Parent Handbook Introduction Welcome to Enrichthekids, Inc. The program provides enrichment, child care and activities for the children that are enrolled in our program. The program is fee based and self-supporting.  It is a non profit organization, which means that we are able to offer services at a lower rate because we are not taxed and allowed to operate in the schools. Please read and become familiar with the procedures. Keep this handbook for your reference and call the program office if you have questions. In order to enroll your child we need the following; A completely filled out application, two emergency cards, and a copy of your child's immunization record. Program Goals To provide quality child care and enrichment programs that are safe, affordable, and convenient. To assist children in their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and creative growth. To provide children with positive interaction and opportunities to establish relationships with peers and adults.   To involve children and parents in continuous program development and improvement. To provide qualified, caring staff members who participate in regular training and education. Program Descriptions This program provides child-care during the school year from 2:30 PM until 6:00 PM. The after school program may provide child care on Parent-Teacher Conference Days depending on school availability. The program does not provide child care on National Holidays when the school is closed. Registration Registration takes place in the cafeteria anytime from 2:30-6 PM Full payment for the after school program is expected the by 1st of the month. Please make checks payable to Enrichthekids, Inc. A registration fee of $25.00 is charged to each family annually. Parents paying for the full semester will receive a 5% discount.  We offer 10% discount for siblings of the for families enrolling more than one child. You will not be charged for enrichment classes, the money is reallocated to cover the cost of the classes.  Please come to sign up night to register your child for enrichment classes.  They must be registered for a class for each day they are present.  If not, we will help your child choose classes. Payment must be made by check or money order or cash.     Late Pick Up Fees We strongly recommend that parents have a back up plan in case they are unable to pick up their child on time. Consideration will be made for bad weather and roads. We will begin to assess late pick up fees at five minutes after the end of the program or session. The fee is $5.00 per minute. Late pick up fees in the form of a check or money order are due and will be collected at the time the child is picked up. If a parent or an authorized person does not arrive to pick up a child within five minutes after the program closing time, the staff will attempt to contact the parent at home, or at work. If the staff is unable to speak with the parent by phone, they will contact the authorized person listed on the enrollment form. If the authorized person cannot be contacted by phone, the police will be notified. The police will automatically be contacted 30 minutes past the program's closing time.  CYFD will also be notified at that time. Children will never be left unattended at the program or taken home with a staff member. Credits Enrichthekids, Inc. does not offer credits under any circumstance. Cancellation Due to Weather Closure of the school district due to the weather condition will automatically cancel the afterschool program.  On delayed start days, after school program operates regular hours. Ages Accepted Enrichthekids, Inc.  is open to students who are enrolled in school, Kindergarten through 5th grade. Sign In and Out Parents must sign children out of each session. This program is not responsible for the children before they are signed in, or after they are signed out of the program. Children are responsible for reporting directly to the program, located in the school cafeteria right after school. Attendance for the after school program will be taken promptly five minutes after the school dismissal bell rings. Children may leave the program only with the persons specified on the enrollment form. If a parent desires the child to leave with someone who is not specified on the enrollment form, the parent must supply written permission, with signature, in advance. If an unknown person arrives to pick up a child, the staff will contact the parent and receive verbal permission to authorize the child's departure. The unknown person will then be asked for a form of identification to assure his/her identity. Please update emergency information regularly so that the program staff can always contact the appropriate persons immediately in case of an emergency.   If you come to pick up your child during enrichment classes or scheduled activities please be prepared to wait a few minutes for us to retrieve your child from his or her class.  Please turn off or silence cell phones during after school pick up, as it interferes with reuniting with your child and any messages or information that our staff may have for you to hear. Program Location The after school program is based in the cafeteria but also uses the library, classrooms (for enrichment classes only), courtyard and playground. Absences If you know your child will not be attending the after school program session, please call the after school program director to inform the program of your child's absence.  