Parent Handbook

2008-2009

Approved and Accredited by The Association of Christian School International

Revised August 2008

Sonshine Day Preschool & Daycare, Inc. 10000 West Newberry Road Gainesville, Fl. 32606 (352)333-0017 (352) 333-9009 Fax

Dear Parents: Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year at Sonshine Day Preschool. We recognize that you have many options for childcare in our community. We value your confidence in us and want to assure you that we will endeavor to live up to it. Our handbook was written to answer your questions about our policies, procedures, and philosophy of Sonshine Day. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to speak with someone at the front desk. As you have looked to us for your weekday childcare needs, I would invite you to explore our churchs ministries for your family. If youre not already involved in a local community of faith, we want you to know that we have a place for everyone in your family at Westside Baptist Church. We look forward to the days ahead and the opportunities we will have to partner together in your childs physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual development. Dont hesitate to let us know how better we can serve you in these respects. May God Bless Your Family. Sincerely,

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Heather L. Greist Director

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TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................... 4 NON - DISCRIMINATORY STATEMENT.......................................................6 FAMILY VALUES STATEMENT....................................................................6 STATEMENT OF FAITH..............................................................................6 PHILOSOPHY............................................................................................ 7 PURPOSE.................................................................................................. 7 BRIEF HISTORY........................................................................................ 8 APPROVAL & ACCREDITATION..................................................................8 ENROLLMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES..............................................9 REGISTRATION.......................................................................................10 ORIENTATION and OPEN HOUSE............................................................10 TUITION................................................................................................. 10 VACATION, ABSENCES & HOLIDAYS.......................................................11 WITHDRAWING......................................................................................11 DISMISSAL............................................................................................. 12 SCHOOL HOURS..................................................................................... 12 ARRIVAL.................................................................................................12 RELEASE OF CHILDREN..........................................................................12 TRAFFIC DURING ARRIVAL & PICK UP.....................................................12 LATE PICKUP.......................................................................................... 13 FEES FOR EXTRA HOURS........................................................................13 SCHOOL CLOSINGS................................................................................ 13 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS................................................................................13 SUMMER................................................................................................ 14 INFANTS & TODDLERS........................................................................... 15 SPECIAL INFORMATION..........................................................................17 DISCIPLINE STATEMENT.........................................................................18 HEALTH & SAFETY POLICIES...................................................................20 EMERGENCY & CRISIS PROCEDURES......................................................21 DRESS CODE.......................................................................................... 23 TOYS...................................................................................................... 23 PARENT INVOVLEMENT..........................................................................23 PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES.........................................................................24 PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM..................................................................... 24 DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS.......................................................................26 VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK).................................................26 VPK POLICIES & PROCEDURES...............................................................27 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM .....................................................................30
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SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM .....................................................................31 BOARD OF DIRECTORS...........................................................................33

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Sonshine Day Preschool and Daycare, Inc., 10000 West Newberry Road, Gainesville, Florida 32606, admits students of any race, nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or readily available to students at school. Sonshine Day Preschool and Daycare, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, athletics, or other school administered programs.

NON - DISCRIMINATORY STATEMENT

Sonshine Day Preschool will teach Biblical values and lifestyles. These values include Gods plan for marriage, children and the family. Our lifestyle foundation is also taken from the teaching of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. The following lifestyle & value teachings will be expressed through the words, deeds and instruction of the staff at Sonshine Day Preschool. God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime (references Gen. 1:26-28; 2:24). Children, from the moment of conception (reference Psalms 139:13-16), are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them (references Deut. 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6), through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). God There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. We believe in the divine trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. In His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 6

FAMILY VALUES STATEMENT

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Scriptures The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. Salvation We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore, lost. Only through grace and faith in Jesus Christ can salvation be obtained. We believe that salvation is the free gift of God to be received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him all true believers have, as a present possession, the gift of eternal live, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish.

God placed the responsibility of Christian training on the parents when he said, Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4). A Christian home gives the child his first Christian instruction and training. God also placed a responsibility on the church when he said, Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, (Matthew 28:20). Westside Baptist Church and Sonshine Day Preschool are here to support parents in providing guidance for their children through Christian instruction and training. Sonshine Day Preschool serves the community with the churchs purpose to preach the Gospel to all nations. We believe that God created young children to be active, curious and trusting. We believe that preschoolers learn at different rates of speed, because of their ages and stages of development. We further know that children are concrete learners. For these reasons, we offer developmentally appropriate activities in learning centers to teach concepts. We strive to teach the spiritual, emotional, social, and cognitive concepts which children can best understand and incorporate into their daily lives.

PHILOSOPHY

Sonshine Day cares about children and their families and believes it has a responsibility to provide opportunities in which children can develop to their fullest potential. It is our goal to give your child their first school experience and begin the total development of a well-rounded, well-adjusted Christian personality. Our goal is also to help each child to relate to others and their community. He or she is nurtured to fulfill his/her maximum potential spiritually, physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. A child at Sonshine Day Preschool will have the opportunity to: Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 7

PURPOSE

Learn about Gods love Grow in Christian love and respect Experience group play Develop muscle coordination Learn independence in work and play Work on math and reading readiness

Sonshine Day began in 1988 as a ministry of Westside Baptist Church and started as a half-day preschool with the unique and rare offer of care for 18-month olds. The staff at that time consisted of a director and seven staff members. The next year the Preschool expanded to full-day daycare because of the need in the Gainesville area for Christian daycare. Over the last 18 years, additions to Sonshine Day have included more preschool classes, Infant care and a summer camp program for elementary age children. During the 2008-2009 school year, Sonshine Day will offer two new programs--an afterschool program and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK).

