Welcome to the Children S Center of the Upper Valley!

Family Handbook

Dear CCUV Families:

Welcome to the Children’s Center of the Upper Valley!

Thank you for choosing us for your child care needs. Since 1971, CCUV has been dedicated to providing quality early childhood care and education for families in the greater Lebanon area. By enrolling here, you have given your child a new extended family. The upcoming years will be filled with many exciting and interesting events, activities, and experiences for you and your child. We are delighted you will be participating in our program. We want you to have peace of mind while you are away, confident in the knowledge that your child’s needs are being met.

At CCUV, we believe that all children learn and develop through active involvement with their environment. In this way children construct knowledge of the world, and strategies for interacting with both peers and adults are an important part of learning during a child’s early years. We plan activities that are designed to be appropriate to each child’s developmental capabilities, and that are implemented with attention to the differing needs, interests, and developmental levels of our children. We also value the rich cultural and ethnic diversity that individual families bring to the Center.

This family handbook is designed to give you and overview of our program and policies, and to provide answers to questions you may have now and later as your involvement with the Children’s Center continues. If you ever have additional questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to call us. Any member of our staff will be glad to help you. We all – staff, parents, and children – work together as a team, to provide a positive learning experience for your child and you.

We look forward to having you as part of the CCUV community.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Hosmer

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

“The mission of the Children’s Center of the Upper Valley is to support parents and serve our community by providing quality child care in a secure, healthy environment which promotes growth and learning in all areas of child development.” APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OUR FACILITY

The Children’s Center was the first child care facility in New Hampshire to be established with state support. From its start, the Center has operated as a non-profit corporation under a local Board of Directors. All parents of enrolled children are considered members of the corporation. We have been at our present location on Mechanic Street since 1973. Our main building is an 1850 farmhouse, and includes our toddler and Kindergarten classrooms, food service area, administrative offices, and a combined staff room and learning resource center. A newer wing houses our other three classrooms, and the office of the program directors. The grounds include five different playground areas.

CCUV is licensed by the State of New Hampshire, Bureau of Licensing and Certification, for up to 95 children between the ages of twelve months and six years.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The center is open Monday through Friday, from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

CALENDAR

The Children’s Center is open to serve your needs every weekday, with the following exceptions:

· New Year’s Day

· Memorial Day

· Independence Day

· Labor Day

· Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving

· Christmas Day (closing promptly at 3:00 PM on Christmas Eve)

We are also closed on President’s Day and the Friday before Labor Day, for center cleaning and maintenance.

In the event that one of the above holidays falls on a weekend, the Center will be closed on the Friday before a Saturday holiday, or the Monday after a Sunday holiday. These are paid holidays, and your weekly fee remains the same.

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS

The Children Center normally remains open in inclement weather. In the rare case that we do close on account of snow or other severe weather conditions, altered services will be announced on local radio and television stations, including KIXX 100.5 FM and WTSL 92.3 FM, and WCAX-TV Channel 3 and WMUR-TV Channel 9. Please check these sources before calling the Center.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The Children’s Center of the Upper Valley is non-discriminatory, and accords equal treatment and access to services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability.

ENROLLING YOUR CHILD AT CCUV

Admission to CCUV is on a space available basis, using a first-come / first-served process. The admission process has two phases: application and enrollment.

Phase One: Application

a. You will be given an application form that a parent or guardian should fill out. and return, with a non-refundable application fee of $20. The form and fee should be submitted as soon as possible.

b. After you have submitted these materials, we will send you a written acknowledgement, and place your child on a wait list.

c. If you wish to have your child enroll in our program on a certain date, a $100 deposit is required in advance. This deposit will be credited against the amount owing when the child starts at CCUV. It will be refunded if CCUV is notified directly (not as a phone message) of a decision not to enroll the child, at least four weeks prior to the scheduled start date.

d. For the other classrooms, if an available spot is known of in advance, a $100 deposit will hold that confirmed date of enrollment. If a decision is made to delay enrollment beyond that date, the spot can be held for one-half of the anticipated fee rate, provided there is not another child waiting for a spot. In that case, you will need to pay the full fee rate to delay your child’s admission.

Phase Two: Enrollment

a. If your child is on the wait list pending available space, we will notify you when a space becomes available. You will then have 48 hours to respond to CCUV regarding your decision to enroll or not. This response must be made directly to the Program Director or other representative of CCUV, it cannot be left as a phone message.

b. You will also need to complete and return the following:

ü Emergency Information, including the names of two persons who can assume responsibility for your child in the event you cannot be reached.

ü Family Profile Form

ü A record of your child’s health and immunizations completed by his/her physician. This information needs to be updated after each yearly exam.

ü Food Program Forms.

ü Photo and Van Permission Form.

