PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE RESOURCES
Red Door Learning Centers Information For Parents
For birthdays and other special occasions, and to avoid hurt feelings for children who do not celebrate birthdays, or whose parents do not have the means to send in a treat for the class, we ask that parents, as they are able, only send in a book to donate to the daycare library on each child’s birthday. We will supply cupcakes and juice for each birthday child. No other snacks will be allowed.
Children under the age of four will be given the opportunity to take a scheduled nap during the day from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Each child will nap on their own nap cot provided by us.
Infants nap in cribs and/or playpens. Parents are responsible for sending in a small blanket labeled with the child’s first and last name to be used for nap time. This blanket will be sent home on Fridays to be laundered, and needs be returned on Mondays.
Any child who does not take a nap will be allowed to quiet activity instead. There will be books, puzzles, crayons and other materials available for the children during this time. This activity will only we offered after a nap is attempted and will take place on the child’s cot.
Each child requires a different amount of sleep. If a child is still asleep at the end of
nap/quiet playtime, the child I generally allowed to continue sleeping for a short period of time. If you prefer that an attempt is made to wake your child after a given period of time, please let us know.
All of the children attending our after school program will be given the opportunity to complete their daily homework assignments as well as their class projects. If a parent prefers that their child take home the assignments or project to be completed, a note must be sent to the office. We will do our best to help a child who has forgotten her/his homework at school, but returning to school may not always be an option.
If your child is registered for the after school care, please be aware that should your child’s school be closed, or for some other reason your child cannot attend school, then you must pay the emergency care fee in addition to your regular tuition on or before the closed days.
If you will be registering for childcare for school holidays or vacation, then a request form must be submitted at least fourteen days prior to needed care. The fee will then be an additional a $40.00 per day. Understand that we may not always have availability to accommodate your child, so please book early.
If it is necessary to transport your child, all seat belt/car seat laws will be adhered to. Parents must sign a Transportation Authorization Form for each child. Please note are we are not responsible for your child/children when s/he is en route to and from the daycare.
We offer the children age-appropriate field trips throughout the year. n the event that we will be going on a field trip, such as to a zoo, park or library, parents will be notified in advance.
A signed permission slip for the specific field trip will be required prior to the child attending the trip. Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to attend their child’s trips.
We encourage the children to learn about the rich, multicultural diversity in our society. We understand that families celebrate different religious and ethnic holidays and have a diversity of observances. We feel that it is important that our children become comfortable and familiar with, and begin to appreciate, the multicultural pluralism of their classmates and the larger society.
While we wish to maintain an atmosphere where children are not over stimulated by holiday activities, we do involve the children in positive, age-appropriate holiday experiences, as well as celebrations of other culture.
We invite and encourage parents to join their children in sharing significant traditions and holidays from their family’s cultural heritage throughout the year. We also put great effort into incorporating diversity into our daily program through activities, crafts, toys, books, music, and dress up clothing.
The Red Door Learning Center uniform policy pertains to full time preschool students ages 3 years to 5 years who are attending any Red Door Learning Center location.
Girls
Boys
All students are to wear black school shoes.
GYM / Active Wear Uniform: These consist of navy-blue sweats and sweatshirts for winter and navy blue shorts and tee shirt for the warmer months. Sneakers with white socks – visible above the ankle – are to be worn with the gym uniforms and only on gym days. Please shop here for all uniforms. Prices may vary.
Supply List
This is a list of school supplies which your child will need for the first day of school.
This is a list of school supplies which your child will need for the first day of school in preschool. Please send all of these supplies with your child on the first day. Please have them labeled with their first and last name. We appreciate your cooperation in starting your child’s school year in a complete and organized manner. We look forward to an exciting and successful year.
- 1 pack Diapers
- 3 pack Wipes
- 2 cans formula (1 for emergency bag)
- 2 sets of change of clothes
- 2 sheets
- Bibs
- 2 burb cloth
- Cereal
- Gerber
- Infant snack
- Infant spoon
- Bottle
- sippy cup
- Infant Plate
- Teething ring
- Storage bin
- 1 fitted sheet
- Blanket
- Sippy Cup
- Change of Clothes
- Storage Bags (gallon)
- Wipes
- Clorox Wipes
- Construction Paper
- Pull-Ups (if applicable)
- 3 Boxes of Tissue
- Jumbo Crayons
- Jumbo Pencils
- Washable Markers
- Copy Paper
- Jumbo coloring books
- Paint Brush
- One package of playdoh
- Hand Soap
- 1 fitted sheet
- Blanket
- 2 sets of extra clothes
- 2 Clorox wipes
- 2 boxes of facial tissue
- 3 packs of wipes
- Crayons
- 1 box Ticonderoga pencil
- School glue
- 1 pack glue stick
- 1 pack washable marker
- 1 Jumbo coloring book
- Construction paper
- 1 marble composition notebook
- 1 Manuscript Tablet Paper
- 1 package playdough smock
- 1 small pack paint brush
- 1 pack photocopy paper
- 2 Boxes of Ticonderoga Pencils (No Mechanical Pencils)
- 6 Glue Sticks
- 8 Big Erasers
- Box of Crayons – 24 count
- 2 Packs of Loose-Leaf Paper (Wide Ruled)
- 1 Composition Notebook (Please Bring Everyday)
- 1 Pair of Scissors
- 1 Ruler
- 3 Folders
- 1 Color Pencil Box
- 1 Box of Washable Markers
- 1 Clear Transparent Water Bottle
- 1 Bookbag (Please Bring Everyday)
- 1 Container with Lid (5.7 quart)
- 2 Containers of Lysol/Clorox Wipes
- 3 Boxes of Tissue
- 1 Laptop (Please Bring Everyday)
FIRST SCHOOL DAY
Health & Safety
Learn More About Our Services
- For the protection of all the children, if a child is ill with a communicable condition such as, but not limited to, a sore throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye), chicken pox, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc., attendance must be discontinued until the child is symptom-free for 24 hours.
- If a child becomes ill at daycare, a parent will promptly be notified and the child will be separated and cared for until a parent or designated person comes to pick up the child. The child will be supervised at all times. If a child goes home sick, they will not be allowed to attend the program on the following day. (24-hour rule will be in effect)
No exceptions. - Parents are responsible for keeping emergency contact information, such as phone numbers and alternate contacts, up to date. These numbers will be verified upon enrollment and periodically thereafter.
- Each child must have a physical examination by a physician within 90 days prior to admission into the program. In addition, all immunizations must be kept up to date. The required medical form must be filled out by a physician and returned before care can be provided.
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Each child must have a physical examination by a physician on an annual basis.
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Immunizations for each child must be kept up to date. The required medical form must be completed by a physician every six months and returned in order for the child to continue attending the program.
- Children with obvious symptoms of illness will be sent home.
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Any child sent home with an obvious illness must bring in a doctor’s note upon returning to daycare.
This program will not provide medication.
- Parents are required to sign an Emergency Release Form for each child.
- Parents are responsible for keeping all emergency contact phone numbers up to date.
- First Aid kits are available in all rooms affiliated with the daycare.
- In the case of a minor accident, the provider will administer first aid, according to a provider’s training and experience. The provider will contact a parent immediately it is necessary and an incident report will be sent home.
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In all cases of accident or injury, the provider will fill out an accident report form, which will be signed by both the provider and parent of the child involved.
- In the event of a serious accident or should there be a need for emergency medical treatment the provider will do what is in the best interest of the child according to the following but not limited to.
a) Administer first aid, if possible.
b) Have the child transported to the Emergency Room
c) Call a parent (or emergency contact if a parent cannot be reached) -
We will stay with the injured child until a parent or appointed contact person arrives.
In accordance with New York State Office of Children and Family Service regulations, all Early Childhood Program must be prepared for the necessity of evacuation and shelter in place.
Monthly evacuation drills are conducted using both out Primary and Secondary Egress and different times of the day. Please be aware that evacuations drill will be conducted in all types of weather so that children and staff are always prepared for any all types of conditions.
