Snacks are provided by parents on a rotational basis.  Parents will sign up to bring snacks suggested on an approved snack list provided by the teacher.  Sandwiches, pre-cut cakes and pre-cut fruit are not acceptable.  Please bring whole fruit to the school and the teacher will cut it for use by the children.

Healthy snack suggestions are available on a chart from the teacher.  Each parent is asked to bring enough snack for a class of 16 – 18 for a week.

There will be several parties a year including Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and others as seen fit by the classroom teacher.  The class with the help of room mothers will celebrate special holidays with class parties to be planned and supervised by the teacher.  Teachers will put up sign-up sheets for parent volunteers and some parties are open to siblings under the supervision of parents.

Parents are invited to celebrate their child’s birthday in the classroom by bringing cupcakes or cookies to share at snack time.  Gifts, non-edible treats, or entertainers are not accepted.

Private party invitations must be distributed outside the school.

Children attending St. Catherine of Siena Early Childhood Center must be completely toilet trained.  A child is completely toilet trained when he can attend to his bathroom needs including wiping himself and being able to tell someone that he has to go to the bathroom if necessary.

The center does not have the sanitary designation nor the facility to change diapers or wipe the bottoms of children.  Teachers are not required to change diapers.  Children are to wear regular underwear in the center.  Recognizing that accidents will happen from time to time, parents are requested to send a change of clothing at the beginning of the year (pants, shirt, underpants, socks, etc.) in a large Ziploc bag labeled with their child’s name.  Please make sure that the clothes in the bag are suitable for the season of the year.

Children will dress in clothing that is washable and suitable for play.  For safety on the playground, children will wear canvas or leather sneakers or athletic shoes to school each day.  Sandals, flip-flops, Crocs, patent leather dress shoes or cowboy/rubber boots are not acceptable.  Children are not to wear dangling jewelry or midriff-baring clothing.  Jackets, hats, mittens are necessary for cold weather.  Hats for hot, sunny days are permitted but must be removed while inside the building.  All clothing must be labeled for easy identification.