2006 Gibraltar Point Day Nursery Handbook
INTRODUCTION
The
purpose of this handbook is to keep you informed regarding the details which
concern you and your child as a member of Gibraltar Point Day Nursery. After reading this handbook, please complete
the Parent Application form and return to the Supervisor.
Welcome to Gibraltar Point Day Nursery. We have been in operation since 1982. We are a Government licensed, nonprofit corporation
with the capacity for 24 full time children, ages 2-½ - 5 years.
Our Nursery is located in and affiliated with the Island Public/Natural
Science School on Hanlan’s Point,
PHILOSOPHY
Because
of our natural setting, Gibraltar Point Day Nursery is unique from any other
Centre. We have a whole
·
to be and feel secure, safe and happy in an
atmosphere, especially created to help a child develop to his/her full potential
·
to participate in a balanced program covering
the areas of intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth
·
to experience activities which are at times
structured to provide for guidance and are at times unstructured to allow
for free individual expression
·
to develop a positive self-image through appropriate
and challenging experiences
·
to learn self-discipline, positive work habits
and independence through encouragement
·
to develop a positive self-image through a
relaxed, supportive climate, where each child is loved and valued for himself/herself
PROGRAM
Our
Nursery offers the following Program:
·
full daycare
·
Lunch and morning and afternoon snacks.
·
program to complement the Junior and Senior
Kindergarten Program offered at the Island Public/Natural Science School
·
Our staff will provide an escort service to
and from the City ferry docks for full day Senior Kindergartens only if we
are not full to capacity.
Our
Program consists of a variety of stimulating activities which help in developing
each individual child’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth.
These activities include:
Music, creative art, creative dance, body movements,
pre-math and language concepts, cognitive activities, sand and water tables,
family centre, library time, films, field trips, special events within the
public school (such as concerts and plays).
Our
Program is posted once a month in the “Gibraltar Pointer” news letter.
OBSERVATION AND PROGRAMMING
During the school year, we observe the children on a
continuous basis. Our observations
aid us in two ways. One is to shape
our Program based on the individual child’s needs.
The other is to help us communicate to the parents how we feel each
child is developing and progressing in our setting. If you have any questions regarding your child
and/or our observation methods, please feel free to contact us at any time.
As your child enters Junior Kindergarten, his/her new teacher may find
it helpful if we pass on information regarding your child’s progress.
PARENT VISITS
Parents
are always welcome to visit the Nursery at anytime. We do, however, ask that you come strictly to
observe (as in the case of specific concerns), or that you become a part of
our Program by sharing something of yourself with the children. In the past, parents have gardened with the
children, brought musical instruments, or showed the children how to diaper
a baby. Everyone has something to share.
Parents
are asked to walk your child on the ferry boat where staff will be waiting
to escort your child on a ten (10) minute ferry boat ride to Ward’s Island
where the school bus will be waiting to shuttle the children to the school.
Attendance
is taken upon arrival and departure from Gibraltar Point Day Nursery.
Parents
should insure that the staff on duty is aware of your child’s arrival or departure
from the ferry docks.
HOURS AND ESCORT
Gibraltar
Point Day Nursery is in operation from
Parents
must always be on time when dropping off or picking up their children.
Buses and ferries will not wait past their scheduled times.
Remember that it is upsetting for the children and inconvenient for
staff members to have to wait at the ferry docks for late parents. If you are late picking up your child and, after
two (2) written warnings, there will be an additional charge of $1.00 for
each minute you are late. The fees
must be paid directly to the staff on duty. It is extremely important that
parents contact the staff regarding any changes in their child’s escorting
schedule, or if someone who we are not familiar with will be picking up their
child. We would also appreciate a call if your child
is going to be absent.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Escort
services for
Summer schedule
Parents are to call the Nursery and notify staff when
your child will be arriving at the Island.
Parents are to escort their child to the Island and drop them off on
the school bus. Arrangements will be
made for a bus to pick up from the ferry boat dock area to the School/Nursery
FERRY BOAR SCHEDULES
Please be advised of the seasonal ferry boat schedules.
