Letter from the Administrator | General Info | Academics | Special Events | For Parents | Admission

K & Pre-School: Admissions Process

New Student Admissions
New students may begin the application process for each school year in January. The first round of decisions regarding new student applicants will be made in April. Students applying for admission to Horizon Prep must adhere to the following procedures:

Application
Families interested in applying to Horizon Prep can obtain an application packet from the school office. Upon submission, a non-refundable application fee and copies any progress reports from former schools must accompany applications. Teacher recommendations (available in the school office) must be given by the parent to the student's current teacher(s) and mailed to the Horizon Prep Admissions Office.

All in-coming preschoolers must accompany their parent(s) for a tour of our school. Appointments for tours are only given if there is space available in our program. We will contact prospective families at the appropriate time. It is mandatory that all children be toilet trained. The school's permit does not allow for diapers or "pull-ups" style training pants. We are licensed by the State of California Social Services, which requires that the following forms be on file for each child prior to the child attending class:

1. Emergency information
2. Health History
3. Physician Report
4. Up-to-date copy of immunization record
5. Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment
6. Medication consent Form
7. Notification of Parent's Rights Form
8. Notification of Personal Rights Form
9. Emergency Information
10. Information for the child's teacher

Failure to return the mandatory forms will result in a delay of attendance.

Family Interview
Applicants will be contacted to set up a family interview with the Preschool/Kindergarten administrator. This interview will include the parents or legal guardian(s) and the applying student(s).

Acceptance
After the family interview, the competed student file will be submitted to the admissions committee. Incomplete files will not be reviewed until all required student information has been submitted. Applicants will receive a letter stating their acceptance status (accepted, declined or placement on waiting list). Students who are accepted will also receive a registration packet.

Registration
Once a student has received an acceptance letter from Horizon Prep, they can register by completing all required paperwork and returning it to the school office along with their non-refundable registration fee and consumable material fee. A student's enrollment is not confirmed until these fees have been paid and all registration paperwork has been received at Horizon Prep.

Admissions Committee
Members of an Admissions Committee made up of Horizon Prep faculty and administration carefully review each applying students file. Screening and selection is based on behavior, academic performance, lifestyle choices and personal qualifications. Horizon Prep reserves the right to deny enrollment to any applying student. All decisions will be consistent with our non-discrimination policy. All questions regarding the review process, or the outcome of an applicant's acceptance status, must be addressed in writing to the Admissions Committee c/o Horizon Prep.

Age Standards for Admission
Children between the ages of 3 years through Kindergarten age will be admitted to Horizon Prep Preschool and Kindergarten. Children must turn 3 years old by September 1st, in order to be accepted into our preschool program. They must turn 4 years old by September 1st, in order to be accepted into our Pre-K program, and they must turn 5 years old by September 1st, to be accepted into our Kindergarten program All grades thereafter would follow the same chronological pattern. Promotions and retentions may occur on a case-by-case basis as necessary. Please be advised, admission into Horizon Prep Preschool does in no way promise or guarantee admission into Horizon Prep Elementary Program.

Admission Agreement

• Each child shall attend class only on their assigned days.
• The school shall provide the child with a morning snack consisting of at least two items from the four food groups. Such a snack shall also be provided for children who stay for the extended day program. The purchase of a hot lunch is optional. We do our best to provide healthy, quality snacks and hot lunches, while trying to offer foods that appeal to the diverse interests of young children.
• The child shall be given assistance with personal care, when needed. All children must be fully toilet-trained and able to attend to their bathroom needs with little assistance.
• Children staying beyond the morning program will be given the opportunity to rest with a clean sheet, provided by the school. All parents are responsible for laundering their child's sheet weekly. If the sheet becomes lost, we will replace it and charge the replacement cost to the parents school account.
• The child shall be involved in a program of play, learning experiences, and religious instruction.
• The school shall assume responsibility for the child once he/she has been signed in by the parent and deemed healthy. Once the parent has signed out the child, the child becomes the full responsibility of the parent.
• The child shall be administered physician-perscribed medicine only with the written authorization of the child's physician. If a child needs to use an inhaler, nebulizer or epi-pen in the case of an emergency, the parent must complete and sign a consent form to be kept in the child's file. These forms are available in the school office.
• The school shall give appropriate first aide to an injured child.
• An ill child shall be isolated and given the appropriate care until they are picked up by their parent, guardian or designated provider.
• The school shall notify the child's parent or guardian of suspected exposure to a communicable disease.
• The school shall make every reasonable effort to safe guard personal belongs brought by the child but shall not be responsible for lost or broken items.
• If there are restraining orders, prohibiting a parent from picking their child up from school, we must have a copy of that restraining order in your child's file.
• Any information that is in your child's file is extremely confidential and is kept in locked file cabinets. Parents have the right to review that information at any time by contacting the administrator.
• The Administrator and/or other staff members shall report to the Department of Children's Services any suspicion of child abuse, (sexual or otherwise) neglect or endangerment of which they may become aware.
• A sign-in/sign-out book is located in each classroom. It is mandated, by the State Licensing Board of California that each child be signed in and and out each day with a complete and legible signature. No initials will be accepted. The person bringing the child to school and picking the child up from school must sign in and out using his or her full name. If your child is to be picked up by someone other than those authorized of the Emergency release forms, the parent must notify the school before dismissal time. A child will only be dismissed to the parent or to persons listed on the pick-up authorization form in the child's file. It is the responsibility of the parent to keep the Emergency forms current. If a person comes to pick up your child and they are not on the authorization list, we cannot, by law, release your child. We will make every effort to contact the parents and persons authorizes to pick up. However, if the parent cannot be reached and has not come to pick up their child by 6:00 pm, social services will be called and the child will be placed in custodial care.

