Welcome Letter

Dear Parents,

It is with great pleasure to meet other parents who share the same vision I have - giving our children the cognitive, economic, and cultural gifts of languages and an advantage in the future job market. Who knows what dreams our children will be able to accomplish when they are able to speak, read, and write fluently in the three most spoken languages in the world: Mandarin, Spanish and English!

My journey in creating Beibei Amigos began during my doctoral studies in bilingual education. When my son was born, I started planning for his future and asking myself what I could give him to ensure his success in our increasingly global world. This personal mission became the foundation of our school - a place where every child can develop the linguistic skills and cultural understanding needed to thrive in tomorrow's world.

As a father and educator, I understand the hopes and dreams you hold for your child. I recognize that choosing the right early childhood environment is one of the most important decisions you'll make. That's why we've created more than just a preschool - we've built a nurturing community where children develop independence, curiosity, and confidence while naturally acquiring multiple languages.

To support your child's success, we ask that you:

Ensure your child attends school and arrives on time (no later than 9:15am), ready for each day's learning experience
Read with your child daily to develop a love for reading and strengthen literacy skills
Participate in school experiences and extracurricular activities to stay connected with your child's learning

Communication between home and school is vital to each student's success. We encourage you to reach out whenever you have questions or concerns, and we'll keep you informed about your child's progress, classroom activities, and special events.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's early education. We are committed to providing a caring, enriching environment where your child can flourish. Welcome to our learning community - a place where opportunities truly abound!

Warmly,
Ms. Sean Diana
Founder & Director

Our Educational Philosophy: Language Immersion, Montessori, and Traditional Programs

At Beibei Amigos Language Preschool, we believe every child is capable of greatness when nurtured in an environment that celebrates curiosity, independence, and cultural diversity. Our vision is rooted in three pillars:

Full Language Immersion

We are proud to be the only preschool in Phoenix that offers full immersion in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and English.

Children learn naturally through play, songs, stories, and daily conversation
Early exposure to multiple languages strengthens brain development, problem-solving, and global awareness
Our goal is to prepare children to be confident communicators and compassionate citizens in a multicultural world

Montessori Program

Our Montessori classrooms follow the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, fostering independence, responsibility, and a love of learning.

Hands-on learning materials support exploration in math, language, culture, and science
Children progress at their own pace, guided by trained Montessori teachers
Emphasis on concentration, order, and respect builds a strong foundation for lifelong learning

Traditional Play-Based Program

Our Traditional classrooms follow the Arizona Early Learning Standards with a focus on exploration, creativity, and social development.

Play-based activities nurture curiosity and imagination
Structured lessons prepare children for kindergarten readiness
Emphasis on cooperation, routines, and social-emotional growth in a bilingual setting

Montessori vs. Traditional Program Comparison

Feature	Montessori Program	Traditional Program
Curriculum	Based on the Montessori philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. Focus on independence, self-directed learning, and hands-on materials.	Guided by the Arizona Early Learning Standards. Focus on play-based learning, kindergarten readiness, and teacher-led lessons.
Learning Approach	Child-centered, with children choosing activities that match their interests and developmental stage.	Teacher-directed, with structured lessons, group activities, and play centers.
Classroom Environment	Prepared environment with Montessori learning materials designed for self-correction and exploration.	Engaging classroom with toys, centers, and activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity.
Pacing	Children progress at their own pace with individualized guidance from Montessori teachers.	Children follow a class schedule with activities aligned to age and developmental level.
Focus Skills	Concentration, independence, order, problem-solving, responsibility, and respect for others.	Social-emotional growth, cooperation, early literacy and numeracy, creativity, and readiness for kindergarten.
Language Immersion	Full immersion in Mandarin, Spanish, and English integrated into all classroom work and routines.	Full immersion in Mandarin, Spanish, and English through play, group activities, and structured lessons.
Teacher's Role	Guides learning by observing and introducing new materials when the child is ready.	Leads activities, provides direct instruction, and facilitates group learning experiences.

