Parents' Handbook



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1. Introduction
History ABC Kiddie College is a Religiously Exempt Child Day Center (in compliance with the Code of Virginia, Section 63.2-1716) established in 2008 by the congregation of Light Global Mission Church (LGMC), located at 3901 Fair Ridge Drive #210, Fairfax, VA 22033. Mission and Purpose ABC Kiddie College strives to give age-appropriate learning and developing experiences to children in a Christian environment. The Center's care and learning program is designed: To provide a safe environment for children to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically. To provide the highest quality of care and education demonstrating Christian values and beliefs. To encourage children to develop at their own pace to reach their fullest potential and to prepare them for later school success. To offer diverse, balanced and enjoyable learning programs to achieve the highest level of education. To introduce the Bible to children and to relate God's word to everyday life.

2. Center Information
OUR FACILITY ABC Kiddie College is located at 3901 Fair Ridge Dr., Suite 210, Fairfax, VA 22033 and is affiliated with Light Global Mission Church (LGMC). The completely renovated two-story building is currently shared by the church and ABC Kiddie College. ABC Kiddie College's main office is located on the second floor, along with classes for ages 2 through Pre-K. Our infant/toddler room is located on the first floor for easy evacuation in case of emergencies. Our maximum capacity is currently 250 children. ABC Kiddie College has a separate classroom for each age group as well as an outdoor playground. DAYCARE HOURS AND PROGRAMS The daycare is open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 6:30pm. The programs available are: Half Day Programs (9:00am to 1:00pm) Full Day Programs (9:00am to 3:00pm) Extended Hours Program (9:00am to 5:30pm) All Day Program (7:00am to 6:30pm) Note: The maximum number of hours we can care for each child is 10 hours. STAFF Each and every ABC Kiddie College employee's primary focus is the happiness and well being of our children. Teachers must come to ABC Kiddie College with a basic knowledge of early childhood development and be able to prove excellence through their training and development of the children intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically. All staff members share the same Christian, Bible-based belief system and will work to instill Biblical ethics in the children. At least one employee that is trained and certified in first aid and CPR will be present at the center whenever children are present. STAFF HEALTH REQUIREMENTS The staff at ABC Kiddie College is required by the religious exemption law to be certified annually by a practicing physician or nurse practitioner to be free from any disability which would prevent them from caring for children. The staff is also required to follow the same guidelines of staying home as the students in order to prevent the spread of illnesses. PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE The Center is covered by public liability insurance which provides coverage in the event that someone brings suit for personal or bodily harm suffered during the operation of the Center as a result of negligence. MEALS ABC Kiddie College serves warm lunches provided by SchoolHouse Grill. More information and/or sample menus can be found here. All menu items are free of peanut or peanut products. (Note: SchoolHouse Grill offers vegetarian meals upon request.) ABC Kiddie College also provides a healthy morning and afternoon snack, served approximately at 10:00am and 3:00pm daily. Parents are welcome to bring in snacks and/or lunches for their child(ren). However, since our center is a peanut-free center, parents may NOT send in items containing peanuts or peanut products.* If parents would like to bring special snacks for the class (for birthdays, etc.), we ask that you let the center know in advance. NAPS Each class allows the children to have nap/quiet time in their rooms. Each child is provided with a cot in which to rest. Parents may send in sheets (crib sheets fit best) and/or blankets and pillows to make their child more comfortable.

3. Enrollment / Registration
APPLICATION PROCESS Parents should submit a completed registration form along with the registration fee ($70 non-refundable one-time fee), activity fee ($50 non-refundable one-time fee), and security deposit (2-week tuition payment refundable upon departure if proper 2-week advance written notice is given). The application is then reviewed and an interview with parents is conducted before admission is granted. Children with special needs that the Center is not equipped to handle will not be admitted. If not admitted, the registration fee, activity fee, and security deposit will be refunded. At the time of enrollment, parents need to have proof of ID for the child verifying his/her age (such as birth certificate or passport). IMMUNIZATION AND MEDICAL RECORD State law (Code of Virginia 22.1-270) requires that all children be immunized and receive a comprehensive physical examination before entering public school and day cares. The medical provider¡¯s signature is required on the MCH-213G form (Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form). For religious exemption from immunization, a parent must submit a completed Commonwealth of Virginia Certification of Religious Exemption Form. MODIFICATION OF SCHEDULE After enrolling in the program, any modification of schedule made after the first month will incur a $15 fee for each modification in a 3 month time frame. This fee is to eliminate frequent changes to a schedule, which adversely affects the child and the class. UPDATED REGISTRATIONS All families are required to complete a new enrollment registration form annually for the new academic school year. Parents are NOT required to pay another registration fee; however, the new registration keeps the center up to date of any changes and allows for adjustments for new tuition rates.