The fall schedule begins after Labour
Day, the winter schedule usually begins after Thanksgiving and the summer
schedule begins after Victoria Day. Unexpected
weather may cause delay or ferry break downs. If you feel that the weather may cause an unexpected
delay prior to arriving in the morning you may call the ferry services at
(416) 392-8193 (recording) or (416) 392-8194 for traffic office. An emergency escort procedure is in place in
the event of a ferry breakdown.
FERRY BOAT SHUT DOWN
In the event of a ferry break down the school will be
taking a school bus located at the foot of Bay and Queen’s Quay. The bus will drive to Bathurst and Queens Quay
and board onto the island airport ferryboat. Please keep in mind that ferry boat breakdowns
are not in our control.
PARENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gibraltar
Point Day Nursery, while being affiliated with the Island Public/Natural Science
School, is entirely parent operated and supported. This means that the parents along with the Supervisor
are responsible for all legal, financial, administrative and staffing aspects
of the Nursery. Even though the Toronto
District School Board and the Island Public/Natural Science School help us
out tremendously, and we would not exist today without this support, the continued
success of the Nursery ultimately depends on the active work of all parents.
There are four (4) executive positions that must be filled by parent
volunteers, President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The Principal of the school, a member of the school staff, and the
Nursery Supervisor are also on the Board of Directors. There are also two (2) committees that must
be filled, fundraising and advertising. All
positions are voluntary and elections are held at the Centre’s Annual General Meeting in March of each year. When enrolling your child into to Nursery, you
will be asked to indicate your preference.
It is important that parents attend our General Board meetings where
Nursery policies and procedures are determined.
Please help wherever you can, and remember, we do this for our children.
FEE STRUCTURE AND POLICIES
A
non refundable registration fee of $100 is required upon registration.
Parents
must submit 11 cheques dated on the first day of each month from September
through to July.
Full
Time:
$750.00/monthly
Full
Days:
$44.00/daily (min. 3 days per week)
We
do not offer half days.
Rates
are not reduced due to absence because of illness, vacation or statutory holidays. Full fees must be paid up until the end of July.
Special
consideration will be given to a child who has an extended absence due to
severe illness. Please contact the Supervisor regarding their
situation.
Children
already enrolled in the program who wish to keep their childcare spot for
the next year must provide a $100.00 non refundable deposit by July 1st.
Families
with outstanding accounts will not be permitted to enroll for the next session.
Notice
of withdrawal must be received in writing at least one month
prior to the first day of the month in which the withdrawal becomes effective.
ADMISSION
AND WITHDRAWAL
Prior
to enrolment of a child, parents must provide a doctor’s certificate confirming
a recent medical and up-to-date record of immunizations.
In order to ensure the continuity of the Program, parents wishing to
withdraw their child from the Nursery are requested to give one month’s notice.
HOLIDAYS AND P.D. DAYS
Gibraltar
Point Day Nursery is in operation from September through to the end
of June and 4 weeks in July. We are open P.D. Days, and March Break unless otherwise
notified. We are closed on all Statutory
Holidays, Christmas Break and through August to the end of the
Labor Day weekend.
A
record of the previous years’ fees and other monies paid to the Nursery will
be provided to each parent before the end of February of the following year. Parents
who wish
to withdraw during the year must ask for their fee record at that time.
It normally will not be mailed. Fee
receipts will not be issued until all outstanding fees are paid.
ILLNESS
It
is extremely important for parents to keep their child home when signs of
illness are present. Your child should remain home when his/her temperature
is high (over 100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C), when acute symptoms of cold
are present, when there is a yellow discharge from the nose, crustiness around
the eyes, puffy eyes, or red eyes, and when diarrhea or vomiting occurs. He/she should remain home at least one day after
symptoms subside. Should your child
contact a contagious disease (such as chicken pox, mumps, strep throat, pink eye, flu, impetigo, etc.)
Please notify the school immediately so that parents of other children can
be notified if necessary. The child
will not be accepted back into the Nursery until there is a note from the
doctor saying that the child’s condition is no longer contagious.
