Attaching a copy of mine, feel free to pick and choose, I got ideas from many many different ones I looked at.

Mel

Great Adventures
Learning Academy



Your child’s path to success in the “Great Adventure” of life



Parent Handbook


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome……………………………………………………………. 3
Enrollment Procedures …………………………………….. 4
Hours of Operation
Attendance Policy
Fees & Payments ………………………………………………..5
Holidays & Vacations
Attire & Clothing
Daily Pre-School Schedule…………………………………. 6
Curriculum Overview
Discipline & Guidance ………………………………………….7
Medication Policy
Sick Children ……………………………………………………….8
Pickup/Drop Off …………………………………………………..9
Visitor Policy
Emergencies
“GO” Folder Policy
Field Trips & Transportation

Information Sheets Attached to Handbook:

“Keep me home if”
Vaccine Chart
Enrollment Form- Please Return
Child Evaluation Form- Please Return

















Welcome to Great Adventures Learning Academy!

Our Mission
“For each child that enters our care, we strive to provide the essential foundation for children to realize their full God-given potential and identity in Christ, so that they may become well-rounded, productive members of society. Through our gentle but firm” approach to learning, our goal is that all children may live life to the fullest and embrace it as a great adventure.”

Dear Parent(s):
Thank you for choosing us to help you guide your child as they enter the journey of his or her academic career. We believe that children learn best when they are able to make choices, and reap the consequences of those choices whether negative or positive. Children should be able to make these choices in a positive, loving environment with lots of positive reinforcement.

We also believe that children are a gift from God and he has given them to us on this earth so that we too may love them, encourage them, and help them grow into well-rounded, loving, and contributing members of society. We have the “JOY” Philosophy. It stands for

“Jesus first”
“Others second”
“Yourself last”

In addition to academics, we teach character building and offer ample opportunities for children to be involved in giving back to others and helping one another.

Sincerely,
Great Adventures Learning Academy












-Enrollment Procedures-

The State of Texas requires certain paperwork to be filled out and kept on file for each child who enters Pre-School. The following forms & documents must be turned in upon enrollment on or before your child’s first day:

* Child Evaluation Form
* Enrollment Form w/ Emergency Consent
* Vaccine Records


-Hours of Operation-

We are open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If your child is in Pre-School, please have him or her here by 7:45 AM so they may reap the full benefit of class. As always, private sitting will be handled as normal.

-Attendance-

Regular attendance at class is essential for your child’s growth and development. When you enter our home, please sign your child in, you will also sign your child out. If your Pre-School child is not going to make it one day, it is your responsibility of notifying me as soon as possible.










-Fees & Payments-

Enrollment Fee: $20 (This is to cover supplies & curriculum for your child)
Weekly Fee: $50 per child (includes meals and snacks)

Payment is due either Weekly, Bi-Monthly, or Monthly, depending on what your individual situation needs, this will be discussed upon enrollment. A late fee of $25 applies.

Payment Forms Accepted: Cash, Money Order, Cashier’s Check, or Debit / Credit Cards. Checks will only be accepted from clients who have paid on time for at least 3 months. A returned check fee of $30 applies, and if the check is not picked up within 5 days, it will be turned over to the District Attorney for Prosecution, and the child may be withdrawn from care.


-Holidays and Vacations-

You are allowed one week per school year (August through January) for a vacation in which you do not have to pay tuition. We will be closed on the following holidays and you will not be responsible for payment on those days:
Memorial Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

If your child misses, you are still responsible for tuition, unless you use your vacation.

-Attire and Clothing-

Please send your child to Pre-School in something that you don’t mind getting messy. A child’s play is their work, and a child’s work can be very messy at times! We love to draw on the sidewalk with chalk, paint, play in the sand, and get dirty!

Children and Parents are to remove shoes if they are coming beyond the entrance. This helps keep the environment safe for any infants we might have crawling around! Socks must be worn at all times. Each child has a cubby in which to place his or her shoes.

We are required to take the children outside every day, so please dress your child appropriate for the weather.


-Daily Schedule-

Our Daily Schedule & Routine is subject to change based upon the needs of the children present. Currently, this is our standard schedule that we use.

7:45 AM – 8:00 AM- Arrival & Get Ready for Class (Put Backpack up, take shoes off)
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM – Morning Routine (Pledges, Attendance, Daily Preview)
8:15 AM – 8:45 AM – Circle Time
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM – Morning Snack
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM – Lesson & Table Work, Small motor skills
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Music & Art
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM – Outdoor Play (Weather Permitting)
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM – Wash Hands, Get ready for Lunch
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Quiet Reading Time
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Lunch
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Bible Story & Prayer, Get ready for nap
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Nap/Rest Time
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM – Wake Up, Put mats up
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM – Afternoon Snack
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – Gross Motor Play (Outdoor play, weather permitting)
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM – Wash Hands & Faces, Free Play
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM – Cleanup, Get ready to go home
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Daily Review & Recap FRIDAY: TV Time

-Curriculum Overview-

Our Curriculum is focused on encouraging a child to be independent and uses a variety of methods. The following is our curriculum overview for September through May.

