Winsted Area Child Care Center, inc.

Table of Contents

Mission Statement………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………5

Center Philosophy……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….5

History……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..5

Objectives………………………………………………………………………………………………………....……………………..6

Program Goals……………………..……………………….……………………………………………………….………………….6

Program’s Expectations of Parents……………………………………………………………………….……………………7

Children’s Expectations of the Program……………………………………………………………….……………………7

Hours of Operations………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….8

Security Features…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………8

Registration & Enrollment………………………………………………………………………………………….………………8

Tuition Policy……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….8

Extended Care………………………………………………………………………….……………………..………………………..9

Changes in Enrollment……………………………………………………………………………………………….…..………….9

Priority of Enrollment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9

Absences…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………9

Emergency Contacts…………………………………………………………………………………..……..……….………………9

Pick Up Permission………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….9

Scholarships/Tuition Assistance………………………………………………………….…………………………….………10

United Way of Northwest CT Tuition Assistance……………………………………….…………………….………..10

Department of Social Services Tuition Assistance………………………………………………………….………….10

Care 4 Kids…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….10

Payment……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..11

Withdrawal………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………11

Refunds……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………11

Calendar…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..12

Serving Children with Disabilities……………..………………………………………………………………….……………12

Aggression Policy………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……..12

Services referred through Winsted Area Child Care Center………………………………………………..…..…13

Collaborative Agencies…………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…….13

Commitment to helping families in need………………………………………………………………………….….……13

Nutrition Program…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………13

CACFP…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………14

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CPR/First Aid…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………14

Emergency Medications…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14

Sick Policy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..14

Prescription and Non-prescription Medication…………………………………………………………………………15

Accidents………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………15

Allergies…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..16

Emergency Procedure for Staff…………………………………………………………………………………….…………..16

Fire and Fire Drills…………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………16

Evacuation Procedure…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………16

In Case of Disaster………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………17

Center Closings (Weather)……………………………………………………………………………………………….……….17

Closing Procedure…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….17

Definition of Child Abuse………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….17

Child at Risk…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..…18

Parent Substance Abuse Policy……………………………………………………………………………………….………..18

Cultural Diversity…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..18

Teaching Staff…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….18

Bus……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..19

Daily Schedule………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….19

Home Toys………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……….19

Curriculum………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….………19

Mailboxes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….……….19

Outdoor Play……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………..19

Food……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..19

Confidentiality……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………20

Behavior………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….20

Positive Discipline…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………20

Attendance……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………21

Calendar……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….21

Clothing………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..21

Field Trips……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..21

Sunscreen & Insect Repellant………………………………………………………………………………………….……….21

Swimming at Highland Lake…………………………………………………………………………………………….……….22

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Summer Hours of Operation…………………………………………………………………………………………….………22

Discipline Policy Agreement……………………………………………………………………………………………………..23

Parent Agreement to Policies…………………………………………………………………………………………………..24

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IntroductionThis handbook has been prepared in order for you to understand our center policies and gain some general knowledge of our center and its history. Please keep this handbook as a personal reference. The Winsted Area Child Care Center is licensed by the State of CT (License # 16183). We are a United Way Agency and a non-profit organization. Our location on 1 Lake St., Winsted CT provides care for up to 74 school age children aged 5-12 years. We have four classrooms designed with age appropriate activities including art, dramatic play, reading and literacy, and science and technology and quiet places for homework and independent activities. Our facility is open year round, providing before and after school care, summer day camp, as well as additional care for school closings, vacations, holidays and half days.

Mission StatementWinsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. is determined to provide the highest quality care for our smallest community members in a safe, nurturing and educational environment. Our program is committed to meeting the social and emotional needs of each child. We will continuously empower our parents to advocate for their children. Our hope is to strengthen the family bond by utilizing community resources to support the families of our center.

Center PhilosophyI (we) sincerely believe that for the child and for the adult seeking to guide him, it is not half so important to ‘know’ as to ‘feel’. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds grow. The years of early childhood are the time to prepare this soil. Once the emotions have been aroused, a sense of beautiful, the excitement of the new and the unknown, a feeling of sympathy, pity, admiration or love, then we wish for knowledge about the object of our emotional response. Once found, it has lasting meaning. It is more important to pave the way for the child to want to know than to put him on a diet of facts he is not yet ready to assimilate.

