Applegate Academy
PARENT HANDBOOK
Applegate Academy
615 Howard Ave
(228) 435-5266
Fax (228)435-5255
E-MAIL:
Table of Contents
2) Table of Contents
3)Welcome to Applegate Academy
4)Philosophy/ Description of Centers
5) Hours of Operation/ Holiday Schedule/Fees
6) Admission/Parking/Drop-Offs/Information Change
7) Medication/Dental/Allergy/Accident Forms/Illness/Toys
8) Toilet Training/Insect Policies
9)Rules and Regulations
10) Discipline Policy/Student Pick Up
11)Parent Involvement/Oral Health
12-15) Emergency Plans
Revised as of 03/27/2017
Welcome to Applegate Academy
We respect parents as the primary and most important provider of care and nurturing, and we believe parents and teachers are partners in children’s care and education.
Applegate Academy provides a structured, caring learning environment with hands-on activities for all children. The dedicated staff works hard to provide the best care and education
for your child.
Thank you for choosing Applegate Academy for your child Pre-school/daycare center.
Sincerely,
Christy
Our philosophy as teachers and caregivers of your child is to provide them with the best possible care and exceptional first learning experiences. Our commitment is to form lifelong learning experiences allowing every child to become independent, self confident and inquisitive learners.
To achieve the highest goals we have chosen to use the Abeka Program. Abeka is framed by theory and philosophy of life. Led by faith and grounded in evidence-based practices, programs using the Abeka philosophy and curriculum work to support children and families.
Children’s individual differences and learning styles are considered as children learn through play and interactions with supportive early childhood teachers to maximize each child’s learning potential. This thoughtful and well-planned curriculum has a multiple theoretical basis. By blending different theory, stages of development and multiple intelligences, early childhood teachers prepare individually and age-appropriate experience for young children.
The curriculum provides experiences that enrich and enhance each child’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and creative development. Within the center’s daily schedule, each child has opportunities to be creative, explore the environment, learn problem solving and personal interaction skills, enhance their early literacy skills and learn concepts through first-hand experiences in mathematics, science, technology and social studies.
Children develop a positive self-concept through a balance of self-and teacher-facilitated activities. Opportunities for solitary play as well as group activities are provided. Our teachers serve as positive role models and provide care that is supportive, nurturing, warm and responsive to each child’s individual needs.
To learn more about Abeka Program go to:
Another curriculum we will be using is the “My baby can read”
The age groups that will be using this program will be our infants, and ones classrooms.
Below is a description of each center:
Art Center
This area is specially designed to let children use their artistic abilities in the form of finger painting, clay work, coloring, easel painting, chalkboard drawing, collages, cutting, pasting, tracing or a combination of all items. Teachers always have a project for the day and will guide them, but the finished masterpiece is all their own. This area enhances their fine motor skill and hand-eye coordination.
Library Center
This area helps children to relax and appreciate books, magazines, finger play and role playing. Circle time will consist of recognizing each other’s names, vocabulary, expression of emotion and listening skills. Two’s and three’s will work on themes, colors, textures, politeness, verbal and non- verbal directions. Four’s and five’s will work on the above, and also go on to letters, sounds, and words that begin with each letter. A new letter will be introduced weekly. This teaches the children reading readiness skills
Language Center
This area helps teach reading readiness skills by enhancing fine motor skills. It also helps teach math readiness by using gross motor skills. Some of the activities available in this area are; manipulative, folder games, reading and math readiness activities that teach sequencing, matching colors and shapes, and puzzles for eye-hand coordination.
Drama
In this center it gives the children the opportunity to have experiences developing ideas and thoughts. By playing with housekeeping, puppets, music and other manipulative, a child can better understand his words. He/she can develop creative expressions through role playing. Children can participate in isolated and cooperative play; gain self- esteem and sense of power. Children learn an understanding for sharing, cleaning, accepting other differences and taking responsibility for one’s own action. This teaches social skills.
Block/Construction Area
In this area children can learn to cooperate with others as they build & construct with various types of blocks such as logos, wooden blocks, waffle blocks, Lincoln logs etc…Children will also learn concepts of size, length and location, learn about the properties of wood, and learn to solve problems as they build with these items. Your child will also learn to be creative as they explore and create on their own.
