CORNERSTONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
2015-2016
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOLPROGRAM
A Program Designed to Enrich
Your Child’s Educational
Experience While Providing
A Safe Alternative
To Child Care
7:00-8:30 am or 3:45-6:00 pm
Under the Gym Out side door #5
330-262-9666 Ext 4319
REGISTER TODAYSPACE IS LIMITED
Updated 08/15
Enrollment fees
Cornerstone Before &After School Program
1. Every Student must pay $20.00 registration fee.
* If you need to schedule 5 consecutive weeks of $5.00 payments, please make arrangements with Mrs. McClure by a note or by E-mail
- If you qualify for Job & Family Services childcare card, you must pay your per arranged fee set by Job and Family Services per week and the $20.00 registration fee.
By swiping your Child’s Job and Family Services Card in the Electronic Child Care system when checking in & out daily. Failure to swipe your child’s card daily will result in a $2.50 per hour fee that will be billed to you.
3.If you qualify for free or reduced lunches, you only pay the registration fee of $20.00.
4.If you do not qualify for any of the above services, you will pay the $20.00 registration fee and $2.50 an hour.
5The fees charged are aligned to amounts Job & Family Services pay for childcare.
7.Fees will be due at the end of each school week. Parents may also prepay or pay-as- you-go.
Please Make Check to: Wooster City School
The United Way has provided funding to support this program
1 updated 08/15
Guidelines for Cornerstones Before and After School Program
This program is on a first come first-serve basis. We will have an adult to student ratio of 1:18. This means spaces are limited. Please return your forms to Cornerstone as soon as possible.
- After School students will go directly to the designated After School rooms at Cornerstone
Elementary School.
2.Students will follow the instructor’s directions at all times.
3.When going through the building, students will stay with their group at all times.
4.Whenever possible, students should be picked up at 5:30 p.m. so as to not disrupt the planned
Program activities. 6pm is the latest pick up time.
5.If a student becomes sick or injured, every effort will be made to take care of minor illnesses
and notify parents.
6.Parents must complete an emergency medical form listing at least three (3) telephone numbers
of people to contact in case of emergency.
7. All Wooster City School Board policies, administrative procedures and building rules apply to
The Before & After School Program.
8.Communication is the key to a successful experience. Parents are encouraged to keep in close
contact with the Program instructors and let them know of any concerns or circumstances that
will affect a child’s stay. Instructors, likewise, will communicate promptly any problems or
successes the child may be having in the program.
9.A student may lose the privilege of participating in the program for chronic misbehavior.
10. If your child needs to take medication while attending the Before and After School Program,
please send the medication(s) instructions with the completed medication release forms from his/her’s Doctor. to the schools nurse.
11. There will be a charge for late pick-ups of $1 for every 5 minutes after 6:00 pm. In an
Emergency situation, please call The Before & After School Program instructors at school 330-262-9666 Ext 4319
12. Snacks at the Before & After School Program are provided at no charge. Your child may also bring his/ her own food from home. Please remember to alert us of any of your child’s food allergies on the registration form.
13. Parents or guardians must come into the school to pick up their child sign them out. If
Someone else is picking up a student; we must have a note giving permission for pickup, signed
And dated by the parent/guardian. (This is for your child’s protection.)
2 Updated 08/15
CornerstoneBefore & After School Program
PARENT HANDBOOK
101 West Bowman St., Wooster, OH 44691
Out side Door #5 off Grant Street.
(330) 262-9666 Ext 4319
Welcome! We are pleased that you have decided to be a part of the Cornerstone Before & After School program.
GOAL & OBJECTIVES
Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for school age children while increasing academic performance and homework completion. We will do this by offering before and after school child care with hands-on learning activities, tutoring and homework assistance. We also offer enrichment opportunities for the children to be exposed to activities, such as arts, music, technology, recreation, nutrition, and health.
LICENSING STATEMENT:
The Cornerstone Elementary Before and After School Care is licensed by the Ohio Department of Education. (ODE). One copy of the license is posted on a Child Care bulletin board and another is included in the site licensing binder. The binder also includes the Rules for School Child Care Programs and the Center’s Plan of Operation. Compliance reports from ODE, inspection reports from the Health, Building and Fire Departments of Wayne County, and the Center’s license are available upon request at the Ohio Department Education.
The toll free number for the Ohio Department of Education is available on the license and may be used to report a suspected violation of the childcare program.
For the 2015-2016 school year, The Before and After School Program at Cornerstone Elementary will serve elementary school age children Kindergarten-4th grade (ages 5-11). Supervision will not exceed a 1:18 staff/child ratio. Children will be in groups by grade level maintaining appropriate staff/child ratios. A minimum of at least two childcare staff members will be on site during all hours the Program is in operation.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
The Cornerstone Elementary Before and After School Program does not discriminate in the enrollment of children upon the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex or national origin. Children with disabilities are welcome at the Cornerstone Elementary Before and After School Program, provided a Medical Physical Care Plan is completed for the child and kept on file. Special education staff will be contacted to assist with necessary accommodations.
