ORGANIZATION

PHILOSOPHY

OBJECTIVES OF INFANT AND TODDLER CARE

1. To provide care for each infant or toddler while he is away from his parents, giving primary attention to his safety and well-being.



2. To provide a staff of qualified caregivers who are trained and who show a deep interest in each child as a growing individual.



3. To provide nurturing love in an atmosphere of a home environment.



4. To provide stimulating experiences and opportunities for infants and toddlers at their levels so that they may learn about themselves and the world around them.



5. To provide a program for developmental, physical, and emotional needs of each child.



6. To provide an atmosphere for infants that allows for natural sleeping and waking rhythms of each child.



7. To provide an atmosphere where parents, infant/toddler care staff, and child work together to form an extended family for the child.



8. To provide a daily program of constructive experience for each child through planned physical activity, creative play, music, stories, art projects, and personal attention according to each child's needs.

OBJECTIVES OF 2 YEAR-OLDS and DAY CARE

1. To provide care for the children while they are away from their parents, giving primary attention to the safety and well-being of the children.



2. To provide guidance to pre-school children to help them:



1. to adapt to society and to develop in a social context, by learning to get along with other children.



2. communicate ideas to adults and other children through linguistic development.



3. to develop self-pride, independence, self-confidence.



4. to play alone and in a group.



5. to develop motor skills (large and small muscle), coordination, physical and rhythmical sense.



6. to use their imagination.



7. to be creative and constructive by using a variety of art media.



8. to encourage intellectual development according to the individual child.



9. to develop natural and spontaneous behavior.



10. to widen their horizon by learning about the world.



11. to develop good habits by reinforcing the idea of using manners, being polite and respectful to others and respecting others' property.



3. to provide a daily schedule consisting of constructive experience for each child through planned physical activity, creative play, music, stories, art projects, and personal attention. These activities will take place in both group and individual settings.



4. to provide an overall program of weekly units covering specific concepts dealing with social and academic facets of life, starting with general concepts for the younger child and working toward more detailed lessons with the older child.



5. to provide child training and discipline which are handled with kindness and understanding. Attention is given to specific needs of the child. Each individual is encouraged to become a part of the group and to participate accordingly.

SCHOOL HOURS

SCHOOL SCHEDULES

1. five full days
2. five half days AM (6:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with lunch)
3. five half days PM (12:00 noon to 5:30 p.m., with lunch)
4. a part time schedule including any combination of part and full time days as approved by Day Care Administration.

FINANCES

1. Checks are payable to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.



2. Two weeks' notice will be given in the event of rate changes.



3. Tuition will be paid on a monthly basis. Payment is to be made at the Accommodations Office, Aspen East, MS# 322 or by depositing your payment in one of the yellow boxes at the center. If payment is late, a 5% late charge is added. Payroll deduction is encouraged for Fermilab employees.



4. Written notice of withdrawal from the school must be provided to Day Care Administration two weeks prior to the last day of school. In the event that a child's enrollment must be terminated by the center, two week's prior written notice will be given to the parents. Billing will include the two weeks following the withdrawal/termination notice.



5. Tuition is based on 4.33 weeks per month.



6. Sick Leave - No sick leave credit will be given.



7. Vacation - No vacation credit will be given.



8. Travel/Day Care Credit - A Children’s Center Travel/Day Care Credit form, a Fermilab travel voucher, and a receipt from the child care facility are required documentation to receive credit.  The Travel/Day Care Credit form can be obtained from the day care staff.  Credit will be given the billing cycle after the documentation is received.



9. Late Fee - A late fee of $15.00 for each 15-minute increment of time will be charged to persons who arrive after 5:30 PM to pick up their children or who cause the teacher to remain on duty after 5:30 PM. (Additional amounts of $15.00 will be charged at 5:46, 6:01, 6:16, 6:31, etc. By 6:30, the late fee bill would be $60.00) Payment for this fee will be expected when the child is picked up. The child will not be accepted at school until the payment is made. When late, you will be asked to initial the time and date of departure. A late fee will be charged to morning half time children who are picked up after 1:00 P.M. unless previous arrangements have been made.



10. Once the child has been accepted and enrolled we request at least a two-week notice of any change in schedule. We will attempt to facilitate schedule changes. We cannot guarantee enrollment changes. Students withdrawn for the summer months can be placed on a waiting list for fall enrollment. Schedule changes will be more difficult when involving a part time schedule. We will make an effort to accommodate changes sooner than two weeks if necessary.



11. A 20% discount is given for a second and subsequent child(ren) from the same immediate family. The discount applies to the child with the lower rate.



12. Current rate schedules are attached, and will be updated annually.

NEW CHILD ADJUSTMENT

HEALTH

1. fever



2. diarrhea



3. vomiting



4. rash (unless parent brings a note from the doctor specifically stating the cause of the rash and the fact that it is non-contagious).



5. conjunctivitis (pink eye)



6. any contagious disease such as strep throat, chicken pox, scarlet fever, measles, and mumps. These are highly contagious. Please report contagious diseases to the staff.



