ABS PARENTS HANDBOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR / OWNER

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Au Beau Sejour French Preschool! We look forward to having your child(ren) and your family be a part of our community.

Please know that our entire staff is working hard to ensure that our school year begins smoothly. Our hope and goal is that our students enjoy school and learning from our wonderful and talented teachers. We interpret our students' enjoyment as a sign of comfort, and their belonging to our Preschool community. Children need to feel safe in their school so we prioritize their safety and well-being. We look forward to a great year with all our families. Community building is essential to an international school like ours. We come from many countries and have varied experiences. This Parent’s Handbook is a tool to help parents better understand our community and how our school works.

Please become familiar with this Handbook and the information it contains regarding school life and the expectations of our school. We will strive to provide a positive program that is safe, nurturing and fun for all of your children. Our mission is to assist you, the parents, in helping your children become the best that they can be.

Best regards,

Coralie Leclerc Sobhani

AU BEAU SEJOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / OWNER.

1. WELCOME TO AU BEAU SEJOUR FRENCH PRESCHOOL

We welcome you aboard and look forward to a happy and exciting school year ahead at Au Beau Sejour French Preschool (“ABS”).

Your child’s time spent at ABS is supremely important to all of us. Years of practical experience have shown us that the best results occur when we work closely with parents to establish rapport and common goals for your child in the year ahead. Let’s coordinate to make this a wonderful season of personal growth and discovery for your child! Your input is very much appreciated and is one of our most valuable resources.

Please read this Parent's Handbook (“Handbook”) in its entirety and keep it on hand for reference. In the pages that follow, you will find just about everything you need to know about our school. Be sure to file this with your other school records for easy access.

This Handbook is updated each year, so please stay current with this one and recycle last year’s handbook.

2. VISION STATEMENT

Our vision for ABS is to create a unique school experience with a welcoming community and comfortable environment, with a unique school spirit, which challenges and inspires all of our students to achieve their ultimate potential.

3. MISSION STATEMENT

ABS provides a challenging education inspired by the Education Nationale curriculum in France. Our mission is to provide a warm and nurturing environment for our international students. We welcome children from all cultures and backgrounds and always value their identity and heritage.

Our French speaking teachers motivate and guide our children in becoming independent, confident, and caring while in a French immersion setting. Our curriculum focuses in depth on the development of a second language. Our vocabulary-rich curriculum helps our children develop vocabulary in a stress-free environment. While building a second language, our children are eager to communicate and apply what they have learned in class into their everyday lives and routine.

At ABS, we make learning FUN! Our children’s well-being, happiness, academic and language development are the foundation of our learning model.

4. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACK TIME

The building blocks of your child’s body should be as strong and pure as possible. We invest a tremendous amount of time and energy to ensure that high-quality foods are always provided to our students.

ABS provides homemade, organic or natural and wholesome meals (breakfast, lunch, and snacks), which we enjoy together as a community. In addition, the children participate weekly in preparing food for their teachers and friends.

Meals are freshly prepared by ABS cooks in our private kitchen. ABS cooks are a big part of our students' daily routine. Our menus are child-friendly, varied, and appropriate portions based on nutrition guidelines.

5. AU BEAU SEJOUR STAFF / TEACHERS

Our teachers are French speakers who share their passion and talents with your children and our community. Teachers actively participate in workshops, classes, and in-service days to update and enhance their teaching skills. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, all staff must receive the appropriate security clearance. All staff members and volunteers who have contact with students, or who have access to confidential information about students, have completed required eligibility clearance procedures. Fingerprinting and criminal records are checked upon hire, and they remain on file and updated as needed.

6. HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR TEACHERS

Our teachers keep current with their CPR training by taking a refresher course every other year. All teachers are also trained in first aid, injury prevention, and infectious disease control. ABS maintains certifications according to federal, state, and local requirements.

All Early Childhood educators are mandated reporters by California law and are required to report any suspicion(s) of child abuse. This means our teachers are required to report any reasonably suspected or alleged abuse of an individual under the age of 18 years to a designated agency. Questions or concerns regarding such should be directed to ABS administrators.

7. COMMUNITY EVENTS

Throughout the school year, there are various meetings scheduled at the school (i.e., potlucks, informational meetings, or Parent Association meetings). However, on occasion, we have insufficient parent sign-ups and an event may be canceled. We will remind families of events through Remini, Facebook (when appropriate), monthly newsletters, emails, and posted signs.

Our Community events may be canceled in response to updated COVID-19 guidelines, which are made by the Alameda County Public Health Department. ABS Administration will keep you posted in the event that happens.

8. VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering takes a wide variety of forms:

Organize an activity with the teacher in your child/ren’s classroom
Classroom and Open house volunteering
ABS potlucks (announced in advance, from 4:00PM – 5:30PM for all to join.)
ABS monthly Open House for prospective parents (typically 10:00AM - 11:00 AM)
Field Trips: ABS invites parents to volunteer for a planned field trip during the school year.

VOLUNTEERING IS FRIEND-RAISING! Numerous friend-raising events happen throughout the school year, with opportunities to volunteer. ABS works with parent volunteers to support and plan these events in line with its goal to build a sense of community at ABS.

Volunteer opportunities suit every taste and interest. Our volunteers are at the heart of our school, and help make these special things happen. Please contact us for further information.

Volunteering may be canceled in response to updated COVID-19 guidelines, which are made by the Alameda County Public Health Department. ABS Administration will keep you posted in the event that happens.

9. ADMISSIONS / ENROLLMENT

Enrollment is open to all children regardless of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity or any other basis protected by state and/or federal laws. If ABS determines that we are able to meet the special needs of an individual child without compromising the needs of other children, an individualized plan will be created. This may involve professional support/intervention and inclusion specialists. Parents are responsible for the fees, and must adhere to the individualized plan or risk the child’s removal from the school. This removal is at the sole discretion of the Director.

A child must be a minimum of 2 years old to be enrolled at ABS and we accept children until they reach Kindergarten age (6 years old).

Diapers are permitted through the age of 3 years old. In the Toute Petite Section, once a student reaches the age of 3, the student is expected to be diaper free. At the age of 3, diapers will still be permitted at naptime in the Toute Petite Section and Petite Section classes.

Please feel free to share any concerns or questions you may have with ABS administrators, and your child’s teachers.

10. TUITION ADJUSTMENT AND MAKE-UP DAYS

Please be advised there are no tuition adjustments for holidays, school closures, illnesses, emergency school shut down days as well as your family planned vacations. In this last case, payments must still be made on time to avoid late payment fees.

There are also no make-up days offered if your child/ren misses school for any reason. ABS may offer extra days for children enrolled 2 or 3 days if the school is not at full capacity, which will cost $150/day.

11. FORMS, DEADLINES, AND OTHER IMPORTANT DATES

New parents must submit all required forms (identified below) by your child’s first day of school. The Parent Agreement, and child’s emergency and health forms must be submitted so they are on file by the first day of attendance. Your child may not start school until all forms are updated and signed by both parents.

If you are a returning family, please provide any updated medical and emergency information by the first day of school.

