FPC Day School Parent Handbook

DALLAS FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEVELOPMENTAL DAY SCHOOL PARENT HANDBOOK

1835 YOUNG STREET

DALLAS, TEXAS 75201 214-653-1390 (Ph) 214-382-5880 (Fax) www.fpcdallas.org/dayschool

Cynthia Grady, Executive Director CynthiaG@fpcdayschool.org

Meet Our Team

Dear Parents

We are happy that you and your family have chosen to become part of the Dallas First Presbyterian Developmental Day School (Day School) family. We will do all we can to make this program year school year a pleasant experience for everyone. Should you have questions or concerns, please get in touch with us. Our contact information is included on this page.

Cynthia Grady, Executive Director cynthiag@fpcdayschool.org

Yolanda Williams, Asst. Director, Dir. of Curriculum and Instruction yolandaw@fpcdayschool.org

Connie Thompson, Quality and Compliance Manager conniet@fpcdayschool.org

Cynthia Plummer, Office Manager cynthiap@fpcdayschool.org

As a faith-based program, the Day School is governed by a Board of Trustees elected by Session of the Dallas First Presbyterian Church. The FPC Day School is committed to providing highquality, inclusive educational experiences for all. Your children will experience a sense of belonging, being, and becoming as they engage in play-based and project-based learning experiences.

We endeavor to work in partnership with our families as we recognize that you are your child's first and most influential educator. Our early childhood professionals lead our outstanding program in partnership with each family.

VISION, MISSION, AND PHILOSOPHY

In the heart of the city, The FPC Day School, an outreach ministry of the Dallas First Presbyterian Church, is providing quality early learning from infancy through the primary years.

Our Vision is to be a highly sought-after early childhood program that reflects the diversity of our city and adds value to the lives of those with whom we are in community.

Our Mission is to educate children by nurturing intelligence, physical growth, social skills, and spiritual well-being.

Our Philosophy is to extend and enrich the early learning experiences of our students by utilizing evidence-based and effective teaching practices. This extension allows our program to holistically cultivate and honor diverse perspectives as we consider the abilities of the whole child, remain trauma-sensitive, and nurture the individualized needs of students from birth through elementary. Undergirded by our faith and love for God, we provide our students with opportunities to maximize their potential and develop a foundation for future success in learning as they discover Christian values.

The Dallas First Presbyterian Developmental Day School is an equal opportunity organization

and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or national origin in the administration of its programs, policies, and procedures.

GENERAL INFORMATION

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

1. Prepare your child for the beginning of school by talking happily about school. If your child has never been left before, explain that they are going to school to play and learn with other children and that you will return on time to take him home.

2. Bring your child to their class by 9:00 a.m. each day. Punctuality is essential. Children can be picked up only by parents or persons designated in our Procare app by parents.

3. A current lesson plan for the week is posted on the bulletin board outside your child's room (and shared in our Procare app for Infant and Toddler classrooms).

4. Please dress your child in playfully washable clothing. This allows your child more freedom in playing outside and exploring messy indoor play as a valuable part of your child's learning process. Please label all outdoor clothing, bags, bottles, and containers with your child’s first and last name.

5. Please get to know your child's teachers. Good rapport between parent and teacher helps your child to develop secure attachments with their caregiver. It also creates more interest in school on the child's part.

6. School staff are responsible for students when the teacher receives a child into a classroom until the student is released in the afternoon. Please share pedestrian safety tips with your child and monitor them in the parking lot and school hallways.

7. You may celebrate your child's birthday at school. We strongly prefer healthy store-bought items. Parents wishing to bring treats to celebrate a child's birthday must notify the Office Manager one week in advance so we can post the items on the menu. If snacks are brought without notice, we will send them home since we cannot serve them. This policy is to comply with licensing regulations.

For the health and safety of the children, candles, balloons, or favors with small parts or favors that are easily broken may not be brought into the facility. Also, please do not send any food items to school with your child that contain nuts or nut butters.

8. Opportunities for parents to help with snacks, parties, or special Day School activities are provided in each class by parent volunteers.

9. Join our Parent Association and support the FPC Day School.

Welcome

TO THE FPC DAY SCHOOL

We are so happy to have you! On behalf of the FPC Parent Association, we are excited to tell you more about our community and help make the transition as seamless as possible.

The Parent Association strives to stay in regular touch with the FPC community and create engaging programming for parents and students while advocating for the needs and priorities of our families. We also help facilitate an open dialogue among parents, staff, and the board.

