General Information -- FAQs -- Health & Safety - Discipline -- Conferences   General Information The childcare program is for children two to five years old. There are four classrooms, each with a lead teacher and two assistants. The rooms are as follows: St. Joseph for children who are two by September 1. There is an enrollment of 16 children. St. Therese of the Child Jesus for children who are three. They must be potty trained. Blessed Maria Teresa for children who are four between April 1 & December 31. St. John of the Cross for children who are four and five between August 1 & March 31. An optional breakfast is served daily. Lunch and snack are provided. The menu is posted daily. If a child is not toilet trained, parents are to provide disposable diapers and wipes. --back to top-- General Information -- FAQs -- Health & Safety - Discipline -- Conferences FAQs What your child needs: a change of clothes, a naptime blanket (and pillow if desired), and a soft toy for naptime. Children may not bring other toys, candy, food, gum or money. Clothing: Your child needs to wear sturdy play clothes. Projects are messy (and fun!) and we go outside frequently. Tennis shoes are the safest and best to wear. Cowboy boots, open-toed sandals or slippery soled shoes are not appropriate. Because we go out in all weather (extremes excluded), please make sure your children are dressed correctly for the elements. Birthdays: These are special days for the children. We celebrate by cooking a special treat in the room. If you wish, you may have the child bring a gift for the room. The teachers' wish lists are posted on their bulletin boards. Please check with your child's teacher first. Class Parties: We have a Halloween/All Saints party and a Valentine's Day Party. We ask the parents to bring in party supplies and treats for those events. Christmas Parties: The Christmas programs are in the evening; each room has its own evening. The children participate in a gift exchange and Santa pays us a visit. Fundraisers: The fundraisers support our Scholarship Fund, professional development and the purchase and maintenance of equipment. Our largest fundraiser is our Spaghetti Dinner, which is held in the fall. We also have Bread Company coupons and Pot o Gold. There are other miscellaneous fundraisers throughout the year. Dropping off & picking up: It is imperative that your child is signed in and signed out. The sign in sheet is used to count the children for a fire drill and when we go to St. Agnes. Please do not leave your child unattended when you are dropping off or picking up. Please inform a teacher. The children are not allowed to be in the rooms without supervision.Please hold your child's hand in the parking lot. School Day: We are open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Breakfast is served at 8 a.m. The school day begins at 9 a.m. It is important that your child be here by this time. We gather for Morning Prayer, some songs and a brief catechism lesson. When the children go to their rooms, they have Group Time. During this time, the tone for the day is established. The theme is addressed, jobs assigned, and an explanation of the activities is given. It is confusing to walk in the middle of the activity time and not be sure of what is going on. Communication: There are several forms of contact. Newsletter: This comes out the first of the month and is placed in the lobby. Parent Board: This is located outside the office. The daily menu is posted here and other school wide information. Classroom Bulletin Board: These are located outside each room. The themes, schedules and Wish Lists are found here. Dry Erase Board or List of DailyActivities: These are in each room, above the sign in sheets. The teachers write in the activities of the day If you need to speak to the Director and/or the Lead Teacher, phone calls will be put through or returned as as soon as possible. If necessary, a meeting will be arranged. Helmets: Helmets are required if your child wishes to ride bikes. --back to top-- General Information -- FAQs -- Health & Safety - Discipline -- Conferences Health & Safety Before coming to Carmelite, the Center needs evidence of a medical examination, signed by the physician. It must be completed not more than one year to that date. This report shall include information regarding immunizations and the current state of health. You are requested to keep your child home until your child is symptom free without medication for 24 hours. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, rashes and reddened weepy eyes. Should your child develop symptoms while at the Center, he will be removed from the classroom and cared for in the sick room until a parent comes to pick him up. We suggest alternate care be arranged if needed. If a child has a communicable disease, the Center must be informed, so that all parents will be informed by a posted notice. A statement from the child's physician is also requested stating the child is non contagious. Lice or exposure to lice must be reported so that proper precautions are taken to avoid contamination. Medicine can only be given if there is a written prescription from a physician. A medication form must also be filled out in the office. Signed emergency release forms are kept on file for each child. --back to top-- General Information -- FAQs -- Health & Safety - Discipline -- Conferences Discipline Making a child feel loved is the first and most important part of good discipline. A child's behavior must be controlled for his good and that of others; limits must be clearly stated in a positive, specific, and concrete way. If a child is having difficulty controlling his behavior, he may be removed from the situation for a brief period of time and then returned to the group. We also will redirect the child. If the play in the block area is inappropriate, we have the child move to another area. Our program at the Center encourages the child to explore and experiment within reason; the teacher facilitates the expected play and activities. Thus the child is guided to growth in self discipline and is helped to express his feelings. He learns to use his feelings in constructive ways.   --back to top-- General Information -- FAQs -- Health & Safety - Discipline -- Conferences Conferences Parent-Teacher Conferences are in February & March.