If a child lives with criticism
He learns to condemn
If a child lives with hostility
He learns to fight
If a child lives with ridicule
He learns to be shy
If a child lives with shame
He learns to feel guilty
If a child lives with tolerance
He learns to be patient
If a child lives with encouragement
He learns confidence
If a child lives with praise
He learns to appreciate
If a child lives with fairness
He learns justice
If a child lives with security
He learns to have faith
If a child lives with approval
He learns to like himself
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
He learns to find love in the world
By: Dorothy Law Nolte

Al Bayan was founded by the late Mrs. Fawzia Al-Sultan Al-Essa (God bless her soul) supported by fourteen women. The purpose was to establish a school that bridge, the progress of the west and the traditional values of the Arab culture. Thus, the bilingual program of the school came into existence, a program that prepares the students for the world of today and the challenges of tomorrow, a program that constitute a happy marriage between the “Modern” and the “Traditional”. With this clear vision, Al Bayan Bilingual School was established in 1977, as the first bilingual school in Kuwait.

Founded in 1977, Al-Bayan Bilingual School is a non-profit Arabic-English university preparatory educational institution, which fosters an environment for students to develop the intellectual qualities, ethical values, and positive attitudes required for effective participation and leadership in the overall development of Kuwait and the rapidly changing world.

We believe that we are educating students for the rapidly changing world of the 21st century. We agree that technological, social, and economic trends indicate that, more than ever, success and an enriched life will depend upon:

• The mastery of communication skills, including writing, reading, speaking and listening.
• The development of problem-solving skills, technological capabilities, critical thinking, and analytic abilities needed to deal with an increasingly complex world.
• The cultivation of an international and multi-cultural perspective and skills that will enable one to take advantage of professional opportunities in the international sphere.
• An understanding of the historic, economic, geographic, and environmental forces that have shaped the modern world and the ability to use this knowledge to better comprehend the present and anticipate the future.
• The ability to work with others as part of a team and to experience leadership effectively and appropriately.
• The capability for personal autonomy and motivation for a life of continuous learning.
• Strong self-confidence, resourcefulness, self-esteem, and assertiveness.
• An appreciation of the essential ingredients for sound physical and emotional health, and the capability to utilize the resources available to realize these values and to deal with the stresses of an active life.
• A well-defined code of ethics, values, and standards that are not dependent upon a controlled environment.
• Effective development and instruction in the fine arts; health, recreation, and physical development; leadership and team play; aesthetic awareness; ethics; and psychological growth.

BBS students will:

• Acquire the learning skills needed to pursue knowledge and higher education independently.
• Learn to seek information from various sources in order to reach conclusions through sound, objective reasoning.
• Adopt a scientific attitude to learning which adheres to high ethical standards and respect for other people's ideas and beliefs.
• Acquire problem-solving skills.
• Attain recognized standards of knowledge of their subjects, but also realize that learning is a continuous process.
• Develop a positive self-concept so that they may explore their individual creative abilities.
• Appreciate the value of time and learn how to manage it productively.
• Develop an active concern for the preservation and improvement of the environment.
• Learn how to manage their health and well being via a life-long physical fitness program.
• Appreciate the fine arts universally.
• Be responsible and committed citizens in their communities.
• Acquire, understand, and respect Islamic teachings, traditions, and culture.
• Understand and appreciate the culture and traditions of Kuwait, the Arab region, and the world.

Why Choose Al-Bayan Bilingual School?
Al-Bayan Bilingual School is:

• The first bilingual school in Kuwait offering a Preschool-12 program with equally strong programs in Arabic and English.
• The first school in the Gulf with 3 full accreditations which not only guarantee recognition of our program but also meet high international and local standards.
• One of the few non-profit schools in Kuwait, which means that educational principles are not compromised by business interests.
• A school which offers a full continuous educational program from nursery to high school with experienced and well qualified faculty.
• A school with a low student/teacher ratio - class sizes range from 20 to 25.

