Sonshine School Operational Policies
Abuse or Neglect
To report abuse or neglect, please call 1-800-252-5400 or visit www.txabusehotline.org. A&M Church of Christ requires each staff member to receive 2 hours of child abuse training through the Youth and Child Protection Ministry. Additionally, the state of Texas requires each staff member to have another 2 hours of training in Preventing and Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Children. This training includes methods for increasing employee and parent awareness of issues regarding child abuse and neglect, including warning signs that a child may be a victim of abuse and neglect. The training also provides strategies for coordination between the center and appropriate community organizations and actions that the parent of a child who is a victim of abuse or neglect should take to obtain assistance and intervention.
Alerts and Changes
If there is a health or safety alert, we will send a note home with your student, send an email, or call you. If there is an amendment to any of our school policies, we will also send you a copy of the changes and request a signature upon your receipt of the aforementioned notification of change(s).
Animals on Campus
Other than formally trained service animals, Sonshine School does not allow animals on campus at any time during operation.
Attendance & School Closings
No credits or discounts will be issued for absence due to illness, in-service days, inclement weather, or school closings of up to eight (8) consecutive school days for the safety of students, or regularly scheduled holidays. (School closings exceeding 8 consecutive school days will result in a shift to Sonshine School at home.) Your student may only attend Sonshine School on the days for which you have enrolled your student. If your student is unable to attend on his/her enrolled days, no other days can be substituted for the days your student missed. A&M Church of Christ is currently a Red Cross Shelter. In the event of a natural disaster, evacuees may be housed in our facility; therefore, Sonshine School may be temporarily closed in order to ensure the safety of our students.
In the event Sonshine School is required to close for more than 8 consecutive school days, we will transition to Sonshine School At Home. Parents will be responsible for 50% of their student’s monthly tuition amount for all days the school is operating Sonshine School At Home. Sonshine School at Home will include curriculum packages provided to parents for at-home use as well as weekly online resources and opportunities for interaction with classroom teachers.
Birthdays
Your student’s birthday is important to us. Feel free to send a special treat or snack to celebrate his or her special day. This treat will be shared with your student’s classmates at the end of lunch. Though we do not have time in our daily schedule to have a party for each child, we are happy to incorporate this small treat into the daily lunch portion of their day. If your student’s birthday falls on a day that is not a school day, please make arrangements with your student’s teacher to establish an agreeable date for celebrating his/her birthday at school. Please refrain from handing out party invitations at school unless each student enrolled in the class is to receive one. You may obtain a class roster from the school office if you would like.
Clothing
Students are encouraged to wear play clothes and closed-toed tennis shoes. Shoes with wheels are prohibited. All young ladies are required to wear shorts or leggings (or something similar) under their dresses/skirts in order to maintain their modesty while involved in active play and sitting on the floor. Daily schedules include active and messy learning; therefore, please dress your student appropriately for active and messy play. Sonshine School is not responsible for accessories that may be lost or broken during our school day such as hair bows, jewelry, etc.
At the beginning of each semester, you will be asked to send several complete changes of clothes for your child. These clothes will be kept here at school for the semester. In the event we use the extra clothes, we ask that you send back a replacement the next day that your child attends. At the end of each semester, all clothing will be sent home.
Students aged 12-17 months, send 4 changes of clothing
Students aged 18-36 months, send 3 changes of clothing
Students aged 3+ years, send 2 sets of clothing
Communication
You will receive regular communication via email from both the school office and your classroom teacher. Teachers are expected to respond within 24 hours to emails you send during our regular school week. Emails received over the weekend (Friday – Sunday) will be responded to before 9:00 am on Monday morning.
If, at any time, you have a concern, comment, complaint, or question, do not hesitate to contact the School. You may schedule a meeting with the Director, send an email/write a letter, or call. The student’s best interest is at the heart of everything we do. Please allow us to help resolve any matter which may cause you concern or grief.
Curriculum
Sonshine School utilizes the Mother Goose Time curriculum. Mother Goose Time is a comprehensive curriculum that aligns with State standards and Head Start indicators. This curriculum provides opportunities for social, emotional, and cognitive growth that is tailored to the student’s age and development. Visit www.mothergoosetime.com for more information.
Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Plan
A full Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Plan is available in the school office. The plan includes Fire evacuation information, a Severe Weather Response Plan with specified designated interior space where children will seek shelter, an alternate evacuation location in the event we must evacuate school property, information regarding lockdown procedures, and frequency of all emergency & disaster drills.
Enrollment Changes
Changes in enrollment must be made by submitting a completed “Change of Enrollment Form” located in the school office. There is a $25 fee to change your child’s enrollment after July 31st.This includes increases/decreases in days of attendance as well as increases/decreases in extended care programming. Enrollment changes may take up to a week to implement once the form has be received. Neither the Supply & Curriculum Fees nor Extended Care Fees are prorated when adding or reducing days of attendance. Please see page 22 for more information.
It is our standard practice to suspend all enrollment increases between Parent Orientation and the end of September. Any requests for enrollment increases submitted during that time will be processed the last week of September. Families will be notified at that time if their request for increased enrollment has been approved.
Expulsion and Suspension of Students
Sonshine School strives to work with our families to prevent the need to expel or suspend a student. Unfortunately, there are times when such measures may need to be taken. Below is a list of situations that may result in the suspension of a student as outlined in our Enrollment Agreement:
3 biting incidents in a 30-day period.
As part of a behavior modification plan to address repetitive aggressive behavior.
Late payment of monthly tuition.
Inadequate documentation of state-required immunizations and health information.
Expulsion is extremely rare and would only result for the following reasons:
Refusal by the family to follow the school Enrollment Agreement.
Refusal by the family to work with the school to develop a behavior modification plan when the student is exhibiting repetitive aggressive behavior at school.
Food
A snack will be offered to each student enrolled in Afternoon Extended Care daily. A snack menu is posted on the Parent Board in the Sonshine School Office.
Parents/guardians are required to provide lunch each day. Each student is encouraged to bring a healthy lunch. Do not send sugary drinks such as soda, kool-aid, or sweet tea. In order to avoid choking, for students under the age of 4 we require that grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, and any other small round food be halved or quartered, hot dogs must be halved lengthwise. Popcorn, nuts/seeds, and hard/sticky candy are not allowed for students under the age of 4. Please refer to the lunch requirements of each age group on page 5 of this packet for age-specific information. Chewing gum is not allowed. Please do NOT send any glass containers. If your student’s lunch requires utensils, please include these. Please note that classrooms have no way to heat, refrigerate, or cut up food.
Food Allergies
All students with medically documented food allergies must have an Emergency Action Plan signed by a physician on file in the school office. All staff members are made aware of food allergies on campus, and postings regarding food allergies are placed in the classroom and in the school office.
Gang Free Zone
Sonshine School is required under the Texas Penal Code to inform you that any area within 1,000 feet of our school, or any other child-care center, is a Gang Free Zone, where criminal offenses related to organized criminal activity are subject to harsher penalties.
Head Lice
Due to the nature of school activities and the close proximity of classmates during those activities, any student with active nymphs or adult head lice will be sent home. Students may return to school after receiving an FDA-approved treatment for head lice. In accordance with the Minimum Standards for Licensed Childcare Centers, parents will be notified when there has been an outbreak of lice in their child’s group or class.
Health of Your Child
Your student MUST be free of any signs of respiratory or gastrointestinal illness as listed on the Daily Health Screening Commitment for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications in order to come to school. Every student must have a signed Daily Health Screening Commitment on file. This form can be found on page 19 of this packet.
You will be notified if your student should become ill at school. The student will be removed from the classroom and will remain separated until you arrive. If you will not be reachable, please make sure we have on file the name and phone number of someone who can come and pick up your student.
Please notify the school via email, phone, or by some other means if your student is out and/or sick.
Whenever your student visits the doctor for either an illness or a well-check, we require that you provide us with a note. If your student was seen as an ill patient, then the note from your student’s physician should state when your student may return to school. If your student is seen for a well-check, please provide us with an updated immunization record (if applicable), and/or proof of good health and notice that your student may participate in an early education center.
If your student has a chronic condition that may otherwise look like sickness or illness in which he or she would be subject to exclusion, please contact the Director.
