School Timings and Dates

  • The centres are open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm (5:30pm at Bristol).
  • The school year is September to June. There is a summer program at Mississauga Valley.
  • The centres are closed on all statutory holidays, Christmas Break (2 weeks), and March Break (1 Week).
  • The centres may close due to special circumstances such as severe weather conditions.  On a day when there is bad weather, call the school to listen to the message on the answering machine to see whether it is a ‘snow day’. We follow the peel public schools with regards to snow days.

Arrival and Departure

  • Upon arrival, please stay until a staff member has assumed responsibility for the supervision of your child.  It is advisable to inform the staff of any health symptoms or changes in routine or behaviour that may affect your child’s participation in the program.
  • When picking up your child, please ensure that a staff member is aware of your departure.
  • Children will only be released to people that are acknowledged on the child release form.
  • Any adult not recognized by our staff will be asked to provide identification even if they say their name is on the child release form.
  • There is a late fee of $1.00 per minute after the closing time. The late fee is payable directly to the member of staff on duty, and must be paid within the same week.

Supervision Policy

  • Children will be supervised at all times according to staffing ratios outlined by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
  • Staff members will all have clear criminal records and up-to-date immunizations. This applies to all volunteers and placement students.
  • Volunteers and placement students will not to be counted in staffing ratios. Their role will be to assist other staff members.
  • The supervising staff will ensure that under no circumstance will direct unsupervised access be granted to anyone who is not an employee of Brilliant Minds Montessori Centre.

Food Policy

  • Children are served snacks with milk and fruit and hot nutritious lunches. All meals are catered daily to our centres by a recognized ISO 9001-2000 registered catering company.
  • Parents are requested not to send any food to school as some children have food allergies.
  • All our centres are Nut Free Environments.
  • The Supervisor will inform all food handlers and providers if there are any children with allergies and food restrictions.

Illness Policy

  • A documented medical form is required for each child before admission into the school. Thereafter, parents are required to keep their child’s immunizations up-to-date.
  • A quick check is done on each child upon arrival to the centre to note down any symptoms of ill health, such as bruises etc. Any symptoms that develop during the day are also noted down and communicated to parents.
  • When children are at the school, it is expected that they are able to participate in the group schedule. Thus, if your child becomes ill during the day to a point where it is interfering with their participation, their emergency contacts will be informed and the child will have to be picked up from school.
  • Children showing signs of illness (e.g. fever, excessive fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, and discharge from the eyes, etc.) must remain at home for their own well-being and that of others. Children may not return to school until they are clear of symptoms for 48 hours.
  • Communicable or prolonged illnesses must be reported immediately to the school Supervisor.  A physician’s note may be required, stating that your child is free from infection, before they will be permitted to return to the school.

Medication Policy

  • When a parent brings in drug or medication, a Medication Authorization Form is completed and signed by the parent and staff in charge.
  • All prescribed medication must:
    • be in the original container
    • have the child’s full name on it
    • have the name of the drug
    • have the dosage to be given
    • have the date of purchase and the expiry date
    • have instructions for storage
    • have instructions for daily dosages required
  • If medication is over-the-counter, parents must label the item and give staff member’s clear instructions for administration.
  • It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure any medication is not expired.
  • If medical treatment, including anesthetic, is required due to circumstances such as accidents or sudden illness, it may be administered by a medical professional. Parents will always be contacted first for consent, unless it is an emergency situation.
  • Any medical expenses that are incurred are the responsibility of the parents.

Serious Occurrences

  • In the case of a serious occurrence, the parents of the involved children will be notified as soon as possible. All other parents will be notified on the next business day. Serious occurrences include: accidents, abuse, power outage, or fire.
  • In the case of an emergency situation, such as a fire or power outage, children in the centre will be evacuated by the staff members to a predetermined evacuation site. A comprehensive evacuation drill is practiced by staff members and children once a month.
  • In the case of an evacuation, parents will be notified immediately to pick up their child. For this reason it is imperative that emergency contact information is kept up to date.

Field Trips

  • We plan 2 field trips per year and have been to a variety of different places such as Downey’s Farm.
  • Information and permission slips will be provided in advance of any field trip. Completed permission slips are a requirement for going on a field trip.
  • There will be a minimal cost for field trips.
  • If space permits, parents are welcome to join the group during the field trip.
  • Toddlers must be accompanied by one parent.

Swimming

  • Children 2.5 years and older will participate in a swimming program which will be taught by trained instructors. There will always be lifeguards in the pool area.
  • Teachers will accompany the children to and from the pool area, and will be available to assist the children to change their clothes.
  • Proper swimming attire and a towel must be provided.

Photography

  • If photos are taken of your child during field trips, concerts, in class etc, they will only be used for posting on the school bulletin boards.
  • The school will always request parents’ authorization before using photos for any other purpose, such as marketing. Authorization is required before any picture is used.
  • Parents have the right to refuse their child being photographed. If so, please note this on your application form during enrolment.

Payment

  • New enrolments are charged a registration fee of $100.00, payable upon enrolment.
  • Post-dated cheques should be dated on the 1st of every month, and are required for the entire school year.
  • A $10.00 per day charge will be incurred for late cheques.
  • A $50.00 charge will be incurred for any bounced cheque.
  • Regular fees are due regardless of sick days, statutory holidays, Christmas Break and March Break.

Withdrawal

  • A one month’s notice must be given to withdraw your child from our program. If this notice is not given, regular fees for one month must be paid.
  • If vacations are taken during the school year, the regular fees must still be paid.

Behaviour Management

  • Children appear to learn best when they are given reasonable limits and freedom to choose.  As such, at Brilliant Minds Montessori, discipline is planned to assist the child to become self-disciplined through the use of positive reinforcement, the explanation of choices and logical consequences.
  • The school does not permit: corporal punishment, derogatory comments, confinement, or deprivation.

Communication

  • A variety of opportunities are offered to ensure communication between parents and staff members:
    • Daily verbal communication is sometimes possible during drop off and pick up.
    • You are welcome to call the Supervisor at any time during school hours.
    • Formal meetings are held twice a year to discuss report cards and other issues.
    • Monthly newsletters and calendars are provided to share information and describe planned activities for the month.
    • Parents are required to update personal information to ensure the ease of contact in case of an emergency.
    • Parents are required to notify the Supervisor as soon as possible if their child will be absent from school.