Welcome to Cascade Christian Schools’ McAlder Campus.
We are so glad you’re here! Below are some frequently asked questions:
Click here for McAlder KPrep FAQ.
When is arrival and dismissal?
School begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. (9:30 on Mondays). Parents may drop off their students beginning at 8:15 a.m., unless they are in Cougar Club. The school day ends at 3:00 p.m. Parents may pick up their children between 3:00 and 3:15 p.m. Students not picked up by 3:15 will join Cougar Club.
What procedure should I follow when dropping off or picking up my child?
In the morning, parents may drop off their children at the curb areas. Parents also have the option of parking and walking their child to class. After school, parents will park and walk to the classroom to receive their student.
What is the procedure if we know ahead of time that our child will be absent for a reason other than illness?
Parents are asked to let the office know before 9:00 a.m. by phone or email if their child will be absent that day. If you know ahead of time that your child will be absent, let your child’s teacher and the office know. Prearranged absences for vacations must be approved by the principal. You may also notify us via the Absent/Tardy Notification on the CCS website.
How do I contact my child’s teacher?
You may contact your child’s teacher through our communication platform, ClassTag Connect. This platform will allow you to communicate with your child’s teacher through our messaging system or email, depending on your communication preferences. You may also contact your child’s teacher by emailing through the faculty directory on our website. Or you may call the school office, where office personnel will either connect you to the teacher if the teacher is available or give the teacher a message to return your call. Your child’s teacher will attempt to reach you within 24 hours.
What type of care do you offer to students before and after school? Is the fee included in the tuition? How do I sign up?
Our dynamic Cougar Club, which operates from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., provides loving care and enriching opportunities outside of regular school hours. The fee is a separate tuition, based on the number of hours for which the student is enrolled each week. There is also the opportunity to utilize the program on a drop-in, as needed basis. Parents may enroll their students in the program by filling out the application and contracting for the days required.
Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes, we offer Variable Tuition. Once a student is accepted and enrolled, the family may apply for Variable Tuition. See the tuition information page.
Do you provide transportation?
We do not offer transportation through our school district. Most children come to school in carpools arranged by their parents. To help facilitate this process, the school office is able to direct parents to other CCS families who live in the same vicinity.
What type of technology do you offer students?
Students begin computer classes in first grade, focusing first on computer literacy—learning the parts of the computer and the language of technology. By sixth grade, students will have had opportunities to apply Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in classroom projects.
Do the students wear uniforms?
Students in our schools do not wear uniforms. The complete dress code is stated in the District Parent/Student Handbook. In general, students are expected to be well-groomed in clean, properly fitting clothing appropriate for school activities and suitable for a Christian school environment.
Do you offer PE, music, library, or band?
All elementary students experience the following specialist classes as part of their regular curriculum: Physical Education, General Music, and Library. First through sixth graders have Computer class. All sixth-grade students experience instrumental music through our Elementary Band program.
Do your students take standardized testing?
We conduct MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing in the fall and the spring, and teachers review results to maximize student learning.
What is the class size and teacher-to-student ratio?
In most cases, an elementary school classroom would be 24–25 students to one teacher. On occasion, classrooms might be larger, in which case a classroom assistant would usually be assigned to aid the teacher. Kindergarten classes have part-time or full-time assistants, depending on the enrollment in the classroom.
How do I get involved in the parent group?
Our Parents for Cascade (PfC) group meets once a month for an event planning and fellowship time. Call the office for the next meeting date. All parents are welcome!
What denomination is your school?
Cascade Christian Schools is an independent, interdenominational Christian school system. Our founding churches are Sound Life Church of the Assemblies of God, Champions Centre, and Destiny Christian Center. Faculty and staff members and CCS families worship at a variety of Christian churches in our area. All staff members must be born-again Christians and actively participate in a local church.
What are “Cougar Family Groups”?
Cougar Family Groups are small groups of students who meet for the purpose of connecting with each other and with God through study of His Word. All elementary students are divided into one of these small groups on their campus. Cougar Family Groups also provide awesome leadership development opportunities for sixth grade students, who are prepped ahead of time to lead these groups, under their teacher’s supervision.
What can students expect in their Cougar Family Groups?
Students can expect fun, engaging, and immersive lessons from Scripture, along with sharing and a time of prayer.
