Mission

1. NCI/NIH FamiliesWelcome to Academy Primary School & Child Development Center, Inc.Conveniently located at 10107 Darnestown Road, Rockville, MD 20850(301) 424-9475Approved and Accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education Licensed by the MSDE Office of Child Care

2. Mission • Academy Primary School is dedicated to providing a challenging yet developmentally appropriate learning environment for children Kindergarten through Second Grades. By encouraging creativity, exploration and self discovery, students learn beyond the academic day.

3. Vision • Offer continuous care and education for working families who value a private school education but also need child care- Infancy through Second Grade. • Develop a community for families where they can receive support and resources from Academy and from each other. • To become a feeder school for local private schools that begin at 3rd grade.

4. Newly Expanded CampusConveniently located 1.34 miles from the new NCI/NIH Campus on Medical Center Drive. • Academy Primary School & Child Development Center • Academy Child Development Center, Inc. Corporate Office • New lower parking lot with 30 new parking spaces – Free parking available to enrolled NCI families. • Trips & Dips Summer Program • Approved Training Innovations (ATI) ~ Offers Academy staff and parents free workshops.

5. Newly Expanded Campus • Increased the parking by 30 spaces. • Addition of a covered pavilion and play area. • New entrance and circulation plan. • Closure of exit except for trucks and buses.

6. Curriculum • Core Knowledge Sequence Curriculum is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and correlates with Maryland Public Schools Voluntary School Curriculum. Since Core Knowledge follows a sequence, students can move ahead when appropriate. Core Knowledge attempts to develop cultural literacy in a way that is systematic but allows for teacher creativity and activities to challenge students.

7. Curriculum • In each grade students will be exposed to a broad range of historical, scientific, and cultural topics that will build on one another to prepare students for later learning. The subject matter will also build the strong vocabulary necessary for true reading comprehension (high level vocabulary correlates with high SAT scores).

8. Student Assessment • Core Knowledge skill tests • Portfolios of work sampling • Observation and anecdotal records • Core Knowledge developmental checklist

9. Language, Literacy and Math • Handwriting without Tears • McMillan – McGraw Hill • Treasures • Award Reading Programs • Orton Gillingham Phonics • Math Connects

10. Why Choose Academy Primary School? • Small Class size- 1 teacher with 16 students and an instructional assistant (1-8 ratio) • 31 years of excellence in early childhood education • Approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) as a private, non-public school. • MSDE Accredited Program • Licensed by the MSDE Office of Child Care • Challenging Curriculum • Foreign languages and cultures incorporated within the daily schedule • Flexible schedules and tuition for families

11. Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grades 2012-13 Tuition & Fees • Application fee *$25 • Enrollment fee of *$100 • Materials fee of *$150 • Annual school year tuition (K-2nd Grades) for 2012-13 is $8,500 • Child care is included in the private school tuition — 7:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. *Fees non-refundable

12. Parents’ Guide to the Application ProcessK-2nd Grades • Attend Open House or schedule an interview and tour for you and your child with head of school. • Submit Application; $25 non-refundable Application Fee; the Student Recommendation and Transcript Release Forms and a copy of a certified birth certificate to the head of school and schedule an entrance assessment. • Teacher Recommendation Form and Transcripts – Give the Academy Primary School recommendation and request for transcript forms to your child’s current school. • Selection for admission will be determined by results of the entrance assessment and Academy’s ability to meet your family’s needs. • After reviewing the application and other materials, Academy will inform you of an admission decision.

13. EnrollmentProcedure • Secure an enrollment packet, which includes a Parent Handbook, from the head of school once you are notified of admission. • Return the following completed items as soon as possible or by date specified by head of school: • ___ Contract (Be sure to indicate a payment option) • ___ $100 Non-refundable Enrollment fee • ___ $150 Non-refundable Materials fee • ___ One month’s non-refundable tuition payment of $860 credited toward second semester. • ___ If enrolled in Before and After care, acknowledgment form from inside cover of “A Parent’s Guide to Regulated Child Care.”

14. Tuition Payment Options • Pay full tuition with application to Academy Child Development Center, Inc. • Use PayPal via our website • Use FACTS Tuition Management Program - $41 annually per account per family. • Use debit or credit card – fees will apply • Use debit from bank account • Pay semi-annually

15. Academy Primary School Capacity & Ratios • Approximately 88 students plus 20 after school (Infants through 2nd Grade) • Kindergarten – 2nd Grades: Student to Teacher Ratio 1:16 with an instructional assistant.

16. Parent Involvement • Parent/Teacher eXchange (PTeX)Group • Room parents • Text book committee • Appraisal Team – School Improvement Team • Fundraising • Grounds • Center evaluation surveys and reports • Attend conferences and events

17. School/Parent Communication • E-mail • Web site • Director and Head of School newsletter • Monthly classroom newsletter & lesson plans • Schoolsout.com • Parent/Teacher Conferences • Daily classroom log • Phone calls

18. Questions and Answers • What grades are offered? Academy Primary School offers Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grades. Infant through Pre-Kindergarten is provided by Academy Child Development Center. • Is there before and after school? Before school begins at 7:30 a.m. After school enrichment sessions begin 3:30 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. • Do you have a summer program? Academy’s Trips & Dips program for children entering Kindergarten is offered at Academy Primary School in one week summer sessions for additional fees.  Trips & Dips Explorers and Adventurers for children entering 1st through 5th grade is available at our Stone Mill location in North Potomac. Extended care options available for an additional cost. • What kind of financial assistance is available during the 2012-13 school year Special tuition for the first 30 NCI Families who register on or before September 1, 2012. Sibling discounts, FACTS Management Program, financial assistance/scholarships to qualified families and MCPS Employee Discounts. • What is the dress code? Academy Primary School (K-2) has uniforms. Students should wear navy, white or khaki shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, jumpers, short pants, and sweaters. An Academy Primary School logo shirt or blouse will be given to each student. Most uniforms can be purchased at Lands End, Target, or online uniform sites.  There will be occasional “dress down” days for special activities. For physical education times, students may wish to bring extra clothes for active participation. • Do you offer music and provide for active physical education? As part of the Core Knowledge Sequence Curriculum and the requirements of the Maryland State Department of Education, Academy Primary School has an enrichment teacher who provides these programs to meet the curriculum standards. • Do children have daily access to the computers? Yes, there is at least 1 computer in each classroom plus a computer in the media center. • How can parents be involved? Join the Parent/Teacher Exchange. Parents have an active role in their child’s school life. Examples: room parent, school appraisal team member, field trips, guest presenter or reader, family events, parent conferences, room volunteers, etc.