Message from the Board of Directors of Mes Amis

• Please read this handbook thoroughly. It details the policies and procedures of Mes Amis. As a parent of a child in Mes Amis it is your responsibility to understand the information in this handbook. We hope that this handbook is useful to you, and we ask that you keep it for future reference. It is difficult to anticipate all the possible situations that may occur during the course of a school year therefore we suggest you phone a board member should you have any questions or concerns that this handbook does not address.

Operating Guidelines

• Mes Amis is a co-operative that is run by an elected group of parents. Parents are elected by other members of the co-op to be on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors oversees the general operation of the preschool, including the fiscal management of the co-op, for a one year term. Positions on the board include President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and two Members at Large.
• The Board of Directors generally meets once a month.
• The Board of Directors operates according to the Co-operatives Act.
• The Act requires that the preschool carry sufficient liability insurance.
• The teacher and teacher’s aide are hired as employees.

Contact Information

• Mes Amis En Français is located at:
  
  St. Pius X Elementary School
  3301 Garnet Street
  Regina, SK S4S 1X8
  Phone Number: (306) 586-1455
  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
  
• On occasion, the Mes Amis phone may not be answered, however you may leave a message as these messages are checked regularly.

Class Times

• Morning class times are from 9:15 am to 11:15 am. Children may be dropped off at the classroom between 9:00 am and 9:15 am. Children should be picked up promptly at 11:15 am at the south side entrance of the school.
• Afternoon class times are from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Children may be dropped off at the classroom between 12:45 pm and 1:00 pm. Children should be picked up promptly at 3:00 pm at the south side entrance of the school.

Class Options

• Refer to "Program Options" tab for more information
• **Note: The Tuesday/Thursday PM class will only be offered if there is enough interest.

School Calendar

• Mes Amis classes generally begin on the day following the Labour Day long weekend, and end the last Friday in June. Mes Amis school holidays will coincide with St Pius X school holidays including teacher conventions, institute, and in-service days.

Expectations of all Parents

• The preschool is a co-op and all parents are expected to contribute to the operation of the school for the benefit of our children. We recognize this may be difficult for parents who work full time, so it is important for all parents to read the following guidelines to acquaint themselves with the preschool obligations. We also welcome help from aunts, uncles, grandparents or babysitters. The volunteer coordinator will provide volunteer information (schedules, etc.) to parents through email.

Classroom Helper

• It is strongly encouraged for parents to participate in their child's time at Mes Amis. Throughout the year we will be asking for parent helpers for specific events and field trips. With the initiation of our new "Introduction to Preschool" class, we will require a parent helper to be present at all Friday AM classes (approximate commitment of 1 morning each term). The "Junior Preschool" class will generally require more involvement of parent helpers given this class is younger, we will be looking for parents to volunteer approximately 3-4 times over the 10 months of school.

Criminal Record Check

• All classroom volunteers are required to have a criminal record check. This is done at no cost at the Regina Police Station. Remember to take along 2 pieces of identification. The criminal record check is valid for two years.

Classroom Cleaning

• Once during the school year, you must assist with one of the monthly cleanings of the classroom. The clean-up includes washing and disinfecting all items in the classroom such as toys, shelves, floors, tables and chairs. A schedule will be available at the AGM. Parents may switch with other parents.
• Anyone who does not fulfill their scheduled cleaning time (and has not arranged a substitute) will be charged a penalty of $30.00 and will be required to sign up for another cleaning time. The charge must be paid to the preschool.

Classroom Requirements

• Each day, you must provide a nutritious snack for your child. Children are not allowed to share snacks. Please take note that St. Pius is a “nut aware” school therefore snacks must not contain nuts of any kind.
• All removable clothing such as boots, hats, etc. should be labelled with your child's name.
• Children should wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind being soiled with paint, glue, etc, and which are easy to manage during washroom visits.
• Running shoes or soft-soled shoes, labelled with your child’s name, are required in the classroom. We recommend you leave the shoes in the classroom for the duration of the school year.
• Please send a water bottle for snack time with your child each school day (no juice boxes).
• Please provide a change of clothes in a labelled plastic bag and leave the bag at the school.

Dropping Off Children

• Parents and children should enter and exit the school through the main entrance on Garnet Street. Please have your child bring a medium-sized bag or backpack to school each day to transport their completed crafts, work, snack, water bottle, etc. Parents and children are to remove their boots or dirty shoes at the outside school door. The boots are to be carried to the designated boot tray outside the classroom. Please be as quiet as possible to minimize disruption to other classes.

Picking Up Children

• Children shall be picked up at the south side entrance. The teacher will bring children to the door at 11:15am and 3:00pm. To minimize disruptions to other classes, parents should not come to the classroom at pick up time.
• Late Pick Up: If your child has not been picked up by 11:30 am or 3:15 pm, you will be required to pay an additional charge of $15.00 to the preschool. If a child is consistently picked up late that child may be removed from the program.

Fundraising

• In order to help supplement the costs associated with the preschool and continually update the learning environment, there will be 2 fundraisers each year. Cooperative members are required to either participate in the fundraisers or pay a `in lieu of fundraising` fee of $25 to the preschool.

Excursions

• You will be asked to volunteer your time to assist with supervising the children on excursions. Generally two or three volunteers will be required.
• Excursions will be cancelled if there are not enough volunteers.
• Parents are responsible for arranging transportation for their child to and from the excursion.
• Generally students meet at the location of the excursion and do not attend the school on the day of the excursion.
• Children shall wear Mes Amis t-shirts on all excursions.

