Parent Handbook

Oberlin Early Childhood Center

..nurtures the healthy growth of young children and their families by providing

• the highest quality early childhood education program with wrap around child care services;
• an environment that is safe, stimulating and appropriate to the stage of development of each child;
• support to the diversity of families of all income levels from the local community and surrounding area; and
• a nationally accredited early childhood facility.

National Accreditation by

The National Association for the Education of Young Children

Recipient of the 2000 Irene Bandy-Hedden Award

Ohio Department of Education, Early Childhood Division

Introduction

Executive Director's Message

I welcome your child into The Oberlin Early Childhood Center (OECC) family where the staff nurtures the healthy growth of children and their families.  OECC is an early childhood education center that provides wrap around full-day services for families. Children come to this center from diverse cultural, racial and economic backgrounds, and we share a common investment in the care, education and nurturing of their children.  OECC's environment is staffed with caring teachers who respect children and their families. The center has been designated as a recipient of the 2000 Ohio Department of Education, Early Childhood Division's Irene Bandy-Hedden Award for exemplary early childhood education programs. We are pleased that you have selected our center to be part of your child’s growing years.

OECC Philosophy

It is the aim of the Oberlin Early Childhood Center staff to care for children and their families within an environment that provides a strong sense of security and emotional support while upholding standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  The individual needs and interests of each child are taken into consideration while fostering a sense of independence and learning through play. Oberlin Early Childhood Center considers a child’s potential growth in the social, emotional, language, intellectual, creative and physical domains.  Varied community and professional resources support our program. It is our goal to respect the diversity of families and to support them as partners in the task of nurturing their children.

Purpose

OECC provides quality childcare for children age’s three months to eight years.  OECC’s child-centered education program provides opportunities for creativity and problem solving through developmentally appropriate activities that encourages creative problem solving and inquiry. The learning activities are scheduled to meet the needs of individual children, and instill a sense of security.

Oberlin Early Childhood Center History

The Oberlin Early Childhood Center (OECC), founded in 1968, began as an experimental summer program for low-income preschoolers.  Originally located in the basement of Christ Episcopal Church, the program moved within months to larger quarters in the basement of First Church.  This low-cost program quickly became popular with families of all socio-economic backgrounds.

Before incorporation, the Center’s fiscal agent was the Oberlin Consumers Co-op whose manager was James "Bill" Long.  The Co-op also provided support for the Center through its "Causes Fund" now called the Bill Long Foundation.  In 1973 the Center gained status as a nonprofit corporation and received its first United Way grant.

In 1973 it was clear that the growing program needed it’s own space.  With the influence of Evan Nord of the Nordson Corporation, the Nordson Foundation agreed to build a facility on land located on East College Street. Ground was broken in 1975 and in April of 1976 the building was completed and the program moved to 317 East College Street.  The support continued with the Nord family’s support through establishment of the Oberlin Early Childhood Center Fund and the Oberlin Early Childhood Center Building Fund-The Nord Family Foundation to offset the cost of building maintenance and utilities.

1987 brought programming questions.  The Nordson Foundation contracted with the High/Scope Foundation of Ypsilanti, Michigan to conduct a comprehensive critique of the facility and programming.  The result was the implementation of a full time Programming Director to work in conjunction with the staff to enhance the curriculum and center related activities.

OECC has seen many changes in the needs of its children and families as well as in funding streams.  Federal funding cuts have made an impact on the program and the support of funds received from the City of Oberlin, Oberlin College as well as foundation grants helps to sustain the program.  Contracts are in place with the Department of Human Services of Lorain, Cuyahoga, Huron and Medina counties to provide tuition reimbursement for low-income families.

Through the years OECC has remained an early childhood program that has focused on comprehensive quality services for families of all incomes.  In January 1998 the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited OECC giving it the hallmark of an exemplary program.

Department of Human Services License

Our license is issued by the State Department of Human Services is posted in the lobby.  Representatives of the licensing agency regularly visit, review and evaluate OECC for rules and regulations compliance twice yearly.  Reports are available for review from the Department of Human Services 1(800) 686-1581.

National Accreditation

The National Academy of Early childhood Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children has validated OECC as an accredited early childhood program. This accreditation is awarded to exemplary early childhood programs that meet the Academy and NAEYC criteria, which includes:

• Qualified staff with degrees/credentials in early childhood or child development;
• An enriched, safe, healthy learning environment  which supports all areas of child’s growth and development: physical, social-emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and creative;
• Respect for the diversity of children and families and inclusion of diversity in all aspects of the programs, and
• A meaningful partnership with families, including family participation in program decision-making and support for their primary role in the lives of their children.

