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| PREFACE Welcome to the Classic Kid's Day Care Center. We are pleased to have your child enrolled in our center. We make every effort to provide your child with the very best early childhood program available. This handbook has been prepared to acquaint with the operation of the Classic Kid's Day Care Center. It is designed to promote better communications between you, the parent, and the Center. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH ITS CONTENTS. A close home/school relationship is very important in the education of young children. We hope to provide the kind of information about the Center that will promote parental involvement and an atmosphere of mutual understanding. The time your child spends at the Center is an important part of his/her life. It is most beneficial if all persons concerned work as a team to provide your child with the opportunity to explore, to discover, to create, and to learn. It is an exciting experience we can all share! PURPOSE The Classic Kid's Day Care Center has two main purposes. One is to carry out assigned activities with the children under the direction of qualified teachers. The second purpose is to provide a quality educational program for your children. First consideration will be given to the needs of the children. EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY The philosophy of the Classic Kid's Day Care Center is based on a set of strongly held beliefs: We believe each child is a unique individual. We are sensitive to their social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs. Our aim is to provide a safe, enriching environment with warm, loving care. A comprehensive and coordinated daily schedule of activities designed to enhance your child's intellectual, physical, social, aesthetic and emotional development is provided. Developmentally Appropriate activities are planned that will enable the child to gain a positive self-concept and sense of independence. The day is planned with interesting activities that will stimulate the children to question, explore and learn. The activities are non-competitive with an emphasis on developing skills in interpersonal relationships. Specific curriculum areas include development of large and small muscles, creative art experiences, language arts experiences ( which includes vocabulary building and listening and speaking activities), dramatic play, music and movement experiences, cooking and other science/math related experiences, and social awareness. Learning, play, rest, and nutritional periods are scheduled for each class day. We believe the strength of our program is the dedication of our teaching staff. We support our teachers with training, resources and freedom to create a unique learning experience for children. ENROLLMENT All children must be fully enrolled before attending the center. The following must be completed and submitted to the center: *Enrollment Information packet and Emergency Data card *Immunization record - up to date and current, must have child's name birth date, number of doses and type of vaccine, date immunization was received and stamp or signature from a physician or health department *Parent permission for water play, field trips, and special activities *Physician's statement indicating child can participate in the program. > Holidays are observed during the year. The Center is closed for the following holidays: one day for Independence Day, one day at Thanksgiving, and during Christmas/New Years. Parents will be notified prior to holidays as to exact dates and in case of other changes. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES Children must be brought into the Center and released to a staff member. There must be verbal or eye contact with the child care provider as the child arrives and departs. Be sure the child is signed in and out each day. This is a good time to pass on or receive brief bits of information. Please don't send brothers or sisters to pick up or deliver your child. Children will only be permitted to leave the center with their parents or adults authorized on their registration form. In an EMERGENCY, you may phone to give pick up permission to someone else, but be prepared to answer questions that will help establish your identity. We will ask for your code word and a picture ID from those picking up a child for the first time. Please lock your car: NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED IN THE CAR. Do not leave your car running while picking up your child. PARENT PARTICIPATION Childcare is a joint effort, one shared by the Center and the home. We welcome parent participation in our program. We welcome all suggestions as we constantly strive to improve the quality of our program for your child. Parents are invited to participate in special activities in which they feel comfortable. Parents may participate in the program by helping on a field trip, sharing special talents, reading to children, constructing new equipment, or inviting the group to your place of work. If you would like to visit the Center or bring something for the children to look at, or do, please tell the teacher so she/he can include your visit in the day's schedule. Any hobbies or special interests you have, and would like to share with us, would be greatly appreciated. Parents may also help by collecting "throw away treasures" for use in the art, carpentry, and homemaking areas. ADJUSTMENT PERIOD Each child has his or her own way of adapting to a new environment. Some children cry or become upset at separation time, but quickly calm down to enjoy the day. Others will join right in with no hesitation. A child may be fine at first, then a few days later have some difficult moments. Remember, however