Blue Bird Academy

 Parent Handbook

 2010 - 2011

Mission Statement

The company's mission is to provide an atmosphere of love and nurturing where not only the developmental and intellectual needs of the young child are met but the social, physical, and spiritual needs are as well.

Philosophy

We believe that each child has the right to become the very best peron that he/she is capable of becoming, has the right to grow up and learn in a wholesome environment and that early training in the life of a child has the greatest impact on his/her future learning.

Goals

Our goals at Blue Bird Academy include the following:

1. Providing a safe, loving, and secure environment supported by nurturing, caring and enthusiastic, teacher and administrators.
2. Encouraging each child's optimum potential through developmentally appropriate activities using creativity, problem solving, imagination, and experimentation.
3. Fostering positive attitudes toward life and school that will lay a foundation for experiences in future years.
4. Encouraging the development of a positive self-image.
5. Providing comfort, convenience, and peace of mind for working parents.
6. Encouraging the learning of responsibility at school, home, and in the community.
7. Promoting an education evnironment that fosters academic excellence and instills a love of active learning.
8. Respecting each child as a value and unique individual while celebrating their multi-cultural heritage and global interdependence.

Program Info

Our teachers are experienced professionals, trained to guide your child's development and education leading to an independent, self-confident, creative and inquisitive appreciation of the world. To maintain that high level of professionalism, we provide regular ongoing training for all our teachers. Through learning centers, a focus on literacy and an established curriculum we offer children an excellent foundation toward learning. As a parent you can be as invovled as you want to be. However, no matter what your involvement level, you can look forward to regular conversations and conferences with your child's teachers and the school's director.

Non-discrimination Policy

Blue Bird Academy prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference. The school also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to school facilities.

Schedule of Operation

Blue Bird Academy is open Monday through Friday from 7:15a.m. to 5:45p.m. Parents are requested to strickly observe the hours of operation. Late pick-up will result in a $5.00 fee the first time, and $1.00 per minute each occurence afterwards.

Holidays and Vacation

Your child may take one week of vacation per year, but will require giving two weeks notice prior to the period of vacation in order to reserve a place in the Center. If your child needs to take more than a one-week absence, you should notify the center two weeks in advance so that special arrangements can be made to reserve your child's place in the center.

The following holidays will be observed:

• Independence Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Holidays (Thursday and Friday)
• Christmas (Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day

The center will follow the Palm Beach County School District's policies for inclement weather. Parents are required to pay if the center is closed due to incelement weather and scheduled holidays.

Enrollment Procedure

All aplicants must complete a Blue Bird Academy Enrollment/Emergency Care Application (one per child).

Each child must have a copy of the following on file:

1. Immunization Record (From doctor or Health Department)

2. Current Physical (From doctor or Health Department)

3. Child's Date of Birth

 All parents are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee upon enrollment and an annual registration fee every year thereafter. These fees cannot be applied to charges for services.

Payment Agreement

Past Due Accounts

Returned Checks

There will be a $35.00 returned check fee for all checks that are returned by the bank due to insufficient funds. Parents will be required to pay by cash or money order after check is returned. If fees are delinquent, the child will be dropped from enrollment unless satisfactory arrangements can be made. If the child is dropped from enrollment, the parent will be required to complete a new application for consideration when vacancy occurs.

Absences

Refunds

Withdrawal and Dismissal

Health and Illness Policy

Parents are required to proivde the Center with a record of the child's immunizations. Please submit an updated form to the office when the child turns 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months old. Parents also must sign an agreement giving the center permission to call a doctor in case of an emergency. Medicine will not be given unless a written statement from the doctor indicating the child's name, type of medication, and time of dosage (prescription) which is to be administered to the child at the center.

If your child becomes ill at the center, he/she will be isolated and uou will be notified at once to take child home. Facilites are not available at the center for sick children. If the center calls a parent when his/her child becomes ill, parents are expected to pick up the child in a timely manner. Children need to be picked up within 30 minutes. We require parents to come expeditiously without hesitation. If a parent does not come or refuses to pick up his/her child, he/she will be withdrawn from our program.

If your child develops an illness, rash, feveter, etc., you should call the center and state the nature of his/her condition. Other parents may need to be notified in case of a contagious disease. A doctor's note is required upon return to the center.

