General Information
If you have not found the information you are looking for in other sections listed to the left, it is likely to be found here!
Hours of Operation
Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
Arrival & Dismissal - ELC
Early Learning Classrooms open according to a staggered schedule beginning at 7:30 am. Please refer to your child's welcome letter for center specific information.
The entrance to our Early Learning Centers is locked at all times. A surveillance camera monitors door activity.To gain access, you must be "buzzed" in. Please be sure to face the camera and a trained staff member will respond.Confirming identity and providing access to the building may take a few moments.Your patience is greatly appreciated.
Transitional times, such as drop-off and pick-up, can often be confusing for parents, children and teachers alike. Open dialogue and direct communication during these times is the best way to support our collective efforts to keep everyone emotionally and physically safe.
Please do not hesitate to ask for support in separating in the morning or transitioning home in the afternoon.
Children should be under your direct supervision at all times.They should not enter or leave the building without an adult. They should not be permitted to roam the building and visit other centers on their own. Please be sure to accompany your child in and out of his/her center and verbally inform a teacher when you leave.
Parents / Guardians are responsible for signing their child(ren) in and out daily.
As often as possible, please reserve the use of cell phone and conversations with other parents for after you drop-off or before you pick-up. We are pleased to support your endeavor to network with other families. However, children don't always understand what that means and are often eager for your attention during these transitional times.
Late Pick-Up - ELC
Our Early Learning Centers close promptly at 5:30 pm. Families are responsible for adhering to these hours. We ask that you have an emergency back-up plan in place to have your child picked up by 5:30 pm on those occasions when you cannot.
We understand that there are times when emergencies arise that make it impossible for you to do so. If you are late, in spite of your best efforts, an Early Learning Center teacher or administrator must stay with your child until someone designated arrives. If you are going to be late please call into your child's center and we will arrange for an Early Learning teacher or administrator to stay with your child until someone designated arrives.
In the case of chronic lateness, the family will be contacted directly by the Assistant Head of School for Early Learning to address the issue.
Please note that we all have commitments beyond our work hours and greatly appreciate your efforts to arrive on time.
Arrival - K-8
The Kindergarten through 8th Grade school day begins at 8:40AM. Students are expected to arrive on time. As mentioned above, in the case of chronic tardiness, the family will be contacted directly by the Home Center Director to address the issue.
Students may begin arriving at 8:30AM. Children arriving at school before 8:30AM and are NOT participating in the Before Care program or school-organized activities are the sole responsibility of their parents, guardians or drivers, otherwise children must attend the Before Care program in the upper school pod. Children arriving for school-organized activities before the main office opens at 8:00AM may be buzzed in at the Early Learning Center entrance.
Children arriving by car, whose drivers are not planning on staying, can be dropped off in the bus lane. After dropping off children, drivers should continue down the driveway and leave via the bus exit. Please note that this option is only available for arrivals. In the afternoon, buses wait in the driveway for children and you will not be permitted to pass.
Dismissal - K-8
Kindergarten through 8th Grade students dismiss at 3:30PM. Parents/guardians picking up students early must contact their Home Center Director and/or the Administrative Receptionist to announce an early pick-up.
Please park in the lower lot when you come to pick up your child(ren). Do not park or wait in the middle lot unless you are picking up a child from the Early Learning Centers, or you are carrying an infant.
Dismissal is a very busy time at School. Parents/guardians must stay in close proximity to their child(ren). Please do not leave children unattended. During dismissal time, please keep the front hall clear by moving further down the hall, away from the doors and the stairs to keep the stairway clear and allow space for people to exit the building.
Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade MUST wait in a designated area either behind the stage or in the auditorium for the bus duty person to inform them about buses, car pools, or calls for parent/guardian pick up. Children are not permitted to leave the front of the building by themselves. Children may not meet their ride or car pool without the knowledge of the bus duty person or Home Center Director. If a student has been “picked up” by a parent or guardian, that student must be standing with the parent or guardian, or else they must return to the designated waiting area. Please do not pick up your child until you are ready to leave the building.
If you are running late for pick-up, please call the office to notify us. A Home Center Director will remain with your child until your arrival. If you are late despite your best efforts, a Home Center Director must stay with your child until someone designated arrives.
In the case of chronic lateness (for K-8 / 3:30pm pick up, OR K-8 / Extended Day Program pick up), the family will be contacted directly by the Head of School to address the issue.
Closures & Delays
Procedure
Mead will open when the Stamford Public School District determines that the roads are safe. Mead will determine the opening schedule as appropriate for Mead. E.g.; a 2-hr. Stamford Public School Delay may translate into a 9:40am Mead opening. Students that ride the bus may still take the bus as scheduled by Stamford Public Schools without a "tardy" penalty, or they may be dropped off by a parent at the announced opening time, allowing parents to get to work sooner.
