KIDS CLUB PARENT HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 KIDS CLUB PARENT HANDBOOK Before & After School, School s Out Day, Summer Camp FORT MYERS YMCA 1360 Royal Palm Square Blvd. Fort Myers, FL Tel: Fax:

2 WELCOME! The Fort Myers YMCA is pleased to welcome you and your child(ren) to the YMCA Kids Club! The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with information to better prepare you and your child(ren) for our programs. The YMCA Child Care Staff will work to provide the highest quality of care through educational and recreational activities. We encourage youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. While your child is in care we will be incorporating the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Please contact Karen Kalouris, Child Care Director with any questions or concerns you may have at or CHILD CARE MISSION STATEMENT The Fort Myers YMCA Child Care Program, a non-profit licensed agency, exists to provide an environment that is safe, while stimulating the child s social, emotional, and physical abilities. HOURS OF OPERATION Before school After school Camps Schools Out Days 6:30am until bus departure Arrival until 6:00pm 6:30am to 6:00pm 6:30am to 6:00pm DAYS OF OPERATION Before school After school Camps School Out Days All school days and early dismissal days All school days and early dismissal days Spring break, Winter break, and Summer break Teacher work day, Hurricane Make up Days, Holidays that are not also YMCA DAILY CHECK IN Before School, School s Out Days, Camps No child should arrive earlier than the posted opening hours. signed in by a parent every day with the time and signature. attendance by 9 AM on School s Out Days and Camp. Each child must be Children must be in After School We encourage the children to be responsible and sign themselves in upon arrival to the YMCA. A Y Staff Member will greet them at the bus stop or door to be sure they sign in.

3 If your child does not arrive to the YMCA, you or an emergency contact will be notified. If, for any reason, your child will not be attending the YMCA program for that day, please contact the Y and notify a staff member at DAILY PICK UP AND SIGN OUT Before School, After School, School s Out Days, Camps ONLY AUTHORIZED ADULTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO SIGN OUT A CHILD. The adult must be 18 years of age or older with a photo ID and must be listed on the registration form. For the safety of the child(ren) and the compliance of state and YMCA regulations, it is the policy that when a child is taken from care of the YMCA, he or she must be signed out with the signature of an adult authorized to do so. The list of people so approved is derived from the forms completed upon registration of each child into our program. Disputes and discrepancies from these listed are not the YMCA s to settle. If we can not confirm with the parent or guardian, we have no other choice but to refuse to surrender care of the child. It is critical to have the complete and current working phone numbers and list of authorized adults on your registration form. Changes to the registration form can only be done by submitting the changes in writing, to the Senior Program Director. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE SIGNED OUT EACH DAY WITH THE TIME. LATE PICK-UP POLICY We realize that no parent is intentionally late, however we are not able to judge the merit of lateness and for this reason we must enforce a late fee charge. The YMCA programs are licensed to be open NO later than 6:00pm. Children must be picked up by 6:00pm. You will be charged accordingly: 6:00pm to 6:15 pm = $ :16 to later = $5/minute There will be NO EXCEPTIONS. Your child may not return to the program until this fee is paid. A helpful hint would be to call someone on the pick up list if you know you will be running late. Calling the YMCA and stating you will be late WILL NOT WAIVE the late fee. After the third (3) time picking your child up late, your child s enrollment may be terminated. The clock in the youth center will be the main clock for all charges. SNACKS AND LUNCHES Before School You may send a snack for the morning with your child. The YMCA will not provide morning snack for the children nor permit them to purchase items from the vending machines.

4 SNACKS AND LUNCHES (continued) School s Out Days, Winter Break Camp, Spring Break Camp Please send a morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and extra drink for your child each day. All food must be stored in an appropriate container for food safety. Extra money for special days is acceptable. Please help us and pack a healthy lunch/snack for your child. Refer to the food pyramid for healthy food suggestions. After School A balanced snack is provided each day for every child. It is recommended to provide a water bottle for outdoor time. Purchasing food or drinks is not permitted. Summer Camp We will participate in the Summer Food Lunch program which will provide a balanced lunch daily. The YMCA will provide AM/ PM snacks. You may need to provide lunch one week depending on the Summer School Lunch schedule. You may send your child with an additional water bottle. No sodas please. If your child has dietary restrictions, speak with the Camp Director prior to the start of camp. CLOTHING POLICY Before School & After School Children should wear comfortable clothes appropriate for schools. Sneakers or tennis shoes must be worn; please NO sandals or cleats. Dress appropriately for outdoor play and walking. Caps are recommended while outside to fend off the sun s rays. School s Out Days, Camps Dress appropriately for outdoor play and appropriate shoes for walking. A hat/cap is recommended while outside. Please speak with program staff about sunscreen if you have any concerns. Please note: In the event of water time, Girls must wear a 1-piece bathing suit that covers their body to swim. NO 2 piece bikinis or tankinis are allowed at the YMCA programs. A dark t-shirt will be required over any unacceptable suits. Failure to follow this rule will end in termination from the program. The staff will also follow this policy. Boys are recommended to wear swimming trunks. Cut off shorts and/or regular shorts are not encouraged, but will be accepted in the program. RIDING THE BUS (School s Out Days, Camps) Please review the following rules with your child(ren) in order to prepare them for the general bus riding safety guidelines. Children are required to always be seated, facing forward unless boarding or disembarking the bus. All items must remain inside the vehicle. Pay attention to the directions of the driver and the staff. This is for the safety of the children. Please arrive in advance on field trip days to avoid being left behind. If you miss the bus your child may not attend. Due to state licensing laws you may not meet us on the field trip to drop off your child. Please pay attention to the departure times.

