During the school year, a schedule change is defined as: adding or subtracting one or more components, changing the days attended each week, or changing number of days per week; additions are made on a space available basis. The Administrative Office must be notified inwriting one week in advance of each schedule change. A $10 fee per family is charged for each schedule change. Parents/guardians with rotating schedules must pay the $10 fee each time they change their child’s schedule. Children at Downtown and Eastside have a set schedule.

One week written notice must be submitted for termination from the center. If a one week notice is not given, the full fee is due.

DROP-IN POLICY

Contact your Site Manager at least one week in advance to determine if space is available. If space is available, fill out the “Drop-In Reservation” form and attach payment to the form (rates are listed at the bottom of the form; payments are non-refundable). Once the form and payment are received by the Site Manager, a space is reserved. Drop-in is only available for currently enrolled children.

FAMILY VACATION POLICY

For family vacations of five or more consecutive program days during the school year, 25% of the full fee is charged if one week advance written notice is given; without one week written notice, full fees are due. Full fees are due for vacations of less than 5 consecutive days. Verbal notification is not sufficient.

REPORTING ABSENCES, SIGN IN/OUT POLICY

For the safety of each child, parents/guardians are required to sign their child in and out of the program every day and make contact with a staff person. Children are not allowed to sign themselves in or out. If a child arrives by bus, staff sign them in. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify Discovery Club staff when their child will be absent. If a child does not appear when scheduled and the staff needs to search for the child, a $5 “Finder’s Fee” may be assessed.

SNOW DAYS

Discovery Club is closed whenever Saint Paul Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather; regular fees are due. Listen to WCCO radio for school closing announcements.

If the weather worsens during the school day and necessitates early dismissal:

1. All Discovery Club children who normally take the bus home after school will take the bus home when school is dismissed.

2. Those children who normally attend Discovery Club after school will come to Discovery Club. Upon notification that school will be closed, Discovery Club staff will try to contact parents/ guardians. Parents/guardians must pick up their children as soon as the are able.

3. If parents/guardians cannot be reached, those individuals listed on the emergency cards will be contacted to come and pick up the child.

RELEASE OF CHILDREN

If a person other than the parent/guardian or assigned person is picking up the child, Discovery Club staff must be notified in writing. In emergencies, a parent/guardian must call to inform the Discovery Club staff that an authorized person(s) will pick up the child and give a description of the person. The person may be asked to show a driver’s license for verification.

If Discovery Club has not received notification, children will remain at Discovery Club until the parent/guardian(s) has been contacted to verify that the child can be released.

UPDATE OF EMERGENCY INFORMATION

ALL INFORMATION ON THE EMERGENCY CARD MUST BE KEPT CURRENT.

It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to inform the Site Manager of changes in the following information:

• home address and phone number of parent/guardian

• work place and phone number of parent/guardian

• name of child’s physician, address, and phone number

• name and address of preferred hospital

• persons authorized to pick up child at the center

• three people to contact in a medical emergency if parent cannot be reached; if three people are not listed, the police are considered the emergency contact.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR PLACE OF WORK, BE SURE TO LEAVE A PHONE NUMBER WHERE YOU CAN BE REACHED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

MEALS AND SNACKS

Discovery Club serves nutritious snacks after school. On regular school days, kindergarten children may bring their own bag lunch (Discovery Club staff are not able to heat foods at lunch time) or purchase a school lunch. On school release days, all children must bring a bag lunch and a beverage. No food items, other than lunches, should be brought to Discovery Club. Breakfast may be purchased from the school except on school release days when Discovery Club provides breakfast. Eligible families may apply for free or subsidized breakfast and lunch tickets; the school office has these forms.

OUTDOOR PLAY

Unless the temperature is below zero or it is raining, the children spend some time outside every day and, therefore, should be properly dressed for the weather (i.e., a hat and mittens, boots and a warm coat when it is cold; snow pants for snowy weather). ALL CHILDREN WHO ARE WELL ENOUGH TO BE AT THE PROGRAM ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY.

BEFORE CHILDREN GO OUTSIDE, SUNSCREEN WILL BE APPLIED. During the summer it will be applied in the morning and re-applied in the afternoon. Each child should have his/her own personal bottle of sunscreen.

If a Discovery Club activity involves using roller blades or skate boards, children must wear a helmet and wrist guards. If children are biking, they must wear a bike helmet.

CHILDREN’S BELONGINGS

Toys and items of value should remain at home. Discovery Club cannot assume responsibility for items brought from home. A “Lost and Found” is available within the Discovery Club space. Lost articles that are not claimed are given away. All items and belongings should be labeled with the child’s name. Each child should have a CHANGE OF CLOTHES at Discovery Club at all times.

FIELD TRIPS

A school district field trip permission form will be distributed each year - a signed form is required to be on file before any child participates in a Discovery Club field trip. Bus arrangements are based on the total number of children signed up in advance. Some field trips require an additional fee. On a school release day or during the summer program, do not bring your child if she/he cannot go on the scheduled field trip - all staff must go on field trips in order to maintain ratio requirements.

SPECIAL DAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

In the event that parent/guardian(s) would like to help celebrate a child’s special day, the staff would appreciate an opportunity to plan ahead for this event. State law requires wrapped, purchased foods. Food treats low in sugar are preferred. Balloons, stickers, etc. are also good substitutes for food items.

PARENT INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION, AND INVOLVEMENT

Activities are posted on a bulletin board. Periodic newsletters and flyers are distributed to parents/guardians concerning field trips, special activities, etc. The 2002-03 Discovery Club calendar is included in this handbook. Staff and parent/guardian discussions are welcomed; please make an appointment so that appropriate staffing can be maintained.

Parental involvement in Discovery Club is valuable to the continuing success of the program. Parents/guardians are encouraged to share time and talent, go on field trips and visit the program. We welcome and invite your suggestions and participation.

ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

If there is a request to enroll a child with special needs, parents/guardians must meet with the Site Manager to determine how to best meet the child’s needs. This meeting must take place before the child begins attending Discovery Club.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

State law requires Discovery Club staff to report to proper authorities any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

INTERNET ACCESS

It is Discovery Club’s policy that children may use the internet with parent permission. If a child is found in an inappropriate area of the internet:

1. Computer privileges will be suspended for a period of time; and

2. Parents/guardians will be informed.