Enrollment requirements

Children are enrolled at St. James Preschool on a first come first served basis, regardless of race, color, sex, or religious affiliation.

A pre-kindergarten child must be four-years-old on or before September 30 of the year attending. A nursery child must be three-years-old on or before September 30 of the year attending. A birth certificate must be shown at the time of initial registration.

A medical and emergency treatment form is required for all children attending the Preschool. They are available from the Director and must be completely filled out and returned to the Director. No child will be permitted to start school until these forms are completed and available to the teachers.

Mommy and Me Program-Adult must accompany child.

Field Trips

During the year, field trip permission slips will be sent home and should be signed and returned immediately. The slips will inform you where and when the trip will take place. There can be no field trips without you. Unless we have enough people to drive and supervise the children on the trips, the trips will be cancelled. The greatest precautions will be taken for your child's safety; all children will be in their own seatbelt or car seat (3 and 4 year olds).

No other children will be permitted on these trips. Please make individual arrangements for children not attending the field trip. This is done for the protection of your child.

If for some reason you do not care to send your child on a particular field trip, please notify your child's teacher on the permission slip and keep your child home on the day of the field trip.

There may be a minimal charge for special field trips.

Health Habits
Before your child enters school, he/she should know how to:
~care for his/her own toilet needs
~care for his/her own clothing
~use a handkerchief properly

Health Info

We want to establish the habit of regular attendance at school, however, in order to help prevent the spread of colds, viruses, and coughs, we ask you to keep your child at home even when slightly ill. If your child is ill or has a fever during the night, please keep him/her home the next day. A parental note is required explaining extended absences.

If your child has been exposed to any disease, please report it to the teacher or Director so we will be alert to the signs of the illness. If, because of contagious illness, your child is absent, please notify the Director.

All children well enough to attend school are well enough to participate in outdoor activities. Parents are expected to dress their children appropriately for the season.

School Closings
The preschool may be closed whenever the Director feels it is necessary. If the public school has a delayed opening, please follow what the Merrimack Schools District has decided. Example if there is a two hour delay, we will begin at 10:30 am. No-School announcements will be made by 7:30 in the morning
on the following stations:

WZID 95.7 FM 
WFEA 1370 AM 
Channel 9 WMUR TV 

click here for closings

Snacks

As part of the State Milk Program, milk will be provided for each child on a daily basis by the school. Water will be provided as a substitute.

We will be setting up a volunteer snack program in each classroom. The teachers have suggestions for nutritious and convenient snacks. Birthday treats are always welcome. Please arrange this with the teacher in advance.

Transportation

All transportation must be provided by the parents. A carpool permission slip needs to be completed and kept on file at the school. It is extremely important that they be accurate. If your child is to be picked up by someone other than his regular carpool driver, a note must state this change.

Doors will be open at 8:30 and again at 11:30 Am for pick up. YOU MUST ESCORT YOUR CHILD TO AND FROM HIS OR HER CLASSROOM. Please do not leave your child at school unless you have checked to be sure there is a teacher in the classroom. BE PROMPT IN DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP YOUR CHILD AS ST. JAMES' POLICY STATES THAT CONSISTENT TARDINESS WILL RESULT IN FINES.

Tuition Policy

Tuitions are payable monthly and are due by the first of the month. If tuition payment becomes 10 days overdue you will be contacted and a late charge will be due. Tuition is divided into 10 equal payments beginning in June and ending in May. These payments are not reflective of the number of days children attend preschool in a particular month, but rather the total amount of the yearly tuition divided equally across the school year. If you plan to remove your child from school permanently you must notify the Director one month in advance.