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Our Mission: Providing opportunities for building social
character, promoting healthy lifestyles, and developing creative
thinking through recreation and leisure activities.
Newport News Parks, Recreation, and Tourism ~
700 Town Center Drive, Ste. 320 ~ Newport News, VA 23606
757-926-1400 ~ www.redefiningplay.com
School name:
Center supervisor:
Center phone Number:
Parent Information Packet
Table of contents
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Page 2
Welcome 4
Agreements 5
Licensing information 6
Your expectations 6
Rules of Conduct 7—8
Signing Up 8
Prices/fees 9-10
Late Fees 11
Absences 12
Waiting list 12
Receipt and taxes 12
Field trips and events 13
Inclement weather 14
Snack 15
Health information 15-17
Pick up times 18
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Field trip schedule
Kids
Week of 6/24 – Suffolk train station (Ages 3-5)
Week of 7/8 – Doris Miller Pool (Ages 4-5 only)
Week of 7/15 – Norfolk Zoo (Ages 3-5)
Week of 7/22 – children’s museum (Ages 3-5)
Week of 8/12 – Busch Gardens [Parent Paid Trip]
(Ages 4-5 only)
SAP
Week of 6/24 – Captain Jack’s Pirate Ship adventures
Week of 7/8 – Fort Eustis aquatic center
Week of 7/22 – Children’s museum
Week of 8/5 – newport news park field day
Week of 8/12 – Busch Gardens [Parent Paid Trip]
Teen
Brittingham-midtown community center Pool Field Trips
every other week begins week of 7/1
Week of 6/24 - pirates cove mini golf
Week of 7/8 – fort Eustis aquatic center
Week of 7/22 – spirit of Norfolk [Parent pays part]
Week of 8/5 - newport news park field day
Week of 8/12 – Busch Gardens [Parent Paid Trip]
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Weekly themes
Week 1 (June 17 – 21)
Fantasy Land
Week 2 (June 24 – 28)
Pirate’s Cove
Week 3 (July 1 – 5)
This land is your land
Week 4 (July 8 – 12)
Water World
Week 5 (July 15 – 19)
Animal kingdom
Week 6 (July 22 – 26)
Tomorrow Land
Week 7 (July 29 – August 2)
imaginarium
Week 8 (August 5 – 9)
Treasure island
Week 9 (August 12 – 16)
Get fit land
Week 10 (August 19 – 23)
Adventure island
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Missing a day 19
Ratio 20
General information 20
Meetings with rcs 21
Social services info 22
Assessments 23
Statement on inclusion 24
Photography release 24
Consolidation info 25
Weekly themes 26
Field trip schedule 27
Newport News Parks, Recreation and Tourism would like to take this
opportunity to welcome you and your child to Youth Programs (YP). We
understand that choosing a child care provider is a difficult decision to
make and we want parents to be involved every step of the way (including
joining in the fun any day, any time) as we provide care for your child.
Youth Programs is the ideal place for your child to develop socially. It is a
caring, compassionate environment that fosters ‗teachable moments‘
where your child learns how to interact in a group setting.
In Youth Programs, children don‘t just play, they learn important life
lessons as they create, play house, or get involved in a group game. By
interacting with other children their minds are stimulated creatively while
involved in responsible behavior such as sharing and playing fair. Not only
that, but children explore their needs, talents and abilities in stations with
activities in music, reading, home living, community exploration, science,
art and drama. We are passionately committed to your child‘s enjoyment
of their Youth Programs experience and we wholeheartedly know that by
understanding our policies and procedures you will be better equipped to
enjoy your child‘s satisfaction by knowing exactly what it is that we do.
WELCOME!
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Consolidation information:
For the last week of summer 8/19- 8/23 we will be
consolidating at BMCC and DCC.
This final week requires a separate registration but will be
governed by all policies in this packet.
Registration for this week will open on 6/24 and will close
on 7/26. The cost will be $22/day.
Upon registration parents are required to put down a non-
refundable deposit of $22 (or one day of care).
The balance must then be paid in full on or prior to 8/9.
the balance must be paid all at once.
This program will operate from 6:50 AM until 6:30 PM.
On site registration (Space permitting) will be $27/day.
THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS GIVEN
FOR DAYS NOT USED. IF YOU DO NOT PAY IN
FULL BY 8/9 YOU WILL LOSE YOUR DEPOSIT AND
THE SPACE WILL BE GIVEN TO A CHILD ON THE
WAITING LIST.
No exceptions!
THANKS AND LET’S HAVE A
GREAT SUMMER!
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Statement on Inclusion
The City of Newport News Parks, Recreation, & Tourism encourages
everyone to participate and enjoy all programs and facilities. In this we
encourage all those parents of children with disabilities to be as
forthcoming with information as possible so that we may be proactive in
our approach to discipline and activity implementation. We feel it is
imperative to ensure that the City‘s organizational values of commitment,
caring, and collaboration are evident at all times. This is especially true as
we provide inclusive leisure activities to our citizens. We are committed to
providing accessible programs and facilities because we care about
improving the quality of life of our citizens.
We encourage participants with disabilities to register for any recreation
program currently offered. We will make reasonable accommodations, in
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, to enable
participants with disabilities to participate in and enjoy recreation
programs. Those accommodations will be determined through an
individualized therapeutic assessment of abilities and strengths to ensure
the dignity and respect of each individual is preserved.
Photography Release
Throughout the program, there may be activities, events, or
media releases that could result in your child being
photographed. The Program may use these photographs in
promotions for the program, publish them with local articles, or
use them to produce center yearbooks or videos. If you would
NOT like your child to participate in activities such as these, you
must notify your RCS in writing, and they will ensure that your
child is not photographed in the program.
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That is why it is important to know the policies that govern the program.
This packet consists of information regarding licensing, payment policies
and program guidelines. Please keep this booklet for your future
reference.
Agreements
By making the choice to be part of Youth Programs, you have agreed to
abide by the policies as stated in this packet. If you have any questions
regarding the program or policies, ask your Center Supervisor or contact
the administrative office at Department of Parks, Recreation, and
Tourism, 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 320, 757-926-1400. Thank you
for giving us the opportunity to serve you! As always, suggestions,
compliments, and concerns are welcome at all times.
Hours of Operation
YP Adventureland Summer Camp operates from June 17, 2013 to August
23, 2013. The Therapeutic Camp operates from June 24, 2013 to August
16, 2013. The hours of the program are from 6:50 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday. Programs may offer after hours care for special
events or for Parent‘s Night Out events. Please ask your Recreation
Center Supervisor for information about these events.
Children are required to be signed in and out of the program each day by
their parent or guardian. We do not accept children prior to program
opening at 6:50 a.m. and late pick up fees will be charged for children who
are not picked up promptly by 6:30 p.m. More information on pick up
times can be found on page 18.
Licensing
All Youth Programs sites are licensed by the State of Virginia. In addition
to providing technical assistance to improve program quality, Licensing
provides third-party oversight for the protection of your children. One of
the standards for Licensed Day Care Centers provided by the Department
of Social Services requires that each child be up-to-date on immunizations.
A copy of your child‘s immunization records must be provided at the time
of enrollment along with a copy of an original birth certificate. A physical
examination by a licensed physician using the School Entrance Physical
Examination form must be provided to your child’s center within 30
days of enrollment. Without these forms on file, our program will be
given a violation from our licensing agent. For this reason, if you haven't
provided us with current information, your child may be removed from
the program until such information is submitted. As licensed child care
providers all Youth Programs employees are considered mandatory
reporters of suspected cases of abuse or neglect.
Your Expectations
We understand that you have chosen us for your child‘s care and, for that,
you should expect no less than our best. When you walk into one of our
sites, there will be clearly defined areas of play with talented and capable
instructors helping the children have the best experience that they can.
Our goal is not only your child‘s satisfaction but yours as well. At the end
of the day, when you pick up your child, a waiting smile should tell you
that you chose us for all the right reasons.
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If you miss a swipe, you have eight days to enter any missing transactions
on the point of sale device. If you miss a swipe during any day, and you
have exceeded the eight day back swipe grace period, you will be required
to pay for that day at the daily rate. Providers cannot be cardholders for
any reason. If the system is down, you will still be able to swipe your card
on the device. The device will store and forward your information when
the system is back on. Youth Programs provides a service to parents on
behalf of the Department of Social Services and we are expected to abide
by their contracts and agreements. Cases of suspected fraud will be
reported immediately to the social services agency.
Assessments
All those participants in Therapeutics must take part in an assessment.
The cost for an individual is $60.00 and for a family it is $100.00. For re-
evaluation (those currently enrolled in the program) these fees are $30.00
per child and $50.00 for a family.
These fees are non-refundable.
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Local Service Providers
All participants in the Therapeutics Summer Camp or any Youth Program
that receive assistance from local service providers must provide their
funding approval prior to their assessment attendance. The approval form
must identify:
Fees covered by the agency.
Co-payment amount, if any.
Start and end dates for funding.
Case worker‘s name and phone number.
Fiscal agent to contact for verification purposes.
Any parent or guardian that does not supply this requested information at
the time of assessment will have to reschedule for a later date and may
incur penalty charges.
Virginia Department of Social Services uses an electronic child care system
to record the duration of child care services for payment. The system
requires swiping a DSS issued card into card readers at each site location.
It is the parent‘s responsibility to bring their card with them and to ensure
that their card is properly swiped during drop off and pick up of their
child or children. Parents/legal guardians must enter their personal
identification number and an identification number for each child when
their card is swiped. The card must be used to report attendance, absences
and holidays. Youth Programs staff CANNOT use the card, swipe the
card, or keep the card onsite.
You will be required to present your card each day your child is in
attendance. Should you fail to present your card for two consecutive days,
on the third day, your child will not be permitted t o attend the program
without payment at the regular daily rate.
Rules of Conduct
In light of our goal of having a safe out-of-school time community,
Youth Programs does not permit offensive conduct, threatening
behavior, fighting, the possession of weapons, including toy items, or
any other actions deemed inappropriate by the administration. On
the first incident the child will be suspended for a minimum of one
day. On the second incident the child will be suspended for a
minimum of one week while on the third offense, the child may be
dismissed from the program. Depending on the severity of the
offense, the administration reserves the right to suspend or dismiss
the child immediately. Each disciplinary action will be determined on
a case by case basis based on the severity of the offense. Our program
supports the Code of Conduct Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
for Newport News Public Schools. As such, if your child has been
suspended from Newport News Public Schools, they will not be
allowed to attend Youth Programs until such suspension is lifted.
Our program uses a ‗fighting-fair‘ approach, teaching children
problem-solving techniques and emphasizing ‗community building.‘
Youth Programs uses a positive approach to discipline in an attempt
to redirect negative behavior. However, flagrant disobedience and
destruction of property are not allowed. Children are given warnings,
time-outs, and privilege suspensions when warranted.
Incidents of misbehavior are documented, the parents are informed,
and the documentation is placed in the child‘s folder. Continuation
of bad behavior may result in a conference with parents and staff,
suspensions or dismissal from the program.
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If your child‘s behavior is influenced by a disability we make all
attempts to work within those parameters and do take this into
account when structuring our discipline policy in correcting minor
behavioral challenges. In the event a participant becomes physically
aggressive towards himself or others, staff will physically restrain them
for safety reasons. If this happens, parents will be notified.
Our discipline guidelines are two-fold. We strive to help children learn to
make appropriate choices for their overall social and emotional well-being
as well as to maintain a safe environment for all children in the program.
Signing Up
A non-refundable registration fee of $40.00 per child and $80.00 per
family is required at the time of enrollment. This registration fee covers
accident insurance for your child plus the cost of your parent packets and
other supplemental parent memos. It also includes a 2013 Youth
Programs t-shirt or shirts if a family registration.
This registration fee is for the summer ONLY from June 17 through
August 23, 2013. (Therapeutics program is June 24th through August
16th). Registration for the school year begins in August of 2013. YP
Adventureland Summer Camp participants have priority for registration
but only if payment is received.
Registration should be completed online through the EZ Childtrack web
portal, and payment is required at the time of registration. Registration
assistance can be received at the administrative office and at select remote
locations to allow parents use of a computer if they do not have access to
one.
Registration is not complete until all steps have been completed, which
includes online registration, turning in immunization and physical
records and showing a valid birth certificate.