“To Develop a Sense of Wonder”

From The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson

HistoryThe Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation. It was founded in 1979 as the Winsted Area Public Day Care Center, Inc. by Penny Putnam, Ayrslea Denny, and Lyn Haskell, all of whom had been pre-school teachers for many years. They had been planning and looking for a site for two years when they joined forces with Ron Rosenstein, then a legal service lawyer, who was trying to find affordable child care for some of his clients. In June of 1979 the group obtained a diminishing 3 year grant for Innovative Day Care from the Office of Child Day Care Headed by Frances Roberts. John

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Groppo was instrumental in passing necessary legislation, making these grant funds available. In August of 1979 a Board of Directors was chosen and the first meeting was held. In October of 1979, the lower level of the Temple Beth Isreal Synagogue at 74 Park Place East was offered as a site, and in November, Penny, Ayrslea, Penny & Lyn, along with community volunteers, began scrubbing and painting to be ready for the January 2, 1980 opening. Of the original grand award of $25,000.00, nearly $10,000 was spent to make the site licensable.

In June of 1982, the grant ended, and the Center became a United Way member agency, and also applied for assistance from the Town of Winchester to help underwrite a tuition assistance program. The Center grew steadily in enrollment, staff and reputation. In 1986 the Winsted Area Public Day Care Center was one of the first in CT to become nationally accredited, and has maintained this accreditation to date. Funds from the Neighborhood Assistance Act made it possible to add a toddler program in 1990. In the fall of 1991, a separate Before and After School care program was added, enabling the Center to serve the community childcare needs for children ages 18 months to 12 years. In July of 1995 the Center officially changed its name to The Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. (WACCC) in an effort to better reflect the broad range of child care services being provided.

After years of relentless fund raising and dreams of updated facilities, the Board of Directors, Executive Director, Staff, and an outpouring of community support, this dream was realized in December 2002. Our bags were packed and off we went to our brand new building located at 185 Prospect St., Winsted CT. Another dream was realized in September of 2005, when The Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of a school aged care facility on 1 Lake St., Winsted CT. We are now able to serve children 6 weeks to 12 years! With a total of 12 classrooms between the two buildings, our current enrollment is over 180 children! We will continuously strive for improvement in our programming, and are proud to be a high quality child care facility.

Objectives To provide a comprehensive child care program based upon the fundamental factors of child

development in physical, social and emotional growth, as well as cognitive development To create a curriculum that caters to each child’s individual needs and interests To provide a comfortable environment that allows each child to develop self-confidence, self-

discipline, and a good self-image To strive continuously for program refinement for the benefit of our children, staff and parents To strengthen the family unit by their ability to work and play together; improving

communication between family members and helping families to improve their economic stability

To make every effort to develop support for those who financially cannot afford our fees

Program GoalsThe goals of WACCC B.A.S.E (Before & After School Education) Program is to provide a comprehensive, well rounded program with the primary goal of meeting the needs of the “whole child”; To recognize that each child and family have different needs and customs, and to do our best to help the families of our community strengthen their family bond. We are dedicated to providing families with the best possible care for their children at the most affordable cost.

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It is the specific goal of WACCC BASE program to offer a safe, caring environment, which meets the emotional, social, developmental, health, nutritional, psychological and educational needs of each child. In addition we will;

Admit children on a non-discriminatory basis Promote and facilitate each child’s individual development and self-esteem Provide care and services for children with special needs Create a happy, healthy, productive experience for each child Provide aid to families in need Encourage children to enjoy their childhood

Program’s Expectations of Parents The program expects parents to pay tuition fees on Monday for the current week. If the account

goes two weeks past due, the child will not be able to attend until the account is paid in full. A $10.00 late payment charge will be added to any outstanding balance if tuition is not paid in full

by Friday Parents are expected to keep their child’s records up to date (i.e. home/work/cell numbers,

addresses, pick up permission lists, health forms, enrollment schedule, etc.) Parents are expected to pick up their children on time. (WACCC closes at 6:00 p.m.) Parents are expected to follow the health policy Parents are expected to contact the program (860-379-2779) if their child will not be attending

BASE on their scheduled day Parents are expected to read any communications from WACCC regarding their child’s behavior,

and to cooperate in joint efforts to bring about behavioral improvements Parents are expected to promptly pick up their child from BASE if they are notified that their child

has become ill while at the program A completed CACFP enrollment form is required in order for your child to attend WACCC/BASE

Parents Expectations of the Program Parents can expect their children to be safe at the program Parents can expect their children to be cared for in a nurturing, supportive environment Parents should feel comfortable communicating with the staff about concerns relating to their child

or program Parents will be told about any behavioral concerns or problems and will be able to meet with their

child’s teacher and/or director in order to bring about improvement in the situation Parents will be contacted immediately if their child does not arrive at the program according to

his/her schedule Parents will be notified of any program and/or activity changes

Children’s Expectations of the Program Children can expect to have a safe, supportive and consistent environment Children can expect to be treated respectfully Children can expect discipline that is fair and non punitive

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Enrollment Procedures

Hours of OperationBASE is open at 6:30 a.m. daily and closes promptly at 6:00 p.m. Late pickup will result in a $10.00 fee, per child, billed directly to your weekly statement. The Program Manager’s office hours are 7:30 a.m – 5:30 p.m. If you need assistance outside of these hours, the Executive Director is available 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. by calling 860-379-0006.

