PARENT HANDBOOK

A Place to GROW

Released January 2019By Spring Hill Academy

Revised December 8, 2018

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CENTER INFORMATION

Address:6309 Grovedale DriveAlexandria, VA 22310

Phone Number:703-848-5105

Email:info@iamspringhill.com

Website:www.iamspringhill.com

Hours of Operation:6:00am - 6:00pm

WELCOME LETTER

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Welcome to Spring Hill Academy!

Our goal at Spring Hill is to provide a safe and caring environment for your child. We understand how difficult it is for parents to leave their child in the care of another so our number one priority at the center is your child's safety. We want to give your child the tools and skills to discover their love for learning and become independent, life-long learners under the care and support of our energetic staff. We, at Spring Hill Academy, believe that our passion and dedication to providing high quality care can give you and your family a safe place to learn, play, explore, and grow.

We believe that children benefit the most from our program with a partnership between families and the center. As a guide, we’ve included some information regarding the center in your child’s welcome packet. Please review the Parent’s Handbook and sign and return the Acknowledgement form in addition to the forms from the welcome packet to the Center Director.

Thank you for selecting Spring Hill Academy and we look forward to working in collaboration with you and your family to provide the best care for your child!

Sincerely,

Spring Hill Academy

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TABLE OF CONTENTSE N R O L L M E N T

RegistrationBillingLate Pick UpTermination of Enrollment

S A F E T Y A N D P O L I C I E S

SecurityArrivalWellness CheckIllnessAdministering Medication and First AidDismissalAbsenceSnacks and MealsNut-Free FacilityImmunizations and Physical ExamsEmergencies

G E N E R A L P O L I C I E S

Holiday ClosureInclement WeatherDress CodeField TripsVacation Credits

P R O G R A M S

Infant (6 weeks - 16 months)Toddler (16 - 24 months)Preschool (2 - 3 years)Pre-Kindergarten (4 years)Junior Kindergarten (5 years)*Additional notes for early learning center parentsBefore- and After-Care (5 - 11 years)

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ENROLLMENT

REG I S TRAT IONWhen registering for a program at Spring Hill Academy, the parent/guardian must pay a non-refundable registration fee of $100 per child, $75 for an additional child, or $200 flat-rate for three (3) children or more This registration fee is applied annually in the month of September for as long as the child is enrolled. Upon acceptance, further paperwork and information will be provided for the parent, including: an enrollment agreement, immunization and medical history form, welcome letter, and more details regarding your child’s classroom.

Because enrollment is dependent on a first-come, first-serve basis, the parent/guardian must fill out all necessary paperwork, completed and signed, in addition to a security deposit of one (1) week’s tuition per child in order to reserve the child's place at the center.

B I L L I NG

Tuition rates are increased annually in the month of September. Parents and guardians will be notified in the June prior to the annual increase. If parents choose to enroll siblings, a 10% discount will be applied to the eldest child’s tuition fees.

Tuition is due promptly by the Friday of each week, prior to services rendered on the following Monday. A late tuition payment will accrue a $25 fee billed to the parent’s account on Monday at noon. Any returned checks will amass a $32 processing fee and after one (1) returned check from the bank, the only accepted forms of payment will be money order, automatic debiting, or credit card. If tuition payments are one (1) week behind, all further services will be halted until payments are paid to-date, in addition to any late fees accrued.

Fees and tuition will not be reduced or adjusted due to holidays, sickness, inclement weather, or vacations, excluding the use of Vacation Credits (page 11). Fees and tuition are subject to change and parents will be notified of such changes.

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ENROLLMENT

L A T E P I C K - U PThe center closes promptly at 6:00 p.m. Any parent arriving to pick up their child after closing time will be charged a Late Pick-Up fee of $1 per minute, billed to their account. As a courtesy, Spring Hill Academy will grant parents a warning for the first Late Pick-Up incident. Additional Late Pick-Ups will begin to accrue a fee of $1 per minute, with additional incidents accruing an additional $1 to be added to the current fee – for example, the first Late Pick-Up incident (excluding the warning incident) will accrue $1 per minute after 6:00 p.m.; the second Late Pick-Up incident will accrue $2 per minute after 6:00 p.m.; a third Late Pick-Up incident will accrue $3 per minute after 6:00 p.m., etc. Habitual Late Pick-Ups may result in involuntary termination of enrollment.