The Five Areas of Montessori

Practical Life: Daily life skills (pouring, dressing, cleaning) that build independence, coordination, and concentration
Sensorial: Materials that refine the senses and help children classify the world (color tablets, sound cylinders, geometric solids)
Mathematics: Hands-on materials (number rods, golden beads) build concrete understanding of quantity and early operations
Language: Phonics, sandpaper letters, movable alphabet, reading and writing activities in Mandarin, Spanish, and English
Cultural Studies: Geography, science, art, and music — cultivating global awareness and curiosity

Pre-K Language & Literacy Skills

Vocabulary: 1,500+ words, longer sentences, retelling stories
Print & Alphabet Knowledge: Recognizes 10-20 letters, understands letters make sounds, notices environmental print
Phonological Awareness: Matches rhymes, claps syllables
Pre-Reading: Predicts story events, understands sequence
Pre-Writing: Writes some letters (often their name), uses "invented spelling," labels drawings

Daily Operations

Drop-off and Pick-up Policy

General Procedure: We open at 7 AM. Please do not drop-off your child prior to the opening. Parents are expected to accompany their children and sign them in. We close at 6 PM. Please allow enough time to arrive, sign your child out, and leave by closing time.

Parent Sign In/Out Policy

Parents are responsible for signing their child In and Out on the signing system provided by the center when they arrive and when they take them home. This is a state regulation that ensures children are leaving your custody and entering ours.

Important: Every time anyone misses a sign In/Out, you will be called to return to the center and sign them In/Out. If a child is still not signed In/Out after we contact families, a $25 missing signature fee will be added.

Authorized & Unauthorized Pick-up

Your child will only be released to you or those persons you have listed as Emergency and Release Contacts. If you want a person who is not identified as an Emergency and Release Contact to pick-up your child, you must notify us in advance.

Lunch Policy

All lunches must be brought from home under the following conditions:

Food must be peanuts and nuts free
Children will not be allowed to share food provided by the child's family unless the food is intended for sharing with all children
Leftover food will be discarded except for foods that do not require refrigeration and/or come in a commercially wrapped package that was never opened

Peanuts and Nuts Policy: We are a PEANUTS and NUTS FREE center. We ask that parents carefully monitor foods being packed in lunchboxes to ensure they don't contain peanuts, peanut oils, or other nuts. Please read labels carefully. Sunflower butter is a great alternative.

Good Lunch Box Suggestions

Option 1	Option 2	Option 3	Option 4
½ turkey sandwich	Chicken strips	Sunflower butter on graham crackers	Yogurt
Celery sticks	Roll	Apple slices	Crackers
Raisins	Orange wedges	Carrot sticks	Snap peas
Milk/water	Broccoli, Milk/water	Milk/water	100% juice

Personal Belongings

What to Bring

Toddlers: at least six diapers per day and wipes and at least two changes of clothes
Older Toddlers 2's: pull-ups and at least three changes of clothes or more per day if going through the toilet learning process
Preschoolers: at least one change of clothes, socks, and shoes to keep at the school

Please label all items brought from home with your child's name to prevent items from becoming misplaced or lost.

Toilet Learning Policy

The most important factor in making the toilet learning experience successful and as low-stress as possible is a family/teacher partnership that supports the child.

Age Requirements: All 3 years old must be able to independently use the bathroom, ask for help, and clean themselves before transitioning to the next class. A few months after the student turns 3, if they are still not able to use the toilet independently, it will be the teachers'/director's and parents' discretion to determine the best developmentally appropriate plan.

Health & Wellness

Illness Policy

24-Hour Rule: Any child that has shown signs of illness in the previous 24 hours may not attend school, regardless if the child is feeling well.

Fever free: A child should be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medicine
Antibiotic timeline: A child should be on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school

Symptoms Requiring Pick-up

If one or more of the following symptoms are present in your child, we will call you to pick up from school:

Temperature of 100.4°F
Nausea or vomiting
Red, pink, or crusted eyes
Stomachache
Earache
Diarrhea
Rash/infection of skin
Pale or flushed face
Headache
Thick or greenish mucus from nose
Cough
Loss of energy/decrease in activity/falling asleep
Sore throat

Medication Policy

Important: Teachers and staff are not allowed to administer any prescribed or over-the-counter medicine.

Immunization Policy

At Beibei Amigos Language Preschool we strongly support immunizations as one of the easiest and most effective tools preventing diseases that can cause serious illness or even death, but we follow Arizona State laws.

Arizona law allows parents to submit a signed statement of exemption for personal beliefs (including religious objections) using the official state format.

Exemption Notice: If you claim an exemption, during any outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, your child may not be allowed to attend school for up to 3 weeks or until the risk period ends. Parents will be responsible for full tuition during that time.

Financial Policies

Beibei Amigos is a private school, and our operations are not subsidized by a sponsoring organization. All of our income derives solely from tuition fees. Every family is responsible to pay their tuition in full and on time.