4. Policies and Procedures
TUITION There are three options for tuition payments: Monthly (payment due by the first of each month) Weekly (payment due no later than Monday each week) Bi-Weekly (payment due no later than Monday of the bi-weekly schedule) There will be no adjustments (including reduction of fees, credits, allowances or make up days) made for any holidays, recesses and other school closings, absences (due to illness or vacations – see "Vacation Allowance" for exceptions), inclement weather closings, etc. Rates and tuition fees are subject to change with reasonable notice as conditions require. At least one month notice will be given of any fee changes. All parents are required to pay the current tuition rates. STUDENT SCHEDULE All families are to adhere to the agreed upon schedule for the child. There are no credits or allowances for dropping a child in late or picking them up early. Dropping a child in late does NOT allow parents to pick up kids late. Please see "Late Pick Up Fees" for more information regarding late pick-ups. Please remember, that the center is a learning facility. Dropping a child late interferes with their daily learning activities, as well as adversely affects the learning of your child¡¯s fellow classmates. CHECK IN AND OUT PROCEDURES Parents are required to escort their child to and from the designated classroom and staff member each day. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE UNLOADED FROM THE CAR AT THE CENTER (unless they have registered for the Kiss and Ride program). Parents/Guardians are required to sign the Daily Sign-In/-Out Sheet at drop off and pick up. Parents/Guardians must notify the center if one of the Emergency Release Persons (listed on the Enrollment Registration Form) will pick up a child on a given day. For the safety of the child, we will request all authorized release persons to provide Government-issued photo identification at the time of pick-up. All pick up persons must be 18 years of age or older. All children should be dropped off and picked up on time. See "Student Schedule" and/or "Late Pick Up Fees" for more information. NOTE: In cases of divorce, the custodial parent must provide the center with the court order barring the other parent from picking up their child if applicable. STUDENT HEALTH ABC Kiddie College follows strict guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all children in the facility. Therefore, we ask that parents do NOT send their children to the school if they exhibit any of the following symptoms: Fever over 100¡Æ Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infection, ringworm, and impetigo (These infections must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours prior to returning to school.) Mouth sores with drooling Unusual rash Head injury Severe coughing or difficulty breathing Flu Severe cold Severe, uncontrollable coughing Diarrhea or vomiting Persistent abdominal pain Blood in stools Head lice Yellowish skin or eyes Any other contagious illnesses Please let the center know as soon as possible if your child will be absent. If any child exhibits the above symptoms at the center, the parent or emergency contact person will be notified to pick up their child IMMEDIATELY. Children must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to the center. When a child returns to school from an absence due to illness, a parental note stating the cause and recovery is required. For minor cuts, insect bites or blisters, school staff will apply first aid. For serious cuts or insect bites parents will be called and, if necessary, the children will be taken to the emergency room. The center does not carry accident/injury insurance on individual children. Parents are required to provide this coverage. MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION ABC Kiddie College has staff members certified to administer medication to children. A "Written Medication Consent Form" must be completed for each medication by the parent or legal guardian. Nebulizer and Epi-Pen administration requires written consent from the physician. All medication and administration tools (such as dosing spoons, oral medication syringes, pill crushes and medicine cups) should be provided by the parent. Over-the-counter medication must be in its original container and be labeled with the child¡¯s first & last names, along with their date of birth. Prescription medication should be in a child resistant container. It must have the original pharmacy label that includes the following items: Child's first and last names Authorized prescriber's name Pharmacy name and telephone number Date prescription was filled Name of the medication Route of administration Dosage of the medication How often to give the medication Date the medication is to be discontinued or length of time, in days, the medication is to be given. DRESS It is highly recommended that children dress in washable and comfortable clothes. An extra set of clothes (including underclothes) should be sent to the center in case of emergencies. Since some activities require paint, markers, etc., parents may also bring in a smock or larger shirt to wear over their clothes to keep nicer clothes from getting messy. Please label all clothes with your child's full name. Children are required to wear sneakers or rubber bottom shoes in order to play in the playground or outdoors. Socks are also required for outdoor play. Children wearing "jelly" type plastic shoes, shoes with no back, or flip flops will not be permitted to play in the playground for safety reasons. The center recognizes the importance of outdoor play and, therefore, we take the children outside daily if weather permits. Therefore, parents should send warm outerwear (including mittens, hats, coats, etc.) for their children in cold weather. All outerwear should be clearly marked with the child's full name. Children must NOT wear clothing imprinted with "un-Christianlike" messages or pictures. HYGIENE We encourage good hygiene at our center. As part of our good hygiene teaching in our 3 year old and 4 year old classes, we have time set aside after lunch