T E R M I N A T I O N O F E N R O L L M E N T

Parents looking to withdraw their child from the program must notify the center at least 2 weeks in advance. The withdrawal notice must be received in writing and must include the date submitted and the intended last date of attendance. The security tuition deposit placed at the time of registration will be applied to the last week’s tuition if proper notice was received and the parent(s)’ account is in good standing – meaning that the parent(s)’ account is not delinquent and adequate notice was received by Spring Hill Academy. Parents will be responsible for any remaining balance on the account and any unpaid balances may be sent to a collection agency if Spring Hill is unable to reach the parent for payment. Any excess funds on the account at the time of termination of enrollment will be paid back to the parent(s)’ account.

A child may be involuntarily dismissed by the center if any of the following instances occur: the physical and/or mental health of other children are endangered; if Spring Hill Academy is unable to provide the necessary care for the child under reasonable circumstances; if the child is unable to adhere to the programs’ rules and regulations, even after the center has discussed the problems with the child’s parent/guardian but no foreseeable change has been made in the child’s behavior; violation of the Parent Handbook policies; etc.

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SAFETY AND POLICIES

S E CUR I T YAt Spring Hill Academy, we take the safety and well-being of our staff and students very seriously; therefore, we implement ProCare’s security system that allows only authorized individuals to enter the center. Only parents, guardians, or other authorized persons (“Emergency Contacts” listed on the child’s enrollment forms), may enter the building. All check-ins and drop-offs are recorded with a timestamp from our ProCare system, which is used to monitor all children’s activity to ensure that your child is always in the safe care of either their parent/guardian or their teacher. All visitors, including first-time visitors or non-regular pick-up persons must have valid picture I.D. (such as a driver’s license, state-issued identification card, etc.) and must ring the doorbell for assistance, located outside the center. Keypad entry access is only authorized for parents or guardians or any individuals designated as the child’s expected pick-up person and must not be shared with other individuals. If the child is to be picked up by another person, parents must communicate this to the center in writing prior to the child’s pick-up time.

ARR I VA LWhen arriving at the center, Spring Hill requires that all parents escort their child(ren) to their respective classrooms after checking-in at the front desk. Spring Hill does not have a Kiss n’ Ride lane, therefore parents cannot drop their child(ren) off at the front door. Additionally, if the child has any scratches, bruises, or other non-urgent, unusual circumstances (such as a doctor’s appointment, early pick-up, etc.), parents must communicate this to the child’s respective teacher at the time of drop-off. If the child is late, parents must call the center in order to prevent the disruption of class time and to allow the center to set up meals and staffing accordingly. We ask that parents do not check in their child(ren) during nap time to avoid interruption for the other children.

In the case delays or closures due to inclement weather, the center will notify parents via text message or through the KidsReport app regarding school delays or closures.

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SAFETY AND POLICIES

W E L L N E S S C H E C KEach morning, as the children arrive in their respective classrooms, teachers will ask parents a series of wellness questions to ensure that children are in good health and to check in with parents regarding their child’s nightly/morning routine prior to arriving at the center so we can continue your child’s day as planned. Questions may be in regard to how well your child slept, whether they have eaten breakfast, how well they ate, and whether there are any scratches, bruises, or cuts that may need our attention throughout the day. Teachers will also check students for any symptoms of a communicable disease/illness (i.e. runny nose, fever, visible rash, or irregular behavior from the child). While we understand that parents are busy, Spring Hill Academy’s priority will always be the health and safety of the children in our care so in the case that your child is not well enough to remain at the center, parents may be asked to take the child home or to a doctor for a doctor’s note to clear the child as healthy enough to return to the classroom.

