Weekday Learning Center
Parent Handbook
updated 1/15/2013
Owner and Director: Tanya Poe
Phone: 830- 257-6453
Email: upnjacks@aol.com
833 Junction Hwy. Kerrville, TX 78028
State of TX child care license #1027066
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Schedules & Calendar
Up-n Jacks Weekday Learning Center will follow the Kerrville Independent School District Schedule for
starting and ending dates.
Full day care for 18mos - 5 year olds will be from 6:30 am– 5:30 pm Monday –Friday. No early drop off
or late pickup. See arrival and departure section.
After school care will be offered all school year from 2:30pm-5:30 Monday - Friday. All children must be
picked up by their parent or designated caregiver no later than 5:30 pm or charges will apply.
During the year we normally observe the following holidays; therefore, we will be CLOSED. Depending
on the census for days adjacent to holidays, we may determine it best to close additional days. If this
occurs, you will be notified in advance. We will also have a minimum of one Teacher In-Service Day per
year. You will be notified in advance of the specific date(s).
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Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day, the Wednesday prior and the Friday after
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day (if falls on weekend, may include Friday & Monday)
New Years Eve
New Years Day
Good Friday
Teacher In-Service Day (annually)
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Emergency School Closing Information
Should it be necessary to close due to inclement weather or other emergencies occur, every effort
will be made to contact the parent as soon as possible. If KISD is closed due to inclement weather,
Up-n Jacks will also be closed.
Release of children
Our normal procedure is to release the child to his or her guardian/parent(s) ONLY, or someone
you designate. If someone other than the parent is to pick the child up, please notify us in
advance. A verbal notice is acceptable on that day, YOU call us and we are able to verify your
identity.
The emergency contact list you are required to complete designates who may pick up the child
if a parent cannot. Those on the list should also be people we could call in the event something
happened and you did not show up to pick up your child. Please inform your emergency
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contacts that if we do not know them; we will ask for identification. It is not our intention to
offend them; but to keep the children safe at all times.
HEALTH INFORMATION
Immunization requirements are set by the minimum standards for child care centers by the Texas
Department of State Health Services.
See Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Child Care Facilities in back of this handbook.
See Vision and Hearing Screening requirements in back of this handbook.
Illness and exclusion criteria
Parents will be notified to pick up their child immediately if signs of illness occur. While waiting for the
parent to arrive, the child will be removed from the classroom to prevent contact with other children.
Sick children will be kept at school only until the parent or emergency contact person arrive. Symptoms
of illness include:
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Fever – Oral temperature at or higher than 101.0 or under arm at or above 100.0. Child may
return when he has been fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without medication.
Vomiting – If your child vomits two or more times in the previous 8 hours, they should not
attend care. He may return when 24 hours has passed since the last episode of vomiting.
Diarrhea – If your child has diarrhea (watery bowel movements) two or more times, they may
not return until 24 hours has passed since the last episode.
Emergency Medical procedures/Accidents
Emergency plans are posted in each classroom. Emergency phone numbers are posted by each
telephone. Teachers in the classroom have 2 way radios or cell phones for constant communication
with other staff and the Director.
In the event of an accident or medical emergency, parents will be notified as quickly as possible. The
teacher is responsible for going with the child to the emergency room or administering first aid if ER care
is not necessary.
If the accident is minor, an accident report will be completed and a copy given to the parent when the
child is picked up.
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Medications
Up-n Jacks will not administer medications unless it is an emergency such as inhaler or Epi-pen. All
other medications will need to be given by the parent or designated person. If your child requires
emergency medications such as an inhaler or Epi-pen, the following paragraphs describe our policy.
Up-n Jacks Kid Care staff will only administer medication prescribed by a physician and it is an
emergency. Please make every effort to schedule medications when the child is not in our care.
Prescriptions must be in the original, child resistant container that has been labeled by a pharmacist.
The bottle must include the child’s name, the name of the medication, the date the medication was
filled, the prescribing physician, expiration date, administration and storage instructions.
Two steps must be taken in order for us to administer medications. First, parent must complete our in
house medication administration form. Second, a written, dated note giving Up-n Jacks staff permission
to administer the medication must be provided in advance. Medications will not be given unless both
of these steps have been completed in full.
No over –the – counter medication will be given.
Records of all medication administered will be kept at the center. The school will not, and cannot
administer medication if the above guidelines are not explicitly followed.
Parent notifications
The easiest, most effective way to communicate to parents and guardians is in writing. All memos and
parent notes will be posted on the bulletin board, and/or sent home with your child. Handbook updates
will be in written communication form and will need to be added to your original copy.