Please
keep your child at home if he/she has the following symptoms
·
Fever persistent crying, irritability, unusual lethargy,
difficult or irregular breathing or other signs of possible illness.
·
Diarrhea that is not contained by diaper or toilet use. Diarrhea is defined as an increase number of
stools compared with the child’s normal pattern, increased stool or decreased
stool form.
·
Vomiting twice or more in the previous 24 hours unless it can
be determined that the vomiting is due to a non-communicable condition and
the child is not in danger of dehydration.
·
Gastroenteritis
·
Mouth sores associated with the child’s inability to control her/his
saliva, unless the doctor states in writing that the child is non-infectious.
·
Rash with fever such as measles or roseola
or behaviour change associated with such rashes
until a doctor has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease.
·
Streptococcal throat
(strep throat) until 24 hours after the treatment
and until your child’s temperature has been normal for 24 hours.
·
Scabies until after the treatment is complete.
·
Whooping cough
until 5 days of the medication has been completed.
·
Mumps until 9 days after the start of the gland swelling.
·
Hepatitis A infection until 1 week after onset and jaundice, if
present, has disappeared.
If
your child becomes ill with any of the outlined illnesses, you will be required
to pick up your child as soon as possible.
Also be informed that a doctor’s note may be required upon your child’s
return to the Nursery.
MEDICAL
EMERGENCY
In
case of a medical emergency, children will be taken to the hospital. We will notify the parent when the medical emergency
happens. If we cannot reach you, the
emergency contact person will be called, and also the family doctor is called.
Failing to reach either, we take the child to the nearest hospital
and continue our attempts to contact you.
We cannot stress strongly enough the importance of making sure that
you keep us informed of all changes in addresses and phone numbers.
In
case of a minor accident (scrape or abrasion) we immediately apply first aid
to the child, comfort the child and decrease the child’s activities until
the child is ready to actively participate in the program.
An accident report will be filled out and sent home with the child
for parents to sign and return.
MEDICATION
If
your doctor orders medicine, we will be pleased to administer it, however,
the following safety rules must be strictly adhered to:
·
Medicine must be in a properly labelled
bottle (an original container with pharmacist’s label specifying child’s name
and dosage).
·
Non prescription medicines (e.g., aspirin)
will be given only on the written request of a physician.
A letter of permission for each medicine must be written
and signed by you, the parent.
·
Start and ending dates of medication given
storage instructions parents signature with date.
When
a child is ill or injured the supervisor the supervisor is immediately informed,
record the event in daily log book and accident report.
The child’s activity level will reduce and a bed will be provided.
City
parents
Parents
living in the city sill be informed by telephone,
arrangements are made for parents to pick child from the Island to the city. Parents/guardian must contact the school before
arriving at the Island for bus pick up to the school.
Island
parents
Island
parents are to pick up their children at the Algonquin bridge
or Ward’s Island. Arrangements are
made for parents to pick up their children from the bus.
COMMUNICATION
Another
very important way in which parents can be involved is communication with
the staff about their child. It helps
the staff if parents contact them in the beginning of the day to let them
know of any special or unusual events which he/she will approach the Program.
Please
remember that if your child is absent from Nursery for any reason, we must
be notified in the morning (416) 393-1907.
This is for your child’s safety and protection. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Supervisor
with any problems or concerns regarding your child’s care at Gibraltar Point
Day Nursery.
Gibraltar Point Day Nursery certifies it’s commitment to provide an environment
free of discrimination on the basis of race, creed, colour, national origin, political or religious affiliation,
sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family relationship and disability.
Gibraltar Point Day Nursery has developed and adapted the anti-racism
protocol and equity for all policy.
What is a racial incident?
A person or group of people who exercise the following
based on a person’s racial heritage, colour, place
of birth, language, religious customs or rituals and cultural dress or adornment.
Verbal behaviours:
Verbal abuse, name calling, insults, threats, slurs
degrading or unwelcome remarks, jokes or innuendoes/taunting.
