ST GABRIEL 2007 - 2008
AFTER SCHOOL CARE HANDBOOK
Our program is a licensed
child care designed to provide quality after school care for children who attend
Believing that children will flourish in a safe and supportive environment, children are supervised by a qualified and caring staff that enjoy interacting with school-age children. The staff provides positive guidance and discipline that encourages children to be independent and solve any problems that may arise. Believing that an after school care program is a vital ministry of St. Gabriel Parish for its families, the administration and staff are dedicated to providing care in a Christian atmosphere which supports the formation and education mission of the parish.
PERSONNEL
Mrs. Sunny Bowen
Ms. Barbara Thomas
Mrs. Suanne Minch
Mrs. Mary Mudd
Mrs. Mary Coomes
Mrs. Kathy Campbell
Ms. Bev Coke
Mrs.
Ms. Megan Kolb
Mrs. Susan Sortor
Mr. Chris Horn
Ms. Lindsay Ruzanka
St. Gabriel Pre-Kindergarten 762-0341
Dot
Cindy Bowen – E-mail cbowen@stgabriel.net
GENERAL INFORMATION
Hours of Operation---------------------------------- School Days 2:45 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Early Dismissal 1:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. and 11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
FEES
Outstanding balances from previous school years must be paid at or prior to registration in order to register your child/children for the upcoming school year. There is an annual $25.00 non-refundable registration/supply fee PER CHILD. If late registrations are accepted, a late registration fee of $50.00 per child will be charged. There is no guarantee that late registrations will be accepted after school registration in August. The registration fee applies to all, even if you only need to use the program one time, and it MUST be received at school registration. The fee must be accompanied by the signed registration/medical form, along with the required immunization form for new students, or students who did not attend After School Care last year, or students whose certificates have expired.
*THE COST FOR ONE CHILD IS $12.00 ON A REGULAR SCHOOL DAY AND $9.00 A DAY FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CHILD IN A FAMILY.
DAILY RATE SCHEDULE
1 child 2 children 3 children 4 children
2:45 – 6:00 P.M. $12.00 $21.00 $30.00 $39.00
1:00 – 6:00 P.M. $17.00 $26.00 $35.00 $44.00
(FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
SGCC does not
pro-rate for early pick-up. The same fee
is paid when your child is in our care for a few minutes or several hours. Once your child has checked in at the ASC,
you will be charged the full fee for that day.
On 11:00 A.M. dismissal days, advance registration is necessary. No drop-ins are accepted on these days. Information will be posted at the ASC sign-out table.
PAYMENT POLICY (Please read carefully.)
All payments are due weekly on the last day your child attends. If your child only attends one day during a week, payment is due on that day. Fees are to be paid in full as scheduled and should be deposited in the check box at the sign-out desk. Balances, debits, and credits are recorded daily on the front of the sign-out sheet. Receipts are available upon request.
If full payment is not paid at the end of a
two-week period (Friday) in which your child has attended at any time, an
“overdue payment” notice will be attached to your sign-out sheet. If payment is not made in full by Tuesday of
the next week, a $10.00 late charge will be added to the balance. This applies even if your child is absent on
Monday and/or Tuesday, and whether your child/children attend full-time or
occasionally. Non-payment after 3 weeks
will result in your child being withdrawn from St. Gabriel Child Care. It is each family’s responsibility to keep
current. Late payment notices are mailed
only after the late charge has been added to the balance.
*Make checks payable to St. Gabriel Child Care and write ASC in the memo part of the check. Also, please include child’s name on the check.
St. Gabriel Child Care must charge a $15.00 service fee for each returned check. If a check is returned, you will be notified, and the charge will be added to your balance.
LATE CHARGE PICK-UP
FEE
*$1.00 per minute
after 6:00 P.M. NO EXCEPTIONS!
*There will be no adjustments
on fees if your child/children are involved in extracurricular activities
during After School hours.
*At 6:05 P.M. we will begin calling authorized persons to pick up your child/children.
*All fees will be based on the time that appears on the clock at the sign-out desk.
PARENT ROUTINE
*Enter the St. Gabriel Child Care Center for pick-up, located in the lower level of the newest addition to the school. You must use the outside steps leading down to the sunken courtyard and enter through the glass doors. Sign your child/children out daily with initials and time.
