Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to frequently asked questions. We would love to meet you and help you experience the benefits or our wonderful programs. Please schedule a visit. Phone: 412-440-0019 or email treinhart6@msn.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time does school start?
School begins at 9:00 am.
What time is school dismissal?
At dismissal time please wait in the hall near your child's classroom and please be there promptly at 11:30 am. It's best if everyone can line up next to the wall along the side of your child's classroom door. This will help the teachers to dismiss in and orderly and timely fashion.
What if I am going to be late for dismissal?
If you are going to be late, please call the school at 412-440-0019 and let us know.
What if someone else picking up my child?
If you know in advance that your child will be picked up by another adult, please let us know in writing by adding them to the pick-up & release form. If it is a one-time pick-up, please call the office, so that we can add that person to the pick-up & release form. These forms kept on file in your child's classroom.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
Not for the 2's, but they must be potty trained before entrance into our 3-year-old program.
What is your school closing policy for bad weather and emergencies?
If it is necessary to cancel classes due to bad weather or other emergencies, it will be posted on the following stations: WTAE, WPXI and KDKA. We will follow Mt. Lebanon School District's cancellation policy. If they have canceled school for the day, we will cancel also. If they have a 10am start, we will also have a 10am start. Two snow days have been built into our school schedule.
When is tuition due each month?
Tuition payments are due by the 5th of each month, except the first month's tuition payment, which is due on August 15th. A $15.00 late fee will be incurred if payment is not received by that time. A reminder will be sent out if payment is not received. Be sure and see the director if you have any questions about this procedure. There will be a payment box for your convenience in the Nursery School office.
Applications for scholarships can be made to the Sunset Hills Board of directors through the director.
Can I pay my tuition for a whole semester or the entire year? Yes, you can easily do this - just contact the director and make the arrangements. Sorry, but we do not offer any discounts for payments made up front.What is your policy for withdrawals?
Please notify the director, one month in advance, if a child is to be withdrawn. A tuition adjustment will be made for the balance of the school year or any part thereof. Temporary withdrawals for vacation or illnesses are not reasons for refunds.
The director reserves the right to require withdrawal of any child whose needs she believes cannot be met by Sunset Hills Nursery School. The director also has the authority to move any child to another class, should she deem it necessary for the welfare of the child and/or the class.
Can my child bring toys from home to school?
Science and nature items are always welcome in the classroom to be shared with all the students. Please leave toys from home in your backpack. They can easily be damaged or lost here at school. Transitional items may be used at the beginning of the year if needed. Please talk to your child's teacher.
Do you hold parent-teacher conferences?
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled once each year in late January. Teachers will have a sign-up sheet from you to schedule a conference before that time arrives. Sunset Hills Nursery School will have babysitting available, for no charge, during this time for those that need it.
When can parents visit?
You are always welcome to stop-by whenever you like and peek into the classrooms, or visit with the Director for any reason. If you would like to schedule a time to be a part of your child's classroom by volunteering - please see your classroom teacher.
How can I help volunteer?
Parents are welcome and encouraged to volunteer in their child's classroom. You can come read a story, prepare a snack, help with an art project, carve pumpkins or just be an extra pair of hands. We also have parent volunteers help our with our classroom parties throughout the year. Please sign up to help with your classroom teacher and also, please make other arrangements for younger siblings when volunteering in the classroom.
If other commitments make it difficult to come into the classroom, there are MANY WAYS you can help: make play dough, send in ingredients for a cooking project, and send in Kleenex, hand sanitizer, cleaning products or paper towels. The possibilities are endless, just talk to your classroom teacher. They would love the help and your child will love that you are helping in their classroom.
What is your discipline policy?
We at Sunset Hills Nursery School use a positive approach to helping children behave appropriately, as well as encouraging them to share and resolve conflicts with their peers. If there is a rare occasion that a child cannot or will not follow the rules of the classroom, that are clearly defined, they will be asked to sit in a designated area set aside for "thinking". The teacher will spend a moment with them talking about their behavior and a more appropriate action that can be taken. This usually works very well.
What is your food allergy policy?
If your child has an allergy or is lactose intolerant and cannot have products with milk, it will be the parents responsibility to provide a snack for their child each day. It maybe easiest to provide a multiple number of snacks that the teacher can leave in their cupboard, labeled with your child's name. Also, please provide the teacher with a detailed list of the items that are safe for your child to have (so they can have the same snack as the other children as often as possible). Our school will continue to be PEANUT FREE.
Please no peanuts, peanut butter or products that contain peanut oils. Please watch the labels.
What if my child is sick?
Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following:
The staff is not permitted to dispense any type of medication to children under any circumstances. Please do not send any medicine to school with your child.
What is an appropriate snack for my child to bring to school?
