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CHILDREN...OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE. KEEPING THEM SAFE IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
The People's Choice Award for best daycare in the Arkansas Valley for the years 2001,2003,2004,2005,2006
POLICY AND TUITION AGREEMENT


AGES
Infant Room	(6 weeks – 12 months)
Toddler Room I	(12 – 24 months; must be walking independently)
Toddler Room II	(24 – 40 months)
Preschool I		(2 ½ years – 3 years; must be potty trained)
Preschool II	(4 – 6 years before attending kindergarten)
School Age		(5 – 12 years or any child attending school)

TUITION
$18.00 per day	(5:00 hours or more) ages 6 weeks – 2 years
$10.00 per part time day (2:01 – 4:59 hours) ages 6 weeks – 2 years
$17.00 per day	(5:00 hours or more) ages 2 years and up
$10.00 per part time day (2:01 – 4:59 hours) ages 2 years and up
$ 3.50 per hour    (2:00 hours or less) all ages

DROP-IN TUITION
$22.00 per day	(5:00 hours or more) all ages
$12.00 part time day (2:01 – 4:59 hours) all ages 

PRESCHOOL TUITION
$12.50 per session (4:30 hours)
$19.50 per session plus daycare (4:30 hours plus any daycare)

BILLING AND CHARGES
A non-refundable registration fee of $25.00 is due at the time of enrollment. A space may be reserved by paying this fee in advance.  
A non-refundable yearly activity fee of $30.00 per family is due June 1st of every year.  All parent fees for the Department of Human Services will be due by the 15th of each month.  Anyone whose parent fee is delinquent will be reported to the Otero County Department of Human Services.  If your child’s absences exceed the approved three day absent credits allowed by the Otero County Department of Human Services, the Center will charge the parent for the excessive absences based on the daily tuition rates.  It will be the parent’s responsibility to pay the Center this amount in addition to the monthly parent fee.  Parents will be charged $25.00 for all returned checks.  Two returned checks will result in an account being placed on a cash only basis.  Any account with tuition past due 90 days or more will be given a two-week notice of disenrollment.  If the overdue balance is not paid within two weeks, attendance will be suspended until the account is brought current.   All past due balances will be charged interest at the rate of 18% per annum.  Should a child be left at the Center beyond operation hours, the parent will be charged $1.00 for each minute the parent is late, payable within 24 hours.  Every attempt will be made to contact a parent/guardian if a child is not picked up by 6:10 p.m.  
 
The Department of Human Services will be notified if a child has not been picked up by 6:45 p.m.  If a parent needs additional time, on an emergency basis, prior arrangements must be made with the Director. 

COLLECTIONS POLICY
If an account should become delinquent over a period of 90 days, the Center policy is to disenroll the child and immediately commence collection procedures including Small Claims Court.  The Center is a non-profit organization and our goal is to provide quality care, nutritious meals and qualified staff for children.  Without responsible parents who pay their bill in a timely manner, we cannot provide these essential elements for the children.  This policy is to protect the children who are attending and the staff members who dedicate their time and energy to the children.  

PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION 
All children are to be registered at First Impressions Learning Center. Registration and enrollment shall be granted without discrimination in regard to sex, color, race, religious or political belief.  To enroll, a parent will be required to fill out an enrollment packet containing information about the child, parent or guardians, schedule and emergency contact numbers.  A parent will be required to sign a Slot Contract Agreement.  The slot contract will remain in effect until a Contract Withdrawal Form is submitted or a new contract is completed. Weekly billing will continue until the date the withdrawal request is signed and submitted to the Director.  An emergency permission slip must be signed at the time attendance begins.  In accordance with the Colorado Department of Human Services Licensing and Regulations for Child Care Services, the Center must obtain health information for each child enrolling at the time of admission.  A copy of the child’s current immunization card must be on file at the start of attendance.  A new copy of the shot record should be filed with the Center immediately after a child has been given new immunizations.  A physical is required within 30 days of enrollment.  Subsequent physical reports must be submitted annually for every child under the age of seven years and every three years for children seven years or older.  It is the parents’ responsibility to keep their child’s file complete with current information. 

