OUR PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of Kids Are People Too! Inc. is based upon how children learn:

Children learn by doing. For the four-year-old thinking is concrete. They need lots of hands-on experiences to help them understand the world around them. Activities are provided that invite children to explore with all senses, rather than be dominated by workbooks, ditto sheets, drills, and rote learning.

Children are intrinsically motivated. They are born learners. Frequent adult-directed activities, drills, and rote learning can interfere with the child’s excitement in learning. It is important to set up an environment that encourages the child’s curiosity and keeps alive that drive to learn. Parents often underestimate the value of play. However, children learn best through play. In play children develop concepts through experiences with objects and ideas that are important to them.

Children learn and remember best when content is relevant. Children can develop concrete skills through involvement in meaningful activities. Activities are meaningful to children when they are relevant to their own life experiences and based on their interests.

Children learn by talking about their activities. Young children should be provided varied opportunities to communicate. They need responsive adults to listen and ask questions, which help children articulate their ideas, and make connections. When children ask questions, particularly open-ended, these questions and their responses provide valuable information about the individual’s level of thinking.

We, at Kids Are People Too accept Piaget’s theory on intelligence and believe in Montessori’s hands-on approach to teaching young children. According to research, children learn best through direct, tangible, hands-on, concrete materials. Preschools using packaged programs, such as A-Beka, often do not take into consideration how young children learn.

It is our intention at Kids Are People Too to provide an early childhood program, which is developmentally appropriate for children as advocated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Dear Families,

Welcome to Kids Are People Too! Inc. We are glad you have chosen us to care for your child. We hope that this handbook will help introduce you to Kids Are People Too and answer many of your questions. Whether it be infant, toddler, preschool or school-age care, we are here to meet your needs.

Center Organization

Kids Are People Too was founded in March of 1980 by Jamie Broussard, present owner and director. This center holds a Louisiana Class “A” license. Jamie Broussard holds a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from L.S.U. and a teaching certificate for Pre-K through 8 th grade. She currently has a Montessori Teaching Diploma from North American Montessori. She is very proud to be a member of The National Association for the Education of Young Children, Louisiana Association for the Education of Young Children, and Child Care Association of Louisiana.

Purpose

The purpose of this program shall be to provide a home-like atmosphere, a full-day nursery school and preschool, and a before and after school program that will benefit the child, the parent, and the community.

Our goals are:To provide opportunities for being with other children in a setting conducive to the development of

wholesome social relationships.To provide appropriate play experiences that contribute to the developmental needs of the child.To provide opportunities for meaningful play that are based on the child’s individual needs,

interests, handicaps, and abilities, which will build important foundations for future reading skills and other academic pursuits.

To help meet the needs of the community for a high quality early childhood educational facility and to contribute to the wholesome growth and development of our future citizens.

To provide a setting where people of various religious and ethnic backgrounds can work together for a common interest.

Days and Hours of Operation

K.A.P.T. is open year round Monday through Friday from 6:45 am to 6:00 pm. The center will observe the following holidays in which the center is closed: New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras (Monday & Tuesday), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the Center will be closed the Friday OR the Monday. The center will also close at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. There is also a possibility the Center will be closed for extreme weather conditions. This is usually determined by public school closures and is usually broadcasted on Ch.9 and/orCh. 2. There is no discount on tuition for these days.

Enrollment

Enrollment shall be open to any child, provided the school can meet the needs of that child. It shall be granted without discrimination in regard to race, color, creed, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, ancestry, or whether the child is being breast-fed. The following must be completed to enroll your child:Master FormAdmission AgreementAuthorization FormImmunization RecordTuition Express Enrollment Form

Registration & Supply Fee

A non-refundable registration fee of $75 per child is charged for new enrollment. A $50 per child registration fee is charged for each year thereafter. With the exception of school-age children, each child is charged a $75 supply fee each year. A separate registration and supply fee is charged for school-age children attending our summer camp. You will receive information on this prior to the summer.

Immunizations

All children are required to have complete immunizations which must be submitted upon enrollment as well as each time the child receives a shot.

Health

We strive to prevent the spread of illness, and your cooperation with our policies will be of great help. Please keep your child at home if has:A fever of 100 degrees or greater.Symptoms or signs of possible severe illness, such as; uncontrolled coughing, irritability, persistent

crying, unusual lethargy, wheezing, or other unusual signs.Strep throat until 24 hours after an antibiotic started.Diarrhea; runny, watery, or bloody stools within the last 12 hours.Vomiting 2 or more times in the last 24 hours.Unexplained rash.Scabies, Head lice or other infestations.Impetigo until 24 hours after treatment has begun.Chicken pox until 5-7 days after blisters appear.Other possible communicable diseases.Sore throat with fever.Eye discharge (white or yellow) or pink eye; until 24 hours after starting treatment; if treatment is

not sought then when the discharge clears.Child is irritable, continuously crying or requires more attention from a caregiver than what they can

provide without hurting the health and safety of other attending children.Mouth sores with drooling.Respiratory illness.

Health (cont.)Your child may return to the center:1. When the previous conditions are met.2. The child is fever or symptom free for at least 24 hours, without medication, before returning to daycare.3. The child has been treated by a doctor or a doctor permits them to return to the Center with a signed note stating the date and time they can return.

If your child becomes ill while at the center, you will be called to pick up your child. It is importantto pick up your child within the hour in order to decrease the exposure of this illness to the other children attending.

Kids Are People Too has the final say about when your child can return. We reserve the right to have precedent over the physician if the child is unable to participate in scheduled activities at the center.

Safety

To insure the safety of your child, please hold your child’s hand in the parking lot upon entering and exiting the center. Under no circumstances should your child be in the parking lot without a parent, guardian, or another responsible adult. Please enter the driveway as directed by the signs. Always check closely behind you before backing up. If a school bus is dropping off children, please do not try to exit the driveway until the children are safely inside the fenced area.

Please turn your motor “off” when entering the building and lock your car.

Emergency Situation

If an emergency occurs at the center causing us to evacuate, the children and staff will be taken by the center’s bus from the Prairieville Center to Winn Dixie on the Airline Hwy. If Winn Dixie is also under evacuation orders, the children and staff will be taken to Creative Kids Treehouse, 210 E. Caldwell St. in Gonzales. You will be notified where to pick up your child.

Arrival and Leaving the Center

The school opens at 6:45 a.m. and closes promptly at 6 p.m. If you know you will be detained, please notify the school immediately so that we can reassure your child. The overtime charge is $1 per minute per child after 6 P.M.

We ask that you finish your phone calls first before entering the building to pick up your child. After a long day at school, your child deserves your undivided attention.

It is required that all children be escorted inside the center and that the child is properly checked into the computer system. Please ask for assistance if needed when checking in your child. In order for your child to benefit from our program, please have your child at the center by 9 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. if eating breakfast. Coming in after this time causes a disruption in the class. The front door will be locked each day at 9:00 a.m. You must provide a doctor’s excuse or a valid reason in order for your child to attend if after 9 a.m. Authorizing Individuals to Pick up Your Child

On the “Master Form” please list all individuals who will be allowed to pick up your child. The center cannot release your child to a person who is not on your list.

Toys

Toys and stuffed animals from home are not allowed to be brought into the center. This causes much heartache for your child as well as their teachers. We have plenty of educational toys to keep your child entertained. Please take care of this issue before entering the building.

Clothing

Please dress your child according to the weather. Children must wear socks and tennis shoes. Sandals, crocs, flip-flops, open-toed shoes and dress shoes are not safe while on the playground. Since our program consists of many hands-on, messy activities, please dress your child in old play clothes. Although we will do our best to protect your child’s clothing, we are not responsible for damaged clothing. Please label all coats and sweaters.

Send an extra full set of clothes labeled in a Ziploc bag for your child (infants, toddlers, and preschoolers). If your child soils his clothes, the clothes will be sent home that day. Please send a new set the next day. You will be called to pick up your child if spare clothes are not available.

Child Behavior Notice

A form will be filled out by K.A.P.T. staff if your child exhibits behavior that is not acceptable or does not adhere to the classroom discipline policy. Please return this form with your signature after discussing this with your child. We reserve the right to refuse care for your child if, at any time, his/her behavior needs require more attention than we are able to give. Naptime

All children are required to have a rest period. This usually occurs after eating lunch. Infants sleep on their own schedule.

Meals

A breakfast snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack are served daily. Breakfast is served family style from 8:30-9:00. Your child must be in the center by 8:30 to receive breakfast. The menu is posted in the front building near the check-in area.

