CDO Children's Day Out

ST. MARK'S BETHANY GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH

CHILDREN'S DAY OUT

INFORMATION AND RULES

Welcome to St. Mark's Bethany Children's Day Out! We're so glad you are considering our CDO program for your child. Please take time to review the information and guidelines provided here to learn more about our program, policies, and expectations. We hope this information will help you decide if St. Mark's Children's Day Out is the right fit for your family. When you're ready, we invite you to take the next step and enroll your child for the upcoming school year.

Please Contact:

Director: Tracy Rogers or Assistant Director: Anna Evans

Tracy@stmarksbethany.com Annakevans21@gmail.com

405-789-9033 405-789-9033

PHILOSOPHY

At St. Mark's Children's Day Out, we believe each child is a unique and treasured gift from God. Our Christ-centered program provides a safe, loving, and nurturing environment where preschool children are encouraged to learn, explore, and grow through meaningful play and positive relationships.

We are committed to supporting each child's spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development through developmentally appropriate experiences that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of learning. By partnering with families, we strive to lay a strong foundation of faith, character, and learning during these important early years.

"Growing Christ like children...from the ground up"

1 Cor. 3:6

HOURS

Fall and Spring School year: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Summer: Monday and Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

To provide our teachers with time to prepare classrooms and create a welcoming learning environment, children may be dropped off beginning at 9:00 a.m. If you need to pick up your child before the end of the program day, you are welcome to do so. Please notify your child's teacher in advance whenever possible. A five-minute grace period is provided. Our program concludes promptly at 2:00 p.m. A five-minute grace period is provided. Beginning at 2:06 p.m., a late pickup fee of $1.00 per minute will be assessed until your child is picked up.

PARKING AND ARRIVAL

For the safety of all children and families, please park only in designated parking spaces when dropping off or picking up your child. Children must be accompanied by an adult to and from their classroom each day. Please do not leave children unattended in the parking lot or allow them to walk to or from the building without an adult. For your child's safety, an adult must sign each child in upon arrival and sign them out at dismissal each day. Children will be released only to a parent, guardian, or an individual authorized by the parent or guardian. We ask that families use caution while driving through the church parking lot and remain attentive to pedestrians at all times. Thank you for partnering with us to provide a safe and secure environment for every child.

SUPPLY FEE

An annual, non-refundable supply fee is due at the time of registration. This fee helps provide classroom materials, learning resources, art supplies, and other items that support your child's daily experiences throughout the school year.

BIRTHDAY TREATS

Birthdays are a special time, and we enjoy celebrating each child's special day at Children's Day Out! Families are welcome to provide a simple birthday treat to share with the class. To help us accommodate classroom schedules and any dietary considerations, please make arrangements with your child's teacher in advance. If your child has a summer birthday, we would be happy to celebrate on a date during the school year that is convenient for your family and the classroom teacher. Our goal is to make every child feel valued and celebrated while creating joyful memories with their classmates.

INCLEMENT WEATHER & EMERGENCY CLOSURES

Credits are not issued for cancelled days.

The safety of our children, families, and staff is our highest priority. Children's Day Out follows the Putnam City Schools decision regarding closures due to inclement weather. If Putnam City Schools are closed because of severe weather, Children's Day Out will also be closed. If weather conditions develop during the program day or other emergencies require an early dismissal or program closure, families will be notified as soon as possible through our established communication methods.

Please ensure that your contact information remains current so you can receive important notifications in a timely manner.

CALENDAR

We try to follow Putnam City Schools, however, it is not exact. We provide a monthly calendar for days off and events occurring within each month.

DISCIPLINE

At Children's Day Out, we believe every child deserves to be treated with love, dignity, patience, and respect. Our teachers use positive guidance techniques to help children develop self-control, responsibility, problem-solving skills, and respect for others.

Teachers encourage positive behavior by:

Building caring relationships with each child.
Establishing consistent routines and clear expectations.
Recognizing and encouraging appropriate behavior.
Helping children identify and express their feelings in appropriate ways.
Teaching conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Redirecting inappropriate behavior toward positive choices.

When behavioral concerns arise, teachers and families work together to support the child's success. If a behavior becomes persistent or significantly disrupts the learning environment or presents a safety concern, the Director may meet with the family to develop a plan that best supports the child's needs.

Children's Day Out does not use corporal punishment, humiliation, ridicule, threats, or the withholding of food, rest, or other basic needs as forms of discipline.

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Regular attendance helps children establish routines, build friendships, and fully participate in classroom activities. If your child will be absent, please notify the Children's Day Out office or your child's teacher as soon as possible. If your child becomes ill during the program day, a parent or authorized emergency contact will be notified and asked to pick up the child promptly. Tuition reserves your child's place in the program and is not reduced for absences due to illness, vacations, holidays, or other scheduled or unscheduled missed days. If your family anticipates an extended absence, please contact the Director to discuss your child's enrollment status.

DROP-INS

Drop-in charge is $40 per day per child. To allow us to control our class size, you must call the Director in advance for space availability. The drop- in fee must be paid at the time of arrival. If your child is enrolled for one day a week and you wish to drop-in an additional day, you must pay the $40 drop-in fee.

CLOTHING

Children's Day Out is an active, hands-on learning environment. Children participate in art, sensory experiences, outdoor play, and a variety of activities that may become messy as part of the learning process. Please dress your child in comfortable, washable clothing that is appropriate for the weather and allows for active play. Children should wear closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles for safe indoor and outdoor play. Sandals, flipflops, cowboy boots, and dress shoes are discouraged, as they may interfere with safe movement and playground activities. Exceptions may be made for designated costume or theme days announced by the program. Please send a complete change of clothing, including underwear and socks, in a labeled zippered bag. Extra clothing should be appropriate for the current season and remain at school in case of spills, toileting accidents, or other unexpected needs. We encourage children to practice independence whenever possible. Clothing that is easy for children to manage during restroom visits helps build confidence and supports self-help skills. Please label all jackets, sweaters, lunch boxes, backpacks, and other personal belongings with your child's name.

HEALTH

The health and well-being of every child and staff member is a priority at Children's Day Out. We ask families to help us maintain a healthy learning environment by keeping children at home when they are ill. Children should remain at home if they have:

A fever of 100.4°F or higher
Vomiting or diarrhea within the previous 24 hours
A contagious illness or unexplained rash
Symptoms that prevent them from comfortably participating in daily activities or require more care than our staff can provide

If a child becomes ill during the program day, a parent or authorized emergency contact will be contacted and asked to pick up the child promptly. Children may return to the program when they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, have been free from vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours, and are able to comfortably participate in normal classroom activities. Children's Day Out does not administer prescription or over-the-counter medications. The only exception is for emergency medications, such as an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) or other physicianprescribed emergency medication, when required to protect a child's health and safety. Emergency medications must be accompanied by the appropriate medical documentation, written authorization from the parent or guardian, and any required healthcare provider instructions. Please notify the Director before your child's first day of attendance if your child has a life-threatening allergy or medical condition requiring emergency medication so an appropriate care plan can be established

TOYS

Please do not allow your children to bring toys from home.

LUNCH & SNACKS

Children should bring a nutritious, ready-to-eat lunch each program day unless otherwise announced. Please send foods your child is able to eat independently and that do not require refrigeration or microwave preparation. Please pack lunch and beverages in containers your child can easily open with minimal assistance. Label all lunch boxes, food containers, and reusable water bottles with your child's name. Children's Day Out encourages healthy food choices that support learning and active play. Out of consideration for children with food allergies, families may be asked to avoid bringing specific food items if necessary for the safety of a classroom. Occasionally, special snacks may be provided as part of classroom activities or celebrations. Families will be notified in advance when appropriate. If your child has food allergies or dietary restrictions, please notify the Director and your child's teacher before your child's first day of attendance so we can work together to provide a safe and enjoyable mealtime experience.

REST PERIOD

Children benefit from a daily rest period that provides an opportunity to relax, recharge, and enjoy a calm classroom environment. While children are encouraged to rest quietly, they are not required to sleep. Each child should bring a rest mat, sleeping bag, or a small pillow and blanket for use during rest time. Please label all bedding with your child's name. Bedding will be sent home regularly for laundering. Families are asked to return clean bedding on the next program day to help us maintain a clean and healthy environment. Teachers provide a peaceful and nurturing atmosphere while respecting each child's individual needs during rest time..

Thank you for choosing St. Mark's Children's Day Out!

Tracy Rogers

Children's Day Out Director

405-789-9033

Tracy@stmarksbethany.com

Anna Evans

CDO Assistant Director

405-789-9033

Annakevans21@gmail.com