5 Unacceptable behavior on the bus may/will result in your child not attending the next field trip or being terminated from camp. All campers are expected to sit on the bus with other campers of the same gender. We go on field trips by grade level or camp location. NO child can go on a different field trip due to the late arrival or absence from the program. Please pay attention to the daily schedule. The cost of the field trip is included in the cost of the program. You will be notified in advance of any additional fees. Spending money will be permitted for field trip. ILLNESS POLICY If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home in fairness to all. Children who are ill will be evaluated and allowed to rest until their parents arrive. A child with any type of fever must be picked up from the program within 30 minutes from the phone call. NO sick child will be accepted to the program. Do not send a child to the program with any of the following symptoms: fever, rash, sweats, head aches, heavy cough, pink eye, lice eggs or lice, bad sun burn, diarrhea, or any contagious decease. Failure to pick up a sick child in an adequate amount of time may result in removal from program. NO EXCEPTIONS. MEDICATION POLICY The YMCA is not licensed to administer medication of any type. Please plan medication around the schedule of activities. There will be NO exceptions to this policy without written authorization and instruction from your family doctor. FIRST AID AND MEDICAL EMERGENCY POLICY General first aid that is administered by trained staff will be recorded in ink on a first aid log or report form. All incidents or accidents require the completion of an accident report form. After the parent has signed a copy of this form it is made available to the parent; the original must be kept by the YMCA. In case of severe or traumatic accidents, the YMCA will call authorized emergency personnel and, immediately following that call, contact the parents or guardians. MAKE SURE THIS INFORMATION IS COMPLETED AND UPDATED ON THE REGISTRATION FORM. PARENT NOTIFICATION FORM Used as a communication tool between YMCA staff and parents Used to notify parents of behavior concerns or other incidents Signature on form is required, form kept on site at YMCA

6 YMCA CODE OF CONDUCT YMCA staff / volunteers are NOT ALLOWED to socialize or associate with program participants outside of YMCA hours (babysitting, private lessons). They are also NOT ALLOWED to transport program participants in personal vehicles. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT (ADA) In compliance with the ADA, the YMCA does not discriminate against children unless their presence poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others. The program will make reasonable modifications to policies and practices to accommodate children with special needs. If possible, the YMCA will provide auxiliary aids and services for effective communication. Our facility is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. The program will not assume a disability is too severe for a child to participate. YMCA Supervisory Staff will make individual assessments whether the program can meet the needs of a child without fundamentally altering the program. INCLUSION POLICY The YMCA does not discriminate in our admission policies based upon race, sex, religion, place of national origin or physical/mental abilities. Children with special needs will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Children whose limitations create a safety issue or unreasonable risk of harm to themselves, others or property may not be accommodated. Please notify the Director if your child is under stress or may require a higher level of supervision. DISCIPLINE POLICY YMCA staff is trained to use a positive approach to discipline. However if a child is extremely disruptive, YMCA policy is to notify parent/authorized person via behavior form at sign out. A signature is required; forms are kept on site at the YMCA. 1 st offense written warning 2 nd offense written warning 3 rd offense (in same week) suspension from program Two (2) suspensions will result in termination from the YMCA program. If persistent negative behavior occurs, the YMCA will contact a parent/guardian for a conference to discuss further participation in the program.

7 Zero Tolerance policy covers the following behaviors: Any physical abuse towards other child(ren) Any threats made towards child(ren) Stealing or damaging others children s property or YMCA property. Parents are also financially responsible for the repair or replacement of stolen or damaged property Bringing any weapon to the YMCA Any physical or verbal abuse/threats to staff (will result in an immediate termination from the program). It is the hope that we can work together to prevent your child from being suspended or terminated from the program. The Director may request a conference with you if there are significant behavior problems with your child. TOYS / ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT NO GAMEBOYS, CELL PHONES, HEAD PHONES, HAND HELD GAMES, IPODS, etc. The YMCA is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. To help you maintain personal belongings, place your child s name on everything. Do not bring anything not needed for the program. Make certain personal items are permitted in the program before allowing your child to bring them. We will take these items from the children and return them at the end of the day to the parent. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance. SWIMMING School s Out Days and Camp Children may be scheduled for pool time. Each child will be given a pool orientation and swim test to determine general abilities. Weaker swimmers will be kept in the shallow end of the pool and all children will be supervised by certified lifeguards as well as their group counselors. All children must bring a change of clothes and the appropriate swim wear on their scheduled swim day. Girls must wear one piece swim suits. A swim test will be required 1 time per week. The life guard will make the final decision. All children are required to follow the pool safety rules. All Y Staff and Lifeguards have the right to dismiss a child from the pool at any time for cause. Loss of swim time may be a result of behavior issues. OUTSIDE STAFF EMPLOYMENT The YMCA does not permit our employees to baby-sit for families they have met through YMCA programs. The South County Family YMCA takes no responsibility for any problems that occur outside of our programs. OUTDOOR TIME A fun part of our program is the games and activities that we do outside. We recognize we live in a very warm climate, however we encourage every child to participate in these outdoor activities. We will adjust the time that every child is

