Dear Parents:

Thank you for choosing Chinese Community Center Child Development Program for your children’s learning in their prime years.  We are proud to be a State Licensed Childcare center and in collaboration with United Way Bright Beginning project for quality early childhood education.  We know you will find our program nurturing and enlightening for your children.

In order to ensure a safe and friendly learning environment, we have developed this handbook to provide information and guidelines for our program.  We ask that you read them closely and address any concerns with us at the time of enrollment.

We thank you again for choosing the Chinese Community Center Child Development Program as your childcare facility.  Please stop by our office at any time, your input is valuable to us.

Sincerely,

Toni Livingston

Youth Education Director

CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

We love our kids!

Program Hours:

Our regular program hours are Monday through Friday, 7am to 6:30pm, year-round.  Due to blocked learning time designed between 9am to 4pm, it is suggested for parents to arrange an approximate drop-off and pick-up time daily.  Chinese Community Center observes 7 national holidays, at when the childcare center will be closed*:

Jan. 1^st, New Year’s Day

Memorial Day

July 4^th, Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Day after Thanksgiving

Dec. 25^th, Christmas

*If the holiday falls on Saturday, the Center will be closed on the Friday before.

 If the holiday falls on Sunday, the Center will be closed on the following Monday.

In rare cases, childcare center will be closed for safety, sanitation, or other reasons.  Parents will receive advance notification in the event childcare center is closed for holiday or other reasons, unless in the case of an emergency (ie. loss of electricity or water).  In the event of an emergency, parents will be notified promptly.  These events are rare, and we do thank you for understanding our wish to provide your children only the best learning experience.

Child Development Program Tuition Rate:

Please click here, drop-in rates, and registration fees.

Drop off/Pick up Times:

Due to blocked learning periods, we ask the fulltime parents to drop off children from 7am to 9am and pick up children from 4:00pm to 6:30pm.  For students who are attending Child Development Program on a part-time basis, we ask parents to arrange specific days and times when the children will be on site.  To ensure teacher and children ratio meets licensing criteria, parents are strongly encouraged to contact the office first if they wish to drop off their children at other times then those pre-arranged.  Without prior notification, parents might be assessed a drop off fee.  All outstanding fees need to be cleared prior to reentry of the Child Development Program.

For security reasons, parents must sign in and out at the Child Development Program at the reception area daily when dropping off or picking up children.  Children will only be released to the adults named in their enrollment forms.  If for some reason, a parent needs a non-listed adult to pick up their child, they must let the Director know beforehand.  The individual picking up the child will be asked for their Driver’s License to be put in the child’s file.  Fire exit doors located in each classroom is strictly for emergency purposes only.  There will be no entrance or exit allowed from those doors.  To ensure safety on our child care campus, please only enter and exit from our main doors.  That way, you can stop by the child care front desk for any announcements, notifications or assistance.

Children Information:

The following information must be submitted upon enrollment.  Each child attending the program will need to submit a record of immunization and child record form.  Please constantly update your emergency contact information with the center staff.  When an incident occurs at the center related to your child, center staff will first attempt to contact the parent/guardian.  Please do understand that if emergency contact information is not current, and we are unable to reach the parent, sometimes it is necessary for the staff to contact Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

Late Fees:

Tuition payment is due either at the first of the month, first of the week, or other arrangements made between the parent and the Center.  Please turn in your payment to the designated staff.  Make sure you obtain a receipt every time you make a payment and keep your receipt.  Please speak to the program director if you have any questions regarding tuition fees.  Late charge and check bouncing fee will be assessed after the 3^rd of each month.

Parents can drop off their children as early as 7am, and pick up as late at 6:30pm.  Early drop off and late pick up fee will apply to parents who have difficulty with this schedule.  Late fee is $1.00 per minute after 6:30pm.  We understand emergency can occur at times, and we ask that you contact the office at 713.271.6100, ext. 220 as soon as a situation arises that might cause you to be late.  All late fees must be cleared before the children return to our Childcare program.

Policy Changes:

In case of any policy changes, parents will be notified immediately through verbal and written updates.

