MOTHER'S MORNING OUT & PRESCHOOL - POLICIES

• Accidents
• Activity Fees
• Age Requirements
• Attendance
• Balloons
• Behavior Management Policy
• Birthdays
• Carline
• Closings and Delays
• Clothing/Dress Code
• Dropping off & Picking up your Child
• Emergency Procedures
• Faculty
• Food and Gum
• Footwear
• Fund Raising
• Head Lice Policy
• Health
• Immunizations
• Items Brought to School
• Late Pick-Up Policy

• Lunch Option/Fee and Policy
• Medical Information & Emergency Release Form
• Messages
• Parent Communication
• Parent Concerns & Information
• Potty Training Policy
• Reasons a child will be sent home for the day
• Reasons for dismissal from the program
• Registration Fees
• Registration Forms
• School Pictures
• Security Procedures
• Sick Child Policy
• Snacks
• Stay N Play  
• Tote Bag/Diaper Bags
• Toys
• Tuition
• Visitors
• Withdrawal from program

• Although accidents sometimes occur, they cannot be entirely prevented.  All minor injuries will be cleaned and covered.
• An accident report will be completed and placed in your child’s file.  A copy will be sent home.

• Throughout the year, we have times when our schedule allows for in-house field trips to visit our school (ie: Mother Goose, Little Red Barn, etc).  An activity fee may be charged so that these “special” programs may be brought to your child.  
• Cost based activities are not required and you will have the option to participate.

• MMO - Serves children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years.
• PRESCHOOL - Serves children between the ages of 2 and 5 years 
  Each child must be the age of the class on or before September 1^st to be admitted into the class.  No exceptions will be made.

• We encourage children to be in attendance every day that he/she has registered for Mother's Morning Out and/or Preschool.  However, if a child shows any signs of illness, please keep him/her at home (please note the “Health” section of the policies).  If the absence is planned in advance, please send a note or call ahead of time.  
• It is not necessary to call the MMO or Preschool office on the day that he/she is out. 
• We do request that you call the MMO or Preschool office if the absence is due to a communicable disease so that we may be aware of the problem and are able to notify the other parents.  

• Balloons cause the death of more children than any other toy.  Therefore, balloons are not allowed as decorations, and they cannot be distributed to the children.  Please understand that we are putting your child’s safety first.  We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

• Approaches to discipline will be designed and carried out in a positive manner, helping the child develop self-control and assume responsibility for his/her actions.
• Rules and expectations that are age-appropriate are established and communicated often.
• Children will be positively directed, re-directed and praised often.
• Under NO circumstances will children be subjected to harsh or physical punishment.  We will NOT use any form of physical punishment, make fun of, threaten, or otherwise abuse verbally, deny food or rest, leave alone or unattended, allow discipline of children by children.
• “Time-Out” – When a child has not responded to other positive guidance techniques, we will use “time-out”.  This will consist of a quiet space that is out of the main activity of the classroom but is in the teacher’s sight.  After a brief interval of no more than five minutes, the child will return to his/her regular activities.  This time allows the child to exercise self-control.

• You are welcome to provide a special snack on or near your child’s birthday.  If your child has a summer birthday, you may discuss with your child’s teacher a special day to celebrate with classmates.  Please check with your child’s teacher before bringing a birthday treat.
• We will distribute birthday invitations if there is one for each child in the class.

• Carline pick-up will begin promptly at 1PM (12PM for Preschool children not attending Stay-N-Play).  The staff will bring the children and help them into the car (rain or shine).  It is your responsibility to buckle your child’s seatbelt.  To keep the car line moving, please pull forward to the handicap parking spaces to buckle your child.  
• Please remember that there is only one line and it is important for the safety of the staff and children for you to remain in that line.
• We must have written permission or phone confirmation to send your child home with someone other than you – NO EXCEPTIONS.  Please send a note with your child and give to teacher.  This is for your child’s protection.

• Our program coordinates with the Cobb County Public School Calendar.  Reminder notifications will be posted on our website and on calendars sent home by teacher.
• Should the public school be forced to close due to weather, etc, MMO and Preschool will close as well.

• Please send your child in play-clothes that fit comfortably for running and climbing on the playground equipment, sitting on the floor for circle time or for making crafts.  They WILL get dirty during the day.
• Each child should bring a change of clothes, clearly labeled and placed in a ziploc bag – accidents will happen during lunchtime, playtime or even during bathroom breaks.
• The children will go outside, weather permitting, so please be sure that your child has the appropriate outerwear for each day’s temperature, etc.  

