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Table of Contents
Click on a Topic to view the policy
Admissions: Policy of
Non-Discrimination
Admissions: Priority
for Acceptance
Alcohol and Tobacco
Badges
Bathroom Assistance
Birthdays
Bulletin Notices/Event
Scheduling
Car Pools and Traffic
Closure or Delay of
School
Clothing
Communications
-Conferences and Communication
-Calendar
-Directory Information
-Email
-Family
-Teacher Letters
Conflict Resolution
Curriculum
Emergency Drills
Emergency Information
Field Trips
Financial Aid
Fundraisers
History of School
Illness and Injury
Immunization Form
Lunch Bunch
Medication
Non-custodial Parents
Notices and Artwork
Parental Co-operation
Parents’ Club
Parents on Vacation
Parties and Events
Photographs of Students
Recess Procedures and Rules
Room Parents
Safety and Security
School Commission
School Schedule
Snack
Tuition
Volunteers
Withdrawal of Student
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St.
Joseph/MQP Preschool admits students of any sex, race, color,
national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs,
and activities generally accorded or made available to students at
the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race,
color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its
educational policies, scholarship program, athletic or other school
administered programs.
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St.
Joseph School is a Catholic School. Our reason for existence is to
provide a quality education within the context of the Catholic
faith. We believe we can support parents in the religious formation
of their children, but never replace them. We give the highest
priority for admissions to families who hold values and goals
consistent with the Catholic Church through commitment to their
parish.
During the registration period, students
will be prioritized in the order below. Any students not placed by
the end of the registration period will be placed in a non-ordered
waiting pool. Applications received after the registration period
will be placed in the pool. As openings arise throughout the year,
all applicants in the pool will be re-evaluated and re-prioritized,
according to the schedule below, at the time of each opening.
1. Currently enrolled elementary
students.
2. Siblings of currently enrolled
elementary students.
3. Registered at St. Joseph Church or
Mary, Queen of Peace Church, meet their criteria for parishioner
status, sacrificial giving card on file, contributing member,
participate in the faith life of the parish.
4. Registered Catholics from a
neighboring parish or transferring from an out-of-state parish, for
at least 3 months, sacrificial giving card on file, contributing
member, participate in the faith life of the parish.
5. Other students within the
community.
·
St. Joseph/MQP Preschool
students are not guaranteed acceptance into the elementary school.
·
Current preschool students will be accepted for kindergarten
according to the admission policy stated above.
·
If all factors are equal
in the priority of two students and one is a St. Joseph/MQP
preschool student, the St. Joseph/MQP preschool student will have
priority.
·
If all factors are
equal in the priority of two or more students, the principal will
make decisions on acceptance.
·
St. Joseph/MQP preschool
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and
ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies,
admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other
school administered programs.
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St.
Joseph/MQP Preschool maintains a safe and healthy environment for
its employees and students. Alcohol and tobacco are prohibited on
all school grounds. The principal may authorize exceptions for
special occasions.
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Visitors
to the St. Joseph School campus, whether volunteering in any
capacity or simply observing, are required to register at the office
immediately upon entering the grounds. Visitors must also wear a
visitor badge issued by the office. Visitors without badges will be
reminded by the staff to register and pick up a name badge from the
office.
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Preschoolers will have supervised bathroom visits; however, children
attending the preschool are responsible for their own toilet needs.
Employees are not allowed to assist children in the bathroom. Please
send children in clothing that they are able to manage
independently. Children will be encouraged to do the best they can
and reminded to wash their hands.
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We would
like to celebrate each child’s birthday either on or near their
actual birth date. If you would like to bring special treats that
day, we encourage you to do so. Please make arrangements with your
child’s teacher.
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The St.
Joseph School office staff approves all notices and flyers going in
the Family Envelope. Any announcements to be placed in the all
school Weekly Newsletter must be received by the Snoqualmie office
by Tuesday noon of the week the announcement is to be published.
To
schedule any student related event, all times must be cleared
through the Issaquah school office first. In addition, use of the
facilities must be scheduled through the respective Parish office.
Snoqualmie facilities must be cleared through the Snoqualmie office.
If your event is cancelled, please notify the appropriate offices.
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The
maximum speed limit at all times on the school grounds is 5 MPH.
All
preschool students must be escorted to the classroom door and signed
in. (Please do not drop off your student before the classroom
opens.)
