After
School
Care
Parent Handbook
Info@Bounce-Town.com
801 Vanesa Ln. Ste. E
Wylie, TX 75098
(972) 575-8881
Ÿ
Written June,
2006
Ÿ
Update July,
2007
Welcome
We are pleased
that you have chosen Bounce Town for your after school childcare needs. Sharon and Lera have been in the childcare
field for a combination of 18 years. This handbook is to facilitate a greater
understanding of our philosophies, business policies and expectations. Please
read it carefully and feel free to discuss with us any questions or concerns
that you may have.
You, of course, are the primary focus for
your child. We are the support to whom they look to and depend on in your
absence. We strive to provide quality after school childcare. Children are
allowed to be children and families are always a priority. We believe that
family involvement and communication is a vital key to any quality childcare
program. We encourage parent
participation in extra activities that are offered through out the year.
Bounce Town
provides a safe, clean, comfortable, stimulating, fun and educational place for
children. We will meet the needs and abilities of each child’s physical,
emotional, intellectual and social development.
Communication is
very important to us. We welcome
questions, feedback, or discussions that affect a positive outcome for your
child. Sensitive issues should be
discussed after 6:30 PM. You are encouraged to call us between 11:00 AM – 8:00
PM., if you would like to talk over the phone.
Bounce Town
maintains an open door policy and you are welcome to visit the center anytime
during normal operating hours.
Parents must
complete and return all forms before we can accept the responsibility of caring
for your child. NO EXCEPTIONS!
The forms are as
follows:
Ÿ
Signed
Contract/Handbook Acknowledgement
Ÿ
Enrollment
Information form
We must keep, on
file, a copy of any court order recognizing parental custody issues. Otherwise,
we have no choice except to release the child to his/her parent as listed on
the enrollment form.
A current copy of
your child’s immunization record and vision/hearing screening must be on file
at the school listed on your child’s enrollment form.
Bounce
Town’s hours of care are from 2:30 – 6:30pm, Monday through Friday. If you know you will be late, arrange for an
authorized person to pick up your child on time.
A
charge of $10.00 from 6:30pm to 6:45 PM and $10.00 for each quarter hour there
after is due upon pickup, in cash. A phone call is appreciated. Habitual
tardiness may result in termination.
Bounce
Town will be open on teacher in service days and school holidays, with the
exception of those listed below. Bounce
Town will be open on these special days from 7am to 6:30pm and an additional daily fee will be charged.
Bounce
Town will be closed on the following special days and holidays:
lNew
Years Eve and New Years Day lMonday,
Memorial Day
lGood
Friday lJuly
4th, Independence Day lMonday,
Labor Day lThanksgiving
Day and the Friday following lChristmas
Eve and Christmas Day
The
days listed above are paid holidays. There will be no reduction in tuition.
Exact dates are posted on the Parent Communication Board.
In
case of inclement weather, Bounce Town will close when Wylie ISD is
closed.
Absence and Extended Absence
Childcare
tuition will not be adjusted for missed days. A position has been reserved for
each child. Full week absences will
require ˝ of your regular weekly tuition for the entire time of your absence.
No free weeks are given.
A
non-refundable security deposit equal to one week’s tuition is required to
reserve a space for your child. This
deposit will be credited to your child’s first week in care.
Tuition is $65 per week and is payable to Bounce Town in cash, check or major credit card. Tuition is due in advance on Friday for the following/next week’s care.
A
late fee of $10.00 per day will be added to your account if payment is
not received by Monday evening at 6:30pm. Post-dated checks will be NOT
accepted.
A fee of $35.00 will be charged on all returned checks. This fee as well as the childcare fees due will be required within 24 hours of receiving the returned check. If two or more checks are returned in a six-month period, service may be continued on a cash-only basis.
Arrival and Departure
Children will be picked up at school in the Bounce Town
van. All children will be checked into
the van and checked off the van upon arrival at Bounce Town. Bounce Town maintains a list of all children
to be picked up daily. Bounce Town will
not pick up children that are retained after school for extra curricular
activities, detentions, tutorials, etc.
Please contact Bounce Town if your child will not be riding the
van as soon as possible.
Children will NOT
be allowed to leave Bounce Town with any person not listed as an authorized
person on the enrollment form.
Back Packs & Personal Belongings
Children will
keep their backpacks and coats on a designated cart. Bounce Town is not
responsible for lost personal belongings.
After arriving from school, free-play is encouraged to
unwind. After free play, snacks &
drink will be offered and homework time will begin. At approximately 4:30pm,
outdoor play will be offered for 30 minutes, weather permitting. At 5:00 indoor free play, games, Speed
Stacking Cups, puzzles or TV time will be allowed until pickup time.
Bounce Town will
be feed nutritious snacks and drinks.
Please view the menu that is posted on the Parent Information Board.
Indoor Play: Bounce Town has a large playroom
designated for the children’s use. This room is appropriately equipped and
monitored for safety. Use
of the Bounce House is NOT permitted during free play. Children will be
allowed to use the obstacle course, caterpillar and double lane slide only.
Bounce Town has a large room designated for homework, games and quiet
activities.
Outdoor play: Children will play outside everyday as
weather permits. It is important for the children to have fresh air, new worlds
to explore, and a wider field of play. We do not go outside in
temperatures below 50 degrees or on ozone action days.
