INTRODUCTION 

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church recognizes that children are one of our most precious resources and that there is a continuing need for quality child care for children of working parent families in our church family and community. St. Luke’s U.M.C. has established the Child Development Program (CDP) as an outreach ministry within our church and community. The Child Development Program is a nonprofit, interracial, non-political ministry, for the purpose of providing quality child care in a Christian atmosphere of love and support. This is an exciting ministry for all of us. Thank you for your prayerful support of the staff and children of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Child Development Program.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The goal of our program is to offer a safe and nurturing Christian environment for children. We emphasize social experiences, age-appropriate learning experiences, and activities to enhance physical health and development. We believe that children develop continuously through a series of stages at their own individual pace. Children need a place to be themselves and a place to work. Their play is their work; it is how they learn. For this reason our curriculum includes teacher-initiated (structured) activities, free play (child selected), large and small muscle activities, and time for social interaction. Children are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills through choice making, problem solving, and discovery learning.

We believe parents are the single most important influence in a child’s life. Ongoing communication between you, your child and the staff will help your child’s progress and will make the transition between home and CDP more comfortable for him/her. We offer a variety of communication channels. Informal chats with your child’s teacher at the beginning and end of the day are a useful way to share with each other important events in your child’s life. Communication between parents and staff can give us important clues for future planning.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

• see him/herself as an important person loved by God

• develop a good self-image and sense of personal worth

• develop independence and self-reliance

• develop creative thinking and problem-solving techniques

• have courage to try and fail

• develop self-discipline

• be able to interact within a group

• view others as equally important and unique individuals

• develop spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, behaviorally, and physically so that the child is a well-rounded person

Religious activities are included in the curriculum each day. The children have a weekly Bible verse and story that are incorporated into the daily lessons. Chapel service, which is held once a week, may consist of Bible stories and/or songs of praise. The children also participate in prayer before meals and snacks.

PROGRAM

The Child Development Program is licensed by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and meets or exceeds all the standards of a licensed day care center. We are licensed to care for children 6 weeks to 12 years of age. There are two aspects to our total program:
Full Day Care - For children ages 6 weeks to kindergarten age. Beginning at the age of 2, all children participate in a developmentally planned preschool program. Enrollment preference is provided for full time clients, but other children are accepted into the preschool program as space is available.
After School Care - Provided for children who need care after kindergarten, after school on school holidays during which parents must be at work. Transportation is provided from some schools to our facility

Schedules - Each classroom has a daily schedule posted that shows the time frames for the different activities. Weekly lesson plans are posted in the classroom showing the different activities for that week

Special Occasions - We encourage children to celebrate their birthday with their classmates. Parents may bring a treat for each child in their group. We do ask that you arrange the date and time with your child’s teacher, so that plans can be made accordingly.

HOURS OF OPERATION AND HOLIDAYS

The Child Development Program is open: Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In order to allow the children an uninterrupted nap/rest time, parents will not be allowed to drop off their child between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

We are closed the following days: New Years Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (both Thursday and Friday), noon on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

When Christmas falls on a Thursday, the Child Development Program will be closed both Thursday and Friday. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the program will be closed on Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, the program will be closed on Monday.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

We recognize that positive discipline teaches and encourages the healthy development of a child’s self-esteem. St. Luke’s Child Development Program does not allow the use of corporal or physical punishment. The following positive techniques are used:

• praising

• reinforcing good behavior

• setting limits and enforcing them

• redirection

• mediating

• time-outs

This is consistent with our goal of discipline, which is guiding the child in developing inner control and assuming responsibility for his/her own behavior.

We ask for parental input to help us understand the needs of each child. Parents will be notified when negative behavior becomes serious or seems to be setting a pattern. We also want to share with you, positive signs of social growth. A child will be removed from a situation or deprived of certain privileges if he/she cannot behave. The CDP reserves the right to remove a child from the program if his/her behavior becomes disruptive or abusive to the learning environment of others in the class.

Biting Policy- The teachers will provide a verbal notice to the parents of both parties involved when a biting incident occurs. The CDP will send home bite warning reports to the parent of the child who is biting. After 3 notices, if the biting has not ceased, the CDP reserves the right to remove the child from the program.

Adjustment Period- Each child has his/her own way of adapting to a new environment. Some will protest and some will never have a reluctant moment. Please remember to expect a period of adjustment as often growing experiences cause concern and stress. Rely on the staff to help your child as we are glad to have the opportunity to be a part of your child’s life and service to you.

Concerns/Conferences - If you have a concerns or you have a complaints regarding the care of your child, we encourage you to direct them to the Director or Assistant Director. They will be happy to discuss the problem and find a solution. If you feel that you need to schedule a parent conference, please notify the Director or Assistant Director to set the time and date for such conference.

ENROLLMENT AND FEES

On your child’s first day, the first month’s/week’s tuition is due and all necessary paperwork returned. The following forms are required before your child may attend.

• Enrollment Information Form (front and back side)

• Financial Agreement (weekly or monthly)

• Parent Consent Form/Accident Waiver

• Current Immunization Record

• Signed Parent Handbook Agreement

Registration: At the time of enrollment a non-refundable registration fee of $50.00 is charged annually thereafter.

Weekly Tuition: Due every Monday. When payment is received after Monday, your account will be charged a late fee of $3.00. If tuition is not paid by Wednesday, your child will not be able to attend our program until full payment is received.