Due to state regulations, food cannot be brought into the center except under the following circumstances:

Bottled formula/breast milk for infants shall have labeled bottles and labeled caps/covers with the child’s name or initials and refrigerated upon arrival.

Baby food shall be in the original unopened container and labeled with the child’s name. When a child requires a special diet, a written statement from a medical authority is required by the

state and must be on file.Children with food allergies/intolerance shall have a written statement signed by the parent

indicating the specific food allergy/intolerance.When a child requires a modified diet for religious reasons, a written statement to that effect from

the child’s parent shall be on file.Special occasion refreshments allowed with approval of Director. Child Accident Form

Our staff takes every effort to ensure the safety of your child. Unfortunately, with children, accidents do occur. In case of that event, an accident form will be filled out by one of our staff for every detected injury that occurs. The form will be placed in the “Parent’s Mailbox” for your review and signature. After signing, please return into the wooden box. If your child comes into the center with an injury, please let a staff member know. We are required by the state to log this into our observation book with an explanation. If you forget to tell a staff member, expect a phone call from us if your child cannot explain what happened. We are not accusing you of any wrong doing- it is just a licensing regulation we must follow.

Visiting Policy

We have an “Open Door” policy. Please visit our facility any time at your convenience.

Financial Arrangements

Tuition fees are due in advance on Monday by 6 p.m. each week. A late fee of $20 per week is charged if paid after the deadline. Checks are no longer accepted unless paying in advance for the month. We accept tuition payments by using “Tuition Express” as well as by cash. When paying by cash, place in an envelope and label the date, name, and amount paid before placing it in the

locked tuition box. A receipt will be given to you by Friday of that week. If you will be using “Tuition Express”, you must fill out the enclosed form with your method of payment. The Center processes the payment on Friday, it comes out of your account (checking or credit card) on Monday and goes into the Center’s account on Tuesday for that week. If tuition is not paid in full by Friday of each week, your child may not return the following week.

There is no discount for the days your child is absent, emergency closures, or for holidays when the center is closed. The schools budget and teacher’s salaries are based upon full enrollment, therefore, compensation cannot be given. The charge for a returned check is $30. After 2 returned checks, you will be required to pay with cash.

Each child over the age of 2 will be allowed one week vacation per year (August to August) at no charge if your child is absent from the center PROVIDED THAT ALL TUITION IS PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. The one week vacation will not be given to families who are delinquent with payments. School age children are only allowed to take one week during the summer months if attends.

Summary of Additional Fees

Children attending more than 10 hours per day is an additional $2 per day per child.Tuition paid after 6 p.m. Monday- $20 per week (cumulative)Failure to check your child in or out- $1 per dayReturned check fee- $30Late pick-up fee- $1 per minute per child after 6 p.m.

Infant/Toddler Program

Children in this age group are in the sensory motor stage of intelligence. Children in this stage learn best by experiencing the environment through their senses (seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling), by physically moving around, and through social interaction. Infants, toddlers, and twos increasingly use toys, language, and other learning materials in their play. Caregivers for these age groups provide a stimulating environment, play with the children, talk to them, read to them, explain to them, and provide various art and musical activities.

Infant, toddlers, and 2 year olds must supply diapers when needed and 2 packs of wipes each month. Infants must supply formula and baby food. Upon enrollment, please complete the “Infant Information Form” which tells the staff about your child’s habits. If your child is on formula, please send an extra can to keep at the center. If your child is on table food and /or regular milk, it will be supplied by the center. Food, pacifiers, and bottles (including caps) must all be labeled.

Preschool Program

It is the philosophy of Kids Are People Too that early childhood should be a time of fun, warmth, security, exploring, and discovery. Preschool children are creative and receptive. The staff strives to nurture and encourage these qualities in the children who attend. Our purpose is to provide an atmosphere that encourages social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth and development of the child. Planned within the framework of philosophy and purpose, Kids Are People Too’s