Student Admission Policy

Registration for new students commences in February of every year. Students entering the Nursery School Program must be 3 years of age by the 14th of January of that same academic year, 4 years for KG 1 and so on. Consequently, the children's ages may vary slightly in any given grade. Students may be older than the minimum ages cited herein; however, they may not be younger. Students who do not attain the minimum ages for entrance may apply for admission in a following year, or for an earlier grade level.
Students entering BBS must have sufficient knowledge of English and Arabic in order to meet the instructional demands of the grade level to which they apply. In addition, they need to demonstrate the potential to contribute positively to our academic and social environment while they are enrolled in the school.
BBS only admits students for whom we can provide an education. BBS does not have a program for students with learning difficulties, and the school’s admissions policies and procedures make it clear that the school does not provide services for students within this category. BBS’ admissions procedures are selective, and only average and above average students with no apparent learning difficulty gain admission to the school. Parents of all new admitted students sign a special acceptance contract that does not guarantee future enrollment. Student progress is closely monitored at BBS. Should it appear that the school’s program is not appropriate for the abilities and/or interests of a student or does not meet his/her educational needs, the school will consult with parents to determine if the student could be better served in another school.
In line with Al-Bayan’s nondiscriminatory policy, admission is conditional only upon successful entrance assessment results and the availability of places; regardless of gender, nationality, religion, or race. Academic and social developments are the principal selection criteria. Within these general criteria, priority for available vacancies is given to siblings of current students first, then to children of alumni and finally to children of new families.
In the admission assessments, which become more formal as the grade level advances, the school attempts to determine that the student is developmentally ready for school, that he/she has the basic skills required to enter the grade level in question, that the student demonstrates no significant learning difficulties and that the student will be able to successfully cope with the heavy demands imposed by a bilingual educational program.

Enrolment Procedures

Students who want to enrol in Al Bayan Bilingual School must submit an admission application to the Registrar’s office with the required documents and assessment fees within the set registration period that commences in February of every year. Applications that are submitted before or after this period will not be accepted. Applicants will be asked to provide up-to-date school records, including current report cards. Applicants who meet the criteria for age and academic record will then be invited to take an entrance assessment.
English, Arabic, and Math Admissions Tests for grades 1- 12 have been designed by the school to assess basic language and math skills. The English and Arabic exams assess reading, writing and oral language skills. The Math exam assesses basic grade level mathematical skills. These tests are usually administered 3-4 times per year. A student must meet average/above average standards in all three areas in order to be considered for admission. Children in Nursery and Kindergarten are interviewed in the presence of their parents. These interviews, which are conducted on a weekly basis from February to March each year, assess the development of the child’s social, emotional, speech, language, and fine motor skills.
Admission to the School will be determined by the Principal in each division after careful review of the results of the admissions test, recommendations made by the examining teachers, and the previous school academic and behavior records.
Once a child has been assessed, the Registration office will contact parents to inform them of the outcome of the admission assessment, and the status of the student’s pending application.
If assessment results are satisfactory and places are available, parents will be invited to register their children.
During the admission process the school will consult with prospective parents to ensure that they support the school’s mission and policies.
Registration is only complete after submission of all the required documents, provision of health records, previous school transcripts, and payment of non-refundable/non-transferable deposit of KD100.

Welcome to Al-Bayan Bilingual School Kindergarten! The kindergarten faculty would like to warmly welcome you and your child. Being four and five years old is a wonderful time in your child’s life. This is the time when children are curious about the world around them and are asking questions. Children are developing cognitively and physically every day and this varies from child to child. As educators in the kindergarten, we strive to provide your child with the best opportunities to learn and to have the best Pre-School experience possible. The KG faculty is aware of the children’s needs, and provides plenty of stimulating activities to encourage and help them achieve their potentials. We hope that with your support and cooperation, we can make this year a successful one for your child.

