WEE CARE LEARNING

ACADEMY

Parent Handbook

WEE CARE LEARNING ACADEMY WANTS TO BE AS "GREEN" AS POSSIBLE SO IN AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN

ON PAPER CONSUMPTION, YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS PARENT HANDBOOK ELECTRONICALLY. IF YOU WOULD

LIKE A PAPER COPY, PLEASE LET ADMINISTRATION KNOW AND WE WILL PROVIDE ONE TO YOU.

AUGUST 2017

WELCOME We welcome you and your family to Wee Care Learning Academy of Key West and look forward to supporting you in your role as parents. We value the uniqueness of each family and will make every effort to meet your individual needs. While our primary goal is to be here for your child, Wee Care is your school also. We are here to meet the needs of parents who want to have a caring, loving and educational environment for their child while remaining affordable and convenient. We know that as a parent you have a busy schedule but we encourage you to participate in our programs, invite you to observe our classroom settings, and enjoy an impromptu visit when you can. We hope that you will find Wee Care to be a wonderful place that continues to strengthen your relationship with your child. As with any service organization, however, we must set forth policy to promote the common good and ensure compliance with state rules and regulations. This handbook is written as a guide to summarize helpful information and to highlight our policies. We encourage you to use it as a reference but it is not intended to take the place of open, personal communication. Please feel free to voice any concerns you may have to your child’s teachers or to administration. THE FACILITY Our facility brings the Old Town Key West charm of a Conch House together with the simplicity of a little country schoolhouse. It is made up of two spacious schoolhouses with natural light flooding the open floor plan of each. The Coconut Class, is home to our younger students of 2-3 years old, while The Key Lime Class is for our 3-5 age group.

The home-like feel of our buildings and grounds make for a comfortable learning environment. We are licensed for 52 children total which allows us to really get to know all of our families. We are not too big, not too small…. just right. THE WEE CARE PROGRAM Wee Care Learning Academy is comprised of two classrooms: The Coconut Class and The Key Lime Class. Our programs for both classes are very similar but modified toward each age group's developmental needs. We introduce a wide array of subjects and activities to all of our students and believe that even basic knowledge of a subject can form a foundation to build on later in life. Our "Coconuts" focus a lot of their time on basic life skills such as toilet training and dressing. Great focus is given to verbal communication skills and cause and effect. Our Key Lime Kids have grasped many of the basic concepts of each subject and put them to the test trough experimentation. We provide as much hands-on activity as we can for both classrooms as we believe that children learn through doing. Wee Care Learning Academy includes teacher-directed activities as well as child-initiated activities. Our curriculum is designed to support and enrich each child's development physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Wee Care uses The Creative Curriculum as a guide for planning the curriculum in both classrooms. The Creative Curriculum for Preschool is an award-winning curriculum for preschool age children used all over the United States. Using exploration and discovery as a way of learning, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool enables

children to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills. The Creative Curriculum for Preschool is based on 38 objectives for development and learning, which are fully aligned with the standards for the State of Florida. The curriculum addresses all the important areas of learning, from social-emotional and math to technology and the arts, and incorporates them throughout every part of every day. It offers daily, built-in opportunities for observation, helping teachers and administrators clearly see the strong relationship between curriculum and assessment. Each classroom has weekly lesson plans, posted in the classroom. These plans contain a number of activities, designed to foster each child’s development, and the development of the group as a whole. Parents are encouraged to follow along so that they know what their child is learning. Each classroom is set-up in centers, which include blocks, dramatic play, books, gross motor, fine motor, and art. Outdoor play is important to a child’s physical development and is included in both the morning and afternoon schedule. Self- selection or “free-play” is a daily part of the curriculum and means a child has the opportunity to choose which center or activity he/she participates in. This promotes creative expression and development of important social skills. The Teacher and Assistant Teacher(s) work cooperatively to create a daily schedule and plan activities that meet each child’s developmental abilities and needs. The daily schedule and activities create a balance between active and quiet times; large and small group, and individual activities; small and large muscle activities; indoor and outdoor play times; as well as times for self-

selection and teacher-directed activities. The use of themes is a practical and logical way to set up a lesson plan. The themes are based upon what the children know and see every day, as well as the children’s interests. Wee Care Learning Academy incorporates the following activities and subjects into our program: Group Time / Circle Time Language/Reading Art Science Math Social Studies Geography Life Skills Dance/Music Yoga Culinary Class Gardening Communication skills/ Manners Fine motor skills Large motor skills And More!

