West Shore Lutheran School

Summer Program Handbook

Ages 2 ½ and Older

3225 Roosevelt Rd.

Muskegon, MI 49441

Phone: 231-755-1048 or 231-759-3289

Fax: 231-755-6942

Website:

Director email:

Welcome

Welcome to West Shore Lutheran School Summer Program. We hope this booklet will give you an insight into our goals and procedures. We are looking forward to providing a positive learning experience for you and your child/children. If you have questions or concerns, please call us anytime.

Principal, Brad Feenstra(231) 755-1048 ext. 29

Office Administrator, Tammy Ewalt(231) 755-1048 ext. 10

Child Care Director, Lisa Serene(231) 755-1048 ext. 10

Child Care Room(231)755-1048 ext. 18

School Age Room(231)755-1048 ext. 25

About Us

Philosophy

West Shore Lutheran Early Childhood program will provide a Christian environment and program to meet the changing needs of the growing and developing child. This will be accomplished by utilizing developmentally appropriate activities for all children. This includes the child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development and helps them to achieve his or her fullest potential.

Goals

Our goal is to enable children to grow spiritually, academically, socially and physically. We will help the children realize that all of us are children of God. Parents, teachers and children will interact in an environment of mutual respect, cooperation, responsibility and openness toward learning and growing together. Children are encouraged to become independent learners. Self-sufficiency is very important toward the emotional wellbeing and self-esteem of the child and will be stressed in this program.

Discipline

Our children will be encouraged to respect the feelings and property of others. We will promote the development of self-control through positive guidelines and actions. Redirecting negative behavior will be done whenever possible.If extra discipline should become necessary, we will give the child a few minutes away from the other children. Under no circumstance will physical punishment, humiliation, embarrassment, judgmental words, nagging, scolding, excluding a child from gross motor activities, daily learning activities, withholding of food or rest take place.

Anti-Discrimination Statement

West Shore Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, nationality or ethnic origin. All students are entitled to the rights, privileges, programs and activities made available to the students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality or ethnic origin in the administration of its policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, athletics and other school administered programs.

Certification

West Shore Lutheran Early Childhood Center is fully licensed by the State of Michigan. It is staffed by teachers specializing in Early Childhood Development and qualified teacher’s assistants.

Hours of Operation

Child Care and School Age summer hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.If a child is not picked up by 6:00 p.m. from child care a charge of $2 per every five minutes or any portion of five minutes will be charged to your account.

Admission

Children must be 2 1/2 years of age for admission. If your child has a younger sibling under the age of 2 1/2 years old, please see the child care director for information about the infant or toddler program.

Acceptance for the West Shore Lutheran Summer Program will be dependent upon receipt of a completed registration policy and a non-refundable $20 registration fee.

A copy of the child’s immunization record, the emergency information card and the back page of this handbook, signed and dated, must be in our files by June 6, 2018. If your child starts child care after June 6, 2018, all forms must be turned in by the first day of child care. The Health Appraisal form must be in our files no later than thirty (30) days after the first day of attendence in any of our Early Childhood programs. If we do not have a Health Appraisal, signed by a doctor, in our files by the 30th day of classes, your child will not be able to return to child care until a doctor completes the form. If you are not able to get your child a doctor appointment until after the 30 days, we must have a note from your doctor’s office stating the date of your child’s appointment.

Withdrawl Policy

If a move deems it necessary to withdraw, we request that you notify the director two weeks in advance.

If the director feels that a child should be withdrawn from the school, the following steps will be taken:

The director, principal and staff members who work with the child will meet and discuss the reasons they feel the child should be withdrawn.

A meeting with the parent or parents and the director will be held to discuss the child’s school rediness or behavior.

The director, principal and parents will agree on a plan of action that would be beneficial for the child and school. After implementing this plan, for an agreed period and the plan is not working, withdrawal from the program may occur.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Children must be signed in by the person dropping off and out by the person picking up. No child will be released to a person not authorized by a parent to pick up the child. We must have written or verbal authorization for changes in this matter. A photo ID will be required to pick up a child if a person is not known to staff. Custodial parent is responsible for providing the center with a copy of any court order prohibiting contact with non-custodial parent in order for the center to withhold a child from a parent.

Child Care & School Age Program Rates

Child Care& School Age Program rates are $4.60 per hour for the youngest/only child and $3.60 per hour for the oldest child/children. Different rates apply for the infant and toddler rooms. You have the flexibility of choosing your weekly hours however; without communication your minimum payment will be for the hours you have indicated on your hours request form. If your child/children will not be in child care, please email the child care director at or call one of your child’s classrooms at (231)755-1048 ext. 25 (for school age program) or ext. 18 (for the child care program).

