Medfield Children's Center
Parents' Handbook
Medfield
Children’s Center accepts children, regardless of their or their parents’
race, sexual orientation, color, creed, national origin, marital status, or
political views. During the course
of your child’s enrollment, if it is determined by Medfield Children’s
Center that this is not an appropriate setting for your child, we will consult
with you regarding alternative plans for your child’s care.
OFFICE
OF CHILD CARE SERVICES, our licensing agency, requires that a health record be
submitted prior to admittance to
school. This record must show that
a recent physical exam and all scheduled immunizations have been given.
The Office of Child Care Services also requires parents to complete
Medfield Children’s Center’s registration agreement, an Authorization and
Consent form, and a Developmental History form before their children begin
school. You must submit these
records annually, or whenever changes occur.
Medfield
Children’s Center, Inc. is a privately owned, non-denominational preschool
located at the First Baptist Church on the corner of South and Main Street and
our second facility is located at the Church of the Advent on Pleasant Street.
The schools are convenient to many surrounding communities and services
families from Medfield as well as approximately seven other towns.
The
purpose of Medfield Children’s Center is to provide a creative, safe,
stimulating learning environment for children ages 1.3 – 5 plus years.
The program allows children to develop social and listening skills and to
become confident in a group setting while engaged in age-appropriate activities.
M.C.C. recognizes that each child is an individual and develops at
his/her own pace.
We
are licensed by the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services.
Our Centers meet the safety standards of the Fire and Building Inspectors
of the Town of Medfield.
Toddler
Group (15 months-2.11 years old as of August 31st):
The
Toddler Program provides a series of social experiences designed to meet each
child’s emotional and physical needs in a safe and nurturing environment.
This program is available at SOUTH
STREET ONLY.
Nursery
School (3.0-3.11 years old as of August 31st):
The
educational program for this group provides experiences which promote a positive
self-image for the development of social, emotional, and physical growth.
These experiences include free play, stories, arts & crafts and music
& movement in a pleasant, nurturing environment.
This program is available at SOUTH
AND PLEASANT STREET.
Pre-Kindergarten
(4.0-4.11 years old as of August 31st):
The
educational program for this group is developed to promote letter recognition,
writing skills, and other Kindergarten readiness skills.
In addition, we provide an atmosphere which promotes a positive
self-image for the development of social, emotional and physical growth.
This program is available at SOUTH AND PLEASANT STREET.
Transitional
Program (5.0-5.11 years old as of August 31st):
The
educational program for this group is developed for the child who will enter
Kindergarten classes the following year. This
program will promote advanced skills in language arts, phonics, reading, math
and science. This
program is available at SOUTH STREET ONLY (upon need and demand).
After-School
Program (5.0-6 years old as of August 31st):
The educational program for this group provides guidance and support in a safe and stimulating environment. Activities include art, games, outdoor activities, walking field trips and time for your child to socialize with peers in a relaxed, yet supervised environment. This program is available at SOUTH STREET ONLY (upon need and demand).
Morning Sessions: Our educational programs
last 2½ hours in the morning from 9:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Monday-Wednesday-Friday for Pre-Kindergarten and 9:00 A.M. -
11:30 A.M. Tuesday-Thursday for
Nursery School.
Afternoon Sessions: Our educational programs
last 2½ hours in the afternoon from 12:30 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Monday-Wednesday-Friday for Pre-Kindergarten and 12:30 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Tuesday-Thursday for Nursery School (upon need and demand).
Lunch
Bunch Program:
This
optional program is a great social experience and offers additional enrichment
activities in a smaller group setting. It
is very popular with students and parents alike. Signup is on a month-to-month
basis.
11:30
A.M. - 12:30 P.M. offered each day. Parents
provide a lunch box (labeled) with a nutritious lunch, beverage, spoon, straw,
napkin, etc. (No candy or nuts,
please.)
11:45
P.M. - 12:30 P.M. offered each day. Parents
provide a lunch box (labeled) with a nutritious lunch, beverage, spoon, straw,
napkin, etc. (No candy or nuts,
please.)