In your first few days at FPC, you should receive a welcome email from your classroom’s Room Parent. Your Room Parent can help navigate any questions, provide updates on classroom changes and school news, and organize holiday celebrations and teacher milestones.

Please reach out to any member of the PA with questions or concerns or if you’re interested in getting involved. We can’t wait to meet you!

Marisa Tindell, 2022-2023

FPC Parent Association President marisatindell@gmail.com

ADDRESSING CONCERNS

While we hope there is never an issue with your child, if a concern should arise, please feel free to bring it to the lead teacher’s attention. The FPC Day School believes most of these situations can be handled at the classroom level. All issues are handled confidentially, but the lead teacher will bring the matter to the Assistant Director or Director’s attention if necessary. Occasionally, some situations require a conference with a child’s parents or guardians. We will work together to schedule these events at the most convenient time. The FPC Day School believes an open parent/teacher/administrator partnership is vital.

Therefore, please know each is addressed confidentially when issues are brought forward. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. We aim to resolve all your concerns promptly so your child can have the best educational experience possible.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All personal and medical information will remain confidential and not be given to other parents. Only parents' email addresses will be given to the Parent's Association so they can send emails regarding events, volunteer opportunities, etc. If you want to keep your email address private from the Parent's Association, please provide written notification to the Office Manager. Additionally, each child's assessments and portfolios will be kept confidential and not released without written consent from the parent(s).

PHOTO RELEASE

When parents sign the Receipt and Acknowledgement of the Parent Handbook Form, they are giving the Day School authorization to use pictures or photographic images of their child to promote the Day School by reprinting photographs in or by providing copies of the images for reprinting in newspapers, magazines, brochures and other publications including, but not limited to, Dallas First Presbyterian Church (DFPC) newspaper and e-news, the Day School brochure, and websites for DFPC and Day School. If you do not give permission or would like to update your preferences, please notify the Office Manager.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

 Child abuse, by definition, is an act or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical, mental, or emotional health and development. Child abuse may take the form of physical or emotional injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, physical neglect, medical neglect, or inadequate supervision.

 Texas law requires that any person suspecting that a child has been abused or neglected MUST immediately make a report. Therefore, if child abuse is suspected, the teacher and teacher assistant must report it to the Director.

 Day School employees are required to obey that law and report any suspected abuse or neglect. Day School employees will also inform the Executive Director or Assistant Director of suspected abuse or neglect. The Director will call the Child Abuse Hot Line at 1-800-252-5400 to report.

 All Day School employees receive annual training regarding child abuse recognition, prevention, and reporting. To contact the Department of Family and Protective Services, call (214) 951-7902 for a local area office.

GANG FREE ZONE

Under the Texas Penal Code, any area within 1000 feet of a school is a gang-free zone, where criminal offenses related to organized illegal activity are subject to harsher penalties. Accordingly, the Day School is a Gang Free Zone.

All other policies are contained within the Parent Handbook and are considered agreed to when the parents sign the Receipt and Acknowledgement of the Parent Handbook Form, including the agreement to pay all tuition and fees.

OUR SCHOOL CALENDAR (also available on

our website):

The 2022-23 school year will operate from August 15 to May 26. Most Holidays, staff development days, and inclement weather days will be aligned in accordance with the Dallas Independent School District.

First day of class

August 15

Labor Day Holiday September 4

Thanksgiving November 23-24th

Christmas (and the day after)

December 25-27th

New Year's Day January 2

Martin Luther King Jr Holiday

Presidents Day

Staff Professional Development

January 16

February 20

March 13-17th

Easter Monday, April 10

Last Day of School (PreK 3, PreK 4, K-2)

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Summer Camp

May 26th

June 19

July 4

May 29 – August 11th

Note: On the Day before a major holiday, the Day school will close at noon. Those dates are:

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve

REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT PROCESSES

Welcome to our program!

We hope you will find this parent handbook a helpful resource. It was put together so you could become more familiar with our program, policies, and procedures. The FPC Day School is under the supervision of the licensing requirements of the state of Texas. This department oversees our quality of services based on the Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers.

Registration takes place in February of each year for the approaching summer and fall classes. Priority is given to children of those families currently enrolled in our program during the In-House Registration period. Children ages 6 weeks through first grade are eligible for enrollment.

