PARENTS HANDBOOK
SCHOOL YEAR 2016-2017
Dear Parents,
Welcome to GrowingTogetherAcademy family!
We are delighted you have chosen Growing Together Academy(GTA) for the early education, and care of your child. We think of our relationship to you and your family as a very special trust; a trust that we will work to maintain every day.
We will provide a superior pre-school program for your child; we are continuously working to incorporate the latest research findings into our curriculum; to ensure your child builds a strong foundation in order to begin kindergarten.
Once again, we are honored you have entrusted us with the early education, and the care of your child.
Sincerely,
Maria Cristina Marti de Pereda
Director
Growing Together Academy
Table of Contents / PAGEWelcome
Philosophy and Mission Statement / ……………………………………... / 4
Out Teachers and Staff / ……………………………………... / 4
Security
Working Hours / ……………………………………... / 5
Checking In and Out / ……………………………………... / 5
Visitors / ……………………………………... / 5
Procedure for Identifying Children / ……………………………………... / 5
Dress Code / ……………………………………... / 6
Behavior and Discipline / ……………………………………... / 6
Biting / ……………………………………... / 7
Termination / ……………………………………... / 7
Child Abuse / ……………………………………... / 7
Injuries and Accidents / ……………………………………... / 7
Emergencies
Health and Safety / ……………………………………... / 8
Medical exams and vaccines / ……………………………………... / 8
Naptime / ……………………………………... / 8
Outdoor Play / ……………………………………... / 8
Nutrition / ……………………………………... / 8
Diapering and Toilet Training / ……………………………………... / 8
Inclement Weather / ……………………………………... / 9
Disaster Preparedness Efforts / ……………………….…………… / 9
Communications during disaster / ……………………….…………… / 9
Evacuation procedures / ……………………………………... / 10
Chidren release / ……………………………………... / 10
Illness / Communicable Diseases / ……………………………………... / 11
Physical Exam & Immunization Records / ……………………………………... / 11
Medication / ……………………………………... / 11
Allergies / ……………………………………… / 11
Injuries and Accidents / ……………………………………... / 11
Daily Checklist / ……………………………………... / 12
Toys / Jewelry / ……………………………………... / 12
Program Schedules
Regulations / ……………………………………… / 13
Infant and Toddler Program / ……………………………………... / 13
2 Year, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K and VPK / ……………………………………... / 13
Before and After School / ……………………………………... / 13
Notification of Schedule Reduction / ……………………………………... / 14
Milestones
Infants (0-1 Year Old) / ……………………………………… / 14
Toddlers (1-2 Years Old) / ……………………………………… / 14
Toddlers (2-3 Years Old) / ……………………………………… / 14
Preschoolers (3-5 Years Old) / ……………………………………… / 15
Tuition and Fees
Registration Fee / ……………………………………... / 17
Tuition / ……………………………………... / 17
Withdrawal / ……………………………………... / 18
Payment Options / ……………………………………... / 18
Returned Transactions / ……………………………………... / 18
Additional Fess / ……………………………………... / 18
Late Pick Up Fee / ……………………………………... / 18
Time Off / Holidays / ……………………………………... / 18
Termination / ……………………………………... / 19
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECEIPT OF PARENT HANDBOOK / 20
Welcome
Our Academy is built in devotion of our people, our Director and Teachers work together with you, and your child in an open, nurturing, learning based environment where we respect the dignity of every child and parent.
We believe the best way to meet your expectations is working closely with you to provide a warm, secure atmosphere, and caring professional services for your child.We also believe that a regular and ongoing communications is an important link between each family and GTA.
We understand the trust you place in us when you enroll your child in our programs; we do everything possible to earn and maintain that trust. We are committed to exceed your expectations.
Philosophy and Mission Statement
We believe that children grow every day, and as they grow theydevelop more skills.We believe that caring and shaping children’s development comes first.
GTA provides a secure, nurturing, and educational environment for children; a place for children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society.
At GTA our staff encourages all children to participate in the activities that we prepare with love and care, so they can grow physically, emotionally, sociality, and intellectually by playing, exploring, and learning with others in a fun, safe, and healthy environment.
As a family owned and operated organization, GTA welcomes positive family involment, and encourages a Parent-Teacher approach where the need of every child comes first to obtain a successful early childhood education.
Our Teachers and Staff
Our Teachers are experienced professionals, trained to guide your child’s development and education. To maintain that high level of professionalism we provide regular ongoing training for all of our Teachers. In every classroom Lead Teachers direct your child’s education, play and learning. Lead Teachers are your primary partners in leading your child to an independent, self confident, creative, and inquisitive appreciation of the world.
Teachers and Associates assist Lead Teachers, enabling your child to be with familiar people throughout the day. Your child benefits from relations that such closeness provides. At our center the ratio of teachers and associates to children meets the licensing requirements of the state of Florida.
In our center your involvement is welcome and encouraged. You can look forward to regular conversations and conferences with your child’s teacher and the Director. In addition, written reports on your child’s education and progress are also provided.
