Preschool & Kindergarten

PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN SCHEDULE
All classes are held from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

SCHOOL CLOSINGS & DELAYS
In the event of inclement weather Bethany CDC will follow whatever course of action Dorchester School District 2 chooses. When they are closed, we are closed.

*If Dorchester District 2 has a 2-hour morning delay, we will begin as usual at 9:00 a.m.
*If Dorchester District 2 has a 3-hour morning delay, we will be closed.

The South Carolina Early Learning standards guide our instruction. Our teachers provide opportunities to encourage and to support the development of the individual child by providing an ever-changing variety of developmentally appropriate materials and equipment which facilitate opportunities for discovery and exploration, critical thinking and problem solving at each child’s own developmental pace. Each day brings opportunities to play, to investigate, and to express ideas through center-based hands-on experiences in:

FAMILY LIVING/DRAMATIC PLAY:
Planning, working, and cooperative play in an organized experience fosters social skills, role playing, creativity and problem solving.

CREATIVE ART:
Self-expression through the use of paints, clay, crayons, and other media emphasizing the process of creating, not the product is important to children

LARGE GROUP:
Enjoying stories, verse, rhyme, song, finger plays, conversation and dramatization.

MUSIC:
Attending weekly music class in addition to daily music experiences including: responding rhythmically to singing, use of instruments, exploring different musical styles and composers.

BLOCK/ BUILDING:
Exploring spatial relationships, concepts of weight, symmetry and balance as well as cause and effect.

MANIPULATIVE/TABLE TOYS:
Providing opportunities to develop sorting, matching, classifying, patterning and eye-hand coordination skills.

SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY:
Providing opportunities for observation, inquiry, prediction, classification and comparison.

SENSORY:
Exploring physical qualities of a variety of materials such as sand, water, rice, shaving cream and “goop”.

HEALTH AND SAFETY EDUCATION:
Learning importance of good health habits and safety rules.

EATING TOGETHER:
Learning and practicing good table manners and self help skills, developing healthy eating habits.

ART CLASS:
Weekly art classes for the 4 Year Old classes featuring the study of famous artists and the elements of art.

FIELD TRIPS:
Visiting points of interest in and around the community to help the child establish appreciation of people who contribute to his life and to extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES:

Our goal is to provide a kindergarten program in which learning is both enjoyable and purposeful based on clearly defined goals.

Bethany’s objective is to help each child develop a positive self-image and to be ready for entrance into the first grade.

At Bethany we are committed to helping young children grow and develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually in a developmentally appropriate, Christian atmosphere. Our staff strives to provide a warm, nurturing, and safe environment where the individual child is provided a positive learning experience.

KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM

The Bethany CDC kindergarten curriculum is centered on the developmental needs and interests of five-year-olds and aims to foster independence and growth in the areas of social, emotional, spiritual, physical and academic development. We understand that young children learn best through hands-on experiences in a nurturing environment, so we strive to create an engaging, positive classroom environment where students feel valued and supported. The South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards, provided by the SC Department of Education, guide our instruction in early literacy, math, science and social studies. (A complete listing of the SC kindergarten standards can be found by visiting the SC Department of Education website at ed.sc.gov).

Research supports the value of small class sizes and low student to teacher ratios like we have at Bethany CDC. In addition to facilitating effective large group activities, our small class size and low student to teacher ratio provide opportunities for small group and individual instruction as needed. Our academic program is supported by a variety of high-interest learning centers that encourage creativity, teamwork and problem solving. The kindergarten classroom at Bethany CDC provides a wide variety of high quality academic materials that facilitate learning and exploring. Each child’s individual needs are honored throughout our instructional day and creative expression is encouraged in all areas.

Our kindergarten program provides several opportunities for enrichment beyond academic instruction including monthly field trips, guest presentations, fine arts classes and time outdoors. Our monthly field trips to local farms, theaters, libraries, plantations/gardens, museums, etc. give students the opportunity to explore the community and learn in unique ways. Weekly art classes introduce our kindergarten students to famous artists and the elements of art as the children enjoy the process of creating their own masterpieces. Music classes are held twice a week and incorporate movement and singing while students learn about musical genres and instruments. Children spend time outdoors daily playing, exploring and building their small and large motor skills.

Spiritual education is a cornerstone of our kindergarten program. The inclusion of prayers, Bible stories and monthly chapel lessons help the children develop an appreciation for the presence of God in our lives and the understanding that each person is one of God’s special creations.

Kindergarten attendance is required in the state of South Carolina. In the event of an absence, a written excuse is required.

Registration Fee:

A registration fee is required for each child at the time of registration which cannot be refunded if the child is withdrawn from the school. Your child will not be officially enrolled until this fee is paid in full.

Tuition Policy:

* Tuition is due by the 1st of each month.

* After the 5th a late fee of $25 will be added to your balance. An additional $25 late fee will be added to your balance if payment is not made by the 10th of the month.

* A $25 fee will also be charged for any checks returned to the CDC by the bank.

* A letter along with a copy of Bethany CDC’s tuition policy and a current statement, will be sent by the CDC Director when an account is more than 30 days late from the original due date.

* Children will be suspended from the program when an account is delinquent for 45 days from the original due date.

* Children will be removed from the program and their spot filled from the waiting list when an account is not at a zero balance by day 60 from the original due date.

* Future enrollment for children removed from the program due to non or insufficient payment is subject to all delinquent tuition and fees being brought to a zero balance and is also subject to availability based on Bethany CDC’s registration policy. At the time of re-enrollment, the first month’s tuition must be paid in advance.

* School policy prohibits the refund of any tuition or registration payments with the exception of military transfers or deployments.

* Discounted tuition for multiple children in a family is not available; however lunch bunch rates are discounted for siblings.

* Tuition is calculated based on a yearly total and divided into 10 equal payments for your convenience. That means that holidays, in-service days and vacations (fall, winter and spring) do not change the monthly tuition rate. Since our program costs remain ongoing, fees are not reduced for days missed, including weather closings or absences of children due to illness or vacation.

* Tuition payments can be mailed or dropped off at the CDC office or in tuition pockets outside each classroom. Cash payments must be made in the CDC office so a receipt can be issued. Parents may also make credit or debit

payments using the Smartcare Parent Web Portal or App. An automatic convenience fee of 2.93% will be added to all credit card payments.

* All accounts of children currently in the program must be paid in full prior to registration in order to be considered eligible to begin the registration process.

* A registration fee is required for each child at the time of registration. Your child will not be officially registered until this fee is paid in full.

* The first preschool payment is due by July 1 to reserve your child’s place in the program. A late fee of $25 will be assessed on the 5th of July and the child will be removed from the program on July 10th if the tuition has not been paid. The tuition is non-refundable. The remaining 9 tuition payments begin in September.

* The first kindergarten tuition payment, along with the kindergarten activity fee, is due by June 1 to reserve your child’s place in class. It is not refundable in the event of withdrawal. The remaining 9 tuition payments begin in September. A late fee of $25 will be assessed on the 5th of June and the student will be removed from the program on June 10th if the tuition has not been paid.