Policy of NonDiscrimination

It is OECC policy to provide equal educational opportunity to its clients and equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, or sex.  Our primary objectives are:

• No exclusion or segregation of persons from services because of race, ethnicity, or sex.
• No discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex with regard to recruitment, hiring, position assignment, promotion practices, or other conditions of employment.
• No discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex in the selection of member selected to serve on the Board of Trustees and/or other governing bodies.
• No contractual agreements for work or other services with agencies or firms that are in violation of state and federal regulations or current court ruling regarding equal employment opportunities.

The implementation of this policy will be the responsibility of the Executive Director in cooperation with OECC’s Board of Trustees.

Abuse Reporting Requirement

By law, each OECC staff member must report to the Executive or Assistant Director when there is suspected child abuse or neglect.  The Executive Director will then notify the local office of Children’s Services.

Facilities Policies

Hours of Operation

Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Closed for holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas day and the day after, New Years Day and the day after, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

As long as the facility is accessible and operational, OECC will remain open during inclement weather.

Emergency Center Closing

The Oberlin Early Childhood Center will close when It Is determined that conditions are unsafe for young children, families and staff.  The reasons for the Center to close could be weather, building maintenance (lack of water or heat) or health related Issues (flu episodes).  the determination to close will be done by consultation of the Executive Director, Assistant Director and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Families may access information by:

• Listening to radio stations WOEL 93 FM and WOBL 1320 AM,
• Viewing television channels 2,5,8,19, and 43, and
• Contacting the center's website www.oecc.org

Safety

Sign In:  Each child MUST be signed-in upon arrival and signed-out upon departure on a daily basis.  It is your responsibility to be sure that your child enters the classroom.  No child,  at any time must ever be left alone, unaccompanied or unsupervised.

Children are released ONLY to the persons authorized on the enrollment form, unless prior notification is received via telephone call or written note. Your designee may be asked to show valid identification in the office upon request.

Emergencies:  telephone access to and from OECC is available from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  The Action Plan for weather or fire emergencies is posted in all classrooms, offices, and the kitchen.

OECC conducts a monthly fire drill with half of them being announced and the other half are unannounced. Evacuation plans are posted in every classroom. Teachers take all children's files and first aid kits with them.

OECC conducts monthly tornado drills during the months of May through September. In addition, the center also follows the City of Oberlin monthly tornado signal warnings with the centers tornado plan. The tornado alert requires the teachers to bring children to the designated site. The tornado plan is posted in the classroom.

OECC staff is infant CPR and first aid trained that is updated every three years by a registered nurse or physician.

In the event that your child receives an injury at OECC, an Incident Report is filled out, a copy is retained for OECC and one is given to the parent.

Management of Communicable Disease

OECC staff is trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of various communicable diseases.  They have been trained in and practice regularly proper handwashing and disinfecting procedures.  No OECC staff or children will attend who exhibits signs of a communicable disease.

Child Illness/Medical Emergency

• A communicable disease chart is posted in the isolation room. (Staff Lounge)
• In the event of any accident or emergency, a trained OECC staff member will administer first aid.  Parents or guardians will be notified and emergency transportation summoned, if necessary.
• Any child who is suspected of having a communicable disease or illness shall be isolated from the other children, provided a cot and blanket for use until s/he is discharged to the parent.  The cot and blanket will be sanitized and laundered.  No child is left unsupervised.  A child who becomes ill during the day will be discharged to the care of the parent or guardian as promptly as possible, in the event that that person is not available, another authorized party may be called. 
• A child may return to OECC after illness or symptoms are gone, s/he is no longer contagious, written consent from the physician.
• In the event of an outbreak of a communicable disease, OECC will notify parents in writing.
• No over-the-counter medication will be administered to the child.
• Prescription medication can be administered if the medication form is completed (available in the OECC office) and the medication is in the original container with proper pharmaceutical labels, child’s name, date, prescription number and instructions are printed on the medication.
• During the summer, written permission must be provided to administer sunscreen and/or insect repellent.  Sunscreen and/or insect repellent are not provided by OECC.
• A mildly ill child is described as one with minor cold symptoms, or “not feeling well”.  This child will be observed for worsening conditions, and may be kept indoors.
• OECC will isolate and send home any child who displays any of the following symptoms: diarrhea, stiff neck, severe coughing, vomiting, elevated temperatures, infected skin patches, yellow skin or eyes, unusual spots or rashes, conjunctivitis (pink eye), difficult or rapid breathing, lice, scabies, or other parasites, dark urine, Grey or white stools, sore throat/difficulty swallowing, 100 degree Fahrenheit temperature with any other symptom