your child responds to the change, all growth experiences will cause some stress. Rely on the teachers to help your child adjust. We recommend a short, firm goodbye. EVALUATIONS OF CHILDREN When you enroll your child in our Center, we assume the responsibility of giving you assistance with your child's school adjustment and his growth and development. Please consult with the director or teacher should any problems arise concerning your child at home or at school. We seek your active involvement with the Center's program, especially in following you child's progress. We encourage you to attend any Parent Meetings and Parent -Teacher Conferences. Conferences about your child's progress will be arranged upon request. Periodic evaluations of the children are done by the teachers. These are placed in the children's file and you are welcome to look them over We are here to answer any questions you might have. These evaluations are used to help determine learning objectives for the classroom and for individual children. NAPS / QUIET TIME Young children respond best to programs that alternate active play with quiet play. A quiet period prevents over stimulation and offsets fatigue. This time includes such things as listening to soft music and tones or reading books. All children are required to have a rest time after lunch. If a child does not sleep, she/he is required to rest quietly for at least 30 minutes before reading a book or doing quiet activities while the other children sleep. MEALS AND SUPPLEMENTS All meals and supplements meet the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers. Parents are welcome to join their child for a meal, if you wish. (Please notify the office in advance.) Weekly menus are posted on the bulletin board. Children who arrive very early may need breakfast before coming to the Center. We serve breakfast at 8:30 a.m. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BRING FOOD INTO THE CENTER (Exceptions would be food for a special diet under a doctor's written order.) Meals are served family style in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. Teachers eat with the children and encourage them to try a variety of foods. Children are never forced to eat and food is never withheld for any reason. FEES 1. Current fees are posted in the front office. This fee includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. 2. When fees were set for the Center, we considered absences, holidays, bad weather, etc. Therefore, there are no deductions for the above absences. After a child has been enrolled for one year, parents can request two weeks of vacation each year. We will hold the child's space for 50% of the normal fee. Credit for EXTENDED absences due to emergency family leave or illness (Doctor’s note required) 1st week of absence: No credit 2nd week of absence: 50% of weekly fee 3rd week of absence: 25% of weekly fee 4th week of absence: No payment -Child dropped and given first priority for re-enrollment. 3. ALL PAYMENTS ARE DUE IN ADVANCE. Payment must be made by closing time Tuesday. Wednesday a .00 per day late charge is added. Tuition must be current on Friday to secure services for the coming week. We are sorry, but no credit can be extended. In the event your child is sick or absent on Monday or Tuesday of a week, call the Center (554-6215). Make payment the first day back. The late fee of .00 will not be charged if your child has been absent and you have notified the Center. 4. Keep your canceled checks and receipts. These help if there is ever a question about payments. Your receipt will show the time period covered by your payment. Cash, check or money order must make all payments. 5. LATE FEES are assessed for each child who is picked up after 12 hour peroid. The teacher should collect the fee at the time of the late pick up. If a parent continually pick up his child late, we will ask that the child be withdrawn from the Center. We realize on rare occasions that a delay is unavoidable. Please call 554-6215 if you are going to be late. If a child has not been picked up. We will attempt to call the parent(s). When a parent cannot be reached, we will call the emergency designee. NON-DISCRIMINATION Classic Kid's Day Care Center is open to all children, regardless of color, gender, nationality, race or religious belief who may benefit from our type of program. HEALTH AND SAFETY It is imperative that all emergency telephone numbers be current on your child's registration form and emergency data card. Other than the parent, we need at least two (2) persons to call if you cannot be located. For the health and safety of your child and all children in the center, the staff requests your cooperation in the following areas: GUIDES FOR KEEPING YOUR CHILD HOME WOULD INCLUDE: Running a fever (100 or above), or has had one during the previous 24-hour period Heavy nasal discharge A constant cough Symptoms of a possible communicable disease He/she cannot participate in All facility activities - including those outside Children may be readmitted after an illness only when their presence will not endanger the health of other children and they feel well enough to participate in all usual daily activities (including outside). For certain illness we request that a doctor's certificate be furnished before the child is returned to the Center following an absence. The following are good guidelines: children YOUR CHILD IS PROBABLY READY TO RETURN WHEN: Fever has been absent for 24 hours. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea has subsided for 24 hours. A minimum of 8 doses of an antibiotic has been given over a 48-hour period for known strep or other bacterial infection. All chicken pox lesions are crusted, usually 5 to 6 days after onset. Child has completed the contagious stage of the illness. If your child becomes ill at the Center, she/he will be isolated and you will be notified. Provisions must be made to pick up the child as soon as possible. If your child has, or is exposed to a communicable disease, please notify the Center staff. The child should remain home until all danger of contagion is passed. We will in turn notify parents if children have been exposed to anything. The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services requires that we include outdoor activities each day that weather permits. ( If it is not wet, we go outside whether it is hot, cold, or in between.) Children who are well enough to attend our center must be well enough to participate in all activities, including outdoor play. If the weather does not permit, inside activities will be planned. These include tumbling, movement activities and play time. During the winter months we must request that you send with your child a warm coat or jacket, hat or scarf and gloves or mittens. FIELD TRIPS We enjoy giving children the opportunity to learn about our community by providing recreational and educational field trips. We maintain a stricter staff/child ratio for these trips to insure adequate supervision. Parents are encouraged to participate with their children. By state law, volunteers must sign a felony misdemeanor statement. Parents should dress their child/children in weather appropriate clothing and tennis shoes for these field trips. Field trips will be posted 24 hours in advance. CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE Discipline and guidance will be consistent and based on an understanding of the individual needs and development of the child and will be directed towards teaching the children acceptable behaviors. Our discipline policy is of a positive nature. Children are directed toward logical consequences for unacceptable behavior. We try to recognize positive behavior and not draw attention to a child exhibiting unacceptable behavior. Corporal punishment is not administered in any form! Punishment will not be associated with eating or napping. We actively employ methods of behavior modification and non-punitive discipline such as restricted play, saturation, separation from the group, and revocation of privileges. If we are having a problem that we feel must be reinforced at home, a time will be set aside for a conference with the parents. The director is authorized to refuse continued enrollment to any child who bites, fights, causes general confusion, uses foul language or is considered a detriment to the welfare of the other children in the care of the Center. Several steps will be taken before this refusal is issued. 1. The child care providers will work with the child. 2. The director and teacher will meet with the parent/guardian. 3. Parents may be asked to take part in special training. 4. Should the behavior remain consistent,, the child will then be refused admittance in writing. PERSONAL BELONGINGS All clothing needs to be clearly marked with your child's name. We cannot be responsible for unmarked clothing. PLEASE do not send your child to the center with toys, jewelry, food, gum or money. (You may have to do some checking of pockets and backpacks.) It makes things difficult if personal items are lost, broken or other children want them. A special blanket/pillow from home for nap time is acceptable. LOST AND FOUND If your child is missing anything, please talk with your classroom teacher or check in the lost and found box . Remember to label everything! It is much easier to identify and return a lost item if it is labeled with the owner's name. Unclaimed items are given to a charity after a reasonable amount of time. BULLETIN BOARDS AND NEWSLETTERS We have one bulletin boards at the entrance of the Center. It is for general information (menus, schedules, units, etc.) for parent information. We are on the look out for articles or information of special interest to our parents. Check occasionally to see what new items have been posted. The Center distributes a Parent Newsletter monthly. It contains items of interest, special events, change in policy and general items of news about our staff and children. If you would like to add something to the newsletter, please let the director know. We cannot always contact each parent as they come into the Center ..........PLEASE READ all information on your child's clip. BIRTHDAYS Birthdays are big events for children. We celebrate with them during the afternoon snack. If you would like to provide a special treat, make arrangements with your child's teacher at least one week in advance. Please do not send cakes or cupcakes loaded with refined sugar. Cookies, muffins or plain cupcakes with whipped topping as a substitute for icing are good choices. ( We like to stress nutritional foods.) Please no party favors or gifts brought to the school. Your child's teacher will plan to make this a special time for your child. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT In order to protect the well-being and safety of children, the State of Texas requires anyone who suspects child abuse and neglect to report it to the proper authorities. The center staff has been trained to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. All suspect indicators will be documented and reported. The Center is required by law to cooperate with any investigation of child abuse and neglect. SPECIAL NEEDS We accept any child whose needs can be met in our setting, providing we have room in our classroom. In all cases, the child must be able to participate and substantially benefit from our program without risk to himself/herself or to other children. |
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