Welcome to Kidstown!

Welcome to Kidstown!

2016/2017ParentHandbook

Karli Schiller

YouthandFamilyProgramCoordinator206.388.0828

*Ifyourchildwillnotbeattending Kidstown,pleasecall206.388.0828

TableofContents:

• Missionand Vision
• Kidstown PhilosophyandProgram
• DisciplinePolicy/Child GuidancePolicy
• Monthlyactivitycalendar
• Staff
• Location
• Hours
• Kidstown “TellUsMoreAboutYourChild”Form
• Authorized pick-up
• Allergyconcerns
• Payment
• Latepick-up fee
• Punch card
• ContractChanges
• Refunds
• When yourchild isn’tcoming today…
• Transportation
• School’sOutCamps
• SJCCHolidayClosures
• InclementWeather
• Sign-Outsheet
• Accidentsand Emergencies
• LostChild Procedures
• Dietary Policy
• EnrichmentClasses
• Lostand Found

Mission and Vision

ThevisionoftheStroum Jewish Community Centeristoinspireconnectionstobuild communityandensureJewish continuity.Ourmission istocreateoutstanding programs,partnershipsand spacesthatwelcomeeveryonetolearn,growand celebrateJewish lifeand culture.Ourcore valuesincludeJewishpeoplehood(K’lalYisrael),welcomingeveryone(HachnasatOrchim),learning (Limud),Joy(Simcha),Respectand Common Courtesy (DerechEretz),TakingCareof Oneself,Body andSoul (ShmirathaNefeshv'haGuf)and creating a Community of Friends (Kehillah shelChaverim).

KidstownPhilosophy and Program

In Kidstown,webelievethatchildren thriveina safeand engaging environment. Ourdedicated staffconnectswith eachchild byencouraging high self-esteem,healthylifestyles,andpositivesocialinteractions. Everyday,wefirstcometogetheras a communitybeforebreaking outinto smallergroupactivities,such asartsandcrafts,cooking,science,reading,homework,games,and sports.Ourgoalsintend to infuseJewishvaluesand identityintoallofour programs,byusing thoseaboveprinciplestobuild a curriculumthatshowseach child amodelforpositiveand responsiblecitizenship.

Discipline Policy/ChildGuidance Policy

Kidstown disciplinepolicy isbasedon safety rules.

1.A child isnotallowedtoverballyorphysicallyabuseanotherchild,staffmemberor SJCCmemberatanytime.

2.Children willbegiven simple,clearand consistentlimitsregarding appropriatebehavior.

3.Choiceswillbegiven wheneverpossible.

4.Verbaldirection and re-direction arethemainmeansof guidanceand discipline.

Appropriatebehaviorincludestreating everyonewithrespect,and responding toeveryonein akind,courteousmanner.Inappropriatebehaviorincludes,butisnotlimitedto,hitting,punching,kicking,biting,spitting,swearing,lying and refusing to listento theSJCCstaff.Thechildren arealsoresponsiblefor being respectfultowardstheKidstown room,and theSJCCcampus.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto, notlittering,vandalizing,stealingor destroyingitems.

Allchildren willbetreatedwith respectatalltimes.Theirfeelingswillbeacknowledged and accepted.They willbeencouraged to talkabouttheirproblemsina non-threatening,supportiveenvironment.

Ifitisnecessarytoremovea child from Kidstown, a child WILL NOTberemoved toan unsupervisedspace.Childrenwillbesupervised ATALL TIMES.

Underno circumstancesarephysicalpunishmentused in Kidstown.

PhysicalrestraintsareusedONLYifthechild presentsa physicaldangerto themselvesorothers,and isused only toprotectthe child untilself-controlisregained.

If a child isunableto followor cooperate with Kidstown policy,staffwillmeetwith theparentstoresolvethesituation.Behaviorplansand contractsmaybeputin placeto assistthechild and staffwithbehaviorchangesandmanagement.Kidstown staffwilltakeevery measuretoworkwith thefamiliestoassistthechild. Ifnosatisfactoryimprovementin thechild’sbehaviorisseen,thechild maybeaskedtoleavetheKidstownprogram.

Staff

TheheartoftheSJCCKidstown programisour dedicated and caring staff. A lowchild-to-staffratioensureseach child receivespersonalattentionand guidancewhileatKidstown.Each staffmemberiscertified inCPR,FirstAid, and hasbeen trained in properprotocolsand procedurestoensurethesafetyand security ofeachand everychild.Staffcontinues toreceivepropertraining regarding childdevelopmentand care throughouttheyear.

