Parent/Student Handbook - 2018-2019 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP - Central Co-Op Nursery School
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Parent/Student
Handbook
2018-2019
1 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2017-18
Welcome
W elcome to the Chelmsford Central Co-Op
Nursery School Program. This handbook
is designed to give you information
about our early childhood programs
and familiarize you
with our policies.
We welcome your
questions, comments,
and concerns.
2 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
2018/2019 Board of Directors President: Jennifer Beary centralcooppresident@gmail.com VP of Fundrasing/Volunteering: Michelle Fearon centralcoopvicepresident@gmail.com central.coopfundraising@gmail.com Treasurer: Michelle McKenna centralcooptreasurer@gmail.com Secretary: Emily Deschenes centralcoopsecretary@gmail.com Newsletter: Ashley Driscoll central.coop.newsletter@gmail.com Website: John Alex and Sokna Kimsoung tech@centralcoop.org Publicity: Jennifer Stonehouse centralcooppublicity@gmail.com Repairs and Maintenance: Heather & Paul Dwyer central.coop.maintenance@gmail.com 2018/2019 Central Co-Op Staff Director: Suzanne Dionne | director@centralcoop.org Assistant Director/2 Day Lead Teacher: Jill LeMasurier 2 and 3 Day Lead Teacher: Lynn Piecewicz 4 Day Lead Teacher: Deb Rousseau 5 Day Lead Teacher: Nicole Sheehan 5 Day Asst. Teacher: Stephanie Bardouleau 3 Day Asst. Teacher: Kristi Grout 3 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
2018/2019 School Calendar & Tuition Schedule Central Co-Op’s vacation days and holidays coincide with the Chelmsford Public School Calendar. We are unaffected by the public school’s half days and professional training days. September 5th - Meet and Greet for T/TH classes and the 4 day class from 9:00am - 10:00am September 5th - Meet and Greet for MWF classes and the 5 day class from 11:00am - 12:00pm September 5th - Mandatory Parent Meeting at 7:00pm September 6th - First day of school for Tuesday/Thursday classes and the 4 & 5 day classes September 7th - First day of school for the MWF class October 8th - Columbus Day, No School October 30th & 31st - Halloween Parade at 9:30am November 12th - Veterans Day, No School November 20th & 21st - Thanksgiving Concert at 9:30am November 21st - No Full Day classes - all classes dismiss at 12:00pm November 22nd and 23rd - Thanksgiving Break, No School December 20th & 21st - Winter Concert at 9:30am December 21st - No Full Day classes - All classes dismiss at 12:00pm December 21st - January 1st - Winter Break, No School January 21st - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School February 18th - February 22nd - February Vacation, No School April 15th - April 19th - Spring Vacation, No School May 10th - Staff Development Day, No School May 27th - Memorial Day, No School June 5th - Last day of school for MWF students June 5th - Graduation at 6:00pm June 6th - Last day of school for the T/TH classes and the 4 and 5 day classes June 7th - Picnic Day - This is not a school day. All families are invited to bring a picnic lunch and join us from 11am - 2pm. TWO DAY THREE DAY 2 Day Half Day: $220.00 a month 3 Day Half Day: $300.00 a month 2 Day Full Day: $470.00 a month 3 Day Full Day: $575.00 a month FOUR DAY FIVE DAY 4 Day Half Day: $365.00 a month 5 Day Half Day: $415.00 a month 4 Day Full Day: $675.00 a month 5 Day Full Day: $780.00 a month late fees: The Co-Op closes at 4:00pm. Please make every effort to pick up your child on time. When a child is picked up late, he/she may experience feelings of sadness or worry, leading to a difficult departure. Late fees will be assigned as follows: Starting at 4:05pm parents will be charged $5.00 for every 4 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
five minutes they are late. This will need to be paid with the following months tuition. We hope that
these charges will rarely be needed.
If you wish to pay your annual tuition in ten equal monthly installments, the payments will
be due on the first of each month from August to April, in addition to the advance tuition
payment due June 30th, 2018.
ALL TUITION PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE!
Payments can be made online through your bank or can be mailed to the following address:
Chelmsford Co-Operative Nursery School
P.O. Box 142
Chelmsford, MA 01824
Our Co-Op Philosophy
The Chelmsford Central Co-Op Nursery School is founded on the belief that the pre-school
years are critical in a child’s physical, intellectual and emotional growth. This is an exciting time
for children, when they are busy discovering the world about them and how they fit into it. It is a
time of experiencing life through the senses, and for children to explore their creative potential. A
cooperative nursery school provides a bridge between home and this exciting outside world. Here,
with the support of their parents, children learn how to treat others, how to get along in a social
setting, and how to build a sense of assurance about themselves as individuals.
Balance is the key word in the formation of our program: balance between individual and
group experience; between free play and structured activity; between small and large muscle
development. Freedom is stressed, but within limits imposed by concern for the group. A warm and
supportive atmosphere is provided by parents and trained, sensitive teachers working with small
groups.
Activities include sand and water play, clay and play dough, sculpture, painting, collage work, blocks
and dramatic play, cooking, nutrition education, gardening, music and rhythms, stories, animal care
and a wide variety of outdoor play.
Our school has an international and multicultural population. We cherish and encourage
contributions from families of diverse backgrounds.
