Our Goals: 

1. To Promote the Full Development of Each Child

2. To Help Each Child Develop a Positive Self-Concept

3. To Be Sensitive to Each Child's Emotional Needs

4. To Provide Many Opportunities for Creative Play

5. To Help Each Child Learn Through Direct Involvement with a Variety of People, Places and Materials.

6. To Help Each Child Grow in Self-Discipline by Setting Reasonable Limitations, Rules to Follow, and Building Respect between Students and Teachers

7. To Help Each Child Grow in Readiness for the Next Level of his or her Education

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: 

Our admission policy is to admit children of ALL faiths and national origins.

A child must be 2, 3 or 4 years of age by August 31 of the present school year for our 2s, 3s and 3-Day 4s programs. A child must be 5 by December 31 of the present school year (or have director approval) to attend our Pre-K 4s program.

(Coming Soon in 2025!) Students in our 2s program are not expected to be potty trained. 

We understand that students in our 3s program may be newly potty trained or working hard at 100% consistency, but our 3s should be potty trained when the school year begins. If your 3-year-old is not potty trained, please talk directly with his or her teacher regarding the circumstances.

 Students in our 4s and Pre-K 4s programs must be potty trained to attend preschool. 

CLOTHING & POTTY TRAINING: 

Comfortable clothing that lends itself to independence is suggested.  Secure footwear provides safety in play.  It is strongly recommended that children wear sneakers that tie or buckle shoes.  Sneakers are essential for our students on their scheduled gym class. 

(Coming Soon in 2025!) Two-year-olds should have adequate means to complete a diaper change in their backpacks. Teachers will address soiled diapers as they occur.

While we strongly prefer that all students age 3 and up be potty-trained to attend, we also recognize potty accidents occur.  Do not be embarrassed by this occurrence.  Punishment is never warranted for a toilet accident.  Teachers will assist with accidents (those not in Pull-Ups) and will return the student back to his/her class. The Preschool has extra clothing in the event of potty accidents, but it is encouraged that students keep a complete, seasonally appropriate change of clothing in their backpacks. Please include underclothing, socks, pants/shorts. Parents/Guardians are asked to wash and return borrowed clothes as soon as possible.  Given our Admission Requirements outlined above, should a child (Age 3 and up) arrive in a Pull-Up and become soiled, a parent will be called to come change the child. 

COMMUNICATION: 

We want to keep the communication channels open at all times between parents/guardians and teachers.  Please feel free to ask questions regarding your child at any time.  If you feel there is a problem at any time, let’s discuss it.  Parent/Guardian participation and sharing of ideas are considered an asset to the program. 

To report absences, concerns, or to answer any preschool questions, please message your child's teacher or the preschool director via Brightwheel for the most timely response. You may also call our preschool office at 717-244-1486 (Ext. 3) or send an email to bum.preschool@gmail.com. The director will pass on correspondences and questions to the staff.  The preschool is open from 8:45 AM until 3:10 PM every school day; you can stop in or call anytime!  Conferences for all students can be arranged upon request. 

A calendar for each class containing upcoming events, topics, snacks, and important reminders will be sent home and posted online monthly.  

Parents will receive communication via the Brightwheel App regarding school closings and delays pertaining to inclement weather, updates on infectious diseases, calendars and other announcements that need to be quickly communicated. (Brightwheel App information will be sent home during Orientation.)  

BIRTHDAYS:  

Birthdays are special – and we enjoy celebrating them!!  Parents/Guardians may bring in a special treat if they wish.  Cookies, brownies, doughnuts, and popsicles make great treats.  Please note that cupcakes are messy and discouraged as a birthday treat option. In addition, cakes are time consuming to cut and serve, and are also not suggested. 

Parents/Guardians are asked to refer to the ‘Say No to Nuts’ reference when providing birthday treats. 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Staff can be reached throughout the school day using our Brightwheel  App. In the event that you need to reach someone from the preschool and you do not have the Brightwheel App, please refer to the following contact information:   

Bethlehem Preschool 

109 East Main Street, Dallastown, PA 17313 

E-Mail:  bum.preschool@gmail.com 

Phone: 717-244-1486 Ext, #3 

If you wish to speak with a BLC Preschool Board Member,  

please leave a message requesting a return call with the  

BLC Office at 717-244-1486. 

HOURS:  

Preschool hours are from 9:00 AM to 3 PM. Morning classes run from 9:00AM to 11:30 AM and afternoon classes run from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM.  