TRIAL PERIOD Your child’s adjustment into daycare is important to us. Some children have a hard time adjusting and/or may not be a good fit in a large childcare setting. The first 30 days from the child’s first start date at Wee Care is a trial period for the child, parents and provider. During this period either the parent or the provider may terminate care without explanation.

WEE CARE WEB CAM Wee Care Learning Academy is proud to be the only childcare center in Key West offering webcams. This is a live-stream video available to our families for viewing from home, mobile device, or anywhere that internet is available. You can access the cameras in your child's classroom, playground, and courtyard area. This secure system allows you to watch your child learn, play and interact with other children and teachers in the center. Upon enrollment, you will be given a password that will allow you to log on during school hours and watch what your child is doing. At Wee Care… well, we care and we understand that when your child is not in your care you wonder if they are ok. Are the teachers treating them with love and affection? Are they participating in class activities? Are they getting along with their classmates? Do they act the same at school as they do at home? We know that you have so many questions, that is why we are pleased that we can provide this tool for our families. The Wee Care Web Cams will answer those questions… 100% peace of mind. We understand the feeling of guilt due to leaving your child for so many hours a day in someone else's care. Separation anxiety is sometimes harder on the parents than it is on the child. Having the ability to log on to the Wee Care Web Cam every now and then to see your child can give you a sense of connection. It

is as close as you can get to being with them without being there. The same goes for other family members like a deployed parent or grandparents. As a parent/guardian you will have the option to responsibly give your password to close family members to be able to watch your child as well. Grandma can be thousands of miles away and be able to watch her grandchild learn and play with their classmates. Our camera system is secure. Usernames and passwords are automatically voided as soon as the child is no longer enrolled at our facility. Wee Care asks that parents utilize the web cams in a practical and responsible manner. If, in viewing the web cams, questions and/or issues arise that a parent would like to discuss with Wee Care teachers or administration, please email administration to set up a meeting during non-school hours. We request participation from parents in making sure that our focus is on educating the children and that not much time is spent on minor occurrences. Please realize that our teachers will do their best to address any issues in the classroom, however, they cannot be everywhere at once. Children are children and surely situations will arise. The web cams are an added benefit to our program and intended to be used as a tool to enhance your overall experience at Wee Care, not as a tool for micromanagement. DAILY PROCEDURES Drop-off and Pick-up Our hours of operation are Monday – Friday 7:30am – 5:30pm. Drop off times for Coconut Class are 7:30 – 8:45 or 9:30 – 10:30. Drop off times for Key Lime Class are 7:30 – 8:45 or 10:35 – 11:10. Please keep in mind that our lessons for the day will commence at 9:00 am so in order to give your child the full benefit

of our program, we encourage you to bring them before 8:45 am to participate. Please use the Amelia Street entrance for drop-off and pick-up purposes. The parking space on Catherine Street is for employees only. This is very important and mandated by the City of key West. Daily Sign-In and Sign-Out Please sign your child in and out each day. Roll sheets are located in each of the classrooms. When you bring your child to school, you also certify that to the best of your knowledge, your child is in good health and can participate fully in all activities. Parents are required to accompany their children into their classrooms. It is important that children are aware that their parents are leaving. While this acknowledgement may result in an occasional emotional upset, parents should take comfort in knowing that such separation anxiety usually ends by the time the parent reaches the front gate. Parents are required to list the name, address and phone numbers of each person other than the parent who is authorized to care for their child in an emergency. Parents or any other person designated to pick up a child must be prepared to show picture identification to Wee Care staff. Children are not released to any other person than named on the registration form, unless we have prior written request from the parent. Children are not released to anyone younger than eighteen years old.