Meals

OECC’s program includes USDA* approved breakfast, hot lunch and afternoon snack.  Our experienced cook plans the meals to include foods from the food pyramid to ensure that the children are receiving well-balanced meals.  Meals are served family style and children are not forced or coerced into eating more than they want. Weekly menus are posted in the lobby and copies are available in the office. Any dietary restrictions should be reported to your child's head teacher who will pass the information on to the Head Cook.

*The Child and Adult Care Food Program is available to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.  Any person who believes he or she has been treated unfairly in any USDA program should write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC  20250.

Classroom

Teacher/child Ratio

Classroom Groups

Orange Room

Serves infants, ages three months to fourteen months, class size not to exceed 10

Teachers: One Head Teacher-Two Assistant Teachers

Red Room

Serves infants/young toddlers ages fourteen to twenty-four months, class size not to exceed 12

Teachers: One Head Teacher-Two Assistant Teachers

Gold and Green Rooms

Serve toddlers, twenty-four months to thirty-six months, class size not to exceed 14

Teachers (Green): One Head Teacher-Two Assistant Teachers

Teachers (Gold): One Head Teacher-One Assistant Teacher

Yellow and Blue Rooms

Serve preschoolers ages three to five years, class size not to exceed 22

Teachers (Yellow): One Head Teacher-One Assistant Teacher

Teachers (Blue): Two Co-Teachers

Rainbow Room

Serves kindergarten through second graders, class size does not exceed 25

Teachers: One Head Teacher- One Assistant Teacher

Part Time Teachers

Three Assistant Teachers

Support Staff

• Executive Director
• Assistant Director
• Office Manager
• Office Assistant
• KIDS smART Coordinator
• KIDS smART On the Road: A Traveling Troupe Coordinator
• Head Cook
• Assistant Cook
• Maintenance Supervisor

Items from home

Please supply a change of clothing for your child, labeled with his or her name.  Blankets, stuffed animals, pillows are provided by the family. Soiled clothing will be sent home in a plastic bag and placed in the child’s cubby. 

If your child is in diapers, OECC asks that you supply at least one-day’s supply when bringing the child.  OECC will provide diapers for a fee.

Hygiene

All children brush their teeth after breakfast and lunch.  Toothbrushes and toothpaste are provided by OECC

Nap Time

Every day after lunch, the children rest or nap on a cot in the classroom.  Teachers are present to help settle the children all during the period.  Please provide a small crib-size blanket and a small pillow for your child with his/her name on it.  All bedding is washed on a weekly basis.

Sample Daily Schedule

6:30                 Large Muscle Room

8:00                 Set up room/modified work time

8:30                 Hygiene/Breakfast

9:00                 Free play

9:30                 Work/Activity

10:30               Small group/clean up/transition

11:00               Set up for lunch/circle time

11:30               Lunch

12:00               Clean up/hygiene/diaper change

12:30               Nap Time

2:30                 Diaper change/set up for snack

3:00                 Snack

3:30                 Circle time

4:00                 Activity/Play

Discipline

Method of Discipline

We believe that discipline helps children to take responsibility for their actions and should be handled in a manner that assists children in acquiring mastery.  OECC approves of two methods:  1) Time out and 2) redirecting the behavior. OECC follows the Ohio Department of Human Services Day Care Licensing Statute 5201:2-12-56, which states:

1. There shall be no cruel, harsh, or unusual punishments, such as, but not limited to, punching, pinching, shaking, biting, or spanking.
2. No discipline technique shall be delegated to any other child.
3. No physical restraints shall be used to confine a child.
4. No child shall be placed in a locked room or confined in an enclosed area such as a closet, a box, or similar cubicle.
5. No child shall be humiliated or subjected to profane language, threats, derogatory remarks about himself or his family, or other verbal abuse.
6. Discipline shall not be imposed on a child for failure to eat, failure to sleep, or for toiling accidents.
7. Techniques of discipline shall not humiliate, shame, or frighten a child.
8. Discipline shall not include withholding food, rest, or toilet use.

