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Koala Kare Childcare Center & Pre-School Program

Parent Handbook

Koala Kare Childcare Center & Pre-School Program has been operating since 1991. We are a New York State Licensed Daycare provider and are mandated by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services/ Bureau of Early Childhood Services.

POLICY STATEMENT

Koala Kare School age program and all caregivers are dedicated to providing a safe and loving environment for all children who are placed in our care.

As a partner in your child’s development, we go beyond the basic needs of your child to provide care that promotes physical, mental, social and emotional growth.

At all times our door is open for our parents to visit with their child and observe their care.

DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION

We are open Monday through Friday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Holiday closings are:

New Year’s Day

Memorial Day

Fourth of July

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after

Christmas Day

Additional holiday closings will depend on the day of the week that a holiday falls on. Adequate notice will be given as these days arrive. Tuition is not reduced for holiday weeks.

BUSINESS OWNERS

Koala Kare Childcare Center & Pre-School Program is owned and operated by:

Karen L. Russell Home Phone 315 433-9142

Theresa M. Jeffers

STAFF QUALIFICATIONS

Director: B.S. in Education or related field and three years administrative experience.

Assistant Director: A.S. in Early Childhood education or related field and two years childcare experience.

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Head Teachers: College credit hours in early childhood education or CDA certificate.

Caregivers: Minimum high school diploma.

All Koala Kare employees are certified in Standard First Aid and Community CPR including infant and child CPR.

FACILITY

Koala Kare Childcare Center & Pre-School Program is in a one story building with plenty of windows opening out to ground level. The building is air conditioned to 72-74 degrees and heated 70-72 degrees. All outside doors are locked with the front door accessible to staff and parents only with a coded key pad. Our fire detection system is wired directly to a Fire Dispatch Center. Each care group is assigned their own room. Our outside play area consists of open space for our older children and separate fenced in play areas containing riding toys, climbing apparatus, swings and other outside activities for our younger children.

SECURITY

  1. All outside doors are locked for outside access but are able to be opened from the inside for emergencies.
  2. The main entrance to the center is equipped with a keypad that requires a code to be punched in to open the door. Parents receive the code upon enrollment.
  3. No child is released from childcare to an unauthorized person and our staff must check picture identification for authorized persons if they are not familiar with them.

CARE GROUPS

Infants: 6 weeks to 18 months Caregiver to Child Ratio 1:4

Toddlers:18 months to 3 years of age Caregiver to Child Ratio 1:5

Pre-School: 3 years of age Caregiver to Child Ratio 1:7

Pre-School: 4 and 5 years of age (not in Kindergarten) Caregiver to Child Ratio 1:9

School age: 5 to 9 years of age Caregiver to Child Ratio 1:10

School age: 10 to 12 years of age Caregiver to Child Ratio 1:15

TUITION 3 Days 4 Days 5 Days

Maximum Hours per Week 28.5 hours 38 hours 48 hours

INFANTS $205.00 $205.00 $225.00

TODDLERS $152.00 $195.00 $215.00

PRE-SCHOOL $143.00 $179.00 $199.00

Rates are per child. 3 days is the minimum number of days.

SCHOOL-AGE

Rates are all inclusive, they include all meals, snacks, art supplies, and all half days, full days, snow days and full weeks off during the school year. Deposits for this age group vary depending on the time of year you register. An overtime fee may apply.

3 Days4 Days5 Days

SUMMER $114.00 $145.00 $180.00

SCHOOL YEAR

Kindergarten$142.00

Before and After School$99.00

Before OR After School$89.00

After School Ray Middle$99.00

Part-time Pre-School 49.00

TUITION AND ENROLLMENT GUIDELINES

  • Minimum enrollment of three full days.
  • No part-time for infants or Mini-Tots
  • If your child exceeds the total number of hours for your rate, you will be charged an additional $10.00 per child per week.
  • Deposit: At the time of enrollment, a deposit is required in the amount of the first weeks care. Deposit is nonrefundable.
  • All tuition is paid one week in advance and is due by Monday or the first day of the week your child attends childcare.
  • A $10.00 late fee will be charged for tuition payments received after Tuesday unless other arrangements have been made.
  • $10.00 per quarter hour, per child will be charged for children picked up after 6:00PM.
  • A $30.00 fee will be charged for all returned checks.
  • Full tuition is required in the event your child is absent. (See Vacation Policy).
  • No child will be allowed to attend Koala Kare Childcare Center & Pre-School Program if tuition payments are delinquent more than three (3) weeks. A payment of at least one (1) of the delinquent weeks must be paid before the child can return to childcare.
  • If a payment is not received and the child does not return to the childcare, a monthly charge of $15.00 for collection will be added monthly to your account.

ENROLLMENT DOCUMENTATION

The following forms must be completed and returned prior to your child attending childcare:

*Registration Application

*Childcare Registration- Blue Card & Pick Up Authorization

*Tuition Agreement Form

*Policy Agreement Form

*Immunization and Medical Form- Signed by your physician

Updates Needed on a Regular Basis (Please submit in writing):

New York State requires us to have a current record of your child’s

immunizations.