curriculum includes sharing and conversation time; stories, songs, and finger-plays; creative art activities and crafts; games and large muscle activities; field trips throughout the community; food preparation; science and nature activities; exposure to shapes, colors, numbers, and letters and celebration of birthdays and holidays. The classroom environment is well planned and includes a rich variety of materials and choices. The children are given the opportunity to work in our many learning centers-Block Center, Manipulative Center, Dramatic Play Center, Library Center, Art Center, Water/Sand Play center, Writing Center, and Science Center. Kids Are People Too use the “Learning Center” approach to early childhood education for a variety of reasons. Research shows that children learn best through hands-on experiences to help them understand the world around them. Therefore, activities are provided that invite children to explore with all senses, rather than be dominated with workbooks, ditto sheets, drills, and rote learning. Children are already intrinsically motivated. Frequent adult-directed activities, drill and rote learning can interfere with the child’s excitement in learning. It is our goal to set up an environment which encourages the child’s curiosity and keeps alive that drive to learn. It is our promise at Kids Are People Too, not to use a packaged program using workbooks or ditto sheets such as A-Beka, or any other curriculum that is developmentally inappropriate for young children. Extra-Curricular Activity for Preschool Children

A Soccer Program called “Happy Feet” is available at the center for children age 2 1/2 and up. Coach Cody visits our center each week and teaches soccer skills by using stories, songs, and fun games. Please visit their website at www.happyfeetbatonrouge.com . Before and After School Program

A before and after school program is offered during the school year as well as an all day summer camp. The schools we serve are Prairieville Primary, Prairieville Middle, and Oak Grove. Children attending before school are offered a breakfast snack if they arrive by 7:30. Children are given an afternoon snack upon arrival and then allowed to play on the playground or have indoor activities. If you would like for your child to start on homework, please let the staff know and assistance will be offered when needed.

Summer time is fun and exciting for our school-age children. Activities include bowling, skating, arts and crafts, and swimming as well as many educational field trips. There is a separate registration fee for summer camp as well as an additional fee for the activities. Miscellaneous Policies

Sign-In and Out Policy: Upon arrival, an adult must check in each child. Upon departure, an adult must check out each child. This is a state licensing regulation. Please help us by properly checking in and out your child.

3rd Party Release: No one other than who is listed on the “Master Form” will be allowed to pick up your child. Please advise the people you have listed to be prepared to show proof of identity to center personnel.

Confidentiality and Security of Files: The center shall maintain the confidentiality of all children’s records in a secure location in the office. Employees of the center shall not disclose or knowingly permit the disclosure of any information concerning the child or his/her family, directly, or indirectly, to any unauthorized person. The center shall obtain written, informed consent from the parent prior to releasing any information or photographs from which the child might be identified.

Transportation Policy: The school’s bus is used to transport children for field trips and to transport children to Oak Grove. Transportation will conform to state laws, including seat belts. Children will be under direct supervision at all times. Each child will board or leave the vehicle from the curbside of the street and shall be safely escorted across the street if necessary. A designated staff person shall be present when the child is delivered to the center. The vehicle shall be maintained in good repair. The number of persons in a vehicle shall not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended capacity. All vehicles will have a communication device and child/staff ratio will be met. At least one staff member in each vehicle will be certified in CPR and First Aid. The driver shall check the vehicle at the completion of each trip to ensure that no child is left on the vehicle. Children will not be left in a vehicle unattended.

Abuse and Neglect: As mandated reporters, all center staff shall report any suspected abuse and/or neglect of a child in accordance with R.S. 14:403 to the local Child Protection Agency.

Water Activities: During the summer months, the preschool children are invited to participate in water play activities (wading pools) on the school grounds. School-age children will go off premise to the Gonzales Jambalaya Park swimming pool. All water activities require your consent before your child will be allowed to participate. This is listed on the Authorization Form.

Complaint Procedures: Should you have a significant, unresolved licensing complaint in which the Director was unable to handle, you may contact the Bureau at 225-342-9905 or write to: Dept of Social Services Bureau of Licensing, P.O. Box 3078, Baton Rouge, La 70821.

Medicine Policy: We do not administer medication or breathing treatments at this school with the exception of life or death situations (such as an Epi-pen). If your child is on medication, please give this before or after school. If another dosage is required, you may come to the center to administer medicine to your child. Please do not come during naptime in which we would have to wake your child. All medication given must be logged into our “Administering Medication By Parent” notebook. You must also bring a note from the pharmacist stating the side effects of the Medication you will be giving your child. The child’s name, date, time administered, medication name, dosage administered, and name of person administering medication must all be logged into this notebook.