Location

Kidstown islocated downstairsin theMercerIsland SJCCcampus.Allparentsmustenterthrough ourfrontdoor.Thedownstairsemergencydoorisonlyto beused in caseofemergencyand specialneedsaccess.

Hours

Before SchoolCare

Monday- Friday: 7:00-9:30 am

AfterSchoolCare

Monday,Tuesday,Thursday2:30-7:00pmWednesday: 12:00-7:00pm

Friday: 2:30-6:00pm

Kidstown “TellUsMoreAboutYourChild”Form

Everychild attending Kidstownmusthavea completed health form,availableontheSJCCwebsite.Thisform informsthestaffof allergies,specialneedsor requirementsregarding everychild in care.Thisform isconfidential,and isonlyaccessibletodesignated Kidstown staff.E-mailand phonenumbersprovidedontheform areused solely to contactparentsregarding children’sbehavior,Kidstownupdates,monthlycalendarsand closures.Anychanges or adjustmentsto theinformationprovidedontheform needtobecommunicated toKidstown staffimmediately. Thisistoensurethesafetyandsecurity ofeachchild in theprogram.

Authorized pick-up

Onlythosepersonslisted on theregistration form willbeallowed topick-up a child fromKidstown.Parentsarerequired tonotifystaffin writing ifsomeoneotherthanthoselistedwillbepicking upthechild.ThatindividualmustprovidephotoIDtotheKidstown staffatthetimeofpick-up.

Emergency contactsmustbekeptcurrentand shouldconsistoffamily membersor friendswho areavailabletopickupyourchild (ifyou areunabletobecontacted).Intheeventofan emergency,wemustbeableto contactsomeoneto whom wemayreleaseyourchild.

Allergy concerns

ALLallergiesmustbecommunicatedto theKidstownstaff.A dailysnackisprovided forthechildren,and staffMUSTbeawareofanyallergies,sensitivitiesor restrictionstowardsANYfood.Any childrequiring theuseof anepi-pen musthavecompleteda MedicalAuthorization Form,and providedKidstown staffwiththeproperinstrumentsrequired.

Payment

Registration forKidstown isfortenmonths.Tuition isbilled monthlyusingeitherElectronicFundTransfer(EFT)or acredit cardon filewiththeSJCC.ALLKidstown registrantsmustbe SJCC membersingood standing.Kidstownpricesarelocatedonthewebsite.

Late Pick-up Fee

AllparentsMUSTpickup theirchildren by 7:00pm Mondaythrough Thursday,and 6:00pmon Fridays.A latefeeof$1 perminutewillbeautomaticallycharged to yourcreditcardforlatepick-up.

Punch card

A Kidstown punch card isalsoavailableforparents whowish tosendtheirchildtoKidstown,butnotona regularbasis.Punch cardsareavailablethrough the SJCCwebsite. Reservationsarerecommended,butnotrequired. ToparticipateinDrop-In Kidstown,youcan eitherpurchaseapre-paid punch card for15or30 hours,orpay thedailydrop-in rate.Thedailydrop-in ratecoversanentiresessionofKidstown,whetheryourkidsstay for3hoursor30 minutes.YoumustfillouttheKidstown information formsbeforeyou can participatein Drop-InKidstown.Time willbededucted by half-hourincrementsfromyour punch card.Allpunchcardsarekeptin Kidstown,and willberecorded byKidstownstaff.

Schedule Changes

Familiesareallowed tochangetheircontractsaslongasthereisavailability in thedaystheyarechanging toor adding. A$25feewillbecharged foreach contractchangetocoveradministration costs.Cancellation oftheKidstown program willbetreated as a contractchangeandwillbecharged$25.Allcontractchangeorcancellationsrequireonemonth’snotice.

Refunds

Allrefundswillbereviewed ona case-by-casebasisand arenotguaranteed.

When yourchild isn’t comingtoday…

If yourchild isregisteredin theprogram,and willnotbeattending onedayforanyreason,parentsMUSTinformKidstown staffby11:00amthat morning.ParentscancalltheYouth and Family ProgramCoordinator, Karli Schiller,at206-388-0828,or Josh Niehausat206-388-0830,or send an e-mailto or urchildisscheduledto attend Kidstownand doesnotarrive,wewillcallyourchild’sschooland trackdownyourchild’sabsence,followedbytheimplementation ofourLostChildprocedures.Awarning,followedbya$20feewillbecharged to youraccountforevery incidentKidstown staffarenotinformedof achild’sabsence.Thisistoensurethesafety ofevery child,toguaranteeeverychild inKidstownissafeand secureatalltimes.

