(434) 292-7444
Dear Families,
Our
teachers and I would like to welcome you and your child to the Kenston Forest
Early Learning Program. We are delighted to serve you and your family.
This
handbook has been prepared to acquaint you with the policies we have adopted
for the well being of the children in our care. Enclosed you will find
information that will help ease your transition into our facility. We urge you
to acquaint yourself with our philosophy and our operating policies. Our goal
is to be the most highly regarded early learning program in Southside Virginia.
We
are proud and pleased to be serving you and your family.
Sincerely,
The
Director and Staff
2007-2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. PHILOSOPHY (3)
II. NON-DISCRIMINATION (4)
III. HOURS OF OPERATION (4)
IV. HOLIDAYS / SEVERE WEATHER (4)
V. ADMISSION AND ENROLLMENT (5)
VI. BASIC RATES, PAYMENTS, OTHER FEES, AND
WRITTEN NOTICE (6-8)
VII. A TYPICAL DAY (8-9)
VIII. BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINE
(9-10)
IX. PARENT PARTICIPATION / PARTIES (10)
X. MEALS AND SNACKS (10-11)
XI. HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES (11)
XII. ILLNESS (12-13)
XIII. EMERGENCIES – MEDICAL, NATURAL
DISASTERS, FIRE (13-14)
XIV MEDICATIONS (13)
XV. TRANSPORTATION AND FIELD TRIP
ARRANGEMENTS (14-16)
XVI. ADJUSTMENT (16)
XVII. SIGNING IN AND OUT, CHILDREN’S
SUPPLIES, AND VISITATIONS (16-17)
XVIII. PERSONAL ITEMS AND SUPPLIES (17)
XIX. SUMMATION (17)
POLICY AND PROCEDURE AGREEMENT
(Please sign and return.) (18)
I. PHILOSOPHY
Early childhood is the most critical period in human growth
and development, for it is the period when the foundation for learning is
laid. During these early years, learning
experiences for children must be diverse, creative, and carefully planned based
on sound principles of child development.
In keeping with this philosophy, the Center provides an environment
where children can:
Ø
grow and develop at their own rate. No
two children develop in the same way, at the same time, or in the same
sequence. Children need to be with
teachers who understand their individual developmental needs and who will
provide challenging and supportive experiences.
Ø
develop a positive self-image. A
positive self-image enables a child to participate easily and successfully in a
learning environment and provides a framework or personal development that continues
throughout the child's lifetime.
Ø
learn to handle their emotions in an
appropriate way. Young children have strong feelings which
often confuse them and are often beyond their control. Children need help in
learning to understand, identify, express, and mange their emotions in
appropriate ways.
Ø
act on their environment.
Children need to explore, question, practice, and pretend in order to
discover the world around them. Play is
the work of childhood. The learning
process is lifelong, and it begins best when children can choose a variety of
activities that challenge and interest them within a safe environment.
Ø
develop a sense of personal responsibility.
When children are given the opportunity to make choices and solve
problems, they grow in knowledge of how the world operates and how they can
function in it. Within a secure
environment, children learn that their actions and behaviors have consequences
for themselves and those around them.
Ø
learn to trust and care about those around
them. Children need loving attention. They need to be with caring teachers who are
consistent in how they react to a child's behavior. Through these relationships, children develop
the ability to give and receive affection and understanding, while learning to
trust themselves and those around them.
(From the First Atlanta Learning Center
Handbook, First Atlanta Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia, adopted by Kenston
Forest Early Learning Pre-K and Extended Care Programs.)
II. NON-DISCRIMINATION
Kenston Forest Early Learning Program admits children of any
race, religion, disability, and color, national and ethnic origin and entitles
them to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities made available to
students at the school. We do not discriminate in any way within the
administration of our educational policies, enrollment policies, financial plan
or any other school-administered program. A multi-cultural, anti-biased
curriculum is offered.
III. HOURS OF OPERATION
The center is open from 7:00 am to 6:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday, January through December. No
child will be admitted to the center before the 7:00 am opening time.
IV. HOLIDAYS AND INCLEMENT
WEATHER
The
Early Learning Center and Extended Care Programs will be closed in observance of
the following holidays and days when inclement weather results in the closing
of Kenston Forest School.