for the children to brush their teeth. We would appreciate parents of children in these classes to bring in a toothbrush and toothpaste for their child to keep in their class so they can participate. Please mark your child's items clearly with their full name. TOYS We have a wide range of age-appropriate toys at the facility for all children to enjoy. We request that children leave their personal toys at home. We are not responsible for any toys that are lost, stolen or broken. DISCIPLINE The purpose and goal of discipline is to help children acquire a sense of what is considered desirable and acceptable range of behaviors. Such awareness ultimately gives children security and contributes to self-esteem. We encourage children to develop and maintain appropriate, desirable and Christian-like behavior by means of positive reinforcement (praise, recognition, etc.). Examples of the desirable behavior and characteristics are: Truthfulness and honesty Respect for the property of others Courtesy and respect for other people Cooperating with others and taking turns Observing the safety rules Christian-like and moral conduct Cleanliness and hygiene Social manners However, when children¡¯s conduct and behavior deviate from the acceptable range of behavior, it is often necessary to take disciplinary action to impress upon children that the behavior needs to be corrected. We use only positive and constructive means of discipline. We set limits clearly that are appropriate for the age of children and enforced consistently. When children go beyond the limits, they are withdrawn from the group activities and/or seated on a "thinking chair". Children are helped to gain self-control through such disciplinary learning. We do NOT use corporal or physical punishment. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT POLICY Virginia law requires that all educators report suspected abuse or neglect to the proper authorities to protect children and to help the family. The teachers, director and assistant director will carefully evaluate the detected signs to determine if such abuse/neglect is in fact suspected. The teacher will complete the child abuse/neglect form. OPEN DOOR POLICY We believe that parents are the most important partners in early childhood education. To facilitate free exchange of ideas and resources, we have an open door policy. All parents are welcome to visit and observe the class and participate in the instructional and support programs in cooperation with teachers. We just ask that you let the Director and teachers know of your interest and plan in advance. Some parents may want to read books to children, share special interest/skills with them, prepare activity materials for teachers, assist in teaching, making doll clothes, do clerical support activities, etc. VACATION ALLOWANCE Each family is entitled to a vacation credit of 1 week after 3 months of enrollment. Tuition is waived for the vacation period. When taking a vacation that extends beyond a week, a tuition payment of 50 percent of the weekly tuition for each extra vacation week is required. HOLIDAYS The center observes and is closed for the following holidays: New Year's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Holiday (Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after) Christmas Holiday If the holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday will be observed the previous Friday or following Monday. Please see the "School Year Calendar" provided by the Director. The center is also closed for a one week summer break at the beginning of summer and for one teacher workday at the end of the summer to prepare for the summer programs and for the new school year. CENTER CLOSINGS (INCLEMENT WEATHER OR EMERGENCIES) Please refer to our website for possible closings due to emergencies or inclement weather. Updates should be posted by 6:00am regarding closings or delays. TERMINATION / WITHDRAWAL POLICY The center requires a two-week written notice of withdrawal in order to receive a refund of the security deposit. Parents must continue to pay the tuition until the last day. The security deposit may not be used in lieu of tuition payment for the last two weeks. In cases of non-payment, legal action may be taken, and the parents/guardians will be responsible for all legal fees incurred. Once a child is withdrawn, s/he will only be eligible for re-admission based upon space availability and all other enrollment criteria. If the child is selected for re-enrollment, the parent/guardian will be required to complete an entire new Enrollment Agreement at the current rate and pay a new non-refundable registration fee at the current rate. If there is an outstanding balance (including tuition or fees) when a child is withdrawn, the parent/guardian will be required to bring their account current prior to completing a re-enrollment application.

5. Miscellaneous Charges
LATE PICK-UP FEES A late pickup fee of $5 per every 15 minutes per child will be assessed when a child is left beyond the agreed upon program schedule. Dropping a child in late does NOT allow parents to pick up kids late. RETURNED CHECK FEE A processing fee of $35 will be charged for all checks which are returned for any reason. LATE TUITION PAYMENT FEE A late payment fee in the amount of $5/day will be charged for each day late. Accounts two weeks in arrears may result in immediate termination of service until the account can be made current. The center cannot guarantee a child¡¯s spot will be available if withdrawn due to non-payment of tuition. Any unpaid tuition fees may be sent to a third-party collection agency SCHEDULE MODIFICATION FEE After enrolling in the program, any modification of schedule made after the first month will incur a $15 fee for each modification in a 3 month time frame. This fee is to eliminate frequent changes to a schedule, which adversely affects the child and the class.

* Parents' Handbook can be modified without notice.

Parents' Handbook

0 - Parent Handbook Download

1. Introduction

2. Center Information

3. Enrollment / Registration

4. Policies and Procedures

5. Miscellaneous Charges