Homework time
will be offered to all children.
Bounce Town encourages all children to complete their homework, however,
we cannot force a child to finish his/her assignments. Parents may request
their child’s homework folder be reviewed by Bounce Town staff for assignments
and assistance given as needed. All information in a child’s folder, including
teacher notes, comments and behavior marks, are kept confidential.
Guidance and Discipline
Bounce Town
maintains a positive discipline policy, which promotes independence,
self-esteem, and a caring attitude toward others and the physical
environment. The Texas
Administrative Code, Title 40, Chapters 746 and 747, Subchapters L, outline the
discipline and guidance policy to read:
Discipline must be:
(1)
Individualized and consistent for each child;
(2)
Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding; and
(3)
Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.
A caregiver may only
use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem,
self-control, and self-direction, which include at least the following:
(1) Using praise and
encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable
behavior;
(2) Reminding a child
of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements;
(3) Redirecting
behavior using positive statements; and
(4) Using brief
supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the
child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per
year of the child’s age.
There must be no harsh,
cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline and
guidance are prohibited:
(1) Corporal punishment
or threats of corporal punishment;
(2) Punishment
associated with food, naps, or toilet training;
(3) Pinching, shaking,
or biting a child;
(4) Hitting a child
with a hand or instrument;
(5) Putting anything in
or on a child’s mouth;
(6) Humiliating,
ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child;
(7) Subjecting a child
to harsh, abusive, or profane language;
(8) Placing a child in
a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed; and
(9) Requiring a child
to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the
child’s age.
If a discipline
problem arises that does not respond to the above-mentioned techniques, Bounce
Town will communicate with the parents. If the problem continues, other
arrangements for the care of the child will have to be made, for the safety and
well being of all.
All children will
be transported from school in Bounce Town’s van with a licensed driver. The driver will have undergone all TXDFPS
background and criminal history checks, as well as First Aid & CPR
certified. The van is equipped with a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, copies
of all children’s emergency records and phone numbers.
In the event of a gas leak, chemical spill or other evacuation
emergency, children will be transported to McDonalds located in Murphy at the
intersection of FM 544 & Murphy Rd.
Fire drills and severe weather drills will be practiced each
month. In case of a fire, children will
relocate to the south end of the parking lot area and parents will be contacted
immediately. The severe weather area is located inside the homework room, along
the center wall. A copy of the Emergency Exit and Relocation Plan is posted on
the Parent Information Board.
Bounce Town
reserves the right to deny admittance or require early departure should your
child become sick. We require that you pick up a sick child within 45 minutes
of notification. Below are the illnesses that TXDFPS lists as prohibiting a
child from being admitted/excluded:
Ÿ
Oral
temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater
Ÿ
Vomiting and
diarrhea
Ÿ
Symptoms and
signs of possible illness such as lethargy, abnormal breathing, abnormal rash,
mouth sores and wheezing.
Ÿ
Other
communicable diseases as outlined by the Texas Dept. of Health
Ÿ
Bounce Town
will not pick-up sick public school children.
Ÿ
Bounce Town
does not administer medication.
Injuries and Medical Emergencies
Every effort is
made to keep the children safe through supervision. Minor injuries receive
appropriate first aid, and an Injury/Accident report form will be completed and
signed by the parent. This form will be kept in the child’s file for three
months.
If an injury or
illness occurs that requires immediate medical attention, we will use 911 and
the child will be transported by ambulance. We will notify the parent of the
hospital location and a Bounce Town staff member will accompany the child. If the parent cannot be reached, we will
contact the emergency contact person listed on the Enrollment Information form.
Parents are
responsible for all costs involved in medical treatment obtained for their
child, including but not limited to transportation to hospital or medical
facility. You must pick up your child from the hospital.
TDPRS (Texas Department of Family and Protective
Services)
Bounce Town is a licensed childcare facility with the State of Texas through
the Department of Family and Protective Services. You can contact the TXDFPS at
214-583-4253 or 1-800-582-6036. You can review a copy of Bounce Town’s
inspection records and the Minimum Standards on the internet at
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Default.asp.
Bounce Town staff
members have been trained to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. We
will notify Child Protective Services or the local law enforcement officials by
telephone when it appears that a child’s well being and safety are in jeopardy
or the child is being seriously neglected and abused.
Bounce Town asks that
parents provide new phone numbers, address changes or job information updates
in a timely manner. Children’s records
will be reviewed every year on August 1st at which time a new
contract will be signed and updates made to your child’s enrollment form.
Smoking
Bounce
Town is a smoke free environment.
Smoking is not allowed within 50 feet of the front door.
Bounce Town
reserves the right to terminate childcare services for the following reasons
(but not limited to):
Ÿ
Failure to
pay tuition, repeated late payments or continuous late pick-ups
Ÿ
Failure to
comply with handbook regulation or complete the required forms
Ÿ
Lack of
parental cooperation
Ÿ
Bounce Town
is unable to accommodate needs of the child and/or the parent
Ÿ
Disruptive
or disrespectful behavior, physical or verbal abuse to any person or property
Immediate
termination may occur when extreme circumstances threaten the well being of any
child or family at Bounce Town. You are required to give two weeks written
notice of withdrawal in which full tuition will be paid, regardless of the
child’s attendance.