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Children will be released to the responsible parents or those persons listed on
the child‘s form. If children are supposed to be picked up by someone other
than the parent, staff must have written notification with explicit instructions.
Picture ID is required for persons that Youth Programs staff are unfamiliar
with. Children will not be released without a proper ID. We will try to
enforce the ‗unauthorized persons‘ list however, in order to call authorities, a
copy of the court order must be kept on file.
Meetings and Discussions
Communication is an ongoing process in the care of your child. We
understand how hectic many days can be but ask you to be available to center
staff on a regular basis if things come up so that they can stay informed.
Constant communication can keep misunderstandings from arising.
Feel free to make an appointment with your RCS if you have any concerns.
Also, feel free to meet with your RCS for specific behavior issues such as those
arising from divorce, death of a loved one, attention deficit disorder, or the
like. We are there to help you, all you have to do is ask.
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Your Recreation Center Supervisor (RCS) is there to work with you on any suggestions or concerns
you may have. If you have anything you would like to discuss please feel free to
make an appointment with your Center
Supervisor.
Working together we can positively facilitate your
child‘s development.
Ratio
Supervision is provided by trained staff at all times with a ratio of no more
than (1) to (18) for School Age and Middle School; (1) to (10) for KIDS;
(1) to (4) for emotionally disturbed children; and (1) to (5) for those with
developmental disabilities. Staff utilizes sight, sound, and counting of
children to ensure that all are present and safe at all times. Children are
also assigned a primary staff member daily to ensure their whereabouts.
During field trips, an emergency identification file with emergency
numbers and pertinent medical information is located in the van or bus
being used for transport.
General Information
If your child is attending summer school, be sure he and his teacher
understand that he is going to Youth Programs after school. You may
wish to show him the Youth Programs room. This is especially important
for young children, for those who are new to the school and/or Youth
Programs, and those riding a bus to another center. For safety reasons we
suggest you make arrangements for your child‘s teacher to walk them to
the Youth Programs site. Also, we‘ve found it best if parents put these
arrangements in writing, especially if they change frequently.
Each child is assigned a basket for their personal belongings however, be
sure your child‘s belongings are clearly marked with their name. If in
Therapeutics, please provide a top and bottom twin sheet, clearly marked
with the child‘s name, if they are going to require a daily nap. We do not
recommend children bring personal toys from home. If you have a
suggestion for a type of toy or activity that you would like to see us offer,
we can entertain the idea. Newport News Parks and Recreation does not
accept responsibility for lost or misplaced items, including but not limited
to toys, clothing, tennis shoes, etc.
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Prices
Registration Fee: $40.00 Individual; $80.00 Family
Weekly: Full Time (4-5 Days) Part-Time (3 days or less)
School Age & Teen $90 $65
KIDS $96 $72
Therapeutics (please also see assessment pricing on page 22):
Discovery $150—Newport News Residents / $190—Non City Resident
(The first child is regular price while there is a $5 weekly discount for additional children. Additional fees apply for field trips/special events.
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Payment Options
Auto Pay: Automatic debit of your credit/debit account or your
checking/ savings account can be established by completing the auto-
matic enrollment from online
Online Payments (EZ Child Track Parent Portal): Secure online pay-
ments can be made by visiting https://www.ezchildtrack.com/nnprt/
ParentLogin.aspx (Requires a registered Youth Program account)
Telephone Payments: Telephone payments can be made by calling
our administrative office at 926-1400 (Requires a registered Youth
Program account.)
In-Person Payments: In person payments can be made at our Admin-
istrative Office at City Center between the hours of 8:30am-4:30pm.
Payments may also be made at Drop Box locations (see hours and
locations page 10)
Youth Programs accepts Personal Checks, Cashier‘s Checks, Money
Order, MasterCard/VISA Credit/Debit cards, and E-checks using
checking or savings account payments. All checks and money orders
must be made payable to The City of Newport News. We do not
accept Discover Cards or American Express.
PAYMENTS ARE DUE IN ADVANCE; late fees will be applied to
payments received after deadline.
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PAYMENTS
Youth Programs encourages the use of our online system to pay for
program fees. In order to focus center activities on relationship building,
children and to ensure safety of staff and participants, payments will no
longer be accepted at Youth Programs school locations or by Youth
Programs Center Staff. Payments will continue to be accepted by the
Youth Programs Administration at the City Center office. Payments made
by check or money order will also be accepted at ―Drop Box‖ locations at
Brittingham-Midtown Community Center and Denbigh Community
Center. These ―Drop Box‖ locations close at 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
Payments are due by Sundays at midnight. The Administrative office is
open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Payment for the
program is due in advance. Please make the checks or money orders out
to the City of Newport News. Please be sure to put your driver‘s license
or social security number on your checks and all forms of payment should
have your child’s name in the memo section.
Administrative Office at City Center 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 320 - Tel: 757-926-1400 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Closed Sat- Sunday Midtown Community Center (Drop box Only) 570 McLawhorne Drive - Tel: 757-591-4853 Hours: Monday - Thursday 6 am – 9pm
Friday 6 am – 8 pm Saturday: 9am - 6 pm Closed Sunday
Denbigh Community Center (Drop Box Only) 15198 Warwick Blvd. - Tel: 757-812-7900 Hours: Monday -Thursday 6 am – 9pm
Friday 6 am – 8 pm Saturday: 8 am - 6 pm Closed Sunday
If the parent or emergency contact cannot be reached and the center has
not heard from you by 6:30PM then Child Protective Services will be
called. If you are consistently late in picking up your child other
arrangements will need to be made. Being consistently late is grounds for
dismissal.
Show and Tell
Youth Programs discourages children from bringing their best, most prized
toys from home to our centers. Items such as video games, i-pods, cell
phones, etc., are highly desirable and sometimes prove too tempting for
the other kids. More often than not, these pricey toys don't make it back
home. Youth Programs is NOT responsible for these items if they get lost,
broken, or stolen.
Skipping a Day?
If your child will not be participating in the program on a certain day,
please inform the program staff by calling the RCS or the voice mail
number for the center or you can notify us via email. When our staff are
off searching for children who were supposed to be in attendance it takes
them away from the interaction they should be having with your child.
Please keep us informed.
Information
Parent bulletin boards are located in each center to provide parents with
current information about the program, safety information, and child
advocacy issues. Please review the parent board regularly for important
and interesting announcements. We also distribute parent memos from
time to time and you MUST sign the memo distribution form for all those
that you receive.
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Just in Case
It is required by the State of Virginia that two emergency contacts be listed
on every child‘s registration form. Be sure that up-to-date phone numbers
are listed for your child‘s emergency contact persons. These people must
live or work locally in order to be of assistance in an emergency. Also, be
sure your contacts know you have given us their names and are willing to
come to the center with a picture ID to pick up your child in the event you
cannot be reached. You can update your contacts information anytime
with your RCS!
All Items on Board
When picking up your child at the end of the day, please check for items
to take home. Allow time for them to finish what they are doing and
encourage them to put away materials. Be sure the staff knows your child
is leaving and be sure to sign them out via the check out sheet.
Join in the Fun
We love parent involvement. Not only are our parents often asked to
donate time and everyday household items which are used for special
projects—you are also welcome and encouraged to join in the fun
whenever possible. Parents are welcome to attend and visit the program
during all operational hours. If you’d like to work or volunteer on a
regular basis, please contact our administration for further guidance.
On Time Pick Up
Youth Programs closes promptly at 6:30PM each day. If you are unable to
pick up your child, please make arrangements to notify the center
concerning who will be picking up your child. A penalty fee of $5.00 for
each five minutes will be charged after 6:30PM if the child is left at the
center.
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Late Fees
Payments for program services are due in advance. Check or money order
payments must be received by 6 pm on Saturdays at the Payment Drop box
locations. Credit Card, E-Check payments are due before 11:59pm on
Sunday.
Any check, money order, credit card, e-check payments received after the
deadline will incur an automatic late payment fee. This late payment fee
will apply to children who are in the program without payment having
been received in advance and will be in the amount of $25.00. An
additional $25 penalty fee will be assessed for each week the payment is
late. If payment is not received after the 2nd week, the participant will be
withdrawn from the program for the remainder of the year and the debt
is submitted to the City Attorney’s office for collection. To re-enroll, the
participant must re-register. The outstanding debt must be paid to
include tuition, late fees, and new registration fee.
