10860 Rockley Road * Houston * Texas * 77099

www.prefessionalsacademy.com 0

PARENT HANDBOOK

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Table of Contents Philosophy and Mission Statement ................................................................................................................ 3

Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Program Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Schools Of Foundation ........................................................................................................................... 3

Schools of Imagination ........................................................................................................................... 3

Getting Started:............................................................................................................................................. 5

Pay Registration ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Records Required: ..................................................................................................................................... 5

PREfessionals Academy Policies and Procedures ......................................................................................... 6

Arrival Time & Hours of Operation: ......................................................................................................... 6

Child Pick-up & Late Pick Up: .................................................................................................................. 6

Emergencies .............................................................................................................................................. 6

Parent Notifications: .................................................................................................................................. 6

Student Absences: ..................................................................................................................................... 6

Visitor Procedures ..................................................................................................................................... 6

Field Trips ................................................................................................................................................. 7

Holidays & Birthdays ................................................................................................................................. 7

Parent Participation/Volunteer .................................................................................................................. 7

Clothing: .................................................................................................................................................... 7

Complaint Procedures: .............................................................................................................................. 7

Parent Conferences: .................................................................................................................................. 7

Dismissal Policy: ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Policy Changes: ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Gang Free Zone Policy: ............................................................................................................................. 8

Preventing and Responding to Abuse and Neglect .................................................................................... 9

Other Notices: ........................................................................................................................................... 9

PREfessionals Academy Tuition Rates: ......................................................................................................... 9

Payment Due Date and Late fees: ............................................................................................................. 9

Holidays .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Tuition Rate Increase: ............................................................................................................................. 10

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Optional Fees .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Discipline and Guidance Policy ................................................................................................................... 10

Health, Illness & Exclusion Policy ................................................................................................................ 11

Medication............................................................................................................................................... 11

Intestinal Diseases: ................................................................................................................................. 12

Hepatitis .................................................................................................................................................. 12

Bacterial Meningitis ................................................................................................................................ 12

Chicken Pox ............................................................................................................................................. 12

Colds & Flu .............................................................................................................................................. 12

Strep Throat ............................................................................................................................................ 12

Conjunctivitis (“Pink Eye”) ...................................................................................................................... 12

Head Lice ................................................................................................................................................ 13

Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Plan....................................................................................................... 13

NOTES.......................................................................................................................................................... 14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................................. 15

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Schools Of Foundation 1) Reading 2) Writing 3) Math

Schools of Imagination 1) School of Agriculture 2) School of Architecture 3) School of Arts & Music 4) School of Business 5) School of Culinary Art 6) School of Law 7) School of Medicine 8) School of Technology

Philosophy and Mission Statement

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide children with learning opportunities that will enhance their naturally

emerging skills, develop strong cognitive skills, enjoy academic achievement, and explore future

endeavors.

PREfessionals Academy seeks to fulfill our mission by providing creative and imaginative teachers,

activities, and a nurturing environment. We believe that the children placed in our care are the

future. Therefore, we will always treat them as gifts, filled with great possibilities, that will enable

them to be the leaders they are destined to become.

Program Overview

As you walk through our facility; you will see that great effort has gone into preparing a warm,

nurturing, inspiring, learning environment. It is our hope that this environment will inspire you to

embrace our mission and use your creativity in assisting us to implement this unique approach to

fostering knowledge and creativity.

Teaching methods will be structured to be interactively informative. This means that the

information will not just be imparted; but, rather shared in such a way that it helps shape and

form the inward minds of children. Our instructors will create activities, resources and learning

opportunities that inspire children to see new images of themselves (i.e. Doctors, lawyers, butchers,

bakers etc); that will enable and empower them to have a fighting chance “TO BE.” This will be

done through our Schools of Foundation and Schools of Imagination.

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Our program was designed with an underlying passion, with the intent of using instructors and staff

that will utilize creativity and play to shape young minds. The program is specifically designed for

children 3 to 5 years of age and seeks to:

Provide a “Basement Knowledge” which introduces a foundation that exposes them to

various professions;

Utilize an enriched curriculum that integrates a child sense of discovery and exploration;

Enable students to become self-confident;

Raise career awareness, exploration and preparation;

Encourage children to learn through hands-on exploration guided by teachers who inspire

curiosity and creative thinking;

Spark the imagination and expectation of children as it relates to the unbelievable

possibilities that lay in their future; and

Expose students to hands on experiential ways that will enhance the wonder and

amazement that resides in them.