We will call to verify that your child is with you if we don’t find out from the school office that your child was absent from school. Illness or Injury Most Enrichthekids, Inc. after staff are certified in CPR and first aid. If a child experiences a minor or non-emergency injury, a staff member will inform parents at pick up time. In case of serious injury or illness, a parent or an authorized person will be contacted immediately. If the staff determines that a child is contagious, feverish, or seriously incapacitated, the child will be isolated and a parent will be called to pick up the child as soon as possible. If a parent is unavailable, the designated emergency person will be notified. If all designated emergency persons on the emergency form are unavailable, the child's physician will be consulted. These procedures will also be followed on field trips. Clothing and Personal Possessions Students should always wear washable, practical clothing, including appropriate footwear and outerwear.  We follow the districts policy for dress code.  No spaghetti straps, short-shorts or thongs.   No gang attire. When it is cold please make sure children bring hats and gloves.  All items must be clearly labeled with the child's name.  Enrichthekids, Inc. is not responsible for lost or stolen property. Even though children are responsible for their own personal belongings, the staff will do everything possible to ensure that items will not be lost or stolen. Enrichthekids, Inc. highly suggests not sending cash with your children, as we are not responsible if it does get lost. Snacks and Meals Healthy snacks will be provided all all sessions..  During "no school" full days, the children need to bring a sack lunch.   Medications Medication should be given to children at home whenever possible.  We will work with the school nurse to have emergency/rescue medications available if circumstances demand it.  Such medication will only be administered by the Program Director or Site Director. If your child has asthma or extreme food allergies you must site it on your child’s registration form so we are able to properly care for your child. Closing Procedures When the last child is picked up, the Enrichthekids, Inc. staff will check the sign out sheet to be sure that all children were picked up and signed out. We will also check the building to make sure that all children are gone. Location of Children To locate a child in the after school program, 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM, please go to the school cafeteria and consult a staff member. Enrichthekids, Inc will take periodic roll calls during the day to ensure the whereabouts of all children. Lost Children A child is lost when staff is not able to determine his/her whereabouts and cannot guarantee the child's safety. Every reasonable effort will be made by staff members to search the immediate building and grounds. If, after a search, the child's whereabouts are still undetermined, a staff member will call the child's home, the parent's place of work, and the emergency contact person. If the child is still not located, the police will be contacted. This procedure will be followed in as brief a time as possible. This procedure will also be followed on all field-trips. Hot Weather In extremely hot or windy weather we will conduct all activities in the building where air conditioning and shelter is provided, otherwise, we will use the playground to enjoy outdoor activities.  Please provide sunscreen for your child. Personal Release Parents agree to the following when they sign the enrollment form: I/we understand that the program activities and services include special trips and field trips, which may involve the child walking or riding in motor vehicles away from the site location. These activities may have elements of hazard or danger. I/we hereby specifically consent to my/our child's participation in all such programs, represent that my/our child is capable and competent to participate in said programs, and assume all responsibility and liability for actions and behavior of my/our child during said programs including the cost of emergency assistance, medical care or ambulance which may be required. Cell Phone/Toys/Video Games Policy We strive to keep the children positively engaged in activities at all times.  The children will have no need for toys or video games and we will confiscate them if we see them. We request that if your child has a cell phone and brings it to school, they keep it off and stored in their backpack.  We will confiscate any cell phones that are used without permission during after school hours.  Confiscated items will be returned to the parents at the end of the day. Television and Video Policy On occasion, the Enrichthekids programs will show videos. These videos will have been previewed by the site director and be completely age appropriate. The program will only show G and PG movies to the children whose parents have signed the movie release on the application. Holidays: We celebrate and learn about all holidays as part of our Enriching After School Program.  