Celebration Policy

Procedure Number: ED 13 / Effective Date: / Relates to CFR # 13-4.21 a i-v

SUBJECT: Celebration Policy

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE:

The ATCAA Head Start/Early Head Start program avoids endorsing commercialism surrounding the holidays; the focus should be about learning.

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES:

The following guidelines should be followed when planning activities:

  1. Staff members must make sure that each family’s traditions are respected.
  2. Staff members and parents/guardians should not assume that everyone celebrates holidays in the same way. Staff members must check with the families to ensure that activities are indeed reflective of the different cultures in classroom.
  3. Staff members must facilitate an open discussion with parents/guardians about celebrations.
  4. Staff members, in partnership with parents/guardians, should plan strategies for working with the children whose family beliefs do not permit participation in holiday celebrations. There should be an appropriate alternative for the child in the classroom.
  5. All activities should be planned and implemented as is appropriate for the ages of the children in the center and to meet the program’s health, safety, and educational standards. The hours of the celebration must conform to the program schedules. Hours should not be reduced or added to the program day. Meals must be served according to ATCAA Head Start/State Preschool policies and federal guidelines.
  6. END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR CELEBRATIONS:
  • Each center is provided with a budget for an end of the school year celebration. The staff and parents/guardians will work together to plan activities that stay within this budget. In keeping with the Head Start Standard 1305.9, parents/guardians cannot be charged a fee to participate in any part of the program. Parents/guardians may donate items to the center, but may not be asked to contribute funds for an event.
  • All activities should be planned so that they are appropriate for the ages of the children and to meet the program’s health and safety standards.
  • Outside food items brought in must conform to the ATCAA Head Start guidelines and approved by the Food Services Coordinator prior to bringing into the program.
  • As a part of the program’s “code of ethics,” ATCAA staff members do not receive gifts from families.

1305.9 Policy on fees

A Head Start program must not prescribe any fee schedule or otherwise provide for the charging of any fees for participation in the program. If the family of a child determined to be eligible for participation by a Head Start program volunteers to pay part or all of the costs of the child’s participation, the Head Start program may accept the voluntary payments and record the payments as program income. Under no circumstances shall a Head Start program solicit and encourage payments of a fee as a condition of a child’s enrollment or participation in the program.

Edited on: 10-05-2013

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