Important Parent Information

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Our purpose is to create a non-denominational Christian early education center. Our philosophy is to help every child develop a positive self-image, self-control, social skills, and appreciation for their individuality

1. The Center will be open from 5:45a.m. to 6:30p.m. Unless previous arrangements have been made, a $1.00 charge per minute per child will be assessed for the time the child remains in the Center after 6:30p.m.
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2. The Center may be closed for the following major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Should a holiday fall on the weekend the Center may close on Friday or Monday to observe the holiday. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve we will close early. Since these days are already taken into consideration in our rate schedule, there will be no reduction in tuition.
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3. Prior to your child's first day in the Center, you must deliver to the Director: (1) All enrollment forms completed and signed by parents; and (2) A current immunization record signed by a physician and dated no earlier than two weeks prior to your child's first day at the Center. You have thirty days from your start date to bring in your child's current physical.
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4. Each child must have two changes of clothing, including socks, left at the Center to be used for emergencies. Please label all items of clothing with your child’s name. Children must wear closed-toe shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed. Children should wear comfortable clothing that allows participation in activities. Sunshine cannot be responsible for lost clothing.
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5. A communication log is kept in the front entrance area. Please use this communications book to note changes in your child’s schedule, special pickup arrangements, etc.
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6. When enrolled you are given a code to enter the building. Please do not give this code out to anyone and do not allow people to follow you into the building. Visitors must ring the doorbell and the office will assist them.
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7. Parents are asked to see that children do not bring foods to the center. Please be sensitive to the fact that there may be children that have allergies and we do not want to expose them to foods brought in from outside. Breakfast is provided from 6:45-7:15 a.m. and snacks are provided morning and afternoon, plus a nutritious lunch each day. There is a weekly menu posted in the Center. Food exceptions cannot be made for individual children except in the case of diagnosed allergies. Any milk substitutes must be brought in the original container. Please note we are not a peanut free school.
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8. Parents are expected to bring their child into the building, sign in, and see that he/she is under supervision of his/her caregivers before leaving the premises.  If you are going to be late or if your child will be absent, please call the Center no later than 9:00 a.m. This helps us in our staffing plan for the day.  If we do not receive a call by 9:00, we may not have room for your child that day.
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9. Toys from home are not allowed at Sunshine (except on show and tell days). Sunshine is not responsible for lost items. Please do not allow your child to bring money to the Center.
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10. Children who become ill may not remain at the Center. The parents will be called to pick up the child within an hour after becoming ill. Illness is defined as: fever, diarrhea, vomiting, any type of unexplained rash, or general discomfort and irritability. If your child has been absent with a contagious illness, state law requires notification from a physician that your child is no longer contagious and may return to the Center.
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11. A child may not attend Sunshine if they have been given Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication within eight hours of his/her arrival.
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12. We will provide a cot and blankets for children twelve months and older for afternoon nap. You may bring a blanket from home. We ask that it not be any larger than 22”x 52”. You will need to take the blanket home Friday to be laundered and brought back to the center the following Monday. Blankets are to be used for naptime only. If blankets brought from home cause a disruption in the classroom you may be required to use the center blankets.
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13. We highly discourage parents from picking up or dropping off children between 12:00 and 2:30 pm. to prevent naptime disturbances.
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14. Routine visits to a doctor, clinic, or dentist are the responsibility of the parent. A physical is required by the Colorado Department of Social Services. Please use the forms available in the office.
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15. Sunshine makes every attempt to open during severe weather conditions. However, we may find it necessary to have a late start or close occasionally for snow days. During severe weather, announcements are made on local TV stations. In the event that Sunshine does need to close there will be no tuition adjustments.
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16. For your child’s safety, we can release children only to their parents or persons authorized by the parents. The names of authorized persons must be on file at Sunshine prior to release. We cannot release children to anyone unless we have written authorization in advance. The authorized person will need photo ID for us to release your child to them.
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17. Please check your child’s cubby daily for notes, soiled clothing, etc. If clothing is sent home, please replace it with clean clothes the next day.
