Fruit4Life Child Care

24818 Sweet Cherry Lane

Damascus, MD 20872

License# 252148

301-253-5361

Welcome! Fruit4Lifeis a State-licensed Childcare facility. We meet all safety, health and nutritional standards. Growing children is not only our profession but our joy. We are confident that you and your little ones will enjoy our program and leave with the needed Fruit4Life.

My staff and I depend on this income as you depend on your profession for yours. Children should be in attendance on a consistent basis and in accordance to the below contract. This will also help to schedule substitutes as needed. Please be aware that it is the parent’s responsibility to have a planned back-up care provider in case of emergencies or closures.

Days & Hours:

Monday through Friday – 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Sweet Cherry Center

Monday through Friday – 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Ridge Road Center

Rates:

Tuition is required to reserve your child’s ‘slot’ here at Fruit4Life. It is not based on attendance nor can it be credited towards absences, sick days or holidays.

Tuition is set based upon agreed hours of care; basic 10 hours or extended 11 hours. If hours are exceeded without prior (24+ hours) notice tuition will be assessed at the 11 hour rate for the week along with any below applicable fees.

Tuition is due each Monday morning by 9 a.m., prior to care.

~ I will provide tuition ______(weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).

Full time rates are $______per week for ______(child’s name)

Part time rates are $______per dayfor ______

Summer rates are $______per week for ______

My child/children will be in care on the following days for the following hours:

Monday ______Tuesday ______Wednesday ______Thursday ______Friday ______

Tuition rates are subject to an annual 3% increase. This will allow us to maintain our facility and retain qualified staff to meet your families childcare needs.

Fees:

  • A $10 per day late fee will be assessed if payment is not received on time. If payment is not received by Wednesday following the agreed payment date; childcare will not be provided until all fees are paid in full.
  • A $35 returned check fee will be assessed along with reimbursement of all charges incurreddue to a bounced check. At this time all further payment will be required in cash or money order.
  • A $10 overtime fee will be assessed per 5 minutes after closing, 6:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
  • 1 Week Non-Refundable Deposit is required for enrollment. Deposit is applied to last week of care.
  • Teachers that ‘disenroll’ during the summer are subject to a weekly holding fee equal to 1/3 of tuition.

Holidays/Closures:

Fruit4Life will be closed all Federal Government holidays to include; New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve, Friday following Thanksgiving and Monday following Easter. In addition, we will be closed the 1st Friday once a quarter for Staff meetings, training and facility deep cleaning.

Please remember tuition is a set rate which includes holidays and closures.

  • New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • February F4L In-Service – 1st Friday
  • Washington’s Birthday
  • Easter Monday
  • May F4L In-Service – 1st Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • August F4L In-Service – 1st Friday
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • November F4L In-Service – 1st Friday
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving & Thanksgiving Friday
  • Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

During inclement weather Fruit4Life will follow the Montgomery County Public School systems. We will be closed when the school system is closed, but we will remain open normal hours during delays.

Vacations:

A minimum of 2 weeks’ notice is requested prior to vacations for both parents and providers. Tuition will be required on the last day of care, prior to your departure.

Each full time enrolled family will be allowed 2 Mon-Fri (5 consecutive days) vacations per calendar year with tuition discounted 50% for those weeks. Unused vacation, days or weeks, will not becredited back to reduce tuition or rolled over to another year. (Does NOT apply to teachers who ‘disenroll’ in the summer)

Meals:

Breakfast, lunch, and p.m. snack will be provided. Breakfast is served at 9 a.m. and lunch at 12 p.m. If you are unable to be here at those times please feed your child prior to attendance. I can accommodate most food allergies, but they all must be expressly written prior to care and accompanied by a doctors note.

Medication:

Medicine may be administered during care, but the required authorization forms from both the parent and Physician will be needed. Medicine must be properly labeled in its original container with the child’s name, dosage and times to be administered. The first dose will be required to be administered at home in the case of any allergic reactions.

Fruit4Life reserves the right to request administration of any or all medicine or devicesto be done at home dependent on the child’s ability to participate in daily activities.

Illness:

In order to maintain a safe and healthy facility for everyone we are unable to care for sick children. Your child is considered sick if they are suffering from:

  • Fever of 100 degrees or higher
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Eye Infection
  • Any other contagious symptom or disease

Additionally, if your little one is clearly uncomfortable and unable to participate in our daily activities we request that they remain at home.

If you child becomes ill while in care we will contact you or your emergency contact, and your child must be picked up within 1 hour of contact. They will not be allowed back in care until the fever has been gone for 24 hours, at home, without medication and/or they are no longer deemed contagious by a Physician. Children seen by a Physician for an illness will require a Dr.’s note to return to care.

Supplies:

All learning supplies and activities are provided. Toys from home are not allowed unless specifically noted i.e. show and tell. Infants are required to have 2 full sets of season appropriate clothing and toddlers are required to have 1 full set. A comfort item and blanket are allowed for nap/quiet time.

In signing, I authorize my child to utilize a crib/pack n play during rest periods until the age of 2.

Discipline:

We believe discipline is a combination of positive guidance, re-direction, time outs and setting clear-cut limits that foster the child’s ability to become self-disciplined. The aim is to develop personal standards in self-discipline, not to enforce a set of institutional rules. We do NOT believe in physical punishment or abusive language.

Pets:

We currently own 2 Pomsky dogs that reside at the Sweet Cherry location. Owners, Cornell & Melissa will assure that the animals are properly immunized according to State and local requirements. Additionally, animals will not be allowed in the daycare facility space during hours of operation.

Termination:

A 2 week acclamation period is given beginning on the first day of enrollment, in which termination may take place by either the parent or provider without penalty. All other terminations require a 2 week notice. If a two week notice is not provided the deposit will be forfeited and normal tuition will be due prior to termination. Annual vacations will not be allowed to be used during the 2 week notice timeframe.

I/We (printed) ______have read and will comply with this contract agreement with Fruit4Life Child Care.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Signature: ______Date:______

Child Care Provider: ______Date:______

Enrollment Date: ______

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