I L L N E S S

The safety of the children in our care is our number one priority. If any child is sick with any of the following symptoms, they are required to stay home until they are symptom-free for 24-hours without medication and have been seen by a physician prior to returning to the center (doctor’s note must be provided to the center): vomiting; diarrhea; sore throat; severe cold including excessive runny nose, excessive sneezing, or colored mucus; signs of conjunctivitis (also known as “pink eye”); and fevers of 101° F or higher, whether isolated or in combination with any of the previous symptoms. Rashes must be diagnosed by a physician before returning to the center. In the case that symptoms appear while attending class, parents will be notified and must pick up the child within one (1) hour of notification.

Parents must notify the center if their child has been exposed to other common contagious childhood diseases such as: conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), head lice, measles, strep throat, ringworm, impetigo, or chicken pox in order to prevent infecting other children. Parents will also immediately be notified if their child displays any symptoms for the diseases listed above and children must be picked up as soon as possible to avoid spreading to the other children.

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SAFETY AND POLICIES

A D M I N I S T E R I N G M E D I C A T I O N A N D F I R S T A I DChildren who require prescription medication must have the parent and the child’s physician's written permission and a Medication Consent Form on file allowing the center to administer the medication to the child. Vitamins are considered a medication under this policy. All medications must be given to a MAT staff member in the original packaging, labeled with the information listed in the “Administration of Medication Letter to Parents,” and must be labeled with specific times for administration. No “As Needed” medications will be administered without specific written instruction from the child’s physician and any unused or expired medications will be returned to the parent or guardian for disposal.

Basic first aid will be available in every classroom in case of minor accidents.

D I S M I S S A L

At the time of the child’s dismissal, or in non-emergency early dismissal, parents are to pick up their child from their respective classroom and use the mobile device in the front lobby to clock the child out. Only individuals identified on the enrollment forms listed under “Emergency Contacts” will be permitted to pick-up children from the center. The center closes promptly at 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holiday hours). Parents who are late picking up their child at the designated time may be subject to a Late Pick-Up fee billed to the parent’s account. If you are planning to discuss any concerns or have any questions for your child’s teacher, then please plan to arrive a few minutes earlier, or let your child’s teacher know that you would like to schedule a meeting for a future date.

A B S E N C E

If your child is going to be absent for any reason, parents must inform the center of the child’s absence as soon as feasible in order for Spring Hill to secure proper staffing and meals. If the child is absent in case of illness, parents must provide a physician’s note indicating the diagnosis and when the child is able to return to class. Physicians’ notes must be received prior to the child’s return to the center.

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SAFETY AND POLICIES

S N A C K S A N D M E A L S

Breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack will be given to children enrolled in the full-day Daycare program. Children enrolled in Before- and/or After-Care will be given breakfast and an afternoon snack. Children enrolled in the half-day program will be given a mid-morning snack and lunch. Food will follow a nutritious, balanced, USDA-approved dietary plan. A menu for the following month will be sent home with children at the end of each month. Any child unable to eat any item on the menu due to dietary restrictions may discuss alternative meal options with the center with a respective doctor’s note.

Children placed in the Infant care program are required to have all milk provided and must be clearly labeled with the child's first and last name.

N U T - F R E E F A C I L I T YSpring Hill Academy is a nut-free facility. This includes peanuts, almonds, pistachios, tree nuts, and any items “manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts” or items that “may contain (traces of) peanuts”. Because of this policy, we ask that children do not bring in outside food unless it is for a field trip, class party/holiday celebration, or birthday celebration. Parents may check with their child’s teacher for any other specific food allergies that may apply to their child’s classmates.

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SAFETY AND POLICIES

I M M U N I Z A T I O N S A N D P H Y S I C A L F O R M S

Spring Hill Academy strives to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all children in our programs. For this reason, we require that all children have the proper immunizations for their age prior to the first day of class. Required immunizations include: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP, DTaP), [Diphtheria, Tetanus (DT) or Td after age 7], Poliomyelitis (IPV, OPV), Measles (Rubeola), Rubella, Mumps, Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV), Varicella Vaccine. Children under 60 months are additionally required to have both the Haemophilus influenza Type b (Hib conjugate) and Pneumococcal (PCV conjugate) vaccines. Children entering the sixth grade are also required to receive the Tdap booster before enrollment.

