St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out


St. Jude’s Catholic Church

2403 McArthur Dr.

Jacksonville, AR 72076

Supervisor: Leanne Goodnight

Director: Kim Keller

(501) 940-6434

Parent Handbook

2011-2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  1. Admission & Enrollment
  1. Hours of Operation
  2. Drop off
  3. Pick up
  1. Rates, Payments, Fees & Written Notice
  1. Discipline Statement
  1. Health & Safety
  1. Mealtime/Snacks
  1. Non-Discrimination
  1. Parent Signature Sheet

1. ADMISSION AND ENROLLMENT

  1. Ages of admission include 2 year to 5 year olds
  1. The following forms must be completed prior to admission:
  2. Registration form signed by Parent or Guardian
  3. Complete record of immunization.
  4. A signed agreement form provided in the back of the parent handbook.
  1. It is very important that your child attends on a regular basis. If your child is absent for two consecutive weeks and you have not informed the director or teacher of the absence their space will be filled automatically by another child on the waiting list.

D. It is normal for your child to have some fears and misgivings about being away from you. Children, like adults, need time to get used to new situations. Try to prepare your child for the changes as far in advance as possible. Discuss any concerns. Talk about some of the new people your child will meet and the new things your child will do. If you are enthusiastic, soon your child will be too. If this is the first time your child has been separated from you, it is natural for he/she to be hesitant. A cheerful good-bye kiss, a smile, and a reassuring word that you will be back is all you need to do. We will take it from there. Usually the child will settle down shortly after you leave. If your child absolutely does not settle down, we will notify you.

2. HOURS OF OPERATION

The hours of St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out are9:30am to 2:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please have your child here no later than 9:45am, when you come in late it disrupts the whole class.

St Jude’s Mother’s Day Out will be closed for certain holidays: 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week for Spring Break, and 2 months for Summer Break.

In the event of inclement weather we will follow the Pulaski County Special School Districts inclement Weather Policy.

*Drop off:

All vehicles should form a line outside in front of the entrance doors and at 9:30am, a duty teacher will be sent to get the children out of the vehicles. The children will be escorted into the building and into their respective classrooms. Please have your child’s payment in his or her backpack or lunchbox. The first week of classes in August we will allow you to bring your children into the building, in order to get them settled to the new environment.

* Pick up:parents are to come into the building at 2:30 to get their children.

*Early Drop-off:St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out starts at 9:30 a.m. You will be charged a $5.00 early drop-off fee if you bring your child before 9:30 a.m. Our staff uses the time before your child arrives to prepare for the day. In the event of unforeseen circumstances in which you need to drop your child off early, please notify the director.

*Late Pick-up fee: St. Jude’s MDO ends at 2:30 p.m. A $5.00 late fee will be charged if your child is not picked up by 2:45pm. If an emergency should arise and you believe you will be late, please call.

3. RATES, PAYMENTS, FEES AND WRITTEN NOTICE

A. Rates

$120.00 a month for one child

$180.00 a month for two children

(August tuition will be $60.00 for the month since it is only half of the month.)

B. Payments

Payments can be made one of three ways:

1) Weekly $30.00

2) Semimonthly $60.00 by the 1st and 15th of each month

3) Monthly $120.00

Tuition is charged whether your child is absent from St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out or not.

  1. Late Charges

A late charge of $5.00 a day will be assessed if payment has not been made by:

Weekly-Thursday of that week

Semimonthly-1st and 15th of the month

Monthly-10th of the month

If payment is over two weeks late, your child will no longer be allowed to attend St Judes MDO!

D. Fees

St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out charges a one-time $25.00nonrefundable Registration Fee per family entering the program.

Every student enrolled in St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out Program will pay a once a year supply fee of

$15.00 due in November.

E. Written Notice

Two week written notice is required when you wish to terminate your child’s enrollment, otherwise payments will continue to be due. There will be no refunds for early withdrawals. We will give a one-week notice to parents if it should become necessary to terminate your child’s enrollment. (For example: discipline problems or non-payment)

  1. DISCIPLINE STATEMENT

Children should have the privilege of a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow and learn. We feel it is important to help children develop a positive self image and to learn to be self-directed and exhibit self control. We feel that when adults use the following guidance techniques these goals for children can be attained. These techniques are:

1.Guiding children by setting clear, consistent and fair limits for classroom behavior.

2.Helping children learn to make good choices and valuing mistakes as learning opportunities.

3.Redirecting children to learn more acceptable behavior or activity.

4.Listening when children talk about their feelings and frustrations.

5.Guiding children to resolve their conflicts and modeling skills that help children solve problems.

6.Patiently reminding children of rules and their rationale as needed.

Time out periods are only used for extreme situations when a child needs a few minutes to be alone to compose themselves. The teacher will talk with them before helping them reenter the group.

  1. HEALTH AND SAFETY
  1. Health

PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME if he/she has had any of these symptoms within the last 24 hours.

Elevated temperature(over 99), a cold, sore throat, cough, earache, discharging eyes, a rash, or an upset stomach

Children may return to St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out after the disappearance of all symptoms including being fever-free without any medication for 24 hours. Children returning with any of the previous symptomsor illness will be sent home immediately to reduce the risk of contaminating the other children.

Medicine may be brought to school and administered by a teacher only if:

  1. Medication is labeled with child’s name.
  2. Written instructions and a written request for a teacher to administer medication must accompany the medicine.

IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT FOR HEALTH REASONS OR OTHER CAUSES, PLEASE CALL BETWEEN 9:00-10:00 A.M.

IF YOUR CHILD DEVELOPS ANY COMMUNICABLE HEALTH PROBLEMS, PLEASE CALL, SO THAT WE MAY NOTIFY OTHER PARENTS.

B. Safety

NOTIFY US IN ADVANCE IF ANOTHER PERSON WILL BE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD. If we do not know this person, we will ask for identification.

In the event of a medical emergency, we will first call 911, then the parents or guardian will be contacted as soon as possible. If the parent/guardian can not be reached the directions on the enrollment form will be followed.

6.MEALTIME AND SNACKS

You will have to provide your child with a lunch. Please make sure to label lunchboxes or lunchsacks with your child’s name. Please provide an icepack in your child’s lunchbox, due to limited space in our refrigerator. St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out will provide an afternoon snack for your child.

Last Day of the month is Pizza Day. The cost is $2.00 which includes Pizza and a drink.

No food will be allowed to enter the building with your child in the morning, please see that they have had Breakfast before coming to school.

7.NON-DISCRIMINATION

St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out admits children of any race, religion, sex ability, or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities made available to students at the school.

8.PARENT SIGNATURE SHEET

Please sign and return the parent sheet to the director as soon as possible. Mark the payment method you will be using.

______Weekly

______Semimonthly

______Monthly

Child’s Name:______

______Yes, I have read and understood all the policies mentioned in this handbook and will adhere to them while my child is enrolled at St. Jude’s Mother’s Day Out.

Parent Signature:______