School-agers are still learning self-control. Although their temperaments are most often relatively stable, they have strong emotions that surface in relationships with peers and adults. In addition, they are developing a conscience as well as social skills. This occurs as they learn about social expectations while trying different behaviors and experiencing the consequences.

The Extended Day Care rules regarding safety, health, and respect for individuals, toys, equipment and facility will be discussed with the children. They are simple and somewhat similar to "day school" rules so as not to confuse the children. An example of the posted rules is included later in this site. In order to prevent a suspected conflict from arising, our staff may ask the children to recite the rule pertaining to the situation as well as the consequences if the rule is not followed. This reminder often helps children to control their behavior before they react unacceptably.

In group care, it is unrealistic to expect all children to get along at all times, or for our staff to witness every conflict or incident. When a child is being disruptive, he or she will be re-directed to participate in another activity and/or to play with the different group of children. If this is not a solution to the problem and the child remains disruptive, he or she will be temporarily separated from the situation and/or group. A staff member will provide the child with an opportunity to describe the situation, as well as discuss acceptable behaviors that could have been used to solve the conflict. The child will be welcomed back into the group once they have regained their self-control after they have "cooled down" in a "time-out" or a "material out".

Please note that the district has a "Don't Hit Back" policy - kids who hit back will be disciplined as well as those who start a fight. Remind your children to seek help from an adult.

The Extended Day Care Program will not employ corporal punishment or unattended isolation from the group as disciplinary techniques. No disciplinary action by design will mentally harass, humiliate, frighten, or shame a child.

Please Escort Children To And From EDC Room

Parents are required to escort their children to and from the EDC Room, as well as sign them in and out each day. Please make sure that a caregiver is aware that your child has arrived or departed from our program. Children are never to be dropped off at the door or in the parking lot.

If a child should attempt to leave a program without a parent/guardian, the caregivers will make every effort to stop a child without using physical restraint. Caregivers may call other personnel for assistance, alert the principal and parent/guardian if possible, and try to dissuade the child from leaving. If a child succeeds in leaving the program, whether inside or outside the building, the caregivers will notify the Supervisor of Children’s Services and administrators who may be on-site in the school. Caregivers will not leave the school grounds to search for a child. The Supervisor will notify the Parma City Schools Director of Safety and Security. The Director will follow through on locating the child or notifying the police if necessary. The Supervisor will follow through on immediate suspension or withdrawal from the Program.

Authorized People To Drop Off And/Or Pick Up Children

People that you have authorized (listed on your child’s Transportation Authorization Form) to drop off and/or pick-up your child must follow the arrival and departing procedures previously listed. Authorized people must be at least 18 years old unless approved by the Supervisor of Children’s Services, and be willing to pick-up your child in emergency situations.

We understand it may be difficult, but three pick-up authorizations and emergency contact names are required by licensing rules. If you do not furnish names within two weeks of your child starting the program, your care may be interrupted until such information is submitted. Returning to the program will depend on available space.

Authorized People Must Show Identification

It is important that you inform anyone you authorize to pick up your child to bring along identification when picking up your child from our program. We will not release a child to anyone not having proper identification even if you have authorized them.

Reporting Absences or Changes In Pick-Up

Call EDC During Program Hours

ABSENCES OR CHANGES IN PICK UP MUST BE REPORTED. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN YOUR CHILD’S WITHDRAWAL OR SUSPENSION FROM THE PROGRAM. In the event your child does not report to an after school program as scheduled, the procedure will be as follows:

• Caregivers will contact school office personnel for information regarding the missing child. The child’s teacher will also be contacted, and friends and classmates may be asked if they have any information. Caregivers and school personnel will try to locate the child in the school building and on school grounds.
• While the building and school grounds are being searched, phone calls will be made to parents at home and at work, and other emergency contact numbers in the child’s file will be called. If necessary, messages explaining the situation will be left on answering machines.
• Once the parent/guardian or emergency contact has been contacted and informed that the child is missing, it becomes that person’s responsibility to follow-up and locate the missing child/rend.
• If a child’s whereabouts cannot be determined and a parent or authorized person cannot be made aware of the situation, the EDC staff will notify the Supervisor of Children’s Services. The Supervisor will in turn notify the Parma City Schools Office of Safety and Security that a child is missing from a program. The Director of Safety and Security will then attempt to locate the child. This may involve a visit to the home, searching the surrounding streets, checking with neighbors and classmates, making additional phone calls, and notifying the police department. Caregivers will remain in the buildings to supervise all other children in the program. The Director of Safety and Security will keep the EDC staff informed.
• Hopefully, the child is safe and the issue is the parent/guardian did not inform EDC that the child would not be coming or the child went home without a parent’s knowledge. If a parent/guardian repeatedly fails to inform a program or a child repeatedly fails to report to EDC, the family be subject to immediate withdrawal from the program and the parent/guardian will need to find alternative care.