*Topical Ointment Form

* Medication Forms

*CACFP application

Inform Koala Kare of any changes in:

-Your work, home or mobile telephone numbers.

-Your daily routine and where you can be reached.

-List of people authorized to pick up your child.

MATERNITY POLICY

Parents who are having another child and wish to take their present child out of childcare while on maternity leave must pay a minimum of three full days per week to reserve a spot for that child. Parents forfeit the free vacation week if a child goes part-time. Parents are able to reserve a space for the new infant.

SUMMER POLICY

  1. Any child who goes part-time in the summer must forfeit the free vacation week.
  2. If you had already taken a vacation week, you will be billed for that week.
  3. No child under the age of 17 months shall qualify for part-time rates since we do not offer part-time hours for this age group. The part-time fee schedule will be followed for children ages 18 months through school age.
  4. Any family that wishes to withdraw their school age child/children for the summer and reenroll for the school year has two options.
  5. A fee of $50.00 per week per child will be charged to hold a space over the summer. This fee must be paid in order to reenroll in September. Children may not attend during this time. The fee is a service charge, not tuition. Koala Kare Childcare Center & Pre-School Program MUST be notified by June 1st, if you will be using this option.
  6. Parents may pay the three day school age tuition rate for their child/children and be able to attend during those three days. This option should be used if childcare will be needed over the summer.

VACATION POLICY

  • Each full-time child (after having attended Koala Kare for a minimum of 6 months) will be given one week’s vacation, per year, free of charge.
  • Vacation must be taken in one unit (5 consecutive days).
  • The child may not attend childcare during the vacation week.
  • The vacation week may not be used as your last week at Koala Kare.
  • Part-time children do not receive a free vacation week.

DROP OFF PROCEDURES

  1. “Punch-in” using the time clock inside the main entrance.
  2. Infants: Parents must complete the top portion of a daily sheet letting us know when your child was last fed and any special instructions for the day.
  3. Mini-Tots through School Age: Parents must leave any special instructions for the day on the “Daily Notes” pad outside your child’s room.
  4. Put all of your child’s labeled belongings in their proper place: Cubbies, hung up, in the refrigerator, ect.
  5. Bring your child to the proper room and do not leave until you are sure that the staff has acknowledged your child.
  6. Children may not let themselves into childcare; they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

PICK UP PROCEDURE

  1. The parent or authorized person will assume responsibility of the child once the staff has acknowledged their presence.
  2. Please do not allow your child to wander around the center or leave the building without your supervision.
  3. The parent of authorized person is responsible for gathering the child’s belongings and dressing them for the weather outside.
  4. Our staff will assist as much as possible, but remember they are responsible for the supervision of other children in the room.
  5. :Punch-out” upon departure from building using the time clock.

CHILD RELEASE FROM CHILDCARE

  1. Child will be released only to a parent or legal guardian.
  2. If a parent or anyone else is not recognized by a caregiver, picture identification must be shown to release a child.
  3. Parents/Legal Guardians must inform caregivers in writing if someone else is picking up their child. They must give the full name and inform this person that picture identification is required to release the child.
  4. All names of anyone who may pick up your child must be recorded on the child’s Blue Emergency Card and Pick-up Authorization Form.
  5. If an authorized person will be picking up a child on a regular basis, a written note stating the authorized person can pick up at any time must be attached to the Pick-up Authorization Form.

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE

  1. Your child will be actively involved in all sorts of developmentally appropriate activities. Please dress him/her in clothes that can take paint, spills, spaghetti sauce, crawls through a tunnel, ect. These are all part of being a child and growing up. Sneakers or rubber soiled shoes are suggested. Hard sole shoes are slippery, and sandals and plastic shoes do not provide protection from injury to feet.

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  1. Dress your child for the weather as outdoor play is an important part of Koala Kare’s program

MEALS AND SNACKS

  1. Breakfast: Offered from 7:00AM-8:00AM and consists of cereal, toast and a piece of fruit, juice and milk.
  2. Snacks: Offered mid-morning and in the afternoon and consists of fruit, juice, crackers, dairy products and low sugar treats.
  3. A variety of nutritional lunches are served consisting of a main course, fruit, vegetable and milk.
  4. All children are encouraged to try all items served to them, but in the event a child will not eat the main course, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich will be offered.
  5. Snacks and meals may not be brought from home unless your child is on a special diet.
  6. All special diets are the parent’s responsibility.

TOYS FROM HOME

  1. No toys are to be brought from home unless it is for Show-n-Tell.
  2. Special dolls or blankets for nap time are acceptable.
  3. Please be aware that there are a lot of little hands that love to explore new items and therefore, Koala Kare will not be held responsible for lost or broken items.
  4. Please be sure that all items are labeled to make it easier to keep track of.
  5. Your child’s caregiver may request that the item be put on a shelf or in your child’s cubby until the child goes home.