Immunizations/Vision and Hearing Screening
All student records must remain in compliance with State of Texas requirements regarding student health and wellness. In the instance that you receive notification from the school that your student is not current on a specific immunization or other health requirements, you will need to provide proof in writing from your student’s physician that your student has an appointment to receive those updates. To remain enrolled, your student must complete the subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable evidence of vaccination to the school. For more information, please feel free to consult your student’s physician or www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize.
Proof of Hearing and Vision screenings are required for students who are four years old or older by September 1st. More information concerning this requirement can be found at: www.dshs.texas.gov/vhs.
Current immunization records are required to be on file for every enrolled student. A $25 chargewill be added to your account if immunization records have not been received by the end of business on July 15th. Applications received after July 15th must be complete (i.e. must include immunization records, Statement of Health from your student’s doctor, and all other forms completed), otherwise, they will not be processed.
Sonshine School encourages all staff members to maintain current vaccinations including, but not limited to HepA (Hepatitis), Pertussis (Whooping Cough), and Influenza (Flu). More information on recommended adult vaccinations can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
Inclement Weather
Sonshine School will follow the College Station ISD (CSISD) changes to their school calendar due to inclement weather. If CSISD delays the start of school, has an early release, or is closed due to inclement weather, Sonshine School will generally follow these changes. These changes will be delivered to you in the form of emails, posted notices, and/or phone calls.
Insect Repellent
Due to the short time students are outside, Sonshine School does not routinely apply insect repellent to students. If there is a medical need for a student to have insect repellent applied during the school day, a letter from a doctor documenting the need will be required, and the insect repellent will be treated like an over-the-counter medication.
Medical Emergencies
In the event of a medical emergency for a student or staff member, Sonshine School will first call 911, and then notify the parents and/or the emergency contact listed in the student or staff member’s file of the situation.
Medication
Sonshine School will administer prescribed medications only if the medication MUST be administered during the hours of operation of Sonshine School. Prescribed antibiotics will only be administered as long as it has been at least 24 hours after the first dose was given.
Acceptable medications will be administered only upon the written request of the parent or guardian of the student or from the student’s physician. Forms are available in the office and a new form MUST be completed, signed, and dated for each prescription. Medications must be in the original container with the prescription label intact and left with a designated office administrator.
We will NOT administer over-the-counter medications without Doctor’s orders.
Nursing Mothers
Nursing Mothers are encouraged to be a part of their student’s life and are welcome any time that they would like to be on campus to nurse. A mother can nurse her baby as often as needed or desired at Sonshine School. The mother will be provided her own space in a mother’s room located next to the church nursery with several rockers/gliders in a relaxing and calming atmosphere. We also are able to properly store and prepare breast milk for use in her baby’s bottle, cereal, etc.
Theme Days
Each month our classes will have a variety of Theme Days that encourage student participation through dress-up, show and tell, and special parent-provided snacks. Every month will include a color-themed day, a shape-themed day, and a curriculum-themed day.
In addition to the monthly One Day Fun Days, classes will have up to 4 seasonal fun days each year: FALL, THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, and VALENTINE’S. These seasonal fun days depart from the standard monthly curriculum and include special-themed activities throughout the day.
The Fall Fun Day in October is a day that students are allowed to wear costumes to school. We ask that your student not bring/wear anything that relates to violence, destruction, or witchcraft. If you have any questions concerning this policy, please feel free to contact the Director.
Parent & Family Involvement
There are many opportunities for parent and family involvement throughout the school year. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to come have lunch in their student’s classroom to celebrate their birthday and when he/she is Star Student.
Sonshine School is committed to providing many opportunities for you to actively support our program and connect with one another. From special snacks to teacher appreciation, attending social events for parents and families, and many opportunities to participate in fundraising efforts, there is sure to be an area where you can connect. Please complete a Family Involvement Information form (page 28) to get connected.
Parent Rights
Section 42.04271 to the Human Resources Code states that a parent or guardian of a child at a childcare facility has the right to:
Enter and examine the child-care facility during its hours of operation and without advance notice;
File a complaint against the childcare facility;
Review the childcare facility’s publicly accessible records;
Review the child-care facility’s written records concerning the parent’s or guardian’s child;
Receive inspection reports and information about how to access the childcare facility’s online compliance history;
Have the facility comply with a court order that prevents another parent or guardian from visiting or removing the child;
Be given the contact information for the child care facility’s local Child Care Regulation office;
Inspect any video recordings of an alleged incident of abuse or neglect involving their child provided that:
Video recordings of the alleged incident are available;
The parent or guardian does not retain any part of the video depicting a child that is not their own; and
The parent or guardian of any other child in the video receives prior notice from the facility;
Obtain a copy of the facility’s policies and procedures handbook;
Review the facility’s staff training records and any in-house training curriculum; and
Exercise these rights without receiving retaliatory action by the facility.