REGISTRATION, FEES and HOURS:
His/her parent or guardian must register each child. In compliance with state laws, a medical statement child information form, and emergency transportation form must be completed before admission to the program.
3 Updated 08/15
Cornerstone Before and After School Program: SAFETY POLICY
1.Children will not be left alone or unsupervised.
2.Child care staff will greet youth as they enter to check for communicable disease and note their presence.
3.Children are to be signed in (am) and or signed out (pm) by parent or guardian each day.
4.Children will be released only to those registered on the release form unless written instructions from the parent grants dismissal to another person.
5.A telephone is located every childcare room.
6.Routine fire drills, tornado drills, and emergency drills will be completed in accordance with state regulations.
7.Fire emergency and weather alert plans arealso located on the bulletin board and in each classroom.
8.Emergency exit routes are posted in each room.
9.In the event that a child needs emergency transportation, the Wooster City facilities for emergency will be used and we will contact the parent/guardian from the medical forms.
10. When any child is injured, has an accident or requires emergency transportation an incident report will be completed. Copies will be put in childcare file, and one will be given to parent. A child observation form will be completed for any child showing signs of communicable disease.
11. Emergency health and transportation authorization forms are kept in the childcare cabinet located in the childcare room.
12. Use of aerosols shall be prohibited when children are in attendance.
13. Staff members are responsible for reporting child abuse or suspicions of child abuse or neglect as required by section 215 1.421 of the Revised Code to the local Children’s Protective Service agency.
14. The program shall neither abuse nor neglect children, but shall protect children from abuse and neglect while in attendance at the The Before and After School Program.
15. As a universal infection prevention measure, the state requires all childcare workers to wear latex gloves anytime they come into contact with bodily fluids.
16. A blood borne pathogens exposure control plan is in place for the protection of all employees.
17. Scissors and pencils must be handled with care. They must be carried with the hand wrapped around the pointed end.
EMERGENCY and ACCIDENT POLICY:
In case of emergency or accident staff will follow the medical and dental emergency plan, which is posted by the telephone and on the childcare bulletin board. The staff member will administer first aid, summon emergency transportation and contact parents. An incident report will be completed and one copy will be kept on file and the other given to the parent.
SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN
The Cornerstone Elementary Before and After School Care will be licensed for 56 children and will not exceed a 1:18 staff/child ratio or a group of 36 children with appropriate staff/child ratio. A minimum of two childcare staff members will be on site during all hours the center is in operation.
Children may individually use the school restroom designated for childcare youth. Upon asking
4 1of 4 Updated 08/15
permission, the childcare worker will write down the child’s name and time and will summon 2nd adult if child is gone for more than 3 minutes.
Children may run errands without direct adult supervision in the area designated for the program’s use by the site plan if the children are within hearing of the staff member, a staff member knows the whereabouts of the children at all times, and a staff member checks on the children every five minutes.
Children kindergarten grade and higher, in groups of two or more, may be without direct adult supervision in the area designated for the program’s use by the site plan if the children are within sight of a staff member in adjoining or adjacent space, a staff member knows the whereabouts of the children at all times, and a staff member checks on the children every five minutes and documents the observation.
A parent or guardian must accompany his/her child when entering or leaving childcare program. Please remember your child must be signed in and out.
Community partners/service providers will not be left alone with any child in the program. Staff from the Cornerstone Before and After program will attend activities with the children keeping with the 1:18 ratio. Service providers will not be counted in the staff ratio for the activities.
RELEASE POLICY:
Children will only be released to those individuals who are listed on the Child Release Authorization
Form. Child Release Authorization Form may be changed at anytime, and parents are encouraged to
keep all information current.
Parents will always be contacted in the case of emergency. Please include on the enrollment form additional persons authorized to pick up your child to include a total of three or four including the parent(s).
Children may be released to an unregistered individual with a written note that is signed by the parent or guardian and includes a telephone number for verification. The note will be given to the childcare staff and kept on file.
5 2 of 4 Updated 08/15
GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE POLICY:
Constructive, developmentally appropriate child guidance and management techniques shall be used at all times, and shall include such measures as redirection, separation from the problem situations, talking with the child about the situation, and praise for appropriate behavior. The childcare staff in charge of a group of children will be responsible for their discipline in keeping the policies established by the center.
