FAQs

We are committed to uphold an enriched learning environment that meets the social, intellectual, physical and emotional needs of preschool children and promotes growth through curriculum, age appropriate play, activities, and family involvement.

It is our center’s policy that parent handbook be signed by both parents as it is a binding contract regarding center policies and procedures. Students must be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian.

State law requires that each child have an updated immunization record and health exam on file as well as the notarized release form for emergency care. Children cannot attend school if these records expire. It is the parent’s responsibility to bring updated records to the office before expiration.

All students must arrive by 9:00am unless a doctor’s note is presented. In the case of a medical appointment the parents must notify the center by phone that the child will be arriving late. Center hours are 7:00am to 6:00pm for full time students. Program hours are 7:00am to 12:00pm for half day students. Program hours for VPK students are 9:00am to 12:00pm.

The center closes at 6:00pm. If your child or children are not picked up by that time. You will be charged a late pick-up fee. The fee is as follows: $10.00 for being late and up to the first 5 minutes and $1.00 for every minute after that. This fee is charged per child.

We ask parents to dress their child in weather appropriate clothes. Each child must have a change of clothes in their cubby for emergencies. High heels, platforms, flip-flops, slippers, boots, crocs or sandals are not permitted to increase safety while playing outside. Please do not send children wearing jewelry as it can get lost or damaged at school. Small earrings are ok.

Supervised rest periods are part of the daily schedule for all preschool children. Parents are required to bring a blanket for their child. If parents wish they may provide a small pillow as well. Please keep in mind that all of these items must fit inside your child’s cubby. All of these items must be taken home on Fridays to be washed and must be returned on Mondays. It is highly recommended to use a permanent marker to label all belongings to minimize mix ups.

Children must be completely potty trained without accidents to advance to the older three’s/VPK classroom. Children ages three and older are expected to use the bathroom independently and without wiping assistance. In the event of an accident soiled clothing will be bagged up to be sent home and washed. Parents must periodically check on their child’s supply of extra clothing. Parents must provide diapers/Pull ups and wipes for children that are not potty trained. Staff will assist with potty training.

Medication is given at 12:00 only. A parent must have completed a medication form and the medication must be in the original box or have the original label of it. No medication will be administer if the medication has expired or if there is no medication form.

In case of minor injury or accident, the staff will administer basic first aid. All injuries or illnesses not requiring immediate parental notification will be documented and reported to parents at the end of the day. In the event of a medical emergency, parents will be contacted immediately. If parents cannot be reached, injured children will be transported for medical aid by calling 911 for an ambulance.

In the event of an emergency, parents will be contacted using the information provided at registration. Accurate emergency phone numbers must be on file for each child at all times. School staff should be notified of changes to contact information immediately. If children must be evacuated from the center building they may be walked to 1655 Sheldon Drive Clearwater, FL 33764.

The center serves breakfast, lunch and snack to all of the children. If your child has missed breakfast or lunch due to a doctor’s appointment , parents are required to provide that meal before dropping off their child. No outside food is permitted. If your child has a food allergy it is crucial that you communicate that to us. If your child cannot eat something that we are serving due to allergies, we will try are best to come up with a simple substitute, if one cannot be accommodated, parents will be ask to provide the meal that models our menus.

Once your child has been enrolled at Kid-A-Rama Academy for one full year, you then have earned 1 week of vacation time. Parents may designate one week during the year to take a vacation. No tuition is due when a vacation week is used and the child must not be at school during a vacation week. You must fill out a vacation request form and it must be signed by the director. Vacation time is calculated by your child’s start date. Please check with the director to see how much or if you have vacation time. Unused vacations are not added onto the next year.

The center will be closed on the following holidays:

• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• (Friday) The day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year’s Eve Day
• New year’s Day
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independent Day

** If we must close for teacher training A full weeks tuition will be charged for the weeks these days occur.

We welcome families to visit their child’s classroom to celebrate their birthday. Parents can bring items in to share, individual cupcakes, cake, snack cakes, cookies, and juice if desired. Parents should communicate with their child’s teacher to find the best time to visit.

All tuition fees are to be paid in full on Friday for the following week. If you prefer to pay monthly or every 2 weeks, you may in advance. All missed payments will have a $20.00 late fee added. Failure to pay for one full week will result in the child’s suspension until the past due balance is paid in full. Tuition must be paid regardless of child’s attendance due to illness, school closing, bad weather closing or holidays. If your child has to be away for visitation arrangements with another parent that requires your child to miss additional weeks, the parent who signs the contract is still required to pay all tuition during that time.

The registration fee must accompany the enrollment application. This fee is nonrefundable. We accept cash, personal check and money orders. Tuition payments must be paid every Friday. A 10% sibling discount is applied to the lowest weekly tuition.

This fee is due every August every year your child is enrolled at the center. This fee helps the center with up keep costs and supplies needed to care for your child.

A $30.00 fee will be assessed in the event that a check is returned for non-sufficient funds. All NSF checks must be paid for in cash immediately on notification.

The center will follow the public schools for bad weather closings. If the public schools are closed due to approaching bad weather the center will follow the same closings. Tuition will not be pro-rated for the center closing due to bad weather.

Personal toys must be kept at home. Toys are only permitted when your child’s teacher request them. No toy weapons or hand held electronic video games will be permitted. If a child needs a “security” item (such as a blanket or stuffed animal) to make the morning transition, it must be kept in their cubby.

For the health and safety of our students and staff, children who show symptoms of an illness may not attend school. Children may be sent home for the following signs of illness:

• Severe Coughing
• Runny Nose
• Difficulty Breathing
• Diarrhea
• Pinkeye
• Unusual Spots or Rashes
• Sore Throat or Trouble Swallowing
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Temperature of 100 degrees or higher.

Note:  To prevent the spread of illness, children who are sent home for vomiting or fever may not return to center for 24 hours. If a child contracts any of the following, notification to the center is necessary: measles, mumps, chicken pox, head lice or strep throat. All parents of classmates will be notified as soon as possible. Outdoor play is a regular part of the daily routine. Staff cannot accommodate special requests for children to stay indoors. If a child is too sick to go outside, this is an indicator that they are too sick to be at the center.

A $15.00 graduation/cap and gown fee is due during the month of graduation. The cap and gown is for the ceremony and must be returned to the center. The cap and gown is required to participate in the graduation program.

1. Appropriate behavior is encouraged through:
   • Positive reinforcement
   • Praise
   • Modeling
   • Scheduling and strutting the day
   • Appropriate expectations
   • Giving clear simple directions
2. Inappropriate behavior is discouraged through:
   • Structuring the environment
   • Immediate response to behavior
   • Redirecting child behavior
   • Appropriate separation from other students
3. Progressive discipline steps for preschoolers:
   • Prevention
   • Redirection
   • Explanation of consequences
   • Age appropriate choices
   • Removal from situation
   • Removal from classroom
   • Parents pick up from school
   • Permanent withdrawal from school

The child discipline policies of Kid-A-Rama Academy prohibit children from being subject to discipline which is severe, humiliating, frightening, or associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any other form of physical punishment is prohibited by all child care personnel. In the event that a child seemingly cannot make the appropriate adjustment to our center, we will require that the child be withdrawn. This may occur when a child’s behavior has become disruptive to the peaceful learning environment. This may also occur if the child’s behavior might cause physical harm to students or staff.