Security
GTAunderstands the importance of security for you, your child, teachers and associates. In order to maintain a secure environment GTA has procedures in place for proper pick up, and drops off of the children in our care.
Working Hours
Our license allow us to open 24x7 for you convinience. However; our regular schedule is Mondays though Fridays (except on holidays. Please see ‘Holidays’) from 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM. We have extended hours until 10:00pm Monday through Friday.Please note that if your child remains in our premises for more than a hour after his/her schedule is over, and we are unable to contact any authorized pick up person listed on your child’s enrollment forms; the law requiresthat we contact Social Services who will pick up your child for safekeeping. Also therewill be a late pick up fee that will be charged to your account.
Checking In / Out
Every time you arrive to our premises, your child must be checked in on the keypad in the front lobby and on the Children’s Attendance Log (located in the child’s classroom). Also when your child leaves our premises he/she must be checked out in both the keypad and the Children’s Attendance Log. GTA will provide a personal identification number (PIN) to the child. It is the responsibility of the person dropping/picking up the child to comply with this procedure.
People authorized for pick up your child must show proper identification (even parents may be asked to show an identification.) before we release your child. By proper identification we mean an identification which includes a photo.
It‘s is policy of the center that no one under 18 years of age is permitted to pick up a child. (Except those who are the child’s parents.)
Visitors
All visitors to our center are greeted and asked to provide state I.D. to ensure the security of the children, to all unfamiliar visitors. If a visitor is listed as an authorized person o pick up a child the visitor must still show picture identification. The person has to be 18 years or older to pick a child.
Procedure for Identifying Children
The safety and well being of your child is very important to us. To ensure all children are accounted for all times, our associates mark each child present on the class attendance when a child arrives.
Head counts and roll are taken at major transition times through the day. Following outdoor olay experiences; an associate will walk the playground to ensure that all the children have entered the building.
Dress Code
As part of our program,GTA requires that every child attending our center wear the GTA uniform; The uniform consists of a GTA polo shirt ,and navy blue or khaki pants (or shorts) for boys and girls (girls also have the option of navy blue, or khaki scooters). You can order the uniforms at the front desk. The use of the uniform is MANDATORY.No child will be admitted at our premises if he/she is not wearing the uniform.No exceptions will be made to this rule.
PRESCHOOL GIRLS and/or BOYSWalking Shorts / Navy blue or Khaki, fitted appropriately at the waist (NO Jeans)
Pants / Navy blue or Khaki, fitted appropriately at the waist (NOJeans)
Belt / Black, brown, or Navy blue, required if shorts and pants have belt loops
Shirt / Navy blue or Red, with school logo. Solid white or Navy blue undershirts ONLY.Shirts must be tucked into pants or shorts
Skirt / Navy or Khaki, fitted appropriately at the waist (NO Jeans)
Jacket / Solid Navy Blue Hoodie. (You have the option of buy it with us or outside but remember that it needs to be WITHOUT any decoration)
Dress / Navy Polo dress- need to be with GTA logo (you can use ONLY Navy or
White Leggings under the dress)
Shoes / Black or Brown dress shoes or solid black or white athletic shoes NO BOOTS
Socks / ONLY WHITE OR NAVY BLUE SOCKS
Behavior and Discipline
It is important that good communication exits between home and GTA. If your child is experiencing a change in the home environment that may results in changes in behavior at the center, it is important that you notify the director.
Our center uses Becky Bailey’s conscious discipline approach.Conscious Discipline® is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum. It is based on current brain research, child development information, and developmentally appropriate practices. Conscious Discipline® has been specifically designed to make changes in the lives of adults first. The adultsin turn will change the lives of children.
Conscious Discipline® is a way or organizing schools and classrooms around the concept of a School Family. Each member of the family—both adult and child—learns the skills needed to successfully manage life tasks such as learning, forming relationships, communicating effectively, being sensitive to others’ needs and getting along with others.
Conscious Discipline® empowers teachers and other adults with the Seven Powers for Self Control. These powers change the adults’ perception and relationship with conflict, empowering them to be proactive instead of reactive during conflict times. These core beliefs strengthen our utilization of the frontal lobes of the brain. The frontal lobes are to the brain as a conductor is to an orchestra. The frontal lobes are our moral leader.
In the case a child has continuous behavioral issues we will work with the Early Learning Coalition’s social worker who will observe the child and will meet the parents and the center’s management to provide assistance as needed. However; in case that a child hurts other children and/or teachers we’ll consider the child as a threat to others. We reserve the right to suspend, or withdraw the child immediately, and the parents/guardian will be called at once to pick up the child.
At GTA all kinds of corporal punishment or verbal abuse are prohibited. We work on the conscious discipline program which empowers teachers to become proactive instead of reactive in conflict moments.