8 outside depending on conditions. To help with this please send your child with a water bottle, hat, and sunscreen. CHILD PARTICIPATION POLICY We encourage every child to do the best they can and we also want your child(ren) to have a great experience with our organization. We understand that some children are better at different activities than others. With every activity we offer an alternative option for your child to participate. Please encourage your child to experience what our program has to offer. VISITING AND SECURITY MEASURES You are welcomed and encouraged to visit the program at any time. We ask that you speak to the Director before doing so. You will need to provide a photo ID before entering and/or leaving the facility. PAYMENT POLICY The fees for these programs MUST be paid by bank draft or in full at registration. If payment is not received, your child will not be able to attend the program (i.e. NSF). Financial assistance is available of those who qualify. Payment is due regardless of your child s attendance. Your payment holds your child s spot in the program. Payment schedules will only be cancelled if it is submitted in writing 2 weeks prior to the date of cancellation request. If you register for a program and do not attend you are responsible for payment. All NSF will be submitted to collections through e-cashflow who will attempt 3 times to collect and charge your account each time. You may incur bank charges from your bank as well. CREDIT / CANCELLATION POLICY Before School, After school, School s Out Days Because the YMCA must employ staff to care for the number of children registered, it is the policy of the YMCA not to refund money for sessions your child is registered for but does not attend. Absences will not be refunded to the parent or credited to another program. To avoid this, all cancellations from any program or weekly session must be in writing 2 weeks prior to the start of the program. Forms can be found at the front desk of the YMCA. There will be a $20 cancellation fee per cancellation. Summer Camp Cancellations must be submitted in writing with two weeks (2) notice. Your deposit will be surrendered to the YMCA as a cancellation fee.

9 HOMEWORK TIME Before & After School We will assist every child with paper and writing utensils, as well as homework help. It is not the YMCA staffs responsibility to make sure every child brings their homework to the program. This responsibility will fall on the children. We request that they bring their assignment book to the program. We will ask if they have homework and encourage them to complete it. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES If your child is involved in any YMCA activities we must have written proof before the child will be permitted to attend. An example of this would be the registration for a dance class. The child must check in with the Kids Club Program before attending their other activity. DRINK AND RESTROOM BREAKS We will take scheduled breaks for the children through out the day. During an activity the children will be permitted to use the facilities with the supervision of a staff person. Please encourage your child to approach a staff person when they need to use the facilities. The Child Care Staff will check public restrooms before the children enter. LOST AND FOUND Please check to see if your child has all of their belongings at the end of each day. It is the child s responsibility to keep track of their belongings. There will be an assigned area for all lost and found items. Every Friday the items will be taken to the local Goodwilll. Please check daily. SEPARATION ANXIETY Children sometimes experience anxiety when they are separated from their parents for the first time or are in a new setting. The following are some common reactions and symptoms of separation anxiety. Weepy, tearful behavior Clinging to a parent Reluctance to enter the center or approach a teacher Displaying anger at parent or teacher The following suggestions may help a child experiencing separation anxiety Spend some brief time together in the room before you leave for work. Say goodbye and let your child know you ll be back. Talk with your child s counselors about things your child enjoys and how he/she is comforted.

10 FIRE DRILLS / INCLEMENT WEATHER We are regularly inspected by the Health Department and Fire Department to ensure your child is in a safe environment. Fire drills are held monthly. In the event of potentially inclement weather or emergency situations (hurricanes, no power, etc.) please call the YMCA ( ). A good rule of thumb is if Lee County Schools are closed we will not be offering a program. INSURANCE Along with our safety awareness we have frequent inspections and regular maintenance of the building, playgrounds we visit, and equipment. However, children being children, accidents will happen. When accidents occur that require medical attention, you should contact your health insurance provider for reimbursement of the medical costs. REST TIME We will have scheduled rest time for all age groups during the program. We play hard and we need to rest hard too. This will be time to relax. This time will fall in the middle and/or end of the day. TOILET TRAINING Your child must be toilet trained to attend all programs. We know that accidents may happen. If your child is prone to accidents please send extra clothes with them. We will call you to pick up your child if they have no change of clothes. WITHDRAWING POLICY If your child is going to be withdrawn from the program please complete a cancellation form and give it to the Director with a minimum of 2 weeks notice. Space is limited and another child might be waiting for the opportunity to attend the program. We do not offer refunds for any YMCA program / program deposits although you will have the option to apply all credits to another program. All programs must be paid for in advance.