Wilson County Schools Parent Handbook and Program Policies

Wilson County Schools Parent Handbook and Program Policies 2015 - 2016

1 Message to Parents

The Kids Club Extended School Program provides quality care in an environment that is safe and enriching for each child enrolled. This service is provided during the hours when there may be no adult supervision in the home. In the program, children will have the opportunity to take part in activities which will benefit them socially, emotionally, physically, and educationally. Kids Club includes activities such as crafts, sports, games, art, music, computers, homemaking activities and many other creative and cultural pursuits.

The Kids Club program is planned and conducted by a staff trained to meet the needs of children and to provide positive adult role models. There is flexibility enough to accommodate children from different age groups and, at the same time, to fulfill the special needs of individuals. Kids Club supplements and supports the child’s experiences at home and at school. Kids Club is a quality program designed with the working family in mind. However, any parent, working or non-working may enroll his/her child. The Kids Club Extended School Program does not discriminate due to age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, creed or veteran status in the provision of services, program activities or employment opportunities or benefits.1

Those who work in the Kids Club program want to know how you and your child feel about the program and how we might better meet your needs. All questions concerning policies and procedures for Kids Club should be addressed to the school level site director or the system director Ashley Culbert at (615) 453-3570.

ENROLLMENT*

Although enrollment is limited by space, every child has an equal opportunity for enrollment. You may enroll your child for the week or for a specific number of days each week. Priority will be given to families needing full week care.

The Kids’ Club program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, creed, or veteran status in

1 Inquiries concerning Title VI, Age Act or Title IX of the Civil Rights Act or the school system’s grievance procedure should be directed to Chuck Whitlock at (615) 444-3282. For inquiries about 504, contact Dawn Bradley at (615) 453-7302. Inquiries concerning Americans with Disabilities Act should be directed to Mickey Hall at (615) 444- 3282. You may also contact each of these individuals at 351 Stumpy Lane, Lebanon, TN 37090. 2 the provision of services, program activities or employment opportunities or benefits.

The program will follow the procedures below to ensure students with disabilities have equal opportunity to attend and participate in the program.

The determination whether a student with a disability is qualified to participate in the Kids’ Club program, and what accommodations that student will require to participate in the program, will be determined on a case by case basis.

The parent/legal guardian of a student with a disability will schedule a meeting with the site director and the system director of the Extended School Program. The meeting will discuss what accommodations, if any, will be needed to ensure that the student will have an equal opportunity to participate in the program. The site director and system director will consult with the parent/guardian and teachers to review other pertinent data regarding the student and his/her needs to access the program.

Kids Club accepts children on a daily basis as long as guidelines for specific days have been followed. A non-refundable registration fee of $20 will be required of all children at time of registration. You may register with the site director at your child’s school between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm Monday through Friday. Hours of operation are 6 am to 6 pm.

School Year Rates (per week)

Before School Care 1 Child $10.00 2 Children $20.00 3 Children $30.00 After School Care 1 Child $80.00 2 Children $115.00 3 Children $140.00 Both Sessions 1 Child $90.00 2 Children $135.00 3 Children $170.00 Full Day (Breaks and Summer) 1 Child $100.00 2 Children $160.00 3 Children $205.00 $25.00 per Daily Full Day Per Child day

3 At the time of enrollment, you may choose either a daily rate or weekly rate. This is the rate at which you will be charged during the year unless you notify the site director in writing of any changes.

RETURNED CHECKS

You will be notified should an insufficient funds check be returned. The bank will automatically send the check through a second time if it does not clear the first time. There will be a fee charged by the bank for this service. After receiving two returned checks, Kids’ Club will only accept cash or money orders. No child will be allowed to stay in the program with past due accounts unless approved by the system director.

FEE PAYMENT

Weekly payment for the Kids Club program must be made on Friday in advance of the week for which payment is being made. A late charge of $2 per day will be assessed if payment is not received by Monday of each week. Please keep your weekly fee payment current in order to assure your child’s place in the program. Continued late payment of fees will result in the removal of your child from the program. All checks or money orders should be made payable to Kids Club with your child’s name on the check or money order. You will receive a receipt for all payments and checks or money orders will be deposited within 2 business days from when the check or money order is receive. We discourage any cash payments.

ABSENCE

Kids Club cannot deduct single day absences from the program, unless you are registered for a daily rate, you will be responsible for the weekly fee. 4 When you enroll, you are reserving a space for your child whether he/she attends or not. Unless the site director is notified by Friday of any changes in attendance for the following week, you will be responsible for all charges for that week. In the event of an extended illness of three consecutive days or more in any week, please notify the site director in order to have your fee adjusted.

PICK UP/DROP OFF PROCEDURES

Please check with the site director for the specific location to pick up your child. Children must be brought into the building in the morning and signed in with a Kids Club staff member. Children must be personally checked out from the program in the afternoon by means of a sign-out sheet.

Children will not be allowed to wait for parents anywhere outside the building. Failure to do so will result in termination. Remember, this is for your child’s safety.

Children will not be released to any person other than those authorized on the registration form nor to anyone younger than 16 years of age. You must notify the site director in writing if a person other than those authorized will be picking up your child. If staff members do not know or recognize the person picking up your child, they will ask to see identification. Again, this is for your child’s safety.