Classes meet on the following schedules: 

2s: Mondays from 9-11AM

3s: Tuesdays and Thursdays or Wednesdays and Fridays from 9-11:30AM 

3-Day 4s: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9-11:30AM and 12:30-3PM 

Pre-K: Tuesdays through Fridays 9-11:30AM and 12:30-3PM. 

The church alarm system allows families to enter the building between 8:50AM and 9:10AM and between 12:20PM and 12:40PM. If running late, please ring the buzzer at Door 6 (Green door in alley). Please see the “Security System” section of the Handbook for more. 

Children should be picked up promptly at 11:30 AM, 2:00PM and 3:00 PM.  Parents/Guardians form a line outside each classroom for dismissal unless otherwise specified.   A late fee of $10.00 will be charged to your account for habitual tardiness or for unauthorized non-emergency late pick-up after class.  ‘Habitual tardiness’ is defined as a third occurrence of late pick-up. 

TUITION AND FEES: 

●   Due at Registration:  A registration fee of $35 AND the final month’s tuition for the upcoming school year (May) is due at the time of registration. All registration fees and tuition payments are nonrefundable. 

●   Monthly Tuition:  Tuition for September through April can be paid monthly and is due by the 10th of each month. Parents are encouraged to pay ONLINE through the Brightwheel App. Forms of payment include debit card, credit card, and ACH check transfer. This means of payment is safe, efficient and convenient for you but does include a processing fee. Payment by check or cash can also be made. All checks should be made payable to Bethlehem Preschool.  Please include your child’s name in the memo line of the check. All cash or check tuition payments should be placed in the deposit box marked preschool payments in the classroom hallway and should be clearly labeled. 

●   Late Fee:  A late payment of $10.00 will be added to your account if tuition payment is not received by the 10th of each month.  Please notify preschool director if you have concerns about tuition payments. 

●   Returned Check Fee:  A fee of $20.00 will be charged to cover the bank’s Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee.  In addition, cash only will be accepted for tuition after a NSF check has been received. 

●   Activity Fee:  A fee of $45.00 is due September 10th and must be paid before the first scheduled field trip.  This one-time fee is used to defray the cost of vision screening, birthday box gifts, field trips, student newspapers, craft photos etc. Payments can be made on the Brightwheel App or by cash or check (placed in the tuition boxes). 

Information about fees can be obtained by contacting the Preschool Treasurer, Cathy Mentzer, at 717-244-1486 ext. 3. 

WITHDRAWL: 

A two-week written notice requesting withdrawal from the program is required by the parent/guardian.  The Preschool Board has the right to withdraw any child that is disruptive to the program; a one-week notice will be provided.   

In the case of withdrawal, the first and last month’s tuition, registration fee, and activity fee are not refundable.  Tuition for all other months will be refunded or waived, effective as of the date the child is withdrawn from the program. 

DISIPLINE POLICY: 

Discipline towards the children will be in a positive, non-punitive manner. Staff members will not use any form of physical punishment (spanking, arm jerking, etc.).  They will not use language toward a child that ridicules or belittles. Your child will be treated with respect in all situations. If a student is having a bad behavior day and needs to step out of the classroom, the director or another teacher will aid in calming the student down and will talk the student through the emotion or situation. Our policy is to love them through it.  Parents will be notified if additional steps are needed for continued success. 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN:  

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

Since the safety of the children given to our care is always our top priority, we felt it important to share the Bethlehem Preschool Emergency Operations Plan with all our families.  This Operations Plan is approved and on file with the Dallastown Emergency Management Agency, which is in cooperation with other regional response teams. 

The nature of events that would require evacuation are many and varied.  They may be simple, as to require evacuation to a nearby location, to which we could easily walk.  A fire in our building is an example.  More complex events might require that our students be evacuated further than a block away, or even transported to a location outside of Dallastown.  An example of such an event might be an accident with toxic materials which would endanger the whole borough. 

We want you to know that we have arranged for these contingencies, with the following evacuation sites: 

• In-Place Sheltering: Incidents in which we are required to take cover inside the building as an appropriate response.  We would move the children within the building to a space that is determined to be most safe. An example would be weather or another sudden crisis. 

• Immediate Evacuation (Walking Distance):  Students would be evacuated one block to Dallastown Elementary School, S. Charles Street, Dallastown. This would be in the event of fire, storm or other incident that would make our building unsafe. 

• Evacuation (Walking Distance):  In the case of an incident that would endanger the block surrounding the church, students would be evacuated to the Dallastown Fire Hall, 50 North School Street, Dallastown.   

• Total Evacuation (Transport):  In the case of an incident that would endanger the entire community of Dallastown, students would be transported to the York County School of Technology, 2179 South Queen Street, York.   

