ST. GABRIEL CHILD CARE 2007 - 2008

PRE-KINDERGARTEN HANDBOOK

 

            St. Gabriel Child Care offers a Pre-Kindergarten program to families registered in St. Gabriel Parish.  The SGCC Pre-Kindergarten is licensed by the state and teaches a curriculum that is in compliance with the directives of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Lifelong Formation & Education.  It builds academic and social skills necessary for entering kindergarten.  The administration and staff are dedicated to providing a quality program in a Christian atmosphere that supports the philosophy, formation and education mission of the parish. 

  The Pre-Kindergarten hours are from 8:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.  The doors open at

7:30 A.M.  For those families who need care after 11:30 A.M., SGCC offers After School Care until 5:30 P.M.   The programs operate only on those days when St. Gabriel School is in session.  All children must be 4 years old before October 1 and be a baptized Catholic.

SGCC Pre-Kindergarten is located at 8608 Augustine Way.  It is in a house that has been renovated to conform to child care state licensing and regulation requirements.  Access to the house is from the church and school property only, not from Augustine Way.  The Child Care Office is located in the Child Care Center that is in the lower level of the newest addition to the school.  Access to the office and center, from the outside, is through the sunken courtyard.

 

 

FEES       

            Only full-time (5 days a week) children are accepted. No drop-ins are accepted for

Pre-K or After School Care.  The Pre-K fee is $75.00 per week per child. The Pre-K & After School Care fee is $125.00 per week per child.  All fees are to be paid weekly through the end of the school year.  If school is open at any time, you will be charged for those days. If your child is absent for any reason, you will be charged for those days.  If school is not in session, you will be charged a pro-rated fee of $15.00 per day per child for Pre-K and $25.00 per day per child for Pre-K and After School Care.  If at any time you must withdraw your child from Pre-K, notice in writing must be given two weeks in advance.

 

 

PAYMENT POLICY

            Payment is due the Friday before the week starts.  If full payment is not paid at the end of a two-week period (Friday), an overdue payment notice will be sent home in your child’s Pre-K folder on the following Monday.  If payment is not made in full by the next day (Tuesday), a $10.00 late charge will be added to the balance.  This applies even if your child is absent Monday and/or Tuesday.  Non-payment after three weeks will result in your child being withdrawn from SGCC

Pre-K.

            Make checks payable to SGCC Pre-Kindergarten.  Place payment (no cash) in your child’s special envelope in the Pre-K folder (this folder will be given to you at Pre-K Registration/Parent Information Night held in August).

 

 

LATE CHARGE PICK-UP FEE

*Pre-K - $1.00 per minute after 11:30 A.M.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

*At 11:35 A.M. we will begin calling authorized persons to pick up your child /children.

* After School Care -  $1.00 per minute after 5:30 P.M.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

*At 5:35 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 Pre-K House.

REGISTRATION /MEDICAL FORM

            The registration/medical form enclosed in this packet must be completed and brought to the Parent Information Night.        

 

 

IMMUNIZATIONS & EYE EXAMINATIONS

            An immunization certificate and eye examination must be kept on file at the center for each child enrolled at St. Gabriel Pre-K.  You must submit your child’s original (no copies), updated immunization certificate, complete with address and expiration date, and eye examination, along with the registration/medical form on Parent Information Night.   Please note that the eye exam must be performed by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.  (Physicals are not required.  However, if you choose to schedule one for your 4-year-old child, you will not need to have an additional physical to enter St. Gabriel Kindergarten.)  All forms are forwarded to the St. Gabriel School office at the end of the year. 

 

 

CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES

*For your child’s comfort, a change of clothes (sweatpants, shirt, underwear and socks) must be sent to SGCC Pre-K on the first day of school or you may bring this with you on open house night in a labeled ziploc bag.

*All articles brought by children must be labeled.

* Children may not wear flip-flops; however, sandals with back straps are allowed.  It is recommended for safety reasons that all children wear comfortable shoes daily, such as sneaker/tennis shoes.    

*Clothing appropriate to the weather, especially cold weather, should be worn daily.

*Each child must bring a zippered backpack daily that will hold a pocket folder.  Please do not send backpacks that have buckles, buttons or string closures.

 

 

ARRIVAL

                 Because school children are arriving each morning and traffic is sometimes at a standstill, you will not be able to park and bring your child into the Pre-K House.  You must bring your child to the school cafeteria instead.  You must enter the church and school property at Hudson Lane along with school traffic, and park in the courtyard that is behind the school cafeteria.  Enter the back cafeteria door and check your child in daily.  (This drop-off procedure is subject to change.)  You must park on school property only, not on Augustine Way.  The children may begin arriving no earlier than 7:30 A.M. and must arrive no later than 8:00 A.M.   The children will be taken to the Pre-K House promptly at 8:00 A.M.  Pre-K children are not allowed to ride the school bus with the older children. 

 

 

DISMISSAL

Enter at Hudson Lane and park on school property adjacent to the Pre-K House.  Go through the backyard gate of the Pre-K House, enter the sunroom and sign your child out, including the time.  After 3:30 P.M., pick-up is at the front door instead of the sunroom and you should still park on school property, not Augustine Way.   (At the 11:30 A.M. dismissal, you must exit the school property at Hudson Lane because school children are playing outdoors and traffic around the school property is prohibited.) 

Arrival and dismissal procedures will be discussed at the Registration/Parent Information  Night.

RELEASE OF CHILDREN

            A parent or other authorized individual listed on the registration form must sign out child/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.  Inform the Pre-K personnel of any new change of address, new phone number, etc. throughout the year.  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.

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.  If a child leaves Pre-K due to illness, he/she may not return to Pre-K or attend After School Care on that day. 

            Children will not be released to anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, regardless of authorized pick-up approval.

 

 

REST TIME

After School Care children will rest in the afternoon.  A cot, sheet, and blanket will be provided as regulated by State Licensing.

 

SNACK

            A morning snack with milk, juice or water will be served during Pre-K hours and an afternoon snack with milk, juice or water will be served during After School Care hours. 

 

LUNCH (After School Care children only)

                New this year:  The children will walk to the school cafeteria for lunch each day at

11:40 A.M.  They are encouraged to participate in the school lunch program which includes a hot lunch and milk for $1.85  If parents choose not to participate in the lunch program, they must provide a daily nutritional sack lunch and drink.  Milk, juice, or small water may be purchased for $0.35.  Please do not send foods that need refrigeration, preparation on a stove or in a microwave.  Soft drinks, food purchased at fast food restaurants, etc., are also not allowed as this violates state regulations.   Pre-K children may not choose from the salad bar, ala carte and snack items or second entrees.  Menus will be sent home monthly in your child’s Pre-K folder or you may access the menu online at www.stgabriel.net.

            Each child will have a pre-paid lunch account with a corresponding PIN for access.  This account can be used for drink purchases even if a child does not purchase a hot lunch.  The amount and frequency of deposits into this pre-paid lunch account is at the discretion of the parent.  Please make checks for this pre-paid lunch account payable to St. Gabriel Cafeteria and send payments in your child’s special envelope in the Pre-K folder. 

 

 

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.

MEDICATIONS

In order for any medicines to be given, specific guidelines from the Division of Licensed Child Care of the Cabinet for Health Services must be followed.  The parent or guardian must sign a daily medicine permission form or send a written daily note requesting that medication be given to the child.  If you do not sign the sheet or send a daily note, the child will not be given the medication.  SGCC Pre-K 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.

Prescription drugs and inhalers will be administered when parents send these medicines in a recently prescribed bottle with the original label from the pharmacy.  Parents will be asked to complete an “Authorization to Give Medicine” form if the medicine must be taken throughout the year. 

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 the package with the child’s name on the bottle 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.

 

 

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

            The primary purpose of discipline is to help the child develop self-control and to assume responsibility for his/her actions.  All Pre-K 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.

            Staff persons record behavior problems.  If a child consistently displays inappropriate behavior, the Pre-K teacher 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 will 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 Pre-K staff members are instructed on these procedures.  In the event that an emergency requires extended evacuation of the children from the building, emergency arrangements have been made and are posted on the Pre-K information board in the Pre-K House.  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 judgment of the SGCC Pre-K staff, immediate medical and/or hospital attention is indicated, the staff will call 911 and then a parent or authorized emergency person.

            A report shall be made to the Division of Licensed Child Care of the Cabinet for Health Services at 595-4079 for any major emergency.

ABSENTEES

            If your child will be absent from Pre-K, you must call the Pre-K House at

762-0341 before 9:00 A.M.  Please leave a message if no one answers.  If, for some reason you cannot reach this number, you may call the Child Care office at 239-1298 or 649-2044.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

*All children must be toilet-trained and able to take care of themselves in the restroom before entering Pre-K.

*No baby bottles or pacifiers may be brought to Pre-K.

*Do not send toys or valuables.

*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.

* The SGCC PRE-K FAX number is 762-0341.  SGCC OFFICE FAX number is 239-1298.

 

DAYS CLOSED

            SGCC Pre-K will be closed when St. Gabriel School is closed.  A school calendar is provided for your assistance.  Please keep it handy!  Pre-K children follow their normal schedule on days when St. Gabriel School is dismissed at 11:00 A.M. or 1:00 P.M. 

            SGCC Pre-K is not open when school is canceled or dismissed early due to snow.  Please listen to the media for Jefferson County Catholic elementary school closings or delays.  The delay policy is as follows:  Pre-K will begin at 10:00 A.M. and close at the regular time.  The doors will open at 9:30 A.M.  

 

FULL DAY CARE

            SGCC offers care to children in Pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade on two days in October, one in February, and two in March when school is closed.  Full Day Care is held in the Child Care Center in the lower level of the newest addition to the school and is $26.00 per day.  Additional information is enclosed.

 

PERSONNEL

 

Director-------------------------------------------------------Mrs. Jeannie Cockerel

 

Assistant Director-------------------------------------------      Mrs. Dot Brandenburg

 

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------Ms. Cindy Bowen

 

Assistant Pre-K Teachers-----------------------------------Ms. Tabitha Shown

 Ms. Barbara Thomas

 Ms. Beverly Coke

                                                                                                 Mrs. Suanne Minch

 

 

Phones--------------------------------------------------------Pre-Kindergarten House                            762-0341

                                                                                                Pre-K Fax                                               762-0341

                                                                                                SGCC Office & Fax                               239-1298

                                                                                                SGCC Office Voice Mail                      649-2044

                                                                               

                                                                                               

E-mail---------------------------------------------------------jcockerel@stgabriel.net

                                                                                              dbrandenburg@stgabriel.net

                                                                                                cbowen@stgabriel.net

                                                                            tshown@stgabriel.net