BRIEF HISTORY

Sonshine Day receives the certificate to operate under the standards of ACSI the Association of Christian Schools International. These standards meet or exceed the licensing standards set forth by the State of Florida and the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Sonshine Day is also an accredited preschool with ACSI. An accredited ACSI school is one that has been recognized as having a high quality program, providing quality care and education for young children spiritually, socially, emotionally, academically and physically. Accreditation is a voluntary process.

APPROVAL & ACCREDITATION

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ENROLLMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

It is the policy of Sonshine Day Preschool to enroll children based on a first come first serve priority list. The only exception to this priority list is enrolling staff children and siblings of currently enrolled children as openings become available. The process is as follows: 1. All children from birth through four years of age are enrolled in classes according to their age on September 1. Enrollment for infants and toddlers is for full time daycare only. Infants must be six weeks old before they can begin class and have had their first immunization. Grade school children are enrolled in our afterschool program based on the current grade level. Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade are eligible for enrollment. Enrollment in our summer camp program is based on the grade the child has just completed. 2. A registration form must be filled out in full, accompanied by a nonrefundable registration and application fee. This form is a Department of Childrens and Families (DCF) requirement. 3. The physical examination form 3040, along with immunization form 680 signed by your childs physician must be on file in our office. The state health department states that failure to do so will result in relinquishing your childs place in the school. These must be kept current. 4. A copy of your childs birth certificate must also be included in their file. 5. Forms that must be filled out and/or signed before a child can begin school are as follows: An enrollment form must be signed, and returned to school. The Child Information form The Parent Agreement form The Age Appropriate Discipline statement The School Calendar / Holidays Form The Health Policy Form Photo/Video Release Form 6. In order to ensure safety & security of your child, photos & videos are only used for Sonshine Day Programs and/or the sole purpose of promoting the ministry of Sonshine Day. At the end of each school year, we will also offer A Year in Review photo CD for purchase. To include your child in the above opportunities, you signed a release in your enrollment papers. 7. Enrollment at Sonshine Day is for an entire calendar year (August to August). To meet our financial obligations throughout the year, we must keep classes fully enrolled. If you withdraw your child for the summer, you risk losing that spot for your child for the next school year. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 9

8. Our afterschool program is for grade school children (completed kindergarten through 5th grade). A registration fee of $35.00 is due for all students to enroll. 9. Our summer camp program is for grade school children (kindergarten through 5th grade) and is separate from our regular school program. A registration fee of $35.00 is due for all students to enroll. 10. Sonshine Day will not release any child to anyone other than the person listed on the pick-up form. Persons not known to the staff will be asked to show proper identification. If anyone other than the parent or regular pickup person is to pick up the child, the center has to receive a note or a phone call from the parent giving the center permission to release the child to them. Florida state law requires that the center be given a copy of divorce or guardianship documents to allow enforcement of parental rights. These are to be provided by the parent or guardian. The parent is expected to honor this policy. 11. Newborns who can not attend the class at the beginning of the year, due to immunizations, will be responsible for 25% of their normal tuition to hold their spot in the infant class, until November 1st. After November 1st, we are unable to hold spots unless full tuition is paid. Our registration for fall 2009 will begin the first week of March 2009 An annual non-refundable registration fee of $75.00 for three days or less and $100.00 for five days will be due with each application. Registration fees for our grade school programs (afterschool and summer camp) are $35.00 per child per program. Registration fees assist in paying for accident & liability insurance, supplies, and other expenses.

REGISTRATION

Orientation and Open House are held annually, the weekend before the new school year begins. Orientation always includes time for the child to visit their room and meet their classmates. This time is also used for the director to go over the handbook and answer any questions that parents may have.

ORIENTATION and OPEN HOUSE

Sonshine Day is a year round school. Tuition rates remain the same for that school year unless the Board of Directors feels it is necessary to make an increase in order to meet financial obligations. Tuition is billed weekly and payment is due each Monday. You may pay more than one week at a time. We will credit your account for each week ahead you pay. Please remember that some months may have a fifth week and you will need to include that fifth week in your check if you are paying for the month. Families with two or more children enrolled on a Monday through Friday daycare Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 10

TUITION

schedule (7:30am 5:30pm) will receive a 15% discount on the lesser tuition rate and a third child will receive 10%. The discounts will be taken off the lower fees.
Tuition rates for the school year are given to each family at the time of registration and copies are available through the year at the front office.

Please pay by check or money order. Make checks out to Sonshine Day Preschool. If a check is returned there will be a $20.00 return check charge. After two returned checks, all future payments will need to be made by money order.