Nap Time After lunch, restroom use, and hand washing, the children will take a nap or rest quietly on their individual cots. After forty-five minutes of resting quietly, those children who are not asleep may read a book or do a quiet activity for the duration of the rest time as long as they remain on their cots quietly. The classroom will resume scheduled activities at 2:15pm. We ask that you please take your child’s napper/blanket home at least once a week to be washed and returned. Clothing Clothing should be comfortable, easy for the child to manage and appropriate for “messy” activities, such as creative arts and outdoor recreation. Please dress them in clothing that comes on and off easily, without adult help to avoid toileting accidents. Please be sure that your child’s name is clearly marked on all articles of clothing and nappers/blankets so that we can minimize the loss of personal belongings. In the event of a missing item, please notify us promptly. We want to keep the floors as clean as possible as we spend a large part of our day on the floor. We ask that shoes be taken off at the door and put in your child's locker. We encourage them to take them off and put them on by themselves so please keep that in mind when choosing their footwear. Closed-toe shoes are advised for the prevention of injuries during outside play. Easy on/off shoes with velcro are best. We ask that all children have two changes of clothing and that children that are toilet training have a supply of disposable diapers and wipes at all times. A sweater or jacket should be brought to

the center during the winter months. Personal Belongings It is difficult for young children to share toys and personal belongings with other children. Likewise, it is difficult for the staff to monitor all the many belongings children might bring from home. As a result, please leave all toys at home. Personal items for naptime should be limited to a napper or small blanket and small pillow for resting and one small, soft comfort object if needed (teddy, blankie, etc. Nothing that makes noise or lights up). Visitors Parents and other authorized family and friends are always welcome at Wee Care. We do encourage you to consider the children and their work and ask that you enter their classroom with quiet respect. Birthdays and Other Parties Every child’s birthday at Wee Care calls for a special celebration, and parents are encouraged to join in the festivities. For example, parents are welcome to prepare special snacks in recognition of an occasion, but we request advance notice. If sending party invitations to school for distribution, please provide a party invitation to everybody in the class, otherwise, we ask that you do not send the invitations to school. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT We hope that Wee Care is one of many enriching experiences in you and your child’s lives. Because we recognize that you are entrusting us with your most precious family member(s), we

want you to consider us as part of your extended family. Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent-teacher conferences are held annually. During these conferences, we take the time to answer any questions or concerns parents may have regarding their child’s experience at the center. These conferences provide parents with an overview of their child’s developmental progress. Teachers will discuss with parents/guardians their observations of the child’s performance in naturally occurring situations, group time as well as one-on-one interactions between the teacher and individual student. Conferences enable parents and staff to work closely to meet each child’s specific needs. Parents and teachers are also free to request additional conferences any time they wish. We utilize the information gathered during parent-teacher conferences to improve and to update individualized curriculum for each child. Resolving Parental Concerns Occasionally, differences in philosophy or child- rearing practices may occur in the child care setting. All concerns about your child’s care should be discussed promptly with a teacher or the administration to come to a resolution that will best support your child. Please feel free to request a meeting regarding any concerns that you may have. Classroom Observations Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s classroom for added insight into our programs. You are also welcome to schedule a follow-up discussion with teachers or administration to offer comments or suggestions.

Web Cams Although not as personal as visiting the classroom, parents can learn a lot about our programs and their child's development by logging onto the Wee Care Web Cam! We are extremely proud to be the only center in Key West to offer such a wonderful tool. Volunteer Program We understand that most parents are leading very busy lives but we extend an open invitation to parents to participate in their child’s classroom whenever desired. Volunteer to visit the classroom and read a story. Participate in music class by bringing in your favorite instrument. Share your hobby with the class. Donate a book. We appreciate any participation and know that your child will as well. STAFF We are committed to our staff and recognize them as vital components of a successful program for your children. We make every effort to ensure the work environment is pleasant and supportive of their needs. We value each staff member and we support staff development and continuing education because we believe that adults who are learning bring that same enthusiasm for learning to the children. DISCIPLINE A critical area of our curriculum is helping children gain self-control. This goal is best achieved in a loving, supportive

environment where children are treated with respect and fairness.

Our philosophy on discipline is based on respect for the child. The key to success for children is in preparing a supportive learning environment and using selective intervention to guide children in their behavior. Our policy in helping children gain self-control is to intervene and redirect energies before problems begin. Our positive discipline approach consists of redirection, choices, consequences, warnings, break times, supplying language, and problem-solving. We cannot use a one-size-fits-all discipline policy to fit every child or situation. Therefore, each child is treated as an individual, and parents are expected to work as partners with our staff in helping correct any discipline problems in the classroom. If an unacceptable behavior begins to occur at Wee Care, the parents will be are asked to participate in a conference to develop a plan to correct the behavior in a positive way. The plan will depend on the child and the situation. We recognize that children often respond to changes and situations they do not fully understand. It is important that you keep our staff informed of matters that may be affecting your child’s behavior. In this way, we can offer support when they are at our school. Our goal is to assist you in raising a happy, well-adjusted child. We can accomplish this goal best through mutual respect and support. We are confident that you, as a parent, will give us that support. Biting Policy As we know, biting is a common occurrence among children who do not have language to express their feelings. We understand