The Kindergarten department includes 6 KG1 and 6 KG2 classes. KG1 and KG2 classes are located in the ground and first floors of Fawzia Building. Arabic and English classrooms consist of one teacher and a teacher assistant. Students are placed in mixed ability grouping.

School commences at 7:30 A.M. We expect all parents to be prompt in bringing and collecting children. Parents should not send their children before 7:15 A.M. because there will not be any teacher supervision before that time. The school will not be responsible for any child left alone before 7:15 A.M.
Children put their lunch boxes in their advisory classes and then go outside to the playground. No child remains inside the building unless the weather is bad (rainy, dusty, cold, humid and very hot).
The KG classes start the day by introducing the skills or concepts and giving instructions to activities for the day. It is very important that a child attends classes on time. Failure to be on time may affect the child’s performance in class.
School ends at 12:30. Parents, maids and drivers will be asked to sign on a "Sign Out" sheet for the release of children at the end of the day. No child will be released with a different person unless a notice has been sent or a call has been made to school.

I, ___________________, the undersigned, parent of __________________, understand that should my child be accepted at BBS, it is only for the school year _______________. This acceptance is not a guarantee for future enrolment. Therefore, when the school’s officers believe that it is in the best interests of the school or the student, the administration of the school reserves the right to deny admission to the following grade for a student whose behavior is deemed unacceptable or who does not show appropriate academic progress.

Al Bayan Bilingual School is a university preparatory educational institution providing the best quality education to its students. Even though the school strives to meet the needs of all students, our preschool staff and facilities are generally not equipped to meet the special needs of children with academic, social, emotional or behavioral difficulties that result in educational modifications which are beyond the scope of our programs, and/or in continuing discipline problems / undesirable influences upon other children. Therefore, when the school’s officers believe that it is in the best interests of the school or the student, the administration of the school reserves the right to deny admission to the following grade for a student whose behavior is deemed unacceptable or who does not show appropriate academic progress.

BBS’ professionals carry out the time consuming and difficult task preparing class lists with great care because it is among the most important challenges we face each year. The school’s staff considers every possible variable while composing class lists. We consider the opportunities children need to make new friends; balancing student genders across sections within a grade; the learning styles and instructional needs of students; the teaching styles and teaching abilities of our instructors; distributing students with special behavioral characteristics and/or learning abilities evenly among the sections; balancing class numbers; separating siblings and students who do not get along, and a great many other factors.
Each year parents make hundreds of requests to place students in specific classes, and the number grows each year. In fact, it is now simply impossible to satisfy even a small fraction of these requests. Therefore, because Al-Bayan Bilingual School’s objective is to create the BEST possible learning environment for EVERY child in EVERY class, school management will NOT, effective immediately, accept any requests to place students in specify classes. Instead, the school will continue to do everything in its power to create the best, appropriately balanced classes possible in each grade, keeping all students’ academic interests, and generally, the best interests of all students in mind.

Play is the primary vehicle of learning for the young child. Play allows the child to experiment, explore and manipulate his/her environment, while developing imagination and creativity. Engaging in symbolic play allows a young child to express his or her thoughts and ideas, practice and rehearse new roles, and test out newly acquired knowledge and skill.
Young children construct knowledge based on their real-life experiences; they learn by doing. Children increase their own knowledge of the world through repeated interactions with people and materials. Our classrooms are designed to encourage children’s active exploration with adults, other children and materials.
A typical daily classroom routine includes a mix of direct instruction and opportunities for children to choose their own activities. Children will work individually, in small groups and as part of a large group. The use of work sheets and drill instructional practices is kept to a minimum.
The Al-Bayan Kindergarten program provides educational learning experiences in two languages, Arabic and English. Both programs use themes, pre-reading skills and pre-writing skills. The KG1 and KG2 curricula will vary to the instructional level of children taught. Other areas in the KG curriculum include developing fine motor skills, teaching of science, math, Islamic Studies, art, physical education, and music.
Al Bayan Bilingual Preschool also follows the curriculum goal which encourages children to be actively involved in the learning process and to experience a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and materials. It also develops practical life skills and provides the children with the necessary foundation for the future years.

