Parent Handbook

PARENT HANDBOOK

2013-2014

_{Bob Schmitt}

Director of After School Care and Tutoring

4130 Bryon

West University Place, TX 77005 (713) 510-3102

_{OLD SCHOOL}

AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM

_PHILOSOPHY

Old School After School Care program is based on a return to basic principles. We provide children opportunities for physical, educational, emotional, spiritual, and social growth.

Our objective is to provide a secure and nurturing environment for those enrolled. Throughout our program, there is an atmosphere of love and understanding.

Old School After School Care is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services which is the gold standard of licensing as it pertains to the health and safety of children. This program serves children of all races, nationalities, and religions from Fourth through Eighth Grade.

_{THE SCHOOL YEAR}

Old School After School Care program begins on August 26^th, 2012 and ends May 29^th, 2014.

_{CENTER HOURS}

Office Hours 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Contact via phone/email)

ASC Hours 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (On site)

_{TRANSPORTATION}

Old School currently provides transportation from the following schools:

• _{Pin Oak Middle School}
• Pershing Middle School
• Lanier Middle School

ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES

1. Pick up registration packets at the West U. Recreation Center or Colonial Park and complete all forms. Forms may also be downloaded via our website at www.oldschoolasc.com.
2. The “Authorization for Medical Care” form must be notarized.
3. When registering, return the completed forms, the non-refundable registration fee and the non-refundable deposit of one month’s tuition. Make checks payable to Old School ASC and please write your child’s name on the bottom of the check. However, applications will not be processed until payment is received. For payment options, please see Payment Guidelines.
4. All forms must be turned into our office before your child’s first day of ASC.
5. No child will be allowed to attend ASC without all registration forms complete.
6. All outstanding balances must be paid in order to sign-up for ASC.
7. All tuition must be paid by the 15^th of each month, or a late payment fee of $20 will be assessed.
8. Note that parents are responsible for keeping proper registration information, change of address, current phone numbers and current medical information in their child’s permanent records.

Registration:

Early registration for existing Old School ASC members will open on April 15^th, 2013. Registration is a first-come, first-serve basis, at the ASC office or submitted online on our site.

May 1^st, 2013: Open registration begins on a first-come, first-serve basis, at the ASC office. Registration will continue from this day forward until ASC is full. Please call our office at 713.510.3102 to verify availability. If a child’s group is at maximum capacity, children may be wait listed in the order their applications are received.

_ACTIVITIES

Old School’s ASC provides a variety of activities for the children:

• Individualized Tutoring
• Board Games
• Manipulative Games
• Community Service Project
• Computer Time
• Field Trips
• Supervised Homework Time
• Supervised Field Sports

Physical

• Providing the children with opportunities to develop fine and gross motor skills through the use of materials and activities
• Time allotted for daily gym and playground/field sports activities

Social

• Encouraging cooperation in a group setting
• Facilitating interaction with peers and staff

Intellectual

• Offering a variety of activities to develop the children’s thinking skills
• Providing reading materials
• Providing a place in which children can do their homework and get assistance if needed

Creative

• Providing opportunities for exploring and observing the world around us by free choices and planned activities
• Encouraging the child’s self-expression, feelings and creativity with various activities such as art projects and dramatic play
• Encouraging the child’s artistic expression through ancillary activities including yoga, jazz, ballet, and photography

_REGISTRATION

In May of every year, Old School ASC holds open registration for the upcoming school year. Parents may pick up a registration packet from our office or download all forms from our website www.oldschoolasc.com

_{ENROLLMENT FORMS}

All forms necessary for enrollment must be received in the office prior to the child being admitted to our program. There are no exceptions!

Note that parents are responsible for keeping proper registration information, change of address, and current phone numbers in their child’s permanent records. Please contact the ASC office to report any changes.

_FINANCES

Tuition statements will not be mailed. Please pick them up at the ASC office.