Pest Control
A&M Church of Christ has regular quarterly Pest Control treatments in which pesticides are applied inside and outside the building. A notification will be posted in the Sonshine School Office within 48 hours of treatment. Any further information may be obtained from the Director.
Registration
There is a $100 nonrefundable application fee for new students. Returning students have a $75 nonrefundable application fee. We will not accept a student’s registration application without this fee. This fee is due once a year at the time you submit your student’s application and may be paid by cash, check, or through ProCare. Your student’s registration will not be processed until the registration fee has been received. All application fees will be immediately deposited and the Registrar will contact you within 15 business days to inform you of your child’s enrollment status (if he/she has been placed in a class or on the waiting list). The classrooms are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Each class is subject to a minimum enrollment to make. Registration begins February 1st for students currently enrolled in Sonshine School, their siblings, and any students on the current year’s waiting list, February 15th for members of the A&M Church of Christ and Community Bible Studay, and March 1st for the public.
It is our school practice to suspend new student enrollment and enrollment increases from the day of Parent Orientation until the end of September. This allows our teachers and students to get to know one another and settle into the routines of school without disruption. Any new student enrollments and enrollment increases received in this timeframe will be reviewed the last week of September to allow for changes to take effect in October.
Registration must be submitted to
Sonshine School
A & M Church of Christ
2475 Earl Rudder Freeway S.
College Station, TX 77845
(979) 693-8668
Questions regarding registration: registrar@sonshine-school.org
Rest Time (Afternoon Extended Care)
All students enrolled in Afternoon Extended Care will be provided a nap cot for rest time. Sonshine School is responsible for the care, sanitization, and maintenance of nap cots.
Blankets and/or “lovies” may be sent for use during Afternoon Extended Care. These items should be sent in the student’s School Backpack and they will be sent home each day. Sonshine School is not responsible for the cleaning or sanitizing of these items.
Safety Procedure for Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival Procedures
Morning Extended Care Opens at 8:30 am
If your student is in morning extended care, you will use the entrance next to the Church Office (First Parking Lot). Upon entering the building, you must take your child to use the restroom and wash their hands prior to checking in with school staff at the kiosk located outside of the school office.
If you are dropping off after 8:50 am, you must follow the Regular School Day Arrival Procedure.
Regular School Day: Doors Open at 8:55 am
Arrival will take place in the great hall near the covered drive
All parents must park to drop off students
Parents/Caregivers and Students will be visually health screened at the check-in kiosk before entry
Once you have been signed in, you must take your child to use the restroom and wash hands and then wait near your child’s class animal sign for a staff member to receive your child.
Parents will not be permitted in the gym or on the children’s hall during arrival/drop-off
Please exit the building promptly after dropping off your student
If you arrive after 9:15 am please use the door by Church Administrative offices and proceed to the Sonshine School office to be checked in.
Dismissal Procedures
You are required to pick up your student NO LATER than 1:30 pm at the designated area (or NO LATER than 2:30 pm if your student is enrolled in Extended Afternoon). Late fees will be assessed per the policy in the Enrollment Agreement on page 24.
Students will NOT be permitted to leave the school with any person who is NOT listed on that student’s admission form, even IF we know this person. Please make sure to keep the list of approved people for picking up your student updated. Each person picking up your student is subject to having his or her state driver’s license checked. If someone comes to pick up your student who we do not know and they DO NOT have a picture ID, we will be unable to release your student to them EVEN IF they are on your approved list. Please contact the Director with any questions.