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Friday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm.

We are closed on New Year’s Day, M. L. King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, 4th

of July,

Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day

PREfessionals Academy Saturday Scholars (P.A.S.S)

PREfessionals Academy will also offer a Saturday Program. P.A.S.S. sessions are 8 scholar schools that are created to open

the world to students in Saturday sessions. Students will have the opportunity to register for 1 school per session. Space is

limited and on a first come first served basis.

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Getting Started:

Tour our facility:

Come in and take a tour to make sure we are the place for you and your child. Feel free to talk

with any of our professional staff and ask questions. We want to make PREfessionals Academy

your next choice and an extension of your home.

Pick up PA paperwork:

• Enrollment Packet

• Parent Handbook

Pay Registration (Reserves your child’s placement and to be paid in cash only)

Registration = $100.00 per child (Non Refundable and paid in cash only)

Records Required:

(All records must be received before your child’s 1st

day in the program.)

1. Completed Enrollment Packet/Admission Information

a. Emergency contact persons and numbers

b. Pick-up information

c. Doctor’s name and phone number

d. Emergency medical authorization signature

e. Signature of parent or guardian

f. Doctor’s “Statement of Good Health” & Hearing and Vision Screening

2. Current Immunization Records for each child

3. School Photo/Video Release Form

4. Medical Emergency Form

**If any of these requirements conflict with religious views, please contact the Dean.

***Please keep all records up to date!***

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PREfessionals Academy Policies and Procedures

Arrival Time & Hours of Operation:

We are open for your convenience from 7:30AM – 5:30PM, Monday – Friday

To make the most of your child’s learning experience at PREfessionals Academy it is best for your

child to arrive no later than 15 minutes before their respective start times. (ie. Children in the

morning session should arrive no later than 7:15 am. Children in the Afternoon Session should

arrive no later than 12:15 pm; but, no earlier then 12:00 noon. Morning Sessions start promptly at

7:30 am and afternoon session start at 12:30 pm. Students arriving after start times are disruptive

to the other children and child/staff ratios.

Child Pick-up & Late Pick Up:

Only individuals who are listed on your child’s enrollment packet will be permitted to pick

up your child from the facility, unless established by the parent and director. If a PA staff member

does not recognize the individual, he/she will be asked to present identification. This is for the

safety of your child! The school closes at 5:30 PM. Parents arriving 15 minutes beyond your

child’s pick up time will be charged $ 5 per minute and must be paid at time of pickup.

Emergencies

In the case of a medical emergency, PA staff will call 911 and then notify parents.

Parent Notifications:

Parents will be notified by phone in case of emergency. Please make sure all contact phone

numbers are current at all times. All other communication will be in writing and sent home with

your child.

Student Absences:

Please call PREfessionals Academy at least 1 hour before start time to notify us if your child will be

out for the day. If your child will be out for more than one day, please contact the PA Student

Services office immediately.

Visitor Procedures

PA parents are welcome anytime, but please show respect to your child’s teacher and other

children. He/She is responsible for meeting standards and PA philosophies for the entire class.

This is not the time to visit with your child’s teacher. Please let your child’s teacher know if you

plan on eating lunch with your child if you are in they are registered in the extended program.

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Field Trips

Parents will be notified in writing of all scheduled field trips. Field Trips will be posted on our

website as well. Parents must sign and date a permission slip for their child to participate in any

activities off PREfessionals Academy premises.

Holidays & Birthdays

PREfessionals Academy celebrates four Holidays with class parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas,

Valentine’s Day, Easter and a Fall Celebration. The school will celebrate birthdays monthly. This

means all children whose birthday is in a particular month will be celebrated together. Parents are

welcome to sign up at any time to help with all celebrations.

Parent Participation/Volunteer

We believe that the success of our program directly involves our parents. We need your help and

encourage each parent to become involved in any way they are able. .

Clothing:

Please make sure your child is dressed in weather appropriate clothing and has a change of clothes

on premises. Children will wear socks in the classrooms, so please provide pair of scock. (Please

label all clothing)

PREfessionals Academy urges parents to send their children in comfortable clothes. Please

understand that PA staff will make reasonable efforts to protect your child’s clothing. However,

due to the various types of activities that your child will be participating in, complete protection

cannot be guaranteed.

