GUIDE FOR PARENTS

CASCADE CHRISTIAN DAY CARE CENTER

2805 THORNAPPLE RIVER DRIVE, S.E.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49546
942-8795

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

At Cascade Christian Child Care, we provide a safe, warm, nurturing environment where
children can grow and develop at their own rate. We are committed to quality care that
enriches the individual development of the whole child.

SCHEDULE

Cascade Christian Day Care Center hours are 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Children must be
brought to the Day Care Center before 9:00 A.M .if they wish to be included in morning
snack and must be picked up by 6:00 P.M. The Center is closed on the following
holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Good Friday,
Thanksgiving Day, and also the day after Thanksgiving. We may also close another day
in addition to the 4th of July if the holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday. If closed at any
other time, advance notice will be given so parents may make other arrangements. We
follow the Forest Hills School System calendar for the start of our fall session and are
closed two weeks during the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays and one week for
Spring Vacation (the first full week of April). We are also closed two weeks in August
right before school opens for the new school year. Whenever our school is closed, no
payment is required. We are currently reviewing the times that we are closed and may
stay open during some of these times as parents indicate that they need our services.

VACATIONS

A two week notice is necessary regarding vacations. If a child is absent for a week due to
illness or vacation, one half of the child's tuition fee will be required to hold the child's
place in the program. When the Day Care Center is closed for any reason, parents are not
required to pay tuition.

FEES

CHILDREN ATTENDING MONDAY - FRIDAY (5 DAYS A WEEK)

$22.00 per day for a half day (less than 5 hours) if a child attends Mon.-Fri.

$40.00 per day for a whole day (more than 5 hours) if a child attends Mon.-Fri.

CHILDREN ATTENDING LESS THAN 5 DAYS A WEEK

$26.00 per day for half day (less than 5 hours)

$46.00 per day for a whole day (more than 5 hours)

1 . A student attending Cascade Christian Day Care Center is allowed as many
non-paid absences per year, as days per week he/she is enrolled in the program.
When the non-paid absences have been used, payment for absences will be
required to hold the child's place in the program.

2. Initial Enrollment Fee: A non-refundable fee of $25.00 will be charged to hold

your child's place. This fee will be collected with your initial enrollment form, and
does not apply to the first tuition payment.

3. Fees will be collected one to two weeks in advance depending on individual

circumstances. Other payment schedules can be discussed with the Director.

4. The bank charges our account $2.50 for each check returned to us for insufficient
funds. You will be asked to pay this fee should your check be returned.

5.A two week written notice is necessary to change your child's schedule or to with-
draw from our program. All tuition fees must be paid prior to your child's last
day of care. If we are experiencing difficulty meeting your child's developmental
or behavioral needs, our concerns will be discussed with you. You will be asked
to seek evaluation from your pediatrician, Ken-o-sha, the Child Guidance Clinic,
or similar community resources. If we are still unable to meet your child's needs
after evaluation and an effort to try recommendations, you will be asked to seek
alternate care.

LATE PAYMENT POLICY

If tuition is late, your child will be dismissed from the program and his/her place will be
offered to a child from the waiting list.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Age: 2-1/2 to 6 years

Eligibility: Any child regardless of nationality, race, sex or religion

Expectations: All children MUST be completely toilet trained

ATTENDANCE

Please call the Center by 9:00 A.M. if your child is going to be absent because of illness
or other reasons.

SNOW DAYS
Cascade Christian Child Care Center will be open during Snow Days unless there is a
severe blizzard or ice storm that causes the closure of many area schools and businesses.
If we close during inclement weather, you will be notified by tuning in to Wood TV 8
where you will see that “Cascade Christian Church – Childcare is closed..” If we are
closed due to the weather, no payment is required for that day. If, however, we are open
during a Snow Day, payment is required as usual unless you choose to use one of your
paid absences.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Physical examinations are required for children every two years. The following
immunizations are required: DTP, Polio, MMR, Hib, Hepatitis B, Varicella,
Pneumococcal Cojugate. Health forms must be signed by a D.O. or M.D., not by the
nurse or physician's assistant.