Science/Discovery
This area deals with math and science. The science portion will feature weather changes, environmental awareness, plant growth, care of animals and the balance of nature (circle of life). We will have hands on experiments with magnets, water and seeds among other things. The math portion will deal with identifying numbers, relationship between numbers and sets of objects, geometric shapes, and numbers as a practical application: clocks, calendar, money etc. Terms such as more, less, big and little will be used in this center.
Outside Play
We have portioned our playground and designed it for each age group. For our smaller children, the sand box, age appropriate climber, bikes and riding toys, swings and slides. Older children will enjoy the horizontal bars, rings, and climbing ropes. This area of outside play enhances gross motor skills. All the children go outside twice a day for approximately 30 to 45 minutes at a time. If the weather is bad we use the indoor gym. Please bring your child dressed in proper clothing for outside play.
Music and Movement
In this center children learn listening skills, new vocabulary, rhythm, rhyming, coordination & gross motor skills by singing songs, dancing to music, & playing musical instruments. They also learn letter sounds and counting skills by singing a variety of ABC & number songs. Children will learn creative expression and a sense of "Self" while moving and dancing to music.
Table Toys/Math Readiness
This area helps teach fine motor skills, eye hand coordination skills & math skills such as counting, sorting, sequencing, and matching & number sense. Some of the activities available in this area are; math manipulative, folder games, math readiness games, stringing beads and puzzles for eye-hand coordination.
Our center is a year-round program that offers all daycare for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Our daily activities and program consist of a flexible schedule that has been created to provide diversity and challenge for children in all age groups.
**There will be an animal of some kind in every classroom so the children can start learning about the animals and their environments! **
Hours of Operation
We are open Mon-Fri 6am-11pm
Holiday Schedule
We will be closed on the following observed holidays:
- Fourth of July o Day after Christmas
- Labor Day 0 New Year’s Day
- Thanksgiving Day o Memorial Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Our 3’s and 4’s classis closed when the school system are closed.They go back to being a regular daycare schedule. It is also closed when the center is closed on the observed holidays. The day before the holidays, we may be closing early.
Additional Fees
Field trips for all ages will require an additional fee. Price will be posted. School age children who attend for the entire day for any school holiday will be charged and extra $10.00 for that day. Summer, Easter, and Christmas break tuition will be increased for the entire week. District families will pay field trip cost for the week. There is an annual registration fee for all families, which is due every January. This fee amount varies due to changes in economy. This fee is non-refundable. Also some classrooms will require T-shirts to be purchased when they go on field trips.
Admission Requirements
Enrollment in our program is open to all families of our community. We operate on a non-discriminatory basis. No one shall be excluded from any of our programs because of race, color, religion, disability, sex or national origin. All forms provided to you upon enrollment must be completed before your child may attend our center. All requested personal information is kept confidential. All children enrolled must have their immunization records up-to-date or provide an exemption affidavit. You have (7) days to provide us with your child immunization record.
The parent shall provide proof of this with a form signed by a health care provider. Also you must have your child first week of tuition upon enrolling your child to the center.
Open Door Policy
Parents are welcome visitors at all times. Staff encourages the parents to participate in all aspects of our program and encourage parent/child time at home. Parents are welcome to attend field trips, and volunteer in the classroom. Parents may come visit their child anytime throughout the day. We do ask that you report to the office first and watch your child on the monitors. This is for safety reasons as well keeping your child happy when it is time for you to leave.
Parking Policy
Park your cars in the designated parking spot. If there is no space then park close to the curb and not in the middle of the parking lot. This makes it difficult for other cars to go around your car. This has been a major problem and has almost caused many accidents. Also when you leave your car for more that 5 minutes we strongly urge you to turn off your car and lock it up. We are not responsible for items lost or stolen from your car from our parking lot.
Drop-Offs
Parents must accompany their child into the center area every morning and sign in your child immediately after dropping off your child in the appropriate room. Children will not be permitted in the building prior to opening hours. New families will be given a code to enter the front door. Children are not allowed to sign themselves in or out. This is for their protection in case of a fire or other emergency. We require that all children have direct contact with a person upon arrival for early detection of apparent illness, communicable disease, or unusual condition or behavior which a person may adversely affect the child or the group. If any of these are determined, the child must go home immediately. There is no drop offs from 11:00 am - 2:00pm. The children in the center are already or almost asleep at this time. A child coming into the center at this time will not go to sleep therefore disturb the other children. So we ask you to please abide by this rule.