PLEASE REVIEW AND PRESENT ABS ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

Current ABS Agreement
Identification & Emergency Information
Consent for Medical Treatment
Physician’s Report and Immunization Record
Child’s Preadmission Health History - Parents Report
Parent’s Rights (acknowledgment of receipt)
Personal Rights (acknowledgment of receipt)
Parents Handbook Signature (acknowledgement page)
Sunscreen Permission
Permission to be Photographed
ABS Illness Policy

Tuition is due and payable by the 1st of the month. It is considered late on the 6th of the month. A $60.00 late fee will be applied if the payment is late.

12. NAMES OF PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO TAKE CHILD FROM THE FACILITY

Please note that any person who picks up your child, must be listed on the LIC 700 (Identification and Emergency Information). If the pick-up person is NOT listed on the LIC700, your child will NOT be discharged. A PHONE CALL WILL NOT SUFFICE. This is required by the Community Care Licensing, and we must ensure we follow the protocols for our students’ safety. We ask you to plan ahead and let us know when a new person will come pick up your child so we can make sure they are listed on the Identification and Emergency Information form.

Before releasing your child to the designated person, we will check their I.D. with a photo to verify the person’s identity. Our specific goal is to ensure the ultimate safety of your child while providing peace of mind for you as a parent.

13. CHANGES, WITHDRAWALS, AND TERMINATION

Parents and guardians are required to provide at least 30-days written notice if they plan to reduce the number of days or hours for their child, or if they plan on withdrawing their child from our school. This allows the school sufficient time to adjust student schedules and fill the space. If an unforeseen problem or change arises, please see the Director immediately. A $100 fee will be assessed if you reduce the number of hours or days. Placement options may not be changed from one month to another.

Every effort will be made to work with parents and guardians to resolve any issues with students that may occur at school. Please know that we are available to you. Parent conferences are generally scheduled twice during the school year. In addition, phone calls, emails, and/or a meeting may be used to communicate openly so that we can timely resolve issues for all concerned. We recognize that not every situation is appropriate for every child. If, after a significant effort on both sides, our program is not suitable for your child’s well-being, we will find an alternative plan together.

Termination - If ABS feels that we are unable to meet the specific needs of a particular child, we may ask the parents to seek appropriate outside help. Alternatively, if the child’s needs are sufficiently outside our ability to meet them, require an inordinate amount of 1-on-1 attention from teachers, and/or the child’s behavior poses a threat to themselves or the safety of other children, we reserve the right to immediately terminate the care agreement at our discretion.

Below is a list of the most common reasons that may result in the termination of a care agreement, but is not intended to be all-inclusive:

Non-payment for preschool services and/or lack of adherence to our tuition payment policy.
Lack of parental cooperation with the program’s efforts to resolve differences and/or to meet the child’s needs through parent/staff meetings, conferences, or seeking professional help.
Failure to comply with the school’s schedule, policies, regulations, and procedures.
Parents exhibit behavior endangering the children, families, or staff, including abusive behaviors and/or verbal threats by parents toward the program staff or other parents (will be grounds for immediate termination).
Children exhibit special needs or needs related to serious illnesses that the program cannot meet. In this case, the program staff will make every effort to involve the parents, and possibly other persons (as appropriate), in order to decide on the best course of action for this child, prior to any termination.
14. SCHOOL PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

Parents may opt to enroll their child in the 2-day, 3-day or 5-day program.
ABS provides breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack for extended care students.
Homemade meals provided are nutritious, natural and organic (as often as possible). Healthy menus are posted weekly. How much your child has eaten is posted daily on the Remini platform.
AM and PM Daycare are available as part of the preschool. Our optional extended AM/PM Daycare goes from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
AM Daycare is between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
PM Daycare begins promptly at 3:45 p.m. and ends promptly at 5:30 p.m.
Our school day starts promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.
We are a licensed preschool and follow rules and regulations assigned by the California Child Care Department of Licensing.
No prior French language experience is required.
Diapers are permitted for 2 year olds, but no diapers are allowed for children 3 years old (except for nap times).
Program is open to children ages 2-6 (Toute Petite Section to Grande Section / Kindergarten)
15. ADJUSTMENT PERIOD FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD/REN

We realize you and your child will need a period of time to adjust to the new surroundings, teachers, and other children, even if your child has previously attended childcare. The staff will assist as needed in the separation period. They are experienced with this situation and will be nurturing and caring.

After dropping off your child at school, please feel free to call the Director when you arrive at your destination and ask how your child is doing. Chances are that your child will be busy playing and you can ease your mind and concentrate on your tasks for the day.

Depending on their age and disposition, a child might “act out” during this transition by doing some of the following:

Cling to you and refuse to let go

Have a tantrum
Forget their toilet-training, bed-wetting
Loss of appetite
Revert back to an old comfort (pacifier, favorite toy, thumb sucking)
Wake up during the night, have bad dreams
Express a desire to stay home.

Usually these problems are temporary. Over time, these behaviors should dissipate. If you are enthusiastic, chances are your child will be, too!

When dropping off your child at school, we ask parents to limit the time to depart from the classrooms to no more than 10 minutes to minimize disruption to your children’s daily class routine. Should you wish to speak to your child’s teacher, we are happy to make an appointment for you or you can contact them via their school email address.

16. ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

Below is a list of items your child(ren) will need for their first day of school. PLEASE NOTE ALL OF YOUR CHILD(REN)’S ITEMS NEED TO BE LABELED WITH THEIR NAME.

Large zip locks are ideal to store bedding and for hygiene reasons. Ziploc bags should always be labeled with your child(ren)’s name.

Blankets and sleeping items that can be stored in cubbies. Roll-up napsacks with incorporated pillows (50”L x 24”W) that children can roll themselves with velcro are ideal.
Diapers with wipes (only for 2 year old children)
Tissue box labeled with your child(ren)’s name
Sippy Cup labeled with your child(ren)’s name
Special blanket or comfort items if your child(ren) has one.
Set of extra clothing (please remember clothes will get dirty so be practical!)
Child’s face covering labeled with your child(ren)’s name and a ziploc bag of extra masks labeled with your child(ren)’s name (optional - this is only if you would like your child to wear a mask at school)
Please label all of your child(ren)’s items such as his/her jacket and backpack.
Hat and sunscreen (spray is preferred) labeled with your child(ren)’s name. Sunscreen should be applied before drop-off, and sunscreen is to be given directly to teachers.
ALL completed forms must be provided by the first day of school, ready to file. It is mandatory that proof of vaccines be submitted to ABS by the first day of school, too.

No toys should be brought to school. Please have your child(ren) keep their toys at home. Taking toys/items away from a child onsite is very difficult for them.

17. CHILDREN APPROPRIATE CLOTHING

Students should dress in comfortable clothing so that they may feel free to play and enjoy school. In spite of our best efforts to prevent it (and even though we use smocks for classroom art projects), you might find occasional paint on your child’s clothing as a reminder of their creative genius at work. Even so, we cannot absolutely guarantee that every color will come out easily.