Send adequate clothing for outdoor play the year round. Please mark all clothing with
your child's name. It would be desirable for us to have a change of clothing for your child
on hand to use in case of accidents. Clothing can be placed in a shoebox, labeled with
your child's name, for storage at the Day Care Center.

In case of illness or emergencies, parents will be phoned and asked to pick up their
children.

Children will only be released to their parents or individuals whose names are on the
child’s information card. If we have not met the person before, we will need to see a
photo ID.

Please keep your child at home if he/she is ill or has a temperature. We can administer
medicine ONLY if given written permission specifying the dosage and time. Any
medicine to be given has to be in the original container or pharmacy bottle. The first
dosage of any medication has to be administered by the parent.

At various times, children and staff are required to thoroughly wash their hands for at
least 10 seconds using soap to create foam and friction, then rinsing with running water,
and drying with a single use paper towel. Hands will be washed after using the restroom,
after helping with a potty accident, before and after eating or food preparation, after using
a tissue, and whenever soiled.

Our child care center is professionally cleaned once a week. During the week, the staff
maintain the premises. The bathroom is cleaned and sanitized daily, floors are vacuumed
and mopped as needed, and trash is collected and put outside in the dumpster at the end
of the day. Table tops are cleaned and sanitized with soap water, rinse water and bleach
water before and after eating snacks or lunch. Any articles or surfaces which may have
been in a child’s mouth are washed, rinsed and sanitized daily. Each morning a new
supply of bleach/water solution is mixed for that day’s use. Nap cots are cleaned and
sanitized weekly unless a cot is used by more than one child. In this case, the cot is
cleaned and sanitized daily. Bedding is stored at least 6 inches off the floor, is exclusive
to one child, and is laundered once a week or when soiled.

GENERAL INFORMATION

You may send a treat (cupcakes, cookies, Rice Krispy treats, fruit snacks...) for your
child's birthday, however, please do not send gum.
Please send a bag or box lunch with your child as Cascade Christian Day Care Center does not serve
lunches. We DO provide morning and afternoon snacks and milk at lunchtime.

Children may bring a "special blanket" and/or pillow for naptime. We do furnish pillows
and blankets, however, a child may feel more comfortable with his/her own.
 Please escort your child into the Day Care Center each morning. We MUST know where
to reach you at all times. Notify the Center of changes of address and phone numbers at
work or at home immediately.

For your child's protection, we will NOT release him/her to anyone you have not
authorized in writing to be an escort. This means that you must let us know if someone
else will pick him/her up. If the person designated to pick up your child is not someone
that we have met previously, he/she will be asked to show a photo I.D. such as a driver’s
license.

Our back door will be locked during the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Please plan to
use the front entrance during these hours.

CASCADE CHRISTIAN DAY CARE CENTER

HEALTH POLICIES

I. A. In the effort to keep communicable diseases out of our school, we ask that
children with the following symptoms, severe enough to keep them from
participating in daily activities, be kept at home: coughing, fever, sore throat,
swollen glands, running nose, ear and eye discharge, diarrhea, rash, upset
stomach . . .

B. If a child is no longer contagious, and has his/her doctor's permission to return

to school, medication can be administered only with written parental
permission. Prescription medication shall have the pharmacy label indicating
the physician's name, child's name, instructions and name and strength of the
medication. We will maintain a record stating the time and amount of any
medication given or applied.

C. Staff members must have a physical examinations and a TB test prior to

employment. All staff participate in CPR and First Aid training on a yearly
basis. Children entering the day care center must have a physical examination
that indicates immunizations received. Children must also have physical
examinations every two years thereafter.

II .If a child becomes ill at school: (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, severe cold
symptoms ... )

A. The child will be separated from the group (on a cot in the office).
B. The child will be made comfortable and given a blanket, bowl, or Kleenex to
meet their needs.

C. Parents or assigned representative will be called to pick up the child

immediately.

III The Cascade Christian Day Care Center staff is responsible for reporting to
parents any observed changes in the child's health and any accidents that may
 have happened to the child while at school. A written report will be made
and kept on file of all accidents except those considered minor.

