Northstar Policies

Parents are asked to sign their children in and out each day using our automated system. This is for the safety of the children, as well as for billing purposes.

In the case of inclement weather, Northstar Montessori will follow the Saline Area Schools closure policy. A message will be sent out through Procare to inform you of the school's status. You may also call the Saline Area Schools, 734-429-8000 and listen to their recording.

Northstar Montessori may close for situations beyond our control, for example: flood, electrical difficulties, etc. If there is an emergency that causes the center to close after the school day has begun, parents will be notified through our Procare app.

To protect your child, our staff members, and the other students, we request that your child NOT be brought to Northstar when the s/he exhibits any one of the following symptoms or behaviors:

• sluggishness or unusual drowsiness without explanation
• extreme irritability or inconsolability
• difficulty breathing
• diarrhea that cannot be contained by diaper or use of toilet
• blood or mucus in stool
• vomiting
• mouth sores or drooling
• unexplained rash
• an oral temperature of 102°F or more
• inability to participate comfortably in routine activities
• requiring more care than the staff can give while they care for the other children

We reserve the right to send any child home whom we deem too ill to be at school. We will do our best to provide you with information about symptoms and observations so that you can obtain appropriate treatment and/or plan for the possibility of your child needing to stay home. If we send a child home sick (i.e., with any of the above symptoms), the observation form will indicate that the child should not return to the center until he or she is well, or being treated by a physician, and meets our other criteria for particular illnesses.

We post notices on the parent information boards when children have been exposed to any communicable disease. We will care for a child that has symptoms of a communicable disease away from other children until a parent or authorized adult arrives.

After leaving Northstar ill, a child must be free of symptoms and fever for 48 hours before returning to school. A child may return after being on an antibiotic for 24 hours if they are feeling better and there has been no fever for 48 hours. All parents must have an emergency contact card filled out so we know who to call in case your child falls ill.

Parents are encouraged to medicate children at home when possible. For example: once before school, once after school and once before bed. In the event that this is not possible, a staff member will administer medications. Medication may be dispensed only if it is in its original container with the child’s name on it. Parents must fill out a gold medication form before medication may be given. Staff will initial the medication sheet after medication is given.

Northstar Montessori is a Peanut and Tree Nut Free Facility. Families are asked to refrain from sending these items to school with their children. 

Students with allergies MUST have an Allergy Action Plan on file at the school.that must be updated annually and whenever there is a change to the child's health.

We ask that families provide a set of two Epipens to be kept at school for their student with allergies. Epipens and emergency medications are kept in a locked bag that is easily accessible to staff, but inaccessible to students.

Parents provide lunch and snacks for their children while at school.

If your child is in attendance during meal times, s/he will be expected to eat with their class. In order to foster independence, please make sure you provide a lunch box and containers that your child can open and use successfully on their own, with minimal help from staff. Items that are not allowed include: gum, candy, candy bars, cookies, pop, and snack cakes. A piece of fresh fruit or a granola bar is a great dessert choice. We encourage families to bring nutritious foods.

For morning snack, the children are able to pick items from their lunch box as a snack.

During lunch time we encourage children to eat their food starting with the protein. When children are finished eating, their remaining food will be left in their lunch boxes so that parents are aware of their child’s eating habits.

Please do not send food that needs to be heated. A thermos works well for warm foods. The children’s food will be stored on a shelf in their classroom. If their food needs to be kept cold, please put an ice pack in their lunch box or freeze their juice box. If a child has left over lunch, s/he will have the option of eating it as an afternoon snack.

Families are welcome to send a special treat to school on their child’s birthday. Due to allergies and special dietary needs, non-edible treats (stickers, bubbles, etc.) are preferred. If you choose to send in an edible treat, it must be individually packaged with ingredients and nutritional information listed on the package. Edible treats will be sent home with students for them to enjoy at their parents' discretion.

Sunscreen

We try to take the children outside whenever possible, especially on warm sunny days. Our general policy is to put sunscreen on all children. We ask families to send in a bottle of non-aerosol sunscreen at the beginning of the year and it then becomes a “communal” bottle to share with the class. If you do not wish to have sunscreen put on your child, or if you have special sunscreen (for sensitive skin, for example) please let a staff member know ahead of time.

Insect Repellent

It is not our policy to put bug spray on our children. If you wish to have bug spray put on your child, you need to send in a bottle of non-aerosol spray, with your child’s name on it, as well as specific instructions for our staff.