We ask that every child wear closed toe shoes to protect their feet when playing on the playground. We DO NOT want children to wear slip-on shoes or sandals to school. Please be mindful of this policy. Weather appropriate clothes are also important. Please label ALL of your child’s clothing with their name so we know who it belongs to.

18. COMMUNICATION

We strongly encourage open communication between students’ families and the preschool. If you have a question or problem, please do not hesitate to email or call us, or come to the school to speak with us. We will try to work with you to come to an understanding if either party is having a problem. Our door is always open and we welcome the opportunity to talk openly about anything. Any questions that you have concerning your child or ABS are always welcome. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s day, please call, or email so we can respond promptly. When you have issues, we request not to discuss it in front of the children. Please call or email us so we can discuss it over the phone or we can schedule a meeting.

19. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO LOCK THE MAIN GATE WHEN YOU ENTER THE SCHOOL AND WHEN YOU LEAVE THE SCHOOL BUILDING AS WELL AS THE TPS DOOR. PLEASE ASK FOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURE HOW TO PROPERLY AND SECURELY LOCK THESE DOORS.

PLEASE DO NOT PARK YOUR CAR IN FRONT OF OUR NEIGHBORS’ DRIVEWAY.

Every morning at drop-off, parents will take their child to the bathroom first before bringing them to their class. Please make sure that your child uses the potty and washes their hands before joining their class. Between 8 and 8:30 am, drop-off will be in the TPS class (by the parking lot); after 8:30 am, drop-off will be in your child/ren’s classroom. Do NOT leave your child unattended, in a classroom where no teacher is present. If you are unsure where your child should go, please ask a staff member.

Your child is going to miss you while you cannot be with him/her. This is a very normal reaction. All children respond differently. Some are hesitant while others cry. It is normal for your child to cry on arrival, especially for the first few weeks. Try not to get upset over their crying; it will stop within a few minutes after you leave. If your child does a significant amount of crying at drop-off time, please make your stay brief. It is harder on the child when you prolong your stay with too many hugs and kisses. A quick hug and kiss and letting them know you will return is a great way to let them know you love them and yes, you will be back. Usually within 5 minutes after a parent leaves the children are all playing and happy.

If you are worried please give us a call and check on your child to make sure they are happy and content. In any case, if a child cries for more than 15 minutes straight, we will call you! That kind of reaction is not typically the norm (unless the child has never been in a childcare setting before then they may cry a lot the first few days up to a week) and we will try to find out what is behind the crying. If we cannot console your child after an hour or so, you will be called to come and pick up your child.

Children tend to act up a bit at departure times. This is normal since they are excited to see parents, and upset about leaving their friends. Please try to make sure your child is not throwing toys, hitting other children, running in the school, etc. during drop-off and pick-up times. This is a time of testing to see if they can get away with breaking the rules because a parent is here. We will give you a few minutes to try and get your child to behave, but if they continue to misbehave we will intervene and try to speak to your child in order to try to get them to listen, as we cannot have the children acting unruly nor can we take a chance on having another child get hurt.

20. EARLY OR LATE ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE

If you are going to pick up your child earlier or later than usual, please give us a call. If you can let us know that morning or the night before, that is preferable.

Please note that a before and/or after care fee and/or late pick-up fee may be applicable. PM daycare begins promptly at 3:45 p.m. and ends promptly at 5:30 p.m.

21. PICK-UP TIME

We cannot allow any child to leave with anyone except the person(s) on your child’s pick-up authorization form, unless you tell us in the morning that someone else is going to be picking up your child (please add the person’s full name on your child’s pick-up authorization form which is available in your child’s classroom. Ask your child’s teacher for it).

We will need to know the person’s full name and their relationship with your child. Please note that ABS staff will need to see the ID of the authorized person prior to releasing your child to that person.

If an “unauthorized” person comes for pick-up, we will contact you directly. Please note that your verbal approval will not be sufficient to release your child to that person. Again, we CANNOT allow any child to leave with anyone except the person(s) on your child’s pick-up authorization form.

Late fees will still apply if the child is picked-up late.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s day, please do not hesitate to ask us when picking him/her up. If we are busy, you can always give us a call or send an email. If it is something that should not be discussed in front of the children, then please call so we can discuss it over the phone or set up a meeting.

22. PICK-UP TIME: BE MINDFUL

Please be mindful that picking up a child from school is an important transition for all parties. Once an adult picks up the child and signs the child out, they are responsible for that child.

When picking up your child, please be mindful that not all students have their parents or caregivers present, and it may be difficult for them. Minimize the time you spend in the process of departing from the school. It is alright to wait while your child is finishing up a project or a teacher finishes reading a story, but then please leave the school campus. Speaking with your child’s teacher for a quick review of the day is also fine. Concerns or more involved questions are to be addressed at an appropriate time. Teachers are responsible for our students, which remains their top priority. Parents are encouraged to leave a note, or send an email to the teacher to either set up a convenient time to talk, or to answer a concern or question.

23. LATE PICK-UP

For your child’s benefit, please be on time for pick-up. A child is very sensitive. If you are late, and they are the last one to be picked up, they will feel abandoned and forgotten, so it is imperative for you to be on time. Always allow extra time for traffic so that you may arrive unstressed and safe when greeting your child(ren).

Overtime starts at 3:45 p.m. (school day), 5:30 p.m. (full day with extended care).

ABS closes promptly at 5:30 p.m. each day. All children and parents must have exited the building by this time. Please arrive at 5:25 p.m. at the latest in order to have time to gather your child’s belongings and briefly exchange with your child’s teacher. Our ABS clock will serve as the “official clock” for determining time. Please synchronize your watch with this clock. If you have a daily lengthy departure, you must arrive early enough to meet the time criteria. There are NO exceptions to this policy for several reasons:

Most preschooler’s internal body clock knows when their usual pick-up time is! Children can become nervous or fearful when they are at school later than normal. Please know that your child will always be comforted and safe, even in the event of an emergency.
Teachers give their best to your children each day. They also have responsibilities to their own children and family. They need to know they can end their school day reliably at 5:30 p.m. daily.

If you are late picking up your child, you will be charged a late fee of $10 for the first 5 minutes and $2 for each additional minute.

The pick-up time is determined by when the parent leaves the building with their child.

Late pick-up fees are to be paid directly to the teacher on duty within one (1) week of being assessed. If payment is not made within one (1) week, the child will not be able to attend school until payment has been made. Three (3) late pick-ups in a semester may result in termination of the relationship with ABS.

Excessive, unexcused late drop-offs (after 9 a.m.) may incur similar fees.

There will be no exceptions or warnings regarding violations of this policy. If you are late for ANY reason, our late pick-up policy will be applied. No exceptions to this policy makes it easier for us to apply the late policy to everyone consistently and fairly. Please make sure to call us to let us know that you might be late to pick up your child. This will help us to reassure and comfort your child while they wait.

If pick-up becomes an issue, termination of services may result. ABS is under no obligation to provide an extension of time if such extension conflicts with the teacher’s own plans and family. Late arrival does not justify late departure either.