*Please do not use the sign-out book for personal correspondence (party invitations, notes to other parents, etc.).
*For safety reasons, do not allow your child/children to leave the building unattended.
*Check for announcements on “notice” boards.
*Inform SGCC personnel of any new change of address, new phone numbers, etc. throughout the year. The school office does not always inform SGCC of these changes.
*If at any time during the day your child becomes ill, the parent will be notified and expected to come for the child. If a parent cannot be located, the emergency person(s) will be notified.
*Because the After School Care does not require
contracted days, it is important that your child and his/her teacher know which
days he/she is to attend. Notify your
child’s teacher of any change in the regular schedule. It is also helpful if the Child Care office
is notified.
ENROLLMENT AND RELEASE OF CHILDREN
A parent or other authorized individual must sign out all children. If any changes occur regarding persons authorized to pick up your child/children, the staff MUST be notified in writing, and identification will be required upon pick-up. No phone authorizations for release of child/children will be accepted. Also, notes for release of children brought in by unauthorized persons cannot be accepted.
If a biological parent is not allowed to pick up his or her child/children, a Certified Copy of Record from Jefferson Family Court must be submitted to the director. Both biological parents may authorize persons to pick up their child/children unless this court record is submitted.
Any persons authorized to pick up your child must be listed on the registration form, or a dated
handwritten note by the parent or guardian must be sent to school and given to a staff member of
St. Gabriel Child Care.
Also, for your child’s
safety, the staff must be given handwritten permission in order for your child
to attend any school activity on the premises, such as sports practices, Rosary
Club, tutoring, etc. If your child will
be attending practices on certain days or attending activities on set days, one
note may be written. An activity
permission form, which we recommend, is enclosed in the registration packet
(pink sheet). Additional copies may be
obtained at the center. All children must sign-in at ASC before going to
their practice or activity.
If a child leaves school due to illness, he/she may not attend the ASC.
Children will not be released to anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, regardless of authorized pick-up approval.
MEDICATIONS
In order for any medicines to be given, specific guidelines from the Office of Licensing and Regulation of the Cabinet for Health Services must be followed. (These guidelines may vary from the school policy.) The center keeps a written record of the child’s name, medication, dosage, date, time given, and person giving medication. All medications are kept in a locked box at the center.
Prescription drugs will be administered when parents send these medicines in a recently prescribed bottle with the original label from the pharmacy and a daily parent/guardian permission note. The exceptions to the daily note rule are inhalers and Epipens (prescription medicines that are given on an as-needed basis). Parents will be asked to complete an “Authorization to Give Medicine” form for all prescription drugs. This form is included in the Child Care registration packet and is available at the center. Children attending SGCC may not carry inhalers and Epipens in their pockets or backpacks due to child care state licensing regulations.
Non-prescription drugs (which include cough lozenges, cough
syrup, ibuprofen, ointments, acetaminophen and aspirin) will be administered
when parents send the medication in the original bottle and/or package, and
when there is a note from the physician.
The note from the physician should explain why the child needs to take
the drug, when he/she is to take it, and the dosage amount. This needs to accompany the medicine to the
center, along with a daily parent/guardian permission
note.
IMMUNIZATIONS
The
Office of Licensing and Regulation of the Cabinet for Health Services requires
that an immunization certificate must be kept on file at the center for each
child enrolled at St. Gabriel Child Care.
All new students, or students who
were not enrolled in St. Gabriel Child Care last year, or those whose
immunization certificates have expired, must submit a copy of a current
DAILY ROUTINE
2:45 – 3:15---------------------------------------------------------- Come to child care center upon dismissal and place belongings
in designated cubbies.
Listen for announcements (birthdays, reminders, etc.).
Sign in.
Wash hands.
Eat snack.
3:15------------------------------------------------------------------ Dismiss from snack.
------- Change clothes.
Choose from a variety of activities.
3:15 – 4:15 (Monday – Thursday)------------------------Homework/study period for 4th, 5th & 6th graders is in the cafeteria
or library, when available, and at least 10 children sign-up.
