This month's newsletter topics

Hands On Art and Play Turns 16 – Fall Morning Preschool Details  – Our Afternoon Programs for the Fall  –  Back to School – First Day of School – September Tuition and Billing – Immunization Form – See You Soon!

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Hands On Art and Play Turns 16!

Hands On Art and Play is excited to be celebrating our 16th 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 11th year at Hands On and our 12th year here at St. David’s!
It is wonderful to see how Hands On has grown into a morning preschool program, summer camps, afterschool arts classes and a wonderful community of over 40 families and devoted teachers.
As our oldest graduates are entering their first 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!
 

Fall Morning Preschool Details

Newsletters  – The newsletters  and billing for Hands On will be sent to your email address,  so if your email changes any time throughout the school year, please let us know right away.   Every Hands On family will receive an email in mid-September with the names of our students, as well as their parents’ names, email addresses and phone numbers.
Additional Information  – All of our school information is available on the website as well as in the classroom on the parent information board on the wall at the end of the cubbies.   Our school calendar is also on our website as well as located by our main door.  Parents can sign up for for early drop off, drop in days or vacation days on the big calendar next to the classroom door.
Photos  – Hands On posts pictures on Facebook and Instagram.  Make sure to “Like” or “Follow” our pages as many of the photos we take throughout the school year are posted.  We never identify children by name on either of these sites.  Many of the photos will also be included on our website as well as in our yearbook.  Class and individual photos will be taken of each child in the late fall.  Purchasing these photos is optional.
 

Thursdays

Mindful Life Yoga with Kym.
For ages 3-5 years old.
Tuesdays 12:45-1:30pm
2016 Fall Session: September 15—December 15
Mindful Life Yoga introduces simple yoga poses and age appropriate mindfulness concepts through stories, movement, music and games. During this class, students will learn basic yoga positions and breathing techniques to reinforce mindfulness and relaxation in their daily lives.  Mats are provided.
Cost: $156 for the 13-week session or $12 per class on a drop in basis.
To register, please call Kym at (971) 337-4470 or email mindfullifeyogapdx@gmail.com
 

Back to School

Tuesday, September 6 –
Parents and children drop in anytime between 10 AM and noon to see your classroom, make new friends and meet your teachers.
Wednesday, September 7 – 
First day of the school year. School begins at 9 am.
 

First Day of School

Our first day of school is Wednesday, September 7. 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 & Billing

Tuition

September invoices will be emailed to you the first week of August. 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 7 to May 26. 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 will be charged a one-time fee of $100 for the music program. The music fee can be divided into two $50 payments, one in September and the other in January.
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 morning preschool program to attend these classes. Classes are held at Hands On and/or in the Grace Room upstairs in the church. More information and registration for these programs will be available beginning in September and classes start mid-September.

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.
GET FORM HERE
 

See You Soon!

We are all very excited to start another great year of preschool!
Please feel free to call us at 503-239-8521  or email us with any questions you have before the beginning of the school year.