Parker Elementary After School Care Program

PARENT HANDBOOK

Program     The Parker Elementary After School Care Program is a service offered by the Parker PTO. The mission of the After School Program is to enhance the lives of students within a safe environment. The ASCP is a wonderful opportunity for parents who desire a loving and fun environment for their children until their return from work. Our top priority here at Parker ASCP is the safety and well being of children participating in our program.

Staff The staff consists of caring and dedicated Parker teachers and professionals. Ms. Lisa Mendelovitz is the On-Site Coordinator. Lisa's administrative assistant is Ms. Carla Nedd.

Hours of Operation

Parker after school care program operates five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. The program does not operate on holidays. We follow the district calendar.

Eligibility:

Any child enrolled in grades Pre-K through 5 at Parker Elementary School is eligible for After-School Care.

Enrollment:

 

Enrollment is limited to children currently enrolled in Parker Elementary in grades pre-kindergarten through five, ages 4—12. A child is enrolled in the program when:

• A signed and completed application form
• registration fee
• a signed after care handbook policy form.
• Your account is paid in full (if you are a previous client).

FEES 

Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to increase at the beginning of each school year. A non-refundable annual registration fee of $50 per family is due at the time of enrollment.

Current Monthly Fees:                                                          

5 – Day Program………………………………………………$180.00/mo

3 – Day Program………………………………………………$145.00/mo

1 – Day Program………………………………………………$ 60.00/mo

5 – Day pick up by 4:15 Sharp……………………………… $ 80.00/mo

Drop-In……………………………………………………….....$ 20.00/day

Tuition is due on the 1^st of the month. Please place the child’s name on the check or money order and leave payment with front office personnel. You may request a receipt at this time. Checks should be made payable to PARKER PTO. Please do not send payments by your child. A late fee of $10 is assessed for all payments received after the 10^th of the month.  Payments are preferred in the form of money order or check. Cash payments are discouraged. If there is a situation where a cash payment must be made, please do not place the payment in the mail or the PTO mailbox. Please hand the payment to office personnel and make sure that you are issued a receipt for all cash payments. A family paying cash assumes responsibility to make sure payment is received and credited to the account.

v      Parker ASCP reserves the right to terminate a child’s participation in the program if there is a delinquent tuition balance in excess of 30 days.

Enrichment Classes – Enrichment classes are offered throughout the year for an additional fee.

A one-time registration fee of $50 is required for all enrichment classes. Payment must be made in full prior to enrollment. 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Children enrolled in the After School Care Program at a reduced rate will not be allowed to participate in the enrichment activities with exception of sibling discounts.  Also, accounts that are not current including late pick up charges, late tuition fees and past due tuition will not be allowed to enroll until the account is current

Reduced fees are available for families meeting the income eligibility requirements indicated on the reduced Fee Eligibility Form. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch the eligibility form to receive reduced fees, a Reduced Fee Eligibility Form must be completed and on file in the After School Care Office and verification of income must be provided. Otherwise, full fees will be charged.

For all families there is a sibling discount of 25%, after the first child.

In determining fees, expense and revenue projections are averaged over the school year, resulting in consistent monthly fees during the school year (regardless of the length of a particular month), with the exception of August. Therefore, the full tuition amount is due for every month except August.

 

Changes in your child’s schedule

To ensure the highest level of safety, accountability and supervision, families must comply with the policies and procedures below.

 

Should there be any changes in your child's weekly or daily attendance, it is imperative that you submit these changes in writing to the Parker After School Coordinator as soon as possible. Such changes include: absences, early dismissal, late pick-up, attending an extra-curricular school activity, or any other activity that may interrupt the After School Program hours.

If your child is not going to attend ASC on a specific day:

o Please provide a written notice (or email) to ASC indicating that your child will not attend on that day.

o If you are unable to provide a written notice, please call the office.

To change your child’s regular attendance schedule or enrollment option:

 

• Written notification is required by the 15th of the month, to be effective on the first day of the following month.

• If an immediate change is made to your child’s attendance, fees will not be adjusted until the beginning of the following month, unless the change results in additional days of attendance.
• If the change results in additional days, you will be assessed a daily fee for the extra days in addition to the original fee on your monthly statement.

 

 

Change in Transportation Arrangements:

In any case where a child is to be transported by anyone other than the parent or guardian, written permission must be provided for the day or general permission for the purpose.

Weather

In the event that school is closed on account of inclement weather, the ASC program will also be closed. Please listen to the radio, check the HISD website or call the school for information regarding school closure. Please make arrangements to have your children picked up immediately. Tuition will not be refunded for these days.

FUNFEST and other special events

Your child may only attend Fun Fest if accompanied by an authorized adult.  After Care students must check in to the after care program and will only be released to attend the event with an individual listed on the authorized pick up form on file.  Any special arrangements must be authorized in writing.  Please make sure that an updated information form is on file with the after care staff prior to the event.