A child with an elevated temperature, diarrhea, and vomiting or known illness will not be admitted to the center. If your child has a fever, vomiting or diarrhea the night before, you are requrested to keep him/her home to limit exposure to infections in the center. If your child is between 6 weeks and 2 years old, we do not recommend bringing your child to the center with a temperature above 100.4 degrees. If your child is between 3 years old - 5 years old we do not recommend bringing your child to the center with a fever above 100.0 degrees.

If your child has three episodes of vomiting or diarrhea you will be called to pick up your child. The child must be free of any fever, vomiting, or diarrhea at least 24 hours before returning to the Child Care Center without medication. The center does not administer any breathing treatments or operate any medical equipment. Parents are welcome to come in to provide any specialized services to their children at any time.

Medication Policy

Medicine will not be given unless a written statement from the doctor indicating the child's name, type of medication, and time of dosage (prescription) which is to be administered to the child at the center.

Allergies

Please inform the Child Care Center of any allergies your child may have. The office will provide an Allergy Form. We will make a copy for your child's teachers. Parents should check the meal and snack menus each month and inform the teachers if there are any foods he/she should not eat.

Curriculum

Blue Bird Academy believes that children learn through socialization, interaction with other children and adults during routine daily tasks, as well as through teacher-directed games, stories, songs, art, and other learning activities. Other teaching tools can consist of puzzles, writing materials, such as worksheets, flash cards, matching, and sorting. Children are also offered free choice time (exploring all the different centers/areas on their own in the room). One-on-one time is spent with each child along with group times.

The pre-school program ages 2 years to 5 years has been developed so a child can learn through play times and supervised learning activities. Their teacher/caregiver plans a written curriculum for each age group. This curriculum revolves around weekly themes and offers developmentally age appropriate activities. Daily outdoor activities are included in the curriculum. The Director oversees all curriculum and weekly lesson plans are turned in on a weekly basis.

Children are most responsive in a related, nurturing environment. Classrooms are set up for learning development by having centers within a room. The different types of centers include:

• Dramatic Play
• Math
• Reading Readiness
• Music
• Science
• Blocks
• Writing and Art centers
• Other Centers

Field Trips

Parents will be advised of field trip activities. Before any child may attend a field trip, parental permission will be ontained either in the form of a general permission slip or a specific permission slip. The date, time, and location of the field trip will be posted in a conspicuous location at least tow working days prior to any field trips.

Clothing and Toys

Please bring your child in play clothes that are comofrtable and easy to manage. A good pre-school has many "messy" activities! Sneakers or soft-soled shoes only please!

Please do not bring toys from home; we have plenty for your child to play with. We do not allow money, gum, toys, or junk food to be brought to school. If your child wears jewelry we will not be responsible for it being lost or stolen.

Parents of One and Two-Year olds are responsible for bringing:

• 1 Sippy cup daily labeled with the child's name
• A bag of disposable diapers (check our supply daily)
• A box of wipes (check your supply daily)

All children should have on hand a complete change of clothing. For naptime, please send a lightweight blanket or crip sheet.

We are not responible for lost, stolen, or damaged belongings. Personal belongings should fit nearly in your child's cubby and taken home for laundering as needed, as well as labeled with first and last name.

Rest Time

All children at the center will rest after lunch. If a child does not wish to sleep, they will be required to rest quietly so that children who want to sleep may.

Biting and Hitting Policy

Outlined below is our policy for children who bite or cause physical injury to other children. We work consistently with the children on appropriate and expected behavior. Biting or hitting is especially tough because there is a victim. It is our goal that everyone should have a good day. Most victimes are very distrubed about being bitten or hurt.

Our Policy on Biting/Hitting is as follows:

1. If your child is a consistent biter, hitter, after a bite or injury to another child, we will ask you pick him/her up for the remained of the day. This will allow for you to work with him/her on a one-to-one basis.
2. We encourage you and your child to discuss what we do bite (food, apples, crackers) and what we don't bite (children, paper, toys, etc.)
3. We can also suggest you make available to your child a teething ring or sterile frozen washcloth for biting. These can be used at school as well.
4. If there is a subsequent biting/hitting incident, your child be removed from the center for a period of one week. This will give you an opportunity to reemphasize what is acceptable and what is not.
5. If biting/hitting continues after all the measures above have been exhausted, we will ash you to make other arrangements for your child.

It is important that we make this policy clear for the safety and well being of all the children in our care. Everyone has the right to have a good, safe day. We must maintain that standard by stating what is acceptable and what cannot be tolerated.

Discipline and Guidance

The staff at Blue Bird Academy will serve as positive role models to the children, parents and their co-workers. They will encourage children to treat others with similar respect. Children will learn to cooperate and share with other children. Our goal is to provide a positive education experience, to encourage and enhance their growth and allow them to develop while in our care.