PAYMENT

Our procedure for late tuition is the following: if tuition is not received by the front office by the Wednesday of the following week that it is due, a late fee of $20.00 will be added to your account. If payment is not received by that Friday, we will send a letter asking you to contact our office about the payment and your plan to pay it. If we do not hear from you by the Wednesday (during the third week), you will receive a letter explaining the procedure for withdrawing your child on the fourth week. We can no longer allow accounts to go unpaid for more than 3 weeks. Below is a calendar example of how this procedure works.
Example: Monday January 1, account billed. Wednesday January 3, send out statements to all families Wednesday January 10, late fee assessed if tuition was not received Friday January 12, letter to contact office for payment arrangements. Wednesday January 17, letter home about child to be withdrawn, if there is no contact from family & tuition is not paid. Monday January 22, child may not attend.

LATE TUITION

If we do not keep up with our tuition collection in a timely matter, we can not meet our financial obligations and move Sonshine Day Preschool & Daycare forward to excellence.

Fees are constant and must be paid regardless of whether or not your child is in attendance. There will be no reduction in tuition for absences, vacations, or school holidays. However each family is allowed one week during the school year (August through August) of vacation where tuition will be waived. The one week must be 5 consecutive days Monday through Friday. Please give 2 week notice by filling out the vacation credit form in the front office.

VACATION, ABSENCES & HOLIDAYS

Withdrawing a child from school requires two weeks written notice. A full months tuition is due if a parent fails to give written notice. We require this time in order to fill that spot and to meet the financial obligations of the classroom. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 11

WITHDRAWING

If a child is to be out of school for an entire month, tuition must be paid or the child must be withdrawn and then re-enrolled at a later date, if space is available. There is a $20.00 re-enrollment fee. If a childs behavior is found to consistently disrupt the class and the learning process, they will be subject to dismissal. If a conference, which will include parent, teacher, aide, and school director, does not produce a satisfactory change in behavior, another conference will be scheduled. Two weeks written notice will be given to the students parent if withdrawal actions are recommended.

DISMISSAL

Sonshine Day offers several different options: Preschool, Threefourths time and Daycare. Our Preschool hours are from 8:30am12:00noon. Our 3/4 hours are from 7:30am-3:00pm. Our Daycare hours are from 7:30am-5:30pm. Afterschool hours are when school releases (M-F 1:30; Wednesday 12:30) until the center closes at 5:30 PM.

SCHOOL HOURS

Sonshine Day Preschool opens at 7:30am each morning. Between the hours of 7:30am 8:00am, children are combined by age group in different rooms. Children who attend the Preschool hours from 8:30-12:00 should not be dropped off early. If this is your childs schedule please do not bring him/her until 8:30 am, as we are not adequately staffed before this time. Please Note: Your child may feel uncomfortable about arriving after everyone else has become involved in activities. It is recommended that you have your child at school by 9:00 a.m.

ARRIVAL

Children will be released ONLY to those individuals designated on the registration forms. It is the responsibility of the parents to keep this information current. Parents must send a note advising the office if any other person is to pick up the child. The person picking up the child will be asked for identification before the child is released. ONLY adults can pick up children. Children will not be released to minors. The state law requires that the center have a copy of divorce or guardianship documents to allow enforcement of parental rights. These are to be provided by the parent or guardian.

RELEASE OF CHILDREN

When dropping off or picking up your child, please enter the pick up area from the west and pull your vehicle forward using the right lane only. Please leave the left lane open for other parents to exit the single file line. If you need to be in the building for an extended period of time, please use the parking spaces.

TRAFFIC DURING ARRIVAL & PICK UP

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We ask that you pick up your children promptly at the scheduled time, if you will be delayed please let us know. A late fee will be accessed to your account. Preschool students must be picked up by 12:00 p.m., 3/4 students must be picked up by 3:00 p.m. and daycare students must be picked up by 5:30 p.m. A late fee of ten dollars will be charged for every five minutes you are late. There is not a grace period. For example, if the child is picked up between 3:01 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. the charge will be $10.00 and if the child is picked up between 3:06 p.m. and 3:11 p.m. the charge will be $20.00. These fees apply only to those parents who call and make arrangements ahead of schedule and if space is available.
One half hour extra $5.00 Extra 1/2 day $13.00 $25.00 One hour extra $9.00 $12.00 Limited Early Drop Off $7.00 weekly $7.00 weekly Extra 3/4 day $19.00 Extra Full day (Afterschool) Flex Day Limited Late Pick-Up

LATE PICKUP

FEES FOR EXTRA HOURS

Those children who are on the 8:30a.m-12:00p.m. preschool schedule will have a few school closings similar to the Alachua County School System. The afterschool Program will also follow close to the calendar for Alachua County Schools. Sonshine Day will be closed for all students on the following school holidays:

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

New Years Eve, New Years Day Martin Luther King Day Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Day before Orientation Labor Day U.F. Homecoming Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day, day after Christmas Day, Day after Christmas

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

*Note: Should a holiday fall on a weekend, school will be closed on the nearest weekday. Example: If New Years Day is on a Sunday, school will be closed on Monday.

A detailed school calendar is given to each family at Orientation and copies of the calendar are available throughout the year at the front office.