Security FeaturesWACCC BASE is a secured building. NO one can enter the building without a security code. Upon enrollment you will be assigned a four digit code to enter the building. All doors to the building are locked from the outside at all times. Any unknown person will not be permitted to enter the building unless accompanied by office staff, for designated purposes. WACCC BASE asks that parents do not give their door codes out to anyone. If someone from your pickup list will be coming to BASE, please ask them to ring the doorbell outside the main door. A BASE staff person will let them in. Please advise anyone picking up your child to be prepared to show photo I.D.

Registration & EnrollmentThe registration packet will provide you all the necessary paperwork for enrollment. When your registration packet has been received, the Program Manager will determine your weekly tuition and start date. A non-refundable registration fee and security deposit on one week’s tuition will be due at registration. Registration fees are determined by enrollment date. Your security deposit will be used as a credit towards your child’s last week. The stat of CT Health Department requires that we have your child’s up to date immunization records prior to your start date. The Sate also requires that we have a completed physical form signed by your child’s physician before he/she can attend. Immunizations must be kept up to date and every child must have an annual physical. Failure to do so will result in exclusion from the program. A completed CACFP enrollment form is required or your child may not attend WACCC/BASE.

Tuition PolicyIn order to register your child for a BASE program, your account must have a zero balance. For example, before you can register for Summer Sensation, all outstanding fees from the previous school year must be paid in full. Likewise, in order to register for school year programming, all Summer Sensation fees must be paid in full.

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Extended CareWe have extended care hours for school vacations, snow days, early dismissals, holidays and half days. A separate enrollment sheet for these days is provided in your registration packet.

Changes in EnrollmentPlease inform the Program Manager of any changes to enrollment. All enrollment changes and program withdrawal requires two weeks written notice to avoid being charged. Due to our enrollment, we will do our best to accommodate the changing needs of our families, but are unable to guarantee availability of space.

Priority EnrollmentChildren are accepted into the program on a first come, first serve basis, contingent on our enrollment priorities. The priorities are in numerical order as follows:

1. Children of single, working parents2. Children of low income working parents3. Children of working parents in need of child care4. Children referred by other agencies5. Children of non-working parents in need of childcare6. Children of non-working parents desiring socialization

AbsencesPlease notify BASE if your child is going to be absent on his/her assigned day. This will help in our schedule so we do not have to contact your child’s school to obtain information as to where your child is. We do NOT substitute days if your child is absent. Tuition is charged whether your child is here or not. The space is held for your child and continues to be held when your child is not here. If a child has a lengthy illness and must be absent for a long period; please speak to the Program Manager to discuss a temporary tuition adjustment.

Emergency ContactsIn the event of an emergency or illness, it is extremely important that we are able to locate parents or other persons who can pick up your child. All children are required to have at least 2 emergency contacts, other than the parents. You will be asked upon registration to provide this information. Please keep these forms updated if circumstances change.

Pick Up PermissionChildren shall not be released for any reason, to anyone that is not on their pick up permission form. When someone new will be coming to pick u your child, a photo ID is required. No exceptions will be

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made! As with the emergency contacts (State of CT required), authorized individuals may also change on the pickup permission, so please keep us informed.

Tuition and Fees Policy

Scholarships/Tuition AssistanceTuition fees are determined by the Board of Directors and Executive director, and are reviewed on an annual basis. A tuition schedule for the current year is provided at the time of enrollment. WACCC may offer a limited amount of tuition assistance based upon income, family size, and the availability of funds. Assistance is made possible through funding from the United Way of Northwest CT, the Department of Social Services, and the CT Care4Kids program. Additionally, limited scholarship funds may be available for children whose parents are enrolled in a program of higher education, demonstrate financial need, and satisfy scholarship requirements. Please check with the office at the Center for more information. If a parent has a problem with their fee, they may present their concerns in writing for the Executive Director to present to the Board of Directors.