Monthly tuition payments are due on or before the fifteenth of each month. A late charge of $20.00 will be added when payment is received in the ASC office on the 16^th day, or later, of the month. A $30 charge will be applied to any returned checks.

Please give monthly payments to the ASC office or mail them to Old School ASC at 8923 Prichett Drive Houston, Texas 77096. Print “Old School After School Care” on the envelope. Credit cards are accepted as payment under the parent portal tab on the Old School website.

Make all checks payable to Old School ASC.

Please note there are no refunds given when your child is absent or when ASC is closed due to holidays or inclement weather.

_WITHDRAWAL

If it becomes necessary to withdraw your child from our program, please notify our office in writing two weeks before the date of withdrawal. Any outstanding balances must be paid before withdrawing your child. Please note you are still responsible for the full monthly tuition of partial months attended.

_{PARENT ORIENTATION AND INFORMATION}

Administration will periodically send emails with important information so please watch your email inbox.

_{TELEPHONE/CELL PHONES/VIDEO GAMES}

We ask that parents do not call their child unless absolutely necessary. Staff members can give your child any messages. Children may not call their parents at work. A staff member will contact parents in case of emergency. Children’s cell phones must be turned off and kept in backpacks at all times.

_HOLIDAYS

Please check our website www.oldschoolasc.com under calendar for days that we will be closed.

ASC closes during the second week of HISD Christmas holidays and Good Friday.

Private school students should note that HISD holidays and In-Services might differ from their own.

2013-2014 ASC Closed Days:

September 2^nd Labor Day

September 13^th Fall Holiday

November 27^th-29^th Thanksgiving Holiday

December 23^rd-January 3^rd Winter Break

January 20^th Martin Luther Kind Day

March 17^th-21^st Spring Break

April 18^th Spring Holiday

May 26^th Memorial Day

_{PROCEDURES FOR FIELD TRIP / TRAVEL}

We notify parents 30 days prior to any field trip to register to participate. They must sign a Parent Permission form to transport their child as well as pay the appropriate fee for the activity. Additionally each child must have an Emergency Medical Consent form completed. We will then compile a written list of all the children going on the field trip. All children’s records are transported with us on all trips along with allergy information and point of contact information. The Director will carry any medication along with medication forms. Appropriate transportation will be arranged having a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and appropriate seat belts. Each care giver will wear a bright colored tee-shirt identifying them to the children. Care givers on the trip will each carry a cell phone for communication purposes. Each care giver is certified in CPR/ AED/ First aid. The children will wash their hands upon arrival. The children will be counted and loaded into a van transported to the activity location. They will line up and walk into the activity. Lunch will be scheduled at a local restaurant. The children will bring money to pay for their meal. Care givers will take children to wash their hands and will remain posted outside the restroom and at any exits. Upon completion of lunch the children line up and are counted to walk back to transportation. Upon return to Old School they will wash their hands and then participate in any activities until picked up by parent or designated approved person on the Sign Out Card. Please be prepared to show identification when picking up your child.

_{PLAN FOR SUPERVISING CHILDREN ON FIELD}

A qualified care giver will accompany children outside with a checklist of children present. Prior to leaving to go outside, children will be counted and a building attendant will be asked to unlock the outside restroom and check to make sure it is empty. The only door to the outside restroom is clearly visible from the field. Children must ask the care giver to use the restroom. The care giver will be present while children are on the field. Other children will not be allowed to intermingle with Old School children. Children will be assembled and counted prior to returning to the classroom. Upon entering the building children will wash hands before entering the classroom.

_{CLOSING DUE TO WEATHER}

We close our center whenever HISD closes. If HISD closes during the school day due to bad weather, you will need to pick up your child at school. This includes when HISD closes/cancels after school care and after school activities. Listen to local news for school closings. If you are unsure, please call our ASC office at 713.510- 3102 and check our website at www.oldschoolasc.com.