Non-Sufficient Funds/Returned checks

If a check is returned to us for any reason for non-sufficient funds, we WILL NOT redeposit it. We ask that you bring a money order/cashier’s check for the amount of the check and the additional service fee charged by the bank within 24 hours of notification. Should this happen more than once, we will ask that all payments be made in the form of a money order/cashier’s check.

Illnesses/Accidents Should your child become ill or injured during the program, you will be notified immediately and you must make arrangements to pick up your child at that time.

Absences

Parents should contact the program if a child will not attend the After School Program on a regularly scheduled day.  Please contact the program coordinator or leave a message with the school office to be relayed to the program coordinator prior to After School hours.  The program coordinator will check with the school office, the child's teacher, and, finally, attempt to call the parent in an effort to locate a child not in regular attendance.

Tuition fees will not be refunded in the case of a child’s absence, delayed attendance, early departure or withdrawal from the program.

 

Dismissal Procedures

 

v      Pick-up:  Each child must be signed out from the front office by an AUTHORIZED PERSON listed on the child’s registration form. The authorized person may be asked to present photo identification. Any other person not listed must have permission in writing from the parent or legal guardian and present photo identification before the child will be released. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for notifying the After School Care Office and presenting in writing their request for a person to pick up their children.

v      Late Pick Up Any child picked up after 6:00 p.m. is considered late.  A flat rate of $10 is assessed for pick up from 6:01p.m. to 6:10p.m. and $1 for each minute after that. The late fee is payable upon receipt. Please pay any later charges prior to attendance the following day.  Note: More than five late pick-ups or failure to pay late charges could result in a suspension or termination of your child's enrollment in the program

v      Authorized Persons ONLY those persons listed on your child’s registration form are considered authorized. Family members, if not listed, are not considered authorized to pick up your child. Plan ahead and fully include all persons that may pick-up your child in the event of an emergency.

v      Once again, your child will be released to authorized persons ONLY.

v      Changes in Procedures If there are any changes in the dismissal procedures for your child, daily or continuous, please notify the office in person or in writing immediately.

 

 

Personal Belongings

 

• Students are encouraged not to bring action figures, trading cards, game systems and other valuables except on specific days which will be announced in advance.
• If you allow your child to bring valuables after care, will not be responsible for lost or stolen items. All personal items should be labeled and taken home each day.
• Any toys, books, magazines, games or other materials that depict violent or inappropriate images and situations are prohibited.
• Inappropriate items will be confiscated and returned to the parents/guardians

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Snacks Each day a snack will be provided for your child after the end of the regular school day. Please notify staff of any food allergies upon registration.

 

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Behavior/Discipline Policy Your child will be under the supervision of qualified personnel familiar with school policies and procedures.  Guidelines and rules for the program are the same as the regular school program .  Rough conduct, disrespect to leaders, destruction of property or equipment, vandalism, use of profanity, or any other undesirable act will result in disciplinary action and, if necessary, removal from the program. You will be contacted about serious and/or repeated misbehavior.  If your child continually misbehaves, he/she may be withdrawn from the program. 

 

 

End of the year

For tax purposes, the Parker After School Care Id # is 76-0096881.  A stamp with this information is available at the front desk for your monthly receipt.  An end of the year print out is available upon request. Please allow 7 to 10 days.

PARKER ELEMENTARY AFTERSCHOOL CARE PROGRAM

 

Parental Acknowledgement Form

 

I have received, read and understood all the information contained in the parent handbook. My child and I will abide by the policies set forth for the school-age child care program as delineated in the Parker Elementary After School Care Parent Handbook.

 

• Fees must be paid on time and in full based on the monthly payment schedule. Failure to make payments may result in the child being withdrawn from the program.

 

• If full payment is not received prior to the tenth day of the service period, there will be a late payment fee of $10.00. If partial payment is made, there will still be a late payment fee of $10.00.

 

• A late pick-up fee of $10.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1 for each additional minute will be assessed per family per occurrence and will be applied for any child picked-up after 6:00pm. Payment is due upon receipt.  Excessive late pick-ups may be cause for dismissal from the program.

 

• Appropriate student behavior is required to remain in the program.  Behavior deemed inappropriate/unacceptable may result in the child being withdrawn from the program

 

• Only authorized persons that have been identified on the child’s registration form will be allowed to pick-up my child.

 

Children enrolled in the After School Care Program at a reduced rate will not be allowed to participate in the enrichment activities with exception of sibling discounts.  Also, accounts that are not current including late pick up charges, late tuition fees and past due tuition will not be allowed to enroll until the account is current.

 

Should there be any changes in your child's weekly or daily attendance, it is imperative that you submit these changes in writing to the Parker After School Coordinator as soon as possible. Such changes include: absences, early dismissal, late pick-up, attending an extra-curricular school activity, or any other activity that may interrupt the After School Program hours.

 

I understand that this form will be kept in my child’s file as an official document and as an agreement on my behalf to comply with all the set policies, procedures and guidelines as outlined in this handbook.

 

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Student Name (Please print)                                         

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Parent Name (Please print)                                                                      Date

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Parent Signature                                                                                      Date