Forms

School Age Child Care

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

All SACC students have time to play wholesome games with their friends, to participate in special projects, and to play outside or in the gym (depending upon the weather). In addition, afternoon students are encouraged to do their homework.

SACC programming is flexible, and allows children to choose activities which interest them. Besides a wide variety of board games, card games, toys, arts and craft materials, sports equipment, and books, your children will also have the opportunity to create projects that, while fun, will incorporate literacy, science, and community service learning.

Schedule for a typical morning
Time Description
7:00 Students begin to arrive
7:00 Students select activities for quiet play Students may participate in special project
7:30 Breakfast is available for purchase in Cafeteria
8:00 Breakfast is available for purchase in Cafeteria
8:15 Students and staff begin to clean up
8:30 Everyone goes to gym or playground
Schedule for a typical afternoon
Time Description
3:15-3:30 Meet and take attendance in gym
3:30-4:30 K-2 downstairs to cafeteria for snack and activities/homework
3:30-4:30 grades 3&4 in gym or playground
4:30-5:00 K-2 to gym or playground
4:30-5:00 grades 3&4 in café for snack & homework
5:00-5:30 All grades-special projects/complete homework
5:30-6:00 Complete special projects/gym/playground
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BREAKFAST/SNACKS

Morning students can bring their breakfast to the program, or purchase cereal, rolls, milk, yogurt, fruit, orange juice, butter and/or cream cheese from the cafeteria. The cafeteria staff is busy setting up for the day and has requested that children purchase their food at 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Afternoon students will be offered a healthy snack.

STAFF

As required by the Office of Children and Family Services, all staff members have criminal background checks and receive training in child development, health and safety. Pawling Community Services also trains staff to model respectful and caring behavior for students, including the use of good manners, effective conflict resolution, responsibility for one’s actions, and respect for one another.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICY

Pawling Community Service has established methods of guiding the behavior of children in order to promote health and safety along with personal growth. These guidelines are administered in a way that helps each child develop self-control and assume responsibility for his or her actions through clear, consistent rules and learn limits appropriate to each child’s age and development. The staff uses techniques and approaches that are adapted from recommendations made by child-care professionals and organizations. These techniques include, but are not limited to, redirecting a child to an alternate activity; rewarding acceptable behavior; encouraging children to talk about their feelings; and providing an example for children by speaking and interacting with children in a positive manner.

Children at the SACC program will:

  • Know the rules of the program and the consequences if they are not followed.
  • Talk about their feelings and use their words.
  • Discover ways to best cooperate with others.
  • Learn from mistakes and encourage them to try again.

To prevent hurt feelings, Pawling Community Services does not allow teasing, bullying and name-calling.

Pawling Community Service staff will discipline in the following manner:

  • Staff will first talk to the child about his/her behavior.
  • Staff will redirect the child.
  • When necessary, a time out will be given for up to 1 minute for each year of the child’s age. After a time out, the child will be spoken to about the behavior and discuss ways in which she/he can better handle the situation.
  • As a last resort, the child’s parent/guardian will be called to take the child out of the program.
    All discipline will relate to the child's action and will be handled without prolonged delay on the part of the staff so that the child is aware of the relationship between his or her actions and the consequences.
  • If, after exhausting all of the above possibilities, the child's disruptive behavior continues and this behavior puts other children and/or staff in danger or prevents the program from functioning properly, the parents will receive one warning that they must get their child under control or the child will no longer be able to attend Pawling Community Service School-Age Child Care program.
  • The following actions are expressly forbidden by the Office of Children and Family Services and Pawling Community Services:
    • At no time will staff inflict punishment directly on the child, including but not limited to: o Shaking, slapping, twisting, or squeezing; o Demanding excessive physical exercise, excessive rest or strenuous or bizarre postures; and o Compelling a child to eat or have in his/her mouth soap, food, spices, or foreign substances.
    • The use of room isolation is prohibited. No child can be isolated in an adjacent room, hallway, closet, darkened area, play area or any other area where a child cannot be seen or supervised.
    • Food cannot be used or withheld as a punishment or reward.
    • Any abuse or maltreatment of a child, either as an incident of discipline or otherwise, is absolutely prohibited. The child care program will not tolerate, or in any manner condone, an act of abuse of neglect of a child by an employee, volunteer, any person under the provider’s control or an individual residing in the home.

Please note, parents/caregivers may request a meeting at any time to discuss their children’s behavior with the Director of Pawling Community Services.