Easter
Monday (March 24) Thanksgiving
(November 22 and 23)
Memorial
Day (May 26)
Independence
Day (July 4) Dec. 20-Jan. 2
Labor
Day (September 3)
In the event that Independence Day falls on a weekend, the
Center will be closed the following Monday in observance.
In case of severe weather, closings and delayed openings will
be announced on news channels 6, 8 & 12.
Closings and delayed openings will also be on
If Kenston Forest should close early due to inclement weather
or any other unexpected event, all Early Learning students who ride the bus
home will be put on the bus UNLESS other arrangements are indicated on the
Enrollment Information Form. Children
who are not bus riders must be picked up within one half hour after the early
dismissal.
V. ADMISSION &
ENROLLMENT
A. A child's birth certificate must be shown at the time of
registration. A copy will be made and
put in the child’s file.
B. To enroll a child in the Kenston Early Learning Pre-K 3,
Pre-K 4, and/or Extended Care programs, the following forms must be completed
and/or provided prior to placement.
1. Registration
form and registration fee.
2.
3. Signed
Handbook agreement form.
4.
Completed Enrollment Agreement.
5.
Completed Enrollment Information Form.
6.
Completed Family Information Form.
7. If
applicable, completed Kenston Forest Pre-K Bus Form.
8. If applicable, copies of custody agreements.
C. CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: Children with special needs are
welcome depending on the extent of our available resources. A meeting with the
Director will be scheduled to discuss the possibilities for enrollment
utilizing the evaluations and recommendations of physicians, educators, and/or
therapists.
D. The Early Learning Program state licensing standards do not
permit the
VI. RATES, PAYMENTS, OTHER
FEES & WRITTEN NOTICE
A. BASIC RATES
School Year (August 22 – May 29)
Please refer to the table that follows:
|
PROGRAM |
TUITION OPTION A In advance (5% discount) |
TUITION OPTION B 10 Equal Installments of: |
|||
|
PROGRAM |
AGE |
OPTION |
DAYS / |
Total |
Installment |
|
Pre-K3 |
3-yrs |
Half Day (8:30am – 12:00pm) |
3 days |
$1,757.50 |
$185.00 |
|
Pre-K3 |
3-yrs |
Half Day (8:30am – 12:00pm) |
5 days |
$2,755.00 |
$290.00 |
|
Pre-K3 |
3-yrs |
School Day (8:30am – 3:00pm) |
3 days |
$2,137.50 |
$225.00 |
|
Pre-K3 |
3-yrs |
School Day (8:30am – 3:00pm) |
5 days |
$3,420.00 |
$360.00 |
|
Pre-K3 |
3-yrs |
Full Day (7:00am – 6:00pm) |
3 days |
$2,660.00 |
$280.00 |
|
Pre-K3 |
3-yrs |
Full Day (7:00am – 6:00pm) |
5 days |
$4,275.00 |
$450.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-K4 |
4-yrs |
Half Day (8:30am – 12:00pm) |
5 days |
$2,755.00 |
$290.00 |
|
Pre-K4 |
4-yrs |
School Day (8:30am – 3:00pm) |
5 days |
$3,420.00 |
$360.00 |
|
Pre-K4 |
4-yrs |
Full Day (7:00am – 6:00pm) |
5 days |
$4,275.00 |
$450.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extended Care |
5-12 yrs |
Before School (7:00am–8:15am) |
3 days |
$475.00 |
$
50.00 |
|
Extended Care |
5-12 yrs |
Before School (7:00am–8:15am) |
5 days |
$760.00 |
$
80.00 |
|
Extended Care |
5-12 yrs |
After School (2:45pm–6:00pm) |
3 days |
$1,140.00 |
$120.00 |
|
Extended Care |
5-12 yrs |
After School (2:45pm–6:00pm) |
5 days |
$1,805.00 |
$190.00 |
|
Extended Care |
5-12 yrs |
Before & After School |
3 days |
$1,425.00 |
$150.00 |
|
Extended Care |
5-12 yrs |
Before & After School |
5 days |
$2,280.00 |
$240.00 |
|
Tuition
paid in full via a single payment prior to Aug 1, 2007 will receive a 5%
discount, as reflected above as Tuition Option A. Lump-sum payment after Aug 1, 2007 does not
qualify for the 5% discount. The
yearly total tuition may also be split into payments via the installment
plan, shown above as Tuition Option B.