IV Emergency Medical Procedure

A. Non life-threatening - (broken bone, small cut that might require stitches,
2nd degree burn. . . )

1. Director, if present, or first teacher on the scene, will stay with the
child, assess injuries, alert staff, and apply first aid.

2. One teacher will be directed to phone the parent to take the child to
his/her own physician. If the parent can't be contacted, the assigned
representative will be called. If neither is available, the child's
physician or the immediate care center will be contacted for treatment.

3. The other teacher will stay with the rest of the children, keeping them I
in a calm, reassured group situation.

B. Life-threatening - (unconsciousness, severe bleeding, convulsions, severe

broken bone, 3rd degree burns...)

1. Director, if present, or first teacher on the scene, will assess the

injuries, apply first aid, alert the other staff members.

2. One teacher will be directed to immediately call an ambulance. The

Director or another teacher will accompany the child in the ambulance.
PARENTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS
INCURRED. Parents or assigned representative, if parents can't be
reached, will then be notified.

3 .The third teacher will stay with the rest of the children, keeping them in
a calm, reassured group situation.

DAILY SCHEDULE

We begin our day at 7:00 A.M. and have a free play period until 9:00 A.M. The free play
period gives the children a chance to get adjusted to being at school, to use their
imaginations and to develop friendships. At 9:00, we have "clean up" time. All of the
children help to put things where they belong. We like to stress that we are all friends and
friends help each other. After cleaning up, we have morning snack.

After morning snack, our preschool program begins. We base our preschool program on
weekly themes that may range from Forest Animals, Colors, or Shapes to the Circus or
Nutrition. We start with Large Circle time in which we talk about the weekly theme, sing
good morning to each other, and have Calendar activities such as saying the days of the
week, the month and year, counting, and discussing the weather.

After Large Circle time, we split into three, small, age and sometimes ability based
groups taught by our two morning teachers and the director, who also teaches. These
Small Groups switch approximately every 20-30 minutes so that each group attends all of
the Learning Centers.

One Learning Center concentrates on Gross Motor activities such as tumbling, hopscotch,
eye-hand coordination, skipping, hopping, jumping, running and balance activities. The
second Learning Center features an art or craft activity which utilizes Fine Motor skills to
cut, tear, paste, color, paint, lace and also develop artistic creativity. The third group
concentrates on Cognitive skills. Your children participate in language development,
dramatics, visual discrimination, sequencing and other reading readiness activities,
activities that promote math readiness, and also play a variety of learning games.

When all of the children have participated in the three learning centers, we have lunch
followed by another free play period. Before Naptime, from 1:00- 3:00, the children
gather for a story circle.

At 3:00, we have our afternoon snack followed by free play both inside and outside. At
4:30 we gather for a story and group activity time. The afternoon activities may include:
singing with my guitar or the piano, singing and playing rhythm instruments, group
games, dancing, exercising, or watching appropriate children’s videos or DVDs. As we
end our day, the children have a final free play time.

DISCIPLINE

Our discipline policy is based on love and understanding. Generally, if a child is

misbehaving, a verbal reminder is all that is needed to correct the child's actions. We
make a point of telling the child why he/she is not to do something. In this way, the child
can begin to see the reasoning behind the rules and also learn cause and effect
relationships. We reinforce positive actions and teach the children how to be a friend and
get along with others.

A child may be asked to sit in the "time out" chair, if he/she persists in misbehaving. The child will be
asked to state or will be told why his/her behavior had to be corrected. In rare circumstances, a child may
have to be removed from the group to rest on a nap bed, if he/she is repeatedly disruptive. Teachers
communicate with parents on a daily basis. If there is a behavior problem, teachers and parents work
together to find a solution. If we are not able to meet an individual child's needs, parents may need to seek
alternate care.

