Services and Policy

Hours

Our center will be open from 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday through Friday.
There will be an automatic late fee assessed after 6:30pm It is $5 per 15 minutes per child.

Holidays

As per Diocesan guidelines, the center will be closed ten days per year. These days include New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Registration

For those enrolled, registration will take place March 15th.
Any available positions determined at that time will be filled by:

1. Those registered and supporting the Parish
2. Those registered and supporting another Catholic Parish
3. Non-supporting Catholics
4. Non-Catholics.

Enrollment

You will be furnished with an enrollment form which should be completed and signed immediately. All preschoolers will be required to have on record proof of a recent physical and an up-to-date immunization record. Proper forms are available at our office. These are required by State law and prompt cooperation in expected and appreciated.
Your child will be assigned a cubbie. This space is provided for his/her nap blanket, an extra change of clothes, and/or jacket or sweater (clearly labeled with your child's name please). Your child's papers and projects are kept in the lobby in file crates. Please check these daily and take a few moments to discuss them with your child. Your encouragement and interest is very important in the learning process. If you would like to discuss your child's progress with us, please call and make an appointment. Observation of your child in class is welcomed at any time.

Tuition

Weekly tuition's are due by closing on Tuesdays. Payments after Tuesday will be automatically assessed a $5 late fee (Preschool $5 late fee after 6th of month). If tuition is not received by Friday, your child will not be allowed to return until full payment is received. You will be required to pay the full rate for which you are registered weekly unless your child misses the entire week. There will be no prorated rates for days missed due to illness, etc.
There is a $15 returned check charge for any check returned by the bank for any reason. The check will not be re-deposited and cash payments will be due immediately upon notification.

Arrival/Departure

All children must be brought into the lobby at arrival and picked up there on departure. No child will be allowed to leave from the playground over the fence, or from the parking area for any reason. Do not leave children unattended in the parking lot.
Your child WILL NOT BE RELEASED to anyone we do not have a current name, address and phone number for on record. If not recognized, proper identification, i.e. driver's license, will be required. Verbal messages from your child are not acceptable. Please send a note or telephone the Director. If there is any doubt at all, and the parents cannot be reached, the child will remain in the center until proper release is arranged.

Infant/Toddler

For sanitary reason, diaper children must arrive in and use disposable diapers. Please furnish us with diapers by the box, or at least 5-6 daily. They will be marked with your child's name and you will be notified when your supply runs low. All bottles and baby food must be clearly labeled with your child's name. Please furnish us with extra clothing.

Lunch and Rest Time

We will be serving a hot and nutritious lunch daily. No child has to eat any food that he does not like, but will be encouraged to at least try a new or different food. Please advise us of any special dietary needs your child may require. The menu will be posted weekly for you to see.

Infants and toddlers will be served lunch at 11:15 am The rest of the children will be served at 12 noon. After your child has washed up and gotten his/her blanket, your child will be required to rest 11/2-2 hours. Your child will not be forced to nap, but needs to lay quiet so that others who need to nap will be able to do so. Please be sure your child has a blanket on Monday, and take it home on Friday to be laundered.

Illness and Medications

Any child who has a fever, a rash, vomiting or diarrhea will need to be picked up immediately. If your child has had these symptoms during the night, please do not bring him/her to the center, as he/she is probably very contagious. Your child will not be allowed to return to the center for at least 24 hours. This is for your child's protection as well as for the protection of the other children.

Personal Belongings

We will not be responsible for anything not properly labeled....

Reporting Child Abuse

Florida law requires that any person "who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child us an abused or neglected child" immediately report this knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Failure to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect is punishable as a misdemeanor. Legitimate interest in questioning the accused is secondary to and independent of the immediate reporting obligation. Any doubt about reporting would be resolved in favor of the child.

If the complaint is not received from the parent or guardian, arrangements would be made to notify immediately the parent or guardian. Notice would not be made to notify immediately the parent or guardian. Notice would not be given to the parent or guardian if he or she is the person against whom the complaint is made. Beyond the pastoral care extended by the church to families in trouble, there are also community resources available. Parents who indicate to school personnel that they want help in coping with family problems would be informed of and directed to the appropriate agency.

Child abuse or neglect results in great harm to the child and indicates pathology in the family or the perpetrator. Beyond the church's concern to protect victims from further abuse, the church is concerned with promoting whatever healing may be possible. Since one of the primary defenses of the abuser is denial, the diocese, in showing pastoral concern and support to a parent, would indicate to the abuser that the diocese recognizes that child abuse is a serious problem requiring appropriate professional help.

Aids Policy

The Child Abuse Center is in compliance with the diocesan policy on aids. For more details, please contact the center director or the diocesan commission on aids.