24. EXTENDED CARE DROP-IN-USE

ABS is aware that some families may opt out of annual Before and After Care, but may still need it occasionally. Before and After Care service fees are $15.00 for each 30-minute increment.

Please call the ABS Administration at (510) 479-3337 as soon as you know your child will be in AM/PM Care so that we can notify your child(ren) and teacher accordingly.

25. CUSTODY

Unless we receive court papers stating that you have been granted temporary or permanent custody, we have no legal authority to tell either parent that they cannot pick up their child (unless of course you have court papers showing us otherwise.) We will need a photocopy of the court order with the court’s signature. Please make sure we have these papers in your child’s file. And please make sure you tell us if there is someone that is not permitted to pick up your child.

26. CONTINGENCY PLANS

Please have a back-up plan for unexpected situations such as a shutdown of the school building for a short time period; or a change in dismissal routine.

27. ATTENDANCE

A successful school experience is the responsibility of the children, the parent, and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by their daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is the key.

Teachers plan their instructional time carefully. It is vital that their classes start on time. Therefore, parents should leave their children in the classroom promptly as class starts. If parents wish to deliver a message or discuss a concern with their child’s teacher, they can do so during the welcoming time or outside of class time. A message may be left in the office as well. Teachers will not be called out of class for messages except for emergencies.

Students are expected to be present every school day. When a child is going to be absent or late, please call the school office. Please report the reason for your child’s absence so we can make decisions about communicating with other parents regarding contagious illnesses. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours (without the aid of fever-reducing medication) before returning to school. Children who have vomited or had diarrhea should also stay home for 24 hours from the time of the incident.

Please make every effort to schedule appointments after school, including those with doctors and dentists. Although there may be occasions when it is unavoidable, we feel strongly that students benefit from consistency and should fully participate in each school day. If a student must leave school early or arrive late due to a doctor's appointment or another compelling reason, please let us know ahead of time. Absences for religious holidays are excused.

Chronic lateness is disruptive to the other members of the community and detrimental to a child’s social and academic adjustment to the school day. The opportunity for socializing that begins each school day is an important part of the curriculum, providing important time for the children to experience the give-and-take of a classroom community and develop the friendships that enhance each student’s school experience.

It is also important that all children be picked up on time. Our staff members have responsibilities both before and after class sessions, so it is important that parents be mindful of pick-up times in order for our school day to go smoothly. It is also upsetting to your child when they are unexpectedly the last person in the class to be picked up. We open the door at 3:30 p.m. SHARP. PLEASE DO NOT RING BEFORE 3:30 PM (unless you have contacted us beforehand).

Drop-off: Classroom doors will open promptly at 8:30 a.m. (arrival until 9:00 a.m. permitted).

Morning care: Doors will open promptly at 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. Please do not come earlier than 8:30 a.m. if your child is enrolled for the 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. school day.

Pick-up: Doors will open promptly at 3:30 p.m. (arrival until 3:45 p.m. accepted). Please do not come later than 3:45 p.m. if your child is enrolled for the 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. school day.

Afternoon care: will start promptly at 3:45 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. School closes promptly at 5:30 p.m.

Late fees will be assessed in the amount of $10.00 for the first 5 minutes starting at 5:31

p.m. and $2.00 for each additional minute beyond 5:35 p.m (or from 3:46 p.m if your child is enrolled in the shorter schedule).

28. DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

(approximate schedule depending on class)

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Welcome Time + Bathrooms / Accueil des élèves + Toilettes

9:00 am - 9:20 am: Circle Time / Regroupement

9:20 am - 9:30 am: Bathrooms / Toilettes 9:30 am - 9:50 am: Breakfast / Petit-déjeuner

9:50 am - 10:10 am: Gross Motor Skills / Capacités Motrices Globales

10:10 am - 10:35 am: Academic Activity / Activité Académique

10:35 am - 10:45 am: Bathrooms / Toilettes

10:45 am - 11:15 am: Recess / Récréation

11:15 am - 11:50 am: Activity (art, music, dance, cooking, gardening, etc.) / Activité (art, musique, danse, cuisine, jardinage, etc.)

11:50 am - 12:00 pm: Bathrooms / Toilettes

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: Lunch / Déjeuner

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Bathrooms; story & yoga / Toilettes; histoire & yoga

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Nap; Quiet Activities / Sieste; Activités calmes

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Circle time + S.E.L; Story / Regroupement + S.E.L; Histoire

3:30 pm-3:45 pm: Goodbye; Bathroom / Au revoir; Toilettes

AFTERNOON CARE / GARDERIE (3:45 pm - 5:30 pm)

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm: Snack / Goûter

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Free outdoor play / Jeux libres à l'extérieur *

* 4:45 pm - 5:00 pm: Bathrooms / Toilettes

Bathrooms / Toilettes have scheduled time throughout the day but are also available as needed throughout the day.

★ Library time every week.

29.LIBRARY POLICY

Your child(dren) will be able to borrow French books from the ABS library. Our French books are treated as treasures by us and they are more expensive than regular children's books. Some are even not available in the US, so we bought them directly from France or Canada. For these reasons, please make sure to return borrowed books on time to avoid replacement fees of $40 per lost book.

30. CONFERENCES

Conferences will be held on Zoom according to the following schedule:

November / December to discuss progress to date.
May / June to discuss progress and begin to make plans for the following the school year.

Conferences will take place over two (2) or three (3) days per classroom on mornings (8:00-8:30 a.m.) and afternoons (1:45-2:15 p.m. and 4:00-4:30 p.m.).

Duration per family: 15 minutes each. Children are not permitted to attend. Director will post day/time slots that are available as the dates approach.

Teacher’s observation reports are confidential and will be shared with parents during conferences. Parents will be able to bring home their child(ren)’s report card and “classeur” (binder) during Winter Break so that families can enjoy looking through all their child’s accomplishments.

Report cards and “classeurs“ are to be returned upon return from vacation in January. Report cards and binders will be given to parents at the end of the academic year.

31. AU BEAU SEJOUR SCHOOL & SUMMER CAMP CALENDAR

Calendar-Calendrier 2024/2025

AOÛT-AUGUST 2024

9 Jeudi-Thursday: 1st day of ABS Preschool / 1er jour d'école maternelle à ABS

SEPTEMBRE-SEPTEMBER 2024

Lundi-Monday: Labor Day – Congé/No School

OCTOBRE- OCTOBER 2024

1 Vendredi-Friday: Journée pédagogique-Teacher In-Service Day – Congé/No School

4 Lundi-Monday: Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Congé/No School

NOVEMBRE-NOVEMBER 2024

1 Lundi- Monday: Veterans Day – Congé/No School

7 Mercredi-Wednesday au / through 29 Vendredi-Friday: Thanksgiving Break – Congé/No School

DÉCEMBRE-DECEMBER 2024

3 Lundi/Monday au/ through January 3 Vendredi/Friday: Vacances d'hiver — Winter Break – Congés/No School

JANVIER-JANUARY 2025

Lundi/Monday: Reprise des Classes — Classes Resuming

20 Lundi-Monday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Congé/No School

FÉVRIER-FEBRUARY 2025

7 Lundi-Monday au / through 21 Vendredi - Friday: Vacances de Presidents’ Day – Presidents Week School reak – Congés/No School

