Sonshine Early Learning Center

 It is the policy of Sonshine Early Learning Center to protect the confidentiality of all students and their families in accordance with all applicable State and Federal laws and guidelines.  The records of any child enrolled in our programs are confidential and only the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) who have legal custody shall have access to those records or any information from those records.

 Teachers, Aides, or other staff members of Sonshine Early Learning Center shall only have access to the records of any child enrolled in our center to the extent necessary to ensure the safest and least restrictive educational environment for the child.  The distribution of this information to staff shall be determined by the Director of SELC with the consent of the custodial parent(s) or guardian(s).

Discipline Statement

At Sonshine ELC we use ‘time outs’ and ‘choices’ as our methods of discipline when necessary.  We strive to praise the children in our care and give them positive reinforcement at every available opportunity.

 Children in our care will be taught and modeled good manners and will be expected to use them.  We strive to teach all the children in our care respect for the property and feelings of others

 We will not use any form of corporal punishment on a child or any form of punishment which is abusive or humiliating.  Food will never be forced upon or withheld from a child as a means of punishment and no child will be punished for refusing food.

 If the need arises, we may pick up a child and remove them from any situation we view as potentially dangerous to the child, to other children, or to the care providers at SELC.  In rare instances, if a child becomes physically out of control and is an obvious danger to themselves or others, we may properly restrain the child until they are able to gain control of themselves. Only enough force shall be used to restrain the child and only by properly trained staff members.  This is not a form of punishment but is a way of protecting the child and the other children and staff at SELC.  When such a situation arises, the parents shall be notified.

 If any behavior by a child is deemed to be severe, habitual, or repetitive, the Director of Sonshine ELC has the right to suspend the child from SELC for a set period of time.

SELC Program Goals

Hours of Operation
SELC is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.

 We offer childcare for children aged 2½ (and independent bathroom users) through 12 during the hours when our pre-school classes are not in session.

 We have three Preschool classes, beginning with 2½ year old students through pre-kindergarten.  These classes run Tuesday through Friday 8:40 am to 11:40 am.

 We provide transportation of our school age children to and from District #6 in-town public schools (Central Point Elementary, Jewett, and Mae Richardson).

 Fees

For each child you register with us, there is a non-refundable registration fee:

            1^st child: $85     2^nd child: $65    All additional children: $50

This is a yearly registration fee and is due in September when you enroll your child(ren).  If you are only enrolling for the summer, the registration fee is $50 for one child and $35 for all additional children

 The childcare rate is $3.95 per hour for the first child, $2.75 per hour for the second child, and $2.05 per hour for every additional child.

If your child is with us for lunch, you will be charged a minimum of 2 hours that day.  This would include the time your child is in preschool or kindergarten with us.

If your child is with us before school or after school, you will be charged a minimum of one hour for each of these times your child is with us.

If your child is with us past 6:00 pm you will be charged a late pick-up fee of $25.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.50 for every additional minute.

We bill on the 1^st and 16^th of each month.  Payment is due within five working days of each billing.  A late fee of $5.00 per day will be added to bills paid more than five working days after bills have been posted.  Preschool & Kindergarten tuition appear on the 16^th bills only.  If your bill must be mailed to you, a $1 postage fee will be charged.

If your bill becomes 15 days past due, we will no longer be able to accept your children at our center or school.  Once your bill has been paid in full, your children are welcome to return.  Once a child has been re-entered, we will no longer be able to accept that child once the bill has gone past 5 working days without being paid in full.

Preschool tuition is $1,710 for the year (see Preschool Information for details)

Sonshine Early Learning Center General Polices              

 Arrival & Departure of Children
            When your child arrives at Sonshine ELC, they must be brought inside the center and signed in on the daily attendance sheet by a responsible, authorized person as documented by you, the child’s legal parents/guardians.  If someone you have not authorized will be dropping of the child, please inform SELC with a phone call and instruct the person dropping off your child about the sign-in policy.

            Children will only be allowed to be picked up from the center by persons authorized by the legal parents/guardians on the child’s registration information.  People may be added to the list any time after the child has been registered, but it must be done by the legal parents/guardians and must be done in writing.  It is your responsibility to identify these people to SELC in advance of their picking up your child and have it on record.  A phone call to Sonshine will not suffice to allow us to release your child to a person not on the child’s authorized list. 

Any person picking up a child who is not known by the staff person releasing the child will be asked to show picture identification to verify recognition and compare with the child’s authorized list.  This can add extra time, but it is for your child’s safety.

 Field Trips

Classes or other groups from Sonshine ELC may take occasional field trips.  Parents will be notified in writing prior to any field trip and parental approval must be given for a child to participate in the field trip.  Sonshine will provide transportation to and from field trips and will maintain all correct staff/child ratios, staff qualifications, supervision, and criminal history check requirements, as is mandated for a State Certified Childcare Center.

