Welcome to Sonshine School!

This handbook is designed to inform you of our policies and  procedures so we can work effectively together. Please familiarize yourself with this information and keep it for future reference.

Our Want List
We want to “let our lights shine” in everything we do because it is a reflection of our beliefs and our Christ-inspired attitudes.

We want you to be happy with the choice you made for your child’s care and education. You should know we are always striving to improve all areas of our school from our curriculum to our communication with you.

We want Sonshine School to be a positive experience for your child. Open communication between you, the director, and your child’s teacher is vitally important and ensures your child’s best interest.

We want you to keep us informed about your child’s experiences here and important events outside of school.

Sonshine School Goals

• To be a place where Christian love and values are nurtured.
• To be a place where children are loved, accepted, and safe.
• To be a place where families are enriched and supported. 

Payment Options
You may pay monthly or by semester. 

You may pay by check made out to Adams Blvd Church of Christ, cash using a designated envelope, or credit card online at www.adamsblvd.org/give or on the Adams Blvd app.

Fees
A non-refundable registration fee is payable at the time of enrollment: $40 for the school year session, $5 for the summer session.

Monthly fees are due the first week of each month: $85/mo for one day/week and $150/mo for two days/week.  August and May are prorated accordingly.

If your child misses a day due to illness or vacation, the fees are still the same. Please see the director about making up missed days.

Families enrolling after the first of a month may pay a drop-in fee for the number of class days remaining in the month. The drop-in fee is $20/day.

We do not use a fluctuating payment schedule where you pay for the exact number of days in the month. When the school was established, both types of payment schedules were discussed, and the board decided it would be easier for parents to budget for tuition if the amount was the same every month.

“What does the tuition cover?”
All your monthly tuition goes to pay your child’s teacher and the director. The registration fees you pay at the beginning of each session and private donations pay for your child’s supplies. If you have any further questions, please let us know.
 

Enrollment
Enrollment is open to all families with children ages 18 months-Pre-K. Please supply a copy of your child’s immunization record with your enrollment form and update it as your child has additional immunizations.

Once our classes are filled, those seeking enrollment will be put on a waiting list and will be contacted as class space becomes available.
 

Teachers
Our teachers put a lot of hard work and preparation into their classes. They are very sweet ladies who have a real love for your little ones. Please keep our teachers in your prayers.

School Supplies
Your child will need a backpack, lunch box, and cup with a lid; napping items such as a blanket or nap blanket mat and optional pillow; a change of clothing and a plastic bag; diapers and wipes if your child still needs them. Please label all these items clearly with your child’s name. Any other supply items will be sent out before school starts.
 

Please label all your child’s items clearly with first and last name.
 

Separation Anxiety
We will do our part to make your child as comfortable as possible on the first day. It is perfectly normal for children to be apprehensive about coming to school at first. Sometimes it is difficult for them to physically separate from you and come into the room. Here are a few suggestions to help this transition go as smoothly as possible. 

• When you arrive, let your child walk into the school instead of carrying him/her.
• Give your child a hug and kiss.
• Remind your child that you will be back after school.
• Then, most important of all, you need to go quickly. By leaving, you are letting your child know this is a safe and happy place for him/her to be.

Parking
Please use the marked parking areas when dropping off your children.  Do not park in the fire lane or under the awning.

Arrival
Class begins at 9:30. We need your help to establish our morning routines.

• Please drop off your child between 9:25 and 9:45.
• Please do not bring your child to class before 9:25. Teachers will be busy preparing their rooms and gathering supplies for the day’s activities.
• Please drop off your child only when a staff person is present in the classroom.
• Please sign your child in and out each day. A sign-in sheet will be in each classroom.
• Please make your good-byes short and sweet. By leaving, you are letting your child know this is a safe and happy place for him/her to be.

Teachers enjoy greeting parents each morning but need to be available to interact with the children as they arrive. If you have concerns that require lengthy discussion, please feel free to visit with the director or make a time to come back later and visit with your child’s teacher.

Chapel
Every day your children are here, they'll attend Chapel in the little church room at 9:50. We sing songs and listen to a short Bible story. You are always welcome to come and participate with us.

Lunch
Send food your child can feed himself/herself. Ex: Lunchables, cut up chicken or cheese, fruit, sandwiches. Our teachers are not able to spoon feed 6-8 children during lunch.

In accordance with the building policy RED or PURPLE drinks are not allowed at school. (They stain the carpet.) Please send your child’s drink in a cup with a lid. Juice bags or boxes (like Capri-sun or Hi-C) are fine, too.

Dismissal
Classes end at 3:00. Please pick up your child between 2:45 and 3:05.

• Please be prompt in picking up your child.
• Please inform the teacher, the director, and your child if someone different is to pick up your child. Your child’s safety is most important. You can call us, send us a note, or tell us in person when you drop off your child. We’ll need to know the name and phone number of the person picking up your child, and he/she will have to show a photo ID upon arrival.

Special Events
If your child attends only one day a week and a special event is planned on a day he/she does not normally attend, you are invited to bring him/her to school to join in the fun. Please plan to stay with your child. Most of our events will last 20 minutes.

Birthdays
Children enjoy sharing birthdays with their friends. We want to ensure they have a great time on their special days.

• Please check with your child’s teacher or the director, and let her know ahead of time if you would like to send cookies or treats.
• Please do not send birthday invitations to school unless the entire class is invited.

Clothing
Children should wear clothing suitable for their day’s activities. We will go outside each day that the weather permits (sunny and above 50,) so be sure to dress your child accordingly.

• Please do not send him/her in anything you will be concerned about getting dirty or stained.
• Please put your child’s name on each piece of outer clothing.
• Please bring an extra change of clothing and a plastic bag.
• Please send gloves and a hat on cold days.
• Please send your child in a good pair of closed-toe shoes. This will reduce your child’s chances of tripping and falling.

Illness and Medication  
Your child needs to be at school only when he/she is well.

• Please do not bring your child to school if he/she has had a fever, diarrhea or vomiting, a sore throat, a rash or skin irritation, eye inflammation, or head lice within the last twenty-four hours.
• We will not administer medication at school.
• Please be prepared if your child becomes ill at school; we will call you to come get him/her. Have a good backup plan in case you are unavailable to pick up your child.

Covid-19
Due to the ever-changing nature of the covid-19 pandemic please contact the director to receive the most up to date procedures.

Discipline
Sometimes discipline challenges arise during school. Teachers may use natural consequences or time out to handle these challenges. Teachers are cautioned not to overuse time out as it can lose its effectiveness. Using natural consequences whenever possible is always the best option.

When a discipline challenge arises in class the first time, we redirect the behavior by giving a generic verbal reminder.

            Ex: “Please keep the sand in the middle of the sand table, not on the floor.”

The second time, we give a specific verbal redirection and appropriate consequences.

            Ex: “John, come to the table and work a puzzle. Watch how your friends are keeping the sand in the table.”

The third time, we give verbal redirection and stronger appropriate consequences.

            Ex: “You must keep the sand in the table. You need to go play in another center. The sand table is closed for you the rest of the day.”

The fourth time, the child is sent to the director with an explanation of the disciplinary challenge and the actions taken to correct it.

When disciplinary issues are taken care of in class, most of the time it is not necessary to tell parents. However, if the issues are serious or the actions are repetitive, then the disciplinary action needs reinforcement at home. If a child has caused an injury in anger (biting, kicking, pinching, hitting), it is absolutely necessary to tell the parent. We also will inform parents and ask for reinforcement at home if a child consistently disobeys a teacher (ex: stands up on the slide after being instructed not to for safety reasons,) and the corrections given by the teacher and director are having no affect on the behavior.

Closings/Inclement Weather
We will follow the Bartlesville Public Schools in regard to holiday closings. If we are blessed with “white winter weather,” we will be closed if the Bartlesville schools are closed. Listen to KWON 1400 AM for local closings.

If it snows and Bartlesville schools are open, please use the north entrance of the church building (under the canopy drive-through at the top of the hill.) You will be contacted if this happening. We will make arrangements to meet you in the upstairs lobby and walk your kids down to class.

Connect with us
Check out Sonshine School on the web! www.adamsblvd.org/sonshine-school

Or on Facebook at facebook.com/adamsblvdsonshineschool

There is also a private Facebook group just for our enrolled families at Sonshine School current families. This group is for special announcements that we do not need to share with the public as well as a place for any virtual day videos.

Download the Adams Blvd app

Revised 3/2024