Checks or E-Checks that are returned for insufficient funds will also incur
a penalty fee. There is a $35 returned check fee that is assessed per check.
Youth Programs will not accept future payments by check until old debts
are cleared, including returned check fees. We also reserve the right to
refuse payment by check if more than one check is returned for non-
payment.
The City of Newport News assumes no liability for children whose fees
have not been paid in full prior to attendance.
REMINDER—If you have not paid after the second week, the
participant will be withdrawn from the program for the remainder of
the year and the debt turned over to the City Attorney’s office for
collection.
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Absences
Because we base supplies purchased and staff scheduled on the number of
children paid for the week-there are no credits or refunds for absences and
weekly fees will not be prorated for days not used. You can change from full
time to part time or part time to full time by notifying our administrative
office by Tuesday of the current week or prior. If you are going to miss a
complete week due to vacation–make arrangements to skip a week’s
payment by calling our administrative office at 926-1400 or sending us an
email to [email protected].
Waiting List
In the event of a waiting list, priority will be given to the those participants
opting for full-time care.
Receipt and Taxes
We do not give year end tax statements so please keep copies of your checks or
track your payments online. Our Federal ID # is 54-6022059. Receipts are
available online for those using EZ Child Track; all financial records are
accessible for print from this website.
www.redefiningplay.com
The BEST way to pay is online through
our online payment system! Make it a
bookmark, schedule recurring payments
and never pay a late fee again!
https://ezchildtrack.com/nnprt/
ParentLogin.aspx
Parents must inform the center within 24 hours or the next business day
after your child or any member of the immediate household has
developed any reportable communicable disease, as defined by the State
Board of Health, except for life threatening diseases which must be
reported immediately.
Safety First
We take every precaution to make sure your child is safe. This includes a
comprehensive safety awareness program, frequent inspections of the
building and playground equipment, as well as fire drills and health
inspections. To ensure the safety of each child, no child is allowed to leave
the premises without a staff person. We require each child to be signed in
and out of the program each day by the parent or guardian. When picking
up we will require positive identification from parents not known to staff.
A picture ID is a must! The center will not be responsible for any child
dropped off outside the building.
All Youth Programs sites have an Emergency Plan which is posted near the
parent information area. We encourage all parents to be familiar with this
plan, which includes steps to take in any natural or man-made disaster.
The plan includes times to evacuate the site as well as when to ‗shelter in
place.‘ In the event that our program must take these measures a notice
will go out via our online system. This is one of the many reasons you
should be familiar with the system. If necessary, we will also utilize local
media to publicize actions taken in an emergency. In the event a natural
or man-made disaster prevents parents from picking up their children, our
program will carry out our Emergency Plan and will contact the
Emergency Management Team for Newport News.
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Youth Programs will administer sunscreen and insect repellant if the
following are met:
Parent/Guardian provides sunscreen and/or repellant labeled with
the child‘s name.
Parent/Guardian signs an ―Authorization to Apply Sunscreen &
Insect Repellant‖ on the registration form.
Parent will notify center if the child has ever had an adverse reaction
from either medication.
Parents should note the following:
Licensing requires that staff members apply sunscreen and insect
repellant for children under age nine (above criteria must be met).
Children over nine may apply their own sunscreen and repellant as
long as they are supervised.
Youth Programs recommends that parents apply sunscreen and
repellant prior to bringing children to the program, especially
before events or activities that will be held outside.
Chicken Pox, Fever, and the Common Cold
On days where your child is not feeling well, we ask that you to keep your
child at home to ensure that the illness does not spread. Please notify your
RCS when this happens. If your child becomes ill at the center, we will
contact you and you must come pick them up. In the event of any serious
accident or illness, an ambulance may be called. Your child must be fever
free for 24 hours in order to return to the program.
We will keep you informed of any instance of disease affecting children at
our program and we only ask the same of you in return. If a child is
absent because of a contagious disease they are not allowed to return to
the program without a note from a physician stating that the child’s
condition is no longer contagious.
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Field Trips and Special Events
We have limited seating on buses and all field trip deadlines are final. If your
child is not in attendance, arrangements need to be made for payment to be
received by the deadline. Children are taken on a first come, first serve basis;
only payment reserves your child‘s spot.