Our
educational programs last 2½ hours in the morning from 9:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
and are offered 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week.
Lunch
Bunch Program:
This
optional program is a great social experience and offers additional enrichment
activities in a smaller group setting. It
is very popular with students and parents alike.
Lunch
Bunch runs from 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. and is offered five (5) times a week.
Parents provide a lunch box (labeled) with a nutritious lunch, beverage,
spoon, straw, napkin, etc. (No
candy or nuts, please.)
Full
and Part-Time Day Care:
Our
Day Care Program is available everyday from 7:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M., and
provides for educational programming, play time, and rest time throughout the
day.
After-School
Program:
The
After-School Program is offered 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week from 11:30 A.M. –
5:30 P.M. when public schools are in session and from 7:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.
when public schools are not in session, including the summer.
To attend the After-School Program before 11:30 A.M., advance notice for
the period selected is necessary. You
will be billed for the additional time your child attends.
Lunchtime
at Medfield Children’s Center is a very special time for your child to eat a
nutritious meal, practice good table manners, and learn mealtime socialization
skills. To accomplish this we
request you send in the following:
1.
A lunch box or bag, clearly
labeled on the outside, with your child’s name
2.
A thermos or juice box with a straw
3.
A sandwich or alternative main course (i.e. soup,
yogurt), fruit, chips and/or pastry snack
Children are asked to eat
their main course first, fruit second and chips/snack last. Candy, gum and peanuts are not allowed. Please send in a reasonable amount of food, not a feast.
4.
A napkin or a wet wipe
5.
A spoon for non-finger foods (i.e. Jell-O, pudding)
as we do not provided them
During
lunch and clean up, we will share together story time and play until pick-up
time.
As
always, thank you for your continued cooperation and enthusiastic participation.
Should you have any questions, please speak to your child’s teacher.
Lunch
Box Suggestions:
Main Course - Sandwich, yogurt, soup, mac
& cheese (it does stay warm in a thermos), chicken nuggets, (children
don’t usually mind room temperature), lunchables, pizza slices
Snack – Small bag of chips, pretzels, etc., carrot or
celery sticks
Dessert – Jell-O, pudding, fruit
roll-up, granola bar, cookies
Fruit – Bananas, oranges, apples, melon.
Please make sure to peel and section, or cut the skin off your child’s
fruit if that is how it is preferred.
Drink – Juice Box or thermos
(No Glass Please!!)
Lunch Bunch Rules:
No candy at any time.
We
offer a six week themed Summer Program open to any child currently enrolled at
either of our Centers or any student who will be entering our Centers in
September.
It
is a wonderful introduction to M.C.C.’s routine and a great way to meet future
classmates and teachers. It runs
daily Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 12:00.
We are also open for day care in the summer from 7:30 – 5:30.
Chapter
28, Section 10 of the General laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mandates
to the Office of Child Care Services the legal responsibility of promulgating
rules and regulations governing the operation of daycare centers (including
nursery schools).
The
licensee (day care center owner) is required to inform all parents of specific
information about their rights and responsibilities at the time of admission of
their child to the Center. Section
7.04 of 102CMR 7.00, the regulations which govern day care centers, contains
more information.
You
have the right to make unannounced visits to your child’s room while your
child is present.
The
program must have a procedure for allowing your input in the development of
center policy and procedure.
The program must allow you to make suggestions, but it is up to the
program to decide whether or not they will be implemented.
You
have the right to request an individual conference with the program’s staff.
The licensee has the responsibility to make the staff available.
The
licensee shall assure that the administrator or her designee meets with you
prior to admitting your child to the Center.
At
the meeting, the licensee in addition to the information contained in this fact
sheet, must provide you with: the Center’s written statements of purpose;
types of services provided; referral policy; behavioral management policy;
termination and suspension policy; a list of suggested nutritious foods you
could send for snacks and meals, if it your responsibility; the policy for
identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect; the transportation plan; a
copy of the health care policy (if you request it); procedure for administration
of medication; procedures for providing emergency health care and illness
exclusion policy; and a copy of the fee schedule.
