I CAN BE ME DAYCARE

The child care facility known as I Can Be Me Daycare is open 50 weeks per year from 7:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. Monday through Friday, with Earlybird and Latebird care offered with prior arrangements. The child care facility is closed on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after. The facility is also closed for a one week in July and one week at Winter Holiday Break. The contracted day care fees are due for all the weeks containing the above holidays, with the exception of the July week and the Winter Holiday Break

Requirements
All of the children cared for at the facility must have the proper enrollment forms completed and on file prior to starting care. All forms must be updated each year. The forms include: Parent-Provider Agreement, Identification and Emergency Information, Child Health History, Emergency Medical Release, Transportation Release, Authorization for giving Prescription and Non-prescription Medications and Physician's Order.

Fees
The fee owed to Nancy Michaud, the care provider, depends on the type of contracted care and not necessarily the actual hours your child is in the facility. Fees owed include weeks containing holidays with the exception of the above-mentioned breaks. This includes parent's vacations, as well as any time when the child is ill and kept at home. A security deposit equivalent to one weeks care is required on all guaranteed day care spaces with an agreed upon starting date. Security deposits do not apply to the first week of childcare. All deposits are held in an account and applied to the last week of care. Security Deposits are non- refundable for failure to start on the agreed date and time. All fees are due prior to service at the beginning of the billing period and are to be paid as stated on the payment schedule.

The current Day Care Fee Payment Schedule is on the back side of the rate sheet. No fee is due the care provider during the July and Winter Holiday Breaks as stated on the fee payment schedule. This includes any unplanned time during which the facility is closed for which alternate care must be provided by the parent. The vacation schedule is provided at the bottom of the fee payment schedule giving adequate time for arrangements to be made for alternate care if needed. The Day Care fees are subject to change during the contracted time with a two week written notice which is to be mailed to the parents as well as posted in the facility prior to the new rates going into effect.

Termination
The parents as well as the care provider are required to give a two week written notice in order to terminate the current contract. A Parent/Provider Agreement may be terminated at the daycare provider's discretion with proper notification if it is determined that continued care for that child child is detrimental to the child, or the other children enrolled at the DayCare home.

No child is to be dropped off earlier nor picked up later than the current contracted time without having notified the care provider ahead of time. Overtime rates will be charged for extended care with a 1 hour minimum, if there is notification.

A $15 penalty fee plus overtime rates will be charged to each child's account if that child is picked up late without prior notification.

Drop off/Pick up
No parent may drop off or pick up their child without having signed in and out with the care provider or a day care staff member. Sign in/out sheets are provided in the facility Sign-in Book. All persons dropping off and picking up must be authorized to do so in writing by the custodial parent/guardian and known to the care provider and staff.

When dropping off and picking up, you are asked to respect neighborhood driveways, including the care provider's. Please park only where legally permitted. Do not double park. Help maintain a good relationship with the neighbors.

Parent Responsibilities
All day care children's belongings should be labeled with the child's name. The care provider and day care staff will not be responsible for keeping track of unlabeled articles. There is a Lost & Found Bin at the day care facility near the sign-inbook. Please check it for lost articles.

Please do not send any special toys or belongings with your child which could get lost or broken. If you choose to do so, the day care staff will do their best to help your child keep track of things, but the day care staff is not responsible for any lost or broken items.

Parents are responsible for providing: a change of clothing, warm clothing for cold weather and cool clothing for hot weather, diapers and/or training pants or clean underwear depending on the age of your child, plastic pants for babies and toddlers if needed, baby wipes, car seats, bottles, and if the child is an infant, a bed for naps. The facility has nap cots for toddlers and pre-school aged children. Any child requiring specialized food, must have that food provided by the parent or guardian.