 Transportation

Sonshine ELC provides transportation for field trips and to and from select public schools when District #6 is in session.  Transportation is provided by center-owned or approved busses, all of which have the correct number and type of required safety restraints and other necessary safety equipment on board.  These busses will only be driven by SELC approved drivers who are at least 18 years old and in possession of a valid CDL for the type of vehicle they will be driving.  SELC obtains DMV reports for all drivers every year and we maintain all proper staff/student ratios while on busses.

 Lighting

            Sonshine ELC and Community Bible Church are equipped with an emergency lighting system, so the kids should never be without light.  However, we still keep a working emergency light source in each classroom.

(Copy of Staff Instructions)

Fire Drill

            If the fire alarm sounds (or, in the case of a drill, the signal is given):

1.      Have the children line up at the door in a single file line

2.      There needs to be an adult leader at the head and at the foot of the line

3.      Walk quietly out to the designated meeting spot

4.      Remain in your spot until the all-clear signal or other instructions have been given.

·        Have the students take nothing with them

·        The last person out of the room needs to shut off the lights and close the doors (if they do not shut automatically)

·        The primary adult in the room needs to take the list of kids in the room outside with them

·        The primary adult needs to verify the list corresponds to the kids you have with you before you exit and upon arriving outside

Earthquake Drill

            On the signal:

1.      Have the students get on the floor on their hands and knees

2.      Have the students get under their desk or table (the primary adult needs to stand in a door frame)

3.      Have the students face away from the windows

·        Explain to the kids an earthquake can last from several seconds to several minutes (you may wish to practice in real time)

·        Explain what an earthquake may feel like

·        Explain it may be very loud and things may fall down

·        Explain that following an earthquake, depending on a variety of factors (damage, fire, injury, etc.) you will give further instructions

Lock Down Procedures

            On the Signal:

1.      Make sure all the children are in the room (count & consult your list)

2.      Lock all doors & turn off all major lighting

3.      Shut all blinds and otherwise cover all windows

4.      Remain in lock down until the all-clear signal has been given

·        Keep the kids quiet (read to them, etc.)

·        Do not let anyone leave the room for any reason until the all-clear signal has been given

·        Make sure you know who is giving you the all-clear signal

Evacuation Plan

If evacuation is necessary, following the emergency exiting of the building, two teachers will lead the group south on 10^th Street to Jewett Elementary School.  Aides will lead the way and act as crossing guards.  The group will stick to sidewalks as much as possible and other aids will monitor the line while the remaining teachers will monitor the back of the line.                                                                                                   

 Sharing Day

            We feel sharing day is a very important time for our students, both socially and educationally.  It allows the staff and other students to get to know more about your child and helps your child develop public speaking skills.  We do ask that your child bring things from home only on sharing day or with the teacher’s special permission.  We ask that they only bring one item at a time and that these items are in one piece (multiple part items tend to come apart and pieces get lost).  We ask you to carefully consider each item and exclude valuable or fragile items, messy items, mouth toys, guns, knives or other weapon-like toys, and frightening monster toys.  We also ask you to put your child’s name on each item they bring.

            If you wish to bring a pet to share, check with your child’s teacher and the Supervisor before bringing the pet.  State law forbids us from allowing certain types of animals into the center.

 Special Days

            Every child will have a Special Day during the school year.  We try to have it on or near the child’s birthday or be specially chosen for your child if their birthday is in the summer.  On your child’s Special Day you may provide a simple snack for the children in your child’s class if you so desire.  Your child will receive a badge or a crown to wear and will be first in most of the day’s activities.  Your child will also be the designated ‘Teacher’s Helper’ for the day.  Please remember, this is not a birthday party and sending balloons or other birthday items is very distracting for the class. 

 Breakfast, Lunch & Snacks

            Sonshine ELC provides breakfast, lunch, and two snacks each day.  These meals are prepared by an SELC Nutritionist and follow state guidelines and regulations for nutrition and preparation. State regulations also require that we serve all our children the same meal and prohibit food from being brought from home.  If, however, your child has a food allergy, bring us a note (preferably from your child’s doctor) telling us the nature of this allergy and how it needs to be addressed and we will provide your child with a suitable alternative when necessary.

            Again, no child will ever be punished for refusing food and food will never be forced upon a child or withheld as a means of punishment.

 Breakfast is served from 7:15am – 7:30am.  If your child arrives before that time, please let us know if we need to provide breakfast.  If your child arrives after that time, please make sure they have had a nutritious breakfast and are ready for their day.

 Sample menus have been included in this packet.

Supplies
            A School Supplies list is available in the Sonshine office for each class.  Once you know which class your child will be in, this list will be made available to you.

            For preschool aged children, please bring an extra set of clothes (tops, pants, socks, and underwear) and please make sure to label all of this clothing with their name.  If it becomes necessary to use any of these spare items, we will let you know when you pick your child up so you can bring in replacements the next time your child is with us.

