Hello!

I offer a warm welcome to Hand-in-Hand Child Development Center, LLC. Meeting your child’s individual needs and exceeding your expectations will be our top priority. As your school director, I promise the teachers and staff are absolutely committed to the safety, health, well being, and education of your child. As a parent myself, I understand the amount of trust you are placing in us. I am committed to making your child’s care experience a successful one. Your concerns, your questions, your involvement are essential to a great child care and preschool experience.

I hold special pride in the center’s professional staff. They have been meticulously selected for their strong interpersonal skills, and their innate love for children – they are the backbone of our program. When visiting our school, please take time to listen, watch and learn from this unique group of people.

Once again, thank you for choosing Hand-in-Hand Child Development Center LLC, where kids always come first. Please feel free to contact me any time at 360.607.7145 or email me at kerion@comcast.net

Sincerely,
Keri B. Krout
Director

Secure Web-cam Access:

Our center has in place secure web-cam access. When you enroll your child, you will be given a code to use to view your child throughout the day on the internet. You can see for yourself your little one interacting with friends and teachers, exploring and discovering. We believe secure web-cam access is another reason to chose Hand-in-Hand Child Development Center, LLC.

Safety:

Staff members are CPR certified and have emergency training. We hold safety drills each month. First Aide will be performed by staff members, without a moment’s hesitation, if a child is injured. Parents will be immediately contacted about major and/or significant minor injuries. All injuries are documented in writing. To advise you of the circumstances of the injury, an accident report will be filled out by the staff member in charge and given to you on the day of the injury.

Illness & Medication Policy:

This is such an important policy, as state law requires that ill children be excluded from attending childcare. The symptoms to look for: vomiting, diarrhea, colored mucous, fever, unidentified rash, eye discharge/pink eye, lice, scabies. Children with these symptoms will be excluded from the center and considered contagious unless we are otherwise notified in writing by your family physician.

A child who is sent home for any of the above mentioned symptoms will need to be free of all symptoms for 24 hours before returning. If we call you to pick up your child due to illness, you need to do so within one hour. We understand that you have responsibilities at work; however, it is our responsibility to ensure a healthy environment for the entire center’s population. When children are ill and need to take medication, whether it is is over-the-counter, or a prescription, during school hours, you will need to do the following:
• Make sure medication has child’s name on the container
• A Medication Form must be filled out and signed by the parent
• The dosage requested by the parent must agree with the dosage recommended on the original container
• Medication must be placed in the medication container, not in the child’s cubby, lunch box, backpack, etc.
HAND IT DIRECTLY TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER
• Medication will be accompanied by a physician’s note stating that the child is well enough to return to the center
We will never place medication in a baby bottle or SIPPY CUP.

Your adherence to this policy is appreciated. Your child’s best interest is our first priority. Thank you for helping us maintain
a healthy environment for all the children in our care.

Positive Discipline:

We strive to provide a positive and safe atmosphere at all times in our classrooms. (No corporal punishment is used). We do not punish or demean children in our care at any time. We use re-direction when possible, and give opportunities for the child to come up with peaceful solutions. We teach and model empathy, negotiation, and challenge solving skills.
We have three simple rules:

We don’t hurt ourselves, others or property.

Should violent behavior continue, parents will be consulted so that together we can arrive upon a plan of action to help the child as well as the children in the classroom. When HIH, LLC. believes the children in the classroom are not safe in any way, we reserve the right to discontinue our service immediately.

Vacation:

When you schedule your family vacation, please let us know as soon as possible. After one year of continuous enrollment with us, you are given one week of vacation free of charge (for full time students).

Daily Schedule:

Keyless Entry :

Upon enrollment you will be given a keyless entry card in order to enter our school. Keep them safe, as a replacement card will cost $10.

Clothing:

Please bring your child in “play clothes” to school. Remember, a child’s work is play! Clothes can mean the difference between success or stress at bathroom time, so make sure they are easy to manage. During cold weather season, layers work best. Please dress your child in clothes they can play outside in during all kinds of weather, as outside play is encouraged in weather suitable for children. You can bring rubber boots to keep at the school for outside play – this helps keep the children’s feet dry. During the summer months, please pack a swimsuit, towel, and labeled sunscreen as there will be water play outside daily.

