EDGE ELEMENTARY Before & After School
Childcare
PARENT HANDBOOK
The Edge Elementary School Before/After School and Summer Child
Care program is provided for Edge Elementary School students and
other Okaloosa County School District students approved by the
Principal. The purpose of the program is to provide a safe, nurturing
environment for students who are required to spend an extended part
of their day away from home.
The Child Care program was established at Edge Elementary School
the beginning of the 1994 school year. The program must be selfsustaining and any excess funds beyond operating expenses will be
used to enhance the total Edge Elementary School program.
REGISTRATION
Pre-registration and pre-payment of services requested is mandatory.
Hours of operation are before/after school from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00
a.m. and from the time school dismisses until 6:00 p.m. Parents or
guardians may register students in the large dining room of the
cafeteria during program hours. Registration forms can be picked up
in the Edge’s front office during school hours, but front office staff
cannot accept child care registration forms.
PROGRAM FEES AND CHARGES
All accounts must be kept current. Fees are due on Monday of the
preceding week. A $10.00 late fee will be charged if all fees are not
paid by Thursday of the current week. If your childcare account
becomes delinquent and other arrangements haven’t been made with
the director of the childcare services will be discontinued until payment
is received. Statements will be sent home on each Tuesday so you can
keep up to date on your payments.
Payments must be made weekly in advance. Drop-in fees must be
paid when the child is signed in daily. Payment of the registration fee
is required.
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Non-Refundable Registration Fees
(charged yearly in August)
$30 New Student
$25 Returning Student
Child Care Program Fees
Morning ---$40.00 per week (2nd child discount $35.00)
Afternoon -$50.00 per week (2nd child discount $ 45.00)
Both Morning and Afternoon $70.00
Drop-ins AM $15.00
Drop-ins-PM $ 20.00
Drop-ins AM/PM $25.00
Early Release
Early release is on the first Thursday of each month.
Early Release fee is $12.00 per day, in addition to the standard
weekly charge. If your child does not attend the program on a fulltime weekly basis, your child will be charged a drop-in fee in addition
to the early release fee. We do not offer a 2nd child discount on early
release nor do we offer a discount for children who attend other after
school programs and arrive late to Child Care. Other after school
programs are not affiliated with Child Care. If your child does not
attend during early release, the regular weekly charges will still apply.
Vacations At No Charge
Edge Child Care allows one (1) weekly vacation per school year at
no charge and two (2) weekly vacations in the summer, but
advance notice must be provided to the director in writing. To use a
vacation, the child must be absent for the entire week. Holidays
observed by the school will result in a prorated weekly rate. Prorated
rates are based on the Okaloosa County School Board’s Calendar and
cannot be used in conjunction with vacations.
Due to automatic computerized billing, please inform the Coordinator
as soon as possible of emergency leave time or planned vacations to
prevent charges from being added to your account. Contact the
program at (850) 240-2554.
Withdrawal from Program
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Please remember that if you withdraw your child from the program,
your child’s space will be assigned to someone on the waiting list. This
means that your child may be placed on a waiting list if you decide to
return to the Child Care program. A $25.00 reactivation fee is
required upon re-enrollment to the program. To hold your child’s
spot, the parent/guardian must continue to pay the full-time
weekly rate.
Late Pick Up Charge
If a child is picked up after 6:00 p.m., parents will be charged $20.00
for each five minute interval. This must be paid in cash to the
attendant in charge when the child is picked up. This policy will be
enforced, unless an emergency arises and Child Care is notified,
allowing the parent and Child Care worker to come to an agreement.
Continuous late pick-up is considered abuse of the Child Care
program/employees and will result in the
withdrawal/suspension/revocation of Child Care privileges. We
understand unforeseen circumstances and emergencies occur but out
of courtesy and consideration for our staff, please call and offer
notification as soon as possible. It is the parent’s/guardian’s
responsibility to have other arrangements for after hour Child Care.
Financial Aid
For Financial assistance contact Okaloosa Walton Child Care
Services. Families must meet certain qualifications set by their
office. Please contact OWCCS for additional information (850)
833-9330.
SIGN-IN PROCEDURES
1. All children must be signed in at the beginning of the A.M. session.
To ensure your child's safety, parents must accompany their child into
the center and sign the child in.
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2. If a child is registered on a drop-in basis, a note must be sent from
the parent/guardian to the child's teacher and forwarded to the office
informing the Child Care Center to expect the child.
3. If a note is not sent from the parent or guardian, the Child Care
Center will not be responsible for the attendance of the child.
4. Daily attendance will be checked at the Child Care Center and a
worker will double check for notes and absences with the office staff
on a daily basis.
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SIGN-OUT PROCEDURES
1. Parents or previously authorized persons must sign out (time and
signature) every child of the center each day on the designated signin/sign-out sheet.