Child Guidance Techniques

• Active Listening - encourages expressing a child's feelings
• Negotiation - helping children solve problems/conflicts
• Setting Limits - keeps children safe and in bounds
• Modifying the environment - making changes when necessary
• Facilitating - help children solve problems
• Reinforcement noticing and praise - making children feel important and values. Telling them they did a good job/made a good choice.
• Redirect - directing a child's attention to a different program activity
• Time Out - if a child's behavior remains inappropriate after several attempts to reditect, then the child is placed on time out.

A time out means removing the child from the situation in a non-humiliating manner, placing the child in a designated location within the room in order to interrupt the child's unacceptable behavior. Use of a time out is prohibited for children less than 3 years of age. One minute per age is used to calculate a child's time out. TIme out periods may not exceed 5 minutes.

When aggressive behavior arrises, it will be handled in a positive manner by working with the child and using the above referenced Child Guildance Techniques.

Actions that are humiliating or frightening to a child are prohibited. Examples of prohibited actions include:

• Spanking, hitting, pinching, shaking, or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment
• Verbal abuse, threats, or derogatory remarks about the child or the child's family
• Binding or tying to restrict movement, or enclosing in a confined space such as a closet, locked room, box, or similar cubicle
• Withholding or forcing meals, snacks, or naps

A child may not be punished for lapses in toilet training.

Through the use of positive guidance, Blue Bird Academy provides an enriching, safe, and educational environment for the children. Helping them develop self-control, self-esteem and respect for the rights of others.

Accident and Incident Reports

Minor injuries will be promptly treated. A Boo-Boo Report will be placed in the child's cubby. PLease check your child's cubby daily. In such cases where another child has caused the injury, an incident report will be completed and given to the parents of both children involved. If a child becomes sick while at school, parents will be notifies and an illness report will be completed and given to the parents.

All staff is trained in CPR and first-aid procedures and will give treatment as needed, outlined by minimum standards. In case of an accidental injury, we will make an immediate attempt to contact the parent. If the parent, or the other persons designated as emergency contacts, cannot be reached, we will call the child's physician.

Abuse and Neglect Policy

All children have a right to live free from abuse. Children depend on their parents, family members, teachers and childcare providers to love, nurture, and protect them. As your child's Child Care Provider, we have a duty to provide for the emotional and physical well being of the children in our day care facility.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

If we suspect a child is a victim of abuse or neglect, we have to by law report our concerns to the Ministry of Children and Family Devleopment/Child Protection Services as soon as possible. We do not need proof. It is not our role to look for evidence or interview the child. The abuse of a child is a serious problem. Everyone has a duty to report a suspicion of Child abuse or neglect.

Parent Involvement and Communication

Parent involvement in their children' education is a very important part of Blue Bird Academy's program. It is our school's philosophy that all children will learn more and have more positive school attitudes, higher aspirations and other positive behaviors if they have parents who are aware, knowledgeable, encouraging, and involved.

1. Personal Touch. Face to face communication with all parents is important. Parent meetings, both formal and informal, are conducted.
2. Non-Judgemental Communication. In order to gain the trust and confidence of our parents, teachers avoid making parents feel they are to blame or are doing something wrong. Parents are supported for their strengths, not judged for perceived failings.
3. Strong Leadership and Administrative Support. Flexible policies, a welcoming environment, and a professional atmosphere all require administrative leadership and support. The Director and the school's administrative staff are all committed and supportive of project goals.
4. Community Outreach. Blue Bird Academy serves as a resource and referral agency to support the overall strength and stabilites of the families. A parent coordinator is on staff and can provide supportive services. A parent resource directory is available at all times that provides community resource information.
5. Parent Meetings and Other Events. Parent meetings are held to help understand school goals and to educate parents about areas of child development by request.
6. Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parent-Teacher conferences are held in which parents can share personal concerns and teachers can provide guidance on realistic expectations, and select developmentally appopriate books and learning materials.
7. Parent Corner. In the center at the main entrance there is a Parent Corner that containts very important information for all parents. It includes program announcements, parenting brochures, programs, and a calendar.
8. Parent as Teacher. It is known that parents are the child's first teacher and the most important influence in the child's life.
9. Open Door Policy. Parents are encouraged to visit Blue Bird Academy at any time and watch teachers and their children in action.
10. Surveys. Surveys will be done annually.