Shelter in Place drills are conducted twice a year and a specific supply of goods and materials are kept at the center for us to maintain the health and safety needs of all children for a 24 hours period.
Parents will be informed of the Shelter in Place Drill in advance.
Red Door Child Care has two evacuation relocation sites
Relocation Site #1: Molloy College – 1000 Hempstead Ave. Hempstead, New York 11550
Relocation Site #2: Destiny Cathedral – 536 South Franklin Ave. Hempstead, New York 11550
New York State Regulations state that all childcare providers are mandatory reporters, as required by law. We are asked to recognize and report to the State Center Register any suspicion and or evidence of child abuse such as the following but not limited to physical, emotional and neglect.
If we suspect at any time that your child is being neglected or abused, we will do what we feel is needed to help your child. Our first obligation is to the safety and well-being of your child.
All Early Childhood Professionals are Mandatory Reporters which requires all staff to report any and all suspicions of child abuse to the State Clearance Registry of New York State.
Aside from permission to attend a field trip the following is a list of but not limited to of permission slips that each parent will be asked to review and sign at the time of enrollment.
Permission to:
- Photograph
- Swim
- Play with water / sand
- To participate in activities
- Permission of sunscreen / Diaper ointment
- Permission to participate in multicultural activities and projects
- To go on walking trips
- To go on bus trips
We do not allow any type of gunplay at RDCLC. Recognizing that gunplay can be an important way for some children to feel powerful, RDCLC will provide many alternative opportunities for children to play out the important theme of powerful decision-maker, without weapons of any kind.
Our staff will help define the limits of aggressive fantasy play to ensure that all children feel safe and comfortable while in care. We create a play environment in which children have many real choices and can, therefore, exert control through such play.
We are committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and services. We consciously and proactively inclusive of all area of diversity including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, socioeconomic status, marital status, language, disability, or immigration status.
We will always keep each child’s educational information, health records as well as parent’s financial records confidential. A parental written request will be required in order to release child’s records unless the request comes from a state agency or is court ordered.
Staff members may also be advised of information on such records if the information is needed in order to provide adequate and or appropriate care to the child.
In the event of inclement weather when school districts are open but the weather is treacherous RDCLC intent will be to stay open for as long as possible as long as we are in no way risking the health and safety of the children and staff.
RDCLC will follow the local school district weather advisory. If the local school district closes due to inclement weather, RDCLC will be closed as well. If the school district closes early due to weather conditions, so will RDCLC parents will be expected to pick up their child or make arrangements.
Fire Drills will be conducted on a monthly basis. Children will be interested as to why we have fire drills and what is expected of them during such drills.
RDCLC staff encourages children’s to practice acceptable behavior and they help children develop self-control through positive guidance. Under no circumstances will the use of physical punishment or harsh language be permitted and we do not believe in Time Out and we ask that parents refrain from using such techniques as well. Actions that might hurt others or damage property are not allowed; Understand that we do recognize a child’s need to express both happy as well as unhappy feelings and seek to provide safe, alternative means of expression.
Children will be urged to participate in solving behavior problems that involve other children or adults in the classroom environment. On occasion, it may be necessary for a child to be removed from the group for a short period of time so the child will still be in their own classroom, just in a separated area. Under no circumstances will discipline be associated with toileting accidents or failure to eat or sleep. Many discipline problems can be avoided by the use of developmentally appropriate activities environments, and teaching methods.
Positive re-enforcement of appropriate behavior, redirection, decision-making strategies, as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts will always be practiced. The RDCLC staff will have open communication with the parents in regards to the behavior at all times, and with the consistency and the collaboration of the parent and teacher, work to prevent re-occurrence of such behavior.
Children should wear comfortable clothing suitable for play and appropriate for the season. Please do not dress your child in anything you are worried about staining.
The children are very active and could easily stain their clothing while playing or eating. We provide smocks as well as aprons and bibs for the children, but these items do not always protect the clothing from being stained.
Each child must have a complete change of clothes, including a shirt, pants, socks and underwear. During the winter months, each child should have extra hat and gloves or mittens as well. We ask that no jewelry be worn to daycare to avoid accidents or choking.