CENTER SCHEDULE
 
The Center is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.  It is closed for the following six holidays: New Year’s Day (one day), Memorial Day (one day), Independence Day (one day), Labor Day (one day), Thanksgiving (two days), and Christmas Day (two days).

CENTER CLOSING PROCEDURE
As classroom sizes dwindle, children are combined with correct staff-to-child ratio.  When the last child is gone, the “closer” inspects the Center, secures the doors and windows, turns off the lights and rechecks all the classrooms and bathrooms to ensure that no child is left in the Center.

VACATION/SICK POLICY
Each child enrolled full time is given 10 “grace” days in a one-year period (January-December).  “Grace” days are days a child may be absent without being charged.  These days may be used one at a time or all at once.  The grace days will be renewed each year in January.  These days will be prorated if the enrollment begins after January 1st and prorated based on average attendance if the child is not on a full time contract.  Any remaining grace days will not be carried over to the next year.

SECURITY SYSTEM
The Center is equipped with a numeric control security door which limits access to the children.  The door may only be opened with a designated security code.  Each family will be provided with a specific code.

  

VISITORS TO THE CENTER
Any visitor wishing to observe any area must have prior approval from the Director.  All visitors are required to report to the office or a staff member and sign the visitor log.  PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO VISIT AT ANY TIME AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.

MEDICAL 
When some minor and all serious accidents (i.e. head injuries, cuts that require more than a bandage or the child complains of constant pain) occur, the parent / guardian will be notified so he may evaluate whether to take the child home or not.  While waiting, staff will make the child as comfortable as possible in an appropriate area.  At all times when an accident has occurred, an accident report will be written and the original will be given to the parent/guardian and a copy will be placed in the child’s file.  If a child’s name is highlighted on the sign-in sheet, this means there is an accident report from that day. A parent should ask the child’s teacher for it, if it is not received with the other paperwork for the day.  In order to protect all children enrolled in the center, a child must be kept home if he/she exhibits any of the following symptoms:

•	An oral temperature over 100 degrees
•	Intestinal disturbances accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting
•	Any undiagnosed rash
 
•	Sore or discharging eyes or ears
•	Profuse nasal discharge
 
If a child develops any of the above symptoms, we will isolate him/her and call to ask the parent to take him/her home.  Should a child require medication, our med-certified staff can administer a prescription medicine provided that it is in the original container with the child’s name and dosage information on the bottle.  The administration sheet must be signed by both the parent and the prescribing physician.  Medication will be stored according to pharmacy directions in sealed containers.  When a child has been hospitalized, he/she may not return to the center until a minimum of 24 hours has passed since he/she was discharged from the hospital.  This allows the child to adjust to changes and medication prior to 
re-entry into the system.  If a child has been diagnosed with a contagious disease, he/she may not return until the Center has received a signed release from the doctor.  The Director is required to report any and all communicable diseases to the Otero County Health 
Department.  A sign will be posted on the door to make parents aware of this medical development.

EMERGENCIES
In case of an emergency, parents will be notified immediately.  If parents are unavailable, the physician, dentist or medical facility indicated on the enrollment forms will be notified, if necessary.  If these cannot be contacted, the Center’s Doctor, or Dentist will be called.  The child will be transported to the hospital or doctor’s office only in an ambulance.  PLEASE KEEP ALL EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS CURRENT WITH THE CENTER AT ALL TIMES.  All emergency telephone numbers are posted beside each phone in the center.

PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL SERVICES
Parents are responsible for all medical/dental cost including transportation to a medical facility due to an accident or illness that occurred while the child is in the care of First Impressions Learning Center.

CHANGE OF CLOTHING
It is a good idea to keep a change of clothing at the Center for your child.  Please provide a complete change with your child’s name clearly visible on it.  If it is necessary to use a change of clothing from the Center, please launder it and return it to the Center the following day.
 