LATE PICK-UP

The Kids Club program closes promptly at 6 pm. If you arrive later, you will be charged a late fee of $1 per minute past 6 pm. Should you have an unusual situation, please call to notify the program staff. Anyone arriving late, more than twice in any one month will be asked to leave the program.

SNOW DAYS

Kids Club will operate on a shortened schedule on snow days from 8 am to 6 pm to ensure the safety of our students and staff. The Director of Schools will make the decision regarding whether or not the Kids Club is open on inclement weather days. The safety of our students and staff is our primary concern. Please watch our local news channels for closing information.

If school releases early due to weather, the staff will be on site to attend to the children. The charge for these days will be an additional $10 per day per child on the weekly fee for a full day. Please send a lunch if you think there’s a possibility of a shortened school day. Kids Club does not provide 5 breakfast or morning snacks, however, your child may purchase breakfast in the school cafeteria during regular school days.

Intersession periods will operate on a full day basis. On these days, children should bring a lunch which includes a drink. A yearly calendar outlining the school and Kids Club schedule is available for the 2015-2016 school year. This calendar outlines days that Kids Club will operate on a full day schedule and fees per week. Please ask you site director for a copy of the calendar.

HOLIDAYS

The Kids Club program will not operate on the following days during the 2015-2016 school year: Labor Day (September 7, 2015), Thanksgiving (November 26-27, 2015), Christmas (December 24-25, 2015) , New Year’s (December 31,2015 and January 1, 2016), Good Friday (March 25, 2016), Memorial Day (May 30, 2016) and July 4th, 2016.

DISCIPLINE

All children enrolled in the Kids’ Club program will be expected to follow rules established the Wilson County Schools Code of Conduct 2015-2016 and by the staff for the purpose of safety and smooth operation of the program. Children who have continual behavior problems will be asked to leave the program. The staff is committed to positive reinforcement of good behavior. If a major problem occurs, the parent will be contacted immediately by the director.

CONSEQUENCES

Kids Club will use the following consequences for misbehavior:

1. warning (verbal or written)

2. time out

3. note to parents

4. phone call to parent’s home or work

5. one day suspension

6. suspension from the program

Any child who becomes a threat to himself or any child or adult involved in the program, will be immediately suspended without having to follow the above consequences. More than one consequence may occur in a day.

TOYS 6 Kids Club will provide a variety of stimulating toys, games, and materials for the children. Your child is strongly discouraged from bringing toys from home unless they are requested by the site director for a particular activity. We are not responsible for lost, stolen or broken toys.

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

A variety of enrichment activities and after school homework help will be offered to your child during the program. Some instructional programs may be offered as an option to you. We will strive to provide a stimulating environment for each child through a diverse curriculum.

HOMEWORK

A 45 minute period will be set aside each afternoon to allow time for homework. Since the children have been in school all day, they will need some time for childhood activities. Therefore, no child will be allowed to stay in the homework area after the allotted time. All children (with the exception of kindergarten students) will be informed when it is time for the homework period. The children should have their own supply of paper and pencils for their work. Although the staff will offer help and encouragement to your child during this time, they cannot force your child to do his/her work. Please talk with your child regarding using this time wisely.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

When the parents or guardians disagree with the procedures, placement or actions concerning the Kids’ Club program or staff, every effort will be made to reach mutual agreement. However, no problem can be resolved unless the parties involved are fully aware of the situation. If you have a disagreement concerning Kids’ Club, you should follow the grievance procedures as listed:

1. Communicate the disagreement to the school site director. This may be in a verbal or written communication.

2. If the disagreement is not resolved after communicating with the site director, you should then inform the system director, Ashley Culbert of the problem at (615) 453-3570

3. Complaints regarding discrimination on the basis of sex, disability, age, National origin, color, gender, religion, creed or veteran status or

7 any grievance procedure under Section 504, Title II, Title IX, or the Age Act should be addressed to: Chuck Whitlock, OCR Compliance Officer, Wilson County Board of Education, 351 Stumpy Lane, Lebanon, TN 37090 or (615) 444-3282.

4. The Board of Education’s grievance procedure is outlined on the Wilson County School’s Discrimination Grievance Procedure page (attached).

PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PAGE

____ I have received and read the Parent’s Handbook 2015-2016 and the state regulations and will abide by the policies set for in them.

I am responsible for paying all days even if my child does not attend (unless daily rates or illness guidelines are met). I will pay each week in advance.

I will pick up my child by 6 pm. I agree to pay a late fee of $1 per minute should I arrive at the site later than 6 pm.

I will keep my child home when he/she is sick.

I give permission for my child to watch movies that are deemed appropriate by the Kids’ Club site director unless I specify otherwise.

No child will be released from the program to anyone under the influence of alcohol or other drug use. Should drug or alcohol use be suspected, the staff will contact law enforcement officials and will only release the child to another person on the authorized pick up list.

I have read the consequences for inappropriate behavior. I understand that more than one consequence may occur at a time. I realize that inappropriate behavior could result in removal of my child from the program.

PLEASE READ, SIGN BELOW, and RETURN IT TO THE SITE DIRECTOR.

8 Parent Signature Date School

Fees must be paid before your child attends:

Registration Fee ______First Week ______