All of this information may be contained in the “Parent Handbook”.
You
should also be given the opportunity to visit the Center’s classrooms either
at the time of the meeting or prior to the enrollment of your child.
At
least every six (6) months, you should either meet with the Center’s staff to
discuss your child’s progress, or receive a written progress report of your
child’s activities and participation in the Center.
This report must become part of your child’s Center record.
If your child is an infant or is a child with disabilities, you should
receive a written progress report every three (3) months.
Center staff must bring any special problems or significant developments,
particularly if they regard infants, to your attention as soon as they arise.
You
should be able to have access to your child’s records.
The Center must provide access within two business days, unless they have
your permission to take longer.
You must be allowed to view your child’s record, even if it is located
in more than one location.
The Center must have procedures regarding access, duplication, and
dissemination of children’s records.
They must maintain a written log which identifies anyone who has access
or has received any information out of the record.
This log is available only to you and the people responsible for
maintaining the Center’s records.
You
have the right to add information, comments, data or any other relevant
materials to your child’s record; you also have the right to request deletion
or amendments of any information contained in your child’s record.
Such requests shall be made in accordance with the procedures described
below:
1.
If you are of the opinion that adding information
is not sufficient to explain, clarify or correct objectionable material in your
child’s record, you have the right to have a conference with the licensee to
make your objections known.
2.
The licensee shall, within one (1) week after the
conference, give you a decision in writing stating the reason or reasons for the
decision. If her decision is in
your favor, she shall immediately take steps as may be necessary to put the
decision into effect.
The
licensee shall not charge an unreasonable fee for copies of any information
contained in your child’s record.
Upon
your written request, when your child is no longer in care, the licensee can
give you your child’s record or transfer them to any other person that you
identify.
The Center should ask you to sign a form verifying that you have received
the record.
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE PROGRAM
Providing
Information to the Office of Child Care Services:
The
licensee must make available to the Office of Child Care Services any
information required to be kept and maintained under these regulations and any
other information reasonably related to the requirements of these regulations.
This includes information in your child’s records.
Authorized employees of the office are not to remove identifying case
materials from the Center premises and are required to maintain the
confidentiality of individual records.
Reporting
Abuse or Neglect:
All
Center staff are mandated reporters.
They are required by law to report suspected abuse and neglect to either
the Department of Social Services or to the licensee’s program administrator.
The licensee must have written policies and procedures for reporting and
must provide the written policy to you upon enrollment.
(See
section titled “Identification of Abuse and Neglect”)
Notification
of Injury:
The
licensee must notify you immediately of any injury which requires emergency
care.
They must also notify you, in writing, within 24 hours, if any first aid
is administered to your child.
Availability
of Regulations:
The
center must have a copy of CMR 102 7.00 Standards for the Licensure of Approval
of Group Day Care and School Age Child Care Programs, on the premises, available
to any person upon request.
If you have any questions about any of the regulations, ask your Center
to show them to you.
PARENT
INVOLVEMENT
Open
House:
There
is one Parent Open House each year in September. During the Open House, you and your child will have the
opportunity to become acquainted with the teachers and the school, its
classrooms and equipment, and meet other classmates and parents attending the
same session. We encourage you to
visit all the classrooms and meet each teacher.
School
Visits:
You
are encouraged to visit Medfield Children’s Center at any time to observe our
program. All parents are encouraged
to communicate frequently with the staff caring for their children.
All suggestions will be addressed. Our
staff is available for individual conferences with you by appointment.
Any parents with particular skills are encouraged to share their
interests with the classes by contacting your teacher.
Our
program has been developed to prepare your child for a happy adjustment to
school and to offer each child the opportunity to explore the world beyond
his/her home, to understand his/her feelings and relationships with others, to
develop a healthy self-image and to achieve greater independence, social
competence and self-fulfillment. The
daily programs include age-appropriate units of study and play.
