OUR PHILOSOPHY & THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM
Kids ‘R’ Kids uses The Creative Curriculum, a research-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschoolers. Using this framework, our teachers are able to teach in the ways that best match the way in which we know young children develop and learn.
Children learn best by doing, and The Creative Curriculum uses a developmental “hands-on” approach built around weekly or monthly themes. During each week we address all areas of development: social, emotional, physical (large and small motor), cognitive and language development. Lesson plans are usually prepared weekly and posted in each classroom.
There is a balance between teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. Our classrooms are set up in a learning center configuration, which allows each child to choose activities in the different classroom areas. The activities in each learning center are planned by the teachers to facilitate discovery learning.
Our daily schedule includes large group, small group, and individual activities as well as learning center times. The children are guided and encouraged to learn new self-help skills, think for themselves, make choices, experiment, explore, make mistakes, and have a lot of fun in the process. Theses centers are very similar to what you will find in area kindergarten classrooms.
You can reference the Creative Curriculum web site at www.teachingstrategies.com .
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
All enrollment forms must be completed before your child may attend. Please inform us of any changes in addresses, work and home telephone numbers, places of employment, or individuals authorized to pick up your child. In particular, the state requires for the health of all children that a current Immunization Form 121 be on file. This must be on the state approved form, or the computer generated one provided by area Health Departments.
By enrolling your child at Kids ‘R’ Kids, you as a parent or guardian give permission for your child to be involved in the activities and events at Kids ‘R’ Kids. You further understand that Kids ‘R’ Kids is a private school whose goal is to provide a positive, enriching preschool and after-school environment. Although rare, a situation may arise in which it becomes evident that the needs of a child cannot be met effectively by our center. A decision to dismiss a child will only happen after we feel every option has been explored. Every measure will be taken to meet the needs of the child in question, and our Director will assess each dismissal not only with regard to the individual child’s needs, but also the needs of all the children served. The parent will be a central figure in the discussions regarding this issue, but the decision to dismiss a child must be left to the discretion of our Director.
Attendance and Tuition Charges
Tuition and other fees are to be paid in full without deduction for absences of any duration or for any cause, and without substitution of other days of attendance as “make up” days. Please understand that this is because staffing and other operational costs are incurred on the basis of fixed levels of enrollment, and because few of these costs are eliminated when the child is temporarily absent. The current tuition fee schedule is determined based on a full year enrollment to account for various costs to maintain the facility and staff.
Tuition is due in advance each Friday for the following week. Monthly payments in advance (based upon the number of Mondays in a month) are accepted and encouraged. For those parents paying weekly, if tuition is not paid by Monday evening, a $15 late fee will be added to the balance due. Statements of your payments are available at any time to the “primary” parent. You may also check your balance on the touch screen at the front desk.
If tuition is not paid by Wednesday, an additional $15 late fee may be added to your balance due. If your tuition check returns for any reason, $25 will be charged to your account. In the event that you do not make payments or do not give 2 weeks written notice of withdrawal, you will be given a one-time written notice of charges owed. You will then have 15 days from that notice to pay or resolve any disputes with the management of Kids ‘R’ Kids. You agree to pay any reasonable attorney’s fees or collection agency fees with interest and court costs, as well as 2% per month from the date that payment was first due.
There is an annual Enrollment Fee of $50 per child or $85 per family due each year.
We are open Monday through Friday from 6:00am to 6:30pm. We ask that when picking up your child, you arrive by at least 6:25pm so that you may have time to gather your child’s belongings and speak with your child’s teacher. We close at 6:30pm sharp. Your child has had a long day by this point, and so have our teachers and staff.
After 6:30pm there is a late pickup charge of $15 for each 15 minutes or portion thereof. If you have not picked up your child by 7pm and all attempts to contact you and your emergency contacts have failed, Kids ‘R’ Kids will call the Horn Lake Police and the MS Dept. of Human Services. After repeated late pick-ups, you may be asked to find a center that better fits your needs.
When you take your child on vacation, you pay half a week’s tuition in advance to reserve your child’s place. This option is available for one week during a calendar year. After one full year of enrollment at Kids ‘R’ Kids, you may take a full week off at no charge. Attendance for one to five days counts as a full week for tuition purposes.