Pick-up:
Preschool
3’s and 4’s are dismissed directly from their classroom. Please come
to the classroom to collect your student and sign your child out.
All St.
Joseph Pre-K (lunch bunch) students gather downstairs, outside the
church hall (or inside the hall during inclement weather). Please
park your car before coming to collect your student. On elementary
school half-days, please follow the drive-through procedure for
picking up your student.
On
Tuesdays, St. Joseph campus Pre-K students will gather with the
elementary students, by class, in the middle parking lot for
drive-through pick-up. Please enter the upper lot, drive down to the
middle lot, form two lines and wait for your student(s) in your car.
Teachers will help students into cars; drivers are to remain in
their cars to keep the process quick and safe. For safety, if you
would like to park to pick-up your student(s) or speak to staff,
please use the upper or lower lots.
Your
child will only be released to those individuals listed on the
Student Information Sheet. Written consent is needed for your child
to be released to any individual not listed on the Student
Information Sheet.
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If
inclement weather or other emergency causes St. Joseph/MQP School to
close, television and radio announcements will be made on stations
KOMO(4), KING(5), and KIRO(7), on radio stations KIRO(710am) and
KOMO(1000am), and/or their web pages. If one campus closes, both
campuses will be closed. The decision and notification will usually
be made by 6:15 am. Parents in certain geographic areas (such as
hills) may make a prudent decision, based on the weather, about
attending school, even if school will be in session. In the event of
heavy snow during the school day or other “Acts of God” which may
require early dismissal of school, please listen for specific
instructions on one of the stations listed above. Parents in certain
geographic areas (such as hills) may make a prudent decision, based
on the weather, to pick up students early from school, even if
school will not be dismissing early. If school is dismissed early,
but parents cannot make it to school early, students will be
supervised in school until the usual dismissal time or until parents
can safely pick them up. Permission to release students to persons
other than parents must be stated on the Student Emergency
Information Form.
If there
is a prolonged school closure because of an emergency situation, the
principal will determine if additional school day(s) should be added
to the calendar.
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The
preschool children should wear
play clothes
suitable
for playing and painting. We use tempera paint, but the children
don’t always wear their aprons and brushes sometimes go astray.
Please label all clothing, lunchboxes and backpacks with your
child’s name. Please send some type of outerwear each day as we play
outside everyday except when it is raining.
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Conferences
and Communication
In order
to encourage effective communication between school and home, spring
conferences will be held for all 4’s and Pre-K students to evaluate
a child’s readiness to attend kindergarten. Whenever a conference is
necessary at other times during the school year, the teacher or
parent may initiate the scheduling of one, or may conference over
the telephone. Teachers are usually not able to conference on the
spot before or after school unless this has been scheduled in
advance so as to be able to devote quality time to the conference.
Calendar
A yearly
school calendar will be sent home in the June packet. Updates are
listed in the weekly newsletter.
Directory
Information
Directory
information is published with a family’s name, address, telephone
number, and a family e-mail address in addition to student name. It
also includes the names of teachers with school e-mail information.
Information will not be released for anyone to use this list outside
of school in any way unless prior clearance is obtained from the
principal. If a family does not wish to have this information or a
portion of this information published, a Directory Consent form
should be filled out and filed in the school office no later than
the end of May.
E-mail
We value
the art of interpersonal communication. For this reason we
encourage person-to-person communication as much as possible. Any
issue of a personal nature or any situation requiring in-depth
discussion is best addressed directly with the person(s) concerned.
Staff and administration will not respond by e-mail to issues of a
sensitive nature. An appointment can be initiated by the parent,
teacher or administrator for this purpose.
Family
Envelope
Every
Thursday a communication packet will be sent to each family by way
of one student. The packet is the primary means of communication to
the home from the school, Parents’ Club and other organizations.
Many times you will be asked to sign various notices and return them
to school. Please co-operate in doing this promptly. It will save
time required in making follow-up phone calls. If your packet does
not come home, please look to your student to help find it.
Teacher
Letters
Teachers
send home weekly letters/newsletters. These newsletters are a way
for parents to be part of their student’s learning experiences.
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Conflicts
and grievances are settled on the basis of the principle of
subsidiary. When a parent has a conflict or grievance they are
expected to try to resolve the issue directly with the teacher
first. If the issue has not been resolved with a conference with the
teacher, the parent should have a conference with the teacher and
the preschool administration. If the issue is not resolved at this
time, the matter may be discussed with just the preschool
administrator. If the issue is still unresolved after a conference
with the principal, they may take the matter to the pastor.