These units have been designed to develop language and motor skills, to
prepare toddlers for our more structured Nursery Program, to challenge the
intellectual ability of our Pre-Kindergarten children, and to provide
constructive activities for the older children who join us after-school.
Academic
Instruction:
The
academic instruction consists of a wide range of learning activities geared to
the age of the student. The
following is a summary of the subjects covered during the academic year.
The precise amount of time spent on each subject varies with each class.
You should be aware that children develop at different rates during the
pre-school years. No child is
expected to be able to do everything listed below.
The instruction units are included to inform you of the goals your child
is striving to achieve.
TODDLER
PROGRAM:
The
Toddler Program consists of the following skills and provides a gradual
transition from the “ME” world to the “WE” world of a pre-school child.
It includes:
-
A balance of quiet and active times and individual
and group activities, including music, art and sensory experiences;
-
Free-play activities to encourage choice-making,
social interaction, sharing and organization;
-
Language and word activities;
-
Opportunities to develop both fine and gross motor
skills.
NURSERY
PROGRAM:
The
Nursery Program is designed to introduce the following concepts with particular
emphasis placed on recognition of colors and shapes and development of social
and language skills through the use of art, play and literature.
The program also develops skills in body coordination and balancing.
We will involve the children in cutting, pasting, music & movement,
name-recognition, colors, shapes, science, rhyming, matching similar objects,
art projects, etc.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN
PROGRAM:
The
Pre-Kindergarten Program introduces concepts in preparation for Kindergarten.
The curriculum, which is developmentally appropriate, will focus on
exposure to language skills, math concepts, science, and social studies
activities as well as promoting enhanced social skills and indoor and outdoor
play. Cutting, pasting, calendar,
colors, shapes, recognition and writing of name, exposure to numbers and
upper/lower case letters, cooking and music & movement are also included in
the curriculum. (We are using the
D’Nealian Alphabet System of printing, which is taught in the Medfield Public
Schools.)
TRANSITIONAL
PROGRAM:
The
Transitional Program is designed to develop advanced skills in preparation for
Kindergarten. The children will be
exposed to a reading program that assists the children in the attainment of
skills in visual and auditory discrimination.
A math program is also incorporated into the children’s daily
experiences. The Transitional
Program includes science themes and helps children learn to explore the world
around them.
AFTER-SCHOOL
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM:
Our After-School Program has been designed to offer each child the opportunity to develop and improve social and interpersonal skills, achieve greater independence and self-discipline, and become involved in constructive activities and projects. The After School Kindergarten Program is designed to provide a variety of enjoyable activities, which maintain the children’s interest and broaden their experiences. Units such as arts & crafts, cooking, and manipulative play have been geared to the older, more capable school-age child.
HOLIDAYS
AND VACATIONS (it is our policy to follow the Medfield Public School Calendar)
There
will be no school on the following days:
Labor
Day
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Columbus
Day
President’s Day
Veteran’s
Day
Patriot’s Day
Thanksgiving
Day (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)
Good Friday
Christmas
Day (and normally the day before)
Memorial Day
New
Year’s Day (and normally the day before)
Independence Day
There
will be no school for children registered for only the Academic Program (9:00
– 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. during the weeks listed below.
Children registered in the Extended Day Program may attend school during
these weeks.
Christmas
Vacation (December)
Winter
Vacation (February)
Spring
Vacation (April)
CENTER
CLOSINGS
Medfield
Children’s Center is open year-round for day care, with the exception of major
holidays, the last week in July and the first week in August, and when the entire
Medfield Public Schools close due to inclement weather.
No payment is expected for the 2-week summer closing period.
In
order to maintain the quality of our program and your child’s participation in
our school, we require that tuition be paid in advance.
All tuition payments should be made by check or money order, payable to
Medfield Children’s Center, Inc. Checks
should be mailed to the Center or hand-delivered to school.
Tuition may be paid on a weekly or on a 10-month installment basis.
We ask that you put on your check
memo exactly what the money is being applied to.
WEEKLY
tuition is due on the first day of the week.
One additional week’s tuition is to be paid when your child enters
school. This amount will be
pre-payment for the child’s last week at the Center.
MONTHLY
INSTALLMENT payments are due on the
first day of each month. One
additional installment is to be paid when your child enters school.
This amount will be pre-payment for your child’s last month at the
Center.
Tuition
must be paid regardless of your child’s absence from school due to illness,
holidays, vacations, storms, etc. Although
children are accepted for enrollment for a full academic year, we recognize that
extenuating circumstances may necessitate your child’s early withdrawal.
In this event, it is the parents’ responsibility to notify Medfield
Children’s Center, Inc., at least 30 days before the child is to be withdrawn.
APPLICATION
FEE:
A
non-refundable application fee must be paid each and every year a child
registers at one of our Centers.
LATE
FEES:
A
parent or other authorized adult must pick up your child at school by 5:30 p.m.
A late fee of $1.00 for each minute will be charged whenever we are
unable to release your child due to your tardiness.
This fee will go directly to the staff member who is forced to stay late.
The same late fee will be applied to those parents who are repeatedly late
picking up their children attending our half-day programs as well.
Absence:
You
should notify the school by telephone when your child will be absent.
When your child is ill, you should inform us of the nature of the
illness. This information enables
us to be alert to the possibility of similar cases and to notify other parents
when necessary. (See the section on
Contagious Diseases and Illnesses.)
Accidents:
In
the unlikely event of an accident at the school, and when you cannot be reached
by phone, the emergency contact number listed on the registration form will be
called. Depending on the severity of the accident, your child may be
administered first-aid on the premises by a staff member trained in first-aid
and/or taken to the nearest hospital. Parents
must fill out and sign an authorization form for this purpose.
Allergies:
You
MUST list any and all
allergies, chronic illnesses, or special conditions or substances that may cause
irritation or an allergic reaction to your child on the appropriate forms when
registering your child. A list of
children and their allergies or special conditions will be posted in the office
and in each classroom for all staff.
In
the event of a reaction, the appropriate first aid treatment will be
administered. Parents will be
notified immediately. If an Epipen
is to be used, a waiver of personal liability for our staff members must be
submitted in writing, prior to our accepting the Epipen.
Please see the Director for this form.
Contagious
Diseases, Illnesses (Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, etc.):
If
your child has been exposed to a contagious disease or illness, please
notify the school immediately in order to protect the rest of the children and
staff. If your child has contracted
a contagious disease or illness, please notify the school immediately and
keep your child home in order to protect the rest of the children and staff.
Any child not well enough to participate in all activities, including
outside play, should remain at home until recovered.
Parents will be called and will be expected to pick up children who have
a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, untreated conjunctivitis, a suspected rash, or
related illnesses (chicken pox, measles or other possible contagious illnesses).
Sick
children will be kept away from the other children in a quiet area in view of
staff until a parent can pick them up. If
attempts to contact a parent are unsuccessful, the emergency person listed on
the registration form will be notified to pick up the sick child.
The
child will be re-admitted when free of symptoms for at least 24 hours or when a
doctor’s note and/or prescription medication are provided (M.C.C. Pleasant
Street does not administer “meds.”) All
parents will be notified orally or in writing when any contagious disease, such
as measles or mumps, has been introduced into the Center.
To
prevent spreading germs to other children and adults at our Centers, we request
that a child does not come to school sick.
Below are some illnesses or conditions that would make it necessary for a
child to stay home, as well as information regarding when it is appropriate to
let the child return to school.
It
is important to notify the Center when your child has a communicable disease so
that other families can be informed.
Diarrhea
– Look for an increased number of stools, increased amount of stool water, or
decreased form that is not contained in the diaper or by toilet use.
Your child should be “diarrhea free” for 24 hours before returning to the Center.
Vomiting
– Keep the child home if he or she vomits two or more times in the previous
twenty-four (24) hour time span (unless the vomiting is determined by a doctor
to be due to a non-communicable condition, and the child is not in danger of
dehydration). Your child should be
“vomit free” for 24 hours before
returning to school.
Mouth
Sores
– These are associated with the inability to control saliva. Keep the child home, unless it is determined by a doctor that
he/she is noninfectious.
Rash
– The child must remain at home when the rash appears with a fever or a
behavior change. When it is
determined by a doctor to be noninfectious, the child may return to school.
Conjunctivitis
(pink eye) – This appears as pink or red conjunctiva with white or yellow
discharge, often with matted eyelids after sleep and eye pain or redness of the
eyelids or surrounding skin. The child needs to be on medication for 24-48 hours
before re-admittance.
Tuberculosis
– The child must be removed from the Center until it is determined by a doctor
that he/ she is noninfectious.
Streptococcal
Pharyngitis – The child must be excluded for 24-48 hours
after treatment is initiated or when he/she is fever free for twenty-four (24)
hours.
Head
Lice
– The child is excluded until the morning after the first treatment.
Scabies
– The child is excluded until after treatment has been completed.
Varicella
(chicken pox) – The child is excluded until the sixth day after the
onset of the rash, or sooner if all the lesions have dried and crusted.
Pertussis
(whooping cough) – The child is excluded after the disease is confirmed
by a laboratory or if the disease is suspected based on symptoms or because
coughing begins within fourteen (14) days of face-to-face contact with a person
in the home or classroom who has a confirmed case of pertusis.
The child may return back to the classroom five (5) days after
appropriate antibiotic therapy has been initiated.
Mumps
– A child is excluded until nine (9) days after the onset of parotid swelling.
Hepatitis
– This is a viral infection. A
child is excluded until one (1) week after the onset of the illness and when
jaundice, if present, has disappeared. The
child may also return if passive immunoprophtkaxis has been administered to the
appropriate children and staff.
Please
note: Medfield Children’s
Center’s complete Health Care Policy is available upon request.
The
Medfield Children’s Center does not transport any children to or from the
Centers. It is the parent’s responsibility to drop off and pick up.
In case of emergencies, 911 will be called for an ambulance.
We do only walking field trips with parental permission, no vehicles are
used.
Our After-School Kindergarten children (South Street School only) are to be dropped off by a Medfield Public School bus right in front of the gate on South Street.
Behavior management and
guidance shall be consistent and based on an understanding of the individual
needs and development of a child. We
direct discipline to the goal of maximizing the growth and development of the
child and for protecting the group and individuals within it.
A.
Corporal punishment, including spanking, shall not
be used.
B.
No child shall be subjected to cruel or severe
punishment, humiliation or verbal abuse.
C.
No child shall be punished for soiling, wetting or
not using the toilet.
D.
No child shall be denied food as a form of
punishment or be force-fed.
When the need for discipline
arises, the following procedures will be used:
A.
Verbal Intervention – Staff will talk with the
child about unacceptable behavior and redirect
the child to acceptable alternatives.
It
is the responsibility of all staff members to report any suspected abuse or
neglect, including abuse by another staff member.
All staff members are considered to be mandated reporters.
In the event that an incident of alleged child abuse comes to your
attention, the following steps are to be taken immediately:
1.
Notify the Director regarding the alleged incident.
2.
The
Director will immediately notify D.S.S. and O.C.C.S.
3.
The
Director, along with the staff member, will immediately confer with the staff
member against whom the allegations of child abuse have been made.
The
staff member will be informed of the following:
The
staff member will be immediately suspended without pay.
No
accused staff member may continue to provide direct care to children during
the pending investigations.
It
is M.C.C.’s intention to resolve an allegation quickly, both to spare the
staff member unnecessary anguish and tomaintain the equilibrium of the
Center’s operation for the welfare of the children and staff.
Allegations
are investigated by M.C.C., D.S.S. and O.C.C.S.
All
M.C.C. staff should cooperate fully with the investigation effort of any
licensing or regulatory authorities.
No statements, oral or written, should be made by a Center Director or any other M.C.C. staff member to persons not directly involved with the investigation. Questions from parents of other children enrolled at the Center and/or the news media should be referred to the Director.