Kids ‘R’ Kids is a year-round preschool. We do observe and will close on the following holidays: New Year’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; the Day After Thanksgiving; and Christmas Day. We will close early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. No discount from tuition will be made for holidays or other days on which the facility does not operate or opens late (i.e. snow days, etc.).
In the event of unusual weather conditions such as snow or ice, you may call our weather hotline at (800) 200-5704. We will attempt to update this by 5am if the weather is questionable. Though you may use the Desoto County School closings as a general guideline, we will attempt to open or stay open later to accommodate our parents. If you are unable to get through to the weather hotline, you may also call direct to the school at (662) 342-5008.
Notifying the Center of Your Intent to Disenroll
From the date you start, your child is considered to be enrolled in our school until we receive written notice otherwise. A minimum two-week written notice addressed to the owner or Director is required prior to disenrollment (although we request 30 days if at all possible). The two weeks begins on the date we actually receive written notice. This notice is common among high-quality preschools and allows us to notify the family of the next child on our waiting list of an opening.
The primary mechanism for ensuring the security of the school is strict adherence to established procedures for your child’s arrival and departure, including clocking in and out on the school computer. We ask that you always check your child in and out using the computer at the front desk. State regulations require us to know who is in the building at all times. The authorized adult is required to do the check in and out, not one of your children.
Please do not give others (like grandparents, babysitters, etc.) your password. Rather, have them identify themselves at the front desk before picking up your child. If another person will regularly pick up your child, we will be happy to assign them their own password to use.
You may use this computer to check your tuition account balance, and from time to time, you will receive other important messages here as well. For this reason, we ask that you read the main screen, as well as any messages that are posted for you. Entering your personal pin number is acknowledgement that you have read the posted message(s).
We provide a “Kiss and Go” area to protect you and your child from inclement weather. This is a no idle zone, which means your car should be turned off, even if you have another driver remaining in the vehicle. This is for the physical safety of our children and the reduction of exhaust fumes entering the building and applies anywhere in front of the center.
If you will be spending extra time with your child or teacher, please park in one of the parking spaces allowing other parents to make use of the “Kiss and Go” lanes. Please wait for other parents to move their cars and do not drive in reverse, again for the safety of our children.
Please hold your child’s hand firmly while exiting the building. Moving automobiles and running children do not mix.
Children can only be released to parents or legal guardians, or someone authorized in writing by these persons. Any changes to your authorized pick-up list must be made in writing on your original enrollment application. Anyone picking up your child may be asked for a picture ID, so please make sure that individual has an ID available when picking up your child.
It is important that your child’s day begin on a positive note. Upon arrival, make sure your child’s teacher knows your child has arrived so that we may mark them present. An authorized adult must accompany a child into and out of the building.
From time to time, your child may experience some separation anxiety. This is normal. Experts suggest you hug and comfort your child, let them know you are leaving and will see them later, and promptly leave the classroom. While leaving a crying child can be a difficult thing, most children stop crying within five minutes, and your lingering in the classroom most often makes matters worse. You are welcome to call or check our Internet Cameras to check on your child.
At pick-up, feel free to spend time in the classroom and talk with your child’s teachers about their day. Upon arrival and departure, please make sure your child’s teacher knows you have picked up your child so we may mark them off the roll.
State licensing regulations require that children spend 2 hours per day outside. With the exception of a extremely cold or hot days or smoggy days in summer, understand that your children will spend time outside each day. All children must go outside, as we are not staffed to accommodate requests for certain children to stay inside. If a child is not well, and you do not want them to go outside, they are not well enough to be at school and need to be kept at home that day.
Clothing and Personal Belongings
Please leave an extra set of clothes for you child at all times. This applies to our all day children of any age. Accidents happen and this will save calling you from work.
Please label all clothing with your child’s first and last name. We cannot be responsible for lost articles. Please send children to school in play clothes. Long dresses, jellies shoes, cowboy boots, and flip-flops can be dangerous. Rubber soled or non-slippery shoes are best for school.
We require that you leave all food, gum, and toys at home. A soft sleep toy is OK for naptime only.
As seasons change, please send your child to school with appropriate jackets or coats.
