C Celebration

Daycare and Preschool

Parent-Child Handbook
WELCOME
This parent handbook has been prepared to acquaint the parents of the children enrolled at
Celebration Daycare and Preschool, with policies and procedures that govern the operation of
the Center. Included is information that will enable you, as parents, to work cooperatively with
the Centers Staff on behalf of your child. We hope you will read the Handbook carefully and
refer to it often. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask or call us at anytime. Parents
are invited to visit and /or observe our childrens program at any time. Participation in your
childs activities is encouraged and welcomed.

Celebration
Daycare and Preschool
P.O. Box 956 10 Saraland Blvd.
Saraland, AL 36571
679-9654 or 675-5433

Director: Alesia Gatewood

Assistant Director: Susie Powell

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 PURPOSE
The purpose of Celebration Daycare and Preschool is to provide a daycare program that will both
assist parents as well as care for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each child.
GOAL
Our goal is to provide a safe, clean, loving environment coupled with Biblical based
developmental curriculum, which will assist your child in reaching his/her potential.
ADMISSION
Admission is granted on a first come, first serve priority system as outlined below.
Priority 1: Currently enrolled needing full day, five days a week care.
Priority 2: Celebration Church member, parents needing full day, five
days a week care.
Priority 3: Those from the community needing full day, five days a week care.

CURRICULUM
The centers curriculum is the A Beka program. This program is a comprehensive curriculum
including phonics, numbers, art, writing and bible. Other supplemental materials are also used.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Operating hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center is opened
year round, except for the dates listed below.
Yearly closing holidays are as follows 2017:
New Years Day - (day after) January 2nd
Family Holiday - February 27th and 28th
Good Friday April 14th
Memorial Day May 29th
Independence Day July 4th
Labor Day September 4th
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday & Friday) Nov 23rd & 24th
Christmas Dec 25th & 26th

Children will be allowed 2 weeks vacation at half pay, at one-week intervals, to hold their place.
Child Care South participants must get a temporary suspension letter from Child Care South in
order to be eligible for a weeks vacation(per Child Care South).When bad weather occurs,
please listen to the T.V. or Radio for announcements due to closings. The Center will follow the
guidelines of the Saraland City School System.

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FOOD
Breakfast and lunch are served to the children each day, as well as an afternoon snack. Breakfast
is served between 8:00 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Please have your child at the Center by this time if
you want him/her to eat breakfast. NO breakfast will be held for any child arriving after 8:20a.m.
Lunch is served between 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. for ages 1-4 years old. Infants up to 1 year
will be served on demand.(NO OUTSIDE FOOD ALLOWED).

Special diets are the sole responsibility of the parent to supply. Please notify us if you have
started your child on a sippy cup so we can co-operate with this development.

PLEASE BRING...
Listed below are the items your child needs to be kept at the Center in his/her cubby. Please
label all items with your childs name. We are not responsible for lost/stolen clothing. Sew-on
nametags or permanent markers work best.

Infants/Toddlers
- 7 diapers a day
- diaper rash cream
- 1-2 complete changes
of clothes except shoes
- training pants/pull-ups if
being potty trained
- baby wipes
- formula or regular milk
- blanket/travel size pillow
* Bottles/Sippy cups must be made at home and brought to the center each day labeled with
childs name and date*
Preschool
- complete change of clothes
including underwear but
excluding shoes
- pull-ups(if needed)
- sleeping mat
- body pillowcase cover for mat
- blanket/travel size pillow

DRESS CODE
Children should be dressed in loose, comfortable clothing that is weather appropriate. Shoes
should fit well and be ready for lots of activity. No cowboy boots. Also, summer sun suits may
require a T-shirt for air-conditioned rooms. Please label all outerwear. We are not responsible
for lost/stolen clothing.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Your child will not be allowed to leave the Center with anyone other than the parent, legal
guardian or someone listed on the pick up list, unless we have your written permission.

Persons authorized to pick up your child will be required to show picture identification if
the Center Staff does not recognize the person(s). All children must be dropped off by 9:00
a.m. every morning. Anytime after, must be approved by the Director or Assistant Director.

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All children must be accompanied to and from their rooms, by an adult, upon arrival and
departure. Please sign your child In and Out daily(located outside each classroom).

Children enrolled at Celebration Daycare and Preschool or visiting, will not be allowed to
leave through the front door unless accompanied by an authorized adult. NO underage siblings!

Employees cannot take children in or out of the daycare unless they are relatives.

FEES (All fees are non-refundable)

Registration Fee ($75.00)

Supply Fee ($25.00)
Book Fee ($40.00) (3 & 4 yr olds)
Infants thru 2 yr olds ($115.00 a week)
3 & 4 yr olds ($105.00 a week)

Parents who pick up their child/children after 6:00p.m., will be charged a late fee of $10.00 for
within the first 10 minutes they are late and $10.00 for within each additional 5 minutes there
after. Legal authorities will be contacted for children left at the Center an hour after closing
time, if the persons listed on the Emergency Contact Card cannot be located.