that biting is normal, but it is not an acceptable means of resolving issues. At Wee Care, we will take immediate action in the classroom as well as with the family regarding any biting incidents. Immediate action includes, but is not limited to, documenting the biting incident with an incident report for both parties involved, in addition to observing, shadowing, or separating the children. If biting incidences continuously occur, we may withdraw the child from our program. CLOSINGS Wee Care Learning Academy will be closed on the following Holidays: New Year’s Day Martin Luther King Day President's Day Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day

Day after Thanksgiving Christmas Eve Christmas Day New Year’s Eve When a holiday falls on a Saturday, we will be closed the Friday beforehand. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, then we will be closed on the following Monday. Closings Due to Weather (Hurricane Days) We all know that there are many reasons to love living in the beautiful Florida Keys but unfortunately hurricanes and tropical storms are not among those reasons. In the event of inclement weather or a natural disaster, we will follow Monroe County School System's closing schedule. Please pay close attention to announcements regarding school closings on the local news and radio. We do not provide a reduction in tuition for holidays, natural disasters, or illnesses. FINANCIAL POLICIES Tuition Tuition is $170 per week. Weekly tuition is due every Monday morning. Payment can be placed in the drop-box labeled “tuition” located in the office. In the event of a holiday or school closure on Monday, tuition is due the next day that Wee Care is open. A

$15 late charge is assessed if payment has not been received by Wednesday at noon. If tuition is not received by the end of the week, the child will not be admitted the following week. Tuition is due even when a child is absent, on vacation or during a holiday. Additional sibling discount rate is $155 per week. Tuition is subject to increase over time. Deposit A $170 deposit is due upon enrollment. The deposit will be applied to tuition for the last week as long as two weeks written notice of withdrawal is received by administration. Registration An annual, non-refundable registration fee of $150 is due upon application and guarantees your child’s spot at Wee Care Learning Academy. Withdrawal Should it become necessary to withdraw your child from Wee Care, you are required to give two weeks written notice to administration. Extra Charges Returned checks result in a $40 minimum charge. Recurrent returned checks result in cash-only terms. Late pick-up fees are $15 from 5:31 PM to 5:45 PM and one

dollar per minute thereafter. Additional charges may be assessed for special events, shirts, extra-curricular activities, photography, nappers, etc. HEALTH

Immunization Requirements In accordance with state licensing requirements, each parent must submit a doctor’s physical form (Florida Department of Health Form 3040) and an up-to-date immunization record (Florida Department of Health Form 680) upon enrollment. These records are kept on permanent file at the center and must be updated as your child receives immunizations. Medicine Each day that a child is required to take medication at Wee Care, parents must complete a Medication Authorization Form. The medication must be kept in its original container and clearly state the following information: the child’s name, doctor’s name, prescribed dosage, time to be given, and date. For over-the-counter medications, we must administer the medication in amounts according to the label directions or as amended by a physician in writing. All medications are stored in a secure place, well out of reach of children. We maintain dated records, the amount of medicine dispensed, and the name of the staff person who administered the medication. We also provide refrigeration when necessary. Medicines are returned to you or properly disposed of when they are no longer required by your child.

Illnesses While we take precautions to protect your child against illness, most children experience a normal number of infections and illnesses throughout the year. If we notice that your child is not feeling well, we will notify you immediately. We will provide a quiet, calm place for your child to rest in the classroom while we discuss with you if it is necessary to take your child home or to the doctor. It is necessary for a child to leave the school if they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher, or if they have diarrhea and/or vomiting. In addition, we also ask that your child be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school. Should your child become exposed to an infectious disease at Wee Care, we will notify you promptly. In return, we request that you report to us when your child has been exposed to or diagnosed with a particular infection or disease. Lice policy

Wee Care has a strict “no nit” policy. If a child is found to have head lice and/or nits, they will be sent home and may not return for a minimum of 48 hours. After the 48 hour period, the child may return to school if they have been treated and are completely lice and nit free. Upon returning, parents will wait with their child in the morning until a designated employee of Wee Care examines the child. If the child is found to still have lice or nits, they will be sent home again. If there are two or more students affected in any class, all parents will be notified that there is a presence of head lice in the class and all students in the class will be examined.