At times, we may need to contact you by phone. This does not necessarily mean an emergency has
occurred; but communication may be needed in a timely manner.
Minimum standards now require us to have an emergency preparedness plan. It covers emergency
lockdown, meeting locations for fire, or safe shelter locations in case of a required evacuation. Should
an extreme event occur, we will contact you via phone and 911. Our primary location would be Dairy
Queen, just across the parking lot and side street. Our secondary location would be Trinity Baptist
Church Kerrville on Jackson Rd. 1.5 miles away.
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Discipline and guidance
We strive to keep misbehavior to a minimum; however, some problems still occur. Discipline will be
consistent and individualized for each child, and appropriate for the child’s level of understanding.
Our caregivers only use positive methods of discipline which include:
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Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only on the unacceptable
behavior
Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear statements
Redirecting behavior
Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age
and development. This may be limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age
Repeated inappropriate behavior which is not responding to the above measures will require more serious
consideration. At times, it may be necessary to remove the child from the classroom and take them to the
Director’s office. If this is necessary, parents will be notified in writing and we expect you to talk with
him/her at home. If the behavior is repetitive, parents will be called to pick up their child, and
consequences may progress to suspension or eventually removal from the program (tuition remains in
effect). Parents play the most significant role in the appropriate social development of children. As we
work together, we can all meet the social and psychological needs of your child. For school age children,
a “think time form” will be completed by the child and presented to parents at pick up.
Child Abuse/Neglect and Reporting
By law, it is the school’s responsibility, as well as yours – the parent or guardian to report suspected child
abuse immediately. State law requires school personnel to report all cases of suspected abuse or neglect
to Child Protective Services. They may be contacted toll free, 24 hours a day at 1-800-252-5400.
By the Texas Penal Code, we also are obligated to inform all families that any area within 1000 feet of a
child care center is a gang free zone. Criminal offenses in these areas will have more harsh penalties if
convicted.
ENROLLMENT PROCESS AND FEES
We accept infants as young as 18 months to children 11 years old. We are also a
CCS provider for those needing financial assistance.
Children may be enrolled in Up-n Jacks Weekday Learning Center or After School Program if they are
presently attending school and are in K – 5th grade. ALL ENROLLMENT FORMS MUST BE COMPLETE
BEFORE ATTENDING. If at any time there is a change of information, you MUST notify us IMMEDIATELY.
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Your child’s safety and well being is our primary concern; therefore, it is important for us to be able to
contact you.
Program
Registration Fee
Tuition Fee
Supply Fee
After School Care
$60
$55/week
$20 semi annual
(6-11 years)
After School Care
$30
$15/day
n/a
Drop-in
Summer Only Care
$30
$125/week
$20
(6-11 years)
Pre-K ( 4-5 years)
$60
$115/week
$20 semi annual
Preschool (3 years)
$60
$115/week
$20 semi annual
Toddler ( 18-35 months)
$60
$120/week
$20 semi annual
Drop-in Care
$30
$28/day
n/a
*3 day minimum
(18 months and up)
DROP-IN CARE IS ONLY AVAILABLE IF CLASSES ARE NOT AT FULL CAPACITY. YOU
MUST CALL AHEAD TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ROOM TO DROP-IN ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
Tuition fees are due every Monday by 5:30pm for that current week. Tuition fees are non-refundable.
First weeks tuition will be prorated upon registration. Payments can be made by cash, check or credit
card (V/MC). THERE WILL BE A $25 RETURN CHECK FEE. A LATE FEE OF $5 PER DAY WILL
BE CHARGED FOR CO-PAYS AND TUITION RECEIVED AFTER DUE DATE. If tuition is not
received by the following Monday, your child will not be able to return until tuition is paid in full. We
will hold your spot for up to one 1 week (tuition will still be charged).
 All children currently enrolled in child care, and are current on tuition
payments have FREE admission to open play sessions as scheduled.
Attendance / Withdrawal
In order to maintain your child’s enrollment, tuition needs to be paid even if your child is absent from the
program. This is to hold your child’s spot in the program. Each family is expected to pay their tuition
every week. However, each child is granted a one week vacation each year to be used during time off
from work and when they are absent from the program. Advance notice is required before using.
If your child is leaving the program, you must withdraw by contacting the Director or Assistant Director
and give a 2 week notice. If no notice is given; and you withdraw suddenly, you will still be required to
pay tuition for the next 2 weeks.
If your child is absent from school, or has been picked up early, please notify us so that we have no doubt
where your child is and why he/she did not get off of the bus. This will also determine our staffing ratios
required by law. So please keep us informed if your child will not be in attendance.