United Way of Northwest CT Tuition AssistanceFunding is provided by the United Way of Northwest Connecticut to family’s enrolled full time and who are at or below 75% of the State Median Income and are not eligible for any other assistance programs. Adjusted Gross income from the family’s most recent IRS form 1040 (1040A or 1040EZ) will be used to determine eligibility. A copy of this form must be provided as proof of income and income is verified on an annual basis. (A copy of the State Median income scale can be found on the enclosed tuition schedule.) Families that qualify for this program will receive a $20.00 discount from the Center’s full rate. Children enrolled at BASE that qualify for United Way Assistance will be charged the reduced rates as indicated in our enclosed tuition schedule.

Department of Social Services Tuition AssistanceThe State Department of Social Services provides the Center with funding to assist parents with tuition payments. Funding is provided for children who attend the center on a full time basis and is based on a sliding scale using the family’s income and size. Family fee schedules are provided by the Department of Social Services annually. Eligibility is determined by using the family’s most recent IRS form 1040 (1040A or 1040EZ), or the two most recent paystubs from each working household member. A copy of the forms used to determine eligibility must be provided as proof of income and income is verified on an annual basis.

Care 4 KidsThe Connecticut Care 4 Kids program provides funding to low and moderate income families who are enrolled on a full or part time basis; Care 4 kids is a partnership, working with the Department of Social Services to provide this assistance. Families wishing to apply for this program may obtain an application in either WACCC or BASE office. Our office staff is available to provide assistance in completing the application process and forwarding completed applications to Care 4 Kids. Care 4 Kids

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will review the applications and determine the family’s level of eligibility and parent fees. (Additional fees may still be required from WACCC/BASE). Once Care 4 Kids accepts a family into the program, their portion of assistance is sent directly to WACCC.

*All financial information provided with regard to tuition assistance programs is held in the strictest of confidence, and is only viewed by the WACCC/BASE office staff.

*Please be advised that there may be additional fees owed to WACCC beyond your Care4Kids rate. For example, if Care 4 Kids pays $47.00 per week with a $5.00 family fee, and your child comes all five afternoons in a week, you will be responsible for the $5.00 family fee plus the difference between what Care4Kids pays and our weekly charge of $50.00 (In this example, an additional $3.00 would be due).

*Failure to make timely payments of your parent fee will be reported to Care4Kids and will result in loss of Care4Kids assistance.

PaymentWeekly tuition is due each Monday for the upcoming week. Statements are generated in the Main office on Fridays and placed in the student’s mailboxes for the following week. Any account 5 days in arrears will incur a late fee of $10.00 per week. Any account of more than 2 weeks in arrears is cause for withdrawal until the balance is paid in full. Failure to make payments may result in termination of tuition assistance or exclusion from WACCC.

WithdrawalWe require two weeks written notice if you choose to withdraw your child from the program for any reason. If two weeks’ notice is not given, parents will be responsible for two weeks tuition from the date notice is given. WACCC reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any child whose presence is detrimental to the well being of the whole group or any child whose best interest is not being served by our program.

RefundsIf it has been determines that a parent has overpaid a significant amount (over $100.00) tuition will be deducted for the current week, as well as any balance due on the security deposit. The parent will be given the opportunity to apply the remaining credit to future tuition or fees, or receive it as a full or partial refund. For withdrawing children, we will deduct any amounts due to WACCC and refund the balance.

*Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. reserves the right to change tuition rates. Parents will receive at least a 30-day written notification of tuition changes.

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CalendarWe are closed on the following holidays. Those marked with an aterisk (*) are holidays on which the parents will be charged.

New Year’s Day*

Good Friday*

Memorial Day*

Independence Day*

Labor Day*

Staff Development Day (End of August)

Columbus Day

Thanksgiving Day*

Christmas Eve (Close at 12:00 PM)

Christmas Day*

Day after Christmas

New Year’s Eve (Close at 12:00 PM)

Commitment to Serving All ChildrenServing Children with DisabilitiesWe are committed to serving all children. While our staff on site does not specialize in serving children with disabilities, we will make every effort to bring in outside services to work with the child. Every effort will be made to educate our staff on serving the child and provide a curriculum to incorporate the child. We will actively involve the parents in development and use of individual education plans, which are designed to meet the child’s specific needs.

Aggression PolicyWACCC is responsible for the care and safety of all children attending the program. To this end, injuries to children by accident or as a result of aggression on the part of another child are given full and immediate attention. In the event however, that a child is repeatedly aggressive, including (but not limited to) biting, hitting, kicking, and/or use of offensive or foul language, the classroom teachers and staff will discuss the behavior with the Program Manager. Each child involved in such behavior will be discussed confidentially, and the consequences for each child will be determined in an independent manner. Staff will follow-up with parents regarding suggestions and strategies for halting the behavior.

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If determined necessary, child and family will be connected to the proper agency for support, or go through referral processes. In extreme cases, suspension or expulsion may be necessary.

