Parent
Handbook
2012-2013
Dear Parent,
We welcome you and
your child to the Head to Toes Learning Center. We recognize the first six
years of your child’s life to be among the most formative in their development.
We thank you for allowing us to share with you in providing the education and
loving encouragement of your child.
To better acquaint
you with the philosophy, program and policies of Head to Toes: we have prepared
this handbook for your use and reference. Please don’t limit your knowledge
about our school to what you read in these brief pages. Do visit us often and
affirm first hand that you have selected a high quality learning environment
for your child.
We anticipate
enjoying a warm relationship with your child. If you have any questions or
problems; please contact us right away. We look forward to guiding your child
in a great adventure at Head to Toes Learning Center.
Sincerely,
Toniya Alexander
Welcome to Head to Toes Learning Center
Our
Purpose, Philosophy, and Goals
Our purpose is to
provide an environment that is safe and conducive to good health, where
children can work and play together while being guided toward a happy, well
rounded life.
Our program is
developmentally appropriate. It is designed to allow children choices about
their activities and provides opportunities for them to explore their environment.
Daily activities include: art, science, pre-math, music, language, large and
small motor, and guided free play.
Within this
structure children have freedom to make their own decisions about activities
and experiences, to choose friends, to learn skills, to practice independences,
and to develop competence and confidence. Development in language, motor,
social, emotional, and creative areas are monitored for each child. Our program
focuses on the development of self-regulation and problem solving skills in
children.
The “whole child” is our concern. We focus on intellectual, social,
emotional and physical growth. Attention is given to the developmental abilities
of the child. We are interested in creating a positive self image for every
child at Head to Toes. We want them to develop self-confidence and a
willingness to try new ideas; we want them to learn that they can do many
things. We encourage the participation rather than the end result in
activities. We promote creativity in their work, with self-expression being
paramount. We reinforce positive thinking and creative problem solving. We
endeavor to look at things through a child’s eyes and help them to enjoy and
appreciate life.
Discipline is
based on a positive philosophy of emphasizing acceptable behavior.
About
Us
Teacher
Toniya
I have been working with children for 18 years and have been looking forward to running my own center. I double majored in college and received one of my BA’s in Child Development. I worked as a site supervisor at a preschool while in college and went on to earn my teaching credential. I have taught in the classroom for the last five years and am excited to be able to accomplish my goal of opening my center. My educational background and my love of working with children have driven my philosophy and help to develop our program.
Daily Schedule
(for toddlers and preschool age children)
7:30 Free Choice (8-9 breakfast is offered)
9:00 Music & Movement
9:15 Bathrooms & Outside
10:00 Transition inside & wash hands
10:20 AM Snack
10:45 Circle & Activity Time
11:30 Clean Up & Wash Hands
11:45 Lunch
12:15 Quiet Activities
12:30 Bathroom – prepare for naps and resting12:45 Nap Time
2:45 Wake up/Bathrooms
3:00 Free Choice
3:15 Activities & PM Snack
4:15 Cleanup & Bathrooms
4:30 Outside
5:15 Stories & prepare for the end of the day
5:30 Center closes
Hours of Operation
We are open Monday
through Friday 7:30 am-5:30 pm. We observe the following holidays for the 2013 school year:
2013
Spring Break: Thursday, March 28th & Friday, March 29th
Memorial Day: Monday, May 27th
Summer Break: Monday, July 1st - Friday, July 12th
Labor Day: Monday, September 2nd
Thanksgiving: Wednesday, November 27th - Friday, November 29th
Winter Break: Monda,y December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd
Head to Toes has combined the birthdays of Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, along with Veteran’s Day, and are observing them the week between Christmas and New Year’s. We feel this schedule will make it easier for families to make other arrangements for childcare during a solid block of time, rather than inconsistent Monday or Friday closures.
Signing
your child in/out daily
This is important
especially for emergency purposes. During your initial enrollment you will be
asked to provide a list of persons you authorize to sign your child in and out
from school. Only those persons with proper I.D. will be allowed to do so.
Please inform the authorized person of I.D. requirement.
A teacher must
accept children into the classroom. When you, or an authorized person, bring
your child to school, you must walk your child into the classroom, sign in your
child’s name on the attendance sheet, and make sure that a teacher is aware
that your child has arrived. When picking up your child, be sure to sign
him/her out and let a teacher know that he/she is leaving.