Birthday:

We will do all within our abilities to ensure your child has a memorable birthday. Let’s work together to make it a special day. Please contact your child’s teacher to make arrangements to bring a fun snack for all to share. Your child’s teacher can share with you any food allergies that the classmates might have. Don’t worry if you are not able to bring a special snack, we’ll be prepared and provide one for you.

Bringing Home Here:

We will do whatever it takes to help your child with the transition of leaving home for here. Feel free to pack anything that will ease this transition. A favorite toy, a blanket, a special musical tape, a family picture, etc. Place your child’s name on the item and take them home on the weekend, should they need washing. Please do not pack expensive, irreplaceable toys, and do not pack toy guns or other violent weapons. We encourage tolerance and peace within the school. We honor all children and their personal time-table for readiness.

Hours of Operation :

For your convenience, our school opens at 6:30 am, and closes promptly at 6:00 pm. It is vital that you arrange your schedule so that you can arrive before 6:00 pm to pick up your child from school. Children often become anxious when they see their classmates leave, and they are left to wait for their parents to arrive. There is a five minute grace period, but after five minutes you will be charged $1.00 per minute late, which will be paid to the teacher directly on the next school day.

Food Service :

Each day your child will need to bring a breakfast, or have already eaten breakfast upon arrival. We will provide a morning snack, a nutritious lunch, and an afternoon snack. A monthly snack and lunch calendar is posted outside each classroom, in the monthly school newsletter, and on our web page at handinhand.com.

Licensing:

Hand-in-Hand LLC. Is licensed with the state of Washington as a child care center. We follow the National Association of the Education of Young Children’s guidelines for quality care.

Holidays:

We are open Monday through Friday with the exception of the following holidays: New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. We will be open on other holidays such as President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Veteran’s Day, etc. In order to serve you better, we will be open during all school district snow days.

Enrollment:

Children are admitted into school regardless of race, color, nationality, religion, or abilities.

Sign In :

As required by the state of Washington, you must sign your first and last name, as well as the time when you drop off and pick up your child. Should another person be authorized in writing to pick up your child in case of emergency, have them bring with them a photo I.D.

Disaster Procedures:

In the event of a disaster (e.g., an earthquake or a fire), Hand -in-Hand has guidelines and policies regarding appropriate action. Our staff has appropriate knowledge and training to handle such an emergency. A copy of the guidelines for emergency disaster procedures can be given to you at your request.

Parents are not permitted to take their child during an emergency situation. Children must first accompany the entire class to the final destination point. At that time parents are permitted to depart with their child after signing out the child from our care.

Registration:

Tuition :

We accept chidren from 12 months – 12 years old.
Tuition is due in full at the end of each month for the next month of service. For example, October tuition is due on the last day of September. If payment is not received in full by the 1st day of the month of service a $50 a day late fee is charged. If payment is not received after 3 days, your child will be unenrolled from the school and a collection agency will be contacted. Please do all within your power to keep your payments current. We will post “tuition is now due” signs on our school front door. HIH, LLC. gladly accepts state tuition assistance for full-time students. Rest assured that your child is receiving a quality early childhood education and will be respected and honored.

To Keep You Informed:

We have developed a web page to keep you abreast of school news: www.handinhandcdc.com. Announcements, newsletters, snack and lunch calendars, workshops etc. are posted to help answer any questions you might have. School information is literally at your fingertips! Daily written reports, weekly curriculum.

Things to bring:

• crib sheet to be used on child’s cot during naptime. You take the sheet home on Friday to wash and return to the school on Monday.
• “Emergency Kit” for child to store at school with non-perishable food/snacks/drinks.
• Any toy’s or blankets that comfort your child

Reminder from the State of Washington:

By law we are mandated to report any suspicion of child abuse.

Open door policy:

Come on in and visit our school anytime once you enroll your child. 6:30 am-6:00 pm.

Guarantee:

We are so committed to exceeding your expectations that we offer a 60-day guarantee. If, after 60 days you are not happy with our school, we will refund your registration fee.