Community Agency SupportServices referred through Winsted Area Child Care Center

Family Resource Center and Student Assistance Team Education Connection Head Start Northwest Center for Family Services and Mental Health Department of Social Services

Collaborative Agencies Kelly Services 860-496-1171 Winsted Rotary Canaan State Police 860-842-2500 Northwest Community Bank Blanche McCarthy Senior Citizen Center Head Start and other Community Centers

Commitment to helping families in needWith the help of various community supports, our center is able to provide help for families in financial need. Families can be referred through our center to proper agencies to help meet their needs.

Health, Safety & NutritionNutrition ProgramSound health is essential to wholesome development. WACCC actively participates in the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) through the CT Department of Education. The partnership ensures that a well balanced breakfast, lunch and snack will be served to every child without additional cost. We have a full time cook on staff that will work around any known allergies or dietary restrictions. If your child has any allergies or dietary restrictions, please indicate them on the health assessment form completed by the doctor. If this is done, we can arrange for substitutions, and still be able to stay within the guidelines the state requires for a meal.

*Food from home is not allowed at WACCC/BASE unless you have documentation from a doctor explaining dietary restrictions based on allergy or illness.

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CACFPA current CACFP enrollment form is required for all children enrolled in the program. Children will not be able to attend without a current, completed CACFP enrollment form. NO EXCEPTIONS!

CPR/First AidWACCC staff is certified in CPR, First Aid, and the administration of emergency medications.

Emergency MedicationsOur staff is certified in the administration of emergency medications. This certification allows us to administer Epi-pen injections in the case of anaphylactic reactions and breathing emergencies, under the following conditions:

We have a signed permission form with instructions from the parent We have written instructions from the prescribing physician using the approved form from the

Department of Public Health The medication is in the original container and bears the child’s name, physician’s name, the

name of the medication, dosage and method of administration and date of expiration

Sick PolicyTo prevent the spreading of illness from child to child we have implemented the following sick policy.

We ask that you do NOT bring your child to WACCC/BASE if he/she has:

A cold (with uncontrollable nasal discharge) A fever of 100.5 degrees or higher Any diarrhea and/ or vomiting in the last 24 hours Red, crusty eyes (this could mean infections) Discharge from ears Any unknown rash

When a child becomes ill while on the premises and is unable to participate in the program, he or she will be sent home. In addition, we reserve the right to send a child home and request a note from the doctor indicating that they have been examined and the child is not contagious, should we suspect and illness.

In the event that the child is vomiting, has diarrhea*, a fever of 100.5 or higher, or any contagious symptoms; parents are notified and required to pick up their child. Please note that when a child is sent home, he/she cannot return to the center the following day. (Example: If a child is sent home ill on Monday morning, he/she cannot return until Wednesday).

In the event fever is suspected, temperatures are taken under the arm. We do NOT add a degree to the reading.

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If a confirmed case of a contagious illness is evident, an exposure notice will be posted outside the classroom to notify parents. On occasion, we may need to consult with your child’s doctor or with one of our medical advisors about general medical problems.

Please keep children home at least 24 hours after starting a new medication If a child is dismissed twice in one week for the same illness, we will require a doctor’s note

before the child may return If your child is taking any medication, it must be logged in the classroom If you administer medicine to a child during their time at the Center, you must do so in the

office, and log the information in the office

*Children will be sent home with 2 episodes of diarrhea. They may not return the next day. Likewise, children with 1 bout of uncontained diarrhea will be sent home and may not return the following day.

Exceptions can only be made when the following occurs:

The child has been seen by a doctor and has a note saying that the diarrhea is due to medication he/she is taking

A doctor’s note indicates that there has been a change in the child’s diet, which is probable cause for diarrhea.

Please not that in either of the above instances, we ask that children wear rubber underpants over their diapers or underwear, as uncontained diarrhea is a contaminant to the environment and harmful to others. The child will be sent home if there is a reoccurrence of uncontained diarrhea.

Prescription and Non-prescription MedicationStaff is not permitted to administer any oral non-prescription drug. We are only permitted to apply non-prescription topical preparations with a doctor’s note. Please see the Program Manager for further information.

We welcome parents and/or parents approved designee to bring necessary medication to the center and administer it themselves. (Please remember to log it in the classroom and sign a release form if a person other than the parent will be administering the medication) In order for us to serve your child better, please inform teachers and record it in the medicine log if your child is receiving medication outside the center.

AccidentsWe strive to prevent accidents, but they do occur. At all times, there is staff certified in First Aid and CPR on site. When a child has an accident at BASE, the parent will receive a written notification that has been completed by the attending teacher and reviewed by the Program Manager. Accident reports require a parent signature. If deemed necessary, the parent may be contacted by phone in the event of an accident.