Head to Toes
closes at 5:30pm. We expect that all children will be picked up by that time. A
late fee of $1.00 per minute will be charged after 5:35pm. If an emergency
situation delays you and you are going to be late picking up your child, please
call the center before the closing time.
Send-Off
Time
Having a good
send-off will make or break a child’s day. Here are some suggestions for having
a good send-off:
1. Make sure that the morning is positive.
Having a positive morning at home will result in a more positive send-off at
school.
2. Get your child involved in the morning
activities.
3. Create a special routine that only you and
your child know to help make the send-off a special one. (A special handshake,
hugs and kisses, or secret password that means “I love you” are a few examples)
4. Keep your send-off short and sweet. Parents that stay a long time trying to console their child make the child’s send-off worse. Let the teachers help you if your child is having a hard time.
Parent
Involvement
Parents are the
most important influence of a child’s development. We welcome you to visit at
any time. Working with your child in the classroom is helpful in supporting
his/her development. Examples of ways to participate are:
Assist
during field trips
Spend
time in the classroom
Make
or repair educational materials or equipment
Donate
clothes and shoes for dress up, food or materials for art activities
Share
your own special skills
Field
Trips
We take field
trips to such places as the Sacramento Zoo, post office, pumpkin patch, city
park and other community events. We send a permission slip home with
information about each trip. Parent participation is appreciated and very
welcome.
Birthdays
We try to keep
birthdays low key. At school we make a birthday crown and present it to the
child at circle time. If a parent chooses to send a snack to school, you may.
We ask that you keep it simple (juice bars, cookies, etc.) You are invited to
join us on your child’s special day.
Health
and Safety
Health forms and
immunizations must be submitted prior to your child’s first school day.
If your child has
a known medical condition (allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures, hearing or
vision impairments, developmental delays, lactose intolerance, etc.) please be
sure to inform us of what to do should a problem occur. Necessary medication
must be available and the appropriate forms for its use must be completed.
If a child has any
of the following conditions, the parent will be notified to pick up the child
immediately:
Contagious
disease
Fever
of 100 degrees and over
Vomiting
or Diarrhea more than one time
Accident
requiring medical attention
To help prevent children from contracting an illness while at school, we ask
that you adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Keep your child at home if he/she has any
of the following symptoms within the preceding 24 hours of school:
Fever
of 100 degrees or more Diarrhea
Skin
Rashes Nausea
or Vomiting
Sore
Throat Discharge
from eyes or nose
Cough Swollen
Glands
Congestion
(thick, colored mucus)
2. A child should not return to school within
the first 24 hours of taking antibiotics
3. A child must be free of fever for 24 hours
without Tylenol before returning to school.
4. If a child contracts or is exposed to a contagious
disease (i.e. chicken pox, pink eye, impetigo, ringworm) you must inform us
immediately.
Sick
Child Policy
When a child
becomes ill while at school the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up
the child. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, those persons listed on
the child’s emergency form will be contacted to pick up the child. Please be
sure all phone numbers on your child’s emergency card are up to date.
Medication
The administration
of medication at school should be limited to necessary medication that cannot
be given on an alternate schedule. Medication may be given at school:
If the center’s medication
release form is completed, signed and dated by the parent or guardian
authorizing school personnel to administer the medication.
If the medication
is doctor prescribed and is in the original container. If the medication is not
a prescription, then a note from the doctor giving us permission to administer
the medication is required.
Accidents/Incidents
If your child is
involved in a minor accident (i.e. scraped knee) we will wash with soap and
water, apply a band-aid and you will receive a copy of our Ouch Report. If your
child requires medical attention you will be notified immediately.
Disaster
Plan
In case of an emergency clearance of the building, a horn will be activated. All children and staff will exit according to plans made in advance. Staff members will bring the daily roster to be sure that all children have left the building. Children will participate in fire drills, learn about fire safety, and participate in earthquake drills. The center’s disaster plan is located on the Parent Board above the children’s cubbies.
Nutrition
Learning about
proper nutrition and developing healthy eating habits is an important aspect of
the classroom education. A well balanced diet can have a demonstrable impact
upon a child’s social and emotional behavior as well as the ability to tap
personal intellectual capabilities. Together we can reinforce positive eating
habits and educate our children in sound principals of food and nutrition.
Children at Head
to Toes participate in nutritional cooking experiences. Good hygiene practices
such as washing hands is also emphasized. A nutritious breakfast and afternoon
snack will be served.