FPC Day School | Early Learning Classrooms

Jellyfish (Infant – 6 weeks – 6 months)

Seahorse (Infant – 6 weeks – 6 months)

Squid (Infant – 6 months – 12 months)

Guppy (Infant – 6 months – 12 months)

Angelfish (Young Toddlers – 12 - 18 months)

Dolphins (Young Toddlers – 18 - 24 months)

Starfish (Young Toddlers – 18 - 24 months)

Lions (Older Toddlers – 24 - 36 months)

Panther (Older Toddlers – 24 - 36 months)

Jaguar & Toucan/PreK 3 (3 years old on or before September 1) / School Readiness Program

Gorilla & Cheetah/PreK 4 (4 years old on or before September 1) / School Readiness Program

Graduation Ceremony

Kindergarten (5 years old on or before September 1) / Graduation

First Grade (6 years old on or before September 1) / Graduation

REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT PROCESSES

Annual Program Tuition

Each family must complete an enrollment packet and pay the $400 Enrollment fee two weeks prior to first day of school. Payment of the enrollment Fee and supply Fee (for summer camp only) holds your child’s spot at the Day School. If you later decide to not enroll your child at the Day School, withdraw your child or you are asked to leave the program, the $150 waitlist fee, or $150 supply fee is nonrefundable.

Any change in Tuition Rates or Fees will go into effect after at least a 30-day notice period. A schedule of Tuition Rates and Fees can also be found on the Day School website.

Please visit www.fpcdallas.org/dayschool.

Tuition is paid monthly via automatic withdrawal (ACH) and will be invoiced on the first working day of the month and drafted on the fifth day of the month. If you need to make other arrangements for payment, please contact the Executive Director or Assistant Director.

A family discount is given to parents paying full tuition with more than one child enrolled in the Day School. The discount is $100 per family per month beginning with the second child.

Program (4-7)

Tuition is considered late after the 5th working Day of the month. A $25 late fee per child will be assessed for any payment after the 5th working Day of the month.

Tuition is not adjusted based on a child's absences, school holidays, or closures for other reasons, including but not limited to inclement weather, gas line damage, etc.

If your child's tuition is prorated during their time at the Day School, the monthly tuition will be divided by 20 since, on average, there are 20 school days per month (5 days per week and 4 weeks per month) and then multiplied by the number of days attended.

If your child transitions from one classroom to another during the middle of the month and the new classroom has a different tuition rate, the new tuition amount will begin on the first day of the following month. No adjustments will be made mid-month if your child's new classroom's tuition rate is higher or lower.

There will be a late charge if your child is not picked up when the School closes at 6:15 pm. The fee is $25 for the first 15 minutes and an additional $15 for any portion of each 15-minute interval thereafter. If a child is picked up late three times within a 12-month period, the child may be unenrolled from the program.

There is an Annual Registration Fee of $400 per child, due by February 15 if you plan to reenroll your child in the Day School for the upcoming year. If you do not pay the Annual Registration Fee by February 15, the amount increases to $450 per child and must be paid by March 15. If the Annual Registration Fee is not paid in full by March 15th, your child is no longer guaranteed a spot for the upcoming year. Note that if your child enrolled in January or February, you only have to pay the Annual Registration Fee the following year.

When a child is withdrawn from the Day School, parents must provide thirty days (30) written notice, and the parents are financially responsible for tuition during the final thirty (30) days.

Children may be administratively withdrawn from the Day School due to the failure of parents to meet financial obligations, including the payment of tuition, late fees, and supply fees, or the failure to follow policies and procedures per the Parent Handbook.

School Readiness

The FPC Day School will support our student’s development physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively as they transition through our program.

As noted by the Texas Education Agency: “A key to developing effective practices for promoting school readiness in the early childhood classroom is the integration of research-based instructional practices, each known to be important to young children’s learning and development.

Using the key elements of developmentally appropriate practice and building a high-quality early childhood program includes:

 The use of consistent strengths-based, play-based learning experiences.

 Content that builds linguistic, cognitive, and social skills known to predict school readiness.

 Planning that takes advantage of recent brain research for memory development.

 A balance of teaching strategies and teacher-led/child-led opportunities.”

The Power of Play in School Readiness

The research behind “play” is unanimous- it benefits the development of the whole child across cognitive, communicative, social, physical, and emotional domains. In addition, play supports the formation of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships with adults and peers that children need to thrive (American Academy of Pediatrics 2018).