Physical behaviours:
Condescension or paternalism which undermines self respect,
threatening of rude physical intimidation or assault, vandalism, insulting
actions, or practical jokes, refusing to talk, play or work with someone.
Avoidance, exclusion of inaction
refusing to talk, play or work with someone.
Written materials:
Creating, displaying or disturbing racist, derogatory
note of offensive materials (including literature), jokes, pictures or cartoons,
written materials that implies the inferiority or superiority of a group of
people.
A copy of policy is available in the policy manual and
posted at the centre.
*Encouraging others to engage in any of the above is also RACISM.
The term “child abuse” cover’s four major conditions; physical abuse,
sexual abuse, child neglect and emotional abuse.
Physical abuse includes all acts by a caregiver, which result in harm to a child. Sometimes physical abuse is caused by over-discipline.
Although cultural factors may play a role in disciplining children,
injuring a child is not acceptable and is against the law.
Sexual abuse
refers to the use of a child gratification of an adult or young person. Sexually abuse acts include exposure, fondling,
masturbation, intercourse (including incest and rape) and engaging a child,
in sexual activity through threats, bribes, force and, misrepresentation.
Child neglect is the chronic inattention or omission on the part of the parent/caregiver
to provide for the basic emotional and/or physical needs of the child, including
food, clothing, shelter, health, hygiene, safety, adequate supervision and
medical attention.
Emotional neglect is often the most difficult type of abuse to define and identify. Other than extreme cases, such as locking a
child in the dark to frighten him/her, emotional abuse is a pattern of overt
rejection, belittling, blaming, accusing, finding fault or shouting at a child.
Criticism and withdrawal of affection are used to discipline the child.
Gibraltar Point Day Nursery is committed in providing a safe and healthy
environment for all the children in our care.
Policies and procedures have been implemented. A copy of the Child Abuse Policy and Procedures
is available in the policy manual and posted at the centre.
A Serious Occurrence Policy is in effect. The policy describers the definition of a serious
Occurrence, staff responsibility, reporting process and requirements as prescribed
by the Day Nursery Act. More detailed
information of the policies and procedures are available in the policy manual
and posted at the centre
CLOTHING
We
encourage our children to participate in a wide variety of exciting activities,
both indoors and outdoors. When buying
clothing allow for freedom of movement, simple enough for the children to
dress themselves and practical enough to not worry about soiling.
The
children’s name should be marked clearly on all clothing which they remove
(i.e., coats, sweaters, hats, shoes, underwear, etc.). In addition, we would like you to send with
your child in a clearly marked bag, a complete spare set of clothing which
is labelled. While staff
will be diligent in looking after each child’s personal property, we are not
responsible for loss or damage to property left at the Nursery.
Make
sure that your child has warm outdoor clothing and boots for cold weather. Mitts should be fastened to outer wear or preferably
strung together. In June and July please
remember to send in the following items, as we spend much of our time at the
beach; sun hat, bathing suit, sun lotion and towel.
If
your child attends our rest period please send in a blanket which is also
labelled.
For
those children who are not yet toilet trained, parents are asked to bring
in enough disposable diapers for each day.
Plenty of training pants (labelled) should
also be provided. Soiled or wet pants
will be sent home to be laundered. Parents
are encouraged to discuss their child’s toilet training with the Supervisor
and staff so that a co-operative and consistent effort can be achieved.
The
most practical way for children to carry diapers and labelled
clothing, books, etc., is in a child-sized knapsack. Other types of bags are awkward for children
to handle on the bus and boat.
We
discourage children from bringing toys to the Nursery,
however we welcome books, cassettes or a favourite
stuffed animal for rest time. Please
label these items.
FOOD
Our
children are provided with hot nutritious lunches and snacks daily which are
catered by the kitchen staff at the Island Public/Natural Science School. You will receive a monthly calendar with the
menu and your snack posted. If a child
has allergies or is on a special diet, it is the responsibility of the parents
to notify the staff so that special arrangements can be made concerning meals.
We
sincerely hope that your child will enjoy every day at Gibraltar Point Day
Nursery. We appreciate the confidence
you have displayed in us by placing your child in our care.