MONTH COLOR SHAPE LETTERS NUMBER CHARACTER TRAIT
August Red Octagon L, T, H, I 0 Sharing
September White Square F, E, X, V 1 Compassion
October Orange Rectangle Y, N, Z, A 2 Thankfulness
November Brown Triangle K, M, W, D 3 Honesty
December Green Diamond P, B, R, J 4 Obedience
January Blue Heart U, C, G, S 5 Love
February Pink Star O, Q 6 Patience
March Purple Circle Sight Words 7 Self-Control
April Black Oval Sight Words 8 Organization
May Yellow Sight Words 9 Helping Others

We have a weekly Bible Verse and Animal that corresponds with each letter, and we have a monthly song that incorporates either our color or shape. We have a monthly “Theme” as well such as Community Helpers, Animals, etc…Starting in March, we build upon the letters we have learned and start basic sight words and reading.

-Discipline & Guidance Policy-

Discipline is focused and the goal is to teach the child to make better choices in the future. This is done through discussion, relevant to the child’s age and understanding, as well as “making up” for what they did. This can be through apologizing to a friend they hurt, helping care for a child they hurt, or anything else which puts the responsibility on the child to understand how their actions affected other children. We believe that each child should be held accountable and responsible for his or her actions.

The child will be given a warning and/or discussion to stop the behavior, and if they continue the behavior they will be placed in time-out for 1 minute for each year of age (a four year old goes in a four minute time out, etc…)

If the behavior is continued, you will be asked to come discipline your child, or remove them from care the rest of the day. Actions which threaten the life or safety of another child will be grounds for immediate parental contact.

-Medication Policy-

We will give medication, provided that the following things are in order
• All medications must be listed with the child’s name and specific dosing instructions (amount, time, how often).
• All medications must be in the original container
• All medications must be current and not expired. Under no circumstance will we administer expired medication.
• Prescription medication must be prescribed for that child, be in date, and have the child’s First and Last name, specific dosing instructions, pharmacy phone number, and doctor’s information.








-Sick Care Policy-

While our desire is that your child remains well throughout their childhood, we know this is not always a reality. Sometimes children get sick, and while we understand and sympathize, your child cannot be admitted for care if the following are present:

• A fever of 100.4 or more (For armpit temperature, add a degree and for rectal temperature subtract a degree)
• The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in child-care
activities, including outdoor play
• The illness results in a greater need for care than caregivers can provide without
compromising the health, safety, and supervision of the other children in care.
• Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness, such as lethargy, abnormal
breathing, uncontrolled diarrhea, two or more vomiting episodes in 24 hours,
rash with fever, mouth sores with drooling, wheezing, behavior changes, or
other signs that the child may be severely ill.
• For more information, see reference sheet at end of packet

If your child becomes ill while in care, you will be required to come and pick them up – or send a designated representative and authorized person to pick them up. We will notify you immediately if your child becomes ill while in care. Per your request, we will give Motrin (ibuprofen), Tylenol (acetaminophen), or Benadryl (diphenhydramine). You must specifically tell us to give your child the medication. We do not keep other medicines on hand we can give.

Please see sheet at end of Handbook called “Keep me home if”, it will give you a quick reference for when to keep a child home.





-Pickup & Dropoff Policy-

Children will be released only to the Parent, Legal Guardian, or another authorized representative. If someone other than the parent/legal guardian is going to be picking up the child, you are to notify the caregiver when you drop your child off in the morning. You must list the First and Last Name, and an ID will be checked before releasing your child, so please be sure your designated person has a picture ID. Without an ID, or with an incorrect (expired, information difference, etc…) ID, your child will not be released under any circumstance.

We will make a copy of the ID and keep it in your child’s file.

-Visitor Policy-

You are free to visit your child or visit the home any time during operational hours. For security reasons, we cannot allow anyone other than prospective clients or current clients to visit, unless this has been arranged in advance. The only exception to this policy is in an Emergency situation; in which case you need to call the home as soon as possible and let them know what is going on, and who will be coming to get your child.

-Emergencies-

In the event of an emergency involving your child, necessary first aid and CPR will be administered and you will be notified. If a higher level of care is needed, we will contact Vital Care EMS in Bells, Texas. Their number is 903-965-7777. The care and transportation received by Vital Care costs will be the responsibility of the parent.

-“Go” Folder Policy-

Upon enrollment, your child will be given a daily “GO” folder. Inside, there will be a behavior chart on one side. Also included will be any papers to keep at home, or any that need to be returned. If your child’s behavior is on yellow or red, an explanation will be given. Please discuss this with your child and hold them accountable. Children receiving three “greens” for the week will be given a special treat on Fridays.

-Field Trips & Transportation-
We go to the city park daily, weather permitting. We do one big field trip in late fall to The Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, and we try to do 1 small (generally free) trip per month.

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