Note:When a problem arises we will patiently redirect the child in an age appropriate discussion, positive reinforcement to correct their behavior. For Examples : Committing an act that endangers themselves or other children in the facility including our staff, such as biting, hitting, fighting, or any failure to have their hands to themselves; destruction of property, using profane; obscene; or abusive language, failure to be with the group in field trips, failure to fasten the seatbelt in our school bus, dangerously damaging equipment or toys, jump the fence of the playground will result in an immidiate response from our administration. Consistent disciplinary incidents may result in the suspension and/or removal of the child from the pre-school program.
IF THE DIRECTOR SUSPENDS YOUR CHILD FROM THE SCHOOL FOR ONE DAY OR MORE, YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL DURING THE SUSPENSION.
Biting
The Centers recognize that biting is a normal stage development that some young children go through. It is something they will outgrow in time. Young childrenwho bite; bite for a reasons.All of them normal and developmentally understood.
Common Reasons Why Children Bite:
Teething, exploring, stress, frustration, imitating, behavior, personal space is violated or crowded, lack of vocabulary, signs of affection to obtain attention.
Classroom Strategies used to Discourage Biting:
We “shadow” the child who has exhibited biting behavior. We carefully observe the child who has bitten to determine if there is a pattern of when the biting behavior occurs. We comfort the child who has been bitten and firmly let the child who bit know that “biting hurts” and we offer an object to bite such as a teething ring or cold cloth.
Termination
At GtAwe feel honored to have your child with us, however; there are cases when a child does not or can not adjust to the environment and/or the group. In those cases we might have to ask you to withdraw your child. On cases that the safety of children or teachers is at jeopardy and immediate termination will occur; in any case deposit is not refundable.
Child Abuse
Our employees are trained to identify the indicators of child abuse and neglect. They are required by law to report any suspicions of child abuse or neglect to the proper authorities.
Our employees will have a background check including fingerprints prior to employment.
Injuries and Accidents
Accidents are natural facts among children. In case your child has an accident with mild injuries you will receive written report. If the injury requires medical attention we’ll contact you at once. If it’s a severe case we’ll send your child to the nearest hospital with a Staff Member while we contact you. Please remember to update your contact information as soon as it changes.
Emergencies
Emergency Procedures are posted in the center in every classroom at eye level for adults and children. If an emergency occurs it is crucial that children respond in a safe and orderly fashion. Therefore, children must participate in drills and practices, so they will know what to do in the case of actual emergency. Should an emergency affect the center; we will notify you as soon as possible. As a safety measure, the Director keeps an updated file of names, address, and phone numbers of the people you have authorized to pick up your child in case of emergency. Since the file is based on the information that you provided in the enrollment forms; it is important that you notify the administration in writing of any changes. Children will not be released without proper authorization.
Health and Safety
Medical Exams and Vaccines
State regulations require all child care centers and schools to have on records a completed physical exam, and a current immunization record for each child before the child starts attending the center. A physical exam must be updated every two years. The immunization record must be updated as vaccines are taken.
Naptime
Children who are enrolled in full day program are required to rest not less that half an hour daily. GTA provides mats, sheets, and blankets. Each child will have its own set of bedding which will be washed every week. You may bring a small stuffed toy for your child to rest with.
Outdoor Play
Our curriculum includes outdoor play every day depending on weather conditions. Please dress your child comfortably in order to enjoy the activities. Also please be sure your child brings secure footwear to avoid injuries while playing.
Nutrition
Nourishment takes on many meanings at our center. While the daily class schedule feeds and stimulates your child’s eager developing mind; our nutritious snacks and lunches satisfy his/her rapidly growing and developing body. We believe in the importance of regular nourishment. Your child receives a nutritious breakkast, a nutritious lunch, and a healthy snack every day. Menus include foods children love and meet their daily nutrition; as well as our licensing requirements.
The first and foremost priority is to ensure that we provide a healthy and safe environment for the children in our care. Therefore, our policy does not allow food of any kid brought to the Center except for the following circumstances:
1. Dietary restrictions: Please discuss with the Director prior the first day of the child attendance. (Everything must be labeledwith the name of the child, and the description of what is in it; with the expiration date,or the date that the meal was prepared.)
2. Birthday Treats: Special treats brought in to share with your child’s classmates and /or other children must be commercially prepared, and packaged. Expiration date must be shown in the package.
In such circumstances, the teacher of the classroom is responsible for inspecting food.
Growing Together providesall meals, so we ask parents not to bring anything from home unless you have made arrangements with the administration due to allergies. Parents please do not bring any snack high in sugar.
Diapering and Toilet Training
GTA requires parents to supply the Center with diapers and wipes for their child. Associates will notify parents when the supplies are running low. The children’s diapers are changed as needed, and are checked periodically. GTA will work in conjunction with parents on toilet training for their child. Toilet training will not be attempted with children less than 18 months. Children’s are never punished, or forced when on toilet training. Diapering procedure guidelines are used when cleaning up a toilet training accident. Parents are asked to supply extra changes of clothing for those children being in toilet training.