Parents are required to maintain their child's immunizations as they become necessary in order to be continually enrolled at the center. If updated immunization forms are not received by Spring Hill management one (1) week after they are due, the child's enrollment will be suspended until updated forms are received.

An immunization form can be found in the enrollment package, to be filled out by a medical provider or health department official prior to enrollment. Any time a child has received a new immunization, an updated immunization form must be submitted to the center to be placed in the child’s file.

Physical exams must be received no later than 30 calendar days from the time of enrollment.

E M E R G E N C I E SIn the case of emergencies, the child’s parents will be notified immediately, and proper precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of the child and other children in the center. If the child’s parents cannot be reached in a timely manner, emergency contacts will be contacted in case of emergency pick-up. If neither parents, guardians, nor emergency contacts can be reached, Spring Hill Academy will go ahead and obtain immediate medical care.

GENERAL POLICIES

H O L I D A Y C L O S U R E S

Spring Hill Academy will be closed on the following holidays if the holiday falls on a week day or operational day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, Spring Hill will remain open for days considered "observance days" (normally the Friday before a Saturday holiday or Monday after a Sunday holiday) unless otherwise indicated by the center or Center Director.

I N C L E M E N T W E A T H E R

Spring Hill Academy follows the directives of the federal government (www.opm.gov) when deciding on school closings or delays unless otherwise indicated. For your convenience, we've included the chart below to help you navigate between OPM's status and Spring Hill's operating status:

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o Labor Dayo Veteran's Dayo Thanksgiving Day and day after Thanksgiving Dayo Christmas Eve and Christmas Dayo Limited service on New Year's Eve (6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)o New Year's Dayo President's Dayo Memorial Dayo Independence Day

Any discrepancies between the current OPM status and Spring Hill's operation status will be communicated to parents either by email, text message, or through the KidReports app. Our primary concern will always be for the safety and security of the children and our staff - if Spring Hill Academy feels that the center needs to close/delay opening/close early due to weather or any other safety/security concerns, we will notify parents as soon as possible with potential updates, if necessary.

GENERAL POLICIES

D R E S S C O D E

Please dress your child accordingly because children will be spending time outdoors, unless the temperature (including wind chill factor) falls below freezing (32° F) or in cases of severe precipitation or extreme heat. If any child cannot go outside due to illness or other reasons, please provide a doctor’s note to the child’s teacher at the drop-off time; without a doctor’s note, children will be going outside. Appropriate winter clothing includes, but is not limited to: gloves, winter hats, thick jackets, earmuffs, or scarves. Children may also bring a change of shoes for outdoor use; for example, arriving in rubber-soled sneakers and changing into rain or winter boots for outdoor play, then changing back into sneakers once indoors.

F I E L D T R I P S

Your child may occasionally have a field trip with their class, at which point, their teacher will send home a permission form with more details. If children are not authorized by the parent or permission forms are not received by the teacher by the intended deadline, the child may not attend the field trip and will remain at the center for the period of time indicated for the field trip.

If any child has recurring incidents/accidents or has a history of misbehaving on field trips, teachers may restrict their participation in field trips unless a parent or guardian is able to attend the field trip to accompany the child.

V A C A T I O N C R E D I T S

Any family that has been enrolled in our center for one (1) year is granted up to five (5) vacation credits to be used consecutively at one time until the next anniversary date. If parents are opting to use vacation credits, all credits (up to 5 days) must be used consecutively. Any unused credits do not roll over to the next year and do not get reimbursed in any manner. If parents do not use all 5 credits at the time of vacation, all unused credits will be forfeited. Please note that credits may only be used at one time and cannot be split up between two vacations. Vacation credits may also not be used for sick days or inclement weather.

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PROGRAMS

I N F A N T C L A S S ( 6 w e e k s - 1 6 m o n t h s )In our infant care program, we strive to build trusting relationships between teachers/caregivers and the infant. Spring Hill Academy uses infants’ natural desire to learn to encourage active participatory learning in which the child will experience and discover the world by playing and exploring with the teachers close at hand for support.