If you object to anything we have planned, please send an alternate activity for your child for that day. Transportation of Children/Field Trips Children participation in field trips will be transported in vehicles approved by Enrichthekids, Inc. Before each trip children will be instructed on additional safety procedures. On walking field trips, children will be instructed on additional safety procedures such as crossing at traffic lights and remaining on the sidewalks. Parents will be informed in advance of all field trips. They will be asked to sign permission slips for each trip. Specific permission for each event is required in addition to parent permission on the enrollment form. Permission signatures for one trip do not qualify a child to participate on another excursion, even if payment has been made. Permission by phone is not valid. On program field trip days, if children arrive at school after the group has departed, parents may transport their child to the destination or they may find other child care for the day. Emergency forms and the daily roster will accompany the group on all field trips. The program office and the school office will always have an accurate field trip schedule, including names of students, emergency contact persons identified with phone numbers, and parents' names and work phone numbers. The program staff will notify the office if the schedule changes. Emergency Procedures In case of emergency, school procedures will be followed. Students will never be automatically dismissed during emergency conditions, but will remain in the building. In an extreme situation where the building is determined unsafe, staff will remove children to safety and immediately contact parents or emergency contact people. In case of fire, students will evacuate the building through designated doors to assigned holding areas until the signal is given that the practice drill or emergency is over. In case of a tornado, students will move to a designated safe area inside the school building and wait with the staff until the danger has passed. Practice drills are held and recorded on a regular basis. Late Arrivals The before school program begins when the child arrives. We appreciate prompt arrival. If parents know in advance that a child will arrive late, please call and let us know. There is no discount/refund for late arrival. Release of Children Children will only be released to a parent or an authorized pick-up person. Children must be signed out according to the procedure described above in section titled, "Sign In & Out". Failure to follow this procedure will result in dismissal from the program. Please help to maintain the safety of the children. There is no discount for early pick-ups. Reporting Child Abuse Staff members are required by law to report any form of child abuse, obvious or suspected. The Enrichthekids, Inc. staff handbook outlines the specific procedure that is to be followed, and may be reviewed by parents upon request. If a parent suspects child abuse, you need to contact the Child Care Services Bureau at 575-524-6044 or to report neglect, 1-800-832-1321. Special Needs Children Enrichthekids, Inc.'s programs provide care for children with special needs as long as their need can be reasonably accommodated. Before the child attends, there will be a meeting with the Director, School Psychologist and Specialists, Administrators and parents. Discussion at this meeting will center on specifics about the child's needs, and any additional information that parents consider important. After the child attends the program, if staff have difficulty meeting the needs of the child due to behavior or physical issues, a second meeting may occur. Staff will then use agreed upon alternative strategies for a specified trial period. If problems persist throughout the trial period, in all but the most extreme cases, parents will be given two weeks to make other arrangements. Discipline Procedure The goal of Enrichthekids, Inc.after school staff is to provide a safe, fun, and educational environment for all participants. We expect all children to show respect for one another and the adults. Students are expected to use appropriate language at all times. School and District policies regarding alcohol, tobacco, and any form of weapons or drugs will be adhered to completely. Conduct which disrupts the operation of our programs, interferes with the rights of others, endangers the safety of any person, or damages property, will not be tolerated. When unacceptable behavior is observed, a staff member will give the student a verbal warning, followed by a time-out, if necessary.  Staff members will not engage in any form of physical or humiliating punishment. Following these initial steps, a conduct report and/or a phone call to the parent may be made, explaining the unacceptable behavior. We reserve the right to suspend or dismiss any child immediately who is a threat to him or herself or others in the program. The parent or guardian will be given one week to find alternative care. Leaving school property without permission and hurting others is grounds for automatic dismissal. These disciplinary measures have been established to ensure each child's right to a safe, fun, and educational environment. Visitors Visitors must check in with the Program Director before visiting.  The director reserves the right to deny a requested visit based on the circumstances surrounding the visit.  We will not allow non-family members to observe the children or the program.  We do have cooperative agreements with NMSU Department of Education to allow students to do community service as part of their Multicultural Education Class.  They are already cleared through the district to come into the schools to observe and volunteer. Complaints If you have a complaint regarding the program or services your child is receiving please talk to your Site Director.  If the Site Director is unable to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, please contact Angie Montes, Program Director at 571-7734 Revised August 2009, Enrichthekids Inc.