 
TOILET TRAINING
Diapers and wipes will be maintained by parents.  In the event the Center must supply these, the parent will be required to replace them. In accordance with the Colorado State Health Rules and Regulations, the diaper changes will be done on an individual basis as determined by parents and staff.  Toilet training cannot be attempted before the age of eighteen months.  Toilet training must be successful by age three years and six months in order for a child to be included in the Pre-K classes.


FOOD 
The Center will meet the nutritional needs for the children able to eat the age appropriate food that we provide.  We will provide breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.  MEALS WILL NOT BE HELD FOR ANY CHILD PAST THE SCHEDULED TIME.  If a child has any food allergies it is required that a “Special Diet Statement” be completed bi-annually by a physician, a physician’s assistant or the health department.  

REST PERIODS
We provide a quiet time in the Center for all children.  The Colorado State Department of Human Services requires that all children under the age of seven who are present at the Center four hours or more must be rested.  The Center rest time is from 11:30 a.m. until 
2:00 p.m. All children present at that time will be rested.

HOLIDAYS, PARTIES & FIELD TRIPS
 
Children are allowed to celebrate birthdays with their child center friends.  Parents are requested to notify the teacher one week ahead of time if they wish to provide a birthday party or activity.  Otero County Health Department Regulations do not allow food items to be brought into the Center.  However, parents may order and prepay for cupcakes or a cake and the Center will make arrangements to pick them up. Field trips and special activities will be scheduled and parents will be notified of the schedule.  Only Pre-School and School Age children will be allowed to attend field trips away from the Center. Transportation will be provided by the La Junta City Transit in accordance with its rules and regulations for seating supervision and emergencies.  All children participating must have a permission form on file as well as individual slips for the specified trip.  Children arriving after their class has left on a field trip will be included in the next age appropriate class.  Holidays celebrated at the Center are: Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, May Day, Cinco De Mayo, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, as well as several multicultural holidays throughout the year.  If a parent does not want a child to participate in any of these celebrations, the parent must notify the child’s teacher.  A parent will be responsible for picking a child up before the activities begin. 

LOST CHILD PROCEDURE
Should a child become lost from the group, the Staff will search the area and parents will be notified.  The proper authorities will be notified as well.

FIRE AND TORNADO DRILLS
Practice drills are done monthly to teach children to respond to fire and tornado warnings appropriately.  The procedure for a fire evacuation at the Center is as follows: At the first sound of the fire alarm, teachers will assemble their classes and proceed in an orderly fashion to the exit door nearest to their room.  They will then proceed to the fence on the west side of the Center and await the “all clear” signal given by the Director.  In the event of tornado alert, the staff members receiving the warning will blow the whistle which hangs at each phone.  All classes will proceed in an orderly fashion to the Director’s office.  They will wait there until the Center receives the “all clear” signal from the Otero County Sheriff’s Department.  The escape routes for individual classes are posted in each classroom.   

VIDEO USE
Videos are used in conjunction with the curriculum to enhance the learning experience.  The School Age children will only be allowed to watch appropriate PG rated movies with a permission form on file signed by the parent.

CLOSURES 
All closures to due to weather or other unforeseeable circumstances will be announced on the local radio station (KBZZ 1400) and the local television station (channel 9 La Junta).  A good rule of thumb is: if the highway is open, the Center is open.

CHILD RELEASE
 
Each parent will complete a form at registration which includes persons allowed to pick up the child.  The Center will not release any child to an individual not on the approved list UNLESS the parent has notified the Center in advance.  An authorization form is available for release of a child to an individual not already on the child’s list.  The Director or a staff member will remove a child from any unauthorized adult and immediately call a parent and/or law enforcement officer.  Because things change within the family structure, we request that a parent complete an authorization form for anyone not frequently associated with the Center, even though he/she may be on the approved list.  Picture identification is required and will be checked to ensure security and protection of each child.

