since
July 22, 2007
Funtime
Preschool / After-school
Parent
Handbook
Information
in this handbook is subject to change at any time without notice.
Mission Statement
Statement
of Policy
Background
includes: BS in Business Administration,
Lesia Singleton
Owner /
Director
Background
includes: BS in Elementary Education,
Funtime
uses, the benchmarks from MS State Dept. of Education and
Children
learn best by doing, and our Curriculum
uses a developmental “hands-on” approach built around weekly or monthly themes.
During each week we address all areas of development: social, emotional, physical (large
and small motor), cognitive and language development. Lesson plans are prepared weekly and
posted in each classroom.
There is
a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. Our classrooms are set
up in a learning center configuration, which allows each child to choose activities in the
different classroom areas. The activities in each learning center are planned by the
teachers to facilitate discovery learning.
Our daily
schedule includes large group, small group, and individual activities as well as learning
center times. The children are guided and encouraged to learn new self-help skills, think
for themselves, make choices, experiment, explore, make mistakes, and have a lot of fun in
the process. These centers are very similar to what you will find in area kindergarten
classrooms.
POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES
All
enrollment forms must be completed before your child may attend. Applications are subject
to review and approval by Funtime management. We
reserve the right to deny any application due to enrollment limitations or medical or
behavioral problems, or any other reason we feel that enrollment of a child is in any way
not in the best interest of Funtime. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, religion,
or race for the enrollment of children. Please
inform us of any changes in addresses, work and home telephone numbers, places of
employment, or individuals authorized to pick up your child. In particular, the state requires for the health of
all children that a current Immunization Form 121 be on file. This must be on the
state approved form, or the computer generated one provided by area Health Departments.
By
enrolling your child at Funtime, you as a parent or guardian give permission for your
child to be involved in the activities and events at Funtime. You further understand that
Funtime is a private childcare center whose goal is to provide a positive, enriching
preschool and after-school environment. Although rare, a situation may arise in
which it becomes evident that the needs of a child cannot be met effectively by our
center. A decision to dismiss a child will only happen after we feel every option has been
explored. Every measure will be taken to meet the needs of the child in question, and our
Director will assess each dismissal not only with regard to the individual child’s
needs, but also the needs of all the children served. The parent will be a central figure
in the discussions regarding this issue, but the decision to dismiss a child must be left
to the discretion of our Director.
Attendance and Tuition
Charges
Tuition
and other fees are to be paid in full without deduction for absences of any duration or
for any cause, and without substitution of other days of attendance as “make up”
days. Please understand that this is because staffing and other operational costs
are incurred on the basis of fixed levels of enrollment, and because few of these costs
are eliminated when the child is temporarily absent. Our tuition charges are
“all-inclusive”, meaning there are no additional charges for regular activities,
regular field trips, snacks, meals, transportation, or supplies.
Tuition
is due in advance each Monday for the week.
Monthly payments in advance (based upon the number of Mondays in a month) are
accepted and encouraged. For those parents paying weekly, if tuition is not paid by
Wednesday evening, a $10 late fee may be added to the balance due. Statements of your
payments are available at any time. If your tuition check returns for any reason, $30 will
be charged to your account. In the event that you do not make payments or do not give 2
weeks written notice of withdrawal, you will be given a one-time written notice of charges
owed. You will then have 15 days from that notice to pay or resolve any disputes with the
management of Funtime. You agree to pay any reasonable attorney’s fees or collection
agency fees and court costs. Please refer to the current tuition agreement for prices. For your convenience, we accept cash, personal
checks, Visa, and MasterCard as forms of payment.
There is
an annual Enrollment Fee of $50 per child for Preschool children. After-School registration is $50.00 for the school
year and $35.00 for Summer Camp.
We are
open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm. We ask that when picking up your child,
you arrive by at least 5:55pm so that you may have time to gather your child’s
belongings and speak with your child’s teacher. We close at 6:00pm sharp.
Your child has had a long day by this point, and so have our teachers and staff.
After
6:00pm there is a late pickup charge of $10 for
each 10 minutes or portion thereof. After repeated late pick-ups, you may be asked to find
a center that better fits your schedule.
When you
take your preschool child on vacation, you pay half a week’s tuition in advance
to reserve your child’s place. This option is available for one week during a
calendar year. After one full year of enrollment at Funtime, you may take a full week off
at no charge. Attendance for one to five days counts as a full week for tuition purposes. For school-age children, a “free week”
applies only to summer camp.
Thanksgiving
Day
New Year’s Day
Day after
Thanksgiving
Martin Luther King Day
Christmas
Eve
Good Friday
Christmas
Day
Memorial Day
Day after
Christmas
Independence Day
No
discount from tuition will be made for holidays or other days on which the facility does
not operate or opens late (i.e. snow days, etc.).
In the
event of unusual weather conditions such as snow or ice, you may call us at (601) 925-KIDS
or 924-6500(after-school center). Though you
may use the
Notifying the Center of
Your Intent to Disenroll
From the
date you start, your child is considered to be enrolled in our school until we receive
written notice otherwise. A minimum two-week written notice addressed to the owner or
Director is required prior to disenrollment (although we request 30 days if at all
possible). The two weeks begins on the date we actually receive written notice.
This notice is common among high-quality childcare providers and allows us to
notify the family of the next child on our waiting list of an opening.
Computer Check In &
Out – Coming to our Preschool, Fall 2007!
The
primary mechanism for ensuring the security of the school is strict adherence to
established procedures for your child’s arrival and departure, including clocking in
and out on the school computer. We ask that you always check your child in
and out using the computer at the front desk. State regulations require us to know who is
in the building at all times. The authorized adult is required to do the check in and out,
not one of your children.
Please do
not give others (like grandparents, babysitters, etc.) your password. Rather, have
them identify themselves at the front desk before picking up your child. If another
person will regularly pick up your child, we will be happy to assign them their own
password to use.
You may
use this computer to check your tuition account balance, and from time to time, you will
receive other important messages here as well. For this reason, we ask that you read the
main screen, as well as any messages that are posted for you. Entering your personal pin
number is acknowledgement that you have read the posted message(s).
Should
our computer not be in service- you will sign your child in and out each day. Anyone who
needs to pick up and sign out your child will be required to show a photo ID (unless and
until staff is familiar with this person) and must be listed on your pick-up list.
Our
preschool center provides a “Kiss and Go” area to protect you and your child
from inclement weather. This is a no idle zone, which means your car should be
turned off, even if you have another driver remaining in the vehicle. This is for the
physical safety of our children and the reduction of exhaust fumes entering the building
and applies anywhere in front of the center. If you will be spending extra time with your
child or teacher, please park in one of the parking spaces allowing other parents to make
use of the “Kiss and Go” lanes. Please wait for other parents to move their cars
and do not drive in reverse, again for the safety of our children.
Please
hold your child’s hand firmly while exiting the building. Moving automobiles and
running children do not mix.
It is
important that your child’s day begin on a positive note. Upon arrival, please
sign your child in and make sure your preschool child’s teacher knows your child has
arrived. An authorized adult must accompany a child into and out of the building.
From time
to time, your child may experience some separation anxiety. This is normal.
Experts suggest you hug and comfort your child, let them know you are leaving and will see
them later, then promptly leave the classroom. While leaving a crying child can be a
difficult thing, most children stop crying within five minutes, and your lingering in the
classroom most often makes matters worse. You are welcome to call or check our
preschool Internet Cameras to check on your child.
At
pick-up, please sign your child out and check for any notes, messages, or permission slips
you may need to sign.
State
licensing regulations require that children spend 2 hours per day outside. With the
exception of an extremely cold or hot days or smoggy days in summer, understand that your
children will spend time outside each day. If a child is not well, and you do not want
them to go outside, they are not well enough to be at school and need to be kept at home
that day.
Clothing and Personal
Belongings
Please
leave an extra set of clothes for your child at all times. This applies to our all day
children of any age. Accidents happen and this will save calling you from work.
Please
label all clothing with your child’s first and last name. We cannot be responsible
for lost articles. Please send children to school in play clothes. Long dresses,
jellies shoes, cowboy boots, and flip-flops can be dangerous. Rubber soled or non-slippery
shoes are best for school.
We
require that you leave all food, gum, and toys at home. A soft sleep toy is OK for naptime
only. As seasons change, please send your child to school with appropriate jackets
or coats labeled with their name.
Birthdays
are important days for young children and we share your desire to make your child’s
day a special one. However, birthday celebrations are often over-stimulating to
young children, and we ask that some limitations be respected.
We
celebrate birthdays during regular afternoon snack times. Parents may provide a special
snack for all the children, with advance notice and the approval of your child’s
teacher, and are encouraged to participate in the celebration.
Due to
the fact that certain children have severe food allergies, please speak with the director
ahead of time about the appropriateness of the snack. Peanuts, peanut butter, and snacks with peanuts or
peanut oil in them (i.e. candy bars, etc.) are prohibited due to the severity of allergies
associated with that food.
Access to Your
Child’s Classroom
Parents
are permitted access to their child’s classroom and play areas anytime their child is
present. We request cooperation, however, in not disturbing our program.
Procurement Fee for
Hiring Our Teachers
Hiring of
our teachers by parents is highly discouraged because it presents a conflict of interest
for the teacher. If a parent does hire a teacher for a position (i.e. nanny or caregiver)
that competes with the center during enrollment or for a period of 12 months
after withdrawal from school, then the parents shall have 30 days to notify the center and
pay the center a $2500 placement fee. This fee is common and in line with what many nanny
agencies charge for placement.
From time
to time, we may provide parents with a list of children in his/her classroom. This is
mainly for birthday parties or special days. Unless you instruct us otherwise in writing,
you agree to allow us to use your name and address for this purpose.
We ask
that your child’s immunization record (MS Form 121) be presented with enrollment
forms. You must update and provide a new form as appropriate. Failure to maintain a
current Form 121 will result in your child staying home.
Please
understand that for your child’s protection and the protection of our staff and other
children, we strictly enforce our illness policy. We kindly request your full
cooperation by not bringing in sick children, and picking up a sick child within one
hour when you are called to do so. We cannot allow children with contagious
diseases in the Center. A child with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, must go home.
You understand that if your child is ill, including, but not limited to a severe cough,
undetermined rash or spots, boil, congestion, non-clear runny nose, pink-eye, head lice,
temperature over 101 degrees, severe headaches, nausea, diarrhea, or severe sore throat, he/she
cannot be accepted into the center until well or has been without fever or other symptoms
for 24 hours.
In the
event your child has a contagious disease, please notify the center immediately so we may
notify other parents. A release form from a doctor may be required before your child
re-enters the center. Funtime will notify parents if a contagious disease has been
introduced into the center. A child who, due to a temporary health condition, cannot
play outside should remain at home. For safety reasons, we are simply not staffed to watch
a single child inside while the rest of the class plays outside. A child who is too sick
to go outside is too sick to be at school.
Funtime
does not administer medicine. Please do not
send any medicine to school with your child. Parents
and anyone on your pick-up list may come to the school and give your child medicine. Teething tablets are allowed for infants and
toddlers.
It is
incumbent upon parents to keep the center informed of how they can be reached at all times
in the event of an emergency. This includes all work, home, and cell phone numbers for
parents and any other emergency contacts. Because we strive to maintain a safe environment
for your child, we make every attempt to be prepared to handle emergency situations. Many
members of our staff are trained in first aid and CPR.
An
emergency plan is posted in each classroom. We conduct regular fire and tornado drills.
The local fire department makes annual inspections with recommendations for
improved safety.
Although
many precautions are taken to ensure a safe environment, occasional incidents do and will
occur as children explore the world around them. If an incident or injury occurs, first
aid is administered. Also, for preschool children, an accident report is filled out, and a
copy is given to you. This report will describe the nature of the incident and
the follow-up care that was provided. Please understand that in a group care
setting, we do witness most incidents, but occasionally there may be an incident which we
do not see.
Should
your child become ill during the time that he/she is in the care of Funtime, or suffers a
serious accident, the center will contact a parent or guardian immediately and shall be
authorized to secure such medical attention, transportation, and care for the child as may
be necessary (The parent shall assume responsibility for the cost of any such care).
Funtime uses
We will
make all attempts to contact you and other emergency contact numbers first, so it is
important that you keep the center informed in writing as to changes in your telephone
numbers (cell, pagers, work, home), as well as those of emergency contacts.
Building Safety and
Evacuation Policy
The
preschool center is equipped with a weather band radio, fire alarm system, sprinkler
system and fire extinguishers, as well as firewalls and other fire-prevention devices.