General Meeting

• You are asked to attend the Annual General Meeting. It is planned for all parents as information, education, and sometimes a policy setting meeting. Your input and support are greatly appreciated.
• Board members are elected at the general meeting.

Registration

• To register and reserve your child’s spot at Mes Amis, the Registrar must receive your completed registration form and cheques. Please refer to the Fees section.
• All fees are monthly, and we regret that no refund can be provided if a child is absent due to illness, vacation, or any other reason.
• School fees are not the responsibility of the teacher, and any concerns regarding the payment of fees should be addressed directly to the Treasurer.
• There will be a $30 charge levied on all NSF cheques.
• Children may enroll in the school at any time, if space is available. A waiting list will be made when necessary, and parents will be contacted immediately if a space becomes available. The maximum class size is generally 16 children.
• Existing co-op members will receive priority registration. This priority registration period will begin January 7, 2013. General registration will open January 15, 2013.
• All registration is on a first come first serve basis.
• The Board reserves the right to refuse registration to an applicant or to withdraw a student from the preschool.
• The Board reserves the right to cancel a class time due to lack of registrations.

Fees

• The Mes Amis fees for the 2013-2014 year are as follows: $5 Cooperative Membership Fee (one-time family fee)
  $30 Registration Fee (non-refundable)
  $35 Material Fee per semester
  $50 Monthly Fee for 1 day a week students
  $92 Monthly Fee for 2 day a week students
  $124 Monthly Fee for 3 day a week students
  
  

• Fees for 1 day a week session (Introduction to Preschool):
  The following cheques are required for your child attending the Friday AM class:
  1. $70.00 – Registration ($30 non-refundable), Materials ($35 per semester), Co-op fee ($5 one-time fee)
  2. $100.00 - Deposit for September and June dated July 1, 2013
  3. $50.00 - Post-dated October 1, 2013
  4. $50.00 - Post-dated November 1, 2013
  5. $50.00 - Post-dated December 1, 2013
  6. $85.00 - Post-dated January 1, 2014 (includes $35 Materials fee)
  7. $50.00 - Post-dated February 1, 2014
  8. $50.00 - Post-dated March 1, 2014
  9. $50.00 - Post-dated April 1, 2014
  10. $50.00 - Post-dated May 1, 2014

• Fees for 2 day a week session (Junior and Senior Preschool):
  The following cheques are required for your child attending the Monday/Wednesday AM or PM class or the Tuesday/Thursday AM or PM class:
  1. $70.00 – Registration ($30 non-refundable), Materials ($35 per semester), Co-op fee ($5 one-time fee)
  2. $184.00 - Deposit for September and June dated July 1, 2013
  3. $92.00 - Post-dated October 1, 2013
  4. $92.00 - Post-dated November 1, 2013
  5. $92.00 - Post-dated December 1, 2013
  6. $127.00 - Post-dated January 1, 2014 (includes $35 Materials fee)
  7. $92.00 - Post-dated February 1, 2014
  8. $92.00 - Post-dated March 1, 2014
  9. $92.00 - Post-dated April 1, 2014
  10. $92.00 - Post-dated May 1, 2014

• Fees for 3 day a week session (Senior Preschool):
  The following cheques are required for your child attending the Monday/Wednesday AM or PM class or the Tuesday/Thursday PM class, with the addistional Friday PM class:
  1. $70.00 – Registration ($30 non-refundable), Materials ($35 per semester), Co-op fee ($5 one-time fee)
  2. $248.00 - Deposit for September and June dated July 1, 2013
  3. $124.00 - Post-dated October 1, 2013
  4. $124.00 - Post-dated November 1, 2013
  5. $124.00 - Post-dated December 1, 2013
  6. $159.00 - Post-dated January 1, 2014 (includes $35 Materials fee)
  7. $124.00 - Post-dated February 1, 2014
  8. $124.00 - Post-dated March 1, 2014
  9. $124.00 - Post-dated April 1, 2014
  10. $124.00 - Post-dated May 1, 2014

Withdrawal Policy

• Should you decide to withdraw your child and provide one month’s written notice to the registrar, you will forfeit registration, material and coop fees as well as one month’s fees. If you do not provide one month’s written notice, you will be charged a penalty of an additional month’s fees (a total of two months fees plus registration, material and coop fees).

Intervention Procedures

• It is our goal to ensure that all children are actively engaged in the learning process at Mes Amis. We understand that some students may require a little extra support. If there are concerns about a child's progress, the teacher will first discuss the concerns with the family. If improvements are not evident, the concerns will be discussed with a board member and a problem-solving meeting will be scheduled. Parent involvement in the classroom may be required. A child's ability to attend Mes Amis will be a board decision with teacher and parent input.

Teacher Absence

• If the teacher is unable to be at school, the board will make an effort to have a substitute attend. If this is not possible, class will be cancelled.

Mailboxes

• Each child will be assigned a mailbox at Mes Amis. Please check this regularly for student's work, fundraising opportunities, and communication about what is happening in the classroom.

Email

• Mes Amis uses email as a primary mode of communication. Parents are asked to provide their email address when registering; which will be added to the email list. The teacher and board members will send messages throughout the year regarding school cancellations, reminders of special events, notices, etc.

Special Talents

• Any parent with special talents is encouraged to share them with the preschool. Please coordinate this with the teacher or a board member.

Donations

• If you can help donate any bulk supplies or help us obtain any articles at wholesale prices, please notify the teacher or a member of the Board.

Download PDF: Mes Amis Handbook.PDF

Download PDF: Mes Amis Registration Form.PDF