School-Age Handbook for Parents
FIELDTRIPS
Off-campus learning is planned to incorporate the wide world of learning into the daily routines of children. Fieldtrips will be planned with as much advance notice as possible; however, sometimes opportunities present themselves in quick fashion and we may participate. Parent chaperones are encouraged and always welcome!!
•If your child is in attendance at Kids’ Safari on the day of a scheduled fieldtrip for his or her class, then he or she MUST attend the fieldtrip or you will need to find alternative care for the day. **** Unless the fieldtrip is listed as optional/sign-up only. No exceptions!
•Tuition is due whether or not your child attends on a contracted day. Refunds are not given when the child is absent.
•Once your child has attended a fieldtrip, Ms. Beth will bill you for that trip. You can include payment with your weekly tuition. Please do NOT pay the staff for a fieldtrip!!!!
•Please do not send spending money with your child unless noted that it is ok. If it is ok, money for ice cream and/or extra spending money at trips can be given to your child’s teacher. Please place it in an envelope. Write your child’s name and the amount of money on the outside of the envelope.
•Child-to-Teacher Ratios- When a group of children leave the center for a fieldtrip the child-to-teacher ratio decreases. When it is a swimming fieldtrip for children six years and older the ratio is modified to 12:1. (in accordance with state licensing HFS 46.06(12)(c) Appendix J) However, Kids Safari makes every effort to further decrease the ratios to as low as 5:1. We will only attend water parks and facilities that offer a trained life guard on duty. Swim tests will be given the first day of swimming to assess the children’s swimming skills.
CHILDHOOD ILLNESS
In accordance with state licensing regulations, any child, while in attendance, that shows signs or symptoms of an illness or communicable disease shall be quarantined (within sight and sound of a director or non-teaching staff member) until such time that a parent can be contacted and remove the child from the center. We are not licensed as a Mildly Ill Child Care Center.
Symptoms can be, but not limited to;
sore throat,
swollen-watery eyes,
fever of a 100.4F degrees or more in children over the age of 6 months,
a fever over 99.8F degrees in children under the age of 6 months,
lice,
cough,
skin rash,
diarrhea,
vomiting,
green discharge from the nose,
OR other indicative signs.
Any child that exhibits odd or out of character behavior and who cannot participate in normal classroom activities will be observed for further evaluation and the parents or legal guardian of that child may be called to pick up their child.
The parent, legal guardian or appointed emergency contact will have one hour to pick up their child from the school. A child will have a mat and quiet activities while waiting to be picked up. Infants may be comforted through holding and rocking or placed in a pack and play in the director's office for isolation (with a director present at all times) while waiting to be picked up.
In accordance with state licensing regulations any child that shows signs or symptoms of illness or communicable disease while in the care of a parent or guardian (at home, grandparent's house, etc) may not enter the school or be involved with any school activities until such symptoms are no longer present for a period of no less than 24 hours, or there has been 24 hours of received antibiotics, and/or a doctor has provided written clearance for readmission. We do not offer care for mildly ill children with symptoms. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for notifying the center if their child is absent due to illness.
A child (or staff) that has been ill with infectious hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, or tuberculosis must have a written doctor's permission to return to the school.
A child who has head lice must be NIT-FREE before returning to school. Upon returning to the school the child must be thoroughly checked for any remaining nits or lice by a director or staff member trained in recognition of lice before the child may return to his or her classroom. The classroom of the child concerned will be thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed immediately and all non-washable items will be bagged and sealed for a period of no less than three weeks.
NINTENDO DS/TOYS FROM HOME
It is understandable that some children have favorite or special toys or items from home. These items are to be labeled with the child’s name and the teacher should be made aware of the significance of the items. WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE IF THE ITEM BECOMES LOST, DAMAGED OR STOLEN! We do not allow any weapons or toy guns on premises (Exception: during water week- we allow toy water guns)
Each class reserves the right to determine when and if children are allowed to play with their toys and/or DS, Nintendo, etc…. Please check with your child’s teacher/classroom for designated times and days.
*** Restrictions and additional rules apply to Nintendo DS. Please talk with your child’s teacher.
SCHEDULES
Families must provide a written schedule of their child’s assumed attendance in the contract provided by the center at the time of summer enrollment. REQUEST FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES MUST BE WRITTEN AND TURNED IN TO THE DIRECTOR’S OFFICE. THE SCHEDULE CHANGE WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED IF IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH APPROPRIATE STAFF-TO-CHILD RATIOS. If it is not possible to accommodate the change, the child’s teacher will notify the family to seek other possible solutions.
LATE STARTS AND ABSENCES
If your child is going to be late (after 9:00 am) or if your child is going to be absent for the day, a parent must call the center prior to 9:00am to inform staff that the child will be late or will not be attending. If you do not call a staff member we will contact you to confirm the tardy or absence.
PICK UP AND DROP OFF PROCEDURES
In the classroom- If you are dropping off or picking up in your child’s classroom, please greet the teacher and acknowledge your arrival.
On the playground- If you are dropping off or picking up on the playground, please greet the teacher that is at that clipboard checkpoint (located near the back entrance).
This will help to ensure your child’s safety and allow the teacher to communicate any important information to you that may pertain to your child’s attendance.
SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is not applied to children until after lunch in the afternoon. Please send your child to Kids’ Safari with sunscreen already applied in the morning. We will gladly keep sunscreen on hand and ensure that children apply it as often as needed.
WHEELIE DAY
Children may bring their roller blades, bikes, or other wheeled vehicles to participate in wheelie day. Children MUST wear a helmet!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!
ICE CREAM DAY
If your child would like to participate in Ice Cream Day the fee is $1.00. We will bill your account for each ice cream day. Please do not send cash with your child. If you would not like your child to participate feel free to send another snack.
CHAIN OF COMMAND
1. If a parent has a question or concern, we ask that you first address the issue with your child’s teacher.
2. If the issue cannot be resolved, or you feel that the communication was not sufficient, the issue may be brought to the attention of Terra Perrizo; Director
3. If further communication is still needed, you may contact the Administrator, Leighanne Dockerty.
We ask that parents use this chain of command with any questions or concerns they may have.