Registration Fee

One time $300 registration fee will be charged at the time of enrollment. The Registration Fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Payment Policies

Tuition Payment: Tuition is due on the 1st of each month
Late Charges: Payment received after the 5th are subject to a $25 late fee
Attendance Policy: If payment has not been received by the 15th of the month, the child may not attend school until all fees are paid

Methods of Payment

Several methods of payment are available: cash, check, money order, automatic electronic funds transfer. Credit/Debit cards are not recommended due to a 3.5% transaction fee.

Fees and Late Charges

Returned Payments: $30 fee for insufficient funds
Early Drop-off/Late Pick-up: $15 for first 15 minutes, then $5 for every minute thereafter
Credit Card Processing: 3.5% fee on all credit/debit card transactions

No Credits Policy

Important: No credits are given for sick or vacation days, holidays, staff training closure, or closure due to inclement weather, infectious disease, or public health emergency.

NO MAKE UP DAYS FOR DAYS MISSED, SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, INSERVICE DAYS, ILLNESS OR HEALTH NOTICES (INCLUDING COVID-19)

Multi-child Discount

Families will receive 10% sibling discount for one child on the tuition for the child that pays the lowest tuition.

Tuition Increase

Every January you will see an increment of 3% to 10% in your child's tuition. This increase allows us to continue providing high-quality bilingual Traditional and Montessori education.

Safety & Security

Building Access & Security

All exterior doors are secured with keypad entry systems
Door codes are provided to enrolled families and changed regularly
Parents must ensure doors are fully closed and locked after entry
Never share door codes with unauthorized individuals

Emergency Procedures

Fire Evacuation

Fire evacuation routes are posted in each classroom
Monthly fire drills are conducted with all children and staff
Teachers will account for all children at the designated meeting area
Parents will be notified immediately

Emergency Medical Policy

Call Emergency Medical Services (911) then call parents immediately if you believe the child's life is at risk or there is a risk of permanent injury.

Cleaning & Sanitation

Beibei Amigos maintains high standards of cleanliness following Arizona Department of Health Services requirements and CDC guidelines.

Daily Surface Cleaning Process

Clean the surface: Use detergent or soap and water to scrub and remove visible dirt
Rinse the surface: Rinse with clean water
Sanitize the surface: Apply approved sanitizing solution and let sit for full "dwell time"

Educational Programs & Assessment

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Two Conferences Per Year: Scheduled in fall and spring
Progress Reports: Teachers share updates on academic, social-emotional, and language development
Individualized Goals: Collaborate to set developmental goals
Additional Meetings: Available upon request any time during the year

Developmental Screening

Beibei Amigos uses the Ages and Stages and the CDC Milestone Tracker to monitor each child's achievement of developmental milestones. Developmental screening is conducted with written consent from parents/guardians.

School Partnerships & Resources

First Things First Partnership

Beibei Amigos Language Preschool is proud to be a First Things First partner school with a four-star Quality Plus rating.

Our Quality First rating reflects our commitment to:

High-quality learning environments
Qualified and well-trained teaching staff
Strong family partnerships and engagement
Comprehensive assessment and continuous improvement
Health and safety excellence

Scholarships & Tuition Assistance

We accept DES (Department of Economic Security) child care assistance for qualifying families and participate in Quality First / First Things First Scholarships.

Procare Software

We use Procare software for convenient communication and school management. Parents can download the Procare app to:

Sign children in and out securely
View account balances and make tuition payments
Receive real-time updates from teachers
Access classroom announcements and reminders

Family Involvement

Each family is a child's first teacher. We value families as partners in the growth and development of children in our program.

Family Activities

Chinese New Year
Fly a Kite Day
Dr. Seuss Week (Read Across America)
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Summer Concert (Preschool Graduation)
Grandparents Day
Trunk or Treat
Thanksgiving Luncheon
Winter Concert
Volunteers for picture days, gardening, or school beautification projects

General Policies

Inclusion and Non-Discrimination Policy

Inclusion: Beibei Amigos believes that children of all ability levels are entitled to the same opportunities for participation, acceptance and belonging in childcare.

Non-Discrimination: Equal educational opportunities are available for all children, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, or parent/provider political beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation or special needs.

Dismissal Policy

We do not foresee dismissal of any children in our care. At Beibei Amigos we do not expel students, although dismissal may occur if:

The child is not fully potty trained and is over 3 years old (Director's discretion)
Parents/guardians fail to honor obligations, payments, or rules/regulations
Parents/guardians undermine the dignity, serenity, and reputation of the school
The child's needs are beyond the scope of Beibei Amigos care

Photo and Filming Release Policy

Photographs and videotapes of children's activities and events are often taken for use in classrooms, Procare, social media, the school website, promotional materials, or children's portfolios.

Family Handbook 2025