It is preferred that you contact our staff between the hours of 7 AM and 8:30 AM and/or 3 PM and
6 PM to report any absences and/or changes in who will be picking up your child. (Each family will receive a wallet size neon green telephone card listing the EDC telephone number and hours of operation.) Call the school office and leave a message for EDC between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM.

Communicate In Writing

It is best to hand deliver a written note to our EDC staff making sure you have indicated the day(s) your child will be absent and/or any changes in who will be picking up your child on which date(s). NOTES SENT IN YOUR CHILD’S BOOK BAG DO NOT ALWAYS GET TO OUR STAFF. Because our staff DOES NOT open book bags to search for notes, you must follow-up with a phone call to make sure our staff received your note.

In an emergency situation, or if you are unable to reach the EDC Program, you can call the school office and ask that the secretary leave a message for our EDC staff.

Emergency Situations

Each EDC staff member will know the location of each child’s file and the procedures to follow in the event of illness, injury, or emergencies such as fire, or weather alerts. There will be immediate access at all times to a working telephone at the location of the EDC Program within each school building. Safety drills, fire drills, and tornado drills will be conducted in EDC and logged as required by law.

Accidents and Incidents

It is our primary goal and concern to keep all our children safe. Our staff will use sound judgement as to notifying parents of incidents either verbally or by way of a written incident report. An incident report will be written if your child is distressed, seeks comfort, and/or was given first aid treatment.

In group care, it is unrealistic to believe that our EDC children will not experience some bumps and bruises from active group play. There will be times when children that are playing strenuously together in the gym or out on the playground may accidentally fall or bump into each other. If your child does not act distressed or seek adult attention when this happens, our staff will allow your child to continue playing. However, they will continue to observe your child for any delayed reaction from this incident. Most often an incident report will not be written in these situations.

Parents will be notified by phone in the event of a serious incident.  PLEASE MAKE SURE THE PROGRAM ALWAYS HAS CURRENT PHONE NUMBERS ON FILE.

Administration of Medication and/or Over-The-Counter Products

It is the policy of the Extended Day Care Program to discourage the administration of medication to children in our care. We ask that you consult with your child’s physician regarding dosage schedules that do not require medication to be administered during the time your child is in Extended Day Care.

Administrationof Medication

For purposes of this policy, "medication"shall include all medicines including those prescribed by a physician and over-the-counter remedies.

The administration of medication by employees is discouraged; and we recommend that medications be administered outside of childcare hours of operation.

For children who must take medication while in the program, parents/guardians must follow the Board policy for administration of medication during school hours. A written prescription from the physician as well as written authorization from the parent is required - forms are available in the school office and should be completed and returned to the EDC staff.

We will not administer the first does of any medication, and only medication in its original container, labeled with the date, the student's name, and exact dosage will be administered. "To be given as needed" will not be considered acceptable medical instructions.

Sunscreen For Children

If sunscreen is needed for outdoor play, it will be necessary for parents to fill out and sign a "Dispensing of Medication Form". A doctor’S signature is not required. (See staff for a form.) The sunscreen must be labeled with your child’s name and when it should be applied. An EDC staff person will supervise as your child applies the sunscreen.

Instant No-Rinse Hand Sanitizer

The Extended Day Care Program uses a variety of instant no-rinse sanitizers. The EDC children are required to clean their hands before and after lunch and/or snack. Since it is so time consuming for large groups of children to wash their hands in the restrooms, we have the children use the instant no-rinse sanitizer before lunch and/or snack. After lunch and snack, the children wash their hands using pump soap in the restroom.

We need to request that parents fill out the permission form regarding use of the Instant No-Rinse Sanitizer located in the EDC Enrollment Packet.

Homework Period

The Extended Day Care program will include a 10-15 minute quiet homework time for children kindergarten through 3rd grade and 20-30 minutes for children in grades 4-6. During this time, we will require that children do either their homework or select something to do from the quieter activities provided.

Our caregivers will not search through your child’s book bag, check your child’s assignment book, confer with your child’s teacher regarding homework, or be able to offer one-on-one tutoring. However, they will maintain a quiet atmosphere, as well as encourage children to complete as much homework as they can get done.

Meals and Snacks

School Lunch Provided For Kindergartners

The Extended Day Care Program will provide a nutritious school lunch for each child enrolled in the Kindergarten Extended Day Care Program.

For those buildings that require that our EDC kindergartners eat lunch in the cafeteria, the same behavior rules that apply to children in grades 1 through 6 must be followed.

Afternoon Snack

A daily afternoon snack will be provided to those children in the After School and Kindergarten EDC Program. If your child is allergic to any food, it will be necessary for you to obtain a snack menu from our EDC staff or check the EDC Parent Bulletin Board for the posted snack menu. Let our staff know if your child has any food/skin allergies. You will have to supply a snack on those days that the Extended Day Care Program is serving something that your child is not able to eat. (IMPORTANT: See the Instant No-Rinse Hand Sanitizer section.)

Special Diet Prescribed By A Physician

If your child is on a special diet prescribed by your child’s physician, it will be necessary for you to provide a packed lunch or a snack depending upon the circumstances. No adjustments will be made in the tuition fee.