Northern Wells Community Schools
Latchkey Handbook
Lancaster Elementary School
Ossian Elementary School
2012-2013
LATCHKEY INFORMATION
Latchkey will be available to Northern Wells students in grades K-5. Services will begin the first day of school and end the last day of school. The latchkey program begins at 6:30 a.m. each morning and closes at 6:00 p.m. each evening. Latchkey will operate each day school is in session regardless of delays due to inclement weather.
Because latchkey is not equipped with staff, materials, or food service needed to provide full-day care, latchkey services will discontinue if school closes after a delay is called. If children are at school when the decision is made to cancel, parents will be called to pick up their children.Parents are required to pick their children up within an hour after the closing is announced.Latchkey will not operate on school vacation days such as Labor Day and Christmas breaks.
Snacks will be provided as needed. You may also send breakfast or snack items with your child each day – NOTE: Please do not send in anything that contains nuts. Your child may also purchase breakfast from the school cafeteria each day at 8:45. Breakfast prices for the 2012-13 school are:
Regular Price: $1.75
Free/Reduced Price: $0.30
Price schedule approved by the NWCS School Board on August 3, 2010:
$2.50/hour Per Child
Latchkey reserves the right to terminate enrollment if one or both of these conditions exist:
LATE PAYMENTS
- Northern Wells Community Schools will adhere to the following procedure with regard to delinquent accounts:
- Payments received after the payment due date will be subject to a $5 late fee which will be noted on the next week’s bill.
- After 7 calendar days past the due date a phone call/email will be made to the parent in an attempt to collect the unpaid balance.
3. After 14 calendar days past the due date, the parent will not be
allowed to use Latchkey services until the account is brought
current.The parent or guardian may also be taken to small claims
court at this time.
A PERSISTENT AND UNCORRECTED BEHAVIOR PROBLEM
The latchkey program will follow the school rules of expected behavior. See page 4 – Behavior/Discipline Policy
If you need to get a hold of the latchkey provider(s) during the morning hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. please call 565-3135 Ext. 5107 for Lancaster and 622-4179 Ext. 5541 for Ossian.
The following tentativeschedule and procedures will be followed for the morning latchkey:
When dropping your child off at morning Latchkey, you must come in the school and sign your child in on the designated sign-in sheet. This is for the safety of your child.
6:30 a.m.- 8:00 a.m: Snack/Breakfast (Provided by Parent) Homework time
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.: Outdoor or indoor play
8:45 a.m.: School breakfast eaters sent to cafeteria
8:45 a.m.-8:55 a.m.: Dismissal Procedures (collect belongings, etc.)
The following tentative schedule and procedures will be followed for the afternoon latchkey:
When you are picking up your child from afternoon latchkey, you must come in the school and sign your child out on the designated sign-out sheet. This is for the safety of your child.
3:30- 4:00 p.m.: Snack/Play time/Homework
4:00- 6:00 p.m.: Outdoor or indoor play/Activities/Homework/Computers
5:50-6:00 p.m.: Dismissal Procedures (collect belongings, etc.)
Only persons authorized in writing by the primary caretaker may pick up a child from the program. This is for the child’s protection. Anyone without proper authorization WILL NOT be allowed to pick up your child. Primary caretakersWILL BE called immediately if this occurs. All approved pickup alternatives, along with phone numbers, should be listed on the registration form. This includes brothers/sisters, aunts/uncles, grandparents, etc. Until Latchkey Staff are familiar with the adults picking up children, identification will be checked. Also, alternative pick-up adults will be checked for authorization and identification before children are released in their care. This is for the safety of your children and all the children who attend Latchkey.
Behavior/Discipline Policy
Your child will be under the supervision of qualified personnel familiar with his/her school. The same Rules of Expected Behavior as the regular school program will be followed, and will be explained to your child. You may find these rules on page 22 of the 2012-2013 Lancaster Elementary Student Handbook or on page 25 of the 2012-2013 Ossian Elementary Student Handbook under Rules of Expected Behavior. Rough conduct, disrespect to leaders, destruction of property or equipment (which could result in damage fees), vandalism, use of profanity or any other undesirable act will result in disciplinary action and if necessary, removal from the program. Regarding toys, if a student brings personal toys they are responsible for it. You will be contacted about serious and/or repeated misbehavior. If your child has a persistent and uncorrected behavior problem Latchkey reserves the right to terminate enrollment (see the attached example of the Latchkey Misbehavior Form).
School Wide Bullying Rules
Please see page 25 of the 2012-2013 Lancaster Elementary Student Handbook or Ossian Elementary Student Handbook. The school Bullying Policies and Procedures are listed there and pertain to Latchkey as well.
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