Adapted from the "Power of Play" issued by the Minnesota Children’s Museum (White 2012):

Play is enjoyable: brings joy to the child

Play is intrinsically motivated: no extrinsic motivated function or goal

Play is process-oriented: means are more important than the ends

Play is freely chosen: spontaneous and voluntary Play is actively engaged: physically and mentally involved Play is non-literal: involves make-believe

Play gives children the opportunity for growth in direct and indirect ways. Children learn and practice cognitive skills, executive functioning skills, language and communication skills, problem-solving skills, and selfregulation, and are able to expressive through creativity. Play also contributes to the growth in the development of fine and gross motor skills. Here are the types of play children can engage in:

 Social play (typical to PK3 and PK4)

o Solitary play (2 – 2½ years): the child plays alone

o Parallel play (2½ – 3½): children may be engaged in similar activities, but they play separately.

o Associative play (3½ – 4½): children play separately but may share, pay attention to others, and communicate with others about their play.

o Cooperative play (4½+): children are engaged in play with a common goal and work cooperatively to achieve it.

 Guided play: an adult facilitates or engages in play or intentionally sets up the environment for play (e.g., by using open-ended questions, prompts, and modeling.) (Skene et al., 2022)

 Object play: playful manipulation of objects

 Pretend play: alternate realities of the natural world (play schema)

 Physical play: locomotor or exercise play

 Media play: monitored digital play where children are able to practice a variety of skills.

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Our curriculum is implemented to provide educational experiences that support cognition, social, emotional, language, literacy acquisition, and perceptual, physical, and spiritual development in a Christian setting. FPC is committed to the academic success of all students. FPC provides services and resources to ensure teachers and administrators are equipped to prepare students for the 21st century. The goals of our curriculum & instruction are:

 To provide a tightly aligned and developmentally appropriate curriculum and effective pacing in all core content areas

 To provide quality professional development to improve instruction and maximize student learning

 To provide quality assessments to ensure appropriate pacing and to evaluate student progress

 To provide campus support through reflective supervision, individual and group coaching visits

Our students participate weekly in music and movement education. They are introduced to faith-based music and have the opportunity to explore various musical instruments. Students learn to play music, sing on pitch and express themselves through music. Students naturally develop self-confidence, empathy, and leadership skills. Students participate in annual music programs to showcase their knowledge.

Chapel & Listening Stones

Our students weekly attend chapel services and participate in developmentally appropriate spiritual growth opportunities such as stories, songs, and play. Listening Stones is one tool we implement under the direction of our children's ministry chaplain to help children put their feelings, insights, and thoughts into words. Listening Stones provide a sacred time and space to help children gather their thoughts and process emotions by selecting stones that "show" or help them communicate how they are currently feeling or about a topic of faith.

STEAM LAB

Where curiosity and playfulness are essential! In our STEAM Lab, we imagine the possibilities and foster a love of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in our early learners. We aim to inspire wonder, increase critical thinking, and stretch creativity and collaboration.

Library

The Day School is equipped with two libraries. One is located inside the Day School, and the other is upstairs near the kindergarten hall. Day School students and families can check out books for two weeks and re-check out books if there is no other request for the book. We ask that the books in our libraries be handled with love and care to ensure that all students and families can access reading material.

OPERATIONAL POLICIES

The policies may change as necessary; families will be notified of changes, and updates will supersede previous versions. Day School is open year-round, Monday through Friday, from 7:15 am – 6:15 pm (please plan to operate on a program year model aligned with the Dallas Independent School District. The Day School follows the Dallas Independent School District's inclement weather postings on campus closures. On questionable days, the Day School may also close early at the discretion of the Executive Director. Holiday closures are listed in this Parent Handbook and posted in the Day School lobby. NOTE: Snow days and severe weather days will not be made up.

ARRIVAL, DEPARTURE, AND ABSENCES

Parents may drop off and pick up their child during the hours of 7:15 am – 6:15 pm. However, our instructional programming begins at 9:00 am, and we would love to have all of our students here by this time to ensure that your child is included in our daily counts. Therefore, when your child is absent (or late) from school, parents must notify the Day School by 9 am via phone or email to the Office Manager and Assistant Director.

All parents must drop off pick-up children in their classroom or the classroom assigned for drop-off and sign the child in. A child should only be dropped off in a classroom with a teacher.

When dropping off an infant brought into the School in a car seat, the parent must remove the child from the car seat and store the car seat in the car seat storage area. Please be sure to label your car seat. Then, if the child is sleeping, they can be placed in their crib to continue sleeping.

Parents who bring strollers into the Day School must either take the stroller with them or store it in the storage area. No strollers are allowed to be left in the hallway. AUTHORIZED

Identification will be required when someone other than the parent/guardian is picking up a child, and that person must be on the authorized pick-up list in Procare. In addition, the main office must have a written note from the parent authorizing another person to pick up if the party is not on the authorized pick-up list in advance.

