Parent Handbook

updated 4/25/2012

 

 

 

Owner and Director: Tanya Poe

Co-Director: Cheryl Davide

 

Phone: 830- 257-6453       

833 Junction Hwy. Kerrville, TX 78028

State of TX child care license #1027066

Up-n Jacks Weekday Learning Center  will follow the Kerrville Independent School District Schedule for starting and ending dates, as well as holidays.  

Full day care for 18mos - 5 year olds will be from 7:15 am– 5:30 pm Monday –Friday.  No early drop off or late pickup.  See arrival and departure section. 

 After school care will be offered all school year from 2:30pm-5:30 Monday - Friday.  All children must be picked up by their parent or designated caregiver no later than 5:30 pm or charges will apply.      

During the year we normally observe the following holidays; therefore, we will be CLOSED.  Depending on the census for days adjacent to holidays, we may determine it best to close additional days.  If this occurs, you will be notified in advance.  We will also have a minimum of one Teacher In-Service Day per year. You will be notified in advance of the specific date(s).

• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day, the Wednesday prior and the Friday after
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day (if falls on weekend, may include Friday & Monday)
• New Years Eve
• New Years Day
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day

Should it be necessary to close due to inclement weather or other emergencies occur, every effort will be made to contact the parent as soon as possible.   If KISD is closed due to inclement weather, Up-n Jacks will also be closed.

Our normal procedure is to release the child to his or her guardian/parent(s) ONLY, or someone you designate.  If someone other than the parent is to pick the child up, please notify us in advance.  A verbal notice is acceptable on that day, YOU call us and we can verify identity. 

The emergency contact list you are required to complete designates who may pick up the child if a parent cannot. Those on the list should also be people we could call in the event something happened and you did not show up to pick up your child. Please inform your emergency contacts that if we do not know them; we will ask for identification.   It is not our intention to offend them; but to keep the children safe at all times.

Immunization requirements are set by the minimum standards for child care centers by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

See Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Child Care Facilities in back of this handbook. 

See Vision and Hearing Screening requirements in back of this handbook.

Parents will be notified to pick up their child immediately if signs of illness occur.  While waiting for the parent to arrive, the child will be removed from the classroom to prevent contact with other children.  Sick children will be kept at school only until the parent or emergency contact person arrive.   Symptoms of illness include:

• Fever – Oral temperature at or higher than 101.0 or under arm at or above 100.0.  Child may return when he has been fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without medication.
• Vomiting – If your child vomits two or more times in the previous 8 hours, they should not attend care.  He may return when 24 hours has passed since the last episode of vomiting.
• Diarrhea – If your child has diarrhea (watery bowel movements) two or more times, they may not return until 24 hours has passed since the last episode.

Emergency plans are posted in each classroom.   Emergency phone numbers are posted by each telephone.  Teachers in the classroom have 2 way radios or cell phones for constant communication with other staff and the Director.

In the event of an accident or medical emergency, parents will be notified as quickly as possible.  The teacher is responsible for going with the child to the emergency room or administering first aid if ER care is not necessary. 

If the accident is minor, an accident report will be completed and a copy given to the parent when the child is picked up.

Up-n Jacks will not administer medications unless it is an emergency such as inhaler or Epi-pen.  All other medications will need to be given by the parent or designated person.    If your child requires emergency medications such as an inhaler or Epi-pen, the following paragraphs describe our policy.

Up-n Jacks Weekday Learning Center staff will only administer medication prescribed by a physician and it is an emergency.  Please  make every effort to schedule medications when the child is not in our care.  Prescriptions must be in the original, child resistant container that has been labeled by a pharmacist.  The bottle must include the child’s name, the name of the medication, the date the medication was filled, the prescribing physician, expiration date, administration and storage instructions. 

Two steps must be taken in order for us to administer medications.  First, parent must complete our in house medication administration form.  Second, a written, dated note giving Up-n Jacks staff permission to administer the medication must be provided in advance.   Medications will not be given unless both of these steps have been completed in full.

No over –the – counter medication will be given. 

Records of all medication administered will be kept at the center.  The school will not, and cannot administer medication if the above guidelines are not explicitly followed. 

The easiest, most effective way to communicate to parents and guardians is in writing.  All memos and parent notes will be posted on the bulletin board, and/or sent home with your child.  Handbook updates will be in written communication form and will need to be added to your copy.   