4 Lundi-Monday: Reprise des Classes — Classes Resuming

MARS-MARCH 2025

1 Vendredi-Friday: Teacher Workday – No School

AVRIL-APRIL 2025

arch 31 Lundi/Monday au/trough 21 Vendredi/Friday: Vacances de printemps – Spring Break – Congés/No chool

Lundi/Monday: Reprise des Classes — Classes Resuming

MAI-MAY 2025

6 Lundi-Monday: Memorial Day – Congé/No School

JUIN-JUNE 2025

9 Jeudi-Thursday: Juneteenth Holiday - Congé/No School

5 Mercredi/Wednesday: Fin des classes/Kermesse — Last Day of School/Kermesse

JULY-AUGUST 2025: Summer camp (Optional Program)

June 26 Jeudi/Thursday au/ through June 27 Vendredi/Friday Préparation du camp d'été – Summer camp réparation – Congés/No School

June 30 Lundi/Monday au/ through July 25 Vendredi/Friday: Camp d'été – Summer camp

4 Vendredi-Friday: Independence Day – Camp fermé/ No Camp

The First day of the 2025-2026 Academic School Year is Thursday, August 14th, 2025.

When a holiday falls on a non school day - Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday will be observed on Friday or Monday.

32. THE DAILY REGISTRATION: SIGNING IN AND OUT

ABS uses a mobile application for signing in & out, called Remini. Each parent will receive a link to register on Remini. With the Remini mobile application, you will be able to sign your child in and out yourself with the help of QR codes displayed in each classroom as well as in our backyard (there is only one QR code for all students). When you arrive, please click on the QR code icon as shown on your app, scan the printed QR code, and select your child to continue checking them in or out.

We know that some students are picked-up or dropped-off by other family members, or nannies. If that is the case for your child, this person will also need to have a Remini account. Please read the following steps to invite “Fans”:

On your home page, click on ‘Invite’
Then, click on ‘Invite fans'
If you want this person to be able to sign in & out your child, check ‘YES’ to the question ‘Enable new user to check your child in/out?’
You will enter the person’s information (it must be their legal first and last names.

Please note that any person who picks up your child, must be listed on the LIC 700 (Identification and Emergency Information). If the pick-up person has been added on Remini but is NOT listed on the LIC700, your child will NOT be discharged. This is required by the Community Care Licensing, and we must ensure we follow the protocols for our students’ safety.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please ask a staff member or the ABS Administration.

CDL will be asked for if we do not know the person. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please notify us promptly in advance of any changes so that we may let your child know.

33. PARENTS CODE OF CONDUCT

The relationship between parents and ABS faculty and staff is vital to the success of a child’s experience at school. A partnership must be formed beginning the first day with open communication and understanding that the development and growth of the child is our top priority.

ABS reserves the right to change or revise any policies, procedures, or tuition/fee schedules when deemed necessary. Advance written notification will be provided to parents.

We expect parents to observe a certain standard of conduct as a part of our school community. Below is a list of conduct that is not acceptable while on our campus and may result in the termination of a care agreement, but is not intended to be all-inclusive:

Physical or verbal punishment of their children.
Physical or verbal punishment of other children.
Threatening, harassing or otherwise disrespecting staff, other parents or other children.
Swearing, cursing or foul language.
Threatening or obscene gestures.
Quarreling with other parents or staff.
Making negative or disparaging comments regarding the school to staff, parents, or anyone other than Administration (including outside of school).
Using contact information of ABS for commercial or any other improper purposes.
Not following policies designated to protect the safety and security of everyone at the school.
Not following the ABS Illness Protocol.

Any violation of this policy may result in the immediate termination of services or other remedial action by ABS. Please do not hesitate to ask questions regarding this policy and address concerns as they arise.

34. FEEDBACK / SUGGESTIONS / GRIEVANCES

Our staff welcomes comments and suggestions to improve the quality of care for your child. When areas of concern arise, parents should report the problem to the classroom teacher, who will hear your suggestion and/or grievance and attempt to work through the problem.

Parents are urged to be direct and candid with the teacher when they have concerns. If you feel you have been unable to resolve your concerns with the teacher or you are unable to deal with this person directly, contact the Director/Owner.

Please do not hesitate to express any concern at any time. It is our goal to make sure your child’s experience at Au Beau Séjour is exceptional. We pride ourselves on having families who are happy and genuinely love being part of our school.

Parents can help their children by:

Talking positively about school, teachers, and children.
Acknowledging and validating all feelings (“I know that you are angry, sad, excited, etc.”)
Communicating a matter-of-fact confidence in ABS.
Assuring your child that you love them, that you will miss them and that you will be back.
Saying goodbye when you are ready to leave and then leaving. It is confusing to children and teachers when parents say goodbye and then stay around for a while.
Letting your child know when you are leaving. It is critical to your relationship that your child trusts that you will not sneak out to avoid upsetting him or her. It is much better for a child to experience momentary sadness rather than to have to deal with the possibility that a parent may disappear at any moment.
While 2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds still need plenty of parental help, ABS believes that children typically enjoy independence. Expect more! We ask that parents be mindful, and that they hold their child’s hand. Please do not carry your child when dropping off. Raise the bar and your child will probably stretch to meet it.
35. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

California requires that all members of a preschool be on the lookout for, and report to the State, any and all cases of abuse to a child. We are therefore obligated to report to the State any suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect.

36. ACCIDENTS

No matter how attentive and careful we are, accidents can still happen occasionally. Accidents on the school premises will be reported to the Director immediately.

Any child involved in an accident that results in injury will have their injury assessed as to whether:

First aid from the staff is adequate
Parents need to be called if the child get a mark on their face
An emergency room visit is needed

Our staff members are certified in first aid and CPR. The staff member present and responsible for the child will fill out an accident report form whenever parents are called due to injury from an accident. This form will be kept on file in the office.

37. BITING AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR

Our program recognizes that biting is, unfortunately, not unexpected when students are in-group care. We are always upset when children are bitten in our program, and we recognize how upsetting it is for parents. While we feel that biting is never the right thing for toddlers to do, we know that they bite for a variety of reasons. Most of these reasons are not related to behavior problems. ABS does not focus on punishment for the biting, but on effective techniques that address the specific reasons for the biting. When biting occurs, we have three main responses:

Care for and help the child who was bitten.
Help the child who bit to learn other behavior.
Work with the child who bit (and their parent) and examine our program to stop biting.

Our teachers work to keep children safe and to help the child who bit learn different, more appropriate behavior. When there are episodes of ongoing biting, we develop a plan of specific strategies, techniques, and timelines to address it. We do not and will not use any response that harms a child or is known to be ineffective.