• Identification is required to pick-up all children and ONLY to authorized persons designated on your registration form.  Should you need another person to pick up your child, prior to the pick up you MUST supply a written note advising us of the change.
• Always walk your child to his/her classroom.
• We ask that when you drop off and pick up your child that you sign in/out on the “Sign In/Out Sheet”
• When dropping off or picking up your child, please remain OUTSIDE the classroom.  If the parents enter the room it tends to upset the children and may cause and escape back out into the hall.
• Please call if there is an emergency that will delay you from picking up your child.  

• We will conduct a monthly fire drill or tornado drill.  In case of an actual emergency we will contact you with information and the procedure for picking up the children.
• Please make sure that we have your current emergency phone number and that your cell phone is turned on when your child is at school.  Please submit all changes in writing.  

• Each teacher on our staff is a Christian who is committed to teaching your child in a loving and nurturing manner.  Continuing education workshops are attended annually so that they may be better informed of current trends and better teach your child.  All teachers and assistants are certified in CPR and First Aid.  All employees of CLUMC are required to have a GBI background check.

• The only food sent to school should be Birthday snacks and your child’s lunch.  Children should not come into school in the morning with food or drinks in their hands or gum in their mouths.  

• Tennis shoes are the best choice for your children's feet.  Because of the mulch, dangers of slipping on the playground and little fingers that can be stepped on accidentally, NO FLIP FLOPS, SANDALS, BARE FEET, COWBOY BOOTS OR HARD SOLED SHOES...PLEASE.  

• We have various fundraisers during the year to help maintain a high quality program at an affordable price for the parents.  This money helps us to buy materials, furniture and other items that are not in the budget.  We try to choose fundraisers that are profitable to MMO and Preschool, products that are good values for families, and activities that are as painless as possible for our families and the volunteers that are organizing them.  You are not expected to participate in any fundraising activities that you do not choose to join.  You will receive information about any fundraising that we are participating in including, but not limited to:  School Pictures (fall & spring), Original Works, Plant Sales, Consignment Sales, Scholastic Book Fair, Scholastic Book Clubs, etc.

Our policy regarding head lice is a “NO NIT” policy.  If your child has head lice:

• Inform your child’s teacher as soon as possible
• Consult your doctor for treatment
• Treat child and other family members involved
• Child must be “NIT FREE” (no eggs visible on the hair shafts) before returning to school.  

• We follow hygienic practices at MMO and Preschool including: regular hand washing, use of disposable gloves when changing diapers, use of disposable gloves when exposured to bodily fluids, disinfecting of tables used as eating areas, and disinfecting of toys.  We also encourage children to use and dispose of Kleenex properly and to wash their hands afterwards.  We encourage you to make washing hands the routine at home as well.
• We ask your cooperation in keeping your child at home whenever he/she is sick.  We will contact you to come and pick up your child if he/she becomes sick while at school.

  If your child is diagnosed with a contagious disease, please notify the MMO and/or Preschool office immediately so that we may contact the other parents.  Any child who has had a communicable disease or condition may return to school only after the following procedures have been met:

  Strep Throat	- Must be on antibiotic for 24 hours
  Conjunctivitis	- Must be on medication for 24 hours
  Chicken Pox	- All spots must be dry
  Ringworm/Impetigo	- Note from doctor
  Head Lice/Scabies	- Proof of treatment is required and no nits in hair
  Whooping cough	- After two weeks and with a note from the doctor
  Scarlet Fever	- Note from doctor
  Infectious Hepatitis	- Note from a doctor.  Children in families where the disease has been diagnosed need a Gamma Globulin shot to protect them against it.
  Meningitis	- Note from doctor
  Measles/Mumps/Rubella	- Return after 7 days and a note from doctor
  Tuberculosis	- Return 14 days after treatment & note from doctor

• Health conditions that may represent a contagious disease are:

• Fever within the last 24 hours

• Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours

• Rash of unknown origin

• Cold symptoms - yellow or green running nose, frequent cough, etc.

• Any child exhibiting the above symptoms should not be with other children until the symptoms are not present for 24 hours.

• If your  child is not well enough to go outside on the playground, he/she is not well enough to come to school.  Please do not ask the teacher to allow your child to remain inside during this time.  We do not have staff to stay inside with one child.

• Please inform your child’s teacher of any illnesses or injuries that happened on the weekend.