Birthdays are important days for young children and we share your desire to make your child’s day a special one. However, birthday celebrations are often over-stimulating to young children, and we ask that some limitations be respected.
We celebrate birthdays during regular afternoon snack times. Parents may provide a special snack for all the children, with advance notice and the approval of your child’s teacher, and are encouraged to participate in the celebration.
Due to the fact that certain children have severe food allergies, please speak with your child’s teacher ahead of time about the appropriateness of the snack. Peanuts, peanut butter, and snacks with peanuts in them (i.e. candy bars, etc.) are prohibited due to the severity of allergies associated with that food.
Access to Your Child’s Classroom
Parents are permitted access to their child’s classroom and play areas anytime their child is present. We request cooperation, however, in not disturbing our program.
Procurement Fee for Hiring Our Teachers
Hiring of our teachers by parents is highly discouraged because it presents a conflict of interest for the teacher. If a parent does hire a teacher for a position (i.e. nanny or caregiver) that competes with the center during enrollment or for a period of 12 months after withdrawal from school, then the parents shall have 30 days to notify the center and pay the center a $2500 placement fee. This fee is common and in line with what many nanny agencies charge for placement.
From time to time, we may provide parents with a list of children in his/her classroom. This is mainly for birthday parties or special days. Unless you instruct us otherwise in writing, you agree to allow us to use your name and address for this purpose.
We have an open enrollment policy. Our services are offered to everyone, regardless of race, creed, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
We ask that your child’s immunization record ( MS Form 121) be presented with enrollment forms. You must update and provide a new form as appropriate. Failure to maintain a current Form 121 will result in your child staying home.
Please understand that for your child’s protection and the protection of our staff and other children, we strictly enforce our illness policy. We kindly request your full cooperation by not bringing in sick children, and picking up a sick child within one hour when you are called to do so. We cannot allow children with contagious diseases in the Center. A child with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, must go home. You understand that if your child is ill, including, but not limited to a severe cough, undetermined rash or spots, boil, congestion, non-clear runny nose, pink-eye, head lice, temperature over 101 degrees, severe headaches, nausea, diarrhea, or severe sore throat, he/she cannot be accepted into the center until well or has been without fever or other symptoms for 24 hours.
In the event your child has a contagious disease, please notify the center immediately so we may notify other parents. A release form from a doctor may be required before your child re-enters the center. Kids ‘R’ Kids will notify parents if a contagious disease has been introduced into the center. A child who, due to a temporary health condition, cannot play outside should remain at home. For safety reasons, we are simply not staffed to watch a single child inside while the rest of the class plays outside. A child who is too sick to go outside is too sick to be at school.
You understand that Kids ‘R’ Kids is not required by law to administer medicine but may do so as an accommodation to parents. We prefer that parents give medicine at home, and that we not be asked to give medicines at our school. Should we decide to administer medicine, we will make every effort to administer medicine properly; however, you agree to hold us harmless regarding this matter.
We administer medicines only twice daily, at 11am and 3pm. Our assumption is that you are administering medicines at home at in the morning and the evening. State regulations require that all medicines be:
- In their original prescription containers or over the counter container;
- Clearly labeled with the identity of the medicine and written dosage instructions;
- The child’s name must appear on the container itself.
It is incumbent upon parents to keep the center informed of how they can be reached at all times in the event of an emergency. This includes all work, home, and cell phone numbers for parents and any other emergency contacts. Because we strive to maintain a safe environment for your child, we make every attempt to be prepared to handle emergency situations. Many members of our staff are trained in first aid and CPR.
An emergency plan is posted in each classroom. We conduct regular fire and tornado drills. The local fire department makes annual inspections with recommendations for improved safety. Kids “R” Kids International makes additional inspections twice a year.
Although many precautions are taken to ensure a safe environment, occasional incidents do and will occur as children explore the world around them. If an incident or injury occurs, first aid is administered. Also, a Boo Boo Report is filled out, and a copy is given to you. This report will describe the nature of the incident and the follow-up care that was provided. Please understand that in a group care setting, we do witness most incidents, but occasionally there may be an incident which we do not see.