OECC staff will handle problems on site with the ultimate goal being a child's ability to develop self-control via redirecting the behavior.  Alternatives will be presented, a discussion of choices and the problem with the child and in some cases, utilizing a “time out.” Parents will be kept informed of the discipline interventions if needed.

Steps taken to redirect a child’s negative behavior are as follows:

1. Evaluate the child’s behavior.
2. Talk to the child on his/her level of understanding.
3. Redirect the child’s behavior.
4. Offer a “time out” to think about the behavior; the child may have a book or puzzle during that period.
5. Reintroduce the child to the group.
6. Conference/notify the parent and director, if necessary.
7. Refer the child/parent to a child behavior specialist.

The teachers will conference with the parent through this process.  If the above methods prove unsuccessful the staff will work with the parent to find a setting that is more suitable for their child.

Financial Policies

Fees and registration

Applications for registration are available in the OECC front office Monday through Fridays from 8:30-5:30 p.m.

OECC has a private-pay fee scale which takes into consideration both family size and income. 

Government subsidy is available through Lorain County Human Services for families who qualify.

OECC provides tuition assistance through the Transition Project that supports families as they transition off of government assistance or because of extenuating circumstances. The project is funded through a grant from The Nord Family Foundation.

Upon acceptance of your child's enrollment application a $30.00 annual and non-refundable fee is required.

At registration, a refundable deposit is required.  The deposit is refunded if the family gives the Executive Director a written, two-week notice of withdrawal from OECC.  If this notice is not received, the family will forfeit the deposit.

A late payment fee will be charged if the parent fee is not received in the OECC office by the 10th day of the month.  If a child’s tuition fee is two weeks past-due, the OECC office will notify the family in writing that service will cease for the child as of the third Monday of that month.

Billing

• Parents are billed on the first of the month with the payment due in the office by the 10th of the month.
• Parents are charged for the days and times for which the child is enrolled determined upon enrollment (even if the child does not attend.)
• There is a minimum enrollment of 15 hours per week is required.
• Written notice of vacation is requested.  If the child is going to be gone from OECC for 4 consecutive weeks or more, the family can withdraw the child and be placed on a priority wait-list.  OECC will fill the vacated position, however the child on the wait-list will be given the first opening that occurs after the time the family wishes to re-enter OECC.
• There is a $20.00 charge for all checks returned from the bank for non-sufficient funds.
• Late pick up fee will be charged after closing hours and for every five minutes thereafter.  The fee is to be paid directly to the OECC staff upon arrival.  A late fee is charged per child in the family.

Parent Involvement

OECC values the involvement of families in the development of their child.  Parents are welcome to visit their children at anytime including to join their child for lunch or snack or volunteer in the classroom.  OECC asks for advance notice to accommodate for scheduling.  OECC offers a wide variety of special projects by which parents and families may become highly involved. Some of them are:

• OECC Board of Trustees has fifteen members, five who are parents of children enrolled in the center.
• Family Committee that Is formed of Interested parents who would like to study child development, develop specific classroom/center projects or assist in the development of classroom curriculum.
• Playscape Committee members oversee the 3 1/2 acre outdoor play yard which Is comprised of a nature trail (butterfly, hummingbird, herb, and vegetable gardens), a wildflower meadow, outdoor amphitheater, train station and caboose, and an arts center comprised of three artist studios. This project has been funded through grants from the Community Foundation of Lorain County, The Nordson Corporation Foundation, The Stocker Foundation, The St.Ann Foundation, and the Richard Hallock Foundation.
• KIDS smART is a three-year grant funded project to support the Integration of the creative arts into the early childhood curriculum. The Nord Family Foundation funds the project.

Conferences

Parent-Teacher conferences are held twice a year.  Teachers communicate with parents on a daily basis and welcome questions, comments, or suggestions.  Additional conferences can be requested by both parents and teachers for the mutual discussion to support the growth of your child.

 The twice a year conferences have a format that looks at the child's development holistically.  The evaluation tool allows parents an opportunity to also assess their child's development prior to the conference. The center's conferencing format is reflected of Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences and the Reggio Emilio approach as they guide curriculum development and the corresponding evaluation. (Further information is given in the Curriculum section)

Classroom Roster

OECC prepares a parent roster for each class and is available upon request.  You have the right to include or delete your personal information. You indicate your choice on your child's application form.

OECC Newsletter

The OECC newsletter is published monthly and provides Information on center and classroom happenings. There always is Information on child development, curriculum, center projects and plans.