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Every effort needs to be made to have your child here by 9:30. If this is not possible, please notify
us by that time. If your child is not here by 10:00, they cannot attend that day unless it is due to a
doctor or other scheduled appointment.
When children arrive at various hours of the day, it disrupts class and hinders the regimented
schedule that’s beneficial to children.
FOOD SERVICE / SNACKS
Full day kids will be provided a morning and afternoon snack. For lunch, you will need to send a
nutritional sack lunch with protein, fruits or veggies (sliced), and a drink. Please include an ice pack if
necessary as we do not provide refrigeration. Do not send items that require warming up in a
microwave. If you would like the food to be warm please put it in a small thermos. If you send a lunch
that requires a microwave, you will be called and asked to drop off a different lunch for that day. On
occasion, we will order pizza or have food catered in. We will post these days in the parent
communication area the day before. For toddlers who may still be breast fed, a place will be provided
for you.
Every child in the after school program will be provided a drink and snack soon after arrival.
TRANSPORTATION
Field trips are rare since we do not have a bus or van. If transportation has been arranged, and
adequate notice is given school age field trips may be scheduled and permission slips will be sent home.
Arrival and departure:
For after school care kids, Kerrville ISD will provide bus service from the elementary schools to Up-n
Jacks. We will sign your child in as they arrive. When a child is picked up, it is necessary to sign them
out each and every day. Alamo Regional Transit has an after school bus program for private schools.
Parents are required to provide written authorization if someone other than the previously designated
person is to pick up their child. In an emergency, a phone call is sufficient. If there is any doubt as to
the identity of the person receiving the child, identification will be required from that person.
Our staff are not available before or after scheduled care times. Please be prompt in picking up your
child. After 5:30 pm, there will be a $5 charge after the first 5 minutes, and $1 per minute after that.
Chronic problems in early drop off, late pick up, or refusal to pay late fees, may result in your child being
dropped from the program. Failure to pick up your child by 6:00 pm and us not being able to reach you
or your contacts, will be considered abandonment and law enforcement will be called.
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Day care is provided from 6:30 am – 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. See holiday schedule for closures.
SPECIAL EVENT DAYS
When we have special events, we will notify parents on the communication board or by a memo sent
home with your child. A special event may consist of picture day, splash day (with your permission), a
special visitor, pajama day, show & tell, and other events such as this.
DRESS CODE / PERSONAL ITEMS
Cubbies and/or coat hooks are provided for each student to keep his/her personal belongings. Art work
and memos to parents will also be in each child’s cubby. Since we have limited space for personal
items, please remove crafts and papers on a daily basis.
Our play time will include daily play on the inflatable obstacle courses, slides, etc. as well as outdoor
play. With weather permitting, we are required by the state to go outside every day. Our play yard is
through the green curtain in back, out the back door, and turn left. Because of this, please dress your
child comfortably and weather appropriate. Since socks are required, you may leave a pair in your
child’s cubby since there may be days he may not wear socks in. Please take them home and wash on a
weekly basis.
Please do not bring or let your child wear jewelry or items of high value to care. Jewelry is prohibited on
the inflatables, and we do not want their items to get lost or broken. Please do not bring personal toys
from home unless it is a scheduled show and tell day pertaining to our curriculum.
Each child in full day care is to have an extra set of clothing in case of accidents. If your clothing is not
available, another set belonging to Up-n Jacks will be loaned to wear. Please return these items after
laundering as soon as possible.
For all day care, please provide a blanket and small pillow to use on cots during nap time. We ask that
you place these in a labeled pillow case or bag. Blankets need to be taken home at the end of the week
for laundering, but please bring them back the following week (in the labeled pillow case).
PLEASE LABEL ALL JACKETS, LUNCH BOXES, PILLOWS, BLANKETS, CHANGE OF CLOTHES, ETC.
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Classes
Toddler Tadpoles (18 – 35 months)
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Beginning Gross Motor ex. running, climbing, jumping
Beginning Fine Motor ex. eating, building, coloring
Beginning Social skills ex. sharing, cooperation, saying please and thank you
Language / communication
Potty training
Foundational learning for future basic math, language, writing skills
Basic self help skills
Beginning shapes, colors, ABC’s
Counting to 10
Preschool Frogs (3 years, must be potty trained)
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Practice skills learned in Toddlers plus
Gross Motor practicing basic eye, hand and foot coordination
Fine Motor ex. coloring, gluing, beginning cutting with scissors, drawing
Math and Science ex. measuring, patterns, simple addition and subtraction
Letters, Colors, Shapes, Name Recognition, Music
Counting to 20 and counting backwards
Classroom Rules
Self Control
Same and Opposites
Conflict Resolution
Increasing Independence ex. Basic Decision Making Skills, New Self Help Skills
Following classroom rules
Basic Safety Concepts
Good Health Habits- Brushing Teeth, Hair, Taking Baths, Etc.