When a biting incident occurs, the children involved are separated. If the other child has been hurt, attention, comfort and first aid is administered immediately. The child who bit is told “NO, we don’t bite. It hurts when you bite.” Teachers will encourage a dialogue to work out each child’s frustration. The teacher will carefully watch the child who bit their classmate for any sign of repeated behavior. Phone calls are made immediately to the parents of both children involved. If a third incident occurs, a request for a parent conference with the parents, teachers and preschool Director will be required. If biting behavior continues, to best support your child, we may need to evaluate the child’s developmental needs as eradicating this behavior requires effort and vigilance from everyone involved, especially parents. Our goal is to reinforce acceptable social behavior.

When children are older than 24 months, biting is less common. Language is beginning to become the tool of choice, with “No!” and “Mine!” being used most frequently. These verbal warnings alert the teachers that it may be time to intervene, and redirect the playmates involved in another direction. When an older child bites, the ABS policy is:

1st offense – the child who bites will sit apart from others to reflect on what happened, while the teacher comforts the child who has been bitten, and attends to cleaning the bite. Then, the teacher will return to the other child and speak about what has happened. The child is reminded that teeth are for eating, food, and smiling, not for biting. Both sets of parents will be told of the incident.
2nd offense – The child’s parents will be asked to pick up their child and keep their child at home for the day, and to focus on helping the child understand that biting is unacceptable.
3rd offense – ABS staff and parents will meet to determine whether the next step will be further time at home, or termination of our services may be discussed.

We encourage parents to bring their concerns and frustrations directly to ABS. All concerned parties are informed of the problems and will work with the parents and teachers to get the biting under control. Communication is very important in order to help children learn not to bite!

38. TERMINATION

We hope that no child will be expelled from ABS, however, should any bad behavior such as physical aggression, hitting, kicking, shoving, bullying (including biting) continue after three warnings to the parents, the child may be expelled from the school.

39. AU BEAU SEJOUR STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURE POLICY

ABS Core Classroom Rules:

Respect yourself, others, and our school.
Respect the learning environment.
Respect rules and safety plans.
Respect and take care of materials and equipment.

The primary goal of discipline at ABS is to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment that promotes learning and positive personal growth for our students. Disciplinary measures are aimed at assisting each student in the development of self-control, self-worth, social responsibility, and the acceptance of appropriate consequences for his/her actions. We value families as part of the team when we teach children to behave respectfully. Each teacher will post their individual classroom rules of conduct and remain responsible for teaching children these rules throughout the school year. Playground rules are familiar and practiced. Licensing forbids siblings/children not enrolled in our program to play on the playground, or to wander from parents. Please note ABS enforces this rule for the safety of all. No exceptions will be allowed (stipulated in California Child Care Licensing rules and regulations).

If the child’s dysfunctional behavior poses a threat to him/herself or the emotional or physical safety of the other children, we reserve the right to terminate the care agreement on a timeline that is in the child’s and school’s best interest, which under rare circumstances may be immediately.

Spanking or other corporal punishment of children is never used at ABS. It is our policy to never subject children to cruel or severe punishment such as humiliation, verbal or physical abuse, or deprivation of snacks. Children will not be deprived of meals or snacks, or be force-fed. There will be no discipline or repercussions for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet. Children will not be forced to remain in soiled clothing or to remain on the toilet, nor will staff use any other unusual or excessive practices for toilet training. Staff will work with each child as they are ready for toilet training, by encouraging and praising their efforts. Any staff member who does not comply with this behavior management plan will be terminated from the preschool program.

40. BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT / POSITIVE DISCIPLINE

At ABS, only positive discipline is used as a means to discipline a student. Discipline defined is “to teach.” Positive Discipline is a form of discipline which focuses on the positive points of behavior, based on the idea that there are no bad children, just good and bad behaviors. We teach and reinforce good behaviors while weaning the bad behaviors without hurting the child verbally or physically. Consistently and continuously use the 3 R’s (Remove, Reflect, and Reconnect).

Remove

When you need to discipline, immediately remove the child from the situation. The goal is to give the child time to think about what they have done, and at the same time give everyone time to calm down and get ready to talk about what just happened. Then, when you feel like your child is ready and has a calm spirit, move onto the next “R,” Reflect.

Reflect

When students and educators reflect, they discuss what happened. Three questions are asked: “What did they do wrong?”

Next, “Why was it wrong?”

Finally, “What can we do differently next time?”

We want to shape the child’s understanding so they can be self-motivated to change their own behavior the next time. Here, we talk about the consequences. Consequences are always age appropriate, and just limited to the offense.

Reconnect

Before ending, we share with the student that we are here to help them, and that we believe in their ability to make the right decision the next time.

NO TIMEOUTS ARE GIVEN. TIMEOUTS ARE NEVER USED AT ABS.

41. POSITIVE DISCIPLINE TOOLS

Good teaching skills are something that you have to continuously work at. Below are some examples of how to use positive discipline:

Show patience and empathy.
Fully listen well when a child talks to you.
Helps the child feel safe.
A child is not “bad.” We explain to them that they might have done an action that was bad, but that is not a reflection of them.
Consistency is key.
Spend time with students. Time is set aside to check in with students as rules are to be reinforced on a consistent basis.

All ABS teachers follow the same rules at all times as to remain consistent and to remain in accordance with our school’s policies and procedures. Many behaviors stem from a lack of attention, and sometimes the child is simply trying to get attention. If developing good skills is needed, there are many resources available to you. Please do not hesitate to ask us, we will provide lots of information that will help you develop skills that can be utilized on a daily basis.

42. ILLNESS

Sick children will not be allowed at school. For example, if a child was sent home on Wednesday because they were ill, they will not be able to return to school for 24 hours. So please do not bring your child back before Friday or they will not be permitted to stay. Under no circumstances will parents be allowed to bring a sick child into the school. Sick children need additional care that we cannot provide and should stay home and recuperate. Additionally, we have to limit exposure of viruses to the other children as they and their families become exposed to those germs.

Our illness policies will be strictly enforced for the health, well-being, and safety of all concerned.

Some examples of illness symptoms where a child should stay home from school include, but are not limited to:

Fever of 100.4 degrees or more: We do not allow the child to return to school until he/she has no fever for 24 hours.
Vomiting/Diarrhea: When vomiting occurs, keep your child home until he/she can keep food down for 24 hours. Diarrhea consists of runny or watery stools or 2 or more looser stools within the last 4 hours.
Chickenpox: A child who had chickenpox may return 6 days after all the blisters are scabbed over.
Pink eye: If the eye discharge is thick and white or yellow, the child should stay home until the discharge has stopped. Parents must provide a physician’s note to return to class.
Impetigo: A child may return 24 hours after the start of antibiotic medication. Parents must provide a physician’s note to return to class.
Strep throat: A child may return 24 hours after antibiotics are started. Parents must provide a physician’s note to return to class.
Common cold: Keep your child home until fever-free for 24 hours. Your child may return to school with a slightly runny nose and cough. However, a child with a “heavy” cold and a hacking cough belongs at home, even if there is no fever. A negative COVID test will be required.
Flu: A child should stay home as long as symptoms are acute and fever is above 100.4 degrees (child should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school). A negative COVID test will be required.
Headache: A child whose only complaint is a headache usually does not need to be kept at home. However, when a bad headache follows a fall or a blow to the head, your doctor should be contacted. A negative COVID test will be required.
Rash: Do not send a child with a rash to school until your doctor has said that it is safe to do so. Parents must provide a physician’s note verifying the child is not contagious.
Sore throat: If your child complains of a sore throat and has no other symptoms, he/she may go to school. If white spots and/or red throat and swollen glands can be seen in the back of the throat or if fever is present, keep the child home and call your doctor. A negative COVID test will be required.
When children become ill at school, the parents will be contacted and asked to pick up their child immediately (within 1 hour). If the parents are not available, the emergency contact will be called. It is vital that the emergency contact be a person who is able to come as soon as possible. Parents of a child with a diagnosed contagious condition (COVID-19, measles, head lice, pink eye, mumps, chicken pox, etc.) are asked to notify the Director as soon as possible so that we may alert the other parents to watch for symptoms in their own children.
43. COVID-19