Transportation

Children fromWestMercer,Lakeridgeand IslandParkschoolsuseMercerIslandSchoolDistrictTransportationto arriveattheSJCC.Children fromselectBellevueschoolsandMercerIsland privateschoolshaveaccesstotheSJCCKidstownvan,limitedspacesavailable.Childrenfrom JDS and SHAwillbebussed separatelytotheSJCC.

If yourchild doesnotneedtobepickedup viathevan, orwillnotbeattending Kidstownand willnotbeon thebus,Kidstown MUSTbenotified by11:00amthatday.Ifyou failtonotifyKidstown staff,yourcreditcardwillautomaticallybecharged $20 aftertheinitialwarning.

School’sOutCamps

TheSJCChelpsbusyparentsby offering childcareduring mostprivateand publicschoolclosures.School’sOutCampsarea safeand fun chancefor yourchildren tospendthedaywith friends,goon fieldtrips,swimand playgames.AllSchool’sOutCampsaredesignatedontheKidstown yearly calendar,andregistration isavailableontheSJCCwebsite.Winter,Mid-Winterand Spring BreakCampsare alsoavailable.

SJCCHolidayClosures

PleaserefertoallSJCCandschoolclosuresontheKidstownyearly calendar.

InclementWeather

In thecaseof inclementweather,theSJCCwillfollowtheMercerIsland SchoolDistrictdecisionto openor closetheSJCCcampus.Pleasereferto thelocalnewsregarding closuresof theschooldistrict.TheSJCCwebsiteand SJCCvoicemailwillbeupdated in theeventofsudden closures.Should thedecision toclosetheschoolsoccurduring theday,children willbebussed totheSJCC(ifpossible),wherethey willremain untilpicked up byaparentor guardian.

Sign-Outsheet

Formorning care,parentsmustsign-in theirchild everyday.Kidstownstaffwillsign them outwhentheydepartforschool.

For afternoon care,staffwillsign-in allchildren onto ourdailyenrollmentsheet.ParentsMUSTsignouttheirchildrenwhen departing, for thesafety and security of allthechildren incaseofan emergency.

Failureto sign yourchildinoroutwillresultin a warning,followed bya$20automaticcharge. Allchildren enrolled into an enrichmentclassattheSJCCwillbesigned outby theirinstructorand signedbackin aftertheirclass.

Accidentsand Emergencies

Ourfirstpriority isthesafety,careand securityof allthechildren.Basedon theseverity ofanemergency,accidentor illness,Kidstown staffwillaccompanythechild in an ambulanceto thelocalhospitaltoawaitthearrival of theparent.

Staffhavebeentrained tofollowallSJCCpoliciesandproceduresduring an emergencysituationsuch asa fire,earthquake orlockdown situation.

LostChild Procedures

Itisimperativethatparentscallor e-mailby11amifyourchild willnotattend Kidstownthatday.

If a child isnoton thebus,or in thedesignated pick-up location forthevan,andthestaffhasnotreceived notificationof the child’sabsence,thefollowing lostchild procedureswillbeinitiated:

1.Theschoolwillbecalledtoinquireif thechildwasabsentthatday.Ifthechild wasabsent,parentswillbenotifiedof theno-callautomatic$20fee.Ifthechild WAS inschool:

2.Thestaffwillcontacttheparentsatwork/home/cell. Iftheparentcannotbelocated:

3.Alternatecontactswillbeused togain information regarding thewhereaboutsofthechild.

4.Ifthechild stillcannotbelocated aftertheabovestepshavebeen taken,thelocalpolicewillbecontacted.

DietaryPolicy

All foodsentwithyourchild mustfollowthedietary policy fortheSJCC.Lunchesand snacksprovidedbyparentsmustbedairy-based,vegetarianor approvedfish (tunaand salmonarefine).Kidstown is peanutand treenut-free,and theSJCCispeanutaware.Alllunchesand snacksprovidedbyparentsmustbepeanutandtree-nutfree.Pleasedonotpackyourchild withnuts,or packpeanutbutterintheirlunches.

Enrichmentatthe SJCC

After-schoolclassesand lessonsare offered bysession.Privateand group swimlessons,aswellassportsandspecialtyclassesareavailableforregistration at registered foran

enrichmentclassarewelcometo attend Kidstownfreeofchargeforupto 30 minutesaftertheygetoffthebus.Punch cardsareavailableforpurchaseshould a child needcarelongerthan 30 minutes.

Lostand Found

AllLostand Found islocated in thehallwaybeforethefitnesshallway.