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Pre-K Tree Frogs (4-5 years)
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Master skills learned in Preschool plus
Gross Motor ex. balancing on one foot, throwing and kicking balls
Fine Motor ex. gluing, cutting, writing, coloring within the lines
Continuing building on basic Math and Science skills
Upper and Lower Case Letters, Days of the Week, Months of the Year
Sight Words
Primary and Secondary Colors
Social Skills, How to Interact with Peers
Physical relationships ex. “on”, “in”, “under”
Practicing Good Decision Making Skills
Practicing Proper Conflict Resolution
Positive Self Esteem
Continuing Fostering Independence
Following Classroom Rules
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After School Care & Summer Day Camp Programs
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Growing Independence
Conflict Resolution
Group Learning Activities
Fun Games
Homework Help
Encouraging Cooperation and Teamwork
Good Sportsmanship
Fostering Positive Self Esteem
Practicing Self Control
Using Good Manners
Moral development
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PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents and grandparents (that are on the enrollment form), are welcome to stop by anytime their child
is in our care. It is not necessary to make an appointment to observe your child. We encourage parents
to get involved and take part in their kid’s day. If you would like to observe the class or volunteer in
your child’s room, please talk to the teacher. For the safety of the kids, all visitors must sign in upon
entering the building. Our facility and the surrounding area is a gun free/gang free zone.
We want to provide all families a pleasant child care environment. People will not agree on everything,
all of the time. If this occurs, it needs to be taken directly to the attention of the other person involved,
at the time of the disagreement. Most of the time, a resolution can be reached once views are
discussed and there is open communication.
The Director’s office is open to anyone who may have a question, concern, suggestion, compliment, or
complaint. If at any time you would like to review a copy of the minimum care standards and the most
recent licensing inspection report, it is located in the Director’s office. Depending on the present
circumstances, an appointment to sit down with the Director may be necessary.
You may reach the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services who licenses child care centers :
Kerrville
819 Water St. Suite 230
Kerrville, Texas 78028
(210) 337-3399
www.dfps.state.tx.us
Child Protective Services
Poison Control
1-800-252-5400.
1-800-222-1222
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Toddler Tadpoles Daily Schedule (subject to change)
6:30-8:30
8:30-9:00
Arrival / Free Play
Hand washing / BR & Diaper Changes
9:00-9:30
Morning snack
9:30-9:45
Circle Time
9:45-10:30
Centers / Art / Jumping
10:30-11:00
Outside Play (weather permitting)
11:00-11:15
Hand washing / BR & Diaper Changes
11:15-11:45
Lunch
11:45-12:00
Hand washing / BR & Diaper Changes
12:00-2:15
Rest
2:15-3:00
BR & Diaper Changes/Afternoon snack
3:00-3:30
Outside Play (weather permitting)
3:30-4:00
Jump Time / Toddler Play
4:00-5:30
Center Play/ Art / Departure
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3’s & Pre-K Tree Frogs Daily Schedule
(subject to change)
6:30-8:30am
Arrival/ Free Play
8:30-8:45am
BR
8:45-9:00am
Morning Snack
9:00-9:30am
Circle Time / Curriculum
9:30-10:00am
Outdoor Play (weather permitting)
10:30-11:00am
Center Play / Art
11:00-11:30am
Jumping / BR
11:30-12pm
Lunch
12:00-12:15pm
BR
12:15-2:15pm
Nap/ Rest Time
2:15-2:30pm
2:30-3:00pm
BR
Outdoor Play (weather permitting)
3:00-3:15pm
Afternoon Snack
3:15-3:45pm
Music
3:45-4:30pm
Centers
4:30-5:30pm
Group Activity / Inflatables
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After School Schedule (subject to change)
2:45-4:00
Arrival / Center play
4:00- 4:15
Wash hands / Snack
4:15-4:45
Homework/Reading/Craft
Kinder,1st,2nd,3rd Party room
4th,5th
Parent Pit
4:45-5:10
Outside 4th -5th /
5:10-5:30
Outside K-3rd / 4th -5th Jumping
K-3rd
Jumping
Coin operated arcade games are turned on for the After School kids every Friday. They are welcome to
bring quarters.
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NOTES:
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