Parent Handbook

Sufficient blocks of time inside and outside set the framework for children to become engaged in activities in small groups or individually. Classroom schedules are designed to be flexible and to meet the needs of the group of the day. Morning snack is served around 9:30 a.m. Lunch is served around 11:30 a.m., and an afternoon snack is offered to children after 2:30 p.m. Rest time is generally from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. A current daily schedule is posted on the outside bulletin board.

Documentation of children’s play and curriculum activities are a vital part of our program. Consequently, classroom teachers and supervised students may frequently photograph children while they play. These photographs and videotapes may be used in parent teacher conferences, for educational purposes on bulletin boards and photo displays, in campus newsletters, and in articles about the West-Valley-Mission Community College District Child Studies Department.

We strongly encourage parents to visit the center, converse with the teachers, and participate in the program as much as possible. More formal parent-teacher conferences are scheduled each semester. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to make an appointment with the teachers or the program director. We look forward to meeting with you.

Parents are a vital and important part of our early childhood program. We talk to parents regularly about their child’s experience in our classes. Parents are encouraged to assist us in presenting authentic cultural experiences for our children by visiting the classroom, providing cultural dress and food items for activities, providing cultural music and language experiences, and teaching us about cultural celebrations that they regularly observe. Family potlucks and parent-teacher conferences are part of our program.

West Valley College Child Development Centers maintain an open-door and inclusive program. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender, mental or physical disability, race, ethnic group identification, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national origin. No religious instruction of any kind is provided.

Children who are medically fragile and/or have physical or mental disabilities may be enrolled if it is determined by the director, teachers and parents, after a period of observations and discussions, that the program is appropriate and the individual needs of the child can be reasonably accommodated within the group experience.

Each year the West Valley College Child Development Centers plan staff development activities, events, and opportunities. All newly hired staff members attend a staff orientation and receive a staff handbook. Staff attend weekly classroom meetings and all classrooms meet together monthly. Staff attend bi-annual meetings before Fall semester and before Spring semester with all faculty. We have numerous staff development days scheduled into the school calendar allowing our staff time for training and development. The staff is encouraged to attend local state and national conferences. The staff are encouraged to continue their education to earn advanced degrees in Early Childhood Education.

Please do not discuss children or their behavior while in their presence. All adults coming into the center and outdoor classroom are role models for our children. Consequently, we expect all adults to behave in an empathetic, courteous, respectful manner with the children and with each other at all times. The Child Development Center is not to be used as a place to settle disputes, school/work, personal, or related issues. No smoking is allowed on the center premises or front walkways or within 25 feet of building and outdoor classroom.

We ask parents to stay off their cell phones while dropping off or picking up their child. Your child needs your undivided attention when saying good-bye to you. And they need your full attention when greeting you at the end of their day. Please give your child the respect of putting them first – phone second.

Student Teachers are not allowed to use cell phones during their paid time with children. Master Teachers may us their phones to photograph children - but only for documentation purposes. Master Teachers may also use their phones to email parents when necessary.

The Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing requires that each child is signed in daily upon arrival and signed out daily (using full legal signatures) by an authorized adult when leaving the CDC. Children will be released only to authorized persons whose names are on the emergency forms. If an adult, who arrives to pick up a child is not recognized, name and photo ID will be requested and verified on the child's emergency list. If the name is not on the emergency list, the child will not be released. Parents or guardians will be contacted immediately.

Children are expected to arrive at the center before 9:30 AM If your child has not arrived at the center by 10:00 AM and you have not contacted the center to notify the teachers you will be late, your child will be considered absent for the day.

Families are expected to adhere to their contracted hours. Children are to be picked up by or before contracted time. A LATE PICK-UP FEE will be assessed per family and based on “cell phone” time after 12:30 PM for part day schedules and after 6:00 PM for extended day schedules.

Parents must email the director (Anne.Horgan@westvalley.edu) if their child will be absent for any reason; or leave a voice message on the director’s telephone line (408) 741-2152.

Families who receive full or partial subsidy from our state subsidy contract are allotted 10 “Best Interest” days per fiscal year – absences that are in the best interest of the child’s health and well-being (for example: family vacation, grandparent visiting, child needs time with parent at home, etc.). An absence of any kind must be indicated on the child’s sign-in sheet and initialed by the parent. If a child is absent without notification for three or more days, termination of services may result.

Parents are required to fill out an emergency form, medical release form, and family plan for disasters prior to the first day of attendance. It is the parents’ responsibility to keep these forms current. The CDC staff will care for minor cuts and scrapes at the center. Parents receive an incident form documenting the injury and treatment. In the event that a more serious injury occurs, parents are notified at once. If necessary, the authorized persons and/or specific directions designated on the emergency card will be followed. Otherwise, the child will be taken to the Student Health Center on campus and appropriate emergency medical treatment services and procedures will be followed as deemed necessary.

The teachers will respond to an emergency on campus or in the community such as fire, floods, and earthquake, as specified in the WVMCC District emergency handbook. If necessary, children will be evacuated to the parking lot adjacent to the center. Emergency food and water are stored on campus. Teachers will remain with the children as long as necessary. Children will be released only to authorized persons whose names are on the emergency forms.

Teachers and parents collaboratively decide when the child is ready to begin the toilet learning process. We believe this process should take place in a relaxed environment with the understanding that each child has his/her own timeline. If your child is wearing diapers or training pants please discuss the toilet learning process with the classroom teachers. For those children wearing diapers, teachers follow state health and safety procedures for changing diapers. Parents are responsible for providing disposable diapers and wipes for their child.

Each child has a cubby with plastic container at the center to hold extra clothing and nap items for the day. Please make sure your child has an extra pair of socks, underwear, long pants and a shirt in their cubbies at all times. We strongly recommend that you label your child’s clothing, especially jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts. If your child will be napping at the center, please bring a blanket that can be left at the center. Children are asked to keep food items, gum, candy, and toys at home. Parents are expected to keep a fresh supply of clean clothes in their child’s cubby box at all times.

On special occasions, children may bring a special book from home to read at Gathering (circle time) to celebrate birthdays or holidays. Please discuss your plans with staff prior to the celebration.

A morning and afternoon snack are served daily. The program will provide lunch and milk. Weekly lunch and snack menus are posted on the outside parent board.

Special food requirements or food allergies must be identified during enrollment. Parents must obtain written information from the child’s physician about the food allergies. Specific written instructions are to be included on the enrollment forms, and discussed with center staff. Parents may need to supply food items for their child if the CDC is unable to meet the special food requirements.

Teachers may administer prescription medication, asthma medication, inhalers or Epipen injection. Instructions from a physician must be clearly labeled on the original prescription container. Nonprescription medications must be administered in accordance with the product label and there must be written approval and instructions from a parent/guardian before giving medication to the child. Parents may visit the center at any time and administer medication themselves.

State licensing regulations require that all children have a medical examination upon entrance into the program or as needed. The child must be fully immunized according to age specific regulations prior to enrollment. A physician must sign a Health Evaluation Form/Physician Report indicating the child has had the medical examination and immunizations are up-to-date. This form must be completed within 7 days of enrollment.

Children must stay home with the following symptoms are evident:

• Fever: 99.6º orally, 98.6º rectally or tympanic (ear), 100.6º auxiliary (under the arm) before fever medicine is administered. Child must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Colds and Runny Noses: runny nose with fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, or irritability; runny nose which is yellow or green for more than a week; runny nose plus other signs of illness. Any symptoms that persist for two or more weeks usually require medical attention. Child can come to center with clear runny nose if there are no other symptoms.
• Cough: a wet, wheezy cough with mucous secretion.
• Ear Infection: with fever, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, drainage, irritability, tugging on ears. Child may return to center when on medication and 24 hours after symptoms are gone.
• Eye Infection: with yellow or green drainage. Child must be on medication 24 hours and have very little drainage before returning to center.
• Vomiting: recurring or with fever. Child must be free of all symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Skin Infection or Rash: with drainage.
• Lice or Scabies: Child may return to the center after appropriate treatment and shampoo.
• Diarrhea: All cases of diarrhea must be reported to the center. Diarrhea has more serious consequences than catching a cold. Severe dehydration can lead to hospitalization. The risks of spreading diarrhea are more serious than the risk of spreading colds. A child must stay home if they have: 2 or more watery, loose, or mucusy bowel movements and/or additional signs of being sick (fever, runny nose, lack of appetite). Child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.