Our goal is to provide your child with the opportunity to develop and learn in a safe and nurturing environment. To create an optimal learning atmosphere, we have established policies and procedure that ensure safety, learning, and fun for all. Please help us by doing your best to uphold these policies, procedures, and guidelines.

At Little Panda we believe that communication and cooperation between teachers, parents and administrators is absolutely vital to the preschool program's success. A weekly E-Update will be sent out to all parents. Please email us if you have any questions and please let us know whenever your email, phone or address information has changed so that we may always have the most current information to contact you.

Melissa: melissa.littlepanda@gmail.com
Xiaoping: xpj@earthlink.net
NOTE: Please direct all questions regarding tuition and scheduling to Principal Xiaoping.

Arrival and Departure

Each child is to be brought to the side entrance of the school building between 8:40am and 9:00am. You may drop your child off as early as 8:35am, however, if you come earlier than that we ask that you wait outside or in your car until that time even if there are teachers in the building. If you need to drop your children off early regularly we suggest you sign up for the Early Drop Off Program.

Also, we know parking can be difficult at morning drop off. It is a priority to have the front area paved this year. Also, please try to drop your children off in a swift and efficient manner to ease the transition into the school day and to make room for other parents who need to park and drop off their children.

At the end of the Morning Preschool Program, parents or guardians need to pick up and sign out students at 12:30pm, for the Extended Day Program at 4:00pm and for After School Program at 5:30pm.
In consideration for our teachers, who also have families to get home to and other obligations, please make sure your children are picked up on time. Late fees will start being assessed 10 minutes after scheduled pick up times.

Late pick up fees

Morning Preschool       Extended Day           After School
12:40pm                    4:10pm                      5:40pm               $5 per child
1:00pm                      4:20pm                      5:50pm               $10 per child
1:30pm                      5:00pm                      6:30pm               $15 per child

Please Initial Here__________

We need written record of your permission for those transporting your child, which you probably already provided on your registration form. If you wish to add someone other than those listed on the form we need a written notice before the child may be released into their care. We ask that you provide us with a hard copy of this information on a full sheet of paper so that it can be posted for all the teachers to see. Please understand that we are instituting this procedure as a precaution -- it is the safety of your child that is our first priority.

Early Departure
Please inform teachers of early dismissal ahead of time. However, if there is an unexpected emergency, please call Principal Xiaoping at 308-3511 and we will prepare your child for departure.
If you arrive early for pick-up, please be patient and wait until children are dismissed. Parents or guardians must come to the side play room door and sign the student out for the teachers to release the child into your care.

Potty Training and Dress
In an effort to build self-esteem and foster independence, we ask that children in the process and nearly potty-trained be dressed in attire that they can pull up and down themselves when they go to the bathroom. We also ask that children who do not know how to tie their shoes have Velcro straps instead. This will allow teachers to spend more time teaching and keeping the children safe and entertained and less time tying shoes.

Inclement Weather

Closings and Delays

Generally, Little Panda Preschool follows the Durham County School System. If the Durham County schools are closed then Little Panda will also be closed. If Durham County is having delayed school openings please wait to hear from Little Panda administrators who will call you at home. If we decide to open when Durham County is closed we will let you know by phone or by email.

School closing news will be shown on WTVD11.

Missed Classes

No make-up classes will be arranged for missed lessons. Families are strongly encouraged to schedule trips adhering to Little Panda’s holidays to ensure minimal distraction to students’ Chinese learning.

Tuition and Fees

School schedule, tuition, and fees will be determined by Little Panda Preschool on a semester basis. The tuition covers teachers’ compensation and the school’s operating costs. The fees are for teaching materials and other expenditures.
Since all Little Panda teachers are contracted on a semester basis, families are obligated to pay the tuition and fees for the entire semester once enrolled. The only exception is for families who move more than 50 miles away from DCS. Then those families need to turn in a written notice 30 days in advance to receive a prorated tuition refund or a waiver.

For the Fall 2010 session the payment schedule is as follows:

1/3 of total tuition + $30 registration fee (and $100 1st time family fee, if applicable) due August 1.

1/3 of total tuition due by October 1.

1/3 and Final payment due by November 15.

A late fee of $15 per student will be added to the semester fee if the payment is received over 10 days late.

Illness Policy

Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they are sick and to inform Little Panda of the nature of the illness.

We ask that you do not bring any child to school that has had a fever, has vomited, or has had diarrhea within 24 hours.

Behavior Management Policy

During each semester at Little Panda a wide variety of activities are offered. Children are encouraged to participate fully and enjoy their time with us. Positive attitudes towards one another, the teachers, and administrators are nurtured and encouraged.

If unacceptable behavior becomes a hindrance to the smooth running of the school it is our policy that the child in question be addressed about the situation and, if necessary, assisted to a quieter area with an adult.

If our staff feels there are continuing concerns regarding a student then parental support in achieving an acceptable level of behavior will be sought. The need for parents and staff to talk about any problems or worries is vital. The staff will be available, at a mutually convenient time, for parents to share any concerns in the strictest confidence.

Our teachers and administrators strive to be positive role models to our students. We praise and endorse behavior such a kindness and willingness to share. Physical punishment will neither be used nor threatened. Children will never be sent out of a room alone. In any case of misbehavior, it will always be made clear to the child or children in question that it is the behavior and not the child that is unwelcome. Our staff will not raise their voices in a threatening way.


Parent / Guardian Agreement


I ____________________________ have read the Little Panda Preschool’s Parent Packet and agree to comply with all of the schools policies and procedures.


Signature________________________________ Date__________
Parent/Guardian