Snack time is a very important time of the school day. It brings about an awareness of good nutrition, helps develop good table manners and social skills, as well as provides a great opportunity for socialization with the teachers as well as the other children.
Each child will have many opportunities to bring the snack in during the school year (you will be given a schedule monthly by your child's teacher). It's important to make them a part of this ritual. Helping cut up fruit, or picking out their favorite cracker at the store is a great way for you to help encourage healthy snack choices in your child.
Here is a list of appropriate healthy snack choices for school.
What is appropriate dress?
Please dress your child appropriately for playing and learning by "getting messy." All coats, hats and mittens should be labeled with your child's name. Velcro shoes are great for kids (and teachers) during school! Tennis shoes are much safer for kids in the big room when they are climbing and riding bikes, please don't send your child in sandals or "flip flops". Please make sure there is a complete change of clothes (season and size appropriate) in your child backpack. You never know when we'll have an unexpected mess or spill.
How do you celebrate a child's birthday?
Your child's birthday is a very special day, and we always love to celebrate here at school. Please make arrangement with your teacher for bringing the special snack in. Remember our school is "peanut free" when choosing your special birthday snack. If you have a summer birthday, just check with the teacher for a date when you can bring in your birthday snack.
Please do not send in birthday invitation to be passed out at school, unless the whole class is invited. There will be a school directory handed out soon after school begins with everyone's home address, phone and e-mail for your convenience.
Will my child receive a drinking cup?
Your child will be given a cup with their name on it at the beginning of the school year. That will be their drinking glass for the year. They should bring it into class and take it home to be washed each day. This saves everyone both ecologically and economically. If you loose your cup and need a new one, you can purchase one in the office for 50¢. Please don't send in cups from home!
What is the recipe for Play Dough?
Please make this recipe twice - doubling it makes is very hard to stir.
Measure ingredients exactly (or it won't turn out.)
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water
2 TBS. Vegetable oil
1 TBS. Cream of tartar
Food coloring (the color of the month)
Mix all ingredients together in a pan (making sure it gets the lumps out).
Stir constantly over medium heat until it forms a ball.
Dump the dough out of the pan and allow it to cool a bit.
Knead dough until smooth.
Store in the air tight container when completely cool.
Does not need refrigeration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time does school start?
School begins at 9:00 am.
What time is school dismissal?
At dismissal time please wait in the hall near your child's classroom and please be there promptly at 11:30 am. It's best if everyone can line up next to the wall along the side of your child's classroom door. This will help the teachers to dismiss in and orderly and timely fashion.
What if I am going to be late for dismissal?
If you are going to be late, please call the school at 412-440-0019 and let us know.
What if someone else picking up my child?
If you know in advance that your child will be picked up by another adult, please let us know in writing by adding them to the pick-up & release form. If it is a one-time pick-up, please call the office, so that we can add that person to the pick-up & release form. These forms kept on file in your child's classroom.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
Not for the 2's, but they must be potty trained before entrance into our 3-year-old program.
What is your school closing policy for bad weather and emergencies?
If it is necessary to cancel classes due to bad weather or other emergencies, it will be posted on the following stations: WTAE, WPXI and KDKA. We will follow Mt. Lebanon School District's cancellation policy. If they have canceled school for the day, we will cancel also. If they have a 10am start, we will also have a 10am start. Two snow days have been built into our school schedule.
When is tuition due each month?
Tuition payments are due by the 5th of each month, except the first month's tuition payment, which is due on August 15th. A $15.00 late fee will be incurred if payment is not received by that time. A reminder will be sent out if payment is not received. Be sure and see the director if you have any questions about this procedure. There will be a payment box for your convenience in the Nursery School office.
Applications for scholarships can be made to the Sunset Hills Board of directors through the director.
Can I pay my tuition for a whole semester or the entire year? Yes, you can easily do this - just contact the director and make the arrangements. Sorry, but we do not offer any discounts for payments made up front.What is your policy for withdrawals?
Please notify the director, one month in advance, if a child is to be withdrawn. A tuition adjustment will be made for the balance of the school year or any part thereof. Temporary withdrawals for vacation or illnesses are not reasons for refunds.
The director reserves the right to require withdrawal of any child whose needs she believes cannot be met by Sunset Hills Nursery School. The director also has the authority to move any child to another class, should she deem it necessary for the welfare of the child and/or the class.
Can my child bring toys from home to school?
Science and nature items are always welcome in the classroom to be shared with all the students. Please leave toys from home in your backpack. They can easily be damaged or lost here at school. Transitional items may be used at the beginning of the year if needed. Please talk to your child's teacher.
Do you hold parent-teacher conferences?
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled once each year in late January. Teachers will have a sign-up sheet from you to schedule a conference before that time arrives. Sunset Hills Nursery School will have babysitting available, for no charge, during this time for those that need it.
When can parents visit?
