Policy Statement

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Effective September 1, 2018

 

Terms of Day Care Service

1. We do arts and crafts and some kindergarten-prep skills such as colors, letters, etc. We sing songs and play games. They are also allowed plenty of free time to play with toys and socialize with their peers. At this age, a lot of learning occurs in the children's interactions with each other. We enjoy spending time outdoors in the fenced yard or at Washington & LaPrele Parks on warmer days. When we have a qualifying child, a teacher from Basic Beginnings comes for an hour once a week during the school year to supplement our learning with stories, learning activities, & songs.

 

2.  I will be closed on the following holidays/vacations:

• Labor Day

• Thanksgiving and the following Friday

• Christmas week

• New Year’s Day

• Memorial Day

• One week in the summer

• July 4th

• 3 sick/personal days - used only if necessary

 

3. If I am sick, or an emergency arises, I will give as much notice as possible. The facility must be closed when the provider is sick. I’ve only had to close 5 days in 21 years due to illness.

 

Tuition

$700 per month over 1 year old    

$750 per month under 1 year old        

$140 after-school care (3:15 – 5:30) If earlier, it would be a little more

$37 per day drop-ins and school closures, $39 for under 2 years old

 

1.  You are charged this fixed rate, whether your child is present or not. This includes your vacations, sick days, maternity leave, visiting relatives, etc. You are paying for the position, not for the days used. This rate is figured with a week at Christmas, a week in the summer and 3 sick/personal days to be closed at no charge to you. Teachers and students are not required to pay during summer break, but spring break and Christmas break are charged.

 

2. Receipt of payment for a month is considered a contract to fulfill the month of child care.  There will be no refunds if the child does not complete the month paid for. 

 

3. A non-refundable deposit in the amount of the two week’s payment is due to hold your child’s slot. It will be used for your child’s first two weeks or toward your share for the month if you have DFS assistance. The remainder of the month’s payment is due on your child’s first day. 

 

Payment Procedures

1. Payment is due by 5:30 p.m. on the 1st of the month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, it will be due the previous Friday. The deposit will not be made until the 1st. All payments will be made in advance of care.  If payment is not received by the first of the month in advance of care, late fees of $5 per day will be added. 

 

2. The parents’ share of DFS payments is due on the first of the month. You are responsible for the difference between your contracted tuition and what DFS pays. If your child is absent, you will pay the full charge for that day since DFS won’t pay for days the child is not in my care. The difference between my rate and the amount DFS pays for each absent day will be added to the next month’s bill.

 

Late Fees/NSF Checks

1. There is a $1.00 per minute late fee after 5:30pm. 

 

2. Any checks that are returned “NSF” or “account closed” are sent by my bank directly to CrediCheck to collect on. Once a bad check is cashed by me, the problem is out of my hands and in the hands of this collection agency.

 

Items Provided by Parents:

• Extra set of clothes, including underwear & socks

• Diapers and wipes, ointment. (Please bring these in their original packages to help keep the supply area organized) 

• Sunblock

Under 1 year old:

• 1 - 2 bottles or a bottle & liners. 

• Formula or Breast milk (this should be in bags that are easy to warm and transfer to bottles, and needs to be labeled with the date the milk was expressed).

   

I am not responsible for toys, hair accessories, or jewelry brought to daycare by the children.  Understand that these items may get lost or broken. When anything is brought from home all the kids want to play with it. Please discourage your child from bringing toys from home.

 

Potty Training

In my experience, the best and fastest way to do it is to let the child run around naked from the waist down as long as they are ready to start training. If you plan to use this method, please send your child in a dress or long shirt for modesty's sake. Please choose a time when you have several days to begin the process at home and you can put all your focus into training. Pull-Ups are usually viewed as a diaper and don’t work very well, so I’m willing to let your child be without a diaper as long as they’ve had some progress at home. Pull-ups are great for naptime, however.

 

Emergency/Medical

1. Your child must be up-to-date on his/her immunizations and a record of all immunizations must be on file at the day care facility. When new immunizations are given, the record must be updated. 

  

2. In accordance with the state regulations for licensed day cares, a child must be excused from care if he/she has any of the illnesses/symptoms listed below. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, they must be picked up immediately:

• Fever of 102 degrees;

• Strep throat-your child may attend after 24 hours of treatment;

• Diarrhea;

• Severe pain or discomfort;

• Two or more episodes of acute vomiting within a period of 24 hours;

• Difficult or rapid breathing;

• Yellowish eyes or skin;

• Sore throat with a fever over 102 degrees or severe coughing;

• Untreated head lice;

• Untreated scabies;

• Children suspected of being contagious of chicken pox, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, or diphtheria.

 

Your child may be allowed into care if he/she is under the care of a physician, and the physician has approved in writing their return to day care for the following symptoms: 

Skin rashes, excluding diaper rash, lasting more than one day; Swollen joints or visibly enlarged lymph nodes; Elevated oral temperature of 102 degrees F or over; or blood in urine.