If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Jane Klein, Director Day Care Center Phone: 942-8795 Home Phone: 285-4606

CASCADE CHRISTIAN DAY CARE CENTER POLICIES:

PLEASE READ THIS FORM, SIGN AND DATE IT, AND RETURN IT TO THE DAY
CARE CENTER. IT WILL BE PLACED IN YOUR CHILD'S FILE TO VERIFY YOUR
KNOWLEDGE OF OUR POLICIES.
Late Fee: If for any reason you pick up your child after 6:00 P.M., the following
charge will be applied.
1. The first fifteen (15) minutes or any portion thereof will be $10.00
2. Every minute late after the first fifteen will be an additional $1.00 per minute.
This charge will go directly to the staff member, who had to stay after hours, as she is not
being paid time and a half for overtime, and is obligated to remain with your child to
insure his/her safety. Do not include late fee payments in your regular tuition check.
This agreement between you and Cascade Christian Day Care Center takes effect after
6:00 P.M.
Lunch: I will provide lunch for my child. Milk at lunchtime, morning and afternoon
snacks will be provided by the Day Care Center.
Fees: CHILDREN ATTENDING MONDAY - FRIDAY (5 DAYS A WEEK )

$22.00 per day for a half day (less than 5 hours) if a child attends Mon.-Fri
.
$40.00 per day for a whole day (more than 5 hours) if a child attends Mon.-Fri.

CHILDREN ATTENDING LESS THAN 5 DAYS A WEEK

$26.00 per day for a half day (less than 5 hours)

$46.00 per day for a whole day (more than 5 hours)

1. A student attending Cascade Christian Day Care Center is allowed as many non-paid
absences per year as days per week he/she is enrolled in the program. When the non-
paid absences have been used, payment for absences will be required to hold the
child's place in the program.

2. Initial enrollment fee: A nonrefundable fee of $25.00 will be charged to hold your
child's place. This fee will be collected with your initial enrollment form, and does
not apply to the first tuition payment.

3. Fees will be collected one to two weeks in advance depending on individual

circumstances. Other payment schedules can be discussed with the Director.

4. The bank charges our account $2.50 for each check returned for insufficient funds.
You will be asked to pay this fee should your check be returned.

5. A two week written notice is required to change your child's schedule or to withdraw
from our program. All tuition fees must be paid prior to your child's last day of
care. If we are experiencing difficulty meeting your child's developmental or
behavioral needs, our concerns will be discussed with you. You will be asked to seek
evaluation from your pediatrician, Ken-o-sha, the Child Guidance Clinic, or
similar community resources. If we are still unable to meet your child's needs
after evaluation and an effort to try suggested recommendations, you will be
asked to seek alternate care.

SCHEDULE
 Cascade Christian Child Care Center hours are 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Children
must be brought to the Child Care Center before 9:00 A.M. if they wish to participate in
morning snack and should be picked up by 6:00 P.M. The Center is closed on the
following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Good Friday,
Thanksgiving Day, and also the day after Thanksgiving. If the July 4th holiday falls on a
Tuesday or a Thursday, we may also be closed and additional day. If closed at any other
time, advance notice will be given so parents may make other arrangements. We follow
the Forest Hills School System calendar for the start of our fall session. We are closed
two weeks during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and one week for Spring
Vacation (the first full week of April). We are closed two weeks in August right before
school opens for the new school year. Whenever Cascade Christian Child Care is closed,
no payment is required.
SNOW DAYS

Cascade Christian Child Care will be open during most Snow Days. If weather
conditions are so poor that we feel it is necessary to close, you will be notified by
viewing Wood TV 8 where you will see the notice that “Cascade Christian Church –
Child Care is closed.”If we are closed, no payment is required. If we are open, payment is
required as usual.

LATE PAYMENT POLICY

If tuition is late, your child will be dismissed from the program and his/her place
will be offered to a child from the waiting list.
VACATIONS
A two week notice is necessary regarding vacations. If a child is absent for a week due to
illness or vacation, one half of the child's tuition fee will be required to hold the child's
place in the program. When the Day Care Center is closed for any reason, parents are not
required to pay tuition.

FIELD TRIPS
My child has permission to go on field trips with Cascade Christian Day Care Center. I
understand that we will be notified in advance of any planned trips.

I have read this form and am aware of the Center's policies in all of these matters.

Signature____________________________________________________________

Date: __