Saint Sebastian Center for Early Learning

Welcome | Purpose and Goals | Teacher/Child Ratios | Teaching Requirements | Admission Policy | Non-Discimination Policy | Priority of Admissions | Registration Procedure | Tuition and Fees | School Calendar | Aftercare | Meals | Snacks | Daily Schedules

Welcome to St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning

It is my pleasure to introduce to you Saint Sebastian Parish Center for Early Learning which I believe to be among the finest facilities and programs in our area.  Our parish believes that every child should have the best education possible supported by a Christian community and so provides the resources and works diligently every day to make this ideal a reality.

By placing your child in this program, you are giving them a strong base on which to build.  Saint Sebastian is able to provide them with a safe, clean, and enjoyable atmosphere where they will be taught by a highly qualified and motivated staff.  All of this takes place within a strong parish structure that can support your mission to give your child every advantage in the years ahead.

If you are interested in finding out more about this outstanding program, please do not hesitate to contact us.

God bless,

Rev. John A. Valencheck

Purposes and Goals

The center's purpose is to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for the enhancement of each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and physical potential. The center is viewed as a precursor to, but not a requirement of, the child’s enrollment in St. Sebastian School. We see it as an extension of our parish community.

The goals of the center are:

• To instill a love of learning and a hunger for knowledge and creativity.
• To meet the individual child's needs for spiritual, social-emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.
• To help prepare the individual child for the elementary school experience.
• To provide parents with the opportunity to better understand their child's development and how to encourage and foster the attainment of their child's potential.

The Saint Sebastian Center for Early Learning will meet the above goals by fostering a child’s learning through free play, group time activities, outdoor play and learning centers. The “subjects” of math, science, language development, art, social studies, music, pre-reading and pre-writing will all be fostered throughout the program using a total hands-on approach. The teacher will foster the child’s development by creating the environment that allows the child to explore, create and discover. Theme units will be used to guide the specific areas of learning.

Teacher/Child Ratios

The license capacity for the center is 42 students at any given time.

As required by law, St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning observes the following staff/child ratios and small group sizes.

The ratios for St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning are much lower than required by law. This allows us to give your child much more individualized learning opportunities.

Teaching Requirements

The St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning requires its teachers to have, at minimum, a bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and Family Life.

Admission Policy

The St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning Center seeks to admit any student who desires an academic, disciplined, God-centered education.

Non-Discrimination Policy

St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning admits students of any race, color, sex, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students in this school.

Priority of Admission

Enrollment begins during the month of February and continues until all available spots are filled. Priority of enrollment is as follows:

1. Currently registered families at the preschool.
2. Catholic children who are active members of St. Sebastian Parish.
3. Catholic children who are non-active members of St. Sebastian Parish.
4. Catholic children who are non-members of St. Sebastian Parish.
5. Any non-Catholic child.

Registration Procedures

Registration forms will be available upon request in late January. Notices of registration will be placed in the parish bulletin prior to that date. The director or teacher will meet with the “new” parents at registration or before registration is finalized.

Tuition and Fees

A non-refundable registration fee of $100.00 is to be paid at the time of registration. The family rate is $150.00. If parents have paid a registration fee for an older child enrolled at St. Sebastian School, the registration fee is $50.00

Please Note: There are no scholarships or tuition subsidies available at this time. If enrollment is extremely low, adjustments in the program schedule may be made.

Rebates/Overtime Charges

If a parent pays tuition in advance and finds that he/she must withdraw the child before the end of the school year, that parent will receive a reimbursement of all "unused time." If a parent does not provide a 2 week notice of withdrawal, he/she will relinquish the equivalent of 2 weeks tuition.

School Calendar

The preschool year typically begins the first week of September and ends the last week of May. A school calendar will be issued in May for the next school year.

Aftercare

Aftercare is available on a daily basis. Please notify the teacher or director when you plan to use this service. Cost is $10.00 per day, billed monthly. This service is dependent upon sufficient need by parents and may be cancelled for lack of interest.

Meals

Children enrolled in the full day Pre-Kindergarten and morning 4yr. old classes will bring their lunch to school every day. Milk and hot lunches will be available to pre-order for the preschool children. All lunches must meet 1/3 of the USDA nutritional guidelines for the appropriate age group.

Snacks

Snacks will be available in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Snacks must also meet nutritional guidelines. Usually, it will consist of fruit or fruit juice and a bread/cereal product such as crackers. We provide the fruit juice and parents will send in several boxes of healthy carbohydrates when requested. Parents of children with food allergies must notify the teacher and director before the school year begins so that we will be able to accommodate the child’s needs. Parents can also provide a special snack for the class to celebrate a child's birthday or special occasion.

Schedules for the Day