Medication
Administration
Only
designated Grace Hill Head Start staff can administer medication. If your
child is required to take medication during normal school hours,
parents/guardians must contact the teaching staff. The medication
container must be marked with (a) child’s name, (b) the dosage and time of
administration, and (c) doctor’s name and telephone number. Refrigeration
is available and medications are kept in a locked secure container. For
the safety of all Grace Hill Head Start children, no child will be allowed to
have medication of any kind on his/her possession for self-administration.
Transportation
Transportation
is provided for children who are enrolled in the part-day option and live at
least (6) six blocks and no more than (3) three miles from the
center. Parents are responsible for having their child at the designated
bus stop on time. Parents are encouraged to explain bus procedures and
rules to their children. Monitors are on buses during each route to
ensure children are safe and rules are followed.
All
children must be transported to and from school by bus on the operating school
days. If a parent/guardian fails to place a child on the bus to be transported
to the center the child will not be allowed to ride the bus that day.
Daily
Schedule
Children
should dress in comfortable clothing, easily removable for children to use
the restroom with limited assistance. Children are engaged in activities
that involve paint, sand, water and outdoor activities. Children should
bring a change of clothes in case of an accident. Please mark all
personal items with your child’s name and try to refrain from sending your
child to school in expensive clothing. In order for children to get
meaningful gross motor experiences tennis shoes are preferred.
Arrival
Full
Day program students should arrive at school by 8:00 am.
Part
Day program begins:
8:00
a.m. for the morning session
12:30
p.m. for the afternoon session
Departure
and Late Pick-up
In
order to ensure the safety and well being of Grace Hill Head Start children,
Head Start will maintain a Late Pick-up policy to minimize recurrent late
pick-up of children by parents and/or guardians.
Parents
are expected to arrive by the center’s designated closing time (4:00 p.m. for
Part-Day and 6:00 p.m. for Full-Day) to pick up their child.
If
there is an emergency parents must immediately notify the center’s Site
Coordinator, Teacher or Center Family Specialist regarding their delay and give
a specific time when the child will be picked up. Please see the parent
handbook for complete policy information.
Nap
Time
The
full day program option participates in a two-hour quiet time so that children
can relax. Special activities are set-up for children who wake up early
and for children who do not sleep.
Meals
and Snacks
Breakfast
is served to children upon arrival. Children, who have already had breakfast or
do not wish to eat, may choose an alternate activity.
Lunch
is provided for all center-based programs.
Snacks are served in the morning and afternoon classroom sessions.
Food
is not used as punishment or reward, and each child is encouraged, but not
forced, to eat or taste his or her food. Medical-based diets or other dietary
requirements are accommodated.
Inclement
Weather
When
snow and extreme temperatures are forecast, we recommend you listen to KMOX
1120 AM radio and/or KMOV Channel 4 News television broadcasts beginning at
5:30 a.m. to determine if school will be in session. Teaching staff will
make every effort to contact family due to emergency closings of the center. In
most cases, we follow the St. Louis City Public Schools calendar and emergency
school closings due to weather.
Grievance
All
concerns or complaints should be reported to the Center Family
Specialist. Please see the Parent Handbook for a complete explanation of
the Grievance Policy process.
Child
Abuse & Neglect
All
Grace Hill Head Start staff is responsible for the care and safety of the
children in the program. The law of the State of Missouri requires that staff
report to the Division of Family Services any reasonable suspicion of child
abuse or neglect. It is the goal of Grace Hill Head Start to prevent
child abuse and neglect. Resources are available to all families.
Transition
from Head Start
Grace
Hill Head Start assists families and children in making smooth transition to
Kindergarten and other programs by coordinating with the school, transferring
records, encouraging communication, reporting child’s abilities, setting up
meetings with new school staff and giving parent’s information on the
requirements of new school.
Please
meet with the Center Family Specialists as soon as possible to begin the
transfer process.