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Sonshine Day is a year round school. Preschool enrollment at Sonshine Day is for an entire calendar year (August to August). To meet our financial obligations throughout the year, we must keep classes fully enrolled. If you withdraw your child for the summer, you risk losing that spot for your child for the next school year. However, if you decide to withdraw your child, you must give a two week written notice. Our afterschool program closes for the summer and transitions to a full day Summer Camp program for grade school children.

SUMMER

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INFANTS & TODDLERS

Infants must have their first set of shots before they are admitted into our infant program. Infant classes are full time only. Infants, like all students enrolled, are on a one month probation period. If we do not feel that the placement is in the best interest of your child or the other children in the class, we may ask that you withdraw your child. Parents, you are responsible for supplying the following items for your child each day: Food, Diapers, Formula, Burp Clothes, Bibs, Crib Sheets and Blankets, Extra Clothes, Wipes, Spoons and Bowls. All items should be labeled. Formula must be prepared by you and brought to school in each bottle. There is a refrigerator in each infant room to store bottles. Infants are fed on demand or as a parent requests. Babies typically nap twice a day or when needed. Usually they adapt to feeding and sleeping about the same time after a couple of months at school due to the routine of each day.

Infants

Toddler classes are full time only. Toddlers, like all the other students, are on a one month probation period. If we do not feel that the placement is in the best interest of your child or the other children in the class, we may ask that you withdraw your child. Toddlers, like the other students, enrolled at Sonshine Day need to bring a lunch box. You will need to label your childs lunch box and place an ice-pack inside. We do not have a refrigerator in the Toddler classes. Children must be using sippy cups, not bottles, in the toddler rooms.

Toddlers

On the first day of school we ask that each parent bring in one package of diapers and one box of wipes for your child. This will be left at school and used as needed. Your childs teacher will ask for additional diaper & wipes as needed. If your child runs out of diapers at school, you will be charged $.75 for each diaper used. This fee will be automatically charged to your account.

Diaper Statement

In order to begin with the toilet training process, the child must be able to tell the teacher when they have to go potty. If a child is interested in toilet-training they Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 15

Toilet Training

may sit on the potty. A good indicator for toilet training is when a child wakes up from nap dry. During the potty training time, please send in extra clothes and dress your child in clothes that are easy to pull down. Too many snaps or buttons can frustrate a child trying to make it to the bathroom. Upon entering the three year old class we highly recommend your child be potty trained.

We use wipes in the older class on a regular basis. Please contribute a box of wipes as needed in the 2 yr old classes through Pre-K. Infants and Toddlers parents will need to send in wipes more often.

Wipes

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SPECIAL INFORMATION
Sonshine Day does not offer hot lunches; therefore, your child needs to bring a lunch from home. All lunch boxes need to be labeled with your childs name, have an ice-pack, and placed in your childs class. We do not have the staffing or resources to warm lunches during lunch time. Please do not send in lunch items that need to be warmed.
Note: All lunch-boxes should contain an ice-pack to keep the lunch cool.

Lunches

Free pizza days will be offered during the school year. We will alternate days so that both groups of children will be able to participate in the activity. We will also have other days during the month where food will be brought in from a vendor. All lunch days must be pre-paid by the first two weeks of school. A form will be given to all parents to fill out and return to the office, with payment to cover the lunches of your choice. We have divided the lunches into two payment schedules that run from September to December and then January to May. Sonshine Day provides morning and afternoon snacks to all the classes except the infant & baby classes. Snacks vary from week to week. Afterschool children will receive a snack every afternoon. Parents, please remember to let us know of any food allergies your child may have.
* You will need to provide a snack for your child if they cannot eat the foods that are used for snacks. *All students with the exception of infants need to be fed breakfast before attending school.*

Parent Paid Lunches

Snacks

Birthdays are celebrated during the snack period. We prefer that you send cookies or miniature cupcakes. These are easier to handle and are greeted by the children as a special treat. Parents need to check in advance with the teachers to make sure that there are no duplicate parties. (Please, do not plan elaborate parties.) Invitations to private parties may be distributed in the classroom only if each child receives an invitation.

Birthdays

Sonshine Day observes quiet time from 12:00 2:00 everyday. All of our classes (except Pre-K) take naps during this time. Our Pre-K classes observe quiet activities, movies and/or outside time. Nap Mats are available for purchase upon enrollment. The children are allowed infant size pillows and blankets for nap time, which will fit into their cubbies.

Nap Time

Field trips are an important and positive part of your childs experience while at school. Parents will be given a two-week written notice about upcoming field trips. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 17

Field Trips

A form for each child that is attending must be filled out and returned three days prior to the field trip date. Parent participation will be needed for chaperoning. We ask that if you are volunteering to supervise on a trip that you not bring siblings. The church bus will be used for transportation . According to Alachua County ordinance for daycare centers, children who have not turned four must be in an approved childcare restraint seat. Only those children who are four years or older may attend field trips pertaining to the unit of study. * Note: Parents who choose not to allow their child to attend field trips will need to make other arrangements for their child that day.