_{EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN}

Should extreme circumstances require the evacuation of our facility, Old School After School Care maintains a reciprocal agreement with the City of West University Place Recreation Center located at 4210 Bellaire Blvd. Children may be picked up at this location. Specific instructions will be left on our voicemail at 713.510.3102 and information will be posted on our front door with the directions to our current location.

Emergency contact information for each child is provided to the office at the beginning of each school year. Parents must advise the office of any changes so we may contact you in case of emergency.

_{SHELTER IN PLACE}

We have a Shelter in Place plan in the event of a biological or chemical emergency in our city. We will lock down the building for the safety of the children.

In the event of an actual chemical/biological emergency, the children will be moved to a designated area of our building. Once we have accounted for each child and staff member, this area will be locked. The area will be secured and not opened until we receive an all-clear from the proper authorities.

Should an emergency occur, we urge all parents to follow instructions given by the local authorities. If you arrive at Old School after the children are secured in the building, there will be instructions posted giving you directions to a safe place in our building where you may wait for your child to be released.

MEDICATION

ASC staff cannot give any medication unless parents complete an Authorization for Medical Care Form. Medicine must be in the original container with the child’s name, the physician’s name and directions for administering the medication clearly marked.

_{MEDICAL EMERGENCIES}

In the case of a medical emergency the office staff will attempt to contact the parents of the child. If the parents cannot be reached, the emergency contact will be called. If the child needs emergency medical treatment and no listed contacts can be reached, the ASC staff reserves the right to call 911.

_{MEDICAL RECORDS AND IMMUNIZATIONS}

All children are required to have authorized shot records prior to the beginning of ASC. Records must be current. No child will be allowed to attend without these records.

Each child’s hearing and vision screening must be current and on file at the child’s current school.

_{ILLNESS/INJURY}

Parents will be notified immediately in cases of illness or injury. Precautions are taken at all times to safeguard the health of all children. This includes refusing to admit sick children into After School Care and isolating those who become ill while at ASC.

If a child develops a contagious disease, the Director must be contacted. We will notify parents if a communicable disease develops at After School Care. Children with a communicable disease are not allowed to attend ASC until a medical evaluation signed by a physician indicates that the child can return.

_{PICK-UP POLICIES}

Parents must inform the ASC office at 713.510.3102 by 12:00 p.m. if their child will be absent that afternoon. Failure to do so will result in a $20.00 fee for each occurrence.

The ASC vans will wait at schools a total of 10 minutes for children to arrive. After 5 minutes, the van drivers will contact the ASC office. If the child has not been reported absent and has not arrived, the ASC office will call parents to let them know their child is not on the van. The vans cannot wait more than 10 minutes due to additional school routes awaiting Old School’s transportation.

Parents must come inside and check their child out each evening. Parents must sign their initials and the pick-up time in the master binder at the ASC office. CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CHECK THEMSELVES OUT.

Children will be released only to parents or to persons designated by parents.

If someone other than the ones listed on the Authorization for Pick-Up list needs to pick up your child, a written note MUST accompany the request and a phone call to inform us in advance.

Picture identification/driver’s license is required for any person who is picking up your child until we are familiar with that person. Staff will make a copy of all driver’s licenses presented and these will be kept in the child’s file.

LATE PICK-UP

A late pick-up fee of $5.00 per minute per child will be charged after 6:35 p.m. Please call if you will be late. The late fee will be collected by the desk attendant at time of pick-up. Only cash will be accepted.

_{BUS RULES}

The children MUST observe all bus rules and regulations. This is to insure the safety of all the children in our care. With the first and second bus/van infraction, we will ask a parent to discuss the guidelines and proper behavior with the child. With the third infraction, we will deny all transportation for a minimum of three days. Please go over the transportation guidelines with your child carefully.