• Please do not bring sick siblings into the classroom of a child that you are bringing to MMO and/or Preschool.  This spreads germs to the children in that room.

• We will give no medication at school.  It is best that a sick child who needs medication during school hours be kept at home.  The exceptions to the rule are Epi Pens for allergic reactions and asthma inhalers.  Please do not leave any medications in your child’s school bag.  It should be given directly to your child’s teacher in the original pharmacy container with the exact instructions from the doctor and a medicine form filled out.  If your child has an allergy of any kind, please see that we have written information explaining what offends him/her and what his/her reactions are.  We will try to keep your child as comfortable as possible.
• It is very important to keep updated emergency numbers on file and to keep your cell phone turned on when your child is at school!
• If your child has a minor accident at school, the staff will administer first aid and you will receive a note from the teacher (a “Boo Boo Report”).  If medical attention is required, the staff will call the local ambulance service, which will transport the child to the local hospital.  Every effort will be made to contact the child’s own physician.  You will be notified as quickly as possible.  

• The State Division of Public Health requires us to keep a copy of your child’s up-to-date immunization record on file each school year. This immunization certificate must be turned in to us within 30 days of enrollment.  You may obtain a Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231) from your pediatrician or your local health department.  

• We welcome books, tapes and CD’s (clearly labeled with your child’s name), flowers, shells, insects (in plastic jars), and assorted treasures from nature.  Small animals brought into the building must be in a carrier.  Large animals must stay outside and on a leash.  A parent must stay with the animal at all times.  Please arrange a time with your child’s teacher before bringing live animals to school.
• We do not allow any poisonous plants in the classrooms (please check with your teacher – she has a list in the classroom).
• Toys and stuffed animals should be left at home, except on days designated by the teacher as “show and tell” days.  Please do not send anything that is a weapon (toy or real) at any time.

• Please be prompt when picking up your child. A late fee of $1.00 per minute will charged for any pick-up time after 1:10 pm. The fine will not exceed $50.00.
• If a parent is late picking up their child twice during the school year in which the fine is $30.00 or more, the Board will review the child’s continued participation in the MMO and/or Preschool program.  

• Lunch can be brought from home or purchased for an additional $2.50 per meal.  (See the tuition schedule for monthly costs).  We give you the option of either providing lunch for your child or the option of having us feed your child a balanced and nutritious lunch.  A menu will be posted and available to take home.  You will need to choose the lunch option or decline the lunch option when you register.  However, you may also opt for the lunch option at a later time.
• If you are providing lunch for your child, please make sure that lunch boxes/bags and the food containers are labeled with your child’s name.  We realize that there might be times when a child’s lunch is forgotten at home.  We will gladly feed your child and you will be charged the $2.50 per meal charge.  We will notify you at the beginning of the month should there be a balance.
• For every child who brings a lunch we ask that you send finger food items that your child can eat independently.  Please do not send foods that are a choking hazard:  hot dogs (unless cut in length-wise strips), whole grapes (unless cut in quarters), hard candy, gum or nuts.  Such items will be returned home in your child’s lunch box.
• Children in 2’s, 3’s or 4’s should not bring juice boxes – they are still too young to hold them properly.
• Please NO glass containers – cups, containers or bottles.  These are very dangerous when you have a room full of small children.  Please use only plastic containers or disposable containers.
• Please pre-cut your child’s food to the proportion he/she needs.
• If you would like for your child to wear a bib at lunchtime, please include it in the lunch box – the teachers may not see it down in a backpack.
• Please no candy or gum in your child’s lunch.  

NEW FOR THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR

After careful analysis of our lunch program, we have decided to discontinue the majority of the program in an effort to streamline our accounting and budgeting in our programs.  The following are the details of the change: 

• TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS - Pizza will be an option for lunch for our children at a cost of $2.50 per day.  Sign up sheets will be distributed in advance of each month and pre-payment will be required.  This does not mean we will not feed your child if they show up without lunch.  If this occurs, we will bill you the following month for the lunches not paid for in advance.
• MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & THURSDAY - No lunch will be provided.  All children should bring in their lunch in a labeled lunchbox or bag.

• This form must be filled out in its entirety, signed, and turned in at the time of registration.
• Registration is incomplete until all required forms are submitted. (See Registration Forms)

• Please send all messages to the school in writing.  Verbal messages are not dependable.  Please let us know if you will be picking your child up early so that we can have your child ready.  Please remember that the teachers are in their classrooms until the end of the school and cannot answer the phone unless it is an emergency.  You can leave a message in the MMO and/or Preschool office and the teacher will call you as soon as possible.
• Please notify us in writing of any home, work, and cell phone number (or address) changes.

