Pre-School
Kindergarten • Childcare

3821 240th St. SE,  •  Bothell, WA 98021

This is a sampling of our most frequently asked policies. For the entire policy and parent handbook please see the download section.

Sign–In/Sign–Out Procedures

Each day, when you bring your child to CPMS, we request that you document that event on the Sign–In/Sign–Out Sheet. State licensing requires a full signature of the responsible adult bringing a child to the facility. Please note the time(s) that your child comes to the school and the time(s) that he/she leaves. This sheet is a legal document and no children or any person under the age of 18 shall be allowed to write on it. Also, no person under the age of 18 is allowed to pick up a younger child from our school. In order to facilitate better record keeping, CPMS has installed a computerized school–management program. When signing in/out we ask that you also clock–in/out on this system. A personal ID number will be provided for each family. Directions for use are posted by the keyboard, or staff will assist you.

Vehicles & Parking

CPMS requests that parents entering the school NOT LEAVE CARS RUNNING IN THE PARKING LOT. YOUNGER SIBLINGS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN CARS. This is both dangerous and against the law. Bring all children in when entering the school. Also, be sure the attending child is with the supervising teacher before you leave. P arents may park heading straight into the rockery at the end of the drive, and use the EAST drive (as the other is a private drive) only when entering or leaving school grounds. Be careful not to park or drive on the grassy section adjacent to the drive and play field as this is our drain field. Special parking arrangements will be made during party and open house times. Please follow the pattern and stay within the marked areas designated for parking.

Closures

Notice that CPMS is CLOSED on ALL LEGAL HOLIDAYS for preschool and childcare. Some holidays also include an extra vacation day. Check your calendar to confirm dates. CPMS is not closed during Northshore School District professional days or seasonal breaks. However, ONLY childcare will be provided; prior sign–up is required to ensure adequate space for those who have no alternative care. Children in 4–hour Preschool/Kindergarten sessions are welcome to attend during these professional days or seasonal breaks.

Snow & Ice

Our school follows the Northshore School District weather schedule. If they are closed due to weather conditions, generally WE ARE CLOSED. Please listen to early morning radio or TV newscasts for the district’s listing (but note that they sometimes do not get listed until after 6:30 AM); CALL CPMS for a message about our operating status—we may be open for limited care. CALL FIRST—DON’T ASSUME.

Field Trips

Field trips that coordinate with our studies are planned several times a year. These vary according to unit themes and the interests of each year’s students. Places of interest include the Pumpkin Patch, the Zoo, the Aquarium, Molbak's, Blyth Park, Seattle’s Pacific Science Center, Edmonds Beach, and the Ballard Locks, to name a few. Field trip fees will be billed to your account. Some are free or complimentary of CPMS. Parent support is very important to the success of these events. Please try to come on at least one event; it is well worth the time and effort. Those wishing to help drive are required by state law to fill out a criminal history background check form. These are available in the kitchen.

About Meals at CPMS

CPMS is not a full meal–service facility. We provide snacks at periodic intervals throughout the day in conjunction with parent-provided meals. Children arriving early before 8 a.m. should bring breakfast items if they tend not to eat before leaving home. Those staying through the lunch hour need to bring a lunch in a clearly marked container. We request no action figure lunch boxes (GI Joe, Batman, Barbie, etc.). These stimulate a lot of "tough talk" and related "actions" that create problems at the lunch table and elsewhere. We appreciate your cooperation.

Discipline

Children attending our Montessori school will be instructed in many things. Among them will be the correct use of materials and equipment and ways of interacting with other children in a manner that respects the rights and properties of each individual. Children will be informed both individually and as a group of these things. There will no doubt be times when this instruction will need to be reinforced. Our policy for handling such situations will be as follows:

1. Diversion, along with a verbal reminder of responsibilities will be given; i.e., consideration of others, safety, sharing, respecting property and staff.

2. A short “time out" may be necessary, usually not more than two minutes. A special chair or spot apart from the group is used where the child may sit to regain his/her composure. A child may be having a bad day when nothing is going right. We will take this into consideration in our response to a situation. (Please inform us if there are any extenuating circumstances that might be affecting your child.)

3. A child's parent will be called if severe disruptive behavior continues and the child does not respond in a positive way. The child may need to be picked up from school. We may need to arrange for a conference to work out difficulties in behavior patterns.

4. Children will receive consequences in the form of work activities or time away (if work is refused) when they persist in exhibiting inappropriate behavior or language after repeated instruction defining acceptable limits and behaviors. Parents will be notified if the behavior continues.

5. No child shall be disciplined by staff or parent on this premises using any form of corporal punishment—that is, physical discipline which could cause bodily injury.