PA will place any soiled laundry in a bag and place in the child’s cubby. Please know that it is your

responsibility to launder the soiled laundry.

Complaint Procedures:

The Dean is responsible for most of PA operations. When the Dean is off school premises a

Director in Charge will be assigned. If a parent has any questions, concerns, or complaints and

wishes to speak with the Dean, they are urged to speak with her at drop-off or pick-up or by

phone or email. You are welcome to call and make an appointment to have a private meeting at

any time.

Parent Conferences:

Parents are welcome to set up a parent/ teacher or parent/ director conference at any time. Please

contact the Dean to arrange an appropriate time.

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Dismissal Policy:

PREfessionals Academy Children’s School reserves the right to terminate services at any time.

Any unpaid tuition or fees could result in the termination of our services. If a child or parent

endangers the health or safety of a child PREfessionals Academy reserves the right to terminate

services. In addition, if we see that we can no longer meet the needs of you and your child,

PREfessionals Academy reserves the right to terminate services.

Policy Changes:

If PA changes any of its policies, they will be posted on the website and printed and handed out to

each family to read, sign and return. Policies are subject to change at any time.

Gang Free Zone Policy: PREfessionals Academy is a gang free zone. The purpose of gang-free

zones is to deter certain types of criminal activity in areas where children gather by enforcing

penalties. This means that certain gang-free related activity or engaging in organized criminal

activity within 1000 feet of a Child Care Facility is a violation of this law and is therefore subject to

increased penalty under state law.

The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services website is: www.tdprs.state.tx.us

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Preventing and Responding to Abuse and Neglect: We take great care at PREfessionals Academy

Children’s School to protect our children. We want our Caregivers and Parents to be educated

and informed about preventing and responding to the abuse and neglect of children. The latest

posters and flyers from the Texas Department of Family Protective Services are posted at our

Parent Information Board. PREfessionals Academy staff will work closely with local authorities

and community organizations to keep our children safe.

Link for information on learning the signs of abuse and neglect:

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/itsuptoyou/recognize.asp

To report suspected abuse call 1-800-252-5400 or visit www.dfps.state.tx.us

If you are a victim of abuse and need help call 1-800-252-5400 or

Harris County Women’s Center – Domestic Violence - 713-528-2121

Other Notices:

From time to time we may have a child that is not immunized due to religious beliefs.

PREfessionals Academy Tuition Rates:

Payment Due Date and Late fees:

Monthly payments are due on the 1st

of the month and late after the 5th

. A late fee of $100.00 will

be charged to your account on the morning of the 6th

if payment is not received. Your child cannot

participate in the program after the 7th

day of nonpayment until a payment is made in full. If

payment is not received by the 15th

day your child’s spot is lost. All payments must be in the form

of automatic withdrawal, credit or debit card, money order or cashier’s check.

Holidays

Your tuition reserves your child’s enrollment for the week. Full tuition is due regardless of

absences or holidays.. Days may not be switched or substituted to avoid holidays. PA closes for

Tuition Costs:

Registration: $100 per child Weekly Rates (Mon – Fri) $125.00 Per Session. Session I: 7:30 – 11:30AM Session II: 12:30 – 4:30 PM Extended Hours(Limited Spaces) 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Additional $ 75.00 Per Week

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New Year’s Day Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor

Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Tuition Rate Increase:

PA reserves the right to increase tuition at any time; however, a 3 month notice will be given

before any rate increase; and no rate increase will be implemented before your child’s yearly

anniversary.

Optional Fees

During the school term some activities require additional fees. (School pictures, fundraisers, etc.).

Parents will be notified in advance for any of these FUN opportunities for their Child.

Discipline and Guidance Policy Discipline must be:

• Individualized and consistent for each child

• Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding; and

• directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control

A caregiver may only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem,

self-control, and self-direction, which include at least the following:

• Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of

focusing only upon unacceptable behavior;

• Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear,

positive statements;

• Redirecting behavior using positive statements; and using brief

supervised separation or time out from the group, when

appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is

limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.

There must be no harsh, cruel or unusual treatment of any child. The

following types of discipline and guidance are prohibited:

• Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment;

• Pinching, shaking, or biting a child;

• Hitting a child with a hand or instrument;

• Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth;

• Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting or yelling at a child;

• Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language;

• Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed; and -

Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for

the child’s age

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Disciplinary problems could result in need for the parent to pick up the child for the day and

ultimately dismissal from PREfessionals Academy if the problem persists.