DISCIPLINE STATEMENT
Discipline is derived from the word disciple meaning to teach. Therefore, we do not think of discipline as punishment but rather as teaching self-control and Christian attitudes. Discipline is always used in a way that corrects the child in such a way that the child understands he or she is okay, but the behavior is not acceptable. Techniques used in discipline at Sonshine Day are as follows: Redirect younger children. Discuss the problem with children old enough to have good verbal skills and include them in the solution to the problem. If needed, time out from activities in the classroom under teacher supervision. Time-out is no longer than one minute for each year the child is old. If the incident is a reoccurring one or one that the teacher feels needs more attention we will bring the child to the office for time out under adult supervision. In some cases parents may be called to talk to their child over the phone or come to the school and take the child home for the day. Discipline will not be associated with food, rest, or bathroom. Spanking or any other form of corporal punishment is not permitted at Sonshine Day Preschool. The following conduct would warrant discipline notes and communication with parents: 1. Running away from teachers 2. Hurting another child severely 3. Hitting a teacher 4. Biting 5. Destructive behavior 6. Foul, threatening or intimidating language. 7. Continual misconduct 1 . Discipline reports are sent home to communicate to you about any difficult behavior that is occurring in class. Discipline notes should be signed and returned to the teacher. Should your child injure another child, an incident report form will Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 18

be filled out and then signed by the parent. Discipline and incident reports will keep parents and teachers aware of the childs behavior and assist in addressing it promptly. Should we find that an individual child cannot function at school with the discipline and guidance provided, we will ask the parents to withdraw the child in order to protect the secure and loving environment we all need for our children.

Biting is a normal part of a toddlers growth, however, we at Sonshine Day cannot allow such behavior to get out of hand. Therefore, when a child goes through this stage we will try redirection, shadowing, and discussing this with you. If the problem continues, we will ask that the child be removed until such behavior can be controlled.

BITING

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HEALTH & SAFETY POLICIES

State of Florida (DCF) Regulations When your child exhibits symptoms of illness during the day, he or she will be isolated and you will be contacted to pick them up immediately. You have an hour to come and pick up your child. If you are not here within that time frame you will be charged a late fee. ($10.00 for every five minutes you are late) If you are unable to come, we ask that you contact a person on your pick up list to come. This person must show a photo I.D. and you must notify us that they are coming.

Diarrhea (three within an hour) Vomiting Fever 100 degrees or more Any symptoms of a possible communicable disease(Section 3.64) Impetigo Conjunctivitis (must be out 24 hours with treatment & no drainage) Herpes Head lice or Nits (NO NIT POLICY) Croup (a barking cough) *A child that is sent home with any of the above symptoms must be kept out for 24 hours.

Reasons for Being Sent Home

Is fussy, has a fever or had a fever the previous 24 hours Has a cold with a yellowish or green discharge Has a constant croupy cough Fussy, generally not him/herself Has signs of a communicable disease Has lice or nits Has impetigo Has vomited in the last 24 hours Eyes that are stuck together or drainage Your child may return to school only when any of the above symptoms do not exist.

Reasons to Keep a Child Home

We have a NO NIT POLICY. This means that your child must be free of nits before they can return to school.

Head LIce

Sonshine Day will only administer medication that has been prescribed by your doctor. The only exception to this policy is pain reliever or a teething aid for infants that are experiencing pain due to teething. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 20

Medication

You will be required to fill out a medical authorization form for each medication at the beginning of each week. The medication must be in its original container. DO NOT SEND THE MEDICATION IN YOUR CHILDS LUNCH BOX.

A list of children and their allergies is provided to all school staff. Substitutions are made when possible for food allergies. If a child has severe food allergies, a parent can provide snack food that the child can eat. If a child is allergic to bee/wasp stings, the parents must provide the school with any prescribed antidote injection on the first day of school. Procedures listed above must be followed for the administration of this medication.

Allergies

It is our policy to call the parent if an injury occurred that required medical attention. If we cannot reach you, we will contact your childs physician. If necessary, we will call the paramedics. It is your responsibility to keep all emergency numbers updated. In the event that there is an accidental injury you will receive a written report. This report must be signed and returned to your childs teacher.

Injuries

EMERGENCY & CRISIS PROCEDURES

The intent of this section is to inform parents of the procedures that are in place for the safety of your child in the event of an emergency or crisis. Staff Preparation All staff are trained in CPR and First Aid. All staff receive information about emergency planning in our personnel handbook, staff memos and in staff meetings. First Aid supplies are kept stocked and are stored at the school. Fire Emergency Each month a fire drill is practiced for the entire school. Emergency exit maps and directions are posted in each classroom. In the event of a fire evacuation in which the building is unusable, parents will be notified to come and picked their child up. Tornado / Severe Storms During severe storms, child are kept inside and online weather information is carefully monitored. IN the event of a tornado warning, children will be moved into interior rooms and away from any windows. Bomb Threat In the event of a bomb threat or any other threat to the physical building, children will be evacuated in the same manner as a fire drill. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 21

Crisis Situation In the event of any crisis situation, such as a gunman on the lose, our building will be locked down and the situation carefully monitored. Other Emergencies In the event of any other crisis or emergency, church administration will be contacted for guidance and assistance. Law Enforcement and emergency personnel will always be contacted as needed. In the event of any emergency, staff will remain with children until parents arrive or the situation is resolved.