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The St.
Joseph/MQP Preschool curriculum follows developmentally appropriate
practices (i.e. child-centered and hands-on learning) evolving from
credible research into child development. It offers a varied
curriculum that includes science, nature, cooking, music, dance,
health, prayer, pre-reading, math readiness, and creative and large
muscle activities. The curriculum fosters social, spiritual,
emotional, physical, cognitive development and group skills. It
allows children to make choices, encourages independence and
kindergarten readiness and visibly integrates Gospel throughout the
class day. The curriculum also fosters ongoing parent involvement
and community building during specific times throughout the school
year. These family events include Dad’s Pumpkin Carving,
Thanksgiving, Christmas Ice Cream Social, and Preschool Pizza Night
and Preschool Picnic.
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Drills
for Fire, Earthquake and/or Lock-down will be conducted on a monthly
basis. Please see Emergency Preparedness Handbook for procedures,
available in each classroom and on-line.
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Parents
are responsible for making sure the information the school has
regarding emergency contacts and the student’s physician’s name, in
case of illness or injury, is current. Parents should notify the
school office if any information changes.
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St.
Joseph/MQP Preschool recognizes the importance and value of trips
for educational field study and approves of these visits to places
of cultural or educational significance to further enrich the
lessons of the classroom.
In the
interest of safety, the following regulations must be met:
Written notice
of the field trip and permission to attend
1. The written consent of parents and/or legal
guardians must be obtained for every student participating in field
trips.
2. A permission slip must be signed and filed prior
to departure.
3. Permission by phone is not acceptable in place of
a signed form.
4. Field trips are privileged outings. Students can
be denied participation if they fail to meet behavioral
requirements.
Driver Requirements
1. Drivers must fill out and have on file prior to
trip, a Driver Information Sheet.
2. The driver must be 21 years of age or older.
3. The driver must have a valid, non-probationary
driver’s license.
4. The vehicle must have valid and current
registration, and valid, current license plates.
5. The vehicle must be insured for the following
limits, $100,000 per person/$300,000 per occurrence.
6. Drivers will follow only approved itinerary. No
extra stops are allowed for refreshments or sightseeing.
7. Drivers will be responsible for making sure all
students are securely seat-belted in the vehicle at all times.
9. Car/booster seats are required for all students
until the student weighs 80 pounds or is 8 years of age.
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St.
Joseph/MQP
Preschool
Tuition Assistance:
Several partial scholarships for preschool are available.
Applications are due at the time of registration. If a family
experiences financial need during the school year, they can to meet
with the school principal to see if aid is available.
Tuition
is established at a level where, combined with fundraising
requirements, a St. Joseph/MQP Preschool education is made available
to families wishing to enroll their student. The Development
Committee, under the direction of school administration, establishes
and implements the means of securing all necessary funds, excluding
tuition and fees, required to meet the budgeted operational needs of
St. Joseph/MQP Preschool. Preschool families are required to
participate in the Auction. All families are expected to procure
$100 worth of items and contribute to each student’s class project.
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In 1994,
St. Joseph Parish began a preschool in response to parent demand for
Catholic School education on the Eastside. With each passing year,
the parents’ enthusiasm and support grew and, with the support of
St. Joseph Parish, so did the school.
As the
Issaquah site developed and grades were added, it became clear the
current buildings could not accommodate our growing school
population. As a part of the second phase of a Capital Campaign to
renovate the Church, the Boeing Company donated a triple-wide,
upscale portable providing 2,500 square feet of space. The addition
of a daylight basement maximized the space for total of 5,030 square
feet. The building, occupied September 2002, provided four
additional classrooms with 1,000 square feet each, a school, office,
restrooms, kitchenette, and storage space.
During
this same year, we opened a campus in Snoqualmie. In 2007 we added
four new classrooms and currently provide eight regular classrooms,
a full sized gym, a large play field, computer lab and library,
science lab, kitchen, office space and extra storage for our growing
school.
In 2005
the Mary, Queen of Peace Preschool in partnership with St. Joseph
School began operation. In 2006 the preschool at St. Joseph
received accreditation from the National Association for the
Education of Young Children. Since 1994, St. Joseph School has
touched the hearts and spiritually nurtured the souls of over 800
children.
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When a
student becomes sick or is injured during the school day, the
teacher or playground supervisor will send the student, accompanied
by another adult, to the office. After being informed, the parent or
contact will make the final decision regarding continued attendance
at school that day. Teachers and secretaries will also give input. A
student should stay home at least 24 hours after having a fever, or
after starting a course of antibiotics.
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State law
requires us to have an updated immunization card for your student.
Please send a copy of any new immunizations that your student has
received during the year, or update the current form enclosed in
your August packet. This form needs to be re-dated every time you
update any information.
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Lunch
bunch is an opportunity for up to 8 preschool students to stay and
have lunch at school. It is available on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday for MQP 4’s and SJS Pre-K students. (Sorry this is not
available for 3’s.) Lunch bunch is an additional change and will be
added to your student’s monthly statement.
Students
must be registered to participate. A sign-up sheet will be posted on
the last Wednesday of the month for the following month. On the
first day of that month, you may sign-up for any available openings.
Please sign-up for only one spot per week. After the sign-up has
been posted for several days and everyone has had a chance to
sign-up, you may sign-up for remaining openings. Please be fair. Out
of consideration of others, please give as much notice as possible
when canceling. Please do not sign-up your child for a day that is
already full. If you have an emergency situation, please talk with
your child’s teacher.
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The
Washington Board of Health requires that medication
(over-the-counter or prescription) given during school hours
requires an “Authorization to Administer Medication” to be on file
in the school office. This form includes the condition requiring
medication, the drug to be administered, and the physician’s
signature. All medications must be kept in the office in a secure
location with clearly labeled written instructions. No teacher is to
give out medications. RCW 28A.210.260 and 28A.210.270 and
28A.210.280 and 28A.210.290.
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It is the
intention of St. Joseph/MQP Preschool to abide by the provisions of
the Buckley Amendment with respect to the rights of the
non-custodial parent. In the absence of a court order to the
contrary, the school will provide the non-custodial parent with
access to the academic records and to other school related
information regarding the student. St. Joseph/MQP Preschool abides
by all parenting plans set up by the court. It is the custodial
parent’s responsibility to provide a copy of the family plan to the
school. It is the intention of the school to carry out the orders of
the court. If the court decrees a restraining order, a picture of
the person with the no contact order should be placed in the
student’s file. This information will be given to teachers and
specialists on a need-to-know basis.
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A cubby
will be provided for your student. Please check it daily for
important notices and projects that have been completed.
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Parental
co-operation is essential for the welfare of students. If, in the
opinion of the administration, parental behavior seriously
interferes with the teaching/learning process, the school may
require parents to withdraw their student(s) and sever the
relationship with the school.
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The
purpose of the Parents' Club is to support and promote our
children’s Catholic education at St. Joseph School by assisting the
school, staff and administration. Specifically, the purposes of the
Parents’ Club are:
1. To facilitate open communication between the
Parish, School Commission, parents, faculty and students;
2. To provide support for our children’s educational
and recreational needs by:
A. Providing volunteer support for the school
community;
B. Providing social programs and educational
activities for parents, students and teachers and;
C. Promoting the school to the parish, parents and
community.
Please
look for opportunities throughout the year to become an involved
member of the Parents' Club! Your involvement is important and
offers a great way to meet new friends while making a difference for
the children and their education.
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It is
helpful to teachers and the school office to be notified when
parents plan to be away. If a student is living temporarily with
relatives or friends or is being cared for at home by someone other
than a parent, parents should notify the school.
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St.
Joseph/MQP Preschool does not sponsor parties outside of school. On
special occasions a simple classroom party may be arranged through
consultation with the teacher and room parent. If a parent chooses
to have a private party, written or oral invitations must not be
given out at school unless everyone in a classroom is invited. There
are no exceptions. Hurt feelings result when it is obvious that some
students are not included.
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Occasionally, photographs of students and school activities are used
for promotional purposes, yearbook, and as items for bidding at the
auction. If a parent does not want his/her student’s photograph to
be made public in ways such as these, a written statement must be
sent to the office by the end of the first week of school.
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The
playground is the arena for students to grow socially. It is the
hope for all students that when they have a problem, they own it as
theirs, try to work it through first themselves, and then seek
assistance from the adults on duty if no resolution can be found by
themselves. The following are the main recess rules and procedures:
·
Students will show courtesy and respect to the playground
supervisors and follow whatever direction they give.