Only authorized individuals, who have the Authorization to Pick Up Child/Children & Release Form and a copy of their photo ID, are allowed to pick up a child. Authorized individuals must stop at the front desk and sign the child/children out each time they pick up.

MEDICAL POLICIES

Exclusion Due to Illness

Please wait 24 hours after the last time one of the following symptoms was observed in your child before sending them to school:

 Elevated temperature (100.4 degrees or higher)

 Acute cold, persistent cough, sore throat

 Vomiting, nausea, severe abdominal pain

 Repeated diarrhea

 Continuous discharge from the nose (other than clear)

 Red, inflamed, or discharging eyes (conjunctivitis)

 Acute skin rashes or eruptions, any weeping lesions, chickenpox, impetigo, or any other contagious skin infection

 Head lice, unless treatment has been completed and all nits removed

Children displaying these symptoms during the school day will be sent to the admin team to assess symptoms. Parents will be called to pick up the child from school if necessary.

Illness Policy

Suppose a child has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher. In that case, they are considered contagious, and the Assistant Director or Office Manager will call the parent to come to pick up the child immediately. Parents must pick up their child within one (1) hour of the call, or a $25 penalty will be due. Sick children are not permitted to return to the classroom. Therefore, they will remain in the front offices with an administrative team member.

If a child throws up once or has diarrhea three times, parents will be contacted, and the exclusion due to illness policy will be followed. If a child does not have a fever and is not throwing up or having diarrhea but cannot participate in daily activities due to not feeling well or exhibiting additional signs of

illness, at the discretion of the Executive Director or Assistant Director. In that case, the parents will be contacted to come to pick up the child.

Any child sent home must be symptom-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medicines (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) to return to school or must have a signed doctor's note stating the child is not contagious and may return to school.

If a child is diagnosed with a childhood disease (ex: pink eye, hand foot mouth, scabies, impetigo, chicken pox, etc.), please inform the Assistant Director immediately so we can notify other parents and take proper steps to sanitize the classroom(s).

If a child is diagnosed with a communicable disease. In that case, the child must have written medical documentation from a medical professional stating they are no longer contagious and can return to school.

When picking up or dropping off students, please do not bring sick children with you.

Administering Medications

If possible, parents should schedule times to administer medications to their children while at home. If this is not possible, a Medication Authorization Form must be filled out and signed before any medication will be administered to a child by Day School staff. The Medication Authorization Form should include the child's full name, date of birth, specific dosage information (the Day School must administer medications as stated on the label), the time medication is to be given, and instructions regarding how to administer the medication properly. All medications must be clearly marked with your child's full name and must be in the original pharmacy container with the original label. All medicines are to be kept in a locked cabinet in the Executive Director's office along with the Medication Authorization Form. Any medication that needs to be refrigerated will be kept in a sealed box in the refrigerator. Medication should not be left at the Day School longer than the date indicated on the Medication Authorization Form, and no expired medications will be administered. Additionally, medications will only be administered to the child for whom it is intended.

Over-the-counter medications will be treated in the same manner as prescription medications. A Medication Authorization Form must be completed and on file before over-the-counter medications are administered. Additionally, fever-reducing medications may not be given without a written statement from the child's physician stating the child's name, date of birth, the name of the medication, how it is to be administered, duration of treatment, and for what reason the medication is being given.

All Medication Authorization Forms are only valid for three (3) months. After three (3) months, a new Medication Authorization Form must be completed.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND ALLERGENS

If you indicate during enrollment that your child has any chronic medical conditions, you may receive a request to have a care plan meeting. This meeting will allow us to better understand your child's health history and needs, ensuring that Day School staff are adequately equipped to provide a safe learning environment.

The Day School is a peanut-free facility. If your child has a diagnosed food allergy, parents must provide an allergy action plan from the child's pediatrician with specific instructions regarding what medications to administer or steps to take in the event of exposure to an allergen or if the child exhibits signs of a reaction. Additionally, two epi-pens are required (one to be kept in a locked box in the classroom and the other to be locked in the Executive Director's office). All food allergy action plans must be updated annually and will be posted in the child's classroom.

Asthma inhalers may not be carried during the school day by students or placed in backpacks or lunch boxes. They must be kept in the office for use as needed. Asthma inhalation treatments must be administered in the Day School office.

With the exception of the Epi-pen, Day School does not permit faculty or staff to administer syringedelivered medication outside of fever-reducing medications.