Some of our curriculum objectives include:

Cognitive Development: Language & Literacy

• recognize their own names
• recognize letters names and sounds
• communicate their needs and thoughts in words, to develop their spoken language, and to expand their vocabulary
• listen with understanding and respond to directions and conversations
• understand the purpose of print and become familiar with books
• dictate stories and experiences
• Read sight words
• Read/ write sentences (KG 2)

Math

• sort and classify
• recognize patterns
• identify and name shapes and colors
• recognize numbers, count objects and understand one-to-one correspondence

Social Studies

• identify community workers and the services they provide
• cooperate and work well with others
• recognize similarities and differences in people
• recognize the reason for rules

Science

• appreciate science through hands-on activities
• make observations and draw conclusions
• investigate living things in the environment
• use scientific tools such as balance scales, and magnifying glasses for investigation
• use common weather related vocabulary
• understand basic safety practices
• be aware of health & nutrition through healthy-eating and proper hand washing routines

Fine Arts

• explore creativity and various art forms
• expand their fine motor skills through use of scissors, crayons and glue
• develop an appreciation for music

Physical Development

• develop large muscle skills through exercise, creative movement and balancing, running, jumping, throwing and catching.
• develop fine motor skills through use of scissors, crayons, puzzles, and beads

Social - Emotional Development

• develop self-control and comfort away from a parent
• manage transitions and begin to adapt to changes in routine
• engage in cooperative group play
• share materials and experiences and take turns
• develop relationships with other students and adults
• show initiative and independence in actions
• exhibit eagerness and curiosity as learners
• develop problem-solving skills
• develop listening skills and learn to follow basic instructions

Time	Description
7:15	Teachers’ arrival
7:15 – 7:30	Morning duty
7:30 – 7:40	Morning assembly
7:45 – 7:55	Homeroom
8:00 – 9:30	Language group
9:30 – 10:00	KG1 lunch / KG2 Recess
10:05 – 10:35	KG2 lunch / KG1 Recess
10:40 – 10:50	Rest and wash
10:55 – 12:25	Language group
12:25 - 12:30	Homeroom
12:30	KG children dismissal

The Kindergarten department has various activities that parents are invited to attend. In September, KG1 and KG2 have KG Orientation for students and parents to visit and see their child’s classroom, meet the teacher and learn about the KG program.
“Sports Day” is scheduled for KG1 and KG2 at different times in the school year. Children participate in various fun-filled physical activities. The KG1 faculty and students present a Music concert for KG1 parents. KG2 ends the year with the KG2 Promotion Ceremony, marking the end of the Pre-School years for our kindergartners. The Kindergarten department will notify parents by a letter about the events that occur during the school year.
Please, try to visit the school to support your child during these activities. Children are thrilled to see their parents in school; admiring their work and watching them perform.

Bus service is available from a private bus company. All arrangements must be made with the Accounts Department at Fawsec in Hawally.
Bus children are placed in the bus at 12:25 P.M. If parents wish to collect their child on any day instead of letting him/her ride the bus home, the school must be notified. If no phone call is made or a note is sent, your child will be placed on the bus.
All bus children must behave on the bus. It is very important that your children listen and obey the adults or supervisors. Unruly behaviour on the bus will not be permitted. A warning will be sent to parents. If your child rides the bus, we encourage you to discuss the importance of proper behavior on the bus.

If a child has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting or a contagious disease such as measles, chicken pox, sore throat, he or she must remain at home. For routine health problems there is a school doctor available. If your child becomes ill or has an accident at school, your child will be sent to the doctor who will determine the seriousness of the illness and call parents if a child is to be sent home. It is important that the school has the proper home and work numbers. Also an emergency number is needed in case the doctor is not able to reach you at home or work.
If your child has a special health problem, such as allergies, asthma, etc. the school doctor should be notified. She will then inform the child’s advisor.
Medication: It is preferred that all medicine be given at home before a child comes to school. The doctor will administer any medication sent to school. Teachers are not responsible for giving medicine to your child. Any medicine brought to school must have a note from the parent or doctor stating the name of the student; name of the medicine, dosage and the time the medicine is to be given to the child.