Keeping Records Current and Confidential To provide emergency medical care to children at Wee Care, we

require signed authorization by each child’s parent or legal guardian. This form contains vital information about each child, such as parents’ office and home phone number and addresses; and the name, address, and phone number of the child’s physician. This form must be kept current and on file as long as the child attends Wee Care Learning Academy. Please notify us of any changes. We will request updated contact information on a quarterly basis. All child and family information will remain confidential unless a legitimate need exists to share such information. Furthermore, this information will not be disclosed to relevant persons without written permission by a parent or guardian. Nutrition Good nutrition is an essential ingredient in your child's development. All food is to be provided by parents. Parents are expected to pack a nutritious lunch and at least two healthy snacks for their child daily. Please try to refrain from sending candy or food or drink with excessive amounts of sugar. Each container should be labeled with the child's name. Refrigeration is available, however, we do not heat up children’s food. If your child arrives early, you may bring your child’s breakfast to be eaten between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM. On Fridays we will provide pizza, snacks and juice for your child if you choose to participate. The cost for “Pizza Friday” is $5 each week. There is a pizza payment box located under the tuition payment box in the office. Also, on occasion we provide snacks such as goldfish, air-popped popcorn or a special holiday treat. Perhaps during culinary class the children might whip something up for everyone to try. We ask that if you do not want your child to have a snack that was not provided by you to

please inform administration and we will take note of it. We utilize mealtime to instill in children at an early age the long-term benefits and the joy of healthful eating habits. We make a special effort to encourage the children to eat their healthier snack first, eat their main course at lunch and save anything “less healthy” for the afternoon snack. All meals are served in the classroom. We encourage parents to drop by for lunch with their children. Outdoor Recreation Outdoor recreation for fresh air and exercise is scheduled daily, weather permitting. Wee Care Learning Academy is proud of our tropical garden playground that is aesthetically pleasing as well as conducive to muscle development and creative use of space. Your child is given the opportunity to run, climb and play in a true Key West oasis. In addition, in our larger open field the children will enjoy playing ball, participating in group games, going through obstacle courses, splashing during water days, planting flowers and vegetables, having a picnic or just reading. Children with Special Needs At Wee Care we believe that every child should have a successful and meaningful experience. We will do everything we can to include every child; however, administration and the parents will work together to decide if we are able to accommodate a child with special needs. Upon enrollment, we would like a copy of your child’s individualized plans to enable the teacher to tailor your child’s curriculum regarding any disabilities or other special learning needs.

SAFETY No Smoking Smoking is prohibited on the premises of Wee Care Learning Academy at all times. Licensing Wee Care Learning Academy is licensed by the State of Florida and adheres to rigid enforcement of regulations that meet or exceed the minimum standards in child care. These standards relate to our physical facility, staff, health and safety procedures, and record keeping. The center will undergo regular inspections by the city, state, fire and licensing departments. We support high standards in child care, as they are in the best interest of the children in our care. Emergency Preparedness In accordance with Florida State Law, Wee Care will hold regularly scheduled fire drills. It is crucial to the safety of the children that they learn proper emergency evacuation procedures. In our effort to simulate emergency conditions during fire drills, children are required to exit the building, dressed as they are, for a few minutes. Evacuation plans are posted in each classroom. In the event of a disease outbreak, Wee Care will contact the Florida Health Department and proceed according to their instructions. In the unlikely event that Wee Care has an intruder/ volatile person, we will contact the local police department and follow their instructions. Parents may review more details regarding our Emergency Preparedness Plan upon request.

HELP US GO GREEN Wee Care wants to do our part to save the environment and would love your help. Our students will learn the importance of recycling and how to put it into play at school and at home. They will assist in sorting recyclables from trash and learn the process… and more importantly the purpose of recycling. Many of our arts and craft projects will be made from recycled material, so before you throw out your paper towel rolls, egg cartons and such, please ask yourself if it is something that we might be able to make a project out of. Wee Care will do as much communication via electronic format as possible to cut down on paper consumption. You will be able to access our monthly newsletters, calendar and forms on our website at www.weecarekeywest.com. We also strongly encourage open communication with teachers and administration through email. WEE CARE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISMISS ANY CHILD IF NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OUR PROGRAM OR IF TUITION OR OTHER FEES HAVE NOT BEEN PAID