To participate in field trips, special events, or carnivals all children are required
to be registered and paid for the week of the trip. Newly registered
participants are required to attend a minimum of three days the week before
the trip to ensure that our staff is familiar with your child’s habits and
personality. Children are required to be at their center location by 8:00 AM
unless otherwise noted in order to ensure that the bus gets off on time! If the
bus has departed, we cannot be responsible for your child. Due to safety
issues—we cannot allow any child to be dropped off at our field trip locations.
You are responsible for making arrangements for your child to attend another
center if:
A trip is full.
Your child is unable to attend a trip due to summer school.
You do not wish for your child to attend a scheduled trip.
You woke up too late and missed the bus.
You don't want your teen or KIDS participant to go on the trip (there is no
alternative teen or KIDS center). If this is the case, YOU must make
other arrangements for the day.
2013 Newport News t-shirts are required on field trips and special events.
These shirts are just one of the many safety measures we take on field trips. T-
shirts need to fit true to size. If your child arrives without a Youth Programs t-
shirt parents will have the option of purchasing an additional shirt, bringing the
shirt before the bus leaves, or taking the child home. NO CHILD WILL BE
ALLOWED ON A FIELD TRIP WITHOUT A T-SHIRT!
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Getting There
Transportation is the responsibility of the parents. However, for some summer
schools, transportation may be provided by regular school bus runs. For more
information, contact your school office. Youth Programs makes no arrangements
for bussing to or from summer school.
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, the Youth Programs may change its hours. When it
is announced that Newport News City Offices will close, Youth Programs will
close as well. For more information or clarification of operations during a storm,
please call your center‘s voicemail or 926-7282 for general announcements.
Snack
Proper nutrition is very important for active and healthy children. Youth
Programs works with a partner agency to serve snacks and lunch. Snacks, lunch
and drink are furnished following USDA requirements by the program. A copy
of these standards can be obtained from your RCS. In the event that the partner
agency is unable to provide this free service, you may be required to bring a lunch
or snack for your child.
Happening Now
Our daily activities vary based upon the themes listed in the calendar section of
your packet. Each morning and afternoon will be broken up into stations like
―The Drawing Board,‖ ―The Arena,‖ ―Lights, Camera, Action,‖ ―Buggin Out,‖
and ―Where in the World?‖ Other activities and opportunities that will occur
include enrichment and literacy activities such as ―KidzLit,‖ community building
games, conflict resolution activities and open ended art, construction, and
creative outlets. Many of our activities will be child led so that your child can
have real input into their summer days. Giving children the opportunity to make
their own decisions in a safe environment prepares them for the more difficult
decisions that are just around the corner.
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Protecting Their Toes
Keeping in mind that your child will be running around playing new
games and old favorites—tennis shoes or sandals with straps and rubber
soles are required daily. No flip flops please! Tennis shoes must be tied.
During consolidation at Brittingham-Midtown Community Center or
Denbigh Community Center, as well as those centers in gymnasiums,
tennis shoes ONLY will be allowed on the floor. Children will not be
allowed to wear dress shoes or hiking boots on the gym floor!
Doctor’s Orders
We know that there may be times when your child may need to take
medication while at our program. To make sure we administer
medication in a safe and healthy manner and in accordance with MAT
and licensing standards, written permission from the parent is required.
Medication MUST be in the original prescription bottle with written
instructions and given to your RCS. Please note that over the counter
meds must be in original containers and may not be shared amongst
siblings. Long term medication must be updated every six (6) months.
Staff must refuse acceptance of medication that do not meet specific
criteria. Please make sure that the medication has the child‘s first and last
name, the authorized prescriber‘s name, the pharmacy name and phone
number, the date the prescription was filled, the name of the medication,
the route the medication is to be taken, the dosage of the medication, how
often to give the medication, and the date to be discontinued. ALL of this
information needs to appear in writing for our staff to administer
medication to your children.
Nap Time
Both early childhood locations offer an afternoon nap time to full day participants.
Please provide a bottom sheet and blanket. Pillows and stuffed animals are
optional. These items will be sent home at the end of the week to be laundered. If
in Therapeutics, please provide a top and bottom twin sheet, clearly marked with
the child‘s name, if they are going to require a daily nap.
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