Children’s care, education and safety is always at the forefront at Summit School, an independent, non-profit school in Duluth that not only cares for but educates children beginning in the infant room through Kindergarten.

Summit School is an independent, non-profit school that meets or exceeds all state and federally mandated academic standards — including staff licensure and compulsory education requirements.

In addition to a curriculum that is implemented by lead teachers and assistants, Summit School professionals also teach Spanish and music in all classrooms.

Summit School is conveniently located at 1600 North Avenue East.

Summit School Notes

Though school is out of session this week, Summit School is still hoppin’ with positive activity, said Head of School Kathy Ponder.

Improvements include:

. Pretty purple paint going up on the walls in the infant sleeping room.

. Ten new Marvin windows being installed in four classrooms.

. Brand new ceiling tiles being installed in the preschool classroom.

. New flooring being installed in the toddler eating area and bathroom.

. CPR training going on upstairs for eight teaching assistants.

“This is so exciting,” said Ponder. “Summit school is full and we are able to complete these projects. We are slowly going through this building and each year we carefully plan our budget and then we are able to finish the much-needed, never-ending improvement projects in this amazing 98-year-old building! And, we would not be full if we did not have such an amazing group of teachers and assistants.”

. Last week, Summit School held three performances of its annual December music concert, when 66 children ages three through six sang songs directed by music teacher Jake Jonker to standing-room-only crowds of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

. Summit School — like thousands of schools nationwide — collects BoxTops for Education from General Mills products and turn them in for cash. The school held a special Summit School Lead Teacher BoxTop Contest from August 15 to December 15. Kindergarten teacher Ms. Stacy collected 1899 BoxTops and won an iPad2 and Toddler teacher Mr. Joe collected 1,700 and won a mini-camcorder.

Monthly Rates

Class | 5 Days Week | 4 Days Week | 3 Days Week | 2 Days Week

Infant Room | $800 | $655 | $500 | NA
Toddler Room | $755 | $655 | $495 | NA
Three’s Class | $730 | $605 | $470 | $330
Jr. K Class | $715 | $580 | $435 | $295
Kindergarten | $715 | $580 | NA | NA

. Children may attend Summit on contracted days only. Swap days are not allowed.

. To enroll in the Three’s Class your child must be completely potty-trained.

. You provide your child’s daily lunch. Summit is a peanut-free school.

Additional Fees

. $150 non-refundable annual invoice processing fee per family.
. Snack and milk fee (September-May) — $150 per child
. Snack and milk fee (June-August) — $50 per child

Required Non-Refundable Registration Deposits

. $400 deposit for Toddlers, 3′s, Jr. K and Kindergarten
. $800 deposit for Infants
(All deposits will be applied equally to your first four monthly invoices.)

If you terminate care before your child attends Summit your full deposit is forfeited.

Once your child has begun care a 30-day written notice is required for termination.

You are obligated for all child care fees through that 30-day period.

Summit School 2011-12 Important Dates

Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 2, 2012 — Holidays, Closed
Jan. 3, 2012 — First day of class of the new year
Jan. 16, 2012 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Closed
February 20, 2012 — President’s Day, Closed
April 6, 2012 — Good Friday, Closed
May 22-23, 2012 — Spring Concerts
May 28, 2012 — Memorial Day, Closed
July 4, 2012 — Independence Day, Closed

Note: Summit School will always close due to bad weather, when Duluth Public Schools close.

Call Kathy Ponder, Head of School, at 724.3133 for more information. Meantime, click here for Kathy’s VideoBio.

FYI

Summit School By-Laws