Resources
The following resources are available to you for closing and/or delay information:
- The Honeywell Instant Alert for Schools System.
- Our website at www.meadschool.org.
- Our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/themeadschool
- The following radio, TV station, or log on to the listed website:
- Radio: WICC AM 600
- TV: News 12 Connecticut
- Website: www.ctweather.com
Birthdays & Celebrations
Guidelines
If you would like to celebrate a milestone in your child’s life during program hours, please notify your child’s Home Center Director at least two weeks in advance of the event as there are many factors to take into consideration. Celebrations in the classroom are limited to 30 minutes and to Mead School students only. Beyond that time, if you would like to continue the celebration, space is available to rent within the school (See Rental Availability in the prior section). If your extended celebration includes an outside vendor (i.e., a musician, magician, etc), a Certificate of Liability Insurance must be provided prior to the event.
Inclusion
Birthdays are important. We celebrate birthdays in the Home Centers, and many families like to provide treats. We ask that families be in touch with their HCD in advance to make arrangements, and to be mindful of student allergies and provide treats that all students will be able to enjoy.
If a birthday party or other celebration (holiday, end-of school, etc.) is being planned, we encourage families to be sensitive of classmates’ feelings. Parties that either include all the boys or all the girls are strongly encouraged and are preferable to parties in which one or two students have been excluded. If everyone is not invited, please do not distribute invitations, bring gifts, or have your child(ren) make broad announcements about the celebration to their class/center mates.
Family Support
Parent Association
Any member of the Parent Association Executive Committee is happy to speak to you at any time, and in particular, to new parents and guardians. Each center has several Home Center Parents. These experienced Mead volunteers are available to facilitate your time at Mead. They can advise you regarding the correct avenues to take with any issue you may have.
NOTE: See the Parent Association section of our website for more information.
Your Child's Home Center Director
Clear, open and honest communication is very important to the general emotional health of the School and to all of us who participate in its program. If you do have questions, please bring them directly to your child’s HCD. A number of support systems have been put in place to help you.
One of the responsibilities of the HCD is to help you with questions about your child’s program. HCD’s voice mail numbers are published in this handbook. You are encouraged to call and ask for additional conferences when you feel the need. If you would like to have a Curriculum Director (CD) or Curriculum Teacher (CT) included in the conference, please express this desire to the HCD.
If, after meeting with the HCD, you have further need, the Head of School, and/or the Director of Early Learning will be available to meet with you. You are encouraged to call for an appointment
to discuss any questions you may have. If the matter is urgent, please call immediately. When school is not in session, please email the Head of School directly.
Financial Information
Enrollment Contract
The Mead Enrollment Contract contains important information regarding the cost of tuition, activity fees, tuition refund insurance, as well as payment plans, financial obligations, parent and guardian responsibilities and other pertinent information. Be sure to read your enrollment contract carefully. Any questions should be directed to the Director of Finance.
Financial Aid
You may apply for financial aid for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Please contact the Director of Admissions and Community Relations or visit the Mead School website for the latest Financial Aid information and process. Financial Aid awards are based on need, which are best established by utilizing the standards stipulated by the NAIS School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid. After the Financial Aid Committee reviews all applications, the School has variable discretion thereafter depending upon number of applicants seeking aid and the history of those who have received awards.
Payment of Fees
A student’s attendance at The Mead School is conditioned upon payment of tuition and fees when due. A non-refundable, non-transferable reservation deposit of 13% of tuition is due with enrollment contracts.
Families of children attending the school have three payment options to choose from. Those choosing to pay the full tuition in advance of June 1 are exempt from paying the Tuition Refund Insurance (2.9% of tuition). For those choosing a two- installment plan, the first payment is due in June and the second payment is due in December. A third option is the ten-month payment plan with payments beginning in May of the current year. All installment payment plans are through SMART and Tuition Refund Insurance is mandatory.
For families of children attending the Early Learning Centers program, we offer four payment options. Those choosing to pay the full tuition in advance of July 1 are exempt from paying Tuition Refund Insurance (2.9% of tuition - see the following page for more detail). For those choosing a two-installment plan, the first payment is due in July and the second payment is due in January. A third option is a quarterly payment plan. The payments are due in July, October, January and April. The last option is the ten-month payment plan; payments begin in July. All installment payment plans are through SMART and Tuition Refund Insurance is mandatory.
Note: there is a part-time enrollment fee of $600 per student for all Early Learning Center students not enrolled for 5 days / 50 weeks.
Tuition Refund Insurance (TRI)
The School requires your participation in the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan (TRI) if you do not pay the entire tuition amount due by June 1 (July 1 for Early Learning Centers). The Plan will insure tuition, according to the terms of the policy, in the event that your child withdraws from the School prior to the end of the school year. (Note: Your child must attend for a minimum of 14 consecutive school days in order to be eligible for the insurance). The cost of the Tuition Refund Plan is 2.9% (2020-21 rate) of the annual tuition, but may change by our vendor year over year. For more information, please see the Tuition Refund Plan brochures or contact the Director of Finance.