Regular School Day: Doors Open at 1:20 pm
Dismissal will take place in the great hall near the covered drive
All parents must park to pick up students
Sign your child out with a staff member at the kiosk and then wait near your child’s class animal sign for your student and their belongings to be brought to you
Please exit the building promptly after picking up your student
If you arrive after 1:35 pm, please use the door by the Church Administrative offices and proceed to the Sonshine School office to sign out your student
Afternoon Extended Care Closes at 2:30 pm
If your student is in afternoon extended care, you will use the entrance next to the Church Office (First Parking Lot). Proceed to the Sonshine School office to sign out your student.
School Hours
Sonshine School is a part-time nine-month school year program:
September – May
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Extended Time (optional): 8:30 am – 9:00 am, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
State Licensed Facility
As a state-licensed preschool, we must inform you where you may find a copy of the State Minimum Standards which serves as our guidelines in operation. We have a copy for your convenience located in the Administrative Office. In that office, you will also find posted our most recent inspection by the state, as well as our annual fire inspection and sanitation inspection. You may view our most recent state inspection and review the minimum standards at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/protective-services-providers/child-care-regulation/minimum-standards. You may contact our local licensing agency at 979-731-0118.
Sunscreen
Due to the short time students are outside, Sonshine School does not routinely apply sunscreen to students. Parents are encouraged to apply sunscreen to their students before dropping them off. If there is a medical need for a student to have sunscreen applied during the school day, a letter from a doctor documenting the need will be required, and the sunscreen will be treated like an over-the-counter medication.
Toilet Training
All students three years old and older are typically potty trained. If your child is not potty trained before August and he/she is three years old, please notify the Director so appropriate accommodations can be made. If your student is potty training, he or she must wear pull-ups that have velcro side release. We will do our very best to help your student stay in a dry pull-up throughout the day. Please provide 3 extra pull-ups in your student’s backpack.
You may send your 2-year-old and younger student in underpants when he/she has had at least TWO WEEKS of no accidents during his/her waking hours.
You may send your 3-year-old in underpants when he/she has had at least ONE WEEK of no accidents during his/her waking hours. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the Director.
Toys
Students should leave ALL TOYS at home. The school provides adequate equipment for the students to be involved with during the day. There is an opportunity for each student, during the year, to bring prized possessions to share with his or her teacher and classmates when he or she is the Star Student. Your teacher will let you know when your student is designated to be the Star Student.
Training
The Sonshine School staff is required to attend an Orientation for Sonshine School within 7 days of employment. Each staff member is required to have 24 hours of Preservice Training within their first 3 months of employment, of which 8 hours are required prior to being responsible for any students. Each staff member must also have 24 hours of early childhood education training annually. The school director must have 30 hours of annual training in early childhood education and professional development. Each staff member is CPR/1st Aid Certified. Each staff member also receives annual training on the recognition and prevention of abuse and neglect.
Tuition and Payments
Tuition is based on our entire nine-month school year and then divided into nine equal monthly payments according to each program (2 – day, 3 – day, and 4 – day). The monthly tuition for each program is constant although the number of school days in each program and each month may vary. Tuition is due on the first day of each month.
ALL STUDENTS are required to participate in automatic payment drafts via Tuition Express through ProCare. All tuition and fees charged in the school year (with the exception of the Application Fee) are drafted on the 1st of each month. The application fee is due at the time of registration.
There is a fee of $25.00 for Insufficient Funds. If your account is found to be insufficient through our Payment Processing Software, Sonshine School will contact you to collect an alternative method of payment. After the 3rd occurrence of Insufficient Funds, you will be required to make all payments in cash on the 1st of each month. Tuition received after the 10th of the month is subject to a $25.00 late fee, and your student will NOT be able to attend until your account is current.
All accounts MUST be current in order to enroll for the following school year as well as to receive the end-of-year Portfolio that your student creates throughout the school year. Delinquent accounts are subject to your student being dismissed from the program. Please see the Director for any special circumstances. Extended Care fees are in addition to your monthly tuition if you choose to utilize this program. See page 14 for further details.
Withdrawal
Sonshine School requires a minimum of 30 days written notice of plans to withdraw your child from the program. There are withdrawal notices located in the Sonshine School Office. Once you have completed this form and it is received by the Registrar, your child will be eligible for withdrawal. There is a half-month tuition charge for withdrawal from the program. See page 24 for more information.
In the event of a school closure lasting more than eight (8) consecutive school days, the above requirement and fee will be waived. No refunds or credits will be given for tuition and fees already collected.