SIGNING A CHILD IN AND OUT
It is important to sign a child in and out on the sign in/out sheets provided in the child’s individual classrooms.  Each parent should print legibly and sign his/her first and last name. The State Licensing Department requires a signature on the sign in/out sheets to verify that the child was in attendance.  The sign in/out sheets are used in case of emergency to ensure that all children present are accounted for and also for billing purposes. If a child is not signed in or out the parent will be charged for a full day. The State Licensing Department requires this procedure for security purposes.  If a child is not signed in, the Center WILL NOT accept responsibility for the child.

DISCIPLINE
The Center uses 1) refocusing and 2) time out.  If a child is more aggressive, a discipline plan will be worked out with the parents and staff.  NO PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT IS ALLOWED.

SUNSCREENS
If a parent wishes to have sunscreen applied to a child before he/she goes out, a parent must: 1) provide the sunscreen to the Center with the child’s name clearly printed on the bottle. 2) sign a release with instructions for application of the sunscreen clearly noted.  In excessively hot weather, children will not be allowed to go outside.  In that event, the teachers will provide indoor play activities, play centers and active play time on the inside play equipment.

PERSONAL PROPERTY
 
The Center cannot assume responsibility for lost or damaged possessions brought to the Center.  Parents are asked to have children leave all toys at home.  It is difficult to prevent damage or loss of the very personal items.  EXCEPTIONS: Specific Show and Tell items and security items.  These will be kept in cubbies except during nap time and Show and Tell time.  Parents are asked not to allow children to bring money to the Center.  Parents should take child’s individual art work and projects home daily to avoid clutter in the hallway and cubbies.  Center staff will not be responsible for delivering items left at the Center beyond hours of operation.  Any art or paperwork left after closing on Fridays will be disposed of.

INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION
Parents need to be aware of things happening within the Center.  The staff utilizes four methods to ensure that parents are provided with the information needed (i.e. parties, events, field trips, exposure to infectious diseases).  These methods are:

1.  Verbal Notice
2.  Notes handed to the parents
3.  Notes attached to your weekly statements
4.  Notes posted around the Center

Please be aware of these so that the child will not miss out on any activities.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Services are available for special needs children if the staff and parents determine that the available facility and services are appropriate.

PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent conferences are not regularly scheduled.  The staff will try to let parents know on a daily basis how a child is doing.  A parent should feel free at any time to schedule a conference with a child’s teacher if the parent feels it is needed.  The Director may or may not attend at parent’s request. A parent may also schedule a meeting with the Director at any time.

SUSPECTED ABUSE
 
The law requires that First Impressions Learning Center Staff to report any suspected abuse or neglect.  Any staff member will report such concerns directly to the Otero County Department of Human Services or local authorities.  Our Center policy is that these concerns will be shared with the administrator and be reported in timely fashion.


TERMINATION
A child may be terminated from the First Impressions Learning Center for the following reasons:
1) Failure to pay for child care services.
2) Failure to provide required information, i.e.: immunization record,        physical form, CACFP form, and any updated registration forms.
3) Termination by Department of Human Services for failure to pay         parental fee.
4) Disruptive behavior that cannot be corrected through the Center’s      discipline policy.

COMMUNICATION
We encourage all parents to communicate with a child’s teacher and or the Director.  We appreciate parental input concerning your child and/or the Center.  The Director will be available upon request by a parent at any time.
    
FIRST IMPRESSIONS LEARNING CENTER WEBSITE
First Impressions Learning Center maintains a website.  Feel free to visit www.FIRSTIMPRESSIONSDAYCARE.COM to obtain information concerning the Center.  

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
First Impressions Learning Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military/veteran status, physical ability or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.  The First Impressions Learning Center complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Related Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 and all civil laws of the State of Colorado.  Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment and admission shall be extended to all persons.

COMPLAINTS
To file a complaint contact the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, 1575 Sherman Street, Denver Colorado 80203, or call 1-800-799-5876 or 303-866-5958.  For concerns regarding child abuse call Otero County Department of Human Services at (719) 383-3100.
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