Allergies

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If your child has any known allergies, we need documentation from the child’s physician to be put in the child’s files.

Emergency ProceduresEmergency Procedure for StaffAt least one member, if not all staff members trained in First Aid, CPR, and Emergency Medication Administration is on site at all times. In case of emergency, the staff follows this procedure:

1. Calmly assess the situation2. Give child the necessary First Aid3. Ask another adult to contact the parent4. If necessary, call 9115. Inform the parent of this decision6. A staff member will accompany the child to the hospital, bring along the appropriate

emergency permission paperwork7. Remain calm and reassuring at all times8. Fill out an Accident Report after the child is under medical care and the parent has been

contacted

Fire and Fire DrillsIn the event of a fire (or fire drill), staff will take the attendance sheets, sign in/out sheets, emergency paperwork, first aid kits and supervise the children as they exit the classroom. Staff will instruct the children to exit the class/building to the nearest exit and line up for attendance in the designated “safe spot”. *Fire drills will be practice monthly so the children and staff will be familiar with the procedure.

The children will line up in their designated “safe spot” and staff will immediately take attendance. The Program Manager will check to make sure each group has everyone and they are lined up with their teachers.

Evacuation ProcedureIn the event of an emergency requiring evacuation from the building, we follow the same procedure as for fire drills. All children exit out the closest fire exit and line up at their designated “safe spot” where attendance is taken. If it is determined that the children cannot safely re-enter the building, the staff and children will walk by way of sidewalk to the Winsted YMCA located on Main St. From there, the staff will contact parents to pick up their children. First aid kits and a traveling emergency file, which includes emergency phone numbers, will accompany the staff and children whenever they leave premises.

*The Fire Marshal has the program site on the city evacuation plan. In case of an emergency that requires assistance from emergency personnel, staff will get instructions and evacuation assistance from the Fire Department/Emergency Personnel.

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In Case of DisasterThe plan of action for weather related emergencies are as follow:

Gather children in hallway away from all exterior doors and windows

All other emergencies such as gas leak, furnace malfunction, fire, etc. we will move from the BASE building to the YMCA on Main ST. From there, parents will be contacted.

Center Closings (Weather)We understand that even in snowy, stormy weather, our parents need to get to work. This is why we try to stay open even if the weather is bad. However, if the weather is so extreme that it makes travel dangerous to staff or children, the center will close. **Under other unusual circumstances (water problems, prolonged power outages) the Director may make the decision to close the center.

Closing Procedure Center closings are broadcasted on channels 3 and 8 by 5:45 a.m. If the center has been operating for the day and we determine that the weather is

deteriorating we will close the center early Parents will be notified by phone of our decision to close the center early and you will need to

pick up by the designated closing time If we are unable to reach you, we will contact someone from your emergency contact list

What is a Mandated Reporter?By Connecticut State law, employees of The Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. are mandated reporters for all suspected case of child abuse and/or neglect or a child at risk. The Connecticut Abuse Care Line number is 1-800-228-5437. We stress that when a call is made to DCF it is in good faith and strictly for the protection of the child. We are NOT required to inform parents or guardians if such a report is made.

Definition of Child AbuseAny child under the age of 18 years who has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him/her by a person responsible for his/her health, welfare or care, or by a person given access to the child by the responsible person other than by accidental means or has injuries which are at a variance with the history given to them, or is in a condition which is the result of a maltreatment such as but not limited to malnutrition, cruel punishment or has been neglected. (17a-101 (b) 46b-120).

Child at Risk

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Reasonable cause to believe or suspect a child is in danger of being abused as opposed to belief that the abuse has actually occurred. (17a-102)

As professionals in child care, we are mandated to report any suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Should you have any questions, please contact their Torrington office at 860-496-5700.

Parent Substance Abuse PolicyShould an adult arrive to pick up a child whom is suspected to have consumed alcohol or other impairing substances the child will not be released. Staff will call an authorized adult on the pickup permission list to pick up the child. By CT State law, mandated reporters must report offenders to the Department of Children and Families.

Day to Day InformationYour child’s classroom is designed to provide a stimulating environment which encourages the child to solve problems, make decisions, begin activities, ask questions, and explore and experiment with educational materials.

Cultural DiversityWACCC stresses the importance of cultural heritage. Classroom materials reflect diverse cultures and provide experiences that stimulate children’s natural curiosity about the world around them. Parents are encouraged to share their family’s cultures and customs. If you have music, food, clothing, art, etc. that reflect your family background please let a teacher know.