Transportation:

All field trips will be taken in our Chinese Community Center van.  Because of minimum standard regulations, usually only the older two classes will participate in such activities (3 year old and up).  If our program decides to bring our younger children on field trips, parents will be notified and asked for consent, and car seats must be brought in.

Water Activities:

Our water activities will usually only take place between the months of June – August.  This time of year is the hottest in Texas, and we want to make sure our kids are having fun out in the sun!  Parents will be notified prior to those days, and all security, health and supervision matters according to minimum standards will be in effect.

Teaching Style:

The Child Development Program facilitates group learning and encourages independent learning on our children.  Blocked activities throughout the day have been designed to help the children reach their developmental milestones following the Creative Curriculum guidelines.  Aside from being patient and nurturing, our staff is continuously trained on working with their specific age group children. 

Our staff will never impose restriction on children because they fail to eat, sleep, or have potty accidents.  Our staff will never use food, activities, or bathroom break as rewards.  We do not confine our children to locked rooms or restricted space, or impose any mental or physical restraints.  Corporate punishment is prohibited in the Child Development Program. 

Nap Time:

After lunch, children enjoy a nap time for approximately 2-2.5 hours.  Studies show that this time will encourage afternoon learning and increase their energy level throughout the day.  Children are not required to sleep, however, they are asked to rest on their individual cots quietly to allow other children to rest.  If your children often exhibit restlessness during nap time, please speak to the director prior to enrollment for alternative actions.  In order to help your children feel more like home, and rest more easily, please bring your child’s pillow and blanket for daily use.

To ensure our children’s rest time, teachers are instructed not to allow late children into the nap room.  Please contact the office to make other arrangements prior to dropping off your children during naptime.  To make it easier for the center as well as healthier for your own child, please make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour and wakes up in time for our program. 

HEALTH INFORMATION:

A healthy child is a happy child.

We here at Chinese Community Center strive to provide a healthy, happy place for your child.  Children around the daycare age are very susceptible to small illnesses, therefore, we arranged a few guidelines to help keep your children in good health.

Temperature:

Bacteria and virus strive on warm temperatures, therefore, Child Development Program maintains a temperature of 70-75F.  Some children are not use to this temperature and do feel slightly cold.  If your child is one of the children who might feel cold, please bring a light jacket with your child to the Child Development Program.

Sicknesses:

If your children experience any of the following symptoms, please keep them at home until they recover:  Fever, coughs, flu, colds, eye infection, or other possible contagious sicknesses.  If a teacher observes any of the above symptoms, parents will be contacted to pick up the child.  The child will be kept apart from other children and given the appropriate attention and supervision until the parent arrives.  When in doubt, please consult a pediatrician regarding the health of your children.  In some cases, we will ask for a pediatrician’s medical release to return to schooling.

Medication:

If your child has obtained medical release to return to Child Development Program, but still requires medication, please let the staff become aware of this.  Parents are required to fill out and sign the Authorization for Dispensing Medication located at the Child Development Program Reception area.  For safety reasons, we ask parents not to leave any medication in the classroom.  Parents are asked to drop off the medication at the Child Development Program reception area.  Our staff will deliver the medication to the teacher for administering on a timely manner.  Proof of prescription is required for our staff to administer the medication.  It is the parent’s responsibility to pick up the medication for the child from the Child Development Program.  Some medication will be disposed if left overnight on site.

Medical Emergencies:

In case of a medical emergency, the appropriate medical action will be taken by staff first, and parents will be notified immediately.  If necessary, staff will also call the child’s pediatrician and local hospital.

Immunization requirements:

With the enrollment form, all parents must turn in the most recent immunization records of their child.  Even though pediatrician offices usually contact families when the next shot is needed, we will also notify the parents if we notice that a child has not received a needed shot.  At this time, parents will be given 3 days to take their child to have their shots.

Tuberculosis (TB) requirements:

The law requires that children attending childcare facilities must be vaccinated against invasive pneumococcal and hepatitis A diseases.  This information must be included in the immunization records that parents must submit for enrollment. 

Hearing & Vision Screening:

According to minimum standards, children ages 4 and older need to have annual hearing and vision screenings.  This will be done by the Center, and results will be given to the parents as well as kept on file.

Discipline Guidelines:

Chinese Community Center believes in positive reinforcement, and will use discipline and guidance to encourage self-esteem, self-control and self-direction.  Our classrooms will follow the following procedures for misbehavior:  1)the child will be given a verbal warning, 2)if the child does not stop misbehavior, then he/she will be put in time out, 3) continued misbehavior will result in being sent to the Director’s office, and lastly, 4)the parent will be called to come pick up their child.  Each time a child misbehaves, their parents will be notified either verbally, or misbehavior is very serious, then they will be notified in writing with a report.  If repeated misbehavior continues over an extended period of time, or if child goes to Director’s office repeatedly, the parents will be notified that the child will be terminated from the school. 

Potty Training:

Chinese Community Center’s Child Development program is for children age 18 months and up.  We understand that at 18 months, most children still require diapers and are in the process of potty training.  To meet this need, we have designed their classroom to have changing area and child size toilet.  For sanitation and safety reasons, changing and toilet areas are exposed.  If you are a parent whose child still requires changing, please provide the teacher with diapers, wipes and other items needed for changing the children.

ITEMS

What to bring and what not to bring

Toys:

Chinese Community Center Child Development Program is equipped with stimulating toys to facilitate learning process.  The Child Development Program only equips with toys that have been researched and proven to be safe around children 18 months and up.   Chinese Community Center Child Development Program also sanitizes the toys played on a daily basis.  In order to help children learn to share, take turns and to develop good sportsmanship, we ask parents not to bring children’s toys from home.  Toys from home will be kept outside classrooms and returned to parents at the end of the day.  

Bottles:

To encourage independence and to promote self-esteem, we ask that parents not bring bottles into the Child Development Program.  If a child arrives with a bottle, the bottle will be replaced with a sippie cup for the remainder of the day.  The bottle will be returned to the parents upon pick-up.  Due to sanitation reasons, contents of the bottle will not be returned to the parents.

Food:

Chinese Community Center Child Development Program proudly serves nutritional meals throughout the day.  Children will receive breakfast, midmorning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack that meet their daily nutritional requirement.  Our breakfast is served from 7:30am to 9:00am.  To diminish interruption in morning learning activities, children arriving after 9am will not be served food until lunch time.  For sanitation reasons, no outside food or drink is allowed into the classroom.  Please do not bring any candy or sweet snacks.  Those items will be removed and returned to the parent at the end of the day.  Our weekly menu is posted and available for the parents upon request.

When applicable, the Child Development Program will be glad to help meet your children’s special diet plan.  Please provide the staff with written instruction on food preparation, allergies, or any other special requests upon enrollment.  Please have the instructions signed by your children’s doctor or nutritionist.

MISCELLANEOUS THINGS:

Last but not least

Parenting Visitations/Participation:

If you would like to visit your child at any time during our center’s hours of operations, please notify the director when you drop off your child.  Feel free to come visit your child and participate in our operation and classroom activities!  Once a month, we will offer parenting workshops/meetings for your benefit.  We would love for you to be involved with us in the growth and development of your child.  Should you have any questions or concerns about our policies and procedures, you may contact our director at anytime to set up an appointment. 

Licensing Reports/Documents:

All of our licensed permits, documents, operation papers are posted in the lobby for parents to see.  A copy of the Minimum Standards is available for you to review in the Center.  Should you feel the need to contact our local Licensing office, the number is as follows: 

Child Care Licensing

2221 West Loop South

Houston, Texas 77027

713.940.3009

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us

Child Abuse:

We understand that each parent have different parental styles when disciplining children.  We strongly encourage parents to continue our positive reinforcement disciplinary style at home.  Please understand that the Chinese Community Center Child Development Program does not tolerate any type of child physical or emotional abuse on or off site.  If at any time we observe this incidence, Child Protective Services will be notified.  The Child Abuse information is as follows:

To report an emergency, call 911.

To report child abuse or neglect, call 1-800-252-5400

Website: https://www.txabusehotline.org