Parents are asked
to provide a nutritious lunch for their own child. Please limit the desserts or
sweets in the lunches. We will provide milk and soymilk for children to drink.
Please label lunch pails with child’s name.
Infants will need
to have formula, breast milk, and jarred food supplied from home. All bottles,
liners, bibs, and food will need to be labeled. When your child is able to eat
the foods supplied by the center that are listed on our daily menu, we will
then provide meals to your child at no extra charge. We will supply utensils,
bowls, plates, and cups. All menus are posted in the kitchen and rotated on a
weekly basis. All meals must be served at the tables. Infants are not allowed
to walk around or play with food in their mouths for safety reasons.
Napping
All the children
are offered a nap. We do not force the children to sleep however we encourage
them to rest. We dim the lights, play light music, and give the children books
if they want to lie on their mats and rest. After approximately 20 minutes,
children who chose not to rest may get up and find a quiet activity, such as
puzzles, blocks, reading, or play dough, to do. All bedding used for naptime
will be washed at least once a week.
Clothing
Children participate in many activities including painting, playing outdoors, sand play, and climbing. Please dress your child in comfortable, practical clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or stained with paint and dirt. Closed toed shoes with straps or tennis shoes are best when riding tricycles or climbing. Please send an extra set of seasonally appropriate clothes in a labeled Ziploc bag to have on hand for accidents. Extra clothing should be checked periodically to see if they still fit and are appropriate for the season. Extra clothes should include: pants/shorts, shirt, underwear, and socks. Remember, learning can and should be messy and fun.
Tuition
Rates
A $50
application/supply fee is to be paid upon submitting application.
Payments must be received every four weeks. A payment calendar will be provided upon enrollment. $32/day full time ($160/week Mon.-Fri.)
$37/day for part time (Mon/Wed/Fri or Tue/Thur)
**Monthly tuition includes holidays and vacations**
A $15 fee will be
charged if your payment is 5 or more days late. A $50 fee will be charged if your payment is 10 or more days
late.
There is a $30.00
service charge for each check returned for insufficient funds.
A late fee of
$1.00 per minute is charged when your child is picked up after the contract
hours.
A 10% discount is
given for siblings.
Partial day
schedules are available if necessary.
Withdrawal
Policy
We require at
least a two week written notification if you need to withdraw your child from
the program. Parents are responsible for the contracted rate for 30 days,
whether our services are used or not. If it is necessary for the center to
terminate this contract, the parents will receive a two-week notice in writing.
Spot Holding Policy
A child currently enrolled may have a spot held for them in the case of a special circumstance.
$100/month for part-time children, $200/month for full-time children
Spots will be held for a maximum of two months. This fee is non-returnable if you choose not to fill the spot.
Head to Toes Learning Center
License #573616310
Application For 2012-2013 Enrollment
Child’s Name: ___________________ Birth date: __________ Sex: M F
Mother’s Name _______________________________________________
Address: ______________________ City/State/Zip __________________
Home Phone: (_______)___________ Work Phone: (_______)____________
Parent’s Occupation: _____________ Cell Phone: (_______)_____________
Parents’ Employer: _______________ E-mail Address: _________________
Father’s Name ________________________________________________
Address: ______________________ City/State/Zip __________________
Home Phone: (_______)___________ Work Phone: (_______)____________
Parent’s Occupation: _____________ Cell Phone: (_______)_____________
Parents’ Employer: _______________ E-mail Address: _________________
School Day Preferences
Monday through Friday 7:00am-5:30pm
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:00am-5:30pm
Tuesday and Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm
Other _____________________________________
About Your Child:
Please tell us about your child:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Does your child have any food restrictions or special requirements? No ? Yes ?
Please explain:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Sibling Information:
Name: ________________________________ Birth date: _____________
Name: ________________________________ Birth date: _____________
Name: ________________________________ Birth date: _____________
TUITION: $32/day full time ($640/month Mon.-Fri.) or $37/day for part time.
Payment must be received in advance of the first school day of the month.
Return to: Toniya Alexander
Head to Toes Learning Center
West Sacramento, CA 95691
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WITH YOUR $50.00 NON-REFUNDABLE
APPLICATION AND SUPPLY FEE
Make checks payable to: Head to Toes Learning Center
For more information call: Toniya at (530)514-4227
www.headtotoeslc.com