Should your child become ill during the time that he/she is in the care of Kids ‘R’ Kids or suffers an accident, the center will contact a parent or guardian immediately and shall be authorized to secure such medical attention, transportation, and care for the child as may be necessary. (The parent shall assume responsibility for the cost of any such care). Kids ‘R’ Kids uses Baptist DeSoto Hospital as its designated emergency care center.
We will make all attempts to contact you and other emergency contact numbers first, so is important that you keep the center informed in writing as to changes in your telephone numbers (cell, pagers, work, home), as well as those of emergency contacts.
Building Safety and Evacuation Policy
The center is equipped with a weather band radio, fire alarm system, sprinkler system and fire extinguishers. Special enhancements have been added during construction including support in the event of an earthquake and additional firewalls.
We conduct fire drills each month to insure that all staff and children are able to vacate the building quickly. We also conduct tornado and earthquake drills.
In the event of an evacuation, we have coordinated with the City of Horn Lake to transport the children to First Baptist Church of Horn Lake.
In even the best preschool settings, periodic outbreaks of biting occur between infant and toddlers, and sometimes even among preschoolers. This is an unavoidable occurrence in groups of young children. When it happens, it can be very frightening, frustrating, and stressful for children, parents, and teachers.
Understand that this is not an unusual phenomenon among children who are going through the oral stage of their development. It is also not something to blame on children, parents, or teachers, and there are no quick and easy solutions to it. Children bite for a variety of reasons: simple sensory exploration, panic, crowding, seeking to be noticed, or intense desire for a toy. Repeated biting becomes a pattern of learned behavior that is often hard to extinguish because it does achieve results: the desired toy, excitement, and attention. Children may be teething and biting may be a pleasant sensation to a young child. Knowing that their biting will hurt another person is not yet part of a child’s mindset, so the “cause-effect” relationship is not internalized. Our teachers plan activities and supervise carefully in order for biting not to happen. There are times, however, that a teacher cannot be within immediate reach to prevent a bite.
Our policy for handling a biting incident is as follows:
The biter is immediately removed from the group with a firm “NO”. The bitten child is consoled and the bitten area cleaned. If necessary, ice is applied to reduce any swelling or bruising. The biter is talked to on a level that he/she can understand and then redirected.
A written incident report is given to the parents of all children involved when they are picked up that day. The name of the biting child is not released because it serves no useful purpose and can make an already difficult situation more difficult.
We look intensively at the context of each biting incident for patterns, in an effort to prevent further biting behavior. We work with each biting child on resolving conflict or frustration in an appropriate manner. We try to adapt the environment and work with parents to reduce any child stress. We make special efforts to protect potential biting victims. We try to make every effort to extinguish the behavior quickly and to balance our commitment to the family of the biting child to that of other families. Only after we feel we have made every effort to make the program work for the biting child do we consider asking a family to withdraw the child.
Meals are included in the price of your tuition. Meals include breakfast for those who arrive by 7:20am, a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Our meals comply with the State and Federal Minimum Nutrition Standards. We use a menu that rotates on a regular basis. Menus are prepared and displayed each week so that the parents know what their child is being served. Children are encouraged to take at least one bite of each food offered; however, they are not forced to eat.
For safety reasons (i.e. children with severe allergies, etc.) and behavioral reasons (it is better if all children are served the same food), no other food is allowed in the center. If you miss your child’s class breakfast or lunch, we kindly ask that you please provide a meal for your child before dropping them off, and that they finish that meal before entering the school. If your child’s class is finishing their meal when you drop off, you may be asked to sit with your child in our café until they have completed their meal, after which you can escort them back to their classroom.
In the case of special dietary needs as prescribed by a physician, parents must furnish the food items and/or make arrangements with the Director. Please notify the Director and your child’s teacher of any food allergy your child may have, including the severity of such an allergy, and what to do in the event a child accidentally ingests such food. We will take your child’s picture and post it in the kitchen and the classroom. Understand that we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate children with food allergies, but there are limits to what can be done in a large group care setting.
Adequate rest or quiet time is a very important part of a young, growing child’s day. Infants are always allowed to nap as needed but as your child graduates to one nap per day beginning in our toddler rooms, a rest period will follow lunch each day. All toddlers are assigned their own mat and are encouraged to sleep or rest for a period of two hours or longer if needed depending on the individual child. Blankets and/or stuffed animals that are special to your child are encouraged to help your child feel more comfortable and secure.