The parents are responsible for providing Day School with a current Epi-pen for use as needed for their child. In addition, all Day School teachers have training in food allergies and the administration of Epipens.

Any other dietary restrictions must be made known and provided during the enrollment process in writing, one copy will be placed in the child's file and one posted in the child's classroom.

IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND STAFF

Although the Day School highly recommends that staff review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended vaccines, the Day School only requires staff to obtain a COVID vaccination. The CDC's recommendations can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-combined-schedule.pdf.

Day School requires all children enrolled at the Day School to be current on all immunizations unless a parent has a current affidavit exempting their child. Therefore, a record of each child's immunizations must be on file before the child can attend, and the record needs to be updated after each new immunization.

Anytime your child goes to the doctor and receives immunizations, please ask for an updated copy of your child's immunization record for the Day School.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES / ACCIDENTS / INCIDENTS

In a medical emergency, DFPDDS will call 911 and immediately notify parents. Teachers and staff assume no obligations or responsibilities concerning treating or handling medical emergencies.

In the case of an accident and illness, we will contact parents immediately should a child have any accidents or illness that requires medical attention. All staff are certified in adult/child/infant CPR and basic First Aid. Anytime an accident occurs, an Incident Report will be completed and given to the parent or authorized person picking up the child, who must sign the Incident Report. In critical situations, the physician named by the parent will be contacted, and we will call for an ambulance. For minor scrapes or bumps, first aid is administered by the teachers or admin team as needed. Please ensure that correct and current phone numbers for physicians and authorized representatives are always on file.

State Mandated Screenings

State-mandated screenings are conducted on Pre-Kinder, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th-grade students for vision and hearing difficulties during the school year. The Vision and Hearing Screening Program at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) works to identify children with vision and hearing disorders who attend any public, private, parochial, denominational school or a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed child care center and licensed child care home in Texas.

SECURITY AND SAFETY

Each classroom and all doors into the facility have a video camera that the Executive Director and Assistant Director can view. Unarmed security officers are also stationed near the parking garage entrance and in the Welcome Center. In addition, armed DPD and unarmed security officers patrol the campus.

No child is allowed on the Day School's property without adult supervision, which includes siblings. On stairs, we ask parents to hold their child's hand and ensure the other hand holds the rail. In the parking lot, always drive slowly and do not use cell phones. Hold your child's hand when walking from the car to the Day School, and make sure to bring all personal belongings with you. The Day School is not responsible for children when they are in the parking lot or for any items taken from your vehicle while you are on the church property.

In case of inclement weather or disaster, the Day School will either follow the decisions of DISD, Dallas First Presbyterian Church, or decide separately from DISD that it is in the best interest of the Day School. If the Day School is closed for inclement weather, a message will be sent to all parents via Procare notifying them of the school closing.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN

Fire drills are practiced monthly, while severe weather and lock-down drills are practiced quarterly. Copies of the plans are kept in each classroom. Infants and toddlers, who are not walking or do not walk well, will be evacuated in emergency cribs located in those particular classrooms. Anytime children are evacuated, sheltered, or relocated. Day School staff will have cell phones, sign-in sheets, and child emergency cards. Teachers will take roll when the evacuation, sheltering, or relocation has been completed, and then they will engage with the children through storytelling, finger play, songs, and games. At this time, teachers and administrative staff will begin contacting parents via email, text, and phone call for immediate pick-up when necessary. When picking up your child, please sign your child out with their teacher.

If the emergency requires the children to be evacuated from the Day School and church property, the relocation site is 309 Pearl Expressway. Parents can access the facility through the gated entrance off of Pearl. Parents must sign their child out with their teacher when they arrive at the relocation site.

LABELING AND CLOTHING

Everything your child brings to school must be labeled with their name or initials.

Children should come to school in appropriate, comfortable, washable play clothes since, throughout the day, children will be outside, painting, eating, and working with various art materials. Teachers and staff make every effort to keep your child's clothing clean, but we cannot guarantee that children's clothing will not get dirty. Additionally, please make sure your child is appropriately dressed per the weather.

Children who are walking need to wear closed-toe shoes to School. Shoes should fit appropriately and have non-slip soles. This is for the safety of the children.

Every child should have 2 changes of clothes in their cubby since accidents happen. When a child is potty training, 3-4 changes of clothes are recommended.

TOILET TRAINING

Any child enrolled in PreK3 and up is recommended to be fully toilet trained. Fully toilet trained means that the child is:

• able to recognize the need to use the bathroom early enough to make it to the toilet.

• able to take off and put on clothing, wipe, flush the toilet, and wash hands independently.