ü Verification of Gross Income. If you decide to use our sliding fee scale, we need this information to prepare your contract.

c. You may also wish to submit an Automatic Withdrawal Form. This is not required, but a convenient service we provide, if you want your fees to be paid automatically, on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.

d. The teachers will then get the relevant forms to become familiar with your child. They will contact you to set up an intake meeting. This is your chance to ask any questions you may have about the Center and your child’s classroom. It will also be when the teachers review their classroom routine and program, discuss what they will need you to bring for your child’s first day, and plan for a start date with you. We want to be sure you and your child feel good about coming to the Children’s Center.

e. As soon as we receive the income verification information, we will prepare a contract. This must be signed prior to the start date. The security deposit of one week’s fees must be paid at the time of signing.

f. Your first week’s fees must be paid at the time of signing, or else no later than the first day of attendance.

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WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM

When withdrawing your child from enrollment at the Children’s Center, we require a minimum of two weeks’ written notice prior to the date of withdrawal. This time is necessary for both the child and the Center. Your child needs to prepare for leaving and saying good-byes. We need time to make a final evaluation and collect the records for future use in your child’s new school. Failure to give two weeks’ written notice will result in the forfeiture of your security deposit, and you will be charged for the two weeks’ tuition, as well as any outstanding balance.

TUITION

We offer a sliding fee scale, based on a family’s gross annual income. This option is made possible largely through the support of the United Way of the Upper Valley. We are proud to be a member agency and recipient of funds raised through the United Way’s annual drive.

Please note that there is no weekly invoicing. Therefore, you are required to pay tuition on Monday or the first day of service, for that week of attendance. Checks should be placed in the locked payment box located by the main entrance. This box is checked at least once each day. Cash payments are to be handed to the Office Manager, Program Director, Assistant Program Director, or the Executive Director, so that receipts can be written. Classroom teachers do not handle cash payments.

You are expected to pay your full weekly fee even if your child is unable to attend due to illness, vacation, or holidays, or if he/she is absent for any other reason for up to two weeks. If your child will be absent from the Center for a period greater than two weeks, full payment is expected for the first two weeks. However, your fee will be reduced to 50% for any additional weeks. The child must be absent for every day of this period to qualify for this discount. Any problems in paying your weekly fee must be discussed with the Office Manager or Executive Director.

If your tuition goes unpaid for a period of two weeks, your child will be subject to discharge, unless payment is made in full in the third week.

OTHER FEES

A $15.00 late fee is charged for any weekly tuition not received by the Monday of the third week.

A $25.00 fee will be charged for checks returned for insufficient funds, if there is a charge to us by our bank.

LATE FEE

The Center closes promptly at 6:00 PM. If you extend the closing of the Center by your late arrival, a fee of $1.00 per minute will be charged. You will be expected to pay this fee as soon as invoiced. The late charge will be based on the clocks of the classroom.

OUR PROGRAMS

The Children’s Center is a year-round program, open to children from the age of twelve months through the summer following a child’s kindergarten year. We currently have two toddler classrooms, two pre-school classrooms, and one before/after kindergarten classroom.

Classrooms

Each classroom provides age-based learning and development activities. An important part of your child’s early years is a continuing development of knowledge of the social world and of how to interact with peers and adults. Your child’s age, developmental stage, and the composition of the classroom are all considered when determining placement. Our classrooms are named to encourage a sense of community within each room:

· The Baby Bear room is our youngest group, with one to two year olds.

· Bear Cubs are two to three years old.

· Three year olds are our Panda Bears.

· The Brown Bear classroom of older three’s to four years old.

· Our oldest group is the Grizzly Bears, which are four to five year olds.

Our programs are designed to reflect individual needs and interests of children, and focus on social, emotional, cognitive, language, and motor skill growth and development. At each level, children are encouraged to develop self-esteem, self-help skills, and individuality.

Your child’s classroom

Each classroom has two to three full time teachers and occasional help from part time staff members. Your child’s room will have its own schedule, with free play, breakfast, circle time, activity time, outside time, lunch, teeth brushing, rest time, snack time, music/movement, and other elements. The schedule is posted outside each room, and you can have a copy on request. Baby Bears and Bear Cubs are in the Baby Bear room from 6:30 to 7:00 AM, then in the Bear Cub class from 5 to 6 PM. The other children are all together in the Panda Bear room at the start of each day. At approximately 7:45 AM, they go to their respective classrooms. They then come together again for the close of the day, at 5:30 PM in the Panda Bear room.

Transition

Transition into the Center is based on each child and family. The Program Directors work with each new family to determine a transition schedule that meets the child’s needs. We know that transitions can be difficult for children as well as adults. When a family has had a difficult transition in the morning, we encourage them to call later to see how their child is managing. We are here to help with this process.

Moving from one classroom to another

The decision to move a child from one age group to the next is also made with care. Any move is based first and foremost on the needs of the child, developmental criteria, and the occupancy of the classrooms. Teachers, parents, and the Program Directors may initiate a class change. The Program Director will notify the teachers when and where a child is to move. We try to plan a transitional period of at least two weeks before the move takes place. We also encourage you to get in touch with the new teachers to learn more about your child’s new room.

Curriculum

The curriculum in each classroom reflects the emotional, physical, social, and cognitive needs of each child. His/her development needs are used to determine appropriate activities that are carried out with each child. Because children grow, learn, and develop at different rates, this approach gives them the opportunity to explore each area of development at their own pace. Health, safety, hygiene, and nutrition are part of each day’s learning activities.