We
conduct fire drills each month to insure that all staff and children are able to vacate
our buildings quickly (under 2 minutes). We also conduct tornado drills. In the event of
an evacuation, we will work with city and emergency officials in transporting the children
to our other facility or First Baptist Church of Clinton.
In even
the best preschool settings, periodic outbreaks of biting occur between infants and
toddlers, and sometimes even among preschoolers. This is an unavoidable occurrence in
groups of young children. When it happens, it can be very frightening, frustrating,
and stressful for children, parents, and teachers.
Understand
that this is not an unusual phenomenon among children who are going through the oral stage
of their development. It is also not something to blame on children, parents, or
teachers, and there are no quick and easy solutions to it. Children bite for a variety
of reasons: simple sensory exploration, panic, crowding, seeking to be noticed, or
intense desire for a toy. Repeated biting becomes a pattern of learned behavior that
is often hard to extinguish because it does achieve results: the desired toy, excitement,
and attention. Children may be teething and biting may be a pleasant sensation to a
young child. Knowing that their biting will hurt another person is not yet part of a
child’s mindset, so the “cause-effect” relationship is not internalized.
Our teachers plan activities and supervise carefully in order to minimize biting.
There are times, however, that a teacher cannot be within immediate reach to prevent a
bite.
Our
policy for handling a biting incident is as follows:
The biter
is immediately removed from the group with a firm “NO”. The bitten child
is consoled and the bitten area cleaned. If necessary, ice is applied to reduce any
swelling or bruising. The biter is talked to on a level that he/she can understand and
then redirected.
A written
bite report is given to the parents of all children involved when they are picked up that
day. The name of the biting child is not released because it serves no useful
purpose and can make an already difficult situation more difficult.
We look
intensively at the context of each biting incident for patterns, in an effort to prevent
further biting behavior. We work with each biting child on resolving conflict or
frustration in an appropriate manner. We try
to make every effort to extinguish the behavior quickly and to balance our commitment to
the family of the biting child to that of other families. Only after we feel we have
made every effort to make the program work for the biting child do we consider asking a
family to withdraw the child.
Meals are
included in the price of your tuition. Meals include a morning snack, lunch (for
preschoolers), and an afternoon snack. School age children bring their own lunch
during school holidays and summer. The lunch
should be labeled with the child’s name and should not require any special storage
temperature or heating. We will serve milk or
water for lunch or a drink may be sent with the child’s lunch. Children are not allowed to share food. Our meals comply with the State and Federal Minimum
Nutrition Standards. We use a menu that rotates on a regular basis. Menus are
prepared and displayed each month so that the parents know what their child is being
served. Children are encouraged to take at least one bite of each food offered; however,
they are not forced to eat.
For
safety reasons (i.e. children with severe allergies, etc.) and behavioral reasons (it is
better if all children are served the same food), no other food is allowed in the center.
If you miss your child’s class breakfast or lunch, we kindly ask that you
please provide a meal for your child before dropping them off, and that they finish that
meal before entering the school.
In the
case of special dietary needs as prescribed by a physician, parents must furnish the food
items and/or make arrangements with the Director. Please notify the Director and your
child’s teacher of any food allergy your child may have, including the severity of
such an allergy, and what to do in the event a child accidentally ingests such food. We
will take your child’s picture and post it in the kitchen and the classroom.
Understand that we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate children with food
allergies or other food restrictions, but there are limits to what can be done in a large
group care setting.
Adequate
rest or quiet time is a very important part of a young, growing child’s day. Infants
are always allowed to nap as needed but as your child graduates to one nap per day
beginning in our toddler rooms, a rest period will follow lunch each day. All
toddlers should have their own mat and are encouraged to sleep or rest for a period of
time appropriate for their age. Blankets
and/or stuffed animals that are special to your child are encouraged to help your child
feel more comfortable and secure.
Toilet Training
We will be
happy to assist you in the toilet training of your infant.
Parents are asked to initiate the training at home before starting at
Funtime. Once training has begun, consistency
is crucial. Please bring training pants with
plastic pants or pull-ups and dress your child in easily manipulated clothing.
Diaper Changes
Diapers
are checked and changed as frequently as necessary to maintain the health and cleanliness
of the child. Hand washing and area
sanitization is performed before and after each change.