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Children should come to school in comfortable play clothes and shoes that can withstand paint, sand, dirt, etc. Clothes should be easy for the child to remove when using the bathroom. For example, an outfit that buttons up the back is not practical. Children need to wear sneakers or shoes in which they can run and play easily. Sandals, flip flops, any backless shoes, cowboy boots or wheelie shoes are not permitted for safety reasons. All students should have an extra change of clothing at school for occasional accidents (or energetic days at the water table). If the extra set of clothing is used, parents must send a fresh set the following day. Items to include in a large Ziploc bag are as follows: a pair of pants/shorts, a shirt, a pair of socks and underwear. All clothing, particularly jackets, sweaters, and hats must be labeled with your childs name. All personal items brought from home should be labeled. Children should not bring toys or other items not specified in this handbook from home. Caring for and sharing become difficult issues with these special items. Parents and students will receive specific instructions for show and tell days or other similar events.

DRESS CODE

TOYS

PARENT INVOVLEMENT
Parent involvement is very important to the development of your child. We ask that you make an honest effort to attend programs, orientation, and any other school functions. We ask that whenever possible that you take the opportunity to assist the teacher or teachers assistant in the classroom with parties and field trips. All parents are invited to participate on our parent committee. We need your help in organizing fund-raising activities for the school, providing suggestions for your childs class, organizing teachers appreciation week, and any other issues which may arise during the course of the year. Parent committee meets once a month in the evening and child care is provided. You may be asked to furnish refreshments, favors, games, time and so forth for holiday parties. A sign-up sheet will be placed on each classrooms clipboard please, look out for yours and sign up to bring something. Regularly scheduled conferences are arranged with the parents to review the childs progress. See our annual calendar for specific dates. Other conferences can be scheduled throughout the year at the request of parents or staff members. Since it is necessary for the staff to devote their time during the school day to the Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 23

Participation

Parent Committee

Holiday Parties

Conferences

children, we ask that you schedule a conference time with the teacher to discuss any concerns rather than trying to discuss concerns during classroom time.

Parent visits and observations during school hours are welcomed and encouraged. Please let us know the day and time you will come. We ask that you not plan to visit the school during the first month that your child is enrolled. The child needs that time to adjust to new surroundings. We believe that it is important to maintain open and frequent communication between staff and parents. We want to share with you as much as possible the experiences your child has had at school.

Classroom Visits

PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Every child in the two-year class thru PK is allowed to check out books from the church library. Books need to be returned within a week in order for your child to check out another book. If books are not returned within three weeks after they are due a charge of $10.00 per book will be added to your account. If you return a late book, your account will be credited. Our children in the Toddler Classes thru Pre-K enjoy wonderful musical experience each week at Sonshine Day. Along with the music experiences in their classroom, each child goes to Music time once or twice a week. Our 2 yr-old classes thru PreK work on learning special songs for a spring program each year.

Library

Music

Sun Country runs a gymbus program here at Sonshine Day Preschool. This program is for 3 year-olds and 4 year-olds. There is an extra charge for the gymbus activity. You are charged only for the days your child actually goes on the gymbus. We offer gymbus two days a week. Stretch n- Grow is a program that we will offer at Sonshine Day Preschool for our Pre-K classes. This program is an exercise & nutrition program for children.

Gymbus

Stretch n - Grow

Children in our 2 year old classes thru Pre-K have the opportunity to participate in chapel twice a month. We will sing songs, discuss an age appropriate Bible concept, memorize a scripture and have prayer time.

Chapel

PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM
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The curriculum used in our preschool program is the Wee Learn curriculum guide series developed by Life-way Early Education Resources. Our Infant and Toddler classes also use Bright Beginnings by Gospel Light. Our Pre-K classes also use Open Court to teach phonics and readiness skills for reading. The Wee Learn curriculum is the framework on which teachers can build an early childhood program that allows children to grow and develop as Jesus did-"in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). This excellent series is written by outstanding professional preschool educators. These skillfully compiled guides are filled with rich experiences aimed at meeting the total educational and developmental needs of your preschool child. The teachers also use a variety of supplemental materials in developing their units of study. A variety of topics are studied through out the year including Readiness skills (see standards below) Concepts such colors, numbers, shapes and the alphabet Learning about myself Learning about my family Learning about my community Learning about animals

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Our goals for the preschool children at Sonshine Day follow in line with the Florida School Readiness Performance Standards. These standards reflect six areas of development. Six Areas of Childrens Development Physical Health Approaches to Learning Social/Emotional Development Language and Communication Cognitive Development Motor Development

DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS

If you would like to read the Florida School Readiness Performance Standards for birth through age five they are available online at: www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning/oel_performance.html

VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK)

