Parent Handbook

Welcome to Little Village Preschool. Our school endeavors to provide a warm, nurturing, creative and stimulating environment for your child. All aspects of child development, social, emotional, cognitive and physical are respected and nurtured.  

The school is specifically designed to foster skills and abilities, which will aid your child in his/her life-long learning process. Our goal as teachers is to aid the natural development of your child in a safe and caring environment.  

Little Village Preschool welcomes children of all races, religions, and ethnic origins. Children will be accepted on a space available basis once it has been determined that Little Village Preschool can meet the needs of your child. 

Tuition payments are calculated for the school year of September through August and split into 12 equal payments. Tuition is due on the 1st of each month and considered late on the 5th. No refunds, exchanges, or “make-ups” will be made for time missed, sickness, holidays or vacations during the school year, with the exception of a pre-arranged summer vacation accommodation. Families will be allowed to pro-rate a total of two weeks during the summer months of July and August in order to accommodate family vacations providing vacation request is received by the deadline of June 1st. 

Drop-in hours may be available in 1/2 hour if space is available. Please contact the director to request drop-in.

If you fail to sign in or out, there will be a $25 “No Signature” fee assessed, after the first two warnings. This fee will increase to $50 beginning with the 6th occurrence. 

The late pick-up fee of $2 per minute (after five-minute grace period) will be assessed if arrangements are not made for drop-in care in advance.  You MUST call ahead if you know you will be late. There will be no five-minute grace period for anyone picking up late at 5:30. Late fees at 5:30 are payable in cash to teacher in charge at time of pick-up. Drop-in hours will be calculated and added to your bill, which will be sent around the 25th of the month. Payment is due on the 1st. Late payments are subject to a $20 fee if not received by the 5th. If tuition is not paid by the end of the month, your child may not be accepted back into the program until tuition becomes current. Please contact the director to make payment arrangements. We accept credit cards and checks. All checks should be made out to LITTLE VILLAGE PRESCHOOL and placed in the tuition box. 

Parents are required to give a 30-day written notice to the Director when they intend to withdraw their child from the school in order to use the last month’s deposit. The deposit will be applied only towards the thirty days following your written notice and towards your child’s regular scheduled hours. If a thirty-day written notice is not given, the entire deposit will be forfeited. Little Village Preschool has a no-refund policy, so please submit notice to withdraw before payments are processed on the first of each month.

The State of California Community Care Licensing Agency shall have the authority to interview children and staff and to inspect and audit the child or facility records without prior consent. The preschool shall make provisions for private interviews with any child or staff member; and for the examination of all records relating to the operation of the child care center. The Licensing Agency shall have the authority to observe the physical condition of the child(ren), including conditions that could indicate abuse, neglect, or inappropriate placement. 

Once you have visited our school, an application may be filled out and turned in. At the time of your child’s acceptance into Little Village Preschool, the Admissions Agreement must be signed and turned in, accompanied by the deposit of $250 and the non-refundable Enrollment/Registration fee of $200, in order to secure your child’s spot in our program. You may contact the Director to set up visitation dates and times so that your child can become comfortable with the school prior to his/her first day of enrollment. The following forms must be completed and submitted to the preschool office by the child’s first day of enrollment.  

1. Child’s Pre Admission Health History Report 

2. Physician’s Report 

3. Immunization Record, TB test results 

4. Consent for Medical Treatment Form 

5. Receipt of the Parent’s Rights Form 

6. A Personal Rights Form 

7. Identification and Emergency Information Form 

8. Little Village Preschool’s Admission Agreement 

Tuition is due on your child’s first day of enrollment. The first month may be pro-rated depending on what time of the month your child begins. Please see the Rate Sheet on for your child’s tuition amount. 

At Little Village Preschool, we believe that children learn acceptable behavior through modeling of staff and other children while at school, and parents and siblings while at home.  We are committed to providing children with the tools that will help develop inner, self-directed discipline. Children are helped to realize the affects their actions have upon one another, are taught to be respectful to one another, and are encouraged to find their own solutions to problems while guided by the teachers. We have a few basic rules that will help provide your child and his/her classmates with a safe and enjoyable environment.  

1. We will not accept behavior that will result in the harm of another child or oneself.

2. We will not allow the destruction of any property. 

3. We will not permit inappropriate language. 

4. We will not permit pretend play of a violent nature 

Our staff will take the following steps to help correct unacceptable behavior: 

1. Redirection- The teacher will attempt to distract the child’s attention from the disruptive behavior by directing the child to another activity that is acceptable. 

2. Ignoring- If the negative behavior is trivial, it may disappear by ignoring it. 

3. Discussing consequences of actions- While sitting or kneeling at the child’s level, the teacher will discuss the consequences that result from negative actions in words that the child can understand. 

4. Giving the child the tools to solve his/her own problems- The teacher will assist the child in verbalizing his/her dislikes. Having the child communicate his/her own feelings will enable him/her to develop the skills needed in order to solve his/her own problems. 

5. Offering options- Instead of telling the child what not to do, the teacher will give the child suggestions for what he/she can do. For example, instead of saying, “Don’t throw the blocks”, the teacher may say, “Can you use the blocks to build something?” 

6. Simple reminders- Instead of giving the child a long explanation of why what he/she is doing is wrong, the teacher may say, “That is not safe. Please put your feet on the ground.” Sometimes, one-word sentences are appropriate. If a child is running in the classroom, the teacher may simply say, “Walking.” 

These are techniques that we will not use: 

1. Corporal punishment which is defined as the use of negative physical touching 

2. Humiliation 

3. Intimidation 

4. Threats 

5. Mental abuse 

6. Interference with the daily living function, including eating, sleeping, or toileting

The teacher will inform the Director of any unacceptable behavior. A written record will be kept. Parents will be informed and may be asked to attend a conference in order to work with the school to help the child correct his/her negative behavior. If the negative behavior persists, the school may suggest that additional professional guidance be enlisted.  If a child physically hurts another child, he/she will be sent home for the day. A second physical encounter will result in the child being sent home again and a conference between parents and director will be needed before child can return. 

The school reserves the right to dismiss the child if, in the school’s opinion: 1.) The child’s needs can no longer be met by the school, 2.) The child poses a threat to the safety of the other children or him/herself, or 3). The child’s negative behavior continues to be a disruption to the program. 

1. The state law requires that the parent (or authorized representative) sign their child in and out with a full LEGIBLE signature. 

2. If your child needs to be picked by someone other than the parent or designated persons on the child’s information sheet, the school must first be notified by telephone or written note from the parent. 

3. Any change in home address, telephone numbers, pediatrician, custodians, etc. should be reported to the Director immediately. 

4. Please advise the staff of any situation at home (illness, emotional upsets, family crisis, etc.) which may affect your child so that we may better understand and assist your child. All information shall remain confidential. 

5. During the winter (or rainy) season, please send raingear, rubber boots, extra clothes, and extra socks to school. We do play outside when it is wet.  

6. Please use a permanent marker to put your child’s name on all his/her belongings. 

7. While at school, your child may be working with paint, glue, markers, water, sand and dirt. Please send your child in the appropriate clothing. 

8. Please send an extra change of clothes, underwear, socks and shoes to be kept at school.  While your child is potty training, please send at least four changes of clothes. 

9. Children are not permitted to bring toys, gum, candy, soda, cough drops, vitamins, or money to school. It is OK to bring a doll or stuffed animal to sleep with, but it must remain in his/her cubby until nap. Please be sure to mark it with your child’s name. Little Village Preschool is not responsible for loss of or damage to any personal property brought to school. Toy guns and war toys are never permitted at school at any time. 

10. Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time. 

11. Please be sure to pick your child up on time. There will be a five-minute grace period before the late pick-up fee is applied. (There is no grace period at 5:30 PM.)  If you need to drop your child off more than five minutes before your scheduled drop-off time, please arrange for drop-in care. If arrangements are not made in advance, the late pick/early drop-off fee of $2 per minute will be accessed. 

Daily communication between parents and staff is invaluable but not always possible. Here are a few ways that make daily communication easier. 

1. The Director is always reachable by email

2. Monthly calendars and messages will be sent by email 

3. The bulletin board will have general information that might be of interest to you 

4. Informal parent/ teacher conferences can be arranged as needed 

5. Pre K assessment sheets will be given to parents in April

6. Staff can also be reached during the day by texting LVP cell: 510-499-0448

The school provides a morning and afternoon snack. Snacks consist of, but are not limited to: bread, cheese, yogurt, crackers, fruit, vegetables, raisins, low-fat milk and water. We try to avoid sugar and processed foods, but we do make exceptions for birthdays and celebrations. Please notify us of any food allergies your child may have.  

NO NUT POLICY: Little Village Preschool has a no nut policy. No nuts of any kind are allowed as well as no nut butters. We currently have children with nut allergies and we want take every precaution to keep them from having a reaction. 

LUNCHES:  Your child needs to bring his/her own lunch to school each day. A microwave is available to re-heat food for lunches.  If your child has something to warm up, please send it in a separate microwave container.

Please put your child’s name on his/her lunchbox and containers with a permanent marker. The refrigerator is available for foods that must be kept cold, but we suggest that cold packs be used when possible. The school discourages children from sharing their food. This will allow the parents to see how much their child is eating and eliminates the possibility of the children eating something they may be allergic to.  

We will have a special circle to honor your child’s birthday. 

If you choose to bring a treat, please inform the Director ahead of time so that we are aware.

The children nap between 12:30 and 2:30 PM. We will provide a mat for your child.  Please send a blanket, small pillow, crib-size sheet, something from home that may help your child feel comfortable during nap and a pillowcase to hold your child’s belongings, marked with his/her name. The children who do not sleep will be outside with a teacher. 

Please keep parking to a minimum during the busy drop-off times, as parking is limited. Parking is available in the driveway and directly in front of the school. Please do not use driveway if you intend to be at the school for a prolonged period of time. 

1. Please keep your child home if he/she shows signs of sore throat, undiagnosed rash, earache, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, the first few days of a cold or cough, (continuous runny nose or congestion) or just not feeling well. Your child may return 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.  (They must be well for 24 hours before returning to school!!) 

2. If your child seems to be extremely tired or irritable, he/she may be in a contagious stage of illness and needs to be kept home. 

3. Any child with a fever of 100.0 or higher may not return to school until the fever has been normal for 24 hours without the aide of fever-reducing medicine. 

4. Children who are too tired or too sick to participate in school activities need to be picked up from school. If a child is ill, a call will be made to the parent or guardian. If you are unable to pick your child up right away, please call a friend or relative to do so. If the parent or guardian can not be reached, a call will be made to someone on your child’s emergency list. Your child may rest in the back room until someone arrives. 

5. If your child has acquired a communicable disease (such as chicken pox, measles, conjunctivitis, head lice, pin worms, impetigo, COVID, etc.), please notify the school immediately. An email will be sent out describing the disease and forewarn other parents of possible exposure. Your child may not return to school without a written OK from your pediatrician. 

6. If your child must be in school while taking medication, please follow these procedures: 

A. DO NOT send medication of any kind in your child’s lunchbox. Medicine is to be given directly to a teacher. She will place it in a lock box refrigerator or on top of the microwave, out of the reach of the children. 

B. ONLY prescription medication in it’s original container with label intact will be administered at school.  

C. You will need to sign a form requesting LVP to administer the medication to your child. This form will include your child’s name, the date, the type of medication, the time it is to be administered, the dosage, and your signature. Medication will not be administered if this form is not completed. Forms can be downloaded from our website on the "Enrollment Forms" page or you may ask a teacher for one when you arrive at school.

7. If there is any special circumstance regarding your child’s health, please notify the school. 

8. Please notify the school when you are keeping your child home for illness or any other reason. Advising the school of your child’s symptoms can be very helpful should others come down with the same illness. Sick children should be given adequate time to recover before returning to school, not only for the well-being of your child, but in consideration of the other children and teachers as well. 

9. If our staff determines that your child is ill, we can not accept him/her into school until he/she has recovered. Please prepare for sick childcare if you are unable to stay home with your child. 

Our staff is trained in basic health practices and directs the children to follow the same procedures. 

1. Children must wash their hands before snack times and lunch. 

2. Children must wash their hands after every visit to the toilet. 

3. During diaper changes, the staff wears clean rubber gloves with each child and the changing table is disinfected after every diaper change. 

4. Nap blankets and pillows are kept in large ziplock bags to help prevent the spread of germs or head lice. Bedding is sent home weekly. Please wash and return. 

5. The staff disinfects the tables before and after every meal is served. 

If your child becomes injured while in our care, the staff will take all the necessary steps to obtain emergency medical care if warranted. These steps may include, but are not limited to the following: 

1. You, or someone on your child’s emergency form, will be notified 

2. We will contact your child’s doctor or dentist by phone for advice 

3. We will call an ambulance 

If we are unable to reach a parent and the child must be taken by ambulance to the hospital, a staff member will accompany the child to the emergency room. Little Village Preschool will not be responsible for any bill that may be generated for the ambulance ride or emergency room visit while taking steps to ensure the safety of your child. 

Little Village Preschool has a comprehensive fire and earthquake emergency plan. We will have regular fire & earthquake drills in order to practice our emergency evacuation routines. Little Village Preschool has a monitored 24 hour fire alarm system; therefore, we do not depend on battery operated smoke detectors. 

In the event of a fire, teachers and children will evacuate the building quickly and quietly and will either remain on the grounds, or move over to Cornell Elementary School grounds across the street from our school until all children are picked up.

In the event of an earthquake, we will take a “duck and cover” position in the floor under available furniture and away from glass windows for a period of 60 seconds or until the shaking stops. Once the shaking has stopped, children will be led by the teachers to the Cornell Elementary School grounds across the street from our school.  Parents should follow emergency instructions by local governments and come to Little Village Preschool as soon as advised. 

Please do not call the school immediately as we need the phone line available for emergency calls out. We will have access to a cell phone. We also have a list of emergency numbers that we will take with us, along with the sign-in sheet to use for roll call. It is imperative that you remember to sign in so that your child will be accounted for during an emergency, and sign out so that we are not searching for a child who has already been picked up. There will be a $25 charge if you forget to sign in/out. 

The Director can request that a child be withdrawn from the preschool if extensive screening, documentation, and parent conferencing have not reduced or eliminated an existing problem. A child may also be dismissed from the preschool if a behavioral problem threatens the safety of the other children or the child him/herself and is not corrected in a timely manner. If your child is dismissed from the program, any portion of your deposit not applied towards tuition will be returned.