1. Be at the bus stop departure area on time. It is unfair to the other children on the bus and at the other stops to wait more than 10 minutes for a latecomer.
2. Remain well out of the roadway while waiting for the bus, and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before you approach.
3. Get on and off the bus in an orderly manner.
4. Do not open doors or windows unless instructed by the driver.
5. Obey the bus driver at all times.
6. Talk quietly. No yelling out the window or inside the bus. A sudden scream is especially dangerous.
7. Use only respectable language towards the driver and others. No fighting or swearing allowed.
8. Upon entering the van sit down, face forward, keep all items out of the isle, and keep seat belts fastened until the van has come to a complete stop.
9. Do not throw anything outside the window or inside the bus.
10. Do not eat or drink inside the bus.
11. Keep all body parts away from the windows and inside the bus at all times.
12. Do not deface the vehicle in any way. This means no writing on, scratching, tearing, or breaking any part inside or outside the bus.

_{CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE}

The philosophy held by Old School is one of assisting each child to respect both the rights of others and the care of the facilities.

When interventions are necessary they will be:

1. Individualized and consistent for each child
2. Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding
3. Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control

Our caregivers will only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self esteem, self control, and self direction. These techniques include:

1. Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only on unacceptable behavior
2. Reminding the child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive d statements
3. Redirecting behavior using positive statements
4. Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development, when it is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.

There will be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline are prohibited:

1. Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment
2. Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training
3. Pinching, shaking, or biting a child
4. Hitting a child with a hand or instrument
5. Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth
6. Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting or yelling at a child
7. Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language
8. Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed
9. Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child’s age

The staff at ASC will make every effort to help your child have good experiences. However, this requires support from home and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

_{CONDUCT REPORTS}

When behavior problems occur and other discipline methods are not effective, a staff member must fill out a conduct report explaining why the child was disciplined. The report is kept in the discipline reports binder.

If the discipline problem persists, an office administrator will contact the parents to discuss the problem in order to come up with possible solutions for the problem together.

1st Office visit – warnings and procedures discussed with alternatives sought.

2^nd Office visit – parents/guardians will be contacted and the situation discussed.

3^rd Office visit – parents/guardians are required to immediately pick–up their child for the remainder of the day.

4^thOffice visit – parents/guardians are asked to pick–up their child and may not return the following day. If the child is brought to the office again he will be dismissed from ASC

for the remainder of the school year. No refunds will be issued for a disciplinary dismissal.

_{MEALS AND SNACKS}

Every afternoon snack is provided for the children. We offer a variety of snacks with healthy options. The provided snack is posted on the ASC bulletin board in the office window. The children are required to wash their hands before all snacks.

_{PARENT VISITATION}

Parents may visit our program at any time to observe their child, the center’s operation, or activities. Once at the center we ask parents to immediately sign in at the front desk and sign out when they leave. Under no circumstances may a parent leave the center with their child without signing out their child.

_{PARENT ENRICHMENT}

Throughout the year, different workshops and seminars related to parental concerns will be scheduled. Parents are encouraged to attend.

_{IMPORTANT NOTES}

1. Parents must advise the office of any change of address or phone number.
2. Please do not send personal toys, games or movies with your child to the center. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST ITEMS.
3. Please label all your child’s belongings with his/her name and school.
4. ASC has art activities throughout the week. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE s FOR STAINS OR DAMAGED CLOTHING!
5. The equipment and furnishings are here for your child’s enjoyment. However, we will bring to the attention of the parent any deliberate misuse or destruction of property with a request for replacement.
6. Please inform our staff of any special circumstances that may contribute to a child’s behavior.
7. Under the Texas Penal Code, any area within 1,000 feet of a child care center is a gang free zone, where criminal offenses related to organized criminal activity are subject to harsher penalty.
8. ASC works hard to insure that all products used in our program are safe. If parents are interested in reviewing a list of unsafe children’s products, theymay go to www.cpsc.gov.

LICENSING/PROCTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES

A copy of the Minimum Standard Rules for licensed child care centers is available in the ASC office and may be reviewed upon request. A parent may contact our local licensing representative at 713.940.3058 or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services child abuse hotline at 1.800.252.5400. Furthermore, a parent may visit the Protective and Regulatory Services website at www.dfps.state.tex.us.