A Parent’s Role
A co-operative nursery school is a bundle of wonderful experiences for both child and parent. It is
a school created by mothers and fathers with the help of professional leaders. It continues through
the planning and participation of the parents’ elected officers, who form the Board of Directors. A
parent receives from the school a full program for his or her child, which represents the educational
5 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
philosophy of the school. Parents can observe their child, and other children, objectively in a
natural setting and thereby become acquainted with the typical behavior of young children. This
opportunity for observation gives parents a good basis for understanding and interpreting the
development and behavior of their child. It also provides them with the tools for responding to
various parenting situations gained through observations and insights. Members also develop
familiarity with materials and equipment suitable for play activities with young children, a familiarity
that can be carried over into the home.
Central Co-Op receives from its parents a readiness to participate in school activities. Parents are
expected to participate in the daily program of the school; to attend school meetings and offer
ideas and suggestions at school meetings; to assume a contributing job at the school; to participate
in fund raising; and to help keep the school functioning smoothly.
-
For all of us, the school offers an opportunity to be active in, and feel part of, our community as well
as make friends for our children and ourselves.
Co-Oping
The Central Co-Operative Nursery School strongly requests that the parent, legal guardian, or
other caregiver of the child attending the school participate in some aspect of volunteering
throughout the school year. There are many opportunities to volunteer your time and/or expertise.
Some of these opportunities including helping out in the classroom, being a member of the Board
of Directors, and getting involved in fundraising. We have plenty of ways that will fit into your
schedule. Please contact the VP of Scheduling and Volunteering to schedule your volunteer time or
use the sign up sheet on the door to your child’s classroom. We only ask for one volunteer per class
per day.
On your volunteer day, please arrive at school a bit early with your child. Help greet the other
children and their parents. Assist them with drop off and engage in activities until drop off is
complete. During the day, your duties may include:
• washing tables
• assisting with hand washing
• reading to small groups of children
At the end of the day, you will assist the teacher in filling backpacks with notices and projects, wipe
the tables and/or stack the chairs.
Note: Each teacher will distribute individual guidelines at the beginning of the year and discuss
helpful hints towards your volunteering.
Please be aware that when you are volunteering in the classroom, you may NOT bring any other
children except for the child who is enrolled in the class you are specifically assigned to. Please
make any necessary arrangements for child care.
CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL
Note: It is helpful to the teachers if parents can keep them informed when family events may reflect
6 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
in your child’s behavior. Employment changes, business trips, death(s) of family members or pets can all contribute to temporary changes in character for your child. If you or your family is experiencing any of these issues, please speak to your child’s teacher or someone in the office. Fundraising Because we are not subsidized by the Chelmsford Public School system or any other agency, fund- raisers are necessary in order to cover our operating expenses and keep tuition reasonable. Fund raisers seek money for enrichment activities, field trips, and the purchase of books, equipment and other items not covered in our daily operating budget (financed by tuition). The fund raising done depends entirely on the parents, their ideas and participation. Tuition, Registration, & Intake The current tuition schedule can be found on page 4 of this booklet. Tuition bills are due the first of the month or if the first falls on a weekend, the first Monday thereafter. If tuition is not received by the 15th of the month, you will be contacted by email by the director and will be charged a $20.00 late fee. If tuition remains unpaid following this notice, the family may be suspended or even terminated, unless special arrangements have been made with the Director and/or the Board of Directors. Please note that special arrangements may be possible. A conference can be set up with the President or Board representative to work out the member’s financial responsibility to the school, so please contact the Director before your tuition becomes overdue. Again, failure to meet your financial responsibility to the school is grounds for termination. All tuition payments are non-refundable. Payments can be made online via your banking institution or mailed to Central Co-Operative Nursery School, P.O. Box 142 Chelmsford, MA 01824. Central Co-Operative Nursery School opens registration to the general public on February 1st of each year for the following school year. Currently enrolled students have the option of registering for the following school year during the month of January. Precedence for returning students and their siblings takes place during this time. New students and their parents may make an appointment for a tour at the school. Both verbal and written information is given at that time and potential parents of students are free to observe classes in session. Appropriate registration forms, medical forms, parent handbooks, and other information will be available upon registration at the Co-Op. All completed forms must be returned to the Co-Op office by July 1, or your child’s spot will be forfeited to the wait-list. If you have any problems returning the completed forms by the due date, please contract the Director immediately to make arrangements. When a child with a disability registers at the nursery school, parents may be asked for information concerning the child’s participation in the center’s program from the local education agency, Early Intervention Program, or other health or service providers. Any child with a disability shall be admitted to the center unless the accommodations required would caused an undue burden to the center. 7 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
Roles of Staff The staff of the school consists of a Director, Teachers, and Teaching Assistants. The Director is the professional head of the school. She is responsible for all matters concerning the children and daily operation of the school. The Teachers and Teaching Assistants have challenging jobs, both planning the daily program for the children and helping parents gain new insights into the children. Parents can help them do their jobs better by having a cooperative spirit. The staff is interested in furthering the education of parents in the principles of child guidance through observation and participation. They are also available for conferences with parents. The Director will provide on-going parent orientation during the school year for all working parents. Members of the Board of Directors Each year the membership elects officers to serve as the Board of Directors. It is their responsibility to administer the affairs of the school. They are the over-all policy-making body of the school. Board Members act not as individuals but as representatives of the membership at large. Each Board Member tries to carefully consider the best interests of parents and represent this interest in formulating Central Co-Op policy. Each Board Member considers decisions in terms of what is good for the whole group, not just for an individual child, or the convenience or pleasure of the Board Member. Board Members take a long view of the future of the Central Co-Op. They attempt to consider how present decisions will affect the school and the membership in years to come. Board meetings are open to Co-Op parents. Each family’s voice carries equal weight at these meetings. Board members are required to attend all board meetings as a part of their job duties. Standing Rules & Policies Arrival & Departure Procedures For your child’s safety, we require that you or other authorized adult (18 or older) bring your child into the program each morning and get them settled. Sign your child in upon your arrival. Be sure that staff is aware of your child’s arrival before you leave. Do NOT leave your child in the hallway. All children must be accompanied into the classroom either by a designated Co-Op employee at the “car pool” door or yourself. Please notify BOTH the office and your child’s teacher if your child will be picked up by someone other than yourself. If we have not met the person picking them up we will ask for identification. If the person picking up the child is not on the Authorization and Consent form, a written note is required. WE WILL NOT DISMISS A CHILD WITH A PERSON WITHOUT THE PROPER CONSENT!! We ask that you do not arrive at school prior to the start of the session. Our teachers are preparing the classroom for the day and need this time for preparation. If you are going to be away from work for the day, be sure to leave a phone number where you can be reached in case you are needed for a medical emergency. Please call the program in advance if your child will not be attending on that day. 8 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
When picking up your child, be sure that the teacher knows the child is leaving (this is for your child’s
protection). Be sure to sign your child out before departing. Please do not park in the first four
parking spots nearest to the entrance at the front of the school. These spaces are reserved
specifically for the Pastor and his church staff.
Background Record Check Policy (CORI/DCF/SORI)
Parents & Volunteers: It is the policy of Central Cooperative Nursery School to perform CORI/DCF
and fingerprinting checks on each volunteer at the school. Parents are asked to complete the
appropriate CORI form as part of their forms packet during the summer before the children begin
school. Once the office has received authorization, you will be notified to log onto Identigo at://
www.identogo.com and begin the paperwork to schedule your fingerprinting.
The information is entered by the director into the computer and sent to the proper agency.
Responses are then reviewed by the director when they are available on the professional
qualifications registry. If there is something in the parent's background that shows up during the
process, it is reviewed and acted upon in accordance with EEC regulations. If a parent cannot
volunteer due to a background issue, then the other parent or caregiver will have to be responsible
for volunteering.
Once the office has received authorization, you will be notified to log onto Identigo at https://
www.identogo.com and begin the paperwork to schedule your fingerprinting. Once you have been
fingerprinted and the co-op office has received the results stating you are suitable for volunteering,
you may sign up to volunteer in your child's classroom.
If you are volunteering or want to come in to celebrate your child's birthday you must be
fingerprinted. The cost is $35.00 due at the time of registering. The responsibility of the payment
belongs to the parent/volunteer.
Employees: Before an applicant can be hired they must fill out a BRC and be fingerprinted . The
director will be responsible for entering the BRC into the system, receiving and reviewing the results.
If the applicant's CORI, SORI and DSS check come back with no findings then they may be hired.
If there are any adverse findings, the director would be responsible for:
• Written documentation that the candidate has been informed of his/her right to challenge the
accuracy or relevance of CORI and DSS BRC information and of the process to do so.
• A signed copy of the director's notification to EEC regarding whether there is a need for
redacted copies of the DSS 51b report.
• A copy of the no risk letter that the director receives allowing a candidate with a presumptive
disqualification to proceed with a discretionary review if applicable.
• Copies of any info that the director receives as part of a discretionary review process.
• A copy of the director's notification to EEC as to whether or not the candidate was hired.
9 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-199• Once the discretionary review was complete BRCs will be conducted on each employee every two years. If there is evidence or information provided about an employee that suggests that a new BRC may be necessary prior to the two year BRC, one will be done at that time. The director will be responsible for conducting BRCs on licensee and any reviewers. Birthday Policy Birthdays are wonderful social experiences for all the children. Parents and their birthday child are welcome to supply a special and practical snack on their special day. Please check the allergy list before bringing in a snack to share. If you are unsure, please talk to your child’s teacher. Arrangements should be made with the child’s teacher for children whose birthdays fall on days when their child is not in school. Birthday party invitations may not be distributed in school unless the ENTIRE class is being invited. Books & Toys Your child may bring a book to school if it is clearly marked with his or her name. Please do not send toys to school, as they are easily lost or broken and often cause conflicts between children. When children do bring toys from home, they will remain in a separate storage box until pick-up time. No “weapons” will be allowed. Inclement Weather Policy Children play outside in nice weather when the temperature and conditions are safe and practical. As a general rule, we will go out as long as the temperature is 32 degrees or above. During the winter it is very important to have the proper outdoor gear for your child. The clothing that your child needs for outdoor cold weather play are: • Hat • Gloves/Mittens • Snow Pants • Boots • Warm Jacket Please label all of your child’s winter gear! In the event that the temperature is below 32 degrees, raining, or otherwise deemed impractical to go outside to play, we will organize playtime inside the school. 10 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
Nap/Rest Time ECC regulations require that an extended period of sleep, rest or quiet activities be provided for children in preschool longer than four hours. Children who choose not to sleep or awaken early will be offered quiet activities (i.e. books, puzzles, manipulatives). The school provides mats for rest time. Children may bring a crib sheet, blanket, soft toy or pillow in the bag provided for napping. Nap items will be sent home weekly to be laundered. Nap takes place in the classroom and teacher position themselves so they can see and hear children at all times. We adhere to mandatory EEC guidelines for nap/rest times: • The nap/rest area is set up in a way that minimizes noise and disturbance. • A separate mat is provided for each child. • There are no use of restraints on children while sleeping • Mats are individually marked and are in good repair. • Blankets and mats are stored in a safe and sanitary manner. • Mats are set up with a minimum of two feet between each mat on all sides. • Mats are arranged so that children are easily accessible during an emergency. • There is appropriate and adequate lightning for quiet activities for children who do not sleep. • There is adequate lighting to allow for appropriate supervision. Necessary Supplies Children should be appropriately dressed for the weather. Keep in mind that during the spring and fall, the temperature varies according to the time of day. Sandals and other open-toed shoes are not recommended. For safety purposes, children should wear sneakers or other closed-top shoes. All children should keep an extra change of clothes at the Co-Op. The children will get wet and/or dirty on a fairly regular basis, so clean clothes are a necessity. Children who are in the full day program will need a light sheet, a pillow, and an optional snuggle item for naptime. All items should be clearly labeled with the child’s name and placed in a pillowcase or drawstring bag. Parent Conferences & Progress Reports Children will receive written progress reports twice a year, usually in February and May. Private conferences are held at the request of the parent(s) or teacher. We encourage parents to 10 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
communicate with teachers through phone calls, email, or private meetings when dealing with personal issues concerning your child. School Clothing Policy When attending school, children should wear comfortable clothing and footwear that is easily washable. All clothing should be clearly labeled. Children should have an extra set of clothes in a bag available in the classroom in the case where a teacher needs them. Snack Please provide your child with a healthy peanut/tree nut free snack. Please use an ice pack in your child’s snack bag to ensure the food doesn’t spoil. Snow Day Policy The Central Co-Operative Nursery School will close completely if the Chelmsford Public School system cancels school for the day due to poor weather conditions. In the event of a Chelmsford Public School system delay (i.e. 90 minute/2 hour delay) any Half Day classes will be cancelled for that day. In the event where the Chelmsford Public School system issues a delay, the morning Full Day program will opened delay as indicated below: If Chelmsford Public delays opening by 90 minutes, then the Co-Op opening time would be 10:30am. If Chelmsford Public delays opening by 2 hours, then the Co-Op opening time would be 11:00am. The safety and well being of our staff and students take priority therefor, snow days cannot be made up at any time during the school year and tuition cannot be refunded for days missed due to inclement weather. If weather becomes hazardous during the day and necessitates early dismissal, you will be notified by email and text message. Tooth Brushing Policy Children who attend any of the Full Day programs must brush their teeth after lunch. A parent of a given child in a Full Day program has the opportunity to “Opt Out” on a form during registration at the beginning of the school year. The parent is also welcome to contact the director at any time during the school year to “opt out” as well. Children in our school who do not attend the Full Day program are not obligated to brush their teeth while at school because they are not in school for more than 3 hours and do not consume a meal. 11 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
Children brush their teeth after lunch. The teacher in each class insures that there is another teacher available to cover the class before helping children in the bathroom with tooth brushing. Teachers use non-latex gloves to help each child. They also change gloves between each child. Toothpaste will not be used. Children have a labeled toothbrush in the rack in the bathroom, which is stored in a sanitary manner. Children always wash their hands after brushing. Toothbrushes are changed every three months, or after an individual child has been sick. Toileting Policy • Children are encouraged to be self-sufficient in the bathroom. • If a child has a bowel movement accident the staff will assist the child through the steps of cleaning up and changing into clean clothes. • Soiled clothing will be placed in a sealed plastic bag and then in a brown bag, labeled with the child’s name and returned to the child’s parent at the end of the day. • When it is necessary for an educator to change a child who has had an accident, plastic dispoable gloves should be worn, and the child should clean himself with a disposable wipe before clean clothes are put on. • When the child is done cleaning himself the staff member should check to make sure the child has done a good job and is clean. If the child need assistance, the educator will assist the child in cleaning using a wipe. • Soiled pull-ups/diapers will be placed in the diaper pail and taken to the dumpster at the end of the day. The pail will be disinfected with bleach and water daily. • Both the child and staff member will wash their hands with warm water and liquid soap before leaving the bathroom. • Children will be supervised in the bathroom. • Children’s privacy will be respected while in the bathroom. • No child will be punished for soiling, wetting or not using the toilet. Parent Information Chapter 28A, section 10 and subsequent amendments to the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mandates to the Office of Early Education and Care as the legal responsibility of promulgating and enforcing rules and regulations governing the operation of child care centers (including nursery schools), and school age programs. Parental Input The licensee must appropriately involve parents of children in care in visiting the program, meeting with the staff and receiving reports of their children’s progress. The program must have a procedure for allowing you to give input and make suggestions, but it is up to the program to decide whether or not they will be implemented. 12 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
Meeting With Parents In group child care programs, the licensee shall assure that the administrator or his designee meets with the parent(s) prior to admitting a child to the program. The parents shall have an opportunity to visit the program’s classrooms at the time of the meeting or prior to the enrollment of the child. In school age programs, the licensee shall provide an opportunity for the parent(s) and child to visit the program and meet the staff before the child’s enrollment. Parent Information The licensee must provide to the parents upon admission of their child the program’s written statement of purpose, including the program philosophy, goals and objectives, and the characteristics of children served; information on the administrative organization of the program, including lines of authority and supervision; the program’s behavior management policy; the program’s plan for referring parents to appropriate social, mental health, education and medical services for children; the termination and suspension policy; a list of nutritious foods to be sent for snacks or meals; the program’s policy and procedures for identifying and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect; the procedures for emergency health care and the illness exclusion policy; the program’s transportation plan; the procedure for administration of medication, and, upon request, a copy of the complete health care policy; a copy of the fee schedule, and in school age child care, the procedures for on-going parent communication. All of this information may be contained in a “Parent Handbook”. Parent Conferences The licensee must make staff available for individual conferences with parents at your request. Progress Reports A report is issued after the first six (6) weeks of school letting you know how your child is transitioning to the school year. A written report is prepared in January and in June. We will provide a copy to you as well as a copy to be kept in your child’s file. If at any time you would like to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss the report, a meeting will be scheduled. If you child is identified as having a disability, you will receive a written progress report at least every three (3) months. Program staff must bring special problems or significant developments to your attention as soon as they arise. Parent Visits You have the right to visit the center and your child’s room at any time while your child is present. 13 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
Children’s Records Information contained in a child’s record is privileged and confidential. Program staff may not distribute or release information in a child’s record to anyone not directly related to implementing the program plan for the child without your written consent. You must be notified if your child’s record is subpoenaed. Access To Your Child’s Record You are entitled to have access to your child’s record at reasonable times on request. You must have access to the record within two (2) business days of your request unless you consent to a longer time period. You must be allowed to view your child’s entire record, even if it is maintained in more than one location. The center must have procedures governing access to, duplication of, and dissemination of children’s record, and must maintain a permanent, written log in each child’s record which identifies anyone who has had access to the record or who has received any information from the record. This log is available only to you and the people responsible for maintaining the center’s records. Amending Your Child’s Record You have the right to add information, comments, data, or any other relevant materials to the child’s record. You also have the right request deletion or amendment of any information contained in your child’s record. If you believe that adding information is not sufficient to explain, clarify or correct objectionable material in your child’s record, you have the right to a conference with the licensee to make your objections known. If you have a conference with the licensee, the licensee must inform you in writing within one week of his decision regarding your objections. If the licensee decides in your favor, he must immediately take the steps necessary to put the decision into effect. Transfer Of Records When your child is no longer in care, the licensee can give your child’s record to you, or any other person you identify, upon your written request. Charge For Copies The licensee shall not charge an unreasonable fee for copies of any information contained in your child’s record. Providing Information To The Office The program must make available any information requested by the Department to determine compliance with any Department regulations governing the program, by providing access to its 14 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
facilities, records, staff and references. Reporting Abuse Or Neglect All center staff are mandated reporters. They are required by law to report suspected abuse and neglect to either the Department of Social Services or to the licensee’s program administrator. The licensee must have written policies and procedures for reporting and must provide the written policy to you upon enrollment. Notification Of Injury The licensee must notify you immediately of any injury which requires emergency care. The licensee must also notify you, in writing, within 24 hours, if any first aid is administered to your child. Availability Of EEC Regulations The program must maintain a copy of the regulations, 102 CMR 7.00: Standards for the Licensure or Approval of Group Day Care and School Age Child Care Programs, on the premises of the center and must make them available to any person upon request. If you have a question about any of the regulations, ask the center to show them to you. Discipline Policy Children will learn to consider and respect others and their environment around them. Clear and consistent age appropriate limits will be set, and with these limits, each child will gently learn what it is appropriate behavior. Children are encouraged to solve as many of their own problems as possible under the guidance of a staff member. Children are encouraged to use words to handle their differences and shown how to stop others from interfering with their activities. When a teacher must intervene, age appropriate and constructive methods of discipline are used, starting with a verbal intervention, redirecting and removing a child from the situation if necessary. Physical or emotional danger will be grounds for a teacher to intervene immediately. The parents are included in this discipline process so children can see that both parents and teachers reinforce limit setting. Parents are notified verbally or in writing regarding disciplinary action taken by the teacher, to better aid the child in improving their behavior. In the interest of maintaining a safe and happy learning environment, Central Co-Op reserves the right to exclude any child from the program for a specified period of time or to terminate any child’s enrollment if that child is found to be continuously disruptive to our program. Behavior Guidance Staff shall provide each child with guidance that helps the child acquire positive self-concept and self-control. Behavior guidance used by each caregiver will be constructive, positive, and suited to 15 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
the age of the child at all times. The following rules and standards apply:
To prevent unacceptable behavior from occurring the staff will:
• Model appropriate behavior.
• Arrange the classroom environment to enhance the learning of acceptable behaviors
• Use descriptive phrase praise when appropriate occurs, i.e., “Look how high you are building the
blocks! Let’s count them.”
When unacceptable behavior occurs or is about to occur, staff will use:
• redirection—substitute a positive activity for a negative one
• distraction –change the focus of the activity or behavior
• active listening to determine the underlying cause of the behavior
• holding and rocking a child will be done when needed
• Time-out (separation from the group) is used as a last resort, only when less intrusive methods
has been tried and or behavior of the child is dangerous to himself and others. In the event a
time out is used, a child will be separated from the group for a maximum of 5 minutes.
We must be aware of and comply with all federal and State, and local laws prohibiting corporal or
abusive punishment in child care settings. Staff is expressly prohibited from using unproductive or
shaming methods of punishment.
All teachers and parent volunteers will abide by EEC guidelines for discipline as found in the
regulations. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Corporal punishment shall not be used, including spanking
• No child shall be subjected to cruel or severe punishment, humiliation, verbal or physical abuse,
neglect, or abusive treatment.
• No child should be denied food as a form of punishment
• Force feeding children in not allowed
• No child shall be punished for wetting, soiling, or not using the toilet.
• No child shall be forced to remain in soiled clothing as a form of punishment
• No child shall be punished by being forced to remain on the toilet or any other excessive
practices for toiling.
Parents and childcare staff will always work together to deal with persistent behavioral issues such
as biting, or unusual or dangerous aggression to self or others. If a child appears unusually stressed
or anxious, or otherwise motivated to engage in negative behaviors, it is the duty of the child care
staff to consult with the parents.
Children Who Endanger Other Children
At the Co-Op one of our primary goals is to provide a safe, nurturing, and pleasant environment for
all of the children we serve. We recognize that one of our jobs is to help children learn appropriate
ways to handle conflicts. We work on this as conflicts arise, helping children find satisfactory
solutions. We also have “Conflict Resolution” and “Empathy Learning” as a part of our curriculum.
We understand that many preschoolers may use misguided behavior because they have not
yet learned what it is acceptable behavior. However, at times a child’s behavior may endanger
16 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19others. We want to ensure parents that we will address such behavior immediately following these
guidelines:
• A first incident will be reported to the parent.
• A second incident will result in a parent-teacher conference to discuss the behavior and establish
a plan of action.
• A third incident will result in the parent being called, and another conference will be set up with
the teacher(s) and the director to continue the discussion to understand what might be causing
the problem. Referral for outside advice will be suggested. The Central Co-Op reserves the
right to terminate any child’s enrollment if any further incident occurs, or if we feel that any of
following conditions exists:
- The school cannot meet the child’s needs.
- The parents are not able to work with the school to find an acceptable solution.
- The continuing behavior endangers the well being of other children, and/or the child
engaging in the behavior.
Termination of Services
Other reasons which may result in the termination of a specific care arrangement include:
• Non-payment for preschool services and/or lack of adherence to our tuition payment policies.
• Lack of cooperation by the parents with the program’s efforts to resolve differences and/or to
meet the child’s needs through parent/staff meetings or conferences.
• Abusive behavior and/or verbal threats by parents toward program staff will not be tolerated.
This will result in immediate termination.
In the event a child is asked to leave the school, the following procedure is used:
• Parents are notified verbally
• A meeting is arranged to discuss the situation
• Written records will be available to the parents
• Upon dismissal, the child will be told by the teacher, director, and parents as consistently as
possible.
• Parents will be notified in writing of the dismissal
• The decision will be made by the Executive Board upon the recommendation of the teacher and
director.
• A list of resources is given to the child’s parents to help with the child’s appropriate placement
• Referrals to the proper agencies are given to the parents
• There is a two week grace period during which the dismissed child has time to find other
appropriate placement
• Written documentation is provided to the child’s parents as to the reasons for the termination of
services or suspension of services.
Referral Procedure
In the event that a parent or child would be in need of a reference to an educational, social, mental
17 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19health, or medical service, the following procedure will be used:
1. Any parent or staff member will bring their concern to the attention of the director upon
formal observation of a child and as soon as the problem is suspected.
2. All observations to support the referral will be documented in writing and kept in the child’s
file.
3. The director will discuss their concern with the parent in a private meeting at the school.
4. All documentation will be done by the director, parent, and child’s teacher and shared with
the parent during a group meeting.
5. The Co-Op will have parental consent in writing before any referral is made.
6. The director provides referral information to the parent(s), including information on Chapter
766 and Early Intervention Programs.
7. Follow up is conducted with the child’s parent(s), agency or service provider. The Central Co-
Op will meet the child’s needs as completely as possible within the confines of the center.
8. The director has the overall responsibility for implementation of the written plan.
9. The Board of Directors shall be notified only when the well-being of other children is at stake.
10. If the Board of Directors is notified of a problem, the person referred shall remain
anonymous.
11. The child’s progress will be reviewed every three months
12. Written statement to the parent includes:
a) Reason for the referral
b) Summary of observations
c) Efforts to accommodate the child’s needs within the confines of the center.
d) Co-Op will assist the child’s parents in making the referral
e) There will be a written record of the referral, including information at the parent
conference, and results of the conference and testing.
Disagreement between Co-Op and parents
The Co-Op is committed to high quality education. We hope that the Co-Op is a pleasant
experience for the staff and families. Sometimes, however, conflicts will arise between the staff and
a parent. We have found that through open communication, most conflict can be resolved promptly
and to everyone’s satisfaction. We encourage open dialogue and respectful sharing of our concerns.
The director and/or the president of the board of directors should be informed of any conflict and
will assist with a resolution if required.
Health, Nutrition & Safety Policies/
Procedures
Health Standards
• Each family shall have health forms completely filled out as required by the Massachusetts
Department of Social Services, including identification and emergency information and the
18 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19child’s health history. Each member and staff must have a pre-employment physical examination
(signed by a physician) and present updated evidence of a negative TB test, whether tine, x-ray
or intradermal as specified by Massachusetts Department of Social Services.
• Basic responsibility for the child’s health rests with the parents.
• The Director and the teachers have the authority to isolate and send home a sick child.
• To prevent group exposure to contagious disease, parents are required to notify the Director
when a child has had exposure to, or become ill with, any contagious disease.
• Children with a fever of 99.5 degrees or diarrhea/vomiting must be kept home 24 hours after
the symptoms have stopped. Children will not be readmitted to school until they have been
fever free without medication and diarrhea/vomiting have stopped completely. Children should
be kept at home with any two of the following symptoms: Runny nose with a colored (yellow or
green) mucus, sneezing, cough, complaints about body aches or pains, general lethargy.
• Children who are lethargic, or who generally do not feel well enough to participate, will not be
admitted to school. The classroom teachers will do a health check when children arrive to school
each morning. Teachers have the authority to send home children who are not feeling well
enough to attend school.
• Parent volunteers who become ill should not attempt to co-op, but arrange a substitute instead.
Emotional Health
It is helpful to the teachers if parents can keep them informed when family events may reflect in
your child’s behavior. Employment changes, business trips, the death of a family member or pet can
all contribute to temporary changes in character for your child. If you or your family is experiencing
any of these issues, please speak to your child’s teacher or the office.
Emergency Evacuation
When the decision is made to evacuate the Center facility, the Director will make the announcement
in the most expeditious way possible that all persons are to exvuate to the assembely area and
await further instruction. The building is to be evacuated completely. The Director will notify
appropriate personnel and communicate what type of emergency is present.
In the event of an actual fire, the Director will be responsible to notify 9-1-1 of the emergency from
a cellphone outside the building once the evacuation is complete.
Central Co-Op staff will evacuate the children as follows:
• Emergency evacuation plans will be posted at all exits.
19 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19• During an emergency evacuation the Lead Teacher will be responsible for taking the attendance sheets and emergency contact information for his/her students. • The assistant teacher will be responsible for leading the children out of the building using the safest exit. • The director and other staff will assist in the evacuation and check for stragglers. • The program director will make a visual inspection of each classroom before exiting the building. • All classrooms, once evacuated, will meet by the brown shed in the parking lot and wait for the go-ahead by the Program Director before re-entering the building. • Under no circumstances are the staff to stop for any of their own or a child’s personal belongings including jackets, shoes, purses, etc. • Upon arriving at the designated evacuation area, all children must be physically accounted for against the attendance record and the results reported to the Director immediately. • The Center will maintain a daily attendance list that is current. Lead teachers are responsible for signing children in and out of the center by arrival and departure times. • The attendance list will be kept with the Lead teachers and be readily accessible in case of an emergency evacuation. • The Lead teacher will be responsible for taking the attendance list and for accounting for all the children in the class once they are safely out of the building • Emergency evacuation drills are conducted every month at different times of the program day as determined by the Program Director. • Children and staff practice using different evacuation routes so that the children and staff will be familiar with them. • The Program Director will maintain documentation of the date, time, and effectiveness of each drill in the Fire Drill log. This documentation will be maintained for five years. Emergency Management Plan In the event that the building should lose heat, water and/or electricity during the winter months, and the inside temperature falls below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, we will notify all parents of our plans to close. The staff will remain until the last child is dismissed. In the event of a natural disaster (tornado, hurricane, flood, major storm or unusual situation including chemical spills, bomb threats) we would be in touch by phone, email alerts or in person. We will contact local authorities to determine whether to evacuate or shelter in place. If it was 20 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
determined by authorities we would need to leave the school building, we will evacuate the building in the manner we practice monthly. Once we have met in the parking lot, attendance will be taken to ensure all children are out of the building. We would walk across the street to St. Marys Catholic church hall. (St. Marys is equipped with a full kitchen, rest rooms, and is handicapped accessible and handicapped equipped). We will contact parents by cellphone and/or email using our staff phone tree and remain at this location until all parents have been contacted and arrangements have been made for each and every child. If our secondary shelter was deemed not safe, we would then contact Red Cross and local authorities by cellphone or in person to determine where we should seek shelter. The contact person for St. Marys Church is Paul Firicano - 978-256-2374 Extension 11 Procedures for Conducting a Fire Drill 1. Inform the staff in advance. The Center Director informs the staff that there will be a fire drill laster in the day/week. 2. Familiarize the children with the fire drill. Teachers talk to the children in their classroom about the bell/alarm, rules, and procedures for vacating the building. 3. Evacuate the building. The Director will sound the whistle and the Center will be evacuated. 4. The Assistant teacher will be responsible for leading the children out of the building using the nearest exit. 5. Children will proceed immediately with their Assistant teacher to the outside designated area. 6. Lead teachers will count their children and take attendance sheets, emergency information, and cellphones with them. They will follow the children and be sure all children are accounted for. 7. The Center Director and assistant checks bathrooms and “hiding places” for children. 8. The Center Director retrieves the emergency binder and cellphone. 9. Time the drill. The Center Director times how long it took to vacate the building. 10. Verify accurate recount of all persons. The Center Director or designee checks with each group to verify an accurate recount of all persons. 11. Return to the building. The Center Director or designee gives approval to reenter the building. 12. Document the completed fire drill. The Center Director completes a written documentation that contains the specifics of the drills: date, time and location of fire drill and the length of time required to vacate building. 13. A fire drill will be practiced at least once a month, at different times of the day. All children should have the experience of a practice fire drill to be better prepared for a real emergency. School Lockdown Procedure 1. In the event of a lock-down, the Center director will use the school password to disseminate the need to assume the lock-down mode. 2. If the police have not initiated the lock-down, they will be notified by the director, we will follow our procedures and instructions and any additional by the Town of Chelmsford. If the police initiate the lock-down, we will follow the policies and instructions set forth by the Town of Chelmsford. The director will act as the liaison with the police of Town of Chelmsford officials 21 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
and will follow all guidelines.
3. Teachers will pull all shades in the classroom and cover all door windows with black felt.
4. The Lead teacher for each classroom is responsible for his/her attendance clipboard and
emergency binder, implementing the Directors instructions by taking attendance, and
establishing a calm atmosphere. Teachers will keep the children in the classroom away from
doors and windows. The children will be directed in quiet activities.
5. The Central Co-Op will remain in lock-down until notified by officials, at which point the school
will notify all parents that they can come and pick up their children.
6. The Central Co-Op will practice age appropriate lock-down procedures throughout the year as
part of our Emergency Management Plan.
Procedure In The Event Of A Missing Child
1. The Lead teacher alerts the Director IMMEDIATELY.
2. The Director and the Assistant teacher search indoor areas within the school in case the child is
hiding. In the event that the child is found, the parent should be notified and the Lead teacher
will be subject to a review.
3. In the event that the child was not found, the Director, while maintaining ratios, delegates the
Assistant teacher to search the school grounds starting with the exit routes. In the event the
child in found, the parents would be notified of the incident and the Lead teacher would be
subject to review.
4. If the child is not located, the parents, if not already on site, and the police would be contacted
by the Director.
5. Once the police arrive, formal responsibility for the search will pass to the police, but the
Director will ensure that the staff makes themselves appropriately available to assist further with
the incident.
6. The Director will ensure appropriate reassurance and comfort are provided to the children,
parents and staff.
7. The Director will be responsible for notifying the EEC.
First Aid & Transportation To The Hospital
1. In the case of an emergency or illness (such as a seizure, a serious fall or serious cut), the
teacher in charge will begin administration of emergency first aid while the assistant teacher, or
director takes other children to another area or room. Both staff members will remain calm and
reasonable.
2. One of the supervisory staff will contact the parent to come and pick up the child or, if response
time is a factor, to have the parent meet the child and accompanying staff at the emergency
room of the hospital utilized in emergencies.
3. In the event a situation arises that is life threatening an ambulance will be called immediately.
The parent will be called to meet the child and staff at the hospital. The director or other
designated staff will go with the child in the ambulance. The child’s file will be taken, including
permission forms and pertinent insurance information if the center has it. If a parent cannot be
reached, the child will be taken to the facility in the same manner and periodic attempts will be
made to first reach the child’s parent(s) and then the other names listed on the emergency form.
22 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-194. The administrative assistant will take over as teacher in the classroom while the director and teacher and tending to the child. Emergencies While On A Field Trip If an accident or acute illness occurs while on a field trip, the director will take charge of the emergency, assess the situation, and give first aid as needed. The method and urgency of transportation for the child to receive medical treatment will be determined by the director based on the severity of the emergency or illness. If a child becomes mildly ill, he/she will be separated from the group and brought to the car that the director or assistant arrived in. If necessary, an ambulance will be called. As a preventive measure, prior to departure from the center, the program director and lead teacher will determine appropriate guidelines to be followed during the field trip to insure continuity and safety of the children including: 1. A first aid kit will be taken in all vehicles on all field trips. 2. Emergency information, including contacts and telephone numbers, will be taken on all field trips. 3. On a field trip, staff must know the location of a telephone and have appropriate change to be able to use it or have a working cell phone available. Plan For Injury Prevention A. To prevent injury and to ensure a safe environment, the staff member who opens each classroom is responsible upon arrival each day for monitoring the environment and for the removal of any hazards. Any needed repairs or unsafe conditions should be reported to the Director. The Program Director will monitor the outdoor playground and remove any hazards prior to any children using the space. B. No smoking is allowed on the premises. C. Toxic substances, sharp objects matches and other hazardous objects will be stored out of the reach of children. D. A first aid kit and emergency contacts and telephone numbers for the children will be taken on all field trip. E. An injury report for any incident which requires first aid or emergency care will be maintained in the child’s file. The injury report includes the name of the child, date, time and location of accident or injury, description of injury and how it occurred, name(s) of witnesses, name(s) of person(s) who administered first aid and first aid required. Staff should use the Accident/Injury Report Form to record the above information. Staff should submit the completed form to the Program Director for review. 23 CHELMSFORD CENTRAL CO-OP FAMILY HANDBOOK 2018-19
The injury forms are located on the back of each classroom door. Each teacher is responsible for
maintaining their log.
Once the Program Director has reviewed the Accident/Injury Report form and has signed it, it
should be given to the parent. The parent should be allowed to review it, sign it, and then be given
a copy. The staff member should then log the report in the Central Log of Injuries and then file the
report in the Child’s file.
All Central Co-Op staff have been trained in First Aid administration. First aid kits are located on the
shelves in the hallways on the first and second floor. The director updates the first aid kits and it is
the teachers responsibility to let the director know what needs to be replaced.
Plan For Managing Infectious Disease
Staff will take extra special precautions when children who are ill are diagnosed at the Center and
when children who are mildly ill remain at the Center.
Children who exhibit symptoms of the following types of infectious diseases, such as gastro-
intestinal, respiratory and skin or direct contact infections, may be excluded from the Center if it is
determined that any of the following exist:
• the illness prevents the child from participating in the program activities or from resting
comfortably;
• the illness results in greater care need that the child care staff can provide without compromising
the health and safety of the other children;
• the child has any of the following conditions: fever, unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying,
difficult breathing, or other signs of serious illness;
• diarrhea;
• vomiting two or more times in the previous 24 hours at home or once at the center;
• mouth sores, unless the physician states that the child is non-infectious;
• rash with a fever or behavior change until the physician has determined that the illness is not a
communicable disease;
• purulent conjunctivitis (defined as pink or red conductive with white or yellow discharge, often
with matted eyelids) until examined by a physician and approved for re-admission, with or
without treatment;
• tuberculosis, until the child in non-infectious;
• impetigo, until 24 hours after treatment has started or all the sores are covered;
• head lice, free of all nits or scabies and free of all mites;
• strep infection, until 24 hours after treatment and the child has been without fever for 24 hours;
• many types of hepatitis are caused by viruses. The symptoms are so alike that blood tests
are needed to tell them apart. In the U.S. the most common types of hepatitis are A, B, and
C. Types B and C are spread through blood and other body fluids. Type A, is spread through
contaminated food and water or stool (feces). Fact sheets are available from the state
Department of Public health. www.state.ma.us/dph
• chicken pox, until last blister has healed over.
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