PREfessionals Academy will make all reasonable efforts to avoid this by providing communication

with the parent, parent meetings, and any other resources available.

Health, Illness & Exclusion Policy If your child displays any of the following symptoms accompanied by a fever of 100.4 degrees

orally or above, you will be notified by the PA staff to pick up your child within one hour. Children

may return only if symptom free or if accompanied by a doctor’s note stating the child is not

contagious and is okay to attend care.

• Excessive cough or discolored nasal discharge

• Unusual spots or rashes

• Vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Severe itching of body or scalp

• Unusual behavior

• Cranky or less active than normal

• More crying than usual

• General discomfort

Any child with a fever of 100.4 degrees orally or higher will not be permitted to remain in the

center. PA staff will not administer fever-reducing medications for the sole purpose of masking a

fever. Fever reducing medications do not cure the illness they only mask the fever.

Fever reducing medications may be given only for the following reasons: If prescribed by a doctor.

Medication

PA prefers not to administer medication unless absolutely necessary. PA will only

administer medication prescribed by a doctor. If this is unavoidable, all policies must be

strictly followed. The medication must be labeled with the child’s name with measuring

spoon or syringe provided. The medication authorization sheet must be completed with

the dosage, current date, and parent’s signature. The Dean or Director of Student Services

will administer all medications prescribed by a doctor.

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Intestinal Diseases:

If a child has two diarrhea bowel movements, the parents will be notified by PA staff to

pick-up their child within one hour. To eliminate the spread of infection, children who are

sent home with diarrhea may not return to the center until 24 hours after the child is

symptom free or has a doctor’s note stating the child is not contagious.

Hepatitis

If a child is diagnosed with Hepatitis, the center must be notified immediately. That child

will be temporarily excluded from the center. A child may return only if we have a doctor’s

note stating it is safe for the child to return to PA.

Bacterial Meningitis

If your child is diagnosed with H-Flu or Meningococcal, you must notify the center

immediately. The child will be temporarily excluded from the center and may not return

until the health department and/or doctor give written permission for a safe return.

Chicken Pox

PA will call you to pick up your child if your child is displaying a medically undiagnosed

rash. If the doctor’s diagnosis is chicken pox, please notify PA and the child may not return

until all blisters are scabbed over and there is no fever present. A letter will be sent home

notifying all PA families if a chicken pox case occurs.

Colds & Flu

If a child’s cold leads to pneumonia, bronchitis, infectious croup, or ear infections, the child must

remain out of the center until a proper medical treatment has begun. A child may return

only if accompanied by a doctor’s note stating the child is not contagious. Please remember

that plenty of rest and fluids are the remedy for a cold.

Strep Throat

If your child is diagnosed with Strep Throat, he/she may not return to the center until 24

hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.

Conjunctivitis (“Pink Eye”)

Any child with redness, swelling or pus discharge of the eyes will be sent home. “Pink eye” is

highly contagious. A child with “Pink Eye” may return only after prescription

medication has been administered for a period of 24 hours and a doctor’s release has

been given to PA staff.

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Head Lice

Any child with lice parasites or nits (lice eggs) in their hair and scalp will be sent home

immediately. A child with lice will be required to remain out of center until 24 hours after

proper treatment has begun.

Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Plan

Our Program’s Address is: 10860 Rockley Road, Houston, TX. 77055

Our Nearest Cross-Street is: Wilcrest

Our Program’s Phone Number is: 281-988-9201, 281-988-9231

Planned Evacuation Sites

Off Site – 10902 S. Wilcrest, Houston , Texas 77099

On Site – Front Parking lot , 10860Rockley Rd, Houston, TX

77099

In the event of an emergency, PREfessionals Academy will communicate with the local authorities,

parents, and licensing via the Dean’s cell phone. The Dean and each Lead teacher will take their

prepared Grab-N-Go Bags with contains all necessary documentation in the event of an

emergency, and follow the directions of the Emergency Preparedness Plan.

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NOTES

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I acknowledge that I have received the student hand

book and accept the responsibility for revewing,

understanding and complying with the polices and

procedures of The PREfessionals Academy Program.

Student Name Date

Signature Date