*Please make sure to update your child’s records with the office anytime information may change (work location, phone numbers, emergency contacts etc.)

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT:  Discipline will be provided through a combination of positive reinforcement and redirection.  It will be expected that we work together to alter negative behavior.  Emphasis will be placed on recognizing positive behavior.

LUNCH AND SNACKS:   Due to severe allergies of some children, The Blue Kangaroo does not allow peanut butter or any foods containing nut products to be brought into the school for lunch or snacks. This includes all foods brought into the school. We consider ourselves a 95% peanut free school. We monitor all foods that are served to our children while in our school. We ask that parents use caution when entering our school after they or their child have consumed a peanut product. We encourage proper hand washing before entering the building.  We encourage that children with ANY food allergies bring in their own snacks and lunches. If you choose to participate in group snacks and hot lunches you must sign the waiver included in admission packet. We will only serve them food that has been provided from home. Parents are asked to provide lunch and snacks daily for children. We do not allow any glass products in the classrooms for the safety of the children. We also offer the option to purchase hot lunches delivered by local restaurants.  This is offered Monday thru Friday and order forms are sent out mid-month and are due by the  due date stated on the lunch form, with full payment for the following month.  LUNCH FORMS WILL NOT BE  ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE DATE. Payments must be made to The Blue Kangaroo Lunch Account.  Some teachers prefer snacks sent daily, while others have parents bring in bulk snacks twice per month. Please see your child’s classroom packet for more information. If your child arrives before 8:00 am, breakfast must be sent.  Please send dinner if they will be present between the hours of 6:00-7:00 pm.  multiple days, so please send daily.

Please Note:  All utensils and food and beverage containers will be sent home rinsed, but not sterilized. 

All food must be ready to eat, in bite sized pieces and be the appropriate type of food for your child’s age.  Although cooking is not offered, we are able to re-heat and serve warm lunches and dinners through the use of microwave ovens.  We are not able to store lunches and dinners for We are not able to store lunches and dinners for  multiple days, so please send daily. For children in the Infant Room, please make sure that there is extra food (formula or baby food) in case of delayed pick-up.  Also, please make sure all new food items are tried at home at least 3 days before sending it to school in case of allergies. 

Very Important-Please label all bottles, covers, dishes, food, etc..  Please write out a detailed schedule of your child’s feeding and sleeping times, so that we may help you maintain an established routine. Please remember to update your child’s schedule in writing as their schedule changes.

NAPS AND QUIET TIME:  Parents of children in the Infant Room are asked to bring in 2 crib sheets and a blanket, all labeled.  Parents are responsible for making up their child’s crib at the beginning of each week, and for taking the bedding home at the end of their scheduled week.  Parents of children in other classrooms (Woddler thru PreK-3) are asked to purchase our bedroll “Kid-napper” set.  It consists of a cushioned mat, with a blanket and pillow attached.  Again, parents are responsible for taking home their child’s bedding at the end of their scheduled week for laundering.  Our naps and quiet time will be held in the early afternoon.  Infant nap times will be scheduled according to the child’s needs and their individual schedules.

PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION:  We hold regularly scheduled conferences twice a year.  We inform parents on a monthly basis through our “Blue Kangaroo Newsletter” about upcoming events.  Daily experience sheets are filled out daily for all children in the Infant- PreK-3 rooms.  Pertinent information is also posted in all classrooms, as well as, on our Parent Communication Board, which is located in the front lobby.  All children have a mailbox located inside their classrooms. Please check your child’s folder daily for important information and artwork.

DIAPERS AND POTTY TRAINING:  If your child wears diapers, please send in a supply of disposable diapers, baby wipes and whatever diaper cream or powder you prefer.  We can not use cloth diapers for sanitary reasons.  Please make sure to check your child‘s cubbies weekly to replenish their supplies. (Be sure to label ALL packages.)We will assist you in potty training your child, if you request it, and continue on with it at home.  During this time, we will need a number of extra clothes and shoes  included in their daily bags.