Parents are responsible for notifying the school when a child is absent for more than two days. A note should be sent with the child upon his/her return to school. Teachers will phone parents after 3 days of absence to inquire about the child.

The kindergarten children should be dressed in the official Al Bayan uniform (pants, sweaters, shirts, shorts, skirts with the BBS logo).

• These are sold on school premises.
• Each article of clothing should have the student’s name on it.
• Tennis or rubber soled shoes with VELCRO fastening are strongly recommended.
• Crocs are NOT allowed.

KG1 and KG2 teachers request an extra change of clothing for your child in case of an accident. Clothing should be placed in a Ziploc bag and properly marked with the child’s name.

Children should not wear jewellery to school. The teachers or school will not be responsible for any lost items.

Each grade level has a set of classroom, playground and restroom rules that each child must follow and obey. Constant reinforcement of rules helps to maintain a pleasant and stimulating learning environment for your child. The rules are listed below:

Classroom Rules:

• Be a good listener.
• Raise your hand to get permission to speak
• Wait for your turn to speak and don’t shout out answers
• Ask permission to go the restroom or drink water
• Respect teachers, students and school property
• No hitting, biting, spitting or pushing in the classroom, playground or in line
• No bad language or name calling
• No running inside the classroom or school buildings
• Share toys, colors or erasers
• Play friendly and take turns
• Be polite
• No toys should be brought from home unless the teacher asks
• Work quietly.
• Push the chairs under the table when you stand up
• Tidy up.

Rest Room Rules:

• No playing/running or loud talking in the restroom
• Flush toilets
• Wash hands after using toilets
• No playing with the water or spray hose
• Throw paper towel in the waste basket

Lunch Rules:

• Wash hands before and after eating
• Talking is permitted, provided the following guidelines are met: No loud talking and no talking with a mouth full of food
• Tidy up

Playground Rules:

• No hitting, or fighting allowed
• Use playground equipment properly
• Do not cut the plants
• Ask permission to go to the restroom
• Do not play with the gates or go outside the gates unless accompanied by a teacher or guardian
• No hiding under the play equipment when the bell rings
• Enter and exit the building or classroom in an orderly manner

The following suggestions are ways for you to handle difficult situations with a child:

1. Give the child a choice.

If a situation is potentially dangerous or harmful to the child, others, or the materials or facility, say, “You might hurt _______ doing that. Please stop. Would you like me to help you or can you do it on your own?” Make sure that both choices you give a child are acceptable to you. (Stop that or you’ll get hurt is not an example or giving a child a choice.) Be ready to set a time limit (I’m going to walk over to the table and help Rawan and by the time I walk back you need to make a choice or I will make it for you). If the child doesn’t make a choice then the adult needs to choose for the child. If the child continues to misbehave, you may gently remove him/her from the situation. Do not hesitate to remove the child before you give choices if you find the situation immediately threatening to the child or others.

2. Upon removing a child from a situation, take a moment to redirect him to a more positive activity.

Suggest two activities that the child may choose between. If the child can’t make a choice, the teacher will facilitate a choice by picking one of the child’s interests. Please note: Sometimes children misbehave with the goal of getting individual attention from an adult. Try to give attention to every child for positive behavior. If you feel the child is breaking rules to get attention, redirect the child’s behavior with very minimal eye contact and language. Then you can come back a few minutes later to praise the child for “making a better choice” or “calming himself/herself down”.

3. Put yourself in the child’s place.

Always approach a situation from the child’s point of view:
What is behind the misbehavior?
Why would the child feel it is necessary?
What logical, acceptable choices can I offer the child for changing the behavior?
Am I being respectful to the child?