Information Change
Parents are to notify the center of any change in home or work phone numbers and addresses. This is for your safety so that we may reach you in an emergency. The center requires that someone listed on the pick up permission form of each child be available within thirty (30) minutes notice to come and pick up a sick child or a child that Carousel has determined needs to go home. It is required that all changes of phone numbers, places of employment, residence changes or changes in pick-up information be turned into the office immediately. This one regulation requested by HRS. We will ask every parent to update his or her child enrollment form (4) times a year.
Medication
All medication to be given to children must be in the original bottle with the instructions clearly printed on it as provided by the doctor’s prescription or by the pharmaceutical company. All medication including scripted and un-scripted medication must be in an up-to-date bottle and not be out dated. All medication must have that child’s name on the script. A “Permission to give Medication” form needs to be filled out prior to the administration of any medication. All medication must be personally handed to the teacher in charge at the time of arrival along with the dosage and form. Diaper ointments, powder, lip balm and etc. must have a signed medicine form by a parent or guardian.
Allergies
We must be aware of any food or other known allergies that affect your child. If your child has any known food allergies*, you need to fill out an “Allergy/Food Exemption form and turn it in to the office as soon as this allergy has been identified. We also need to be aware of any Non-Food Allergies that may affect your child. If your child cannot eat any certain type of food we need a physician note for this. You need to fill out an “Authorization to give Medicine” form if your child requires an Epi-pen or other emergency treatment.
* We do allow parents to bring in a bag lunch from home. We do follow the USDA guidelines for nutritious foods so please keep that in mind when packing your child’s lunch. A few good tips to remember label your child’s lunch bag, add an ice pack to keep it cold, No soda or candy. Include a sandwich, fruit, vegetable and juice if possible. We will serve them milk as well. But we recommend that your child eats food at our center because we must follow the USDA guidelines.
Accident Reports
Safety is a top priority at Kids Quest. Yet, there are times when a child will have an accident/incident between your child and another child. If the accident/incident requires “more that a hug and a kiss”, our teachers will complete a report for you detailing what happened and the nature of the injuries. If any first aid is administered, the treatment will be described to you. A copy of this accident report form signed by the teacher in charge at the time of the accident, and returns it to the Director’s office to confirm that you were notified of your child’s injury. This system is aimed at ensuring that you are informed of your child's injury.
Illness and Continued Health
These guidelines are for the welfare of all of our children. In order to provide a safe and healthy we rely on our parents to monitor their children with these guidelines in mind. Outdoor play is essential to your child’s development. We feel that if your child is too sick to play outdoors then they are too sick for group care. A child that is ill or has a temperature of 101 degrees or above should be kept at home. All children shall direct contact with a staff member upon arrival for early detection of apparent illness, communicable disease or unusual condition or behavior. The child will be sent home if he/she is running a temperature of 101 degree, if he/she is vomiting, has diarrhea, or if it is suspected that he/she has a contagious disease. The most common is a yellowish green running nose. In the event you are called to come pick up an ill child, you must pick your child up within a (1) hour period from the time we contacted you or overtime rates will apply. If a child needs to be sent home and their parents are unreachable, we will call the emergency contact listed on your enrollment form. The center reserves the right to request the child to see a physician or have a physician’s note prior to returning. If your child is sent home ill, the center has the right to request that you keep the child home for 24 hours from the time you pick up.
Medical and Dental Emergencies
In case of a medical emergency the following procedures are to be followed:
- Assess the child’s injury.
- If the injury is not bad, then clean up the child. Put on latex glove. Apply ice and a band-aid if need.
- If a child needs further medical attention contact the director immediately.
- The director will call 911 if necessary.
- The parent will then be contacted and informed about what has happened.
- Write up an accident report and have the director sign it as well. Remember to give it to the parent at the end of the day.
In case of a dental emergency the following procedures are to be followed: