3 Circle Mom's Day Out

PA R E N T P R O C E D U R E S / H A N D B O O K

M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T HAN D B O O K AG R E E M E N T FO R M

Welcome to 3Circle Mom’s Day Out Program. We are thrilled that you have chosen 3Circle as a place to help your child grow and learn. As a ministry of 3Circle Church, it is our desire to set the stage for the years of schooling that are to follow, as your child learns to interact with others within a group.

We hope to encourage children to become enthusiastic learners through developmental play and activities, as we teach them that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever.

You will find information in this handbook about our policies and procedures. This is not an exhaustive collection. Please make sure you read this handbook thoroughly, as it contains important information. You will find, as you read over the handbook, that many questions will be answered.

However, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, or the appropriate administrative staff for any clarification.

If, after completely reading this handbook, you can agree to abide in spirit and practice with the contained guidelines and policies, we require that you sign below and return this form as an indication of your agreement.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to a great school year together.

Parent 1/Guardian 1 Signature: Parent 2/Guardian 2 Signature:

Date: Date:

To lead people to a growing relationship with Jesus: locally, regionally, and globally.

V I S I O N S TAT E M E N T

Reach up in worship. Reach in to grow. Reach out to share.

P U R P O S E S TAT E M E N T

Our purpose is to provide a loving, nurturing environment for preschoolers, preparing them for a joyous journey of learning, and directing them towards the truths that “God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever.”

R E G I S T R AT I O N / E N R O L L M E N T P O L I C Y

Enrollment is open to all children ages two through four years old. Acceptance is determined by the number of places available in each class. Before a child can be admitted to our program, we must have a completed registration packet on file. Parents must notify the office when any pertinent information changes. *At this time, we are not equipped to accept children with special needs.

To enroll a child, parents/guardians must: ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Handbook Agreement Form Mission Statement Vision Statement Purpose Statement Table of Contents Registration/Enrollment Policy Registration Process Curriculum Philosophy Fees Tuition Arrival and Dismissal Calendar Information Items from Home Separation Problems Lunch School Clothing Potty Training Birthdays Discipline WE DO WE DO NOT Illnesses

Medication Safety Child Abuse and Neglect

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Complete registration form Pay registration fee Provide current immunization record Provide copy of birth certificate Return Handbook Agreement Signature Form Fill out a Medical Authorization Form

R E G I S T R AT I O N P R O C E S S Students currently enrolled in any class will have first choice for the following year’s registration. The period for registration will be the first week of February. Younger siblings of currently enrolled students may also register at this time.

C U R R I C U L U M P H I LO S O P H Y

3Circle Mom’s Day Out uses various forms of resources to reach the needs of children. We begin by creating an environment that fosters a child’s inquisition and creativity. The ABeka curriculum is used formally to introduce math and phonics skills. The Orange curriculum is utilized for biblical teaching. Children will attend chapel weekly to emphasize the mission, vision, and purpose of 3Circle Mom’s Day Out.

FEES

A non-refundable registration fee of $225.00 is required to enroll your child in the school.

A $10.00 fee will be charged for late pick-up. This fee is paid directly to the teacher. Late is considered to be ten minutes after the hour (1:10). An additional $5 charge will be incurred for each additional five minutes.

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TUITION

ITEMS FROM HOME

Parents are required to pay tuition on a monthly basis. Tuition is due on or before the 1st of each month.

Each item brought to school should be clearly labeled with the child’s name. This includes, cups, lunchboxes, jackets, and extra clothes. The school staff cannot be responsible for lost or damaged items. Children are only allowed to bring a toy to school on assigned “show and tell” days. Weapon-like toys are not allowed to be brought for “show and tell.” Children are not allowed to bring toys any other day. If they do, the toy will be put out of sight until dismissal.

●● A $35.00 service charge is applied to all returned checks. ●● A full one month’s notice must be given before withdrawal. Payment is required for the 30 days following the withdrawal notice, whether or not the child continues to attend the school during this period. ●● If your account becomes a month late, your child will be dismissed from the program unless a plan has been discussed with the director. ●● Registration fees are nonrefundable ●● MDO tuition is a set amount for 9 months of the school year. The rate for August and May is prorated for ½ of the month. August’s tuition is due at Open House and May’s tuition is due the 1st of May. ●● Payments can be made through the website link. Automatic recurring payments are strongly recommended. ●● All check payments should be placed in dropbox. Do not place payments in child’s bookbag or give to teacher. ●● All payments made after the 7th of the month will have a $35 late fee applied.

S E PA R AT I O N P R O B L E M S It has been our experience that children who are having separation problems at drop off times should be immediately placed in the capable hands of your child’s teacher. The parent should then quickly leave school. We have found that the longer the parent stays, the more emotional it becomes for the child. Parents are welcome to call the director to check on your child. The director will contact parents if your child does not calm down in a timely manner.

A R R I VA L A N D D I S M I S S A L Our school day is from 9:00A – 1:00P, Monday- Friday. The doors will be opened from 9:00 – 9:15A for drop off. Have your child on campus no later than 9:15A, so they do not miss valuable learning time, and classroom structure is not interrupted.

Please park in the parking areas provided. Escort your child to his/her teacher. Please do not linger in the classrooms after dropping off your child.