 

3. I am certified in first aid and Child & Infant CPR and will do my best to administer such care when needed. If an emergency arises, 911 will be called, followed by a call to a parent or to your emergency contacts if you cannot be reached.  If the E.M.T.s deem it necessary to transport the child to the hospital, you should call the emergency room before you leave to give verbal authorization for medical treatment. All costs arising from such an emergency will be the responsibility of the parent. 

 

4. Bringing a sick child to day care could lead to the provider getting sick, resulting in the closure of the day care for at least one day. This causes problems for all the parents and children, not to mention exposing the other children and their families to the illness.

 

Discipline

   I believe in positive reinforcement. I try to reward children for correct behavior. Methods of guidance include discussion, logical and natural consequences, redirection, substitution, and role modeling.  The child may be required to sit away from the activity for a short period of time if he/she needs to calm down. If need be, a conference may be required to discuss ongoing problems. Changes in a child's life may affect his or her behavior. I ask that you inform me of any major changes, i.e. divorce, death, moving, unemployment, etc. We are all a team working together for the good of your child. The child will flourish if the provider and parents keep communication ongoing.

 

Meals   

1. A morning snack will be provided at 8:45 a.m., lunch at 11:30 a.m., and an afternoon snack at 3p.m. If your child misses our scheduled meal or snack, please have your child fed when they arrive. Karena’s Korner is enrolled in the Wildwood CACFP program, so all meals provided follow their required guidelines and are accepted by the USDA food program.

 

2. Please have your child eat or bring breakfast. The first meal provided is at 8:45am. 

 

3. Infants are fed on demand. Please have infants fed and in a clean diaper upon arrival. 

 

4. Any special dietary needs, such as soy milk, vegetarian foods, or organic foods must be provided by the parent. I am required to serve meat or a meat substitute for lunch.

 

5. Any food allergies or other allergies must be documented and brought to me. I will not be held responsible for an allergic reaction if I do not have this document.

 

6. No gum or hard candy is allowed. If your child brings a snack or treat, be sure they have enough to share with everyone.

 

7. If you want to bring cookies, favors, etc. for your child’s birthday, you are welcome to. You may also provide a treat or party favors for the kids for holiday parties.

 

Damages

   If your child breaks or damages an item by using it in a manner that it is not intended, you are responsible for the replacement cost of that item.

 

Communication

   Please feel free to speak to me about concerns, questions, or suggestions in the care of your child. We are working together to make his/her day care experience a positive one. If you need me to know something immediately, the best way is via my land line. You can also text me through my Kindle. I only have my cell phone close by when we leave the house and I only check e-mails before kids arrive & nap time. I only check my Facebook when I’m posting photos, so if you message me on FB it may be days or weeks before I respond.

 

Termination of Care

1. Any child with a behavior problem that affects the welfare or happiness of the other children will be excluded from care permanently at my discretion. 

 

2. Receipt of payment for a month is considered a contract to fulfill the month of child care.  There will be no refunds if the child does not complete the month paid for. Parents must give at least two weeks’ written notice before termination of care.    

 

3. If your child is absent for two weeks without advance notice and there has been no attempt to contact me about your child’s return, your contract will be considered terminated.

 

4. Any supplies left for two weeks after the last day of your child’s care become property of Karena’s Korner.

 

5. Any violation of any part of this Policies and State Regulations Statement and/or the contract gives just cause for termination.

 

Complaint Procedures Michelle Tucker at Child Care Licensing (307)777-5151.

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Evacuation

For any evacuation that requires not reentering the facility, we will go to the neighbor’s house that is directly south of the facility at 2024 Sheridan St. owned by Scott and Teasha Crawford, referred to as evac site.  You will also be texted or called letting you know of the evacuation and instructions on reunification with your child.

 

Fire at facility – Evacuate out nearest exit to our on-site meeting place. Wait for emergency personnel and follow their instructions. Move to evac site.

 

Blizzard – We, in Laramie, are accustomed to severe snow storms so there is no need for immediate pick-up of children. However, please come directly to pick up your child as soon as you leave work or school for the day, but please use good judgment in deciding whether to remain at work or to leave early.

 

Tornado – We will evacuate to the basement until the danger has passed.

 

Suspicious Person – If we are outside when a suspicious individual is sighted, we will go inside, call 911 and lock all doors and windows.

 

Chemical spill or gas leak nearby – We will implement a shelter-in-place plan that includes turning off air coming into the facility from outside and sealing all windows and doors to the playroom with plastic.

 

Emergency Evacuation out of Neighborhood – If there is a warning issued about leaving the neighborhood immediately, there will probably be no choice but to put all the children in a vehicle and head to safety. Some relocation destinations, depending on how far away evacuation needs to be, are:

            Beitel Elementary

            My parents’ apartment at 1251 N. 21st St #D30

            Walmart

            Rest area on I-80

 

If there is time to wait for parents to pick up children, I will definitely wait if at all possible.