BETHEL NURSERY SCHOOL

            90 Bryn Mawr Avenue Auburn, Ma 01501

        "Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray"

                            Proverbs 22:6  (NRSV)

                        School phone (508) 832-9411

                        Church phone (508) 832-3427

 

Introduction

Bethel Nursery School is a non-profit Christian preschool established  in 1977 under the direction of Anna E. Westlund.  The school is a self-supporting ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church within its mission to serve families and children in our neighborhood and beyond.  We are a Christ centered, joy filled place where children grow and learn within a framework of love, care, and respect.  We provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum for both Nursery (age 3 approx.) and Pre-Kindergarten (age 4 approx.) classes.

Bethel Nursery School meets all the licensing requirements of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office for Child Care Services.  We are members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association.  We work closely with parents to provide the best preschool experience for each child.

 All school policies are set by the Board of Directors of the school.  The Board sets tuition rates, hires staff, and approves the school budget.

 We enroll children at the age of 2 years and 9 months from Auburn and the surrounding towns.  We do not exclude any family because of race, creed, political beliefs, religion and cultural heritage, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, or color.  Children with special needs will be enrolled if parents and staff determine that the school can serve the child’s needs appropriately

 Religion is not taught at Bethel Nursery School, but Christian attitudes are upheld by the staff and Christian concepts are modeled through  our songs, our prayers at snack time, our holiday celebrations, and Pastor Voosen’s weekly sing along with the Pre-K classes.

 Location – Arrival and Pick-Up 

The preschool rooms are located in Voosen Hall, on the west side of the church building.  The parking lot, school entrance, and coatroom are accessed from Homestead Avenue.  Our outside play area is adjacent to the parking lot.  It is a large, level, fenced in grassy area with swings, climbers, sandbox, picnic table, playhouse and lots of room to run.  Our equipment is stored in a shed on the property. 

 We are ready to welcome children at 8:55 AM.  Please walk your child in to the classroom.  Classes are dismissed at 11:30AM (2:00PM for the Lunch Bunch).  Children should be picked up promptly.  You will be assessed a late pick-up fee of $5.00 after the first 5 minutes and $1.00 a minute after that.  Children will be released only to those listed on your Parent Authorization Form.  You must notify the school if anyone else, other than those on the form, may be picking up your child.

 9:00:  Arrival and greeting

9:10:   Circle Time (calendar, weather, introduction to themes)

9:20:   Learning Centers and Daily Project

10:00:  Pick up time and Bathroom

10:10:  Snack Time

10:20:  Story time.

10:30:  Outdoor Play or Indoor Gross Motor

11:00:  Music time

11:10:  Prepare for Dismissal

11:30:  Dismissal

 

 Health Information

Your child must have a current Medical form signed by his/her physician stating that he/she is in good health, free of contagious disease and has received necessary immunizations.  Please keep your child home if he/she shows any sign of illness and do not send him/her back to school until he/she has been free of all symptoms for 24 hours and is considered well enough for outdoor activity.  Staff personnel will not dispense medication to children.  If your child becomes ill with a communicable disease, please let us know immediately so that we may notify other parents.

 Birthdays and Holiday

Birthdays are important to children and we like to celebrate each one individually either on the actual birthday or as close to it as possible. We have some surprises ready for each child on his or her special day. If you would like to send in a snack for the class on your child’s birthday, it would add to the celebration and we would welcome your participation. Something small and simple, perhaps a snack your own child especially likes would be appropriate. Please speak to one of your child’s teachers if you would like to contribute. Summer birthdays will be celebrated together in the latter part of May.

 

School Calendar

 We follow Auburn Schools Calendar with the same holiday vacations.  We do not, however, follow their Staff Development days off.

If the Auburn Public Schools are cancelled due to inclement weather, we will also be closed for the day.  If a delay is announced, our morning session will be cancelled.  However, the afternoon session (Lunch Bunch) will still be held. 

 Clothing Suggestions and Toys

We ask that you dress your child appropriately in comfortable, washable clothes.  The children will be involved in many activities that may be “messy”.  Please send in a change of clothes in a labeled zip-lock bag.  Please also label your child’s jackets, sweaters, or any outdoor clothing.

 We suggest that toys be left at home unless requested by a teacher for "Show and Tell". This saves tears when things are misplaced or lost.

 

 

Our Discipline Plan

Our staff uses behavior management techniques such as setting reasonable and positive expectations, offering choices and providing children an opportunity to verbalize their feelings.  We use positive techniques of guidance including modeling, redirection, positive reinforcement and encouragement.

 Children participate in the establishment of rules at the beginning of the school year.

Snacks

Snacks are provided daily for all classes.  A nutritious snack, along with juice, water or milk is offered to each child.  We like to plan our snacks according to our weekly themes, making it fun for our children.  Due to an increase in the amount of allergies, our snacks are “peanut free”.

 Field Trips

 The MWF Pre-Kindergarten classes will have a least one field trip per year, with parents providing transportation and supervision.

 Special Events

There are many special events that take place at our preschool where parents, family and friends are invited to join us.  We have an annual Halloween parade, a Father and Child Tree Decorating Night, a Christmas program and party celebrating the birth of Jesus, Grandparents Day, a Mom and Child’s Ice Cream Social, a graduation for the Pre-K classes, and end of the year program for our nursery classes and a “Fun Fest Day” that marks the end of our school year.

Our Parents and Teachers Group meets monthly to discuss fundraising, classroom parties and any ideas or suggestions that may come about.

Parents are always welcome to visit our classes and share an activity, book, hobby or pet, related to our curriculum theme or holiday.

 

Fees and Tuition

Monthly tuition is due at the first of each month.  Checks received after the 15th of the month will be assessed a late penalty of $5.00.  There is a $10.00 fee for checks returned by the bank for any reason.  Discounts are available for Bethel Church members.  Checks should be payable to:  Bethel Lutheran Church.

 

2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR

 Nursery - 2 years and 9 months by August 31, 2008

            9:00 AM - 11:30 A.M.

           Tuesday and Thursday

            $93.00 per month

 

Pre-Kindergarten - 4 years old by August 31, 2008

            9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.

            Monday, Wednesday and Friday

            $120.00 per month

 

Pre-Kindergarten Extended Day “LunchBunch”

            11:30am – 2:00PM

            Monday, Wednesday and Friday

            $105.00 per month

 This schedule has been prepared with the Auburn entrance age for kindergarten in mind. If you are from another town and have a question, please contact the school.

APPLICATION FORMS: To ensure enrollment, the application form must be filled out completely and returned with a $25.00 non-refundable registration fee.

SCHOOL BEGINS on Sept. 4 and 5, 2008.  A Parent/child orientation will take place on Wed. September 3rd from 10-11AM.

APPLICATION FORM ONLINE

HEALTH FORM on line

HEALTH IMMUNIZATION on line  

 Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church

90 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Auburn, Ma., 01501

832-3427 - Church Office   832-9411 - Nursery School

Bethel Church invites your family and friends to worship with us and to take part in any of the congregation's activities.  If you wish to receive our newsletter, please speak to the Nursery School Director.

                  The Rev. Edward W. Voosen - Pastor

The Rev. Robert Fenby, Pastoral Assistant

 

Worship:     Sunday, 8am, 9:15am and 10:30

                  (Nursery Care provided.)

                    Wednesday, 5:30pm (in the chapel)

Education:  Sunday, 9am: age 3 to adult

Church Homepage:      http://www.bethelauburn.org/

                        Email:  contact@bethelauburn.org


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