At times, we may need to contact you by phone.  This does not necessarily mean an emergency has occurred; but may be needed in a timely manner. 

Minimum standards now require us to have an emergency preparedness plan.  It will be available to review by October 1, 2011.  It will cover emergency lockdown, meeting locations for fire, or safe shelter locations in case of a required evacuation.    Should an extreme event occur, we will contact you via phone and 911.  Our primary location would be Dairy Queen, just across the parking lot and side street.  Our secondary location would be Trinity Baptist Church Kerrville on Jackson Rd. 1.5 miles away.   

Discipline and Guidance

We strive to keep misbehavior to a minimum; however, some problems still occur.  Discipline will be consistent and individualized for each child, and appropriate for the child’s level of understanding. 

Our caregivers only use positive methods of discipline which include:

• Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only on the unacceptable behavior
• Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear statements
• Redirecting behavior
• Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development.  This may be limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age

Repeated inappropriate behavior which is not responding to the above measures will require more serious consideration.  At times, it may be necessary to remove the child from the classroom and take them to the Director’s office.  If this is necessary, parents will be notified in writing and we expect you to talk with him/her at home.  Parents play the most significant role in the appropriate social development of children.  As we work together, we can all meet the social and psychological needs of your child.  For school age children, a “think time form” will be completed by the child and presented to parents at pick up.

Child Abuse/Neglect and Reporting

By law, it is the school’s responsibility, as well as yours – the parent or guardian to report suspected child abuse immediately.  State law requires school personnel to report all cases of suspected abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services.  They may be contacted toll free, 24 hours a day at 1-800-252-5400. 

By the Texas Penal Code, we also are obligated to inform all families that any area within 1000 feet of a child care center is a gang free zone.  Criminal offenses in these areas will have more harsh penalties if convicted. 

                                                         

         ENROLLMENT PROCESS    AND FEES          
We accept infants as young as 18 months to children 11 years old. We are also a CCDS provider for those needing financial assistance. 

Children may be enrolled in Up-n Jacks after school program if they are presently attending school and are in PK – 5th grade.    ALL ENROLLMENT FORMS MUST BE COMPLETE BEFORE ATTENDING.  If at any time there is a change of information, you MUST notify us IMMEDIATELY.  Your child’s safety and well being is our primary concern; therefore, it is important for us to be able to contact you.

 

Program	Registration Fee	Tuition Fee	Supply Fee
After School Care       ages 6-11 years	$60	$55/week	n/a
After School Drop-in ages 6-11 years         (based on availability)	$30	$15/day	n/a
Summer Day Camp 6-11 years	$60	$115/week	n/a
Pre-K 4-5 years	$60	$115/week	$20 semi annual
Preschool 3 years	$60	$115/week	$20 semi annual
Toddlers 18-35 months	$60	$120/week	$20 semi annual
Drop-in Care 18m & up (based on availability)	$30	$28/day	$20 semi annual

 Tuition fees are due on Wednesdays by 5:30pm.  Tuition fees are non-refundable. First weeks tuition will be prorated upon registration.  Payments can be made by cash, check or credit card (V/MC).  THERE WILL BE A $25 RETURN CHECK FEE. A LATE FEE OF $5 PER DAY WILL BE CHARGED FOR CO-PAYS AND TUITION RECEIVED AFTER DUE DATE. If tuition is not received by the following Monday, your child will not be able to return until tuition is paid in full. We will hold your spot for up to one 1 week (tuition will still be charged).

• All children currently enrolled in child care, and are current on tuition payments have FREE admission to open play sessions as scheduled.

In order to maintain your child’s enrollment, tuition needs to be paid even if your child is absent from the program.  This is to hold your child’s spot in the program.  Each family is expected to pay their tuition every week. However, each child is granted a one week vacation each year to be used during time off from work and when they are absent from the program. Advance notice is required before using.

If your child is leaving the program, you must withdraw by contacting the Director or Assistant Director and give a 2 week notice.  If no notice is given; and you withdraw suddenly, you will still be required to pay tuition for the next 2 weeks.

If your child is absent from school, or has been picked up early, please notify us so that we have no doubt where your child is and why he/she did not get off of the bus.   This will also determine our staffing ratios required by law.  So please keep us informed if your child will not be in attendance.   