Parents will also be responsible for broken and vandalized day care toys and play equipment if it is determined to be beyond normal "wear" and "tear". The parent will be required to replace or repair, if possible, what has been destroyed. This also applies to the care provider's yard, plants, home and personal possessions. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Behavior Management & Discipline:
My philosophy is that you use discipline to teach a child. I achieve this through love, consistency, and firmness. The children are explained the rules of the daycare frequently so that they know the guidelines. Once a child understands the rules and disobeys them, hurts others or property, the following developmentally appropriate guidance techniques will be used.
These techniques are as follows:
1. Positive Reinforcement: The child will be encouraged when he/she is demonstrating acceptable behavior.
2. Redirection: The child is redirected to another activity and given an opportunity to try again at another time.
3. The child is separated from the group for a child-regulated period of time. This technique is used only when a child is exhibiting temper tantrum type behavior or hurting self, others, or equipment. When the child shows that he/she is ready to demonstrate acceptable behavior, they are encouraged to join the rest of the group and try again.
4.Last resort: When a child's behavior is continually upsetting or dangerous to others, or myself a conference will be called with the parents. If the problems can't be resolved, arrangements will have to be made for the child to go elsewhere for care.

*Sometimes, if both a parent and a provider are both in the same area (ex. drop-off, pick up, parties, etc.) a child may forget the rules, or test the boundaries. Please help show your child that you respect me, the rules of my house, and my property by reminding them that the rules still apply when you are around. I will also remind them of the rules and, correct them if needed.

Nap Time
All children under age 2 will be put down for a nap each day. Those children ages 2 to 5 will be required to have a rest period of not less than 1/2 hr. daily whether they nap at home or not. If a child falls asleep during his or her rest period, that child will be allowed to continue napping until nap time is over.

Please do not drop children off between 1:00 to 2:00. It is very disruptful to the other children who are trying to go down for nap.

Health Matters:
Please do not bring your child if he/she is sick; I can only care for children with mild cold like symptoms (clear runny nose, slight cough, and no fever).

Per Health Department regulations children will not be allowed to attend the daycare if they exhibit symptoms such as: *Rash *Fever (101 F. higher) *Excessive cold and/or cough*Vomiting *Diarrhea *Lice or nits *Discharge from eyes or ears *Unusual drowsiness *Persistent or excessive crying *Communicable diseases (chicken pox, roseola, conjunctivitis, mumps, measles, influenza)

If they become ill during daycare hours - parents will be contacted immediately to remove their child within 1 hour of being notified. If parents are not available, the emergency contact person will then be notified. Once the child is removed from daycare due to illness, they may not return for a full 24-hour period, or be accompanied by a doctor's note. Note: This sickness policy applies to my family or myself as well. If I am unavailable due to illness, you will be notified by 6:00 am. Payment for the days that I am not available is not required.

Parents will be contacted for medical emergencies. A signed consent for emergency treatment needs to be on file with your current physician's phone number and the hospital of your choice. First aid will be administered by day care staff when needed, provided the injury occured while under the supervision of the day care staff. The day care facility and staff are not responsible for any injury to a child while under the supervision of someone other than the day care staff.

Medication:
I can administer medication if needed, but only if the Medication Consent Form has been signed. All medicine must be in the original container with the child's name clearly written on it.

Written instructions with the child's name, dose and times, needs to accompany the medication.

Child abuse:
I am required by law to report to the local Social Services Office of any suspected physical, emotional, sexual or suspected abuse or neglect.

Meals:
I participate in the Federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. Breakfast, for children arriving prior to 8:30 am, lunch and afternoon snack will be served. The children are offered the food, not forced to eat. Children who choose not to eat will not be served additional food until the next mealtime. Infants need to provide formula/breastmilk and baby food until age one when table food is started.

Transportation and field trips:
We will be going on outings such as field trips or local places in the general area. Generally all trips are scheduled, however, there will be times that quick local trips are unplanned. *It is not mandatory that your children attend these trips, but you will be required to provide back-up childcare for your child if your child cannot attend. Of course, all children will be restrained in seat belts (over 4 years) or in approved car seats (under 4 years.)

*******


2001 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

The following holidays are days which the daycare is closed and payment is due for the day. Any other holidays that you take off, your child will be considered absent and payment is due. Any days which I take off myself as vacation or sick days have no payment due.

NEW YEARS DAY MONDAY, JANUARY 1

MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY, MAY 28

JULY 4TH WED, JULY 4

LABOR DAY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

THANKGIVING DAY AND THE DAY AFTER
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 AND FRIDAY, 23


VACATIONS:

WEEK OF JULY 9 THRU JULY 13
WEEK OF DECEMBER 24 THRU DECEMBER 28

To view sample forms please click HERE

 

about contact location
photos
handbook
links