Water / Sun Safety
Sun-safe
practices will be followed to promote and ensure the safety of all children. Funtime will apply sunscreen to children as
necessary. When children swim, lifeguards will
be on duty and the staff/child ratio will be met. Funtime
staff along with pool lifeguards will ensure all children follow all swimming rules
At
Funtime we use a method of “redirection” to guide children toward appropriate
behavior. If a child is engaged in behavior non-conducive to a safe and happy
learning environment, the teacher will “redirect” the child toward appropriate
behavior.
Use of
physical punishment or harsh language is prohibited and we ask that parents and guardians
refrain from such actions while at the center, including the parking lot.
We use
the “red, yellow, or green light” system at the preschool as a way of keeping
the children and parents informed of behavior. We
will work with children and parents as much as possible to correct negative behavior
patterns. School-age children receive written
discipline reports for serious behavior problems. Three
discipline reports within 12 months will result in the child being removed from our
program.
Behavior
that invades the rights of other children, such as stealing, fighting, or using foul
language, may result in immediate permanent removal from our program.
NEITHER
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT NOR TOTAL ISOLATION SHALL BE USED AS DISCIPLINE MEASURES IN LICENSED
CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
Mandated Reporting
Information
Teachers
and Directors are required by law to report evidence of child neglect or abuse. Those who
fail to report according to state regulations can be held accountable under the law. No
one, including school management and/or a child’s parents, can interfere with this
reporting requirement.
The use
or presence of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs is prohibited in the building or anywhere
on the grounds by any staff, parent or visitor. Smoking is NOT allowed in the facilities
or on the parking lot and we ask parents to not dispose of cigarettes on the grounds.
After-school
children, after snack and a short outside play time, will be required to work on their
written homework assignments. Our teachers
assist with homework until every child has completed his/her work and it has been checked
for accuracy. We usually do not do homework on Wednesdays (skate day) and Fridays (field
trip day).
Funtime
Preschool and After-school conducts regular field trips and provides transportation for
such.
Funtime will
follow the transportation policy as stated below:
1.
All drivers
will be appropriately licensed for the vehicle they are driving.
2.
All vehicles
will have current safety inspection stickers, licenses and registrations, and proof of
insurance.
3.
Children
board or leave the vehicle from the curb-side of the street when applicable.
4.
Seat
restraints will be used.
5.
Proper
teacher/child ratio shall be met during transportation.
6.
After
transporting children, the bus or vehicle will be checked by a
teacher
and the driver to ensure every child has exited the vehicle.
Insurance
Funtime
Preschool and
PARENT
INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
Calendars
Each
month we print calendars for most age groups. These
calendars are for the purpose of keeping parents informed about the following; snacks,
meals, activities, weekly units, daily lessons, field trips, what to bring, holiday
closings, picture day, and other important information.
Please pick up and keep a current calendar at home so you can check it each
day before coming to school. Calendars are
available at the front check-in desk at the preschool and the after-school centers.
Each day
in most preschool classrooms, you will receive a Daily Report that contains details about
your child’s day, including how they ate, slept, played, and what they learned. For
younger children, the report includes information on diaper changes.
Internet Cameras –Coming to our Preschool Fall 2007!
Included
in your tuition is access via a secure Internet Server to the cameras in your child’s
classroom and our café so that you may view the activities and your child’s
participation in those activities. Access to our system is limited by password protection.
You may obtain more information and enroll at www.watchmegrow.com
If an
issue arises that cannot be addressed by your child’s teacher, we ask that you notify
one of our Directors. If you still feel that your issue has not been addressed properly,
please feel free to contact the owner. The
owners of this center are onsite daily and welcome your input.
We have
arranged with an outside vendor to take pictures of your child 2-3 times each year.
You will be given advance notice of the schedule so that you can prepare your child.
Purchase of pictures is optional and is made directly with that vendor.
From time
to time, we will offer enrichment classes (dance, music, KinderTOTs, etc…) for
children that are very popular with many of our parents. We will post information as
these classes become available. These classes are over and above our regular curriculum
and are generally taught by professionals from outside our center. Parents pay these
professionals directly. Information will be posted at the front desk as classes
become available.
since 3/12/07