• Drive north on Alvarez (west side of church) so that children may unload on the curbside from car doors. In the mornings, please see that your child is seen in by the staff on duty – if it is not between 8:30-8:40, or if a staff person is not on duty, it is your responsibility to see that your child gets to his/her classroom door. Please remember that our teachers are preparing for class prior to 8:30am, so no early birds please.
• PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR WHILE IN THE LOADING ZONE! If you need to leave your car, park in the lot.
• Pull up as far as possible to load in single file.
• Staff will help load children. Please do not get out of you car while in the pick-up lane.
• K-3 STUDENTS NEED TO BE WALKED INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS EACH MORNING AND PICKED UP IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AT THE END OF EACH DAY.

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Snacktime

Snacktime is held each morning in class. Each teacher will let you know her policy and give you some healthy suggestions. A calendar will be given to you at the beginning of each month to let you know which day(s) has been assigned to you. Your child will be the host on the day his/her snacks are served. We do have a refrigerator so you may send milk, yogurt, cheese or other items that need cooling. Try to save the highly sugared items for special occasions like birthdays and holidays – this helps us stay healthy and make those events more special.

Newsletters and Calendars

You will receive a school-wide newsletter once a month. Please read this and you will find that you are up to date on what is happening at Happy Hearts. If you have something that you would like to put in the newsletter please see Kim.
You will also receive a class calendar from your child’s teacher each month. Please keep this handy and visual so that you and your child can participate in special activities and be prepared for upcoming events and projects.

Birthdays

The children’s birthdays are celebrated on the closet feasible day to their actual birthday. This is done in Music Assembly. Parents and guests are encouraged to come and hear the special music, take pictures and bring special snacks to class. All children who have a birthday during the summer months will celebrate their “half-birthday” during the school year. These celebrations will be given the same attention as other birthdays.

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K-5 Redbird Birthday Lunches
The Redbirds will have lunch with Mrs. Pressley and her class as a birthday treat. This is done once a month whenever there are K-5 birthdays to celebrate and will be on the Redbird calendar. Each Redbird will bring $2.00 towards pizza on that special day. There will be a birthday table for all the Redbirds that month and the class will enjoy a movie or extra play time until 12:30 pick up.

Music Assembly and Chapel
Music Assembly is held Mondays and Fridays from 8:45 – 9:15am in the Fellowship Hall. Assembly for the Tuesday/Thursday Hummingbirds and Earlybirds will be on Tuesdays at 8:45am in the Fellowship Hall.
Chapel will be held every Wednesday in the sanctuary. Parents are welcome to all assemblies and chapel.

Programs
The children of Happy Hearts present three music programs. The Christmas Program spotlights K-4 and K-5 students with a small part by the Hummingbirds and Earlybirds. This night also includes our Silent Auction for all parents and friends of Happy Hearts. Our Spring Program is presented by K-3 and K-4. Kindergarten has Graduation with a program at the end of the year. All programs are held in the evening.

Early Dismissal
In order to accommodate our parents and staff with children in the Marion County School system, we will have early dismissal in accordance with the public school calendar. School will dismiss at 11:30 on these days.

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Parties and Celebrations
Happy Hearts has six celebrations throughout the year. You are asked to work on at least one party with another parent. The party parents plan and orchestrate the entire party from snacks to activities ~ it’s your turn to have fun with the children. If you need ideas or have questions feel free to ask the teacher or Kim. Below is a general outline:

• Fall Festival: Children may wear a non-violent/non-scary costume to school for Assembly and a parade around campus – parents are welcome! The party is held in the classrooms after children change into regular clothes ~ games/activities, a craft, stories/books, snack and favors are needed.
• Thanksgiving Feast: Children will be dressed as pilgrims, Indians and turkeys (costumes made in class) for this event in the courtyard. Party parents are in charge of the food, set-up, & decorations and will meet as a committee on the details of the meal.
• Christmas: Party parents are in charge of games/activities, a craft, snack and party favors. Jesus and Santa are both welcome.
• Valentine’s: The Valentine’s party is held in the classrooms and party parents are in charge of games/activities, a craft, snack and favors.
• Easter: This party is generally held at someone’s home, preferably not far from school. Students come to school as normal, have assembly and then go to the party house for an egg hunt, games/activities, a craft (optional), snack and favors.
• End-of-the Year: This may be held on campus or at a different location approved by the teacher and director. Party parents are in charge of the cost of the location (if any), games/activities, craft (optional), snacks and favors.

Field Trips

When field trips are planned, we need your assistance in driving and chaperoning children. All children are required to be in seatbelts in the back seat and 3 year olds must be in a car seat.

Playground

Happy Hearts and First Presbyterian Church share the Peggy Wiechens Memorial Playground. If you would like to use the playground for an after-school event, please clear this with the church office: 629-7561. We love to see our families enjoy the playground for picnics and playtimes! Periodically, we need to have playground work days to improve and repair our facility – you are asked to work on at least 2 of these days.

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No Verbal Messages

No verbal messages will be accepted from your child. To safeguard your child, we ask you to notify us, in writing when someone other than a parent or regular carpool will be picking up your child.

Parent/Grandparent Volunteers

We encourage parent involvement. It is important to Happy Hearts and to your children to have helpful, supportive parents. There are many things you can do as a volunteer, including classroom help as well as helping from home. Please complete the Volunteer questionnaire that is sent home.

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Dress

Children are encouraged to wear play clothes and tennis shoes – no backless shoes. Daily activities include active play and the children need to feel comfortable about participating without worrying about their clothing. Please label all jackets, caps and other loose articles.

Discipline

Acceptable behavior is encouraged by giving positive verbal rewards. This reinforces a child’s good feeling about his/her behavior and serves as an example to the other children to act in such a way as to receive this praise. Asking a child to stop and think about their unpleasant behavior enables a child to work at self control. If behavior problems persist after the teacher has used different methods (praising acceptable behavior, removal from the situation, one-on-one conservation with the child, time out) to deal with them, then the parent will be called. This will be followed by a conference with the teacher, parents and director to determine further action. Corporal punishment and humiliation are not accepted methods of dealing with young children’s behavior at Happy Hearts.

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Admissions Policy

Happy Hearts Kindergarten, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Happy Hearts Kindergarten, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school administered programs.

Fundraising

We have narrowed our fundraising down to two fun events that are easy to support and participate in. All fundraising monies go into the classrooms and benefit our children directly.

• Silent Auction : The Silent Auction is held as part of our Christmas Program in early December. All Happy Hearts families and friends of Happy Hearts are encouraged to come and participate. If you or someone you know has something that can be donated to the event please let the Auction Chairpersons, Kelley Varner and Michelle Pullam know as soon as possible.
• Spring Fundraiser : Plans are being finalized for Happy Hearts annual Spring Fundraiser which will be held in early spring.

Happy Hearts Healthy Bodies

This is a program designed for children to enjoy the basics of being physically fit. Students will participate in fun physical activities which promotes a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Happy Hearts Library

Happy Hearts is pleased to announce the formation of a Student Library. All students will be allowed to visit the library and check out books. Other library events will be announced.

Dance Class
A local dance instructor will hold dance classes once a week for all interested children. Children will perform in a recital at the end of the year to showcase their progress. Details regarding the dance classes, including fees and times will be announced in a future bulletin.

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