You are always welcome to stop-by whenever you like and peek into the classrooms, or visit with the Director for any reason. If you would like to schedule a time to be a part of your child's classroom by volunteering - please see your classroom teacher.
How can I help volunteer?
Parents are welcome and encouraged to volunteer in their child's classroom. You can come read a story, prepare a snack, help with an art project, carve pumpkins or just be an extra pair of hands. We also have parent volunteers help our with our classroom parties throughout the year. Please sign up to help with your classroom teacher and also, please make other arrangements for younger siblings when volunteering in the classroom.
If other commitments make it difficult to come into the classroom, there are MANY WAYS you can help: make play dough, send in ingredients for a cooking project, and send in Kleenex, hand sanitizer, cleaning products or paper towels. The possibilities are endless, just talk to your classroom teacher. They would love the help and your child will love that you are helping in their classroom.
What is your discipline policy?
We at Sunset Hills Nursery School use a positive approach to helping children behave appropriately, as well as encouraging them to share and resolve conflicts with their peers. If there is a rare occasion that a child cannot or will not follow the rules of the classroom, that are clearly defined, they will be asked to sit in a designated area set aside for "thinking". The teacher will spend a moment with them talking about their behavior and a more appropriate action that can be taken. This usually works very well.
What is your food allergy policy?
If your child has an allergy or is lactose intolerant and cannot have products with milk, it will be the parents responsibility to provide a snack for their child each day. It maybe easiest to provide a multiple number of snacks that the teacher can leave in their cupboard, labeled with your child's name. Also, please provide the teacher with a detailed list of the items that are safe for your child to have (so they can have the same snack as the other children as often as possible). Our school will continue to be PEANUT FREE.
Please no peanuts, peanut butter or products that contain peanut oils. Please watch the labels.
What if my child is sick?
Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following:
- A fever of 101° or higher.
- Have vomited in the past 12 hours.
- Have symptoms of conjunctivitis (Pink eye).
- Have an unidentified rash.
- Have had diarrhea in the past 12 hours.
The staff is not permitted to dispense any type of medication to children under any circumstances. Please do not send any medicine to school with your child.
What is an appropriate snack for my child to bring to school?
Snack time is a very important time of the school day. It brings about an awareness of good nutrition, helps develop good table manners and social skills, as well as provides a great opportunity for socialization with the teachers as well as the other children.
Each child will have many opportunities to bring the snack in during the school year (you will be given a schedule monthly by your child's teacher). It's important to make them a part of this ritual. Helping cut up fruit, or picking out their favorite cracker at the store is a great way for you to help encourage healthy snack choices in your child.
Here is a list of appropriate healthy snack choices for school.
- Cut-up fresh fruit
- Pretzels
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Vegetables
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Jell-O
- Popcorn
- Non-sugar Cereals
- Cheese
- Granola Bars
- Mini-bagels
- Mini-muffins
- Raisins
- Apples - sliced
- Pudding
- Vanilla Wafers
What is appropriate dress?
Please dress your child appropriately for playing and learning by "getting messy." All coats, hats and mittens should be labeled with your child's name. Velcro shoes are great for kids (and teachers) during school! Tennis shoes are much safer for kids in the big room when they are climbing and riding bikes, please don't send your child in sandals or "flip flops". Please make sure there is a complete change of clothes (season and size appropriate) in your child backpack. You never know when we'll have an unexpected mess or spill.
How do you celebrate a child's birthday?
Your child's birthday is a very special day, and we always love to celebrate here at school. Please make arrangement with your teacher for bringing the special snack in. Remember our school is "peanut free" when choosing your special birthday snack. If you have a summer birthday, just check with the teacher for a date when you can bring in your birthday snack.
Please do not send in birthday invitation to be passed out at school, unless the whole class is invited. There will be a school directory handed out soon after school begins with everyone's home address, phone and e-mail for your convenience.
Will my child receive a drinking cup?
Your child will be given a cup with their name on it at the beginning of the school year. That will be their drinking glass for the year. They should bring it into class and take it home to be washed each day. This saves everyone both ecologically and economically. If you loose your cup and need a new one, you can purchase one in the office for 50¢. Please don't send in cups from home!
What is the recipe for Play Dough?
Please make this recipe twice - doubling it makes is very hard to stir.
Measure ingredients exactly (or it won't turn out.)
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water
2 TBS. Vegetable oil
1 TBS. Cream of tartar
Food coloring (the color of the month)
Mix all ingredients together in a pan (making sure it gets the lumps out).
Stir constantly over medium heat until it forms a ball.
Dump the dough out of the pan and allow it to cool a bit.
Knead dough until smooth.
Store in the air tight container when completely cool.
Does not need refrigeration.
© 2008 - 2010 Sunset Hills Nursery School. | 900 Country Club Drive Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228
Phone: 412-440-0019 | Email: treinhart6@msn.com