Obligations of Parents

• A parent or guardian shall provide all requested medical information before the first day of school.
• A parent, guardian, or designated representative of the child's parent shall sign the child out on the appropriate register before taking the child from the premises.
• The parent or guardian shall notify the school, in writing, when someone other than those named on the emergency information card will be calling for the child.
• The parent or guardian shall provide the child with a nutririous lunch or purchase hot lunch from the school. Contents shall follow guidelines specified in the health section of this handbook.
• The school will provide all rest time mats and sheets. Please do not bring anything from home, (blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, etc) as we do not have adequate storage.
• The parent or guardian shall see that the child is dressed according to the established Horizon Prep dress code. If a child is sent to school out of dress code, the parent will be called to either pick the child up from school or bring the appropriate clothing.
• The parent or guardian may notify the school when a preschool child is absent . The school must be notified if a Kindergartener is absent. If a student in Kindergarten is absent, the parent must take the child to the office for a tardy slip before signing them into their classroom. Kindergarten begins promptly at 8:30. Because of the disruption that bringing a child to class late creates and out of respect for the teachers, the other children in the class and your child, please try not to be tardy. Because tardiness is taken very seriously, consistent tardiness could result in termination of a child's contract or acceptance to other schools.
• The parent or guardian shall give two weeks notice or forfeit two weeks tuition and fees in case of withdrawal from the program.
• The parent or guardian shall respect the Christian principles of our program.
• The parent or guardian shall refrain from reprimanding children other than their own while on school premises.
• The parents or guardians shall attend conferences when asked to do so by a member of the school's staff, at a time agreed upon by both parties.

Learning Disabilities and Special Needs
In most cases, Horizon Prep is not equipped to serve students with special needs and or learning disabilities. If a student applying to Horizon Prep has special needs or a learning disability, it must be noted on their application, and all pertinent records must be included (IEP records, specific reports or test results pertaining to the student's disability, etc.) It is important for the Admissions Committee to have as much information as possible while evaluating whether or not Horizon Prep will have the necessary resources to meet the needs of each student. Failure to disclose information regarding any learning disabilities or special needs during the admissions process may result in a student's dismissal. If there are concerns, the admissions committee may decide to admit a student on a probationary status.

If a student already enrolled at Horizon Prep is diagnosed with a learning disability or special need, the Horizon Prep administration will meet with the student's parents and teachers to determine if school is equipped to meet their specific educational needs.

Financial Obligations for Attendance at Horizon Prep
A schedule of fees will be established annually by Horizon Prep and will be distributed to families currently enrolled and new families seeking enrollment. All parents of students enrolling must not have any outstanding debt to previous school(s) attended. All students attending Horizon Prep are required to pay for their tuition and fees in accordance with the tuition schedule. Horizon Prep has established the following policies to address situations in which a family is not meeting their financial obligations to the school:

• Tuition is due on the 1st of each month. If payment has not been received by the 5th of the month a letter will be mailed and a late fee will be assessed.
• If tuition has not been paid by the 20th, a warning letter will be sent explaining that the student(s) will not be able to attend school after the 1st of the next month unless tuition has been paid for in full.
• If a student comes to school the following month and tuition has still not been paid for the previous month, the student will be asked to wait in the office while their parents are called to pick them up from school.

If a family cannot pay tuition, their student will no longer be able to attend Horizon Prep.

If there is an unforeseen financial hardship that temporarily prevents them from being able to meet their financial obligations to Horizon Prep, it is important that the family contact the administration to set up a meeting immediately to discuss different payment options. Horizon Prep will make every effort to cooperate with families.

Financial Aid
Limited financial aid is available at Horizon Prep. Financial aid is allocated prior to the beginning of each school year. Please contact the school office for more information.

Re-enrollment
Current Horizon Prep students, their siblings and Horizon pre-school students are eligible for priority enrollment in the February (specific dates will be announced). Current students who do not re-enroll during the priority period may lose their space at the school as new applicants are accepted. All financial responsibilities must be met in order for students to re-enroll. Re-enrollment is a privilege that can be revoked if a student fails to meet Horizon Prep's behavioral or academic standards.

Nondiscrimination Policy
Horizon Prep admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at school.

Termination of Contract
If a child's conduct is deemed to be dangerous or harmful to others, her will be sent home and asked to stay home the following school day. Once the child returns to school, if the behavior continues to be detrimental or harmful to himself or to the welfare of the other children, the admissions board will review the behavior. Horizon Prep reserves the right to terminate the student's contract if the student is non-compliant. If a parent does not support our program or our decisions, Horizon Prep reserves the right to terminate the child's contract.