ABS will continue to follow the COVID-19 protocol provided by our local authorities. We will follow any updates that are released and we will keep you updated in case there are any changes. You can find more information about our COVID-19 protocol using the link provided herein.

44. HEAD LICE

Unfortunately, head lice are a recurring problem in schools. When a case is discovered at school, all families will be notified and provided with health department guidelines on treatment. If lice is found on a child, the child will be sent home immediately. Your child needs to be lice-free in order to be able to come back to school.

45. ALLERGIES AND SPECIAL DIETS

We provide careful individual attention to the needs of children with recognized food allergies or specific dietary restrictions. At the beginning of every school year, we compile a school-wide allergy and special diet list. If your child falls into this category, be sure to sign this list every September so that every teacher who comes in contact with your child will be informed of your child’s special needs.

If your child’s dietary needs change during the course of the school year, please remember to keep your teachers up to date by letting them know right away. Your child’s health is very important to all of us.

We want to always uphold good health practices. We want you to know that we understand that children will get sick and sometimes the decision to keep them home is a hard, but a necessary one.

FOOD ALLERGIES: ALWAYS ALERT THE ADMINISTRATION AND YOUR CHILD’S TEACHERS IF YOUR CHILD GETS A NEW ALLERGY. ALLERGIES AND PROCEDURES ARE POSTED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

46. NUT ALLERGIES

Many students may have severe allergies. People with severe nut allergies have life-threatening reactions to ingesting even trace amounts of nuts and dairy products. Therefore, no nuts or nut products may be brought to our School. Daily nut-free snacks are provided for all students (except Nutella occasionally). Parents of children in a class with a student with allergies will receive more information at the beginning of the school year about additional accommodations for specific classrooms, including for birthdays and special snacks.

If your child has a severe food allergy/allergies, ABS may ask you to provide food for the child to bring to school.

47. MEDICATION

If your child requires administration of prescription or non-prescription medication during the school day, you must give a signed consent form with instructions to your teacher first. Forms are located in the classroom.

Prescription medication must be brought in the original container with the label stating the physician’s instructions and the child’s name. Prescription medication will only be administered in accordance with the label directions as prescribed by the child’s physician. The instructions from the child’s representative cannot conflict with the label directions or the medication will not be administered.

Non-prescription medications may be administered with approval or instructions from the child’s physician and in accordance with the product label. All medication will be stored in the school’s medical lock box. Please hand it directly to your child’s teacher with the consent form and the doctor’s note. Parents need to bring only the prescribed dosage that is needed, in the prescription container. Do not place any medication in your child’s cubby. Your teacher will note the time(s) medication was administered on the Permission to Administer Medication form. Be sure to check for this verification when you pick up your child.

48. IMMUNIZATION

California law requires that ALL children be immunized against various childhood diseases. Immunization forms are updated every fall and are checked yearly by the State Health Department. Failure to have necessary immunizations will result in exclusion from school.

Please note that if your child develops a fever after having received an immunization, we will give you a phone call for you to pick up your child as soon as possible. Please make sure to be available if this is the case.

49. DIAPERS

Parents are asked to bring diapers, wipes and tissues when needed. Teachers will remind you regularly to bring enough diapers to cover your child’s needs. Our teaching staff is ready to help you and your child when the time is right. Our toilet training policy is when your child shows signs of readiness or interest at home, our teachers will work to reinforce and encourage toilet training here at school. Please let your teachers know if your child appears to be ready, based on at-home behavior. A consistent and successful plan for your child can be developed by working together with your teachers. The children will be encouraged to wipe themselves independently, but will be assisted by a teacher, if needed. The job is made easier if, during the training period, your child wears pants or dresses without straps that are easy to remove when going to the bathroom.

50. TOILET-TRAINING

Supporting Potty Training in TPS class: We ask that children are potty trained by 3 years of age. Teachers are to communicate at least two (2) months in advance to parents. As teachers, our job is not to potty train our students. Our job is to support our students where they are at in their development. That means supporting them if they are learning letters, supporting them if they are learning about friendships, and as they potty train. Our teachers will not get upset about students having accidents or at parents who are not doing their “job” by potty training their child. That is not OK. Our job as teachers and caregivers is to support every student’s development, not just the parts that are not stinky.

Here are some things to remember as your child is going through this sensitive stage:

Every child has a unique experience. Some potty train very early, and some are just not ready.
Check-in often with your teachers. Parents will be asked at the start of the year what stage of potty training your child is in and how the parents handle potty training at home.
Teachers will communicate to parents about any signs that the child is ready to potty train. Common signs are children being interested when classmates use the bathroom, talking about wanting big kid underwear, and general curiosity about the process. Supporting the child also means making sure that parents are not missing the signs of a child who is ready.
Teachers will be patient and parents should be, too. Parents may feel incredible pressure to have their toddlers and preschoolers potty trained and that stress trickles down to the child. We hope that help from our teachers relieves that stress by being parents and remaining patient and positive. Our students will have their own timeline. Rushing a child who is not ready is not helpful.
Teachers will have picture books about potty training in the classroom for children to read with their teachers, with parents, or to look through alone.
Expect accidents and do not make a big fuss about them. Be positive. When teachers hand you the soiled clothes in a bag, they will make sure to stress that it is no big deal since the child is watching and listening to this exchange.
Teachers will ask you for extra clothes. If a child has just transitioned to underwear, please make sure you have multiple sets of clothes available for your child at school.
Teachers will ask children often if they would like to use the potty, but they will never pressure them. Most toddlers will go to the bathroom about every 2 hours; preschoolers can usually stretch that out a little more.
Teachers will never force a child onto a toilet. Even if we know the child in the corner is pooping, we do not force them into the bathroom. Instead, we will encourage them to walk to the bathroom, help them clean up and wash hands. While cleaning up, we will explain to the child: “Next time when you need to poop, you can come in here. Even if you aren’t ready to sit on the potty, you can stand in here to go poop. Then when you are ready, you can try the toilet.” There will be no judgment, just encouragement and support to get to the next stage.
Teachers will allow children to go to the bathroom with a potty trained friend to see how this potty process works.
Teachers will give them time to sit on the toilet even after they have peed. Do not hurry the child.
Teachers will allow parents to take the child to the bathroom at drop-off and pick-up. This helps children get more comfortable with our classroom bathroom.
We praise all efforts, not just successes. For example, “ sat on the potty today, nothing happened, but she is getting comfy with our class toilet. I was very proud of her for trying.” It is that easy!