The staff of KAPT cannot apply topical ointment/sprays/creams (ex. sunscreen, insect repellant, diaper rash ointment, etc.) without a written one-time authorization signed and dated from the parent. This is listed on the Authorization Form.

Toilet Learning Policy: Toilet learning can become a sign of great success and achievement for the child’s own sense of growing up. Children must be ready (usually around 2 ½ or 3 years old) to participate willingly if the process of toilet learning is to be a positive one. Otherwise, toilet “training” can be a battle of the wills and endless disciplining and disappointments. When both the parents and staff decide together that the child is ready to begin, a plan will be discussed which will be consistent and manageable in both center and at home. When a child is toilet learning, it is important to dress your child in clothes he/she can easily manage to pull down or take off. Send at least 2 changes of clothes. If a child is ready, it shouldn’t take longer than one week. If we find after one week that the child is not quite ready, we will try again at a later date. Due to health regulations, the center cannot wash soiled underwear.

Videotaping: Kids Are People Too utilizes a surveillance system at the center for the sole purpose of monitoring the quality of its’ program.

You’ve Got Mail: The parent’s mailboxes are located near the tuition box. All correspondence to you (field trip note, Accident Report, tuition reminder) will be put in the mailbox under your child’s last name. Please check daily.

Biting Policy: “Bite” is a word that brings to mind all forms of fears and worries. We try to catch the deeds before they happen, but, unfortunately, it is not always possible. Children, especially toddlers, are not always very verbal, do not or cannot verbalize feelings and often show their feelings physically. As they grow older, with our help and guidance, they will learn to replace biting with appropriate responses. If your child bites, all it means is that he or she has found this to be an effective response. Biting is usually provoked. Some children choose hitting, pushing or other responses. Some never do any of these. A lot of it comes down to personality, reinforcement, environment or chance. We are not alone in trying to cope with this problem. Understanding and support for the other parents, children, and teachers can only help. No one wants his or her child to bite or be bitten, or to hit or be hit, or to be pushed, shoved or scratched. These are all normal children with normal problems, and the best we can do is to help one another while the children grow past these undesirable traits. When a child is bitten, the attention is first given to the child who has been bitten. A cool compress is applied along with at little TLC from the caregiver. If the skin is broken, it is washed with soap and water. The parents are called if deemed necessary. The caregiver then talks with the child who has bitten, explaining that it is not O.K. to hurt his friends. The parents of the child who was bitten will be given an incident report as well as the parents of the child who did the biting.

Withdrawal Policy: A two-week notice is required to withdraw your child from the program in which regular tuition is charged. This gives the center ample time to fill the vacancy since the center counts on full enrollment to meet its’ financial obligations. If notice is not given, you are still required to pay two weeks tuition from the time of departure.

Discipline Policy: “Being punished isn’t enjoyable while it is happening-it hurts! But afterwards we can see the results, a quiet growth in grace and character.” Proverbs 12:11

Discipline is what we do to help the child gain control of himself.1) When desirable behavior occurs, the child will be reminded of acceptable behavior and

be re-directed to another activity.2) If a child persists in undesirable behavior, the child will be removed from the situation

and placed in a time-out area within the activity area and in view of the teacher. This separation will be brief (1 minute per age) and supervised.

3) No child or group of children will be allowed to discipline another child.4) No child or group of children will be subject to physical punishment, corporal

punishment, verbal threats, cruel, severe, unusual or unnecessary punishment. Derogatory remarks shall not be made in the presence of children about family members of children in care or about the children themselves. 5) No child shall be deprived of meals for disciplinary reasons.We reserve the right to refuse care for your child if, at any time, his/her behavior needs require more attention than we are able to give.

We are required by law to report any suspected abuse and/or neglect of a child attending our facility to the local child protection agency.

Kids Are People Too!

Rate Sheet (Effective August 1, 2012)

Registration fee for new enrollment: $75 per child Registration fee for each year thereafter: $50 per childSupply fee: $75 per child per year (excluding school-age)

Weekly Tuition Rates:

6 weeks-24 months: $150

2 year olds: $140

3, 4, 5: $115 (add $5 if child is not toilet trained) (add $10 if child attends over 50 hours/week)

Before and/or After School: $60 (includes early dismissal) ($15 per day added to tuition if attends on a school holiday)