CLOTHING:  Please provide one complete seasonally appropriate change of clothes for each child who may get soiled and uncomfortable.  This includes socks.  Be sure to label everything.  For younger children, we recommend that you send two bibs daily and several changes of clothing.  During the hot summer months, please send in suntan lotion (PABA free) and hats.  For safety purposes, we do not allow children to wear open toed shoes or sandals.  Any child wearing this type of shoe will be sent home to change. 

TOYS:  Toys are furnished for all of the children.  For safety reasons, we generally do not allow children to bring toys from home. Toys are only allowed on show & tell days. Days will be announced in your child’s classroom. However, the children may bring a special teddy bear or blanket to sleep with.

SHOTS AND VACCINATIONS:  If at all possible, when it is time for your child to get their shots or vaccinations, we would appreciate it if you would schedule them on Friday afternoons.  Frequently children react to these visits and don’t feel well afterwards.  During these times they may need Mom or Dad to comfort them.  When your child does receive immunizations, please submit a copy of the updated immunization record (signed by the doctor) to the front office. *When are immunizations are audited by the state any children that do not have up to date information on our records will be excluded from school until they meet all state requirements.

SICK DAYS/VACATION:  Tuition is considered an annual tuition as in most pre-school and child care centers.  If your child is sick or does not attend for another reason, full tuition payment is still required on the normally scheduled payment day, the 1st of every month.  This includes vacation time and days when we may have to close for serious weather.  (Please note: we make every reasonable effort to remain open). If your child has a part time schedule and they do not attend school on one of their regular scheduled days, we will allow you to switch that day for another day only within the week based on space and availability. This must be scheduled with the front office. If space is not available you are still obligated for full payment. We do not allow switches for our scheduled school  holiday closings, emergency closings or inclement closings.

RATES AND PAYMENT:  Our rate is a year-round tuition, which is broken down into weekly rates, which guarantees your child a full-time year-round slot.  This rate is subject to change upon 30 days written  notice.  Payment is due by the first of the month.  Bills will be available for pick-up by the 21st day of the preceding month.  Tuition payment should be made payable by check only to The Blue Kangaroo Day School. We do not accept cash or credit cards as form of payment.  The amount due is the weekly tuition multiplied by the number of Monday’s in that month.  We offer a 10% discount (to the oldest child) to families with 2 or more children attending 2 or more full days per week. Sibling discounts do not apply to daily/weekly drop in rates. If a payment is received after the 5th day of the month, an additional 10% service charge will be billed and due along with that months tuition. *An alternate payment plan can be made available if needed.

OVERTIME:  Our regular hours are Monday thru Friday, 7:00am – 6:00pm.  Extended hours are available on a contracted basis only and must be arranged at time of the contract or made part of a revised contract.  Please call if you will be delayed. Late fees beyond your contracted pick up time will be assessed at a rate of $20.00 per 15 minutes over the contracted time. These rates apply if you are not contracted for extended hours.  Late fees after 7:00pm will be assessed $25.00 per 15 minutes.  We are not licensed to have children in the building after 7:00 pm  therefore alternate arrangements MUST be made for an alternate pick up.

DROP-IN PROGRAM (Monday – Friday):  The drop-in schedule is based on space and availability.  Advanced notice and reservations are required.   Half day and full day rates are priced according to the age group that your child will be attending (see rate sheet enclosed).  A one time registration fee of $50 per child is required from each family and is paid in advance.  Although a contract and admission forms must be submitted, there is no contract deposit (other than the registration fee) required for drop-in customers.  There is a 24-hour cancellation policy for drop-in’s.  Any scheduled and confirmed drop-in that is not cancelled 24 hours in advance will be charged 50% of their request.

ILLNESS:  Please inform us if your child has been ill during the night or is not feeling well upon arrival.  For the protection of all the children in our care, we reserve the right to restrict the attendance of a child who is obviously ill.  If a child has a communicable disease, which is not physically evident, it is the responsibility of the parent to inform the day care provider of the disease or illness.  Parents will be notified if their child becomes ill during the day and at the discretion of the child care provider a parent may be asked to pick up their child as soon as possible.  