Cornerstone Before and After Program staff believes that helping the child to learn self-control is very important. Our hope is that each child will learn self-discipline through careful guidance. Your child will be treated with love and respect. If children are treated with respect, they in turn learn to respect the teachers and their friends. Our expectations will be kept within the child’s capabilities and the child will be made aware of these expectations.
Positive reinforcement (commenting on children doing the “right” thing) and positive redirection (removing the child and giving them an appropriate activity) will be used. A child may be asked to sit for a short period of time to give the child a chance to regain control and if they are having a difficult time. Time outs will be age appropriate in length and done within the classroom.
Child training and discipline will be handled with kindness, consistency, and understanding in accordance with the individual needs of each group and child. The staff will discuss the rules thoroughly with children and explain why it is necessary to have them. We do not want children to hurt themselves or others. Our goal is for students to learn to respect other people and their property.
Discerning right from wrong is a continual learning process. We first talk with the child when unacceptable behavior occurs to be sure he/she understands the rule and why it exists. If the unacceptable behavior continues, the childcare staff member shall use developmentally appropriate techniques suitable to the child’s age and circumstances. The staff shall communicate with the parent or guardian to implement any specific behavior management plan. It is hoped that this will encourage the child to understand the importance of acceptable behavior.
We want to approach discipline with positive actions that reinforce acceptable behavior and encourage the learning process taking place as a natural part of child’s growth and development. All staff members adhere to the child guidance and behavior management guidelines listed above.
1. Program staff is trained in positive behavior management as advised by ODE and the OSU School of Social Work.
2.Discipline will be constructive and educational. Redirection and praise for positive behaviors will be emphasized.
3.If the problem persists, the coordinator will speak to the child, the coordinator will call the parents and the parent will receive a letter to record the events. This could result in a suspension for a day then a week and then total removal from the program.
4.Parents will be notified in writing of any special or ongoing discipline problems.
5.It is our goal to provide an activity-filled program that will minimize the need for disciplinary actions.
In cases where the staff member and child cannot come to a satisfactory solution, the Coordinator and Parent
will be made aware of the situation to support each other in resolving the situation.
In extreme cases involving the chance of injury to self or others, or destroying property, it may be necessary to require that a child be dis-enrolled from the center.
There shall be no cruel, harsh, or corporal punishment or any unusual punishments such as, but not limited to, punching, pinching, shaking, spanking, or biting.
6 3 of 4 Updated 08/15
A child will not be delegated to discipline another child.
When the child’s behavior is unacceptable, the childcare staff member shall not use physical restraints to confine a child by any means other than holding a child for a short period of time, such as in a protective hug, so the child may regain control.
No child shall be placed in a locked room or otherwise confined in an enclosed area such as a closet, box, or similar cubicle.
No child shall be subjected to profane language,threats, derogatory remarks about himself/herself or his/her family, or any other verbal abuse.
Discipline should not be imposed on a child with failure to eat or, failure to sleep, or failure for toileting accidents.
Techniques of discipline shall not humiliate, shame, or frightened a child.
Discipline shall not include withholding food,rest, or toilet use.
Separation shall be brief and duration, and age and development-appropriate. The child shall be within sight and hearing of school childcare staff member, and in a safe, lighted, and well ventilated space.
7 4 of 4 Updated 08/15
Complaint Chain of Events
The Department shall investigate and may inspect any licensed school childcare program upon receipt of any complaint that programming is not in compliance with the requirements of School Age Child Program guidelines.
To provide parents with a uniform procedure to resolve matters related to the care received in Before & After School programming, the following steps should be observed to resolve grievances and/or complaints:
First Point of contact:
Mrs. Michelle McClure, Cornerstone Elementary,
United Way Before andAfter School Coordinator
330-988-1111, Ext 4319
101 West Bowman St, Wooster, Ohio 44691
Second Point of contact:
Mr. Eric Vizzo, Cornerstone Elementary, Principal
330-988-1111, Ext 4001
101 West Bowman St, Wooster, Ohio 44691
Third Point of contact:
Mrs.Karen Arbogast, Director of Elementary Education
330.988.1111, ext. 1240
144 North Market Street, Wooster, Ohio 44691
Fourth Point of Contact:
Dr. Michael Tefs, Ed.D. Superintendent / CEO
330.988.1111, ext. 1223
144North Market Street, Wooster, Ohio 44691
8 Updated 08/15
Before & After REGISTRATION FORM
CHILD’S FULL NAME: ______
HomeAddress: ______
Mother/Guardian Name______Home Phone______
Father/Guardian Name ______Home Phone______
Mother’s Work Phone Mother’s Cell______
Father’s Work Phone Father’s Cell ______
(Please circle the phone number we should call first.)
Child Release Authorization
Besides the parents/guardians, please list additional people to whom the child can be released: (Please print)
Name relationship______