To maintain our schedule, we ask that your child arrive no later than 9:30 am.  If your child is not here by 11:15 am they will not be allowed to come for that day.When children arrive at various hours of the day, it disrupts class and hinders the regimented schedule that’s beneficial to children.

Full day kids will be provided a morning and afternoon snack.  For lunch, you will need to send a nutritional sack lunch with protein, fruits or veggies (sliced), and a drink. Please include an ice pack if necessary as we do not provide refrigeration.  Do not send items that require warming up in a microwave. If you would like the food to be warm please put it in a small thermos.  If you send a lunch that requires a microwave, you will be called and asked to drop off a different lunch for that day. On occasion, we will order pizza or have food catered in.  We will post these days in the parent communication area the day before.  For toddlers who may still be breast fed, a place will be provided for you.                                                                                                                                                                           Every child in the after school program will be provided a drink and snack soon after arrival. 

 Transportation

Field trips are rare since we do not have a bus or van.  If transportation has been arranged, field trips may occur and permission slips will be sent home.   

 Arrival and departure:

For after school care kids, Kerrville ISD will provide bus service from the elementary schools to Up-n Jacks.  We will sign your child in as they step off the bus.   When a child is picked up, it is necessary to sign them out each and every day.   Alamo Regional Transit has an after school bus program for private schools.  

Parents are required to provide written authorization if someone other than the previously designated person is to pick up their child.  In an emergency, a phone call is sufficient.   If there is any doubt as to the identity of the person receiving the child, identification will be required from that person. 

Our staff are not available before or after scheduled care times.  Please be prompt in picking up your child.   After 5:30 pm, there will be a $5 charge after the first 5 minutes, and $1 per minute after that.

Chronic problems in early drop off, late pick up, or refusal to pay late fees, may result in your child being dropped from the program.   Failure to pick up your child by 6:00 pm and us not being able to reach you or your contacts, will be considered abandonment and law enforcement will be called.  

Day care is provided from 7:15 am – 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.  See holiday schedule for closures.

When we have special events, we will notify parents on the communication board or by a memo sent home with your child.    A special event may consist of picture day, splash day (with your permission),  a special visitor,  pajama day, show & tell, and other events such as this.   

Cubbies are provided for each student to keep his/her personal belongings.  Art work, and memos to parents will also be in each child’s cubby.   Since we have limited space for personal items, please remove crafts and papers on a daily basis. 

Our play time will include daily play on the inflatable obstacle courses, slides, etc. as well as outdoor play.  With weather permitting, we are required by the state to go outside every day.  Our play yard is through the green curtain in back, out the back door, and turn left.    Because of this, please dress your child comfortably and weather appropriate.  Since socks are required, you may leave a pair in your child’s cubby since there may be days he may not wear socks in.  Please take them home and wash on a weekly basis.   

Please do not bring or let your child wear jewelry or items of high value to care.  Jewelry is prohibited on the inflatables, and we do not want their items to get lost or broken. 

Each child in full day care is to have an extra set of clothing in case of accidents.  If your clothing is not available, another set belonging to Up-n Jacks will be loaned to wear.  Please return these items after laundering as soon as possible.

For all day care, please provide a blanket and small pillow to use on cots / mats during nap time.    Blankets need to be taken home at the end of the week for laundering, but please bring them back the following week.

Parents and grandparents (that are on the enrollment form), are welcome to stop by anytime their child is in our care.  It is not necessary to make an appointment to observe your child.  We encourage parents to get involved and take part in their kid’s day.   If you would like to observe the class or volunteer in your child’s room, please talk to the teacher.  For the safety of the kids, all visitors must sign in upon entering the building. 

We want to provide all families a pleasant child care environment.  People will not agree on everything, all of the time.  If this occurs, it needs to be taken directly to the attention of the other person involved, at the time of the disagreement.  Most of the time, a resolution can be reached once views are discussed and there is open communication.  

The Director’s office is open to anyone who may have a question, concern, suggestion, compliment, or complaint.   If at any time you would like to review a copy of the minimum care standards and the most recent licensing inspection report, it is located in the Director’s office.  Depending on the present circumstances, an appointment to sit down with the Director may be necessary.

You may reach the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services who licenses child care centers :

 Kerrville
819 Water St. Suite 230
Kerrville, Texas 78028
(210) 337-3399       www.dfps.state.tx.us

Child Protective Services        1-800-252-5400.                                                                                           
Poison Control                        1-800-222-1222