When it comes to being supportive of a child’s development, the most important thing is to look at each child as an individual. When we do that as teachers, we truly provide a developmentally appropriate experience for our students.

Two (2) months before the child’s 3rd birthday, teachers will meet with parents to discuss the best needs for their child in regard to potty training.

Diaper Policy in PS Class: A 3-year-old is to be toilet trained, and no diapers, or pull-ups are accepted. We allow nap diapers until the child has slept through the nap for one full month without an accident. Our experience is that your child will be very proud, as we cheer them on! We are here to help through this sometimes stressful transition. Teachers will accompany your child to the bathroom, and will assist him/her with cleanliness when necessary. However, as the school year continues, your child will be encouraged to be more independent in their bathroom visits. If they are not ready yet, we will set up a meeting with parents. We will have the child stay home until they are free of repeated accidents. If a 3-year-old child is taken out of class for two (2) weeks due to our policy, the child must be accident free for two (2) full weeks before returning to class. This is an absolute non-negotiable policy.

51. NAPS & REST TIME

All students' (TPS, PS, MS and GS) will nap or rest after lunch. TPS children will nap for 1 hour and 30 minutes, PS will nap for 1 hour, MS students will rest or nap for 45 minutes, and GS students will rest or nap for 30 minutes.

ABS parents will provide the school with an all-in-one nap pack (pillow, comforter, and blanket) for their child(ren) and ABS will provide a mat for students to take their naps on. The design of the nap pack is very practical, the perfect size for our cubbies, and it is child-friendly. We kindly ask that you put your child's name on the nappack, and every week, we will ask you to take it home to wash it.

52. STUDENT BIRTHDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

Birthday and party invitations may not be handed out at school or distributed in the classroom unless the entire class is invited. A good way for parents to include the entire class in the celebration is to provide a treat before afternoon dismissal (3:10 p.m.). Please coordinate classroom birthday celebrations with the teachers and be considerate of special requests by the teacher to accommodate their needs or student needs (for example, not bringing certain messy treats or foods that could cause severe allergic reactions). Flowers, balloons, gifts, and party favors are not allowed. Please try to bring nutritious treats for the children and/or limit the size and quantity of sweet treats.

53. TOYS

Please DO NOT bring toys to school. Please leave them in the car, it is more upsetting to take them away once in the classroom. If your child has a favorite nap time item, you may bring it and teachers will have it for them at nap time. Other than that, do not bring toys to school. Any articles of clothing and other items should be labeled with your child’s name.

54. PHOTOGRAPHS / SOCIAL MEDIA

Photographs are taken of the children for use in the classrooms, our website, Facebook page, Remini, and for documentation purposes. We may also use a photograph in an email to another parent to show them their child’s activities or reassure them that all is well with their child during transitions. Please be advised that your child may be in those photographs. The parents of any child receiving an email with the picture of any other child are strictly forbidden to show or use the photograph with anyone other than their spouse and family. They must never be circulated. This is for the protection of the children.

We will provide a form for you to indicate whether or not we may use your child’s photograph in a photo flyer, outside newsletters, our website, and other promotional material. Your child’s name will never be used. While we appreciate the opportunity to use your child’s picture to share the school with prospective parents, we respect your wishes whatever your decisions are.

55. EMERGENCY DRILLS

We strive to be prepared for emergency situations and take the idea of fires and earthquakes very seriously! ABS practices monthly fire and earthquake drills so that our students are familiar with what to do and how to respond in an emergency situation. We also conduct school wide evacuation drills each month.

In the event of fire, we will vacate the property immediately and will head to the designated shelter (Tudorka Tots, Infant and Child Center). In case of a fire, we will have our emergency packet with us (which includes a parent list of names and contact numbers). You will be alerted as soon as we arrive at the shelter.

56. GENERAL EMERGENCY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

In the case of an emergency, the Director and teachers will take appropriate action depending on the circumstances. In the case of an emergency or disaster that allows us to remain at the school, we will remain in the safest area onsite. We have emergency supplies for children and adults. We will remain with your children past the mandatory three-day period, if needed. We will remain with them until they are picked up by an authorized person or a city, state, county, or federal official makes appropriate arrangements for their care if an authorized person cannot be located after extensive efforts.

In the event of a disaster (earthquake, fire, toxic conditions, etc.) where the school is deemed unsafe, we will evacuate the premises to an emergency location. A notice will be placed on the school, if possible, indicating our location. Our emergency location is listed below:

Hover Elementary School

890 Brockhurst Street

Oakland, CA 94608

ABS CONTACT INFORMATION:

Executive Director & Owner’s cell phone: (949) 295-7169

Assistant Director’s cell phone: (925) 297-9588

Head Teacher’s cell phone: (510) 980-2069

We will remain with the children until they are picked up by an authorized person, or an authorized city, state, county, or federal official makes appropriate arrangements for their care if an authorized person cannot be located after extensive efforts.

57. TRANSPORTATION

Please note that ABS does not provide daily transportation for students. Parents who provide transportation are expected to adhere to our policies herein including those relating to “Driving and Parking By School.”

58. DRIVING AND PARKING BY SCHOOL

Please help keep our community, especially the children, safe by respecting the following guidelines when driving and parking by our school:

Drive slowly and prudently when approaching ABS. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour.
Cell phone use, including texting, is prohibited while driving.
Obey all posted signs on the street by the school.
There are 6 parking spots in front of the school. Please be mindful when parking in the school’s parking lot. Do not stay more than 10 minutes and pull forward as much as possible so that other cars may park behind you.
Do not park in front of our neighbors' driveway. We want to respect our community and keep cordial relationships with our neighbors.
59. CAMERAS AT AU BEAU SEJOUR

ABS uses video surveillance cameras which may or may not be monitored at any time. Images from video surveillance cameras will be recorded and maintained for no more than 14 days. While the school’s video surveillance camera system is primarily for children's safety (note that we may ask to see your Photo ID) and for property protection purposes, it may also be used for disciplinary purposes, policy enforcement, legal proceedings, or investigations. Viewing and other use of the monitoring equipment and recordings shall be limited to those individuals authorized by the Director of the School in her sole discretion. Unauthorized use or misuse of the School’s video surveillance camera system is grounds for disciplinary action.

60. SMOKE-FREE PRESCHOOL

In keeping with our goal to provide a safe and healthy environment for our students, and in compliance with local laws, we do not allow the use of tobacco in our school or near our building entrances. Please remember our entire Preschool is "smoke-free." Smoking is prohibited both inside and outside of the building.

61. CHANGES IN POLICIES

The fees, procedures, and policies stated in this handbook are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Director/Owner of Au Beau Séjour French Preschool at any time.

Parents Handbook