What is VPK? A constitutional amendment passed by Florida's voters in Nov. 2002 required a voluntary prekindergarten program for all four-year-old children by fall 2005. House Bill 1-A was signed into law by Governor Bush on January 2, 2005, creating a program designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. The program allows a parent to enroll his or her eligible child (four years old by September 1 and residing in Florida) in a free VPK program. The program is voluntary for children and providers. The VPK program is a collaboration of the Office of Early Learning, the Department of Education and local Early Learning Coalition groups. The VPK program works with providers to offer quality programs that include high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes and qualified instructors. VPK Hours and Calendar The VPK instructional hours are from 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM Monday through Friday. From 11:30 AM until 12:00 noon, the VPK classes will have lunch. Children enrolled in VPK only must be picked up by 12:00 noon. VPK classes will follow the Sonshine Day Preschool Calendar with the addition of a few extra holidays and workdays. The VPK closings are outlined in the VPK Calendar given to families at Orientation. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 26

What will my child do during the instructional hours of VPK? Our staff will encourage your child to discover the world of learning through experimentation and excitement! The Wee Learn curriculum will continue to be used in our VPK classrooms. This curriculum includes literacy, science, math, art, drama, music, social skills, physical education, health and Biblical concepts. During VPK hours, the program will be enriched with a variety of activities in the different developmental areas but with a stronger orientation to early literacy, math and science and social skills.

VPK POLICIES & PROCEDURES

VPK General Policies 1. To participate in the VPK program, children must be registered with the Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County. 2. Parents must follow all the policies and procedures outlined by the Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County, as well as all of Sonshine Days policies and procedures. 3. Children must be checked in each morning by entering the time of arrival and a full signature (first and last name) of who has signed them into the classroom. 4. Children must be checked out each day by entering the time of departure and a full signature (first and last name) of who has signed them out of the classroom. 5. Fees and tuition will not be charged to families who have a child enrolled in the VPK only program. Under this program children must be picked up by 12 noon. 6. Families will be asked to donate money towards the cost of special events such as field trips. However, families are not required to pay for extra fees while their child is enrolled in VPK. 7. A parent must sign that they have received and agree with our attendance policy. VPK Attendance Policy Since success in any learning environment depends largely on prompt and faithful attendance, it is necessary for providers and families to establish an agreement regarding absences and tardiness. The guidelines set forth in this agreement are the basis for your childs state-approved funding as well as his or her successful transition to Kindergarten. Instructional hours for our VPK students are 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Monday through Friday, for a total of 180 days. At Orientation, enrolled families receive a yearly calendar outlining start and end dates, all scheduled days off, and all school holidays. 5 Day Start-Up Period Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 27

Attendance during the initial Start-Up Days is crucial in facilitating a positive classroom community. Therefore, attendance the first 5 days of school is MANDATORY so that students can begin to establish the daily routine. Tardiness Late arrivals and departures are disruptive to the learning process. Please be on time for your childs class each day, so they will not miss instruction. If your child is excessively tardy, we will need to discuss your childs continuance in the VPK program. Absences Pursuant to Rule 60BB-8.204 concerning attendance and funding for the Florida Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program, the following requirements apply: All absences from school must have written documentation confirming the date and reason for the absence. For your convenience, Excused Absence Forms are available in your childs classroom. A parent/guardian may document the first 7 days absent in any one month period. For absences of more than 7 days in any one month period, a person other than the parent, and unrelated to the child, must furnish written documentation, i.e. physician, officer of the court, etc. Each child is allowed a maximum of fifteen (15) absences per school year, regardless of monthly totals. Normal tuition and fees will be assessed when total number of absences exceeds fifteen (15). PLEASE NOTE . absences of five (5) consecutive instructional days without proper documentation will be considered a WITHDRAWAL from the VPK funded program at Sonshine Day. Withdrawals of this nature are not eligible for reenrollment in the VPK-funded program at Sonshine Day. Absences due to Extraordinary Circumstances Five (5) additional days are available to each VPK student for absences due to extraordinary circumstances during the school year. Documentation from the appropriate agency or individual must be submitted by the legal custodial adult describing the extraordinary circumstances that justify the absence. These circumstances consist of the following: Hospitalization of the student, parent or guardian (Physician notice required) Illness of student, parent or guardian that requires extended home-stay (Physician notice required) Death in the childs, parents or guardians immediate family Court ordered visitation (Court order required) A parents or guardians unforeseen military deployment or exercise (Military documentation) Verifying Your Childs Attendance and Absences Parents must complete and sign the mandatory attendance verification forms EACH MONTH. Your childs teacher will have it ready for you on the last three instructional days of the month. Your childs continued funding in the program Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 28

depends on your cooperation in a timely fashion. These forms will verify that: your childs attendance is accurate for the month you continue to choose Sonshine Day as your VPK provider of choice Continuity of Programming Families who comply with the aforementioned guidelines will continue to be served by Sonshine Day Preschool under the Florida VPK funding statutes, administered by the Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County. If for any reason cause is found to terminate any childs VPK funding status, the child may continue to attend Sonshine Day Preschool, but parents or guardians will be required to pay full weekly tuition and applicable fees for the remainder of the school year.