• We will do our best to keep you informed of the activities of MMO and/or Preschool and the progress of your child.  It is very helpful if you read this online handbook and the other items that we send home.  We will communicate through a monthly letter from the teachers.  Of course there will always be casual conversation and phone calls and additional conferences when needed.
• We have two notice boards for program wide announcements.  These can be found on the interior doors leading to the classrooms on the first and second floors of the Ford Building.  

• For classroom or program information and concerns, please see the child’s teacher.
• For financial or registration information or concerns, please see the Office Manager, MMO Director or Preschool Director.
• For general childcare information or concerns, please see the teacher or Director.  

• All children in the older 3’s and four-year old classes must be fully potty trained at the beginning of the school year to attend class.  Each child should be wearing underwear, not pull-ups or diapers, at school.
• For the purpose of clarification, our definition of fully potty trained is:

• The child recognizes when he/she needs to go to the restroom.

• The child verbally informs an adult of the need to go to the restroom.

• The child enters the restroom on his/her own.

• The child manipulates his/her clothing off and on with little or no assistance.

• The child sits on or stands at the commode and handles own cleaning needs.

• The child washes his/her hands and rejoins the class.  

• A child who has been crying nonstop for an hour or more.
• A child who is sick.
• A child whose behavior is harmful to the children or teacher, extremely disruptive to the class, or disrespectful to the teacher.  

• Non-payment of fees – any account as much as 30 days in arrears will make the child subject to suspension until payment is received.
• Extremely disruptive, destructive, or dangerous behavior of a child in the classroom.
• Rest assured that every effort would be made to work with parents and child before dismissal.

MMO (2008-2009 School Yeat):

• $ 80.00 - 1 Day Per Week
• $115.00 - 2 Days Per Week
• $125.00 - 3 Days Per Week
• $135.00 - 4 Days Per Week

PRESCHOOL:

• $135.00 - 2 and 3 Year Olds
• $175.00 - 4 Year Olds

• Student Registration Form, Medical Release Form & Agreement Form (pdf)
• Registration Fee (see above for amount)
• Registration is incomplete until all required forms are submitted.

Within 30 days of registration:

• Copy of current GA Immunization - Form 3031 (per GA Law)

• Individual school pictures will be taken twice a year – in the fall and in the spring.  Class pictures will also be taken in the spring.
• Graduation Pictures for our graduating Preschoolers will be taken in the spring at the same time as the other pictures are taken.

Please be assured that your child’s safety is one of our most important concerns.  On a constant basis we continue to evaluate procedures and facilities to make certain that each child is cared for in the best possible manner.  Below are some of the procedures that are in place to protect your child:

• Identification is required to pick-up all children
• As we do not release children to persons not authorized, please keep the list on your child’s application form up-to-date.
• Safety Equipment such as gates, door and drawer latches, outlet covers, etc…are used to protect your child.
• In the event of inclement weather, all children will be placed in the downstairs hallway.  Depending on the type of inclement weather, children may also be moved to the Family Life Center stairwell (which has been built for that purpose).
• In the event of a fire in the Ford Building, all children will be escorted out of the building onto the far side of the playground where the firemen will instruct MMO/Preschool where to go.  This plan is in place with the Cobb County Fire Department.  MMO/Preschool will practice these drills during all program sessions.
• If notified by the Police Authorities of any event that is a security risk, all building doors will be locked and all children will be required to stay in their classrooms with two staff persons.  A staff person will be at the front door to greet you and check all identification before you enter the building.  Your child may not be in his/her normal classroom but he/she will not be out of the Ford Building.
• For your children’s safety, doors will be locked at 9:30 am and will be unlocked at 12:30 pm.  Should you need to enter during the time that the doors are locked, please ring the doorbell located next to the entrance door of the Ford Building.  

• Please understand that your child’s “slight cold” can infect many children in one day!  You are the most comforting person to your child when they are ill.  Please think of your child’s welfare, the other families and the staff. 
• If your child has any of the following symptoms within 24 hours BEFORE a MMO/Preschool day, please do not bring your child into MMO/Preschool, as they will not be permitted to attend.   
• If your child was sent home due to illness, he/she cannot return to MMO/Preschool until he/she has been free from symptoms for 24 hours.
• It is your responsibility to notify the Director of MMO and/or Preschool if your child has a communicable disease such as: