Irvington Extended Day (IED)

1320 NE Brazee ∙ Portland OR 97212

503.287.9751 ∙ iedprogram2@gmail.com

Before and After School Program Policies

Center Licensing:

The IED program is licensed by the State Employment Department/Child Care Division. We are inspected by the Child Care Division as well as the Health Department and Fire Marshall. The current Child Care Division rules governing child care facilities and our current inspection records are on file for your review. All pertinent documents are posted on the parent information board in each classroom.

IED Hours of Operation:

Before School 7am - 8:30 am

After School 3am - 6:00 pm

Long days 7 am - 6 pm (parent conference days, teacher planning, etc)

Late opening Days 7am-10:30am (for regular enrolled am students)

Late Opening Days non regulars 8:30-10:30.

Director's Office Hours:

If it is essential that you meet/talk on the phone with the Director, please set up an appointment via email or office phone. You also have the options of writing him a note, leaving a voicemail at 503-287-9751, emailing iedprogram@gmail.com, or contacting with the Assistant Director at iedprogram2@gmail.com.

Registration Fee:

Payment of a yearly registration fee is required. This fee is non-refundable and may not be applied toward tuition.

Enrollment:

Required enrollment forms must be completed and returned to IED before your child starts the program. This information is kept confidential at IED and must be maintained according to county, state, and federal guidelines. Please keep the information up-to-date by notifying the IED office in writing of any changes.

Withdrawal from IED:

A 30-day written notice must be submitted to the IED office. If the appropriate notification is not supplied, parents are responsible for payment of the total fee for that month.

Communication:

It is very important that IED be informed of any changes in the following areas:

• Phone numbers and emergency contacts. IED must be able to reach you in case of an emergency.
• Absence or late arrival of your child.
• Whenever someone other than an authorized person is to pick up your child. You will be charged $10 if IED has to call to verify that someone is allowed to pick up your child.
• Anyone who comes to pick up your child must have identification! This includes older siblings.

IED always welcomes an exchange of information. We care about your opinions and realize it is important to have a bond of trust in working with your child. Your child's IED teacher will be able to share information with you very briefly due to the fact that she/he must simultaneously be available for other children and parents. If you want to have an extended, uninterrupted talk about your child, please make an appointment with the Director/Assistant Director.

Parent Folders:

Each family has a folder in the crate at the top of the stairs to the playground. In this folder we put reminders, fee notifications, receipts, and information about school and community events. If your family needs two folders so that each parents gets the information, please let a teacher know.

Please check your folder daily. If there is a note on the sign in sheet or the classroom door asking you to check your folder, please check it immediately.

Also remember that these folders are for us to contact you. If you have something for us, please do not put it in your folder or give it to a teacher. Instead, place it in the locked drop box on the outer door of room 108A or email the Asst. director at iedprogram@gmail.com

Visitation Policy:

Custodial parents and legal guardians are welcome to visit their children any time during regular hours. However, for safety and liability reasons, if a parent wishes to have a discussion beyond greetings, with another child/ren, please make sure an IED staff is nearby. Other visitors must be approved by the Director.

Group Assignment:

Your child will be enrolled in a classroom based on space availability and developmental appropriateness. Your child may be moved to another room if necessary. Parents will be notified prior to any change.

Curriculum:

The IED classroom schedule is carefully planned to meet the developmental goals and needs of children. Each classroom offers a wide range of activities and materials that are appropriate and challenging for the children in the room. Physical activity is an important part of our daily curriculum.

Staff Qualifications:

IED staff are professionals who have been chosen for the expertise, as well as their love of children. Our Staff members have extensive knowledge and experience in early childhood education and are dedicated to providing a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment for children. Ongoing study and training keep staff up to date in Early Childhood Education, CPR, first aid, and job related skills.

Guidance and Discipline:

In IED and in their daytime classes, children at this school are taught "PAWS"-"Play Fair, Act Safe, Work Hard, Show Respect". Basically, this means they should discuss problems, then walk away, then approach a teacher. If the problem is a violent one, they should seek adult assistance right away. We encourage and help facilitate non-violent conflict resolution.

Our staff demonstrates ways to use words instead of force. Social behaviors such as cooperating, helping, teamwork, and taking turns are encouraged. Positive approaches are used in guiding children. These include redirection and encouragement. The staff use consistent clear rules, and talk to the children in terms of choices. This means you may hear a teacher say, "Since you did not listen to my words, this shows me that I will need to make your choices until I feel you're ready to try again." No physical punishment or negative discipline methods that hurt, frighten, or humiliate children are used.

Parents are consulted if a child's behavior is frequently inappropriate or disruptive, and is not responsive to our approaches. Exceptions of children's behavior are appropriate for the development level of the children. Violent words and actions are simply not tolerated at IED. Depending on the circumstances, a child may be sent home as a consequence of violence. 

Toys:

We ask that children keep toys at home. Any toy, ball, or other object brought from home will be placed in your child's IED locker. If the child takes it out of the locker, or brings it to school repeatedly, the object will be confiscated. Please do not allow children to bring any electronics, books with violent content, or trading cards i.e. Pokemon or Magic.

Food and Snacks:

IED IS A PEANUT FREE PROGRAM

Please do not send soda or candy with your child to IED. (This is also an Irvington School rule). ). Please do not send fast food in with your child. At IED we serve 2 nutritious snacks after school. We ask children not to share or trade food. We need to be informed if your child has any dietary restrictions or allergies to food products. Due to the severity of some food allergies, we reserve the right to ban certain types of food from the classrooms. IED is a peanut free program. Please do not send any snacks or lunches with peanut products. This is especially important to remember on long days/non-school days.

****If you send a lunch with peanuts it will be put away, and IED will charge you ($15)*****

Morning Check-In:

If your child comes to IED before school, you must bring him/her into the building and sign in. IED is not responsible for children who are not signed in. If your child is not coming in the morning, or if someone else is signing him/her into IED, you are not required to inform us ahead of time. Once your child is actually signed in, he/she becomes our responsibility. If you child needs to leave IED before 8:30 (to see a teacher, for example) we need to hear that form you, not from the child. Please call or make a note on the sign in sheet.

Breakfast:

Children who eat breakfast at school go to the cafeteria at 7:50 am with an IED teacher. If you bring your child after 7:50, and he/she has not eaten, you will need to accompany the child to the cafeteria and back. Breakfast at IED ends at 8:15 am. IED cannot be responsible for children while they are having breakfast in the cafeteria. Again, please do not send fast food in with your child to eat in the IED classroom. Please do not send fast food in with your child.

Check-Out Time:

When picking up your child, please always check on the wipe board in front of the stairs, to find the whereabouts of your child's group (outside, gym, classroom, etc). Please make sure that the teacher acknowledges you and is aware that you are signing out your child. We ask children to say good-bye to the teachers when leaving. Be sure to collect all books, clothes, art projects, and homework from the classroom and your child's locker.

If you send a friend to pick up your child, and that friend is no already on your authorized list, please call ahead or drop off a note. We will not release your child to anyone without either verbal or written permission directly from you. Please remind your friends to bring ID, as we must confirm each person's identity. If you would like to add someone to your authorized pick up list, please inform the Director or Assistant Director in writing.

Please do not allow your children to sign or write on the sign-out sheets. Only adults (or siblings, with parental permission) can sign children out of IED. While you are still in the building make sure to follow, and remind your child to follow, Irvington School and IED rules. For example; no running or yelling in the halls and no inappropriate language. For safety reasons, please do not allow your child to roam the halls unattended or climb on the stair railings. Please do not use cell phones in the classrooms.

Parents who have been drinking or are otherwise intoxicated should make alternative arrangements for picking up their child. In addition, it is the parents' responsibility to advice the center if anyone on your authorized pick-up list has an alcohol or drug related problem so that the center can be particularly watchful. It is our strict policy not to release your child to anyone who is reasonable believed to be intoxicated.

Closing Time:

IED closes at 6:00 pm. It is essential that your child is picked up by 6 pm. If your child has not been picked up by 6 pm, there is an automatic $10 charge. In addition, after 6:05, you will be charged $2/minute. After a parent is late three times, the fees double. Chronic late pick-ups could result in dismissal from the program.

**Please, call 503-287-9751 to let us know you are on your way. Our policy is to start calling back-up numbers at 6:05 pm. (Calling will not expunge the late pick-up fee; it is to comfort your child as well as assure staff you are coming)

Absences:

If your child is not attending IED after school on a scheduled day for any reason, you need to inform IED's Director or Assistant Director directly: either in writing, by phone, online at iedprogram2@gmail.com, or in person. A fee of $10 will be charged if IED is not informed about your child's absence from the program before 2:45 pm.

If we are not informed of your child's absence we have to assume that something has happened to him/her, and we will start the process to locate the child. If your child is going to stay in the classroom with his/her teacher after the bell rings, IED must be informed in advance. Likewise, if your child is going on a field trip that will return after 3:00, it is your responsibility to inform us that your child will check in late.

"Drop-Ins"

IED has been licensed by the State Employment Department/Child Care Division to provide care to a specific number of children. We cannot exceed those numbers. Because of this regulation, we cannot accept children on a drop-in basis. If there is an emergency situation, please talk to the Director to make arrangements.

This policy applies to non-school days at IED as well. For example, if IED will be open on a Friday from 7-6, and your child does not usually attend IED on Fridays, you must request permission from the Director or Assistant Director before bringing your child. It is possible that you and your child could be turned away if you do not make arrangements ahead of time.

In all situations, decisions will be made based on space available at the time. (Fees are: Long day--$25; Before school--$10;  Late opening Wednesdays--$15; After school--$15). When you bring your child, please accompany him/her into IED and sign in. IED will not take any responsibility for a child who is not signed in. Please remember that IED staff member cannot sign in any child.

Non-School Days at IED

Due to limited space on days such as Teachers' Planning Days or Conference day, IED will be available only for the before/after school and after school students. If there is still space available after sign-ups for non-school days, we will be able to allow the students who are enrolled in only the before school program.

If the long day falls on a day when your child does not normally attend, you must make arrangements with the director in order for your child to attend.

The cafeteria is closed on these days so you must send a lunch with your child. Please remember that soda, candy, fast food and Peanut butter/products are not allowed.

The children sit down to eat at 11:30 AM. If you are planning to pick up your child before lunchtime, or planning to bring a lunch before 11, please let us know when you sign in. If your child does not have a lunch at 11 AM, we will call to remind you of the necessity of providing a lunch. If we have to call, you will be charged $15.00.

Community School Classes/Field Trips:

If your child is signed up for community school classes, we must have a completed permission form on file. Community Class Forms are available in the IED office. Without this form, we cannot allow your child to leave our care.

IED cannot be responsible for children while they are in community classes. All children, except for kindergartners, are responsible for returning to IED on their own after their class is finished. If you pick up your child from a community school classroom, please remember to sign out at IED.

If your child is going to be late to IED because of a field trip (through his/her class or a community class), you need to let us know. If the child does not check in at the normal time and we have to call you, you will be charged the $10 finder's fee.

After Hours Child Care Policy:

Any arrangements made between parents and IED staff for after-hours childcare is to take place outside of IED. Please do not talk to IED staff during program hours to make such arrangements. While IED exercises a great deal of care in its hiring decisions, it is not responsible for any IED staff person outside of the school and/or in an unsupervised setting.

Health Policy:

Keeping your child healthy is important to us. For this reason we must exclude children with contagious or infectious conditions. When your child becomes ill or is unable to participate in group activities, you will be asked to remove your child from the center.

Often the most contagious state of a child's illness is just before symptoms appear. Signals such as change of behavior, pulling at ears, drowsiness, loss of appetite, or inability to participate in room activities, might indicate that your child is at the beginning stage of an illness. Staying home to get extra rest may ward off the illness and will also prevent spreading it to other children in the program.

The criteria used to determine when a child needs to be excluded from the program are based on the State and County regulations. Please keep your child home if he/she experiences: sore throat, runny nose, blisters/skin rash, diarrhea, inflamed eye, fever, nausea, vomiting, coughing, head lice, or ear ache.

Children have not fully developed their immunity to diseases, so they are ill more frequently than most adults. Often this happens when you are most needed at work. However, since IED does not have nursing facilities for sick children, it is important that each parent makes alternatives arrangements for back up care.

Also, a child cannot stay at school with blood on his/her clothes. If your child frequently gets bloody noses or anything of the sort, please be sure there's a change of clothes at IED.

Allergies:

In the event that a child with severe food allergies is enrolled in IED pre-k, we reserve the right to ban outright any foods that could cause any health complications for the child. While it may be inconvenient, we are confident that you would ask the same if your child had the allergy.

Medication:

A medication form must be completed to authorize administration of any medicine. Please bring the medicine in its original container. Dosage and the child's name must be clearly visible.

Accidents:

Our staff is trained in CPR and pediatric first aid. In the event of an accident or acute medical situation, we will assess the situation and keep you informed. If medical treatment is necessary, we will get your child to the nearest emergency facility. We will use the information you provide on the IED forms for any treatment releases.

Emergency Plans:

Fire:

In case of Fire, the children will be escorted from the building as previously arranged through fire drills. If IED is damages, the children will be taken to another part of the building when safety permits.

Lock Down:

Unfortunately, lock down drills are now a routine in schools. Through these drills, your child will learn how to behave in case we have an actual lock down. In the event of a lock down, nobody will be allowed in the school, including parents. As soon as it is safe, we will contact you about pick up.

Emergency Evacuation:

In the event that an emergency causes us to evacuate the building, the staff will take the children out of the school until the school is safe for re-entry. The primary evacuation route is posted in each classroom. We will bring the children to Augustana Lutheran Church (on the corner of NE 15^th and Knott), and then call you to make pick up arrangements.

School Closures:

Whenever Portland Public Schools close because of snowy or icy conditions, IED will also close. Likewise, when classes are delayed, IED will be delayed; when school closes during the day, IED will also close. If we have to close our facility, IED staff will call to ask you to pick up your child or make arrangements to have him/her picked up. IED will also close if the power is out for a prolonged period of time.

Unfortunately, IED tuition will not change because of closures. Our expenses (such as room rental and insurance) will not change during such a time, and we count on tuition to cover these expenses.

Other:

The State of Oregon requires that all members of childcare institutions be on the lookout for and report to the State any and all cases of child abuse. IED is, therefore, obligated to report ANY suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect.

∙ Conversations with other parents should be held in the hallways, not the classrooms. The program continues even after you pick up your child.

∙ The IED phone is for emergency use only. The phones in the classrooms are not programmed to make out-going calls.

∙ IED provides a safe, supportive environment for all children. Rough housing does not support that goal and therefore is not allowed at IED. Parents are asked not to rough house with their children or others at IED.

∙ Children must remember to bring all homework, projects, clothes, and personal items from their classrooms/class lockers to IED. They will not be allowed to return to their classrooms/lockers to retrieve forgotten items.

∙ Due to lack of storage space, all unclaimed personal belongings will be placed in the school's lost and found. IED is not responsible for lost belongings.

∙ Please do not send your child to IED wearing face makeup and/or costumes.

Financial Information

Payments:

It is essential that all parents remember IED is a non-profit program. We have several major expenses (rent, insurance, and payroll to name a few), and our only income is tuition received from families. Late payments have a serious effect on our program. For this reason alone, we charge fees for late payments. The finder fees and late pick up fees are charged because looking for children at check in time, and waiting with children after closing time are not within the normal bounds of the job description. Families should be aware that we use fees as reminders to follow the policies that parents agree to follow, upon enrollment.

IED does not bill families each month. Tuition must be paid by the last day of the pervious month. (see attached payment schedule page 9) For example, February's tuition, as well as any fees charged in January, must be paid by January 29th. Any tuition received on or after the first of the month will be considered late and late fees will be charged. (All fees are explained later in this policies packet.). If the last day of the month falls on a weekend or a day that school is not in session, the tuition and fees must be paid before that weekend. Please write your child's name on your check, especially if it's different from your own.

• **If the payment is not made within 5 IED business days (Sunday-Saturday), the child's attendance at IED will be suspended until the account is brought up to-date.

Fees:

IED has a policy of charging fees as a reminder for parents to follow our policies regarding payment and pick-ups. If your family has difficulty picking up your child on time, for example, or paying tuition in a timely manner, you will be asked to meet with the Director. Chronic charges could result in dismissal from the program. After a parent receives any fee notice three times, the fees double.

∙An automatic $10 late fee will be charged for children who are not picked up by 6:00 pm. In addition, for each minute past 6:05 pm there is a $2/minute charge. Chronic late pick-ups could result in dismissal from the program.

∙A finder's fee of $10 will be charged if IED is not informed that your child will not be attending in the afternoon.

∙A $10 fee will be charged if we have to call about an unauthorized person picking up your child. Please have this person bring identification, as your child will not be released to anyone who cannot verify their identity.

∙A $10 fee will be charged if tuition is not in by the due date, plus $2 every school day after the 1^st until it is paid. After three late tuition fees, the parents in question will be required to meet with the Director. Chronic financial trouble could result in dismissal from the program.

∙A $25 fee will be charged if your check is returned by the bank for any reason. After the second NSF, you must pay your monthly tuition by money order or cash.

∙A $25 fee will be charged if your child attends IED on a day when school is not in session, if he/she does not normally attend on that day of the week. The charge for extra morning care is $10 and afternoon care is $15. Late opening Wednesdays will be $15.

* If you send a lunch with peanuts on a long day, it will be thrown away, and you will be charged ($15)

Finally, a one-time $20 fee is charged when a parent changes a child's schedule of IED days. You must contact the Director or Assistant Director in reference to any changes.

If the tuition is being split between two or more parties, the checks must be turned in together. It is the job of the parents/guardians, not the IED staff, to keep track of who owes what. Turning in the money together on the same day will avoid any confusion. Again, please write your child's name on your check.

**Please direct any billing questions to Ingrid at iedprogram2@gmail.com.

Third Party Payments:

Parents/guardians are welcome to use assistance from AFS and other organizations to pay IED tuition. It is a parent's responsibility to get the caseworker or other contact person in touch with IED. Furthermore, we require that parents pay the first month in full. This way, the family will be credited when the agency's check arrives, and the credit will carry over each month so that IED never has to wait for tuition.

Financial aid:

Income based financial aid is available. Please ask for an application if interested. Financial aid forms are due at three specific times of year, along with the necessary proof of income and expenses. Families are responsible for reapplying at each financial aid due date.

Receipts:

Please make a note on your check if you need a receipt for your payment. Each receipt includes our State and Federal Tax ID numbers, but if you would like a tax receipt between January and April, please talk to the Director or Assistant Director. If you are reimbursed for payment, and require a signature for processing, please give the paperwork to the Director or Assistant director and allow some time to get it back.

Questions?

Please contact IED's Director or Assistant Director at 503.287.9751 Email Mir at iedprogram@gmail.com or email Ingrid at iedprogram2@gmail.com.

Please remember it is your responsibility to educate other people involved in picking-up, tuition payments etc. of our policies to avoid any confusion.

                                           Tuition Due Dates 2010-2011

Month: Due Date:

• September 2010       DUE September 7, 2010
• October 2010            DUE September 30, 2010
• November 2010        DUE October 29, 2010
• December 2010        DUE November 30, 2010 (not pro-rated)
• January 2011           DUE January 3, 2011
• February 2011          DUE January 31, 2011
• March 2011              DUE February 28, 2011
• April 2011                DUE March 31, 2011
• May 2011                 DUE April 29, 2011
• June 2011                DUE May 31, 2011 (pro-rated tuition)