5:30------------------------------------------------------------------ Clean up.
All materials and/or equipment are to be cleaned up and/or stored in their proper place after use. All children are expected to care for items as if they were their own.
If a child has written parental permission to attend an After School activity on the premises, he/she must first come to the ASC, sign in, and get snack. SNACK TIME ENDS AT 3:15 P.M.
CHILDREN’S RULES
1. Keep hands, feet, and objects to oneself.
2. Play fair and share.
3. Be polite and respect others, as well as their ideas and property.
4. Use only appropriate language.
5. Stay in authorized areas.
6. Run only outdoors.
7. Clean up and put away all games and toys.
8. Remain seated during snack until dismissed.
9. Use good manners.
10. Enter restroom one child at a time.
MISCELLANEOUS
*What to send:
Play clothes, if desired
Outdoor clothing appropriate to the weather, especially cold weather
Homework materials
*What not to send:
Food
Good clothes
Toys and valuables
*All articles brought by child must be labeled.
*Children will not be allowed to return to their classrooms after they have checked in at ASC.
*Child Care personnel are not allowed to open classroom doors in order to get coats, books, folders, etc.
*All items left at the After School Care will be placed in a Lost and Found box at the center. At the end of each month, they will be put with the school’s Lost and Found in the cafeteria.
*Injuries will be recorded on an Accident Report Form.
*All personnel are trained in disaster/emergency procedures, CPR, and First Aid, and they receive a
minimum of 12 hours of in-service per year.
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
The primary purpose of discipline is to help the child develop self-control and to assume responsibility for his/her own actions. All staff will be responsible for disciplining children. The staff will use methods of anticipation, distraction, negotiation, and time-out for discipline. The staff will follow some basic rules when approaching a discipline problem: react quickly to the action involved, use positive reinforcement over negative when possible, respect the child as an individual, be consistent with procedures, and set a good example. Absolutely no corporal punishment will be used at any time.
Behavior problems are recorded by staff persons. If a child consistently displays inappropriate behavior, the site director and/or staff shall inform the parent. If the child’s inappropriate behavior continues, the director shall be advised.
The director may determine that a child’s behavior questions continued participation in the program and will request a conference with either or both parents. A probation will be contracted during such a conference. If the contract terms are not met, the child must be withdrawn from the program. Parents are encouraged to visit the program and to express questions or concerns.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Emergency drills are held monthly to acquaint your child with evacuation procedures. The evacuation plans are posted in the room and all staff members are instructed on these procedures. In the event that an emergency requires extended evacuation of the children from our main building, emergency arrangements have been made and are posted on the SGCC information board in the child care center. Parents or designated persons will be contacted as soon as possible concerning such a situation.
Medical emergencies will be handled as follows: If a medical emergency arises, we will first attempt to contact a parent. If a parent cannot be located, we will call those persons authorized for emergency pick-up. In the event the parents or authorized emergency persons cannot be reached, we will call the child’s physician and follow his/her orders. If, in the judgement of the St. Gabriel staff, immediate medical and/or hospital attention is indicated, the St. Gabriel staff will call 911 and then a parent or authorized emergency person.
A report shall be made to the Office of Licensing and Regulation of the Cabinet for Health Services at
595-4079 for any major emergency.
POLICY ON CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT
In the event that child abuse, neglect or dependency is suspected by a staff member, he/she will contact the Child Protection Hotline at 1-800-752-6200 or the County Department for Social Services. If a child is in imminent danger and is in need of immediate protection, the local police department will be called. If a report is filed, the Cabinet for Families and Children, Child Care Services Branch, will be contacted at 595-4550.
DAYS CLOSED
St. Gabriel Child Care is not open on days when school is canceled or dismissed early due to snow.
St. Gabriel Child Care is not open on Thanksgiving holidays, Christmas vacation, Spring Break, Easter Monday, National holidays, Derby Eve, and the two PTS conference days.
St. Gabriel Child Care is open on the two in-service days in October and the two in-service days in March that follow each PTS conference day. St. Gabriel Child Care will also be open on the February in-service day. The 5 days, known as Full Day Care, are offered with advance registration only. (See Full Day Care sheet for more information.)