            If your younger child (pre-kindergarten) is with us for the majority of the day, they will need a small blanket and a small pillow for nap time. We will provide a clean, sanitized mat for each child.  State law requires these bedding materials to be laundered at least once a week, so we ask you have two sets of blankets and pillows (or pillow cases) available.  Every Monday we ask that you bring in a replacement set of bedding and take home the previous set to be laundered.  We will also inform you if there has been an accident or other issue requiring the bedding to be laundered prior to the Monday replacement day.

            Sonshine Early Learning Center is not responsible for any lost or broken items brought from home.  We will do our very best to protect your child’s things and to keep them safe but we ask you to help by being selective about what your child brings and by putting your child’s name on everything brought to Sonshine.  This includes backpacks, coats, toys, and bedding.

 “Don’t Touch – Be Safe” Health & Safety Program for Kids

            Since 1991 Sonshine ELC has participated in a program known as ‘Don’t Touch – Be Safe’ to help our students learn to protect themselves from contagious and infectious diseases.  This program is taught in our Preschool classes as a formal instructional item and is reinforced during ‘teachable moments’ throughout the day.  The basis of the program is:

If you would like more information on the theories or rational behind any of these principals, please contact the Director or a Supervisor and they will be happy to answer any of your questions.

 If you object to this program and wish to not have your child participate, please inform the Director and/or your child’s teacher and other arrangements will be made for your child during the times these lessons are taught.

Holidays, Fog/Snow Policy

            Sonshine Early Learning Center will be completely closed on the following Holidays:

            Labor Day
            Thanksgiving Day and the day after
            Christmas Eve Day
            Christmas Day
            New Year’s Day
            President’s Day
            Memorial Day
            Veteran’s Day
            Independence Day (the 4^th of July)

 We may also be closed on other days (for example, the 3^rd of July, Christmas Break, or New Year’s Eve) if we have a large number of children who will be out and the number of children who will be attending do not make it cost effective for us to be open.  We will have sign-up sheets prior to these dates to see how many children will be attending.  We will base our staffing on this list, so if you do not sign your child up prior to the date indicated, you may not be allowed to bring your child in for childcare.  If you require childcare and you did not sign up, please call the center and we will let you know if we have enough staff to include your children.  Also, since we are bringing in staff based on the sign up sheets, if you sign your child up for childcare on one of these dates and then do not bring your child in, you will still be billed for four hours.

             If School District #6 (Central Point) schools are closed for snow, fog or other inclement weather, SELC’s Preschool will be closed also.  However, child caregivers will be on site as soon as safely possible.  We do ask you to call prior to bringing your children in to make sure someone has arrived to open the center and receive your children.  If you do not get an answer, wait to bring your children in and keep calling.  If weather conditions are too severe to safely get staff to the center, Sonshine will be closed until weather conditions become permitting.

 Sonshine Early Learning Center’s phone number is 664-1074.

Emergency Plan

 In the event of injury to a child, First Aid will be administered at the center (all of our child care providers are required to have current First Aid/CPR training with a card on file).  If the injury is such that a medical professional will need to look at the injury, all attempts will be made to contact a parent or guardian of the child prior to obtaining medical attention.  If the parents or guardians cannot be reached or the injury is such that it requires immediate medical attention, the child will be taken to a facility where he/she can get appropriate medical attention (per parent’s authorization on the child’s enrollment form).  The procedure is the same for an acute illness.  In the event of an illness of a non-emergency nature, the child will be separated from the other children and made comfortable under sight and sound supervision of SELC staff members.  Once situated, the parents or guardians will be notified as to the nature of the illness and requested to pick up their child.

 At the time of enrollment, parents or guardians will provide Sonshine Early Learning Center with a phone number where they can be reached in person in the event of an emergency (injury, illness, natural disaster, fire, etc).  If evacuation of the center becomes necessary, the Center Director and/or designated staff members will take a list of parent/guardian phone numbers and contact will be made by cell phone, informing the parents/guardians of the nature of the emergency and where they can pick up their children.

 If evacuation becomes necessary, our first plan of action is to take the children to Jewett Elementary School (1001 Manzanita St.). If for some reason this area is not available or safe, we will take the children to Central Point Elementary School or Crater High School.  Before we leave, during transition, and once we arrive on site, all children will be accounted for and parents will be contacted by cell phone.

 Fire drills are practiced on a monthly basis.  In addition, the center also practices other types of emergency drills, such as earthquake drills and lock-down drills.  The kids and staff practice evacuating the building every month.  Records of these drills are maintained and are available for parental review upon request (see the Director).

 Hand Washing & Toilet Procedure

Procedure for Moving Children from the Building to the Playground/Park

To return to the building, the same procedure to go outside will be performed in the reverse.  The children will form their line while still on the playground.    