7. pinworm, lice, or any other parasitic infestation. These are transmitted by direct contact and are highly communicable. Please report any such infestation to the staff.

1. a fever of 101 or more is present.



2. three diarrhea stools occur within a 6 hour period.



3. the child is vomiting.



4. the child develops unusual rash.



5. any observation that presents a health concern to the child or the other children, such as an eye irritation.

ADMINISTERING MEDICATION

1. Medicine is handed to the teacher in charge with storage instructions, i.e., refrigeration required, or store at room temperature.



2. Prescription medicine must show: name of child, prescription number, name of doctor, and direction for use. We will not administer medication unless it is in the original container.



3. Parents fill out necessary information on the Medicine Form available in each room. The dosage on this form must match the instructions on the bottle.



4. Non-prescriptive medicine may be administered upon parental permission, when absolutely necessary. Such medication shall be administered in accordance with package instructions, and shall be labeled with the child's name and date. No medications causing drowsiness will be administered. Non-prescriptive medicine will be given only for a limited time, not to exceed three (3) days and never on an "as needed" basis, unless accompanied by a doctor's note. Non-prescriptive medicine cannot be administered to control or disguise a fever.

VISITATION

INFANT INFORMATION

EATING

SLEEPING

EMERGENCY PLANS

Plan 1

Plan 2

Plan 3

Plan 4

FOOD & REST PERIODS

BITING POLICY

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

TIME LIMITS

ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SAFELY COMPLAINTS

SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS

CLOTHING

MISCELLANEOUS

1. If your child is going to be absent please notify the school before 8:30 AM. Phone 840-3762. We have voice mail so messages can be left before the school opens.



2. Any messages from home should be written and brought to the attention of the teachers. This way the Staff will be informed of any specific needs your child may have.



3. The school will not be held responsible for toys and personal items brought to school. However, respect for property will be taught and observed. NO GLASS items or gum will be allowed. We stress that you please mark your child's possessions.



4. Parents are welcome to send cookies or healthy snacks to share with their children's friends and teachers on birthdays or special occasions (such as the birth of a new sister or brother). We encourage parents to prepare a food that would be nutritious, as well as tasty. Please let your child's teacher know in advance when bringing a snack. No previously opened items or partially eaten food (1/2 or a cake or pie) can be served. We do not allow treat bags, balloons, or toys of any kind to be brought for children on birthdays.



5. Field trips and nature walks are considered an important part of the educational program and will be taken periodically to nearby places. The Center will provide the same adequate responsible adult supervision for these excursions as is provided while in attendance at the Center. Your permission for your child to participate in such excursions is required at registration.



6. Photographs of the children participating in our programs may be taken from time to time. Your permission for photographs including your child is required at registration.



7. Notes from the Staff pertaining to an individual child or some forthcoming event will be put in the child's lunch box or taped to his cubby. We have found this to be the best way to make sure that these notes get home to parents



8. Parents will receive newsletters informing them of their child's activities, special events, etc. This newsletter will also be found in your child's lunch box or taped to their cubby.



9. We care about your concerns regarding your children. When such concerns arise, a scheduled conference time works best for sharing between parent and teacher. If at anytime you desire a conference, please schedule one with your child's teacher for a time convenient to all involved. If you need to discuss any situation with the Administrator, please call ext. 3762 to schedule an appointment. Formal conferences are held in late May and early June. Conversely, if a teacher has a concern regarding your child, the Administrator may request an appointment with you.
10. Each case of discipline is handled individually. Usually the child and teacher discuss what has happened and the child is informed that his behavior is unsatisfactory and that the incident should not reoccur. The child may then be asked to sit down for a short period of time to take a "time out." If the situation continues to occur, the incident will be brought to the parents' attention so that the staff and parents can work together to resolve the problem.



11. The Center reserves the right to discharge any student from school. Specific reasons for such action include but are not limited to a child who is verbally and physically abusive to other children and staff, a child who continually destroys school property, a child who displays specific needs for a special education program, a child whose individual needs would be better met in a different environment, a child with toileting problems which interfere with teaching and learning times, or non-payment of tuition. Before a child would be removed from school, a conference would be scheduled to discuss the problem and to compile a list of solutions to be attempted. A follow-up conference may then be scheduled. If these attempts do not work in an agreed time span, a two-week written notice of removal of the child will be sent to the parents.



12. We expect all children in the Day Care (3-6 year olds) to be totally proficient in toileting skills. For this reason, children are not to be sent in the disposable pull-ups. Underwear must be worn. The teachers in the 2 year old room make toilet training a priority. Your help at home is essential. Further information regarding toileting is sent home when your child enters the 2-year-old classroom. Before children move to the 3 year old room, they must demonstrate their ability to be accident free, be able to undress and dress as needed and wash their hands independently for a 2 week time period. Children new to the center will be expected to show this proficiency during their first two weeks of enrollment. If children do not meet these requirements, their parents will be given a two-week notice to make other day care arrangements.