Child Care & School Age Program Rates - Continued

Unless prior arrangements have been made, you will be billed starting from the time indicated on the hour request form at the regular hourly rate even if your child is dropped off to child care later than your indicated scheduled time.

Child Care is a prepaid program. Payment will be made a minimum of one week in advance, with a one week grace period. Services may stop when balance is at zero. Prepayment is expected by the Friday of the previous week.

Any unpaid balances on the account after the 15th of each month are subject to a $15late fee.

Child Care Daily Schedule

Arrival-8:30Freeexploration

8:30-8:45Cleanup &wash hands

8:45-9:15Morning snack

9:15-9:30Check diapers/pottybreak/prepare for outdoor/apply sunscreen

9:30-10:00 Group Time (songs, stories, calendar)

10:00-10:30 Arts& craft or other group activity

10:30-10:55 Outside or gym time

10:55-11:00Cleanup &wash hands

11:00-11:30Lunch

11:30-12:00Cleanup,change diapers

12:00-12:20Movie time

12:20-2:00Rest time

If your child does not rest, quiet activities will be offered at 1:00 p.m.

2:00-2:30Children wake up/exploration time/potty breaks/diaper checks/apply sunscreen

2:30-2:45Snack

2:45-3:00Story time

3:00-4:45Outside Time

4:45-6:00Change diapers, parent provided light snack, free exploration and cleanup

School Age Daily Schedule

6:00-8:45 Children arrive, free exploration, breakfast if it is provided by the parents.

8:45 Cleanup the room, wash hands

9:00 Prayer and morning snack

9:20 Group Meeting:daily devotion, introduce project

9:35 Project in small groups

10:10 Cleanup the room

10:20 Bathroom break andmorning application of sunscreen

10:30 Largemotor activity outside or in the gym

11:15 Return to classroom andwash hands

11:30 Prayer andlunch

12:00 Cleanup, wash hands

12:15 Peace Time – children color, draw or read quietly. Children are encouraged to bring a book from home.

12:45 Afternoon project and free exploration

2:00 Media Time

2:30 Wash hands / have afternoon snack

2:45 Bathroom break and apply sunscreen

3:00 Outside or gym time

4:45Indoors for leftovers from lunch or parent provided snack and free play

6:00 Allchildren depart

Health Procedures

Keep your child home:

If he/she has a fever of 100 degrees or higher or has had one during the previous 24 hour period.

If he/she has had diarrhea during the previous 24 hour period.

If he/she has vomited within the previous 24 hour period.

If he/she has an undiagnosed/unrecognizable rash.

If he/she has symptoms of possible communicable disease(these are usually sniffles, reddened eyes, sore throat, headache and/or abdominal painplus fever). Please notify the school if your child/children does/do have a communicable disease.

If he/she has started an antibiotic medication, the child must stay home for the first 24 hours while on the medication.

Parents will be notified when a change in the child’s health occurs or the child has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher. Depending on the severity of the illness, parents will be notified by; written report, phone, email or text message from the director or caregiver.

If a child becomes ill while at child care, the child will be kept separate from the other children and parents will be contacted by phone to pick up their child.

In case of skinned knees or other minor injuries, parents will receive a written injury report or email.

In the case of a head injury, the parents will be phoned immediately.

In the case of a fever, diarrhea or vomiting, the parent will be phoned to pick up child.

In the case of an unrecognizable rash, the parent will be phoned to pick up the child.

Emergency Procedures

In case of serious accident or injury:

Basic first aid will be applied.

Parents will be notified. If parents cannot be contacted, the emergency contact on the child’s information card will be notified.

If the above persons cannot be contacted, and the child needs medical attention due to a life-threatening situation, the child will be transported via ambulance to the hospital of choice as indicated on the child’s information card. Staff will accompany the child until a parent arrives.

West Shore Lutheran practices emergency evacuations for fire, severe weather and other emergencies throughout the school year. In case of an actual evacuation, we would walk the children to the Roosevelt Park Community Center.

If West Shore Lutheran goes into a lockdown situation, parents will not be able to pick up their child/children until the lockdown is lifted.

Medication

Medication will only be administered from original container with the original prescription label. A medical release form must be signed and dated for all medication, including over the counter medication.

If a nonprescription medication indicates that a physician should be consulted for the dosage, written instructions must be obtained from the physician before administering the medication.

Meals and Snacks - Milk and Food Agreement

The parents are responsible for providing lunch with a beverage for their child daily.

The parents are responsible for ensuring that a cold lunch brought from home is adequately cooled using an insulated lunch box and ice pack. Lunch box must be labeled with the child’s first and last name on the outside of the container.

The parents are responsible for providing the milk for their child if desired.