At Kids ‘R’ Kids we use a method of “redirection” to guide children toward appropriate behavior. If a child is engaged in behavior non-conducive to a safe and happy learning environment, the teacher will “redirect” the child toward appropriate behavior.
Use of physical punishment or harsh language is prohibited and we ask that parents and guardians refrain from such actions while at the center, including the parking lot.
Mandated Reporting Information
Teachers and Directors are required by law to report evidence of child neglect or abuse. Those who fail to report according to state regulations can be held accountable under the law. No one, including school management and/or a child’s parents, can interfere with this reporting requirement.
The use or presence of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs is prohibited in the building or anywhere on the grounds by any staff, parent or visitor. Smoking is NOT allowed in the parking lot and we ask parents to not dispose of cigarettes on the ground. The State will fine us $50 for each cigarette butt found anywhere on the property.
We offer an after school program for those children attending area schools. We will transport your child to school in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. Upon return to the center in the afternoon, a light snack will be provided. The teacher(s) will work with the children on their homework assignments. If you prefer your child does not do homework during this period, please notify the after school staff. After a homework period, the children will be able to select other activities including games, computer, foosball and outdoor play. During extended inclement weather days and some Fridays, we will have Movie Day.
Transportation is provided for our school age children each afternoon. We currently make two bus runs to accommodate area schools. The first run serves Horn Lake Elementary, Shadow Oaks Elementary. The second run serves Southaven Elementary and Hope Sullivan School.
If your child is not going to ride on the afternoon bus, you MUST notify the center so that our bus driver is not looking for your child. We can not leave the school until we know where your child is.
The following rules apply to bus transportation:
- · Children may not cross the street in order to meet a transporting vehicle or in order to arrive at a destination
- · No vehicle containing children shall be left unattended
- · No child shall stand in the vehicle while it is in motion
- · Children must wear seat belts
- · Unruly behavior will not be tolerated. Parents will be notified immediately if the behavior of their child compromises safety. We reserve the right to deny the transportation of any child.
- · Parents are responsible for updating work number and emergency numbers which are always carried on the bus
- · The driver of the school bus or the vehicle transporting the children must meet the same general qualifications as those set forth for the other members of the day care staff
Each day in most classrooms, you will receive a Daily Report that has details about your child’s day including how they ate, slept, played, and what they learned. For younger children, the report includes information on diaper changes. Since everything about a child’s day cannot be put on paper, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher if you have any specific questions.
Each classroom has weekly lesson plans posted for parent review. These lesson plans detail the classroom activities for the week. Alongside the Lesson Plans you will find the daily schedule for your child’s room including meal and nap times.
This bulletin board in our lobby contains current information about the school and other topics of general interest. Notices are also posted at the front desk or on the front door from time to time. Please take a moment to read these when picking up your child.
Included in your tuition is access via a secure Internet Server to the cameras in your child’s classroom and our cafe so that you may view the activities and your child’s participation in those activities. This is a very popular feature of our center, and it gives our parents peace of mind as well as allowing another way to participate in your child’s day.
Access to our system is limited by password protection. You may obtain more information and enroll at www.watchmegrow.com
If an issue arises that cannot be addressed by your child’s teacher, we ask that you notify one of our Directors. If you still feel that your issue has not been addressed properly, please feel free to contact the Owner. The owners of this center are onsite daily and welcome your input.
We have arranged with an outside vendor to take pictures of your child 2-3 times each year. You will be given advance notice of the schedule so that you can prepare your child. Purchase of pictures is optional and is made directly with that vendor, not Kids ‘R’ Kids.
From time to time, we will offer enrichment classes for children that are very popular with many of our parents. We will post information as these classes become available. These classes are over and above our regular curriculum and are generally taught by professionals from outside our center. Parents pay these professionals directly. Information will be posted at the front desk as classes become available.
Web Sites
You can find the Kids R Kids International web site at www.KidsRKids.com
Our school is at www.KRKMS.com
“Hugged First, Then Taught”
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