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is used to teach the correct behavior so that the children can function in society, have self control and make good decisions.

Emphasis is placed on what can be done rather than on what a child cannot do. Different techniques and approaches are used depending on the age of the child and the behavior that needs to be corrected:

  1. Redirecting a child to an alternate activity.
  2. Rewarding acceptable behavior.
  3. Encouraging a child to talk about his/her feelings and the inappropriate behavior.
  4. Providing an example for a child by speaking and interacting with the child in a positive manner.
  5. Separating a child from the group (“time-out”) for a period of no longer than 10-15 minutes. The length of a child’s “time out” is determined by the inappropriate behavior and the child’s age.

INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS

  1. Koala Kare will keep a fully stocked first aid kit on site at all times.
  2. An accident report will be sent home detailing any accident.
  3. If a caregiver feels the accident is severe enough, parents will be notified.

MANDATED REPORTERS

Childcare workers are mandated reporters in New York State. New York Law describes the circumstances and conditions which constitute child abuse or neglect. In addition, the laws require mandated reporters to report whenever there is a reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected. The mandatory reporting statute is for the purpose of identifying suspected abused or neglected children as soon as possible in order to protect them from further harm and, where appropriate, offer services to assist their families.

BITING

Between the ages of about 1 year and 2 ½ years some children go through a biting period. There are a few reasons why children bite of which none has to do with them being mean; it is simply a natural phase some children go through. Some of the reasons children bite consist of:

  1. Accidental
  2. Attention
  3. Wants something another child has
  4. Personal space is encroached

We try our best to prevent biting; however this is not always possible.

HOW WE HANDLE BITING:

  1. tell the child “No Biting. We do not hurt our friends.”
  2. If biting persists, we will separate the child to his/her own area to play so that he/she does not have the opportunity to bite.

TREATMENT OF A BITE

  1. Wash and clean with peroxide
  2. Ice
  3. If skin is broken, parents will be called
  4. Parents will receive an accident report for any bite.

POTTY TRAINING

When a child is ready for potty training, we suggest the following:

  1. No pull-ups. We have found that they extend the training process and are very costly.
  2. Use the thick cotton underwear with plastic cover pants. Send at least 6 pairs a day in the beginning.
  3. Send at least 4 pants and 2 sneakers/shoes for accidents. Koala Kare uses positive reinforcement with stickers to encourage the children. It is always helpful when a routine is set at home as well. Please expect extra laundry and be patient with your child as he/she goes through this learning period.

SUPPLIES PROVIDED BY KOALA KARE

INFANTS PRE-K

  1. Crib, swing, and seats 1. Mat for Nap
  2. Baby wipes 2. All food and snacks
  3. Baby ointment 3. All art supplies
  4. Table food when ready 4. Toys, Books and Games
  5. Toys and books

TODDLERSSCHOOL AGE

1. Cot for nap1. All food and snacks

2. Baby wipes and ointment2. All drinks

3. All food and snacks3. Toys, books &

4. All drinksgames

5. All art supplies4. Computers

6. Toys, books & games

THREES

  1. Mat for nap
  2. Baby wipes and ointment (if needed)
  3. All food and snacks
  4. All drinks
  5. All art supplies
  6. Toys. books & games

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SUPPLIES PROVIDED BY PARENTS

Please Label All Items Brought Into The Center

INFANTS

  1. All bottles labeled with child’s first and last name.
  2. All baby food labeled with child’s first and last name.
  3. All diapers, please label outside of package with child’s first and last name. Cloth diapers are accepted, but parents must bring a zip-lock bag to store soiled diapers.
  4. Minimum of 3 changes of clothing.
  5. Crib sheet and blanket.
  6. Bibs, with on large plastic bib to cover chest and shoulders.
  7. Teething toys.
  8. Pacifier, if needed.
  9. Tylenol to be kept on hand for emergencies. No medication will be given without parent’s permission.
  10. A sweater to be left at childcare.
  11. Winter Wear- Snow suit, hat mittens, scarf and heavy boots.
  12. Spring Wear- Light jacket, hat and boots
  13. Summer Wear-Bathing suit, towel, water shoes, hat and sunscreen.
  14. Fall Wear- Light jacket, boots and hat.

Please Label All Items Brought Into The Center

TODDLERS

  1. All diapers
  2. Spill proof cup labeled with child’s first and last name.
  3. Crib sheet and blanket. NO pillows allowed.
  4. A plastic bib that covers the front and shoulders. (Usually found at Toys’R’Us)
  5. Minimum of 3 changes of clothes.
  6. Tylenol to be kept on hand for emergencies. No medication will be given without parent’s permission.
  7. A sweater or sweatshirt to be left at childcare.
  8. Winter Wear- Snow suit, hat, mittens, scarf and heavy boots.
  9. Spring Wear- Light Jacket, hat and boots.
  10. Summer Wear- Bathing suit, towel water shoes, hat and sunscreen.
  11. Fall Wear- Light jacket, hat and boots.

SUPPLIES PROVIDED BY PARENTS