Amorning snack will be served at 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.The morning snack will contain at least two different food groups and will be served with a beverage. The morning snack is provided by West Shore Lutheran School and is also supplemented by parent snack donations.

A afternoon snack will be served at 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. The afternoon snack will contain at least two different food groups and will be served with a beverage.The afternoon snack is provided by West Shore Lutheran School and is also supplemented by parent snack donations.

The morning and afternoon snack menu is placed outside the classroom door next to the sign in and out sheet.

The parents will be asked to contribute to the classroom’s snack pantry once every 8-12 weeks. A list of snack helpers will be issued.Please contact the director if you’re not interested in donating.

Please notify West Shore Lutheran School(in writing) of any dietary restrictions.

Child Care Rest Period

Children in childcare have a scheduled daily rest period. Children are invited to bring bedding (small pillow and blanket) to use at this time. Bedding may be left in the childcare room but must be taken home bi-weekly for washing. Children in grades K to 6 will not be required to nap. Instead of the nap, there will be a half hour “Peace Time” each day. During the Peace Time children will read, draw or color for the half hour. Children are encouraged to bring favorite reading materials from home.

Walks to the Park

Children will walk to the Roosevelt Community Park on these Wednesdays: June 20, June 27, July 11 and July 18. We will also be walking to the park on these Thursdays: July 26, August 2, August 9 and August 16. We leave around 9:15 and return around 12:15 p.m. We will be eating lunch at the park. Please do not send meals that need to be warmed in a microwave on park

Walks to the Park – Continued

days. Please remember to send a drink in your child’s lunch on park days. There is a drinking fountain available but the children are extra thirsty after playing. On park days, please send your child in sturdy walking shoes. Please do not send your child in crocs or flip flops. Crocs and flip flops hinder the child’s ability to climb the equipment safely. If your child misbehaves during a park visit, the individual will not be allowed to attend the next outing and the parent is responsible for finding alternate care during the park outing. If a parent does not grant permission for their child to attend the park outing, the parent will need to find alternate care arrangements for their child while their classroom is at the park.

Water Fun Days

We hold our water fun days once a week which consists of a slip & slide and/or sprinklers and water table play. For the summer of 2018, water play will be on these Tuesdays: June 12, June 19, June 26, July 3, July 10 and July 17. We will also have water days on these Mondays: July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13and August 20. Water day will start at 2:30p.m. for the toddlers and at 3:15p.m. for children over 2 1/2 years old. We may play in the water,during the morning, on extra warm days. Please send your child with a bathing suit and towel. Water shoes are recommended but not required.

Hydration

Please send your child with a water bottle labeled with your child’s name. Water bottles will be sent home daily for washing and sanitizing. We also like to provide freezer pops as an extra treat. If you would like to donate freezer pops in the plastic tubes, it would be greatly appreciated.

Child Care is closed for the following holidays during the summer program:

Fourth of July

Friday before Labor Day (August 31)

Labor Day (September 3)

Health Care Plan

Staff and volunteers will wash hands as necessary, and at the following times:

Upon arrival, prior to the care of children, prior to giving medication, after toileting, after assisting children in toileting, after diapering, after handling animals/pets and cleaning cages, before eating and before serving food or drink. Children will be instructed to wash hands after toileting, diaper changes, before eating and after eating.

Staff will follow universal precautions when handling body fluids. The surface will be washed with warm water and detergent. The surface will be rinsed with clean water and then sprayed with a sanitizing solution. Surface will air dry.

Equipment, toys and other surfaces are cleaned and sanitized using the three step method-soap, water and then bleach water. Tables are washed after each use.

Floors and carpets are mopped or vacuumed daily and bathrooms are sanitized daily. We are on a regular rotation for carpet cleaning and floor waxing.

Area Resources

Parent Advisory Muskegon Hearing &

CommitteeSpeech Center

(Parent Assistance)265 West Sherman Blvd.

Muskegon Area ISDMuskegon, MI 49444

630 Harvey St.(231)737-0527

Muskegon, MI 49442

(231)777-2637

Department of HumanLearning Disabilities

ServicesAssociation of Michigan

2700 Baker St.200 Museum Drive

Muskegon Heights, MISuite 101

49444Lansing, MI 48933

(231)733-3700

(888)597-7809

Child & Family Services

1352 Terrace St.

Muskegon, MI 49442

(231)726-3582

What to Bring to Child Care

On or before the first day of child care please bring:

A copy of the child’s immunization record, Health Apprasial(signed and dated by a doctor), the emergency information card and the last page of this handbook (signed and dated)
Blanket for rest time
Small pillow for rest time
Spare clothes to be left at child care in a labeled zip bag

Please include: pants, shirt, socks and underwear