In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation outside of the Bethlehem Life Church building, parents/guardians are encouraged to listen to WGAL-TV8 for information or consult their website at WGAL.com.  If circumstances allow, staff will also communicate updates via the Brightwheel App. 

We respectfully request that in the event of an emergency that you do not call our main number.  This will allow us to receive important communication from the Emergency Management Agency and other emergency personnel as necessary.  Upon assuring the safety of the children, efforts will be made to call the parents/guardians of each child to inform you of protective actions and where you may safely pick up your child. 

Your Student Information Form lists the persons who are allowed to pick up your child.  Please do not send someone who is not on that list as it will only add confusion to what may be an already stressful situation.  To ensure the safety of your children and our staff, we ask for your understanding and cooperation.  We pray that no incident will require the responses outlined in this letter, but we know that you will feel better that we have anticipated a process to meet such events.   

Thank you, 

 Preschool Director and the Bethlehem Preschool Board   

HEALTH:  

Your child’s health is of utmost importance to all of us.  All children attending Bethlehem Preschool should be free of contagious diseases.  Children who have a fever, cough or infection may not be brought to school.  Please keep your child at home if he or she has: 

• Begun taking antibiotics in the last 12 hours 

• A persistent cough 

• Symptoms of a possible communicable disease (such as sniffles, reddened eyes, sore throat, headache, abdominal pain, or fever) 

• A rash 

• Diarrhea or vomiting during the previous 24-hour period 

When a child has been absent due to illness, he/she should not return to school until he/she has been without a fever or symptoms for at least 24 hours.  Please refer to the Health Screening card for guidance. 

ALLERGIES:  A ‘Medication Administration Consent’ form must be on file with the Preschool. The form is for students with allergies that need medications during school hours in case of an allergic reaction or other health related issues. The form, available upon request from your child’s teacher or in the preschool office, requires a physician’s signature. 

Immunizations and Infectious Diseases:  

The Preschool Board requires a signed waiver form be on file for those students who are not immunized due to moral or religious beliefs. Waiver forms are available from your student’s teachers or the preschool office. Forms must be turned in at the start of the school year. 

In the event of an infectious disease outbreak at the school (i.e. chicken pox, whooping cough) those students who have not been immunized according to Pennsylvania’s school immunization requirements will receive a personal phone call.  All other students will be notified via e-mail communication or the Brightwheel App.  

SAFETY:   

Every effort is made to ensure the safety of the children.  If an accident occurs at school, the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.  If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, we will contact the emergency contact person on the child’s information form.   

Your child will always be under close supervision.  However, if a child for any reason leaves the supervision of the teachers without their consent, they will not be responsible for anything that may happen to the child during the time of absence. 

Children should be escorted by their parent/guardian directly to the classroom / drop off location.  If your child is dropped off without supervision and does not go directly to the assigned location, the teacher is not responsible. 

Please notify the preschool office, 717-244-1486, ext.3, in advance if someone different is picking up your child.  Identification will be requested as proof of identity.   

Alley SAFETY 

The preschool would like to stress the danger of the back alley behind the church due to the heavy car traffic and blind spots. Parents are required to always hold their child’s hand when stepping into the alley while entering and leaving the preschool. 

SECURITY SYSTEM: 

Bethlehem Life Church takes the security of our Preschool seriously.  Our state-of-the-art security system provides a secure and safe environment for our students throughout the school day.  Our preschool hallway is locked at all times, as well as each classroom door. 

Exterior church doors will be unlocked for entry on school days according to the following schedule.  

AM Classes:   8:50 AM to 9:10 AM and 11:20 AM to 11:40 AM 

PM Classes:  12:20 PM to 12:40 PM and 2:50 PM to 3:10 PM 

We ask all parents/guardians to respect the entry times posted above.  Parents/Guardians arriving before or after the stated times will be required to push the call box button at door 6 to gain entry by the church office administrator, Linda Reed, or a preschool office staff member.  Whenever possible, it is requested that parents/guardian inform their classroom teacher in advance if they plan to arrive early or late. The safety of our Preschool children is our NUMBER ONE priority! 

Unexpected Church Activities During Preschool Hours: 

From time-to-time church activities (funerals, special services, luncheons, etc.) may be held during Preschool hours that may cause a disruption to normal Preschool drop off/pick up procedures, or, may greatly limit parking availability.  For such events, parent/guardians will be given notice and specific instructions for drop off and pickup via the Brightwheel App or a note will be sent home with students ahead of time if possible. 

Front parking lot:  

Bethlehem Preschool and the Preschool Board have a strict policy regarding the front parking lot.  Permission to park in the front lot will be granted as circumstances warrant.  Approval is dependent upon the completion of an application and review by the Board.  Those granted permission will be issued a parking permit to be displayed on their dashboard. 