Swimming Pool Procedures & Evacuation Plan

            Sonshine ELC, during our summer program, will often take the students to one of Medford’s public swimming pools.  We recognize the need for increased and vigilant supervision during these times and take these times very seriously.  But we also recognize the few male employees here at SELC and take that into account when forming our emergency plans.

Daily Schedule

                      7:00 am                              Center opens and children begin arriving
7:35 am                              Public school students are taken to school
8:40 am – 11:40 am          Preschool (snack included)
11:10 am                            Mae Richardson morning Kindergarteners are bussed to SELC by Dist. #6
11:40 am–11:50 am          Preschool children go home.
                                               Childcare children go to the bathroom and prepare for lunch (wash hands, etc.)
12:00 pm               Lunch is served
12:30 pm               Nap time for all children not yet attending Kindergarten
12:40 pm               CPE and Jewett Kindergarteners picked up and brought to Sonshine
2:15 pm                 Nappers get up and all children go to the bathroom and  prepare for snack (wash hands, etc.)
2:25 pm                 Public school 1^st – 5^th grade students picked up and brought to Sonshine
2:30 – 3:00 pm      Afternoon snack is served
2:45 pm                 Small children go outside or participate in a structured indoor activity time (weather dependant)
3:45 – 4:45 pm      Homework/Activity time for school age children.  Parents who so desire may enrolled their children in a structured homework time (see homework time sheet).  Non-participating students will take part in a structured activity.
6:00 pm                 Sonshine ELC closes

Effective January 1, 2009

By signing and dating this form, you are stating you understand and agree to all the information found in the Sonshine Early Learning Center Parent Manual.  You are stating you are in agreement with all the Policies and Procedure found in that manual and that you are authorizing Sonshine Early Learning Center to care for your child under those guidelines.

You recognize Sonshine Early Learning Center is a State regulated Child Care Center and that you have the right to drop in unannounced at your discretion. You have the right to voice any and all complaints with the Director of Sonshine Early Learning Center and have the right and ability to contact this center’s state certifier if you feel your issues are not being adequately addressed by this center.

You understand Sonshine Early Learning Center’s hours of operation are from 6:30am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday with certain exclusions, as listed in the Parent Manual.

You recognize Sonshine may transport your child, per the policies listed in the Parent Manual and, unless otherwise indicated in writing and filed, are granting SELC permission to transport your child as necessary.

You recognize that only you, as the child’s legal parent/guardian, and those people you officially authorize will be allowed to remove your child from Sonshine Early Learning Center.

You understand if your child has a temperature or other infectious ailment or condition, we will not be able to accept your child into Sonshine Early Learning Center.  If your child’s ailment or condition is discovered while at SELC, we will treat your child and then contact you to have your child taken home.

You agree to the $85 (or otherwise stated) non-refundable registration fee.  This fee must accompany your registration form and is a yearly fee, due in September.

You understand and agree to the $3.95 hourly fee for the time your child(ren) is in our care, subject to the policies listed in the parent manual (multiple child fees, etc.).

You recognize that if your child has lunch with us, you will be charged a minimum or 4 hours that day.  These four hours will include Preschool or Kindergarten if your child attends.

You recognize if your child is with us before and/or after public school, you will be charged a minimum of one hour before school time and a minimum of one hour after school time.                                                                                                      

You understand and agree that if your child(ren) are still with us after 6:00pm you will be charge a late pick-up fee of $25.00 for the first 10 minutes and then $1.50 for more for every additional minute.

You understand that we bill on the 1^st and 16^th of each month, with child care hours appearing on all bills and Preschool/Kindergarten  tuition charges appearing on the 16^th bill only.

You understand payment for bills once they have been posted are acceptable without late payment charges for the next 5 working days.

You understand and agree to a late payment charge of $5.00 per day for every day beyond the 5 working day period you pay your bill after it has been posted.

You understand if your bill becomes 15 days past due, Sonshine Early Learning Center will no longer be able to accept your child(ren) in our center.  Your child(ren) will not be allowed to return until your bill has been paid in full.

You recognize that any parent wishing to re-enter their child(ren) after paying a past due account in full will have only 5 working days to pay their bills.  On the 6^th working day after bills are posted, we will no longer be able to accept those children into our center.

You understand and agree that by signing this form your are taking on the responsibility for any and all charges, fees, and expenses incurred while your child(ren) are attending Sonshine Early Learning Center and its programs.  If there any custodial agreements, state assistance, or other outside agreements which are to help pay for childcare, it is the responsibility of the signer of this form to pursue those parties for payment.  Any outstanding charges will be bill to, and are the responsibility of, the signer of this form.

Parent/Guardian Signature _______________________________  Date __________

Print Name ________________________________________________

Relation to the Child)ren _______________________________________________