Local contact for the VPK program:

The Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday 4424 NW 13th ST BLDG A Gainesville, FL 32605 352-375-4110 http://www.elcalachua.org/parentsvpk.html For more information on VPK: http://www.floridajobs.org/VPK/FAQs.html http://www.fldoe.org/earlylearning/

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AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Policies and Procedures The afterschool program at Sonshine Day will serve families in our community by providing quality, Christian care for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our afterschool program is open to any elementary age child. However, we will only provide transportation from Hidden Oak Elementary school and Lawton Chiles Elementary School. For any other schools to be considered for transportation services, at least five children must be enrolled in our afterschool program from that school. After completing the enrollment process at Sonshine Day for a child, the parent is responsible for notifying and authorizing Sonshine Day staff as the regular pick up person. In the unlikely event, that the bus breaks down or is being serviced, private vehicles will have to be used to transport children. A list of licensed, insured drivers and their vehicles are keep at the front office for review. Otherwise, transportation would have to be provided by the parent. Please notify us at Sonshine Day if your child is absent from school and will not riding the bus. There are approximately eight (8) school days during the year that the children are out of school for flex days and teacher work days. On these days, you may sign up your child for a full day of care for an additional $12.00 daily. Along with the other school polices in this handbook, we ask that children in the afterschool program do not bring electronic devices, such as I-pods, cell phones and CD players. These items can cause problems between friends and we do not like to be responsible for the care of these expensive items.. While in the after school program at Sonshine Day, your child will be able to participate in the following activities: Gym - Westside Baptist Churchs Gym will be available to use right after school so children can run around and play some sports. We also have access to outside fields for recreation time. Snacks Nutritious snacks will be served every after noon Homework time A time were children have the opportunity to complete homework, practice spelling words, read books and work on reports. We are also trying to coordinate tutoring through the University of Floridas College of Education. Games Educational and skill games will be available every afternoon. Arts-n-Crafts Opportunities to do art projects and engage art experiences will be offered each afternoon. Clubs Cooking, Science, Jewelry making, building, and other experiences will be offered as a special club on Wednesday afternoons. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 30

SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM

The summer camp program is an extension of our afterschool program. Children in afterschool will be given the first opportunity to register for summer camp. Duplicate paperwork will not be required in May for enrollment in the summer camp program. A $35.00 registration will be required to secure your spot. The same activities with the addition of field trips and special school wide events will be offered in our summer camp program for grade school children. Same general policies apply to summer camp as the preschool and afterschool programs. OUR STAFF TEACHING STAFF Sonshine Day Preschool is staffed with Christian teachers and assistants. All employees are screened and take coursework in childcare and early childhood education as per state guidelines. We staff all rooms with two employees for the majority of the day which allows us to observe the following ratios: Infants 4 infants /1 teacher Toddlers 4-5 toddlers /1 teacher 2 yrs 6 students/1 teacher 3 yrs 6 students/1 teacher Pre-K 6 students/1 teacher Grade School 12 students/1 teacher State Required Ratios are as follows: Infants 4 infants /1 teacher Toddlers 6 toddlers /1 teacher 2 yrs 11 students/1 teacher 3 yrs 15 students/1 teacher Pre-K 20 students/1 teacher Grade school 25 students /1 teacher ADMINISTRATION / OFFICE We have five administration positions to serve our preschool and your children. The Director and Assistant Director both oversee the daily operations of the school. The director works with the board of directors and the assistant director works with the Parent Committee. The Financial Office Assistant oversees all the aspects of our finances at the school. If you have any questions about your account you can contact this person. The Resource Office Assistant oversees our inventory of supplies, resource room & requests, copying, lamination and various other office tasks. Sonshine Day Parent Handbook Page 31

Director .Heather Greist Assistant Director to Preschool .. .Peggy Kimerling Assistant Director to Grade School..Susan Eaton Financial Office Assistant. ..Barbara Black Resource Office Assistant. ..Camala Kuhl BOARD OF DIRECTORS The affairs of Sonshine Day Preschool are managed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors governs by speaking with one voice through written policies. One of the primary functions of the board is to appoint the administrator to implement policy and effectively oversee the affairs of the preschool. Board members must be born again Christians, active in a local evangelical church, interested in Sonshine Day and not an employee or spouse of an employee of Sonshine Day Preschool. A list of the current board members is included on the following page.

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Sonshine Day Preschool

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2008-2009
Terri Pogue poguet@levy.k12.fl.us Jessie Pugh jpugh@oec-fl.com President Vice President

Suzanne Baldwin Secretary suzannebaldwin922@hotmail.com Nell Bass bassnt@bellsouth.net Lois Houk ehouk2000@yahoo.com Allison McAlhany abwagner@bellsouth.net Bryan Conrad conrabp@ortho.ufl.edu Member

Member

Member / Parent

Member/ Parent

Composition of Board: -A total of 7 - 9 board members with 3 of those officers -One member must be a parent of Sonshine Day -One member can be a non-WBC church member but active in another evangelical church Terms of Service: -Three years consecutive service maximum -Members may be re-elected after rotation off for one year -Officers must be elected each year and can repeat a year in a position. -President may serve a fourth year after serving as president.

Staff Members Heather Greist

Director 333-0017 or 333-7700 #141 hgreist@westsidebaptist.org Page 33

Sonshine Day Parent Handbook

Kristie Kirk

Westsides Preschool & Childrens Minister 333-7700 #120 kkirk@westsidebaptist.org

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