Dismissal is at 1:00P. Children should be picked up at their classroom door. The person responsible for picking the child up should sign the child out. Anyone other than the parent must be listed on the child’s pick-up list, and a picture ID will be required.

LUNCH

Your child should bring a lunch box each day. Lunchboxes should include healthy food options and a beverage. Please do not include soda or candy in your child’s lunch.

S C H O O L C LOT H I N G

Preschool doors will remain locked between 9:15A and 12:55P.

C A L E N D A R I N F O R M AT I O N

Fairhope Campus Mom’s Day Out will begin one week after the first day of school for public school, and end one week prior to public school’s last day of school. Most other holiday school closings will follow the public school calendar.

A monthly calendar will be sent home at the beginning of each month. Please take time to look over it to be familiar with activities going on in your child’s classroom.

3Circle MDO will close during times of threatening weather. We will follow the closings of the Baldwin County school leadership. Please stay tuned for any information that they release.

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We play outside every day, weather permitting, so please dress your child accordingly. Please send a jacket or sweater in the winter – label these with your child’s name. Please send a change of clothes in a zip lock on the first day of school.

Be sure to include socks and underwear.

P OT T Y T R A I N I N G

It is a requirement that all three and four year olds be potty trained. Our two year old teachers will assist in the potty training of your child. Please remember to send him/her in easily changeable clothing (no snaps, buttons or overalls).

Elastic waist pants, shorts, etc. are best. Children should be accident free for an entire week before coming to school in underwear.

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WE DO

B I R T H D AY S

A birthday is a special day for every child. If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday in the classroom by sending in cookies, cupcakes, or small favors for the class, please talk to your child’s teacher in advance. Invitations to parties away from school may not be given out at school unless there is one for each child in the class. Children are not allowed to exchange gifts at school.

DISCIPLINE

We believe praise and positive reinforcement are the most effective methods of behavior management for children. When children receive positive, nonviolent, and understanding interactions from adults and others, they develop good self-concepts, problem solving abilities, and self-discipline. Based on this belief, 3Circle Mom’s Day Out uses a positive approach to discipline, and practices the following discipline and behavior management techniques.

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●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●

Communicate to children using positive statements.

Communicate with children on their level.

Talk with children in a calm quiet manner.

Explain unacceptable behavior to children.

Give attention to children for positive behavior.

Praise and encourage the children.

Reason with and set limits for the children.

Apply rules consistently.

Model appropriate behavior.

Set up the classroom environment to prevent problems.

Provide alternatives and redirect children to acceptable activity.

Give children opportunities to make choices and solve problems.

Help children talk out problems and think of solutions.

Listen to children and respect the children’s needs, desires, and feelings.

Provide appropriate words to help solve conflicts.

W E D O N OT

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Inflict corporal punishment in any manner upon a child.

Use any strategy that hurts, shames, or belittles a child.

Use any strategy that threatens, intimidates, or forces a child.

Use or withhold physical activity as a punishment.

Shame or punish a child if a bathroom accident occurs.

Embarrass any child in front of others.

Compare children.

Leave any child alone, unattended, or without supervision.

Allow discipline of a child by other children.

Criticize, make fun of, or otherwise belittle a child’s parents, families, or ethnic groups.

Conferences will be scheduled with parents if particular disciplinary problems occur. If a child’s behavior consistently endangers the safety of the children around him/her, then the Director has the right, after meeting with the parents and documenting behavior problems and interventions, to terminate child care services for that particular child.

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ILLNESSES

The following guidelines and policies have been developed in an effort to help keep the children and staff at 3Circle MDO healthy. If your child shows any of the symptoms below, you will be called and asked to come and get your child.

We expect parents to respond promptly in order to protect the other children. ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●

Fever of 100° or higher Severe coughing Recurring vomiting or diarrhea Pink eye (tears, redness of eyelid lining, followed by swelling and discharge of pus) Unusual spot or rashes Headache and stiff neck Sore throat Any parasitic infection (lice, scabies, etc.)

If a child has any of the above symptoms at home, we ask that you keep him/her out of preschool until the following conditions have been met: ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●

Absence of fever for 24 hours Diarrhea and vomiting has subsided for 24 hours Antibiotics for 24 hours for bacterial infections Physician has approved readmission Lice are under treatment, and NO NITS are present on hair Pink eye had diminished and been treated to the point that the eyes are no longer discharging The child has completed the contagious stage

It is important that we all work together to keep all of the children and staff at 3Circle MDO as healthy and safe as possible. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

If parents cannot be reached and a child needs immediate medical attention, the paramedics will transport the child to Thomas Hospital. Every child must have a signed medical authorization form on file.

M E D I C AT I O N

3Circle MDO does not administer medication unless it is for a lifethreatening condition such as asthma or severe allergies. A signed and dated authorization form must be completed and medication must be in the original container.

SAFETY

All teachers have been trained in emergency situations such as fire, tornado, and unsafe visitors. Protocols are in place and will be implemented should an emergency arise.

C H I L D A B U S E A N D N E G L E CT

We value family unity, however if a time arrives where upon any symptoms of suspected child abuse or neglect by a staff member or parent/guardian are brought to our attention, we are required by law to report it to the Baldwin County Department of Social Services.

Any questions or concerns, please call or email Salena Blanton, Fairhope Campus MDO Director 251.378.9297 or salena@3circlechurch.com

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