·
All preschool students
will stay within the fenced area at all times.
·
In most cases
students should attempt to solve their own problems. If students are
not successful, they should then ask supervisors for help.
·
No students are to be
excluded from games.
·
Good sportsmanship is a
must.
·
Fighting games are not
allowed.
·
A warning will be given
for inappropriate behavior. A time-out from play is given if the
behavior continues.
·
Stop play immediately when
a signal is given that recess has ended.
·
Line up with your class in
an orderly manner.
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Teachers utilize their Room Parents when needing
assistance with various projects or activities. A Room Parent’s
responsibilities include:
·
Planning class parties with the teacher.
·
Helping contact and arrange drivers for field trips.
·
Getting approval from the teacher or administration
before sending any communication home to families.
·
Directing parents with particular concerns or
problems to address the issues with the teachers or administration
personally.
·
Coordinating parent volunteers in the classroom.
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Students
are never allowed to leave the classroom without an adult.
Issaquah only: Visitors to the school, whether volunteering in
any capacity or simply observing, are required to register at the
office immediately upon entering the grounds. Visitors must also
wear a volunteer badge issued by the office. Students and staff are
to notify the office or the administration if they notice a visitor
not wearing a badge.
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The
Commission is established by the pastor, in accordance with
Archdiocesan policy, to assist him and the principal in policy areas
relating to the parish school. On an annual basis, the Commission
shall select specific school goals and evaluate whether these goals
are being met.
The
Commission is consultative in the following sense: the members
cannot act apart from the pastor and the principal and cannot
address issues or make decisions binding on the parish school
without approval of the pastor and the principal. Consultation also
means that decisions will not be made in major new goal areas until
and unless the school Commission has been consulted. The areas in
which the Commission has responsibility and will be consulted are:
·
Long and short term planning
·
Evaluation
·
Policy development and formulation
·
Public relations
·
Development
·
Facilities
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Mary, Queen of
Peace Preschool:
Preschool
3’s
Tuesday and Thursday
9:15 am—11:45 am
Preschool
4’s
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:15 am—12:00 noon
Lunch Bunch
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
12:00 noon—12:45 pm
St. Joseph
Preschool:
Preschool
3’s
Tuesday and Thursday
9:00 am—11:30 am
Pre-Kindergarten
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:00 am—11:45 am
Tuesday, 12:30 pm—3:20 pm
Lunch Bunch
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
11:45 am—12:30 pm
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Preschool
parents will provide snacks according to a schedule that will be
made by the teacher. Snacks must be nutritious and peanut free (ex.
crackers, cheese, fruit, veggies, raisins). Sugar products need to
be kept for birthday and classroom celebrations. At times you may be
asked to provide certain “theme snacks” or ingredients for cooking
projects on your scheduled day.
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St.
Joseph/MQP School is committed to making enrollment at the school
financially accessible. A registration fee is required for each
student at the time of registration. (The registration fee will be
refunded if the school does not accept the student.) All
registrations are tentatively accepted until registration procedures
are completed.
Tuition
is due by the 10th day of each month to TMS (Tuition Management
Systems). Additional fees for lunch bunch will be billed on the
monthly incidental charges statement sent home in the Thursday
envelope. Tuition is paid over 10 months, beginning in August, with
the final payment due in May.
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Volunteers are welcome in our preschool classroom. Visitors to the
school, whether volunteering in any capacity or simply observing,
are required to register at the office immediately upon entering the
grounds. Visitors must also wear a volunteer badge issued by the
office. Students and staff are to notify the office or the
administration if they notice a visitor not wearing a badge.
Siblings are welcome only on Field Trips and for special preschool
events.
In order
to volunteer with students in any capacity; classroom volunteer,
scout leader, CYO coach, field trip chaperone, etc., you must
complete the following: attended a Volunteer Training session,
attend a Safe Environment Class, have passed a background check
during the last two years and have a Confidentiality Form on file.
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St. Joseph/MQP Preschool must be given 30 days
written notice prior to withdrawal of a student. Tuition for the
withdrawing student is due for the 30 day period following written
notice of withdrawal, with the amount due to be determined by the
school. For example, if notice is given on December 3 that your
student’s last day will be December 7, you will owe tuition through
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