4. If you’re not sure, ask.

What can the children involved tell you about the situation? To be effective in this process, you must create a calm atmosphere. Have the children take turns speaking. Model respectful listening by not interrupting. Your role as an adult is to let each child voice his or her feelings, and help them resolve the situation.

5. Wait until the child is calm enough to talk about the situation.

If a child wishes to argue, cut the conversation short with, “I’ll be happy to talk about this when you are ready to talk to me”.
Try to complete the discipline cycle with a smile. Ask the child what he can do next time to avoid a similar situation.

Logical consequences

When a child repeatedly engages in the same misbehavior, consequences are in order. Ask the child what reasonable consequences would be. Often a child will have reasonable consequences in mind. Be ready with logical consequences in case the child is not ready. Logical consequences include cleaning up after a mess has been made, playing inside if out of control on the playground; taking care of a friend who a child has hurt, losing the privilege of using a piece of equipment because of careless use.

If after logical consequences have been used, a child continues to misbehave in the same way, the teaching team and the child’s parents will meet to discuss the situation to develop more effective techniques. If this also fails, the child will be referred to the school counselor/ KG Deputy Principal/Pre-School Principal.

Time-Out

Time-Out is the removal of a child for a short period of time (3 to 5 minutes) from a situation in which the child is misbehaving and has not responded to other discipline techniques. The Time-Out space, usually a chair, is located away from classroom activity, but within the teacher’s sight. During Time-Out, the child has a chance to think about the misbehavior which led to his/her removal from the group. After a brief interval of no more than 5 minutes, the teacher discusses the incident and appropriate behavior with the child. When the child returns to the group, the incident is over and the child is treated with the same affection and respect shown the other children.

If you wish to discuss your child's progress with the teachers, please call the School Administration, and we will be glad to set up an appointment.
A parent conference form must be filled during the meeting. Please ensure that your feelings/comments are recorded properly before signing.
If you are concerned about any matter, please see the teacher first. If you need further advice, the Deputy Principal or Principal will be happy to assist.
The first annual parent conference is in November. The conferences days are held in the evening and the following day. Meeting times are not scheduled. When parents arrive at school, they sign up to take a turn. The meetings are only ten minutes. If you need more time, you will need to schedule a parent conference for another day. More information regarding "Parent Conference Day" will be sent home.
★ Please do not go into the classroom or try to talk to the teacher when the children are in the classroom or when instruction is going on.

The Pre-School Counselor is available to advise both parents and faculty on academic or social problems. The School Counselor works with the teacher and gives advice and recommendations when a child has been referred to her. The administration, teacher and counselor work together for the benefit of the children.

Report cards are an indication of your child's progress through the school year. Parents must remember that children develop at different times and they should be encouraging and supportive towards their child. Report cards are distributed to parents in December, March and June.

Newsletters are given the first week of each month. They are to inform you about what your child will learn in that particular month. Parents are encouraged to read the newsletter and use it to reinforce the skills taught at school. The newsletter needs to be placed in a safe place for reference. You can also read the newsletters on the School website www.bbs.edu.kw

Field Experiences are an essential part of the educational program. They provide children with hands-on experiences and they help to reinforce topics taught. Field experiences are scheduled throughout the school year. Permission slips are sent in advance to inform parents about the trips. The permission slip must be signed and returned to the child’s advisory the following day. If a permission slip is not returned or signed, your child will not be allowed to go on the field experiences. If your child is sick, please keep him/her at home. It is difficult to give your child the extra attention needed when he/she does not feel well on these field experiences.

Policy For: Parents accompanying children in a school field trip:

• The parent has to inform the class teacher about his/her wish to join the trip once he/she receives the field trip form.
• The parent has to comply with school policies and procedures during field trips.
• The parent has to assist teachers and take responsibility of a certain group of children during the field trip.
• If a parent wants to share some new ideas that will make the field trip more beneficial, he/she has to inform the Admin about it prior or after the trip.
• The parent has to convey the correct image to others regarding this trip.
• The parent has to maintain confidentiality about whatever happens during this trip, particularly about children’s behaviour.