Tuition is due the Monday services are rendered. There will be a $5.00 late fee added if the
tuition is not paid by Wednesday of the week that tuition is due, along with a letter of possible
termination. Tuition is due weekly not bi-weekly or monthly. (cash, check or money order)

ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is important. Very young children need routines for security. The Center
should be notified if your child will be absent. We need to know if your child is ill, especially
if he/she has a contagious disease.

If your child has any health problems or you are concerned about his/her health or safety at the
Center, please notify the director with a written note or a personal phone call.

Children must be 24 hours free of the following before returning to Daycare. We

obviously cannot keep children who have any of the following:
Diarrhea- more than (3) loose bowel movements within a (1) hour time span
Vomiting more than (1) or more times within a (1) hour time span
Fever 101 or above
Pink Eye
Impetigo/ rash of any unknown origin
Head Lice
Staff Infection

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You will be contacted by phone in such cases and asked to make arrangements for your child
to be picked up as soon as possible. Children who are sent home with a fever, vomiting or
diarrhea may not return to the Center until they have been fever, vomiting or diarrhea free for
24 hours.

Note: A doctors written release is required in order to re-admit a child who has had a
contagious disease. Must state they are no longer contagious.

Any medication given will be the sole responsibility of the parent to the administrator/teacher,
along with a medicine form filled out by the parent. This applies to prescription and over the
counter medications.

TODAY PAPERS

These papers are a vital communication system. You need to know what your childs day was
like. Today papers are completed daily for all children ages two and under.

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION

It is our belief that in a well-planned and managed program serious behavior problems rarely
occur. On these occasions when a child is experiencing problems, the following steps will be
taken in sequence until behavior is modified:
Intentional ignoring to help the child solve the problem himself/herself.
Open-ended question to help child discover the rule.
Redirect the child with limited choice.
One minute scolding including an explanation of acceptable behavior.
Isolating the child or excluding him/her from the group activity until such time he/she
chooses to abide by the rules (time out).
Calling parent for additional reprimand and reminder of acceptable behavior.
After all alternatives are tried, parent may be asked to find another Center that is a
better fit.

Demeaning is never an acceptable alternative for solving behavioral problems.

TOILET TRAINING

Children show signs of toilet training at different ages, although about 24 months is an average
age. No child is forced into toilet training.

If you have started toilet training, please keep your child in pull-ups. Switching back to diapers
(except at bedtime) is confusing to the child. Please provide an ample supply of disposable
easy open side pull-ups and other clothes to allow for accidents.

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CONFIDENTIALY

All forms completed upon enrollment will be kept confidential. No information regarding your
child will be released over the telephone to anyone except custodial parent(s).

TOYS

Our Center is equipped with an adequate supply of play materials. We realize children like to
share their favorite tapes and books(teacher request only) with their schoolmates and we love
to have them share. But the Center cannot afford to be held responsible for replacing these
should they become damaged or lost/stolen. Please keep this in mind before permitting your
child to bring their valued possessions to the Center. NO TOYS ALLOWED FROM HOME

The children may bring one blanket and a stuffed animal or doll to sleep with. No umbrellas,
purses, make-up, jewelry, etc. will be permitted. Parents should encourage their children to
leave items such as these in the car or at home before coming in the morning.

BIRTHDAYS AND HOLIDAYS

We are happy to have the children to celebrate their birthday at the Center. You may bring
treats for all the children in your childs room. Please make advance plans with your childs
teacher.

Please limit refreshments to cupcakes, cookies and/or ice cream and juice.
Party hats and favors are acceptable. Noise makers or blowers are not welcomed.
Please do not bring presents or balloons.
Arrangements must be made in advance with the Director or Teacher.
Birthday parties are scheduled at afternoon snack, generally around 2:30 p.m.
Please plan to stay and help clean up, as the Teachers first responsibility is the care of
the children.

Please do not send or have delivered birthday (or any other holiday) gifts, flowers or balloons
to your child at the Center. This causes hard feelings in those children who do not receive gifts.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS? COMPLAINTS?

As in any smooth running organization, there are ways to clarify problems. The teachers first
responsibility is to the children. They will not be able to talk with you at length as a rule unless
a conference is scheduled. Please address concerns about polices, programs or any other
complaints to the Director or Assistant Director. All issues will be handled in a timely and
appropriate manner.

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TERMINATION OF SERVICES

Please give one week paid written notice of withdrawal. Failure to give one-week paid notice
will result in a charge of one-weeks additional tuition. Notice must be presented only to the
Director or the Assistant Director.

We reserve the right to terminate services for non-payment, or non-compliance with the
Celebration Daycare and Preschool policies. We also reserve the right to terminate services to
any child or parent who cannot, after a reasonable period of time, adapt to our program.

NON-DISCRIMATION

Celebration Daycare and Preschool does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion,
creed or national origin.

(Revised 01/01/2017)