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GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT

  • Children and parents have the right to:
    • Be free from cruel teasing and put-downs;
    • Have a safe, calm, clean and orderly environment;
    • Be free from fear of physical harm;
    • Make mistakes without being ridiculed by others;
    • Seek help from adults who are there to help them;
    • Be treated with dignity and respect by everyone.
  • Children and parents are expected to:
    • Be fair and accepting of others eager to join any activity;
    • Use appropriate, acceptable language;
    • Be kind, considerate, helpful and respectful towards others;
    • Share equipment and materials fairly and use them properly;
    • Respect property, especially things that do not belong to you;
    • Cooperate with others and adults who are there to help you;
    • Speak out when you witness unfairness or offensive language or behavior of others;
    • Be honest with everyone;
    • Leave valuable property and money at home.

Pawling Community Services prohibits sexual harassment and harassment based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, age or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Any such harassment will not be tolerated and will be documented for follow-up.

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DRESS

Children should wear clothing that is comfortable and practical for play and sports. Daily activities may include “messy” projects. We recommend that you send in a smock or old shirt with your child’s name in it that we can keep on site. Children are scheduled to go outside on a daily basis, so dress your child appropriately for the weather. Also, please consider sending in a change of clothing for young children.

Please write your child’s name in all clothing in case the items are lost. We will hold on to items that are left behind for one week. After that time, the clothing will be placed in the school’s lost-and-found box.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

  • Please label your child’s belongings so items can be returned to their owner.
  • Items left at the program will be held for one week, after which they will be placed in the school’s lost-and-found box by the front entrance.
  • Any object not permitted on school premises during school hours is not permitted at the SACC program. This includes cell phones, glass bottles for beverages, weapons, electronic devices and games, and toys from home (as directed by the school principal).
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FEE SCHEDULE

Tuition for the School-Age Child Care program reflects the total number of full days and mornings that school is in session. On half-days (Teacher Professional days, etc.), afternoon coverage is available for an additional fee. Tuition is based on enrollment and not attendance.

The monthly fee is based upon the number of days per week you child is enrolled. The amounts below are fees per month.

Fee Schedule
2 Days 3 Days 4 Days 5 Days
amounts are per month
A.M. Program $115.00 $135.00 $155.00 $175.00
P.M. Program $180.00 $210.00 $230.00 $250.00
  • There is a registration fee of $30.00 for each family.
  • A 20% discount is available for each additional child in the program.
  • Early dismissal to 6:00 p.m. (half-day) fee is $30/day. A 20% discount is available for an additional child. Payment is due a week in advance.
  • Day rate for the p.m. session is $26/day.
  • Day rate for the a.m. Session is $18/day.
  • A fee of $15 will be charged for each 15 minutes after 6:00 p.m. that the child is still in our care.
  • Checks/money orders should be made out to Pawling Community Services.
  • Invoices will be issued on the 15th of the prior month.
  • Payments are due by the 25th of the prior month.
  • A late fee of $20 will be charged for payments received after the 5th of each month for which the bill is due.
    For example: The bill for September will be issued on August 15th and the payment will be due on August 25th. Payments received after September 5th will be considered late and a $20.00 late fee will be charged.
  • The charge for a bounced check will be increased to $45.00 to cover our bank fees.
  • Tuition assistance for working parents is available through the Department of Social Services. For more information, please contact the Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam at 845/473-4141

Morning care is available for all students, K-4, beginning Monday, September 7th. For grades 1-4, afternoon care also begins on Tuesday, September 7th, the first day of school. Please note that the first day of Afternoon School-Age Child Care for Kindergarten students is Monday, September 13th.

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HOURS

  • Children may attend the morning session, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., at which time they are dismissed to their classrooms.
  • They may also attend the afternoon session from 3:15, to 6:00 p.m.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

The SACC program is required to abide by the rules and procedures of our host school district, including their decision to delay school, close early, and cancel all after school activities. Under certain conditions, the building may be closed to all personnel, including SACC staff.

We understand that this can be an inconvenience to you, but the district makes these decisions with your child’s safety in mind. Pawling Community Service is also committed to ensuring the safety of our staff.

Therefore:

  • In the event that school is cancelled due to weather conditions, Pawling SACC will also be cancelled.
  • When school is delayed, the morning program will be cancelled.
  • If school is closed early, the SACC program will be cancelled.
  • If after-school activities are cancelled, the SACC after-school session is also cancelled. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to be aware of the weather and possible school closures.

Please check with www.cancellations.com for school delays, closures, etc.

Possible snow days and other closures are built into the program fee and therefore there will be no refunds.