Please adhere to the following guidelines when planning to celebrate your child’s birthday in school:

• Contact the class advisor a week prior to your child’s birthday.
• Birthdays are celebrated ONLY during lunch time (for half an hour).
• The cake must be in school by 9:00 A.M. (Cupcakes are preferred.)
• You need to supply the teacher with plates, forks, and napkins.
• Other children from the school are not allowed to attend; i.e. students from other classes, brothers, sisters or cousins.
• No goody bags should be distributed to the children. They will be returned with the child.
• Maids and drivers are not allowed to attend birthday parties.
• Parents may bring a camera and give it to the class teacher who will be glad to take photos for the child.
• Only two adult family members are allowed to attend the birthday party.

If you are planning to have a party at home, please do not bring party invitations to school to be passed out by the teacher or put into cubbies unless you have ONE for EVERY child in the room or boys alone/girls alone.

Please do not send DVDs or Videotapes with your child to school, unless the teacher asks for them. Sometimes, there won’t be time to watch it, so the child might be upset.

Parents may videotape their children during school activities, but it is NOT allowed to videotape during lessons or around the school.

On certain occasions students will not be required to wear their school uniform, but may come in free dress. These days will be announced. (Usually they are on the last Thursday of every month).

We encourage that children stay until the end of the day, but if - for any reason - you want to take your child early, please go the school nurse and tell her the name and class of your child. She will send a nanny to get him/her while you wait in the clinic. The nurse will fill in a dismissal slip that you have to give to the guards. Parents cannot go directly to the child’s class and take him/her.

In the afternoon, before dismissal, parents are kindly requested to wait for their children on the playground or in the reception. Please do not wait in the hallways because this will distract the children. Also, when children see their friends’ parents and do not see theirs, they become frustrated and think that their parents are not coming to take them. Some of them will even cry especially at the beginning of the school year.

The streets around the school are very crowded during dismissal time. Please remind your children to hold their nannies hands and not to run or walk freely. The same applies to nannies, please remind them that their prime responsibility is the safety of the child and that they should not let them run or walk alone between cars.

After school help is provided on Sunday and Monday - for 20-30 minutes - to children who need additional reinforcement in certain subjects. Sometimes, your child’s teacher might ask that you keep him/her after school if the child needs additional help.

Children have many needs. There are many things that you as a parent can do to help make school a wonderful experience for your child. Listed below are some helpful suggestions:

• Read to your child everyday.
• Praise your child when he/she successfully completes a task.
• Set aside a special time each day to listen to and talk with your child. In this manner, you are encouraging listening and showing interest in your child.
• Discuss school activities, school friends, and new experiences with your child. By doing this, you encourage learning.
• Establish bedtime and wake-up routines.
• Have your child participate in every day chores in order to develop a sense of responsibility (i.e. picking up toys, folding clothes).
• Encourage your child to do things for himself/herself (dressing, carrying own lunchbox, feeding themselves, etc.).
• Encourage your child to go to the bathroom and be able to clean himself/herself without the help of maids. This is very important.
• Show an interest in school. Become involved in your child's education and progress. Make appointments with the teachers to discuss your child's progress or concerns.
• Read all the newsletters or notices sent from school.
• Read to your child and have plenty of books at home for your child to see.
• Be aware of what your child brings to lunch everyday.

★ Recommended snack items:

Dried fruits, cheese and crackers, fresh fruits, raw vegetables, raisings, cream cheese, and yogurt, juice, milk, sandwiches, cereal, boiled eggs.

★ Snack items to avoid:

Chocolate sandwiches, candy, chocolates, potato chips, gum and fizzy drinks.

The purpose of this handbook is to assist you. If you still have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our doors are always open! Your support is greatly valued and we look forward to meeting you.