don’t have to be enrolled in our preschool program to attend these classes. This year we are pleased to offer dance on Mondays and Tuesday, Spanish on Wednesdays and yoga on Thursdays. You can sign up and learn more about these programs on their website.
Rachael Brown Dance (Mondays & Tuesdays) –
To register for this class please download this registration form.
Spanish with Portland Early Learning (Wednesdays) –
Portland Early Learning Project is excited to be offering Spanish again for the 2017-2018 school year at Hands On Art & Play. Our classes are energetic and fun and are taught by highly trained teachers who foster emerging language skills in small class settings. Students learn early literacy and Spanish language skills through picture/word pairing, hands-on reading activities, moving, singing and game playing in a fun and comfortable atmosphere. Classes will be on Wednesdays from 12:45-1:30.
More information can be found at:
Yoga Playgrounds (Thursdays) –
Please go to www.yogaplaygrounds.com for more info.
Early Drop Off
Early care, 8:30-9AM , will be billed at a rate of $5 per use and is billed the following month after use. Children attending 4 or 5 days of school a week may drop off early free of charge.
Late Pick Up
Pick-up time from morning preschool is 12:30. If your child is not picked up by 12:35 PM, you will be charged a late fee. $15 for the first 15 minutes you are late and $40 if you are later than 15 minutes. If you are 15 minutes late teachers will begin calling your emergency contact numbers to arrange for someone to pick up your child.
Drop In Days and Credits
Drop in days and credits will show up on the invoices following the month of use. A drop in day is $40. A day credit is $35.
If Hands On is closed due to bad weather you will receive a make-up day. Look at our school calendar by the cubbies to see our drop in day and credit calendar.
Immunization Form
Oregon law states that all children in school or day care (including preschool and Head Start) must have the required immunizations or a medical or religious exemption. Here is a link to the immunization form for you to print, fill out and bring to school. If you are a returning family, the forms will be available the first week of school to add any updates.
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer.
Download the Immunization form here.
See You Soon!
We are all very excited to start another great year of preschool!
Please feel free to call or email us with any questions you have before the beginning of the school year.