How often do students meet in their Cougar Family Groups?
Cougar Family Groups meet once a month during our weekly scheduled time slot for chapel.
Do kindergartners take naps?
No, kindergarten students do not take naps. On occasion the teacher might provide a brief quiet time for the students as needed.
Do you have a lunch program?
Yes, we have a hot lunch program. Lunches are prepared on site. Lunch prices are $4.50 for students in grades K-2, $5.00 for grades 3-6, and $.75 for milk. The current menu is on the McAlder Elementary page.
Do you have a school nurse?
The school has a district health coordinator (registered nurse) who reviews and manages general policies and practices that pertain to student health-related matters. The principal and office personnel handle minor health and first aid needs. All elementary staff members are required to be current on first aid training, CPR training, and the proper handling of blood-borne pathogens. For a major emergency, 9-1-1 would be called immediately.
Do you offer classes for accelerated or gifted students?
Our educational philosophy is to strive to meet the individual academic needs of each student. Classroom teachers strive to differentiate their instruction according to student needs. The Accelerated Reader Program is utilized to encourage children to continue to grow in their reading skills and to advance to their individual success level. Our Elementary Enrichments provide many other enriching opportunities for children before school and after school.
Do you accept students with special needs?
Our entrance testing and interview process help our administrators determine whether we are able to serve and support the individual needs of students. We are open to enrolling any student with any additional support needs as long as we feel we are properly equipped to serve them well.
Do you accept state assistance to pay for tuition?
No, we do not accept state assistance to pay for tuition.
How do you keep students safe on campus?
Our CCS director of safety and security works to establish programs, procedures, and training to increase the safety of all CCS campuses. Emergency preparedness is a key way that we keep children safe on campus. We routinely rehearse procedures that our staff would use in the event of an emergency incident. We regularly conduct drills for fire, lockdown, shelter-in-place, evacuation to a mutual aid site, lahar, and earthquake.
Other safety procedures on campus include the following: all staff members wear staff identification badges; all visitors are instructed to check in and out at the school office and to wear an identification badge while on campus; all outside doors remain locked throughout the day, and main doors are monitored; safe routes for traveling around campus are taught to students and reinforced routinely; playground times are supervised by a team of trained playground supervisors; dismissal procedures are monitored carefully; playground areas and routes to playground areas are off limits to vehicles during school hours; and students are always supervised and are not allowed to walk around campus alone.
Not finding the answer you were looking for?
Give our campus a call at (253) 256-4382.
McAlder KPrep FAQ:
What are your class times?
The AM class is 8:30–11:15 a.m., and PM class is 12:30–3:15 p.m.
At what age can children start part-day KPrep?
We begin part-day KPrep at age 3. Children must be age 3 by September 1st, and all students must be completely potty-trained.
What training are your teachers and staff required to have?
Our lead teachers are encouraged to have at least an AA degree. All teachers are required to have 20 hours per year of ongoing education.
What are your class sizes?
Classroom capacity is 16–18. The teacher-child ratio is 1:10.
What is a typical day like in KPrep?
The children have an opportunity to participate in outdoor, circle time, snack time, and free choice activities.
What types of activities are available for the children? And how much “free play” time do they get each day?
Curricular activities and free choice activities are available for the children. Free choice time is about 20–30 minutes of the scheduled activities. Free choice activities include intentionally placed manipulatives and activities that develop the whole child, with brain development in mind.
What are your emergency and inclement weather procedures? Is there a difference in closures for the full-day and part-day programs?
See our school Emergency & Inclement Weather page.
What is your sick policy?
We ask parents to keep a child home if the child has a fever or is vomiting. If a child has strep throat or pink eye, the child must be on medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Other diseases may have longer at-home times. Please refer to the Early Learning Health and Safety section in our District Parent/Student Handbook for more details.
Do you give parents KPrep progress reports?
We give progress reports twice a year. Parents are invited to meet with the teachers at this time, but a parent may request a conference with a teacher or the director at any time.
How do you communicate with the parents?
Communication to parents comes through class newsletters, center newsletters, email, teacher communication, signs, phone calls, letters, and social media.
How do you handle emergencies?
Our staff members are trained each year in CPR and first aid. And they are trained to call 9-1-1 in a true medical or security emergency.