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18. As children grow and develop independence, disruptions may occur. A disruption, such as taking toys or hitting, will be handled by using “time out.” This method is used by our caregivers to teach children how to get along with other children in a very gentle and acceptable way while also being effective to minimize disruptions. “Time out” lasts for one minute per year of age. Children who find it difficult to cooperate may be sent home and the Director will schedule a conference at the earliest convenience.
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19. If your child becomes overly aggressive (i.e. hitting, spitting, punching, biting, etc.) toward a teacher, or another child, you will be called to pick up your child within the hour. We make every effort to work with each child, and their parents, to correct consistently aggressive behavior. However, if the behavior is not corrected it may result in immediate disenrollment from Sunshine Learning Center.
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20. It is our policy to inform parents of injuries that occur to their child no matter how minor they may appear to be. Usually parents are notified by an incident report that is completed and placed in the child's file. Occasionally a parent may also be notified by phone. If an injury appears to need medical attention, the parent will be called immediately and a report will be filed with the Colorado Department of Human Services. In addition, the incident will be recorded in the office and a copy of the report will be placed in the child's file.
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21. Children go outside for playtime year round. Please remember to dress your child in the appropriate clothing for the weather. Cool clothes such as shorts and jackets during the warmer weather (no sandals) and during the colder weather coats, gloves, boots and hats. During the summer months outdoor playtime is limited to approximately one hour or less. The children have access to the drinking fountain when thirsty. Sunscreen is applied to the exposed areas each morning and afternoon that the children go outside during the summer. Winter months the children do not go outside if the temperature is below 32 degrees or during wet weather. During cold days, the amount of time spent outside will be adjusted. Children are immediately brought inside in the event of lightning.
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22. Field trips are usually scheduled in accordance with weekly themes for children in preschool and older. Parents will be notified either in a newsletter or by special note of upcoming trips. Teachers from your child's class will accompany them on the field trip and all teachers are responsible for the children during the field trip. The children's emergency cards, attendance sheets, and cell phones are taken in case of an emergency. If there is an emergency the teacher would call the center to speak to the director or call 911. Class ratios are maintained at all times. We always encourage parents to come and help out with their child's class. If you bring your child in late and miss the field trip, you will be required to take them home and you may return later that day or take your child to the place of the trip and turn them over to the teacher there. The children are transported by Sunshine vans or bus, which are equipped with seat belts. Children that find it difficult to obey the staff will not be allowed to participate. The Center was given permission at the time of enrollment for field trips. You are not required to give any further permission.
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23. Daily attendance is taken each morning. We perform “head counts” throughout the day. In the event a child was lost or otherwise unaccounted for the director would immediately be notified and a search for the child would be initiated. If a child is not found within five minutes the Director/Acting Director will call 911, then call the parents or authorized emergency contact.
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24. Sunshine does not consider video viewing a consistent part of our preschool program. Videos are limited to one per month. The exception to this may be during a bad weather day.
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25. Upon closing all rooms are checked for children and then closed out. If it is past closing time and a child has not been picked up, parents and emergency contacts will be called to pick the child up. If we do not hear from the parents and after waiting 30 minutes the center Director will be called. If the Director cannot be reached, the police will be called. The child will be released to the police or the Department of Human Services.
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26. In the event of a tornado, all the children must proceed to the interior wall. Everyone needs to sit facing the inside walls placing their hands over their faces and wait for further instructions.
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27. In the event of a fire, staff and children will exit the classroom, with Emergency Authorization Cares and Attendance sheets. The staff will immediately perform a headcount, check all bathrooms while the children are lining up at the door to exit the building. Once outside the children will line up against the playground fence. The staff will do a second head count to make sure all the children are present and safe. Fire drills and tornado drills are performed regularly.
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28. Sunshine only administers emergency medication such as epipen or doctor prescribed inhalers. If your child needs medication upon arrival at the center, please give it to the director. You may come by at any time to administer the medication. The medication will be stored in the office until you come to pick it up.
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29. Please do not send your child to school with any items marked “keep out of the reach of children”. This includes chap stick, lotions, and hand sanitizer. If your child needs to have one of these items at school we must have a written permission from you and the item must be labeled with your child's first and last name. Please give the item to your child's teacher to be placed out of the reach of the children.