Requests for a parking permit application can be made to the director.  Applications are available throughout the year. Stop into our preschool office or talk to your child’s teacher.  

PERMISSION SLIP FOR INTERNET POSTING: 

Each student is required to have a permission slip on file stating their parents’/guardians’ wishes regarding the posting of photos, craft items/schoolwork, and their child’s name in the hallway and on the internet.  Bethlehem Preschool has a website, as well as Facebook and Instagram pages where information and updates on the Preschool program are posted.  We will never post your child’s name. 

The ‘Permission to Publish’ form should be completed and returned to your child’s teacher within the first two weeks of the school year.  Parents/Guardians are encouraged to address their questions or concerns regarding the form to their child’s classroom teacher or to our Director.  

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:   

Bethlehem Preschool will follow weather decisions made by Dallastown Area School District (DASD). However, we do not always follow it exactly.  Parents/Guardians are encouraged to check the Brightwheel App for announcements regarding weather related cancellations.   

●   Full day cancellation:  If DASD cancels classes for the entire day due to inclement weather; Bethlehem Preschool classes are also cancelled.  Efforts will be made to provide “Flexible Instruction Activities” during inclement weather for our students complete with at-home. We may make up snow days, if necessary, during our end of the year celebration week.   

●  Two-hour delay:  If DASD puts into effect a two-hour delay, our schedule will be modified as well.  With the modified schedule, our morning classes will be held from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM and the afternoon classes will be held from from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.   

If severe weather conditions arise after school has started, pick-up time will be at the parent’s/guardian’s discretion, unless the director feels an early dismissal is needed to safeguard student safety.  

ENRICHMENT CLASSES: 

Our enrichment program is an opportunity for your student to grow beyond the preschool curriculum.  Each student’s natural talents and aptitude will be nurtured throughout each class.  We use the STEAM process (science, technology, engineering, art, math) as a foundation of each enrichment class. Literature and creative play are integrated in each class as well!  Classes encourage teamwork, problem solving, flexible thinking, working on memory, planning and prioritizing, taking initiatives, impulse and emotional control, and building confidence. 

The classes are taught by Miss Kate Wheeler and Miss Linda Lau. Classes are offered throughout the school year to all students enrolled at Bethlehem Preschool and the community. Each class is $25 and class size is limited.  Enrichment Classes are held on Mondays from 9:30-11:30AM and 1:00-3:00PM. Payment is due at the time of class registration. New classes and registration opportunities will be opened two times per year in September and December. 

For more information, please refer to the Enrichment Class page of our website or speak directly with Miss Kate Wheeler: 717-817-9112 / bumenrichment@gmail.com. 

FIELD TRIPS:  

Before a child can participate on a field trip, a signed permission slip must be submitted. Parent/Guardian participation is used to provide field trip transportation.  Parents/Guardians are also required to accompany and be responsible for their child during the entirety of the field trip.   

It is assumed that each child has permission to accompany the group on trips within walking distance to the school.  Parents/Guardians will be made aware of these outings in advance. 

SAY NO TO NUTS’: 

Due to allergy concerns, we ask that no snack, birthday treats, or lunches be sent that contain peanuts or tree nuts. Children with nut allergies can have very severe allergic reactions, which may require immediate medical attention.  

It is very important to check ingredients before sending a snack into preschool.  By law, allergens must be listed in bold print on nutrition labels, typically at the end of the ingredients list.  It is also unsafe to send foods to school that have a label that reads, “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts or tree nuts.” 

If you prepare a snack for your child to bring in to school, please cut the ingredients list out from the box and send it in with the snack.  If the snack is home-made, please send a list of the ingredients used.   

Parents of children with any allergies are encouraged to send snacks for your student throughout the year. Snacks can be stored in your student’s classroom. 

SNACK TIME:  

Starting good eating habits early in life is so very important.  Snack time, coupled with a learning situation, is an ideal time to begin this journey down the road of nutritious food.  With the willing participation of parents/guardians providing these snacks, we will use snack time for the betterment of your child’s health. Rather than sugary juices, the children will receive water with their snack.  The school will provide cups and napkins. Students are discouraged from carrying extra snacks in their backpacks. 

During orientation and in monthly calendars, your student’s teacher will share with you some additional information regarding snack day assignments.  If you choose not to help provide a snack periodically throughout the school year, please let your teacher know.   

**Parents of children with food allergies are encouraged to send snacks for your student throughout the year. Snacks can be stored in your student’s classroom.**