Teaching StaffEach teacher in your child’s classroom is First Aid and CPR certified. Our teaching staff is highly qualified. Full time staff is required to attend a minimum of 16 hours per year of continuing education. We feel that it is important for teachers and parents to have open communication. If you have a concern about the program, feel free to address any issue with the teachers. If teachers have any concerns they will communicate with you on a daily basis to address the issue. Close parent-teacher communication helps the teacher know and understand each child, as well as helping the parent understand what activities their children are involved in while at BASE. The ration of teachers to children is 1:10, which is always maintained.

BusChildren who are Winsted residents will be transported to and from BASE by the local bus company. (Worhunsky Transportation, Manager: Jodi Audia; 860-379-0020)

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Daily ScheduleBASE opens daily at 6:30 a.m. Upon arrival, please sign your child in on the classroom sign in/out sheet. If your child is on any medication, please update the medication log and inform the teachers. If the child has any bumps/bruises etc., please let the teachers know. Our schedule is posted in each classroom and changes seasonally. The schedule is flexible to allow for a daily variety of indoor and outdoor activities and quiet play. At pick up please remember to sign your child out on the classroom sign in/out sheet.

Home ToysWe ask that you do not allow your child to bring in toys/games/trading cards, etc. from home. If a child is given permission to bring in a toy/game/trading card, etc. WACCC is not responsible if the item is lost, broken or stolen.

CurriculumWhile your child’s classroom is made up of mixed age groups, curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all children and is planned weekly by his/her teacher. The weekly curriculum is posted in each classroom.

MailboxesEvery child has a mailbox for notes from the Center, bills, artwork, etc. Please learn where your child’s mailbox is located and check it daily. There is always important information that may need your attention.

Outdoor PlayWith the exception of the winter months, children go outside to play at least two times per week. If a child is well enough to be at BASE, we assume he/she is well enough to participate in outdoor activities.

FoodWhen your child is at BASE, he/she will receive meals that are nutritionally balanced in accordance with the Connecticut Child Care Food Program requirements. We serve all meals in small portions, family style so children can serve themselves and ask for more. Occasionally we may have a treat for dessert. Each meal consists of proper portions from each food group and reflects a diverse cultural background. Please do NOT send your child to BASE with candy. Home food is NOT permitted at BASE!

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ConfidentialityParent and staff communication is key to understanding the individual child. We encourage all kinds of information to be share, from how your child slept the night before to any changes in your family life. To make this as comfortable for the parents as possible, all staff members are required to sign a confidentiality statement upon employment. This states that staff members will have neither conversation with others, nor share written information about any of the families or situations that are encountered within our center.

BehaviorOur behavior management structure is based on 5 rules:

We listen and follow directions We keep our hands and feet to ourselves We respect our room, our friend, our teachers and ourselves We use our manners at all times We use walking feet and inside voices

Children’s behavior will be recorded using progress reports. If a child does an exceptional job throughout the day or if there is an incident that occurs in which a parent must be notified, a progress report will be sent home to inform the parents of the details of the incident. A child’s negative behavior may also result in losing the privilege to join us on field trips. In the rare case that a child has shown extreme negative/aggressive behavior they will be given a discipline report. The first report is verbal and the second report is written. The first written report will result in suspension that will be one full day plus the child being required to be picked up early on the day of the offense. A second offense will lead to a full 3 day suspension. If the child’s behavior fails to improve he/she will be asked to leave the program.

Positive DisciplineBuilding a child’s esteem and a positive self worth is key in early development. The main goal we wish to reach when disciplining young children is to instill inner self controls in the place of teacher maintained external controls. Positive discipline allows children to focus on their good behaviors rather than negative. A child who fears adults may never be able to form proper attachments. Our ultimate objective is to help the child achieve responsibility for him/her self.

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Summer Sensation PolicesAttendancePlease notify BASE by 9:00 a.m. if your child is going to be absent. We have an active summer schedule and it helps in planning our day to know which children will be attending. Activities and programs are scheduled throughout the day so we ask that all children arrive at BASE by 9:00 a.m. (earlier on some field trip days), and stay until 3:30 p.m. As we spend lots of time off site, any student that needs to be picked up and/or dropped off outside these hours will need to have transportation to offsite locations arranged by parents.

CalendarPlease post the program calendar in your home where you can refer to it quickly. Please be aware of the weeks you have register your child.

ClothingFor safety reasons, all children MUST wear sneakers. If your child is wearing inappropriate shoes you will be asked to bring your child home and return with proper footwear. On field trips and lake days your child is required to wear their Summer Sensation t-shirt. It is good practice to have your child pack a full change of clothes, including socks, shoes, underwear, bathing suit and towel to keep at BASE.