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SCHOOL VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS

SACC will not be in session during vacations, holidays, and Superintendent Conference Days. Please see the schedule below for SACC closures along with days that half-day coverage is available for an additional fee. As of June 19, 2010, the scheduled days off and half-days are as follows:

Schedule for a typical morning
Month / Day Status
SEPTEMBER
1-2 (Tues-Wed.) Superintendent’s Conference Days
3 (Friday) No School
6 (Monday) Labor Day
7 (Tuesday) FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FIRST DAY OF SACC
9 (Thursday) Rosh Hashanah No SACC
OCTOBER
8 (Friday) ½ day Teacher Professional Day extended SACC day
11 (Monday) Columbus Day No SACC
NOVEMBER
2 (Tuesday) Superintendent’s Conference Day No SACC
11 (Wednesday) Veterans Day No SACC
18-19 (Wed.-Thurs.) ½ Day Parent/Teacher Conferences extended SACC day
24 (Wednesday) ½ Day – Thanksgiving Recess extended SACC day
25 & 26 (Thursday & Friday) Thanksgiving No SACC
DECEMBER
24-31 (Friday-Friday) Winter Recess No SACC
2011 JANUARY
3 (Monday) Back to school SACC Resumes
17 (Monday) Martin Luther King Day No SACC
28 (Friday) ½ day Teacher Professional Day extended SACC day
FEBRUARY
21-25 (Monday-Friday Mid-Winter Recess No SACC
MARCH
18 (Friday) Superintendent Conference Day No SACC
APRIL
18 - 22 (Monday Friday) Spring Recess No SACC
30 (Friday) Superintendent’s Conference Day No SACC
MAY
6 (Friday) ½ Day Teacher Professional Day extended SACC day
30 (Monday) Memorial Day No SACC
JUNE
3 (Friday) ½ day Teacher Professional Day extended SACC day
20 - 24 (Monday-Thursday) ELE/MS Early Dismissal extended SACC day
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ABSENCES

  • Tuition is based on enrollment and not attendance. The NYS Office of Children and Family Services require SACC programs to maintain an adult-to-child ratio for each age group. Therefore, staffing and other expenses are determined by enrollment.
  • In case of illness or injury, tuition will be charged for the first 5 consecutive days of a child’s absence.
  • If you know that your child will be absent for more than 5 consecutive days, please call the SACC Director at 845/855-2162 to request an adjustment for that billing cycle.
  • When you know that your child will not attend the afternoon program on a particular day, please call the SACC office (845/855-2162) as soon as possible and inform a staff member (or leave a message). Notes to teachers are recommended, but sometimes we are not kept in the loop. Without a note or call, staff must locate the child; sometimes this means holding the buses or calling you and/or those on your contact sheet.
  • If we have any doubt about your child’s arrangements for the afternoon, he or she will be sent to the SACC program until a parent/guardian can be contacted.
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ATTENDANCE CHANGE/WITHDRAWAL

To change the days your child attends the program or to withdraw your child, please complete the “Attendance Change & Withdrawal Form” located in the back of this package. Verbal messages are easily lost, forgotten, or confused. Completing the form will alleviate problems with billing. If we do not receive notice, you will be expected to pay your bill to cover staffing for the days your child was supposed to be in the program.

The SACC Director must be informed in writing that your child will no longer attend the program before the next payment is due, or you will be charged full tuition and no refund will be made.

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ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

  • Pawling Community Services does not provide transportation to or from the Pawling School-Age Child Care program located in Pawling Elementary School. All transportation is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
  • Students may be dropped off between 7:00 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. and must be signed in by an adult.
  • Students must be picked up from the after-school session before 6:00 p.m. by an authorized adult. Adults should be prepared to offer documentation to validate their identity. Adults are required to sign the child out from the program.
  • The SACC program closes at 6:00 p.m. and a fee will be charged for late pick-ups. Every effort will be made to contact the parent/guardian and/or an individual authorized by the parent/guardian to pick up the child. If, however, the child is not picked up by 6:45 and we have not heard from the parent/guardian and/or an authorized individual, we will notify the Dutchess County Sheriff’s office.
  • Be sure to complete the “Authorization for Pick Up” section in the three page registration packet when you register your child for the program because no child will be released to an individual without proper authorization.
  • Kindly call with any schedule changes. If SACC staff does not receive either a note or a call from the parent/legal guardian of a child regarding a change in schedule, the school will release the child to the SACC program. The parent/legal guardian will be called by SACC staff so that we can determine if you want your child sent home, but if the staff is unable to reach a parent or legal guardian, we will hold your child at the program until you come to pick him or her up. SACC staff does not always receive copies of notes sent to teachers and we have adopted this procedure to ensure your child’s safety.
  • If a staff member feels that an adult is in an impaired state for any reason, including, but not limited to, substance abuse, Pawling Community Services reserves the right to refuse to release the child and to contact the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.
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VISITOR POLICY

Pawling Community Services seeks to provide an open and friendly environment. We, therefore, value and encourage visitors. At the same time we recognize our duty to ensure a safe environment for our children and staff, and we recognize our responsibility to protect and preserve our resources against theft, vandalism and misuse.

Visitors to the Pawling School-Age Child Care program are defined as all people other than staff members, students, and parents/guardians involved in the task of delivering or collecting children at the start or the end of the school day.