These installments are each one-tenth (1/10) of the annual tuition,
and do not change based on instructional/care days vs. holidays during a
given month. The first
installment is due Aug 1, 2007. If a special situation arises requiring care beyond the
schedule of the contracted program, additional care may be provided for an
additional fee. Payment for these non-routine
sessions is due in advance, preferably with the installment payment made at
the beginning of the month in which this additional care is needed. For any care outside the normal contract,
sufficient advance notice must be given. Half
Day (8:30am – 12:00pm): $15 per
session Before
School (7:00– 8:30 am):$ 5 per session School Day (8:30 am – 3:00 pm):$20
per session After School (3:00 – 6:00 pm):$10 per session Full Day (7:00 am – 6:00 pm): $25 per session |
|||||
B. PAYMENTS
1.
After the first installment, each of the remaining
installments is due on the first contracted program day of the month.
2. DISCOUNT: Full
year payment will receive a 5% discount if paid in full by August 1.
3. REGISTRATION FEE
(NON-REFUNDABLE):
Preschool -
$75.00
Extended Care
- $50.00,
$75.00,
Non KFS Student (Includes $25.00 for insurance)
C. PENALTIES/LATE FEES
1. LATE PICK-UPS:
Children must be picked up on time. Late
pick-ups will be assessed a fee of $1.00 per minute between 3:00 pm and 6:00,
and $2.00 per minute after 6:00 pm.
Staff on duty will use the time indicated on the
2. LATE TUITION
PAYMENTS: Late installments incur a $10.00 late fee. if the installment is not paid by the tenth
calendar day of the month, service will be suspended until payment is made.
3. RETURNED CHECKS: A
charge of $25.00 will be assessed for any returned checks plus an additional
late fee of $5.00 per day until payment is made.
D. OTHER FEES
1.
COURT FEES: Should it become necessary to go to court over non-payment
of fees owed, court and attorney fees
will be added to your bill.
2.
INSURANCE:
3.
FIELD TRIPS: It is the parent’s responsibility to cover the cost of the trip for their child.
E. PROGRAM CHANGES:
1.
WITHDRAWAL:
To withdraw a child from his or her contracted program, the Responsible Party
must provide the ELC written notice at least ten calendar days prior to the
withdrawal/final session. Without this
notice, the ELC will assume the contract remains intact, and the Responsible
Party will be billed accordingly.
2.
UPGRADE:
Pre-K3 Program days per week can be increased (from 3 to 5 days) if space is
available. Pre-K3/Pre-K4 program options
(hours) can be increased from half day to school/full day or from school day to
full day. For these increases, the
appropriate increase rate will apply.
3. LATE ENROLLMENTS: Late enrollments are
accepted if space is available.
VII. A TYPICAL DAY
A. TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE
Transition from home to school
Snack
Circle Time
Center/Instructional
Time
Large
Group/Small Group Table Time
Lunch
Outside
Recess (weather permitting)
Rest/Quiet
Time
Snack
Afternoon Circle Time
Story time
The whole language classroom is a managed classroom that
provides a natural learning environment based on the individual needs of each
student. It is an environment that
fosters social growth through cooperative learning and helps children develop
their learning strategies and become aware of them.
Each Age-Appropriate Curriculum Includes:
B. COMMUNICATION: Communication journals/folders
are used to keep parents and teachers informed.
C. SEMI-ANNUAL EVALUATIONS: The teacher
will evaluate each child every six months, and at that time a parent-teacher
conference can be arranged at the request of the parent or the teacher. If at
any time a parent has a concern, a parent may contact their child's teacher
immediately.
D. SPECIFIC DAILY SCHEDULE: This schedule
is posted by each classroom teacher, along with specific daily lesson plans
outlining the week.
VIII. BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
& DISCIPLINE POLICY
There will be no physical punishment or disciplinary action
administered to the body as defined in Section 6-62-6-70 inclusive of the
Virginia Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Care Centers. When a child is
having a difficult time following directions or treating others or equipment
with respect, developmentally appropriate guidance techniques are used. These
techniques are as follows: