Welcome!
Little Pilgrim School . . .
• A place filled with interest and activity.
• A place where children feel comfortable, yet challenged.
• A place that is caring and nurturing.
Little Pilgrim School offers children an experience of stability and wholeness through a variety of exploratory learning opportunities.
The school follows a developmental approach designed to meet the needs of each child at his or her own level. A consistent daily schedule provides the emotional security that comes from a predictable routine. There is time each day for children to make their own choices for activities, as well as time for the teacher to structure activities for them.
The focus of our days here at Little Pilgrim School is based on the cycles of the year. The seasons and their accompanying celebrations and activities provide us with a rich and integrated program. Reasoning skills and social understanding are developed through experiences in literature and language, music and movement, dramatics, arts and crafts and nature study.
School Description
Little Pilgrim School is open to all children, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, or national origin, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Little Pilgrim School is state-licensed and is a non-profit organization.
Philosophy
Little Pilgrim School, a ministry of Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC, provides a developmental environment for preschool children to gain a greater sense of self-worth, respect for others, and an appreciation of their world. Using hands-on activities that are open-ended, we foster the development of social, emotional, physical, creative and intellectual growth. This creates a framework for life-long learning.
Facilities
Little Pilgrim School uses classrooms in the front of the Pilgrim Church facility. There is a large, fenced-in play area behind the Church as well as a large field that the children will use throughout the year. In the event of inclement weather, the school has the use of Fellowship Hall for gross motor activities.
Library
Pilgrim Church has an extensive children’s library, which children at Little Pilgrim School are welcome to use.
General Policies
Please read and adhere to the following policies to ensure the safety and well-being of your child in the Little Pilgrim School program.
Hours
School hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, depending on the class in which your child is enrolled. Please make every effort to arrive on time, as lateness can disrupt other children in the class, and also cuts into the class time available. If you are going to be late to pick up your child after school, please notify the staff as soon as possible. Chronic tardiness will be addressed by the Director.
Absenteeism
If your child is ill and cannot attend school, please call the school and leave a message with the church secretary or on the answering machine. We ask that you keep your child at home if he or she is not well enough to participate in the entire program, which includes going outdoors. In the case of your child being dismissed early, they may not return until their next scheduled class day providing they are symptom free for 24 hours. If you choose to remove your child for vacation, please let us know. Also, you will still be responsible for the entire tuition amount during their absence.
Snow Days and School Cancellation
When Nashua Public Schools are canceled or have a delayed opening due to snow or weather conditions, Little Pilgrim School will be closed for the entire day. School closings are broadcast over local radio stations and television.
Transportation
Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. If anyone else is picking up your child, please notify the teacher in writing. For your child’s protection, we will not release your child to an unauthorized adult. We will expect an ID when someone else is picking up your child.
Clothing
Children should wear clothing and shoes appropriate to the weather and for active and sometimes messy play both indoors and outside. Since the children will be working with a variety of art materials, please dress them in clothes that will not be damaged by paint, clay, etc. Please send an extra set of clothes in case of a water accident. Mark all clothing with the child’s name. All hood ties must be removed from outdoor clothing and there should be no scarves. Mittens are the preferred choice for winter hand protection. Please do not send gloves unless your child can put them on themselves.
Snacks WE ARE A PEANUT FREE/NUT FREE SCHOOL! Each child is expected to bring in their own snack each day. Water is provided at snack time. All snacks should be inspected at home for ingredients to comply with our peanut policy. If it is found that your child’s snack is not safe, we will give your child an emergency snack. No homemade baked goods are allowed as we cannot gurarantee the environment of each person’s kitchen and equipment used. Baked goods may be brought in as long as there is proof that the food is from a certified peanut free kitchen/bakery. Please address any food allergy concerns to your child’s teacher.
Volunteer Participation
Parents and grandparents are encouraged to participate in the daily activities of the school. If you have any special talents that you would like to share with us, please talk to the classroom teacher.
Parent-Teacher Conference
Conferences will be formally scheduled for four year-olds in January. However, a parent should feel free to speak with the teacher at any time to discuss their child’s progress. Teachers are not available for conferences during school hours.
Health Forms
The State of New Hampshire requires that each child must have up-to-date immunization records, and a current physical examination according to the schedule prescribed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This form must be returned to the school before your child can attend classes. Should your child’s health form expire during the school year, a new health form must be submitted.
Illnesses and Emergencies
When a child becomes ill or is injured during school hours, the parent will be notified immediately and is expected to pick the child up. The child may not return until their next class day provided they are symptom free for 24 hours and/or have been cleared by a physician to re-enter the program.
Concerns
All concerns should be discussed with the Little Pilgrim School director or submitted in writing to the Little Pilgrim School Committee in care of the Pilgrim Church secretary.
Registration and Financial Policies
Registration
Registration is held in January of each year. Parents of currently enrolled students will be pre-notified of this date and will have first priority for registration. Enrollment will be held in mid-January for the public. Details about current registration fees and tuition rates are available on a separate form. Registration fees are non refundable. Also, the first month’s tuition is due upon registraton for new children and in May for returning children. This pays for the September tuition. This amount is refundable until August 1st by notifying the school. If the school is not informed by this date, tuition will not be refunded.
On-going Registration
On-going registration for the 2011-2012 school year will cease when registration for the 2012-2013 school year begins. There will be no new students accepted after this time as it causes disruption in the classroom dynamics.
Tuition
Tuition payments are collected in 9 monthly installments and are due by the first day of each month. Installments are paid in advance and begin in the month of May, which covers the tuition for the start of the following school year in September. The second payment is then due by September 1st, which covers the October payment, and so forth until 9 payments have been completed. Please mail all tuition checks, made payable to Little Pilgrim School to:
Little Pilgrim School, Attn: Treasurer
4 Watson Street
Nashua, NH 03064
A 10% discount will be applied to families with multiple children enrolled at Little Pilgrim School. A late fee of $10 will be assessed on any payment more than 10 days in arrears. Also, checks returned for insufficient funds will be charged a $20 fee in addition to any charges assessed by the bank. We will redeposit once without notice.
In the event of chronic late tuition payments, we will request that a family pay the remainder of their tuition balance to avoid future delinquency.
Any concerns regarding the payment of tuition must be discussed with the Little Pilgrim School Collector (603-880-9249). A child’s enrollment status will be jeopardized if tuition payment issues are not communicated with the school and resolved.