We also introduce relationships amongst other children and encourage independent movement, either isolated parts of the body, such as kicking or waving, or full body movements, such as rolling or crawling. Children will also develop the concept of object permanence, the idea that while an object is out of sight, it is not gone, and will enhance motor skills, such as moving around with objects in hand and recognizing location and position of an object.

In the Infant Care program, parents are required to provide milk, bottles and/or sippy cups, disposable diapers, and baby wipes for their child. For convenience, Spring Hill Academy may provide disposable diapers and baby wipes to infants enrolled in the program at a small fee, charged to the parents’ account (for more information, please see the Center Director). Parents may also provide pacifiers or bibs if necessary. We ask that each child has at least two extra sets of clothing in case of accidents. All items must be clearly labeled with the child’s first and last name. As a courtesy, Spring Hill will notify the parents when their child is in need of additional supplies and may charge the parents’ account for any items supplied to the child if parents do not bring in the items promptly.

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PROGRAMS

T O D D L E R C A R E ( 1 6 – 2 4 m o n t h s )

Children in the toddler care program are introduced to more communication and active learning skills. They are familiarized with non-verbal and reciprocated communication skills by expressing emotions and learning to play, share, and participate in group play.

Toddlers are also introduced to active listening and responses or reactions to stories, songs, or music when read or played in class. They also improve upon the motor skills learned in infancy by learning to put objects together after taking them apart, filling and emptying a bucket, and exploring differences between objects. At this age, children are also capable of anticipating familiar events and we reaffirm this skill by introducing more routine and structure to the classroom, while still maintaining a level of flexibility for individual students’ natural learning progression.

In the Toddler Care program, parents are required to provide milk (if applicable), sippy cups, disposable diapers or pull-ups, and baby wipes for their child. Parents may also provide bibs or soft baby foods if desired. We ask that each child is provided at least two extra sets of clothing in case of accidents. All items must be clearly labeled with the child’s first and last name.

Spring Hill strongly discourages use of pacifiers in the Toddler class. Children who arrive to the center using a pacifier will be coaxed to remove the pacifier and it will be placed back inside the child's bag.

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PROGRAMS

P R E S C H O O L ( 2 - 3 y e a r s )In the Preschool Program, children are exposed to a more regular routine in order to schedule a time for each learning opportunity. Children are more in tune with their communication skills at this stage, so we will begin to introduce them to small-group activities and large-group activities to encourage each child to try on a leadership position. We also promote problem solving and conflict resolution skills through small- and large group activities. Preschool students are given more opportunity to learn the basis of mathematics by recognizing the difference between “more” and “less” and “many” and “few”. Children are also introduced to imaginary play, encouraging their active imaginations to create music, art, and use of dialogue and props for use with toys.

At this age, we will also take the children outside for 30 minutes - 1 hour of outdoor play, weather permitting. It allows students to play noisily and more vigorously than indoor or classroom play and encourages them to learn to play together and experience nature on a daily basis. Spring Hill Academy also provides breakfast, snacks, and lunch on a routine day in class. This provides an opportunity for students to have a calm social setting, which is followed by a rest time, or nap time. Students may choose to play with quiet activities, such as puzzles or art, or take a nap to create at least one similar routine to home.

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PROGRAMS

P R E - K I N D E R G A R T E N ( 4 y e a r s )

Children aged 4 years old are placed in Pre-Kindergarten programs at Spring Hill, which promotes school-readiness for children preparing to enter Kindergarten in the upcoming school-year. Children, at this age, are well-versed in motor skills and are given every opportunity to fine tune their social and literacy skills by acquainting themselves with the alphabet and recognition of numbers and quantity of objects. We encourage a love for reading and storytelling, as well as skills to identify shapes and patterns. They are taught to use verbal cues to express themselves and develop a wider vocabulary when interacting with teachers and other classmates.

Students are also taught the alphabet and phonetic sounds in order to preemptively head them towards reading skills and are taught basic motor skills in properly holding a pencil and effectively writing their names. Although each student is at a different stage in terms of reading skills, Spring Hill Academy’s primary goal is to have students be able to decode and read to a certain degree prior to entering Kindergarten.

Children in Pre-K are also more developed in hand-eye coordination, general dexterity, and balance and are able to demonstrate and practice those abilities during outdoor play. Conflict resolution is a common discovery at this age and children start to distinguish the difference between right and wrong. We encourage these skills through cooperative group activities that require teamwork and communication.

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PROGRAMS

J U N I O R K I N D E R G A R T E N ( 5 y e a r s )

Junior Kindergarten programs are geared towards children who have reached Kindergarten-level maturity but are prevented from enrolling in schools due to age constraints. In this program, Spring Hill will structure each school day to be more similarly structured to a standard elementary school day and have set times for each activity.

Students will begin utilizing Pre-Kindergarten skills to read short words and sentences and will collaborate with their teacher on new reading material that is both stimulating to the child’s interests and academically challenging to ensure that a steady level of growth is maintained, at the child’s natural pace. Students enrolled in the Junior Kindergarten program will also practice proper handwriting skills and will be regularly asked to write their names and practice alphabetic and numeric lettering.

Additional math skills will be introduced, such as counting from 1 to 120, basic addition (adding 1’s and 2’s) and using math in everyday play to reinforce the building blocks of their education. Again, our goal is to prepare your child for school-readiness and Junior Kindergarten is specially designed in order to provide the care and educational skills that your child needs for elementary school.

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PROGRAMS

A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S F O R D A Y C A R E P R O G R A M S

Since children are encouraged to learn, play, and explore, some days may be messier than others! In preparation, we ask that parents provide at least two full outfits for each child in case of messy play, spills, accidents, or other cases where the child may need a spare change of clothes. Items should include: socks, undergarments, shirt/top, and pants/bottoms. The spare clothing should reflect the current season and weather, therefore, changed at the beginning of each season. Soiled or dirtied clothing items will be sent home and another set of clothes are to be brought in the following class day. Parents may also provide an extra sweater or cardigan to keep in the classroom in case your child feels cold in the class or if the weather suddenly changes and we are going outdoors. We recommend labeling each clothing item with the child’s first and last name to avoid confusion amongst other children’s clothes and to prevent loss of the clothing item.

Toys are not permitted to be brought in in order to reduce loss of the toy and to create equal playing opportunities for each child. If a teacher requests a toy or object from home to be brought in for a class activity (such as “Show and Tell”), children are allowed to bring in one item. The item cannot be a projectile-type toy or an action figure/Barbie doll/superhero toy or any toy that would lead to disruptions during class or aggressive play. Personal belongings should always be labeled with the child’s first and last name.

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PROGRAMS

B E F O R E A N D A F T E R C A R E ( 5 - 1 1 y e a r s )

The Before and After Care program is suitable for elementary school students aged 5 – 11 years (or through the end of elementary school). This program is designed to assist parents and guardians in after-school or before-school care while parents are at work.

Parents may drop off their children as early as 6:00 a.m., after checking-in at the front desk. Before dropping the children off at their respective school, we provide a small breakfast, including juice or milk. If children are arriving less than 30 minutes before the bus comes to pick them up for school, they are expected to eat at home before arriving at the center.

After school, we provide transportation back to the center, where children will enjoy an after-school snack, followed by time to start homework and other activities arranged by the teacher. Authorized persons can pick up their child at any time from the time they arrive back to the center, up until 6:00 p.m. If children are picked up after closing time, a Late Pick-Up fee may charged to the parent(s)’ account.

*If parents decide not to drop their child off for Before-Care, or if their child will be picked up from school prior to Spring Hill’s After-Care bus, parents are required to notify the center in writing at least 30 minutes prior to the child’s scheduled arrival or departure time. Spring Hill Academy’s pick-up and drop-off procedures depend on every child being accounted for prior to leaving the school or center so it is of utmost importance that parents give Spring Hill the courtesy to notify us of any schedule changes.

Changes to a child's Before or After-School schedule may be made once per school year with written confirmation from the parent.

Drop-In Care is an à la carte care service available to children already enrolled in the Before and After Care Program. This pay-per-day service offers full-day care (from the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) when children who regularly attend elementary school need care on days when school is closed (inclement weather, teacher work days, student holidays, etc.).