Parent Packet (Continued)
Confirmation Forms
Confirmation Forms for our Summer Program and for the following school year will be included in the January Newsletter.
Brightwheels
Brightwheels is a user-friendly app that we use at OTR and we LOVE it! You will receive pictures and updates during the day through BW. You will also receive statements and be able to pay your tuition online through their secure payment and billing feature.
Payment Schedule
Payment is due on the first day of service for the week. CHECKS ARRIVING AFTER 4:30pm ON YOUR CHILD(REN)’S FIRST DAY OF CARE FOR THE WEEK WILL BE SUBJECT TO A $10.00 PER DAY LATE FEE, INCLUDING WEEKENDS. Therefore, if your child is absent or you will be on vacation, please make arrangements so that tuition arrives on time to avoid paying a late fee. Clients need to remember that this is my job and just as you expect and deserve to be paid on time for your efforts, I too, expect and deserve to be paid on time for the services that I have provided. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
Illness
“When is my child too sick for daycare?”
Great question!!!
Your child is too sick to attend daycare when one or all of the following apply: Temperature is over 100 degrees.
Child has diarrhea or has been vomiting.
Child has a contagious virus of ANY kind. Examples: chicken pox. roseola, fifth disease, and impetigo. Children with a viral infection cannot return to care until all symptoms have subsided.
Child has a bacterial infection, such as, strep throat, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Children with a bacterial infection may return to care after being on an antibiotic for at least 36 hours. Children must also feel well enough to be in daycare. Although, conjunctivitis can be a viral infection, children may return to daycare after they have been on an antibiotic cream for at least 36 hours and secretions have stopped.
Exceptions: Children with a persistent cough or a thick discolored runny nose may need a day or two at home in order to keep the cough and cold from spreading and infecting others. Children with ear infections may also attend if they are comfortable and can fully participate in program. The 36-hour antibiotic clause does not apply because ear infections are not contagious.
FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OFF ALL THOSE INVOLVED, I MUST RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE CARE TO ANY CHILD WHO I DEEM TOO SICK TO ATTEND. Severe colds and persistent coughs would fall under this category. There is also a 36-hour MANDATORY “clear” policy. This means your child must be free from any signs of illness for at least 36 hours before returning to care. In accordance with this policy, a child who is sent home ill will not be expected to arrive back the next morning for care.
Covid/Pandemic Policy
We are required to follow all mandated regulations set forth by the EEC, BOH, CDC and DESE.
Children who have one or more symptoms of COVID or have been exposed to a COVID positive person must either quarantine at home for 10 days or produce a negative COVID test. Home tests are acceptable.
Covid/Pandemic Tuition Policy
Effective January 1, 2022, payment will be required for any absence due to COVID.
This includes but is not limited to being COVID positive, quarantining, days missed from being exposed to a positive COVID case and/or days missed awaiting the results of a COVID test. Tuition will also be required for any days OTR is forced to close due to COVID exposure or positive cases within OTR, including staff.
Absenteeism
Payment is required for any days your child is absent. This includes, but is not limited to, vacations, sick days (whether sent home or kept home), snow days, personal days, holidays (see attached Holiday Schedule) and any days missed due to COVID. Please see attached OTR COVID/Pandemic Policy. During non-business hours please email if your child will be absent or call/text my cell phone 978-360-5401 during hours of operation if your child will be absent. See Safe Arrival Policy.
Provider and Staff Sick/Personal Time
I will inform parents as soon as possible if I need to close because I or our staff members are ill or for personal reasons.
We receive 7 paid sick/personal days per year. My contracted year runs from September 1st through August 31st.
We have a maximum of 7 sick/personal days within a one year period, unless the illness falls under our COVID/Pandemic Policy.
If these sick days are not used within the contracted year, they ARE NOT carried over to the next year. We have a maximum of three sick/personal days within a one-year period, unless the illness falls under our Covid/Pandemic Policy.
Vacation Time
We are closed for four weeks vacation during the year. Two of these weeks will be taken during the summer months. We are also closed during April school vacation as determined by the Georgetown School System and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Payment is required for these four weeks.
Summer vacation weeks are posted in the January Newsletter.
If your hours decrease for the summer, vacation pay is based on the amount of care provided during the school year.
If your child attended OTR throughout the school year but will not be attending Summer Program payment is still required for the two vacation weeks taken during the summer whether or not your child(ren) will be returning in September.
This policy is in effect as vacation time was being accrued while you child was in care during the school year.
Bad Weather/Power Outage
If Georgetown School System is closed due to inclement weather, we will also be closed for the safety of our staff.
In the event of a delayed opening, we will also be delayed the same amount of time to allow for driveways and sidewalks to be cleared. For example, if Georgetown Public Schools announce a 2-hour delay, we typically open at 8:00am but will be opening at 9:00am. If the schools have an early release due to inclement weather, we will also be closing early to allow for a safe pick up of the children and so our staff can safely travel home.
Per EEC Regulations, if there is a power outage we will be closed. If the outage occurs during operation hours, we will be calling parents to pick up their child(ren).
Clothing
Children attending program are very active and involved. Young children learn best through concrete exploration. All participants need to be dressed in comfortable clothing that are easily cleaned. Each child needs to have a complete change of clothing always left at daycare. In the winter, we will continue to have outdoor play.
Please be sure your child brings appropriate clothing daily, such as, boots, mittens, and a hat. Slippers are always welcomed!!!