  • All visitors will be required to report to the Executive Director or Program Director prior to undertaking any activity within the program.
  • Parent’s are welcome to observe their child during a program session, but must sign their child out if they wish to visit with or work with him or her.
  • Visitors will be required to sign a “Visitors log.”
  • Visitors will be provided with directions where appropriate.
  • This policy will be available on-site in the SACC Child & Staff Emergency Information books located in each program bag.
  • Visitors who fail to follow this process will be directed to leave. If they do not comply, the senior staff member will remain with the visitor while children are moved to a different location by staff. The Executive Director will be notified and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s office will be called by a staff member designated specifically for that purpose.
  • Visitors engaged in work of an ongoing nature will be required to comply with Pawling Community Services’ Code of Conduct Policy.
  • Pawling Community Services reserves the right and has the authority to prohibit any potential visitor from entering or remaining within the program who is not a parent or a legal guardian.

Pawling Community Services’ emergency management procedures will ensure that visitors within the program at the time of any emergency or practice drill will be recognized and be appropriately cared for.

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HEALTH CARE POLICY

Sick Child

These guidelines have been established to protect the health and well-being of your child and other children in our program.

  • Children who do not feel well should be kept at home.
  • If your child becomes ill while attending the SACC program and needs to go home, you will be notified to pick up your child within one hour.
  • If ill, your child will be provided with a mat to rest upon in an area located away from other children but within sight of the staff.
  • Children will not be permitted to attend the program as long as:
    • They pose a significant health risk to other children.
    • They are feeling so poorly that they are unable to participate in the scheduled activities and require an excessive amount of time from staff.
  • According to the Dutchess County Department of Health Sanitary Code, Article 22: Child Care Facilities and Nursery Schools, Section 22.4-Communicable diseases and health care (C); “Persons suffering from or suspected of suffering from any communicable disease or having acute symptoms of respiratory, gastrointestinal or skin infection shall not be in attendance at any child day care facility unless so authorized and under the direction of a physician.”
  • Pawling Community Services reserves the right to request a doctor’s note to confirm illness or for re-admission into the program.
  • Please keep your child home if any of these symptoms occur:
    • Skin rash
    • Head lice
    • Fever 100 degrees and over
    • Pinworms and ringworm
    • Hepatitis
    • Measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella
    • Persistent cough
    • Diarrhea
    • Conjunctivitis
    • Impetigo
    • Strep throat
  • Please notify Pawling Community Services SACC staff immediately if your child has a communicable disease so that we may inform other parents about the illness and its symptoms.
  • Pawling Community Services requires a note from your child’s physician stating that treatment has begun and the child is not infectious or is healthy before the child may return to the program.

Injured Child

  • If an injury is minor and can be taken care of by staff certified in First Aid, appropriate treatment will be administered and an injury report will be completed for parents to sign.
  • If a staff member feels an injury may require additional medical treatment (but is not an emergency), parents will be notified immediately to pick up their child and decide if they wish to seek medical attention.
  • In case of an injury that requires emergency medical treatment, the following steps will be taken:
    • An ambulance will be called
    • The parent or guardian will be notified
    • The program supervisor will accompany the child to the hospital of choice
    • A Pawling Community Services staff member will remain with the child until a parent or guardian arrives.
  • An incident report will be filled out on all injuries and a copy will be made available to the parent.

IF YOU SUSPECT CHILD ABUSE AND/OR MALTREATMENT:

Reports of suspected child abuse or maltreatment should be made immediately--at any time of the day and on any day of the week--by telephone to the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (sometimes referred to as the State Central Register or SCR).

Child Abuse Hotline Number: 1-800-342-3720

The Child Protective Specialist who answers your call will ask you for as much information as you can provide about both the suspected abuse or maltreatment and the family about which you are calling. Below are examples of some questions the Child Protective Specialist might ask you when you call. Even if you have very little information available to you, please call the SCR. The specialists will analyze the information you do have and determine if it is sufficient to register a report.

  • What is the nature and extent of the child's injuries, or the risk of harm to the child?
  • Have there been any prior suspicious injuries to this child or his/ her siblings?
  • What are the child's name, home address, and age?
  • What is the name and address of the parent or other person legally responsible who caused the injury, or created the risk of harm to the child?
  • What are the names and addresses of the child's siblings and parents if different from the information provided above?
  • Do you have any information regarding treatment of the child, or the child's current whereabouts?
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SAFETY AND FIRE DRILLS

  • Drills are conducted once a month during the school year.
  • The SACC site has directions for emergency evacuations. These directions, including emergency phone numbers) are posted on-site.
  • In the case of an actual emergency, you will be notified by a staff member who will give you a relocation site for pick-up.

Pawling Community Services does not discriminate on the basis or race, sex, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.

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