• not wearing pull-up diapers

DIAPER CHANGING POLICY

Signing the Receipt and Acknowledgement of the Parent Handbook Form permits Day School staff to use wipes during toileting and when diapering your child. In addition, the Day School provides fragrance-free wipes. If you do not want these items used on your child, please provide written notice to the Office Manager or Assistant Director.

If your child needs special skin creams, ointments, or lotions, including diaper creams, it is the responsibility of the parent to provide these items and ensure that all items are labeled with your child's full name. By signing the Receipt and Acknowledge of Parent Handbook Form, you are permitting Day School staff to use items supplied by a parent. If any of the items brought by a parent contains medication, a Medication Authorization Form must be completed prior to application.

OUTSIDE PLAY, SUNSCREEN, AND INSECT REPELLANT

All early learning classrooms will enjoy two supervised outdoor play times per day, weather permitting. The children will go outside at the discretion of the administrative staff, who will monitor temperatures, heat index, and wind chill. If the children cannot go outside, they will stay inside and use the inclement weather play areas. Additionally, children will not go outside to play during orange and red ozone days afternoon.

Parents are required to provide sunscreen for their child to be applied by the staff at Day School when the children are going to play outside during the months of June-August and between the hours of 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Sunscreen is to be labeled with the child's name and stored in the cabinets above their cubby. By signing the Receipt and Acknowledgement of Parent Handbook Form, you agree that sunscreen will be applied to exposed skin, including but not limited to the face, ears, nose, bare shoulders, arms, and legs. In addition, on splash days, sunscreen will also be applied to the exposed chest, stomach, and back skin. If you do not give permission, please provide written notification to the Office Manager or Assistant Director.

If parents want insect repellant applied to their child during outside play, they must provide it. The insect repellant should contain the recommended DEET levels for children, be labeled with the child's name, and be stored in the cabinets above their cubby. By signing the Receipt and Acknowledgement of Parent Handbook Form, you agree that insect repellant will be applied to your child before outside play. If you do not give permission, please provide written notification to the Office Manager or Assistant Director.

WATER ACTIVITIES

Water table activities will be available in classrooms regularly. In addition, during the warmer weather months, the Day School will offer Splash Days for Toddlers through K – 1st classes. Parents will be notified through the newsletter, email, or flyer posted in the lobby or outside the classroom regarding which days will be Splash Days. On Splash Days, children should come to the Day School in their bathing suit with sunscreen already applied and with a change of clothes and a towel.

FOOD, MILK, AND NURSING MOMS

The Day School provides family-style meals in the classroom that consist of a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, and milk to children over the age of one (whole milk for the younger children and 2% milk for the older children).

A copy of the menu will be emailed to parents every Friday and posted on the lobby bulletin board and outside each classroom door. Additionally, hard copies are available at the front desk throughout the week. Parents are permitted to take a copy of the menu and cross off any foods they do not want their child to eat. Please give the edited copy of the menu to the office manager for review and implementation.

Parents are allowed to bring outside food or milk for their children only. Parent-provided food will be placed in the refrigerator in your child's classroom or your child's locker. Note: food needs to be ready to eat as teachers cannot heat food.

Parents with children under one should bring all milk, formula, purees, etc., for their child. Appropriate methods are used when warming bottles for infants or defrosting frozen breast milk.

All food prepared and provided by the Day School meets or exceeds the nutritional requirements set by the State of Texas in the Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers. The food is prepared by FPC Catering in the Dallas First Presbyterian Church commercial kitchen. FPC Catering staff are Certified Food Handlers, along with the Day School staff in charge of serving each classroom.

A nursing room is provided for families who would like to come and feed their babies.

NAPPING

Infants – Per Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards, infants under twelve (12) months of age must sleep in a bare crib except for a tightly fitted crib sheet specifically designed for the size of the mattress in use. The Day School provides crib sheets to ensure they are following minimum standards. No plush toys, blankets, swaddles, or restrictive devices are permitted inside the crib. The only time an infant may be in a swaddle or a restrictive device is if the child's doctor writes a note to be kept on file stating it is medically necessary for the infant to be in a restrictive device or swaddled. In addition, the doctor must specify the child's name, date of birth, the reason for the restrictive device or swaddle, and how FPC Developmental Day School 21

long the child is to sleep in the restrictive device or swaddle. Pacifiers attached to stuffed animals or to the infant's clothing are not permitted at the Day School. Only a pacifier with nothing attached is allowed.

Additionally, all infants are required to sleep on their backs unless a note from the child's doctor is on file stating it is medically necessary for the child to have a different sleeping position. The doctor must specify the child's name, date of birth, the reason for an alternative sleep position, and how long the child is to be put in the alternative sleep position. Infants who are able to assume a different sleeping position on their own will be allowed to maintain that position.

Toddlers through PreK 5- Children over the age of twelve (12) months of age can sleep on a cot with a cot sheet. While napping on a cot, children are allowed to have a blanket, lovie, and/or pacifier.

GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE POLICY

Our purpose for all positive guidance with your child is to help them learn self-control, be socially responsible, and instill self-discipline. Children are more likely to develop self-discipline and control when treated with dignity and given clear, consistent, and fair limits for classroom behavior. Our teachers work with older children to help them set their own limits, recognize their actions' consequences, and understand the rationale behind rules and behavior expectations.

Our discipline and guidance policy are proactive rather than reactive. Discipline is individualized and consistent for each child, appropriate to the child's level of understanding, and directed towards teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. Positive methods of discipline and guidance used include but are not limited to the following: using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only on unacceptable behavior; reminding a child of behavior expectations; using clear and positive statements; providing the child with choices; and redirecting the behavior using positive statements.

There will be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline and guidance are prohibited: corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment; punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training; pinching, shaking, or biting a child; hitting a child with a hand or instrument; putting anything in or on a child's mouth; humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting or yelling at a child; subjecting a child to harsh, abusive or profane language; placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom or closet with the door closed; and/or requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods for the child's age.

Our teachers complete professional development in classroom management, proactive behavior management, and child development, which all contribute to creating a warm and positive learning environment where children's feelings are validated, and positive behavior is consistently encouraged.

SUSPENSION / EXPLUSION

We do not anticipate that we would ever need to exclude a child from our program since we work closely with teachers and families around any behavior issues that might arise. However, if a child consistently over time exhibits extremely aggressive behavior that endangers other children or the Day School staff, that child may be suspended for a day. If the behavior continues beyond three incidents of suspension, the child will be suspended for 3 days. Subsequent to the 3-day suspension, the child may be asked to leave the program if the behavior continues.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Parents of enrolled children are welcome. We believe a partnership with a child's parents is important to the growth and development of every child.

Parents are kept informed about their child's day through Procare, emails from the administrative staff, phone calls from the administrative staff, notes in the child's cubby, the monthly newsletter, bulletin board postings, and postings outside the classroom.

Parent conferences will be held twice a year, or more frequently upon request, to discuss your child's growth and development. We ask that you wait to visit with the teacher during the scheduled conferences rather than at drop-off or pick-up so the teacher can remain focused and engaged with the child in her classroom.

Each class will have a room parent through our parent association, which is a great way to volunteer. Other volunteer opportunities throughout the year will be announced via email and/or signup sheets at the front desk or outside your child's classroom.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

This policy outlines our program's policy and process in supporting families and children who may need additional accommodations, including home language, differing abilities, and cultural backgrounds. Parents have the right to be informed of all procedural safeguards and rights of appeal in a language easily understood by the general public and in the parent's primary language. Please notify the Assistant Director if you or your child requires accommodations, and we will ensure that we do our part to ensure your needs are met, if feasible.

Below are ways that our program will partner with families:

1. We will provide space to accommodate sessions if specific therapies are needed during the day while the child is in our care.

2. Participation in all comprehensive care meetings if needed

3. Complete supporting documentation from an authorized medical professional for any accommodations related to the child's physical or developmental needs.

4. Provide materials and resources in the parent's/child's primary language.

5. Provide opportunities for cultural inclusiveness by hosting cultural events throughout the year.

DALLAS FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEVELOPMENTAL Day School

PARENT HANDBOOK

Receipt and Acknowledgement of Parent Handbook Form

Please read the following, sign below, and turn executed Form to the Day School Office. Signing this acknowledgment is a condition of enrollment.

Understanding and Acknowledging Receipt of Parent Handbook

I have received a copy of the FPC Day School Parent Handbook, which supersedes all prior FPC Day School Parent Handbooks to date. I understand it is my responsibility to read, understand and comply with the contents of this document while my child is enrolled at the Day School. The policies in the Parent Handbook are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the Day School. However, parents will be made aware of any changes in writing (email or hard copy). Please note this is not a contract.

Reminder that the Parent Handbook contains the Day School's policies regarding sunscreen, insect repellant, diaper changing, and use of photos. If you do not give permission per those policies, please provide written notice to the Office Manager.