Complaints and Concerns

If any concerns should arise, please don't hesitate to let management or your child's teacher know. We thrive on your happiness and are dedicated to make you, and your children, happy and safe in our environment.

Safe Arrival and Departure

Children can only be delivered and collected by a responsible adult. Brothers and sisters under 18 years of age are not appropriate for this responsibility. On arrival, each child must be escorted into the center and signed in by a responsible adult.

Parents are required to:

Upon arrival the parent or other authorized person escorts the child to the classroom and signs the child in on the attendance record form

The Attendance Record form requires the parent to record:

• The time the child arrives at the center
• Full First and Last Name of the individual dropping off

Following sign in, the parent is required to escort the child to his/her room to greet the staff and settle in for the day. A cubby area is provided in each room where the parent can put their child's bag and any special items. Each room has a special area for morning activities and the parent is required to escort the child to this area.

Staff will create a happy and engaging atmosphere and interact with children in a warm and friendly way.

Departure Procedure

Only the parents or a nominated authorized person is permitted to collect their children form the center. On departure from the center, parents/authorized adults are required to:

• Inform staff that they wish to collect their child
• Parents are informed about the child's day by center staff
• Parents are encouraged to persue the daily report, prepared by the Lead Teacher, about their child's activties for the day (2 Years and Below)
• Collect their child's bag from the cubby
• Collect center information from their child's pouch
• Encourage their child to say goodbye to the staff and child's friends prior to departure

Upon departure the parent or other authorized person is required to sign the Attendance Record form. The parent is to record the same details as on arrival to the center.

The parents or other authorized person is responsible for the child as soon as the child leaves the center.

Change in Authorized Person

The Center staff will check the details of the authorized person or adult by checking the child's enrollement form or message book or after seeking verbal permission from parent. Staff will check photo indentification of the adult; if the person is authorized, the child will be released. If the person is not authorized, the center staff will take whatever reasonable measures to keep the child at the center and notify the custodial parent of the situation. However, at no time will the center staff members endanger themselves or other children at the center.

UNDER NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WILL YOUR CHILDREN BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE CENTER!

Emergency Care

Written permission for emergency health care or treatment of the child must be obtained frm the parent, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the child's physical, the hospital-of-choice to be called in the case of emergency and three responsible adults the operator can contact in case the parents are not available.

Emergency Plans

• No child will be dismissed from the center unless a parent or caregiver or other previously designated adult comes for them.
• No child will be released to leave the center with another person, even a relative or baby sitter, unless the center has written permission to that effect. Alternatively, the nominated person could be listed as an emergency contact. With this in mind, please ensure that you have provided us with an up-to-date contact list. It is important to ensure this list is kept up to date.
• All parents and caregivers, or designated parties, who come for children, must sign for their release.
• We are prepared to care for your children in times of critical situations. If you are not able to reach the center, we will care for your child here. We have a number of people with first aid certificates, and we will be in communication with various local emergency services. We do ask for your help in the following areas:
  • If you are at home when disaster strikes, tidy and prepare the family home as much as possible before you fetch your child. That way, it will be less dangerous and less frightening for family members.
  • Do turn your radio to the local radio station. Information and directions about the extent of the emergency will be give over the radio.
  • Please do not call the center - we must have the lines open for emergency calls.

Following a tornado or other emergecny, please do not immediately drive to the center - streets and access to our center may be cluttered with debris. The access route and street entrance areas must remain clear for emergency vehicles.

Fire Evacuation

Where a fire cannot be easily extinguished, the first priority of center staff is to evacuate the building immediately. As many fire alarm systems are not connect to the Fire Service, it is essiential that, in the event of a fire, the fire service be notified.

Tornado/Severe Weather

When a tornado warning is issued, all students and staff must immediately move to the most inner classroom inside the building, away from all windows and doors. If possible, students and staff are to locate themselves underneath a desk or other sturdy, large objects. Students and staff shall remain here until the threat has passed and it is clear to freely move around the school again.

In the case of a Severe Storm Warning, precautions will be taken depending on the severity of the storm. In the case of action needing to be taken, please follow the same guidelines as a Tornado Warning.

Lock In

In the event of a lock in - ordered by the Palm Beach County School District or the Boca Raton Police Department, all students are to remain inside their classrooms with all windows and doors locked. The lights are to be turned off and children are to be kept as quiet as possible. Children and staff must remain in their classrooms, during a lock; free movement around the building is prohibited. When the threat has passed, and the lock in is lifted, children and staff may roam freely around the building again.