2. Children will not be released to persons not listed on the enrollment
form without written authorization signed by the parent or guardian.
3. Any person who signs out a child at anytime may be asked for
picture identification. The child will not be released unless proper ID is
presented.
4. Parents are encouraged to make themselves aware of information
regarding the center and its operation by regularly checking the
"ANNOUNCEMENTS" area in the center and watching for special notices
sent home with their children.
ILLNESSES AND EMERGENCIES
1. Children who are ill (runny nose, continuous cough, red throat,
unexplained rashes, swollen glands, head or stomach ache) or have
had a fever within the past 24 hours should not be sent to the center.
There will be no credit offered for absences or illness, only with the
following exception: extreme illness like chicken pox, measles,
mumps, or hospitalization, we will allow for reduction in fees for Child
Care, but a doctor’s note is required to the childcare director.
2. When a child becomes ill or is seriously injured, the parent/guardian
will be notified immediately and expected to pick him or her up
immediately.
3. In case of an emergency as determined by the center staff, the
paramedics will be called, and the parent or guardian will be notified
immediately. Parents or guardians will be responsible for all costs
incurred during such emergency.
4. Parents or guardians are responsible for updating any pertinent
changes to address, phone numbers, or health information concerning
their child. IF THE STAFF IS UNABLE TO REACH A PARENT/GUARDIAN
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DUE TO DELINQUENT PHONE NUMBERS, THE CHILD PROTECTION
SERVICES WILL BE CONTACTED.
5. Medication will be dispensed at the center under the same
guidelines as practiced by the school.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Center students should be dropped off and picked up on the side of
the building near the cafeteria. (At the iron gates on Nathey St.)
2. When Edge Elementary School is closed at any time due to
inclement weather conditions, Edge Child Care will also close.
3. Each day during the afternoon session, a nutritious snack will be
served to all children. If the children need a special snack the parent
needs to provide that snack.
4. Parents/guardians are strongly urged to keep enrollment records
current regarding home and business telephone numbers, contact
hours, and persons authorized to pick up their children.
5. This program does not discriminate with regards to race or religion.
6. The center will provide daily homework time if a child has
homework he/she needs to complete. If a child is bringing home
excessive homework, we suggest the parent alert the center. Our aim
is to help your children in any way we can. We do not implement
homework on Fridays, special celebrations, or long weekends/
holidays.
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Safety Guidelines for Students
1. WALK WHILE INDOORS
2. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GET PERMISSION BEFORE LEAVING THE
ROOM
3. USE A SOFT, INDOOR VOICE
4. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF
5. CLEAN UP MATERIALS, PERSONAL ITEMS, AND TRASH
6. BE KIND TO OTHERS
DISCIPLINE POLICIES
1. If a rule is broken: TIME OUT! (1 Minute per Year of Age).
Parent is verbally notified.
2. After 3 time outs in one day:
A discipline slip is sent home with the child and the parent notified.
3. After 4 - time outs in one day:
A call to the home is made and another discipline slip issued.
4. If 5 – time outs in one day:
The parent is called to pick the child up (suspension) with discipline
slips.
Dress Code
Edge Child Care follows the same dress code policy as the Okaloosa
County School Board. (Policy F-26)
1. Appropriate grooming and dress are the sole responsibility of the
parent/guardian. A child’s personal hygiene (appearance, cleanliness,
and dress) should not interfere or disrupt the program or endanger the
health and safety of the child or others.
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2. Our Child Care promotes a very active outdoor program. Proper
dress and footwear will be necessary on a daily basis. (Please provide
your child with light, comfortable clothing in the spring/summer and
light to heavy clothing (jackets) in the fall/winter).
3. The wearing of appropriate garments is necessary for Child Care.
Clothing, hairstyle, makeup, and jewelry must be in good taste.
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Dates Closed During the School Year 2014-2015
Date
Event
September 1 (Monday)
Labor Day
November 24--28 (Monday- Friday)
Thanksgiving Holidays
December 19-January 2
Winter Break
January 16 (Friday)
Teacher Work Day
January 19 (Monday)
MLK Jr. Holiday
February 16 (Monday)
Washington Birthday
March 23-27
Spring Break Holiday
May 25 (Monday)
Memorial Day Holiday
June 5 (Friday)
Summer Camp Set up
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SUMMER PROGRAM
The center offers a summer program beginning the last day of school
and ending the day before school starts in August. Hours of operation
are:
6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Fees are as follows:
$115.00 week --Full-time
$35.00 day ---Drop-in
Please keep in mind as time passes some of the above information is
subject to change.
If you have a question or there is any way we may help you please call
us. Thank you for giving us the privilege of providing a well-structured
and loving atmosphere for your children while they are not in school.
833-4138 or 240-2554
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