Monthly Tuition: Due on the 1^st of each month. When payment is received after the 10^th, your account will be charged a late fee of $10.00. If tuition is not paid by the 15^th, your child will not be able to attend our program until full payment is received.

There is no fee reduction for absences, since CDP’s operating costs continue. However, because we understand that illnesses happen, we have adopted the following exception; any child absent more than 10 consecutive CDP days in a four-week time period, for illness, with medical documentation, will receive a 25% discount for that month if paying by the month or 25 % discount for 4 weeks if paying by the week.

Supplies: Each child at the time of enrollment will be charged a supply fee of $60.00. This fee helps cover the expense of art supplies and other materials. This is also charged annually thereafter.

Returned Check: An NSF (Not Sufficient Funds) fee of $25.00 will be assessed for any checks returned to us not paid. In the event you have two checks returned to us NSF, you will be required to pay with money order or cash for all future childcare.

Late Pick up: When a child is not picked up by 6:00 p.m., a fee of $1.00 per minute is charged to the parent. Payment is expected at the time of pick up (clock in CDP office is official time).

Closures Due to Weather: We follow the Midland Independent School District (M.I.S.D.) closure schedules. If M.I.S.D. closes early, you will need to pick up your child at the designated M.I.S.D. time. If M.I.S.D. has a delayed start, we will open at the same time.

Termination/Withdraw: A two-week written notification is required when withdrawing your child from the facility. If a notice is not given, you will be charged for two weeks after the child’s last day. Please be advised that any advance child care payments cannot be refunded except in the form of child care.

ILLNESS

We work hard to keep our staff and children healthy. Still even healthy people can develop illnesses that can be spread easily in a group setting.

The goal of our illness policy is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. We request that you keep your child at home if any of the following has or is occurring:

• Vomiting (now or within the past 24 hours)

• Fever (now or within the past 24 hours)

• Diarrhea (now or within the past 24 hours)

• Constant Cough

• Fussy, Cranky, Generally Not Themselves

• Unreasonably Tired or Listless

• Heavy Green Nasal Discharge

 

If your child is too sick to participate in all of our normal activities, he/she is too sick to be at CDP.

If Your Child Becomes Sick While At CDP: In the event that your child becomes sick while at CDP we will immediately contact the parent or other authorized person. We expect your child to be picked up within 30 minutes after we have called. When your child is sent home sick they may not return to the CDP for 24hours.

Medication: At times it will be necessary for your child to receive medication while at CDP. We will only be able to administer medicine when it is brought to the Child Development Office. All medication must be in the original container, with the child’s name on the container, with complete doctors instructions (where applicable), and the medicine must not be expired.

    NOTE:

Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Service requires that all over- the-counter medication be dispensed according to the label on the bottle. If it read "consult a physician," we must have a doctor’s note to dispense the medication.

Immunizations: A current immunization record must be on file by the first day of attendance and updated each time your child receives shots.

ROUTINE

Meals: St. Luke’s provides two snacks and a nutritious lunch each day. Our snacks are planned to meet a child’s nutritional needs. Menus are posted monthly. Children are encouraged to try all foods but are not forced to eat. If you know your child will not eat a particular menu item, you may bring a sack lunch for him/her on that particular day. Please advise us of any allergies your child may have.

Field Trips: Occasionally we arrange to take children age 3 and older of field trips away from CDP. Parents will always be notified in advance about field trips requiring transportation. Parents are always welcome to join us.

Naps/Rest: The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Service require that a 2-hour nap/rest period after the noon meal be provided. Parents must furnish a mat or pallet for the child to lie on during nap/rest periods. Please be sure your child’s name is on these articles. Your child’s blanket should be taken home weekly for laundering. Parents will not be allowed to drop off their child between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Outdoors: Fresh air and exercise are important to a child’s good health. Children who are present must be able to participate in normal group activities which includes outside play. Please be sure your child has appropriate clothing for all seasons. If you feel like your child is unable to participate in outdoor play, please discuss the situation with the Director or Asst. Director.

What to Bring: Daily activities include eating, messy art projects, sensory activities and outdoor play. Please be sure that we have at least one complete change of clothing in your child’s room. Please label each item, including socks and underwear.

What Not to Bring: Toys should not be brought to CDP except on show-n-tell/sharing day. Fridays have been designated as that day. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Locating Your Child: When your child leaves his/her class the teacher will leave a message on the door indicating where they will be.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Sign-In/Out Procedures: We require that you sign your child in and out of CDP daily.

Security: As an important security measure, we ask that you, or the adult you designate, bring your child into CDP and insure that he/she is under the proper supervision. Your child can only be released to adults 18 years of age and older that you have designated in writing. Please notify the CDP Office, each time anyone other than the child’s parents will be picking them up. Identification will be required from any person not known to the staff.

Safety:

The following items are not allowed at CDP: sharp objects or toys with sharp points, guns, knives, tobacco, drugs or alcohol.

• Please do not allow your child to bring small balls or other objects which can be swallowed.

• Radio/Cassette/CD players are not to be brought unless special arrangements are made with your child’s teacher.

• Students are expected to obey and respect all teachers or adults.

• Play fighting, including shooting, is not allowed.

Children may observe insects and other creatures but do not harm them. We are all God’s creatures great and small.

Revised June 2005

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