Lunch
Guidelines - ELC
In our experience, students in Infants and Toddler I are happy to eat what you send in. By the time students make their way to Toddler II they are able to and are looking for opportunities to make (or practice making) decisions for themselves, which supports their need for autonomy and a growing independence. As a result, we recommend you provide 3 to 4 healthful items each day for students in Toddler II through Pre-kindergarten.
The order in which students eat the food provided, on any given day, is an individual choice. We do not require students to eat one item before they are permitted to enjoy a different item.
Larger portions of food not consumed will be sent home to help you assess how much food to send in.
Please prepare lunches the way you want them to be served. Food should be peeled, defrosted, cut to size and/or cooked. We are happy to re-heat.
Many products now come in individual serving sizes, such as macaroni and cheese. If you choose to use these items, please be sure they are cooked before sending them in.
For students in Toddler II, Toddler III, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten.: please place all food items in a lunchbox, along with re-freezable ice pack(s.) This will allow for safe storage in your child's cubby.
If at any time you’re stuck for ideas, please fee free to ask your child's teaching team for suggestions.
Guidelines - K-8
Pizza Day - ELC
Pizza Day - K-8
Photography
Student Photographs for Website, Marketing Use
From time to time, the School may use photographs of your child (along or with staff or other students) in its publications. These include, but are not limited to brochures, newsletters, newspaper articles, handbooks, advertising or marketing materials. As stated on Mead's enrollment contract, if you do not wish to have your child's photograph included in the above-mentioned materials, the School must receive notification from you in writing.
Resources
The following resources are available to you for closing and/or delay information:
- The Honeywell Instant Alert for Schools System.
- Our website at www.meadschool.org.
- Our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/themeadschool
- The following radio, TV station, or log on to the listed website:
- Radio: WICC AM 600
- TV: News 12 Connecticut
- Website: www.ctweather.com
Rental of Facilities / Space
Guidelines / Procedure
The Mead School rents space to community members and external parties for an agreed upon rental fee. A completed and signed rental agreement, Certificate of Insurance Liability and rental fee payment must be provided prior to the event date. If you are interested in renting space, please contact the Director of Finance for further information. Please note: if you are planning a celebration on site during program days/hours, children in attendance from outside of Mead are not permitted.
Special Vacation
General Information
We believe that the various opportunities which arise for children to travel with their families during school time can be important. However, if you are considering taking your child out of school, we request that you discuss your plans with his/her HCD with as much advance notice as possible. The School cannot always be responsible for making up the missed curricula, class experience and/or work for your child.
Transportation
Stamford Busing to/from Mead
The City of Stamford provides bus transportation for resident students five years old and up. Each summer, families will receive the necessary paperwork to request Stamford bus transportation for the beginning of the school year. In order to reserve your child’s place on the bus, you must respond at that time. If you require bus service later, the request will be passed on to the City of Stamford and it will take two to three weeks before your child will be included on their schedule.
Any changes in your child’s plans which will affect his/her bus schedule must be communicated to the Home Center Director and/or the Administrative Receptionist.
NY State Busing to/from Mead
Private Automobile Use
All Mead School students, as stated in the contract, currently have permission to ride to and from school-sponsored activities, including athletic events, in the school-owned activity bus driven by a properly licensed driver and in commercial transportation retained by the School for these purposes.
Permission for a student to ride to and from school activities by any other means (including with another parent/guardian) must be formally authorized on the Private Automobile Permission Form or on the form specific to the activity. This permission is only valid for the school year in which it is given. Note: a child MAY NOT ride in a private vehicle driven by any staff member.
A student must also receive permission from the appropriate Mead School event coordinator before traveling in vehicles other than the Mead School activity bus or school-hired vehicle.
Without the appropriately initialed and signed Private Automobile Permission Form, the School must assume that the family wishes their child be restricted to school-owned or school-hired commercial transport in going to and from school-sponsored events.
A child cannot be transported by other parents/guardians in private vehicles unless specific written and signed permission has been granted for a specific trip.
There may be times when you will be using your own vehicle to transport students on field trips or to athletic events, etc. Remember that under these circumstances, your own automobile insurance is the primary coverage.
Visitors
Visiting Children
Mead welcomes friends and siblings of students as visitors for a day, however all visits must be pre-arranged and announced. Please contact your child’s HCD a few days in advance. HCDs may deny permission for a visit unless contacted in advance.
Upon arrival, all visitors must report to the main office to sign in. Visiting children should bring their own lunch. Visitors may not leave the premises and must abide by all School rules and agreements.