A child with a fever of 101.5 or higher must be sent home and cannot return until they are fever free for 24 hours (with out the aid of Tylenol/Advil).  Considering this possibility it may help your work attendance if you have pre-arranged backup care for those times.  Please understand that State Child Care Rules and Regulations prohibit child care providers from giving medicines (including aspirins, cough syrup or drops) to a child, unless that child care provider has written permission from the child’s doctor and parent. (A prescription from the child’s doctor with a pharmacy’s label on the medicine bottle which includes doctor’s name, the child’s name, dosage instructions and a recent filling date will be acceptable).

Medication-If it is necessary to administer medication to your child, you must complete the medication form in your child’s classroom.

EMERGENCY:  A “medical emergency treatment permission form”  will be provided for your signature, authorizing us to call for proper qualified medical assistance in the event of an emergency.  In the case of such an emergency, we will contact the hospital or rescue squad immediately, the child’s doctor and the parents, as soon as possible, in that order.

THE BLUE KANGAROO ILLNESS POLICY

 *FEVER-If child has a fever of 101.5 or higher the child must be kept home (or sent home if here at school) and must be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medicine.

* DIARRHEA/VOMITING-If child has 2 diarrhea and/or vomits within a 24 hour period, they must remain home (or will be sent home if at school) until they are symptom free for 24 hours.

* COLDS-If a child has severe nasal congestion and/or if the nose is not running clear, they must be kept at home until they are less symptomatic. If a child’s nose is running for 3 consecutive days they will need a doctors note in order to remain at school. If a child is on antibiotics, they must be on the antibiotics for at least 24 hours  before returning to school.  If a child comes to school with green/yellow mucus without a doctor’s note stating that they are not contagious or  prescribed medication they will be sent home.

*RASH– Any child with a rash must have a doctors note in order to return to school.  If they are at school when the rash occurs they will be sent home. 

*COUGHING– When a child has a persistent cough and is interfering with their breathing, they need to remain at home. If a child is coughing for three consecutive days they will need a doctors note in order to remain at school.

*PINK EYE– If a child has red eyes and mucus discharge from the eye, a doctors note is required to return to school.

* CHICKEN POX– If your child has the chicken pox they can not return until all of them are scabbed over and a doctor’s note is required to return.

* ANY INFECTION– Any infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics, they must be on the antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school. If a child is out for 3 consecutive days due to illness, a doctors note is required to return.   

Please keep in mind the guidelines listed above are MANDATORY.  If you notice that your child is “just not himself/herself” or has some symptoms they may be coming down with an illness, we ask that you use your discretion when sending them to school.  Please have the same consideration as you would expect others to have.  I do want to stress that we are NOT considered back up care.  You need to have back up care if your child is sick.           

 Due to the nature of flu virus, we ask that you watch your child’s symptoms carefully and have them treated by a doctor.  If you believe your child has any flu symptoms, we ask they not attend school until they are seen and cleared by a doctor.  Hopefully, by working together and being cautious we will keep the children and staff healthy.

CLOSING FOR SEVERE WEATHER:  Every effort will be made to remain open on all regularly scheduled days.  However, if we are forced to be closed due to dangerous weather conditions, or other unforeseen acts of God, there will be a recorded message  by 6:00 am on the regular school telephone number informing callers of the details.  Please call 908-647-2600.

TERMINATION OR PARTIAL CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT:  A written notice of thirty days in advance of termination or any change in contract must be presented to the director of The Blue Kangaroo Day School, Inc.  A contract can not be changed or broken until 30 days after the start date of the signed contract. In lieu of notice, the fee for thirty days must be paid upon termination and the two-week deposit will not be applied to any amount due. As a courtesy, The Blue Kangaroo will allow parents to suspend a contract (ex;  summer months/July & August). A minimum of 30 days written notice is required and deposit will remain on account. A new contract must be signed immediately in order to reserve a space. A space will be reserved for a 60 day minimum contract suspension. Otherwise, contracts less than 60 days will result in forfeiting your space. All deposits will be refunded in your last month’s tuition and you will be required to re-enroll based on space and availability. During a suspended contract weekly drop-ins will not be permitted.

**PLEASE NOTE-Termination of a signed contract prior to a child’s schedule start or re-enrollment  date will result in loss of deposit.  A 30 day written notice will only be accepted after the start date of the contract.