Field TripsA general permission slip for all summer field trips is included in the registration packet. It must be signed for your child to go on any trip. On the days where a field trip is scheduled please have your child arrive at BASE by 8:30 a.m. All children must wear their Summer Sensation t-shirts. We ask that you do NOT give your child spending money for the trip. All Summer Sensation staff attends the trip, so therefore we CANNOT accommodate any children who cannot attend, please make other arrangements for their care.

Sunscreen & Insect RepellantWe ask that all children bring a bottle of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. The bottle will be labeled and kept in the classroom. We will apply the sunscreen in the morning and afternoon, as well as bring sunscreen to the lake and on field trips. Children cannot share sunscreen (other than siblings), so please make sure to provide a bottle for your child. You may also provide bug repellent which will be applied to your child once daily. When you are running low on sunscreen, Summer Sensation staff will send home a notice in your child’s mailbox.

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Swimming at Highland LakeEach week the children will walk to the lake for swimming. A parent or guardian must sign the permission slip in the Summer Sensation Registration Packet. Each child is required to have a bathing suit, towel & sunscreen. The children will go to the lake with their classroom teachers on a specified day of the week. The groups are made up of one staff member to every 5 children for any child aged six and up. For children younger than six, the ratio is one adult for every 4 children. The maximum swimming group size is 20 children to 4 adults (5 adults for children under six). We ask that all children wear their Summer Sensation shirts on swimming days. A detailed schedule of lake times will be provided to the parents. Per state regulations, children will not be allowed to swim if a certified lifeguard is not present.

Summer Hours of OperationBASE Summer Sensation is open Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Office hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In the event of an emergency outside these hours, you can reach our Main office at 860-379-0006.

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Winsted Are Child Care Center Discipline Policy

Our program has rules, which are demonstrated consistently during the year. These rules are used to set limits necessary to insure the safety and to protect the rights of each child.

In correcting a child who has exceeded a limit, two steps are taken. First a child is given a verbal warning or secondly, he/she is reminded of the rule or limit and offered a replacement behavior or activity so that he/she has a chance to check or change his/her behavior.

If the problem persists, the following Positive Guidance strategies may be used: redirection, modeling, positive attention, and encouragement, choices, setting a firm but gentle structure, natural consequences, logical consequences, problem-solving discussions, active listening, or removal to another area. In some extreme cases the child may be sent home for the day to avoid further disruptions. At no time will a child be neglected, hit, physically harmed, verbally abused or cause to suffer humiliating punishment by an adult. In extreme situations where a child is posing a serious safety risk to himself/herself or to others, physical restraint may be needed. This is only used as a last resort after all other strategies have been tried. The child may be sent home for the current day to prevent further disruption.

Children exhibiting serious behavior patterns will be referred to enter the Individual Support Plan (I.S.P.) Process. Staff and parents will meet to develop an individualized behavior plan which may include mental health observations, referrals, and a modified program plan.

At no time will a child be left unsupervised. Prior to transitions that involve changing locations (i.e. walking field trips or to the play yard), each teacher will perform a head count with one another.

Food is never used as a punishment or reward. Children are encouraged, but not forced to eat or taste food. If a child refuses a food, it is offered again at some future time. Forcing children to eat or using desserts or other food as reward or punishment may create problem eaters and unpleasant or undesirable associations with the food. Stars, stickers and other gimmicks to encourage children to eat are not appropriate.

Staff receives discipline policy and child behavior management trainings as part of the yearly continuing education. Staff supervision is ongoing through formal and informal observations. Ongoing training for discipline issues is provided as needed based upon the formal and informal observations in the classroom.

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________________________________________ ____________________________________Parent’s Signature Date

o My signature indicates that this policy was discussed and explained to me.

Parent Agreement to Policies

I_________________________________________________________________ have carefully read

and fully understand all the policies and procedures detailed in the Winsted Area child Care Center,

Before & After School Education Parent Handbook, including:

Registration Requirements Illness Guidelines Closing Procedures & Emergency Plans Tuition Payment Policies Daily Operating Procedures Summer Sensation Polices CACFP Enrollment Form Requirement

I also understand that The Winsted Area Child Care Center, Inc. reserves the right to change any of

these policies or change tuition rates at any time. Parents will be informed in writing of any changes to

policies, procedures or tuition a minimum of 30 days in advance.

Childs Name:_________________________________________________________________________

Parent Name:_________________________________________________________________________

Parent Signature:______________________________________________________________________

Date:______________________________

Director/Program Manager Initials: ______________________________Date:____________________

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