Tree Hill Learning Center

Parent Information

Complete Policy Documents and other resources are available below,

as well as abbreviated versions of our most referenced

policies and procedures for your convenience:

Health Policy

Illness and Medication Policy

Tree Hill Learning Center staff understands and appreciates the fact that most families that enroll their children at the center are working and that it is difficult to have their schedules interrupted. However, your cooperation is needed in curbing the spread of contagious illnesses.

Children who have the following symptoms cannot be admitted to the school until the contagious period has passed and for at least 24-48 hours after the symptoms have cleared.

We cannot serve children with:

Temperatures 100.4 degrees or above
severe or persistant cough
sore throat
vomiting
diarrhea
watery eyes
green/yellow discharge from nose or eyes
swollen glands
evidence of head lice or other parasites
a skin rash that has not been identified by a physician
conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Staff members conduct daily health checks of children when they arrive at the facility. If a child is found to be ill or becomes sick while at school, the parent/legal guardian will be notified. The parent/legal guardian will be expected to pick the child up within the hour.

Medication may be administered to a child only with a signed Medication Authorization Form from the parent. We may only administer medication when the dose, duration and method of administration is clearly specified on the manufacturer's label for the age or weight of the child; as specified on prescription labels; or as authorized in writing by a physician. All medication must be in its original container and properly labeled with the child's full name, date prescription was filled or medication's expiration date and legible instructions for administration.

Outbreak of a contagious disease may result in temporary changes to any of our policies, school hours, closures of specific classrooms, or a total building closure.

Tree Hill does not accept Personal or Religious Vaccine Exemptions.

After Hours Policy

Tree Hill Learning Center closes promptly at 5:45 PM daily. All children must be picked up by that time. In the event that child remains at the center past closing, a teacher will stay with the child and follow the following procedures:

• Every effort will be made to contact the child's parents to come pick the child up.

• If a parent cannot be reached, one of the two emergency contacts will be called. Identification will be required by this person in order for us to release your child to them. Parent/legal guardian will be notified as soon as possible that the child has been released to one of their emergency contact persons if they arrive and find the school to be closed.

• If the teacher has not been able to contact anyone by 8:00 p.m. to come for the child, the child will be considered abandoned and the police will be called**.

• Late Pick ups (after 5:45 PM) will result in a $35 fee.

Please note: We have to make these provisions in the event that this situation ever develops. Our sincere hope is that we never have to implement this procedure. Working together as a partner in your child's care will make your experience with Tree Hill Learning Center a pleasant one. Please try to notify us of any situation or emergency that occurs that may prevent your from picking up your child on time. We are happy to work with our families in any way possible.

Billing Policies

Tree Hill Learning Center operates on a monthly tuition schedule. We offer half-day (up to 5 hours per day) and full-day (up to 10 hours per day).

Tree Hill bills on the first of the month for space to be reserved in your child's class. Payment is due the 5th of each month. A $10 late fee will be applied to accounts 10 days past due, and $20 will be applied after 20 days past due.

We accept payments in cash, check, money order, American Express, Visa, or MasterCard.

Ten Hour Policy: State law dictates that children may not be in child care for more than 10 hours per day. At Tree Hill we enforce this policy by charging a $25 fee per day each child is present at Tree Hill for over 10 hours.

We require a 30-day notice for any schedule changes, vacations, or withdrawal from our program.

We reserve the right to re-evaluate our rates at any time. In the event that our tuition rates change, we will provide a minimum 30-day notice.

For divorced and separated families: We do not bill parents separately. Please make co-payment arrangements between yourselves. We consider account liability to rest with those signed as enrolling parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Tuition unpaid after 30-days could result in the termination of your child's care.

Holidays and Celebrations

Tree Hill Learning Center enjoys celebrating all culturally relevant holidays to the children in our program. Please share with your teachers the holidays your family celebrates and any traditions special to your family.

Please let us know if there is a holiday in which you do not wish your child to partake. We will make arrangements to provide an alternate activity.

We are closed for the following holidays

3:00 P.M. on New Year's Eve
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
President's Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
July 4th and 5th for Independence Day
Labor Day
Halloween close at 4:00 P.M.
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Day after Christmas

Notices of closures will be posted, but please mark your calendars! Holidays that fall on a weekend may be observed on a Monday or Friday. Custom closure decisions will be posted annually and any changes to the schedule will be emailed in advance.

Families who wish to share birthday celebrations may bring simple refreshments to serve at lunch or snack time. Please let classroom teachers know in advance when you would like to bring treats to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Refreshments must be store purchased, and must clearly state peanut/tree nut free on the label.

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Absences and Sick Days

We do not credit accounts or issue discounts for vacation time, sick days, or days Tree Hill is closed.

If you child misses a school day they may use a make-up day within the same month, at no charge, on another day they would not normally attend; subject to classroom availability. Make-up days can not be guaranteed

Additional days may be added on a case by case basis, if a make-up day is not available it will be considered a drop in day and a daily fee will be added to your tuition.

Inclement Weather

When winter weather causes closures or delays, we do our best to open our school at the earliest posible time. Our first priority is the safety of staff and students. If our staff cannot get in safely we will not open the school. We do our best to get information our as quickly and efficiently as possible but it can take time to fully evaluate the situation. Please call the school before leaving home if the weather delays public school openings.

While it is rare, wildfire smoke could also affect the school. If the air inside the school becomes unsafe to breathe, we will dismiss students for the day.

Signing in and out

We use an electronic attendance system for parents/guardians and authorized persons to sign children in and out of Tree Hill. It is important that each person use their own Personal Identification Number when signing a child in or out at the tablets at the front desk, and Tree Hill administrative staff can assist with this process when needed. Keeping accurate attendance records is extremely important in the event of an emergency or emergency drill.

If you need to pick up and return your child to Tree Hill during the day (e.g. for a doctor appointment), please be sure your child's teacher is aware of approximately when you are picking up and when you will be returning. You must sign your child in and out just as you would for normal drop off and pick up.

Pick up and drop off is restricted during nap time, please make arrangements with the front desk in advance if this is a concern.

Children are released only to persons for whom the staff has written permission from the parent/legal guardian. Families must update this permission when they wish a new person to pick up their child, the child will not be released unless written permission has been granted. All legal guardians must approve authorized pick-up persons.

Teachers/staff will request picture identification from anyone not known to them seeking to pick up your child, so please advise your designated pick-up person to bring a driver's license or other picture identification.

If a person picking up a child appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 911 will be called immediately.

Visitors and Volunteers

Parents or other family members are always welcome to help out and volunteer in our program at Tree Hill Learning Center. Regular volunteers must complete a background check and submit proof of negative TB test results and vaccinations when requested. All visitors and volunteers are expected to uphold our program's health and safety standards at all times. Tree Hill reserves the right to ask any family members or other volunteers to cease visitation at any time if it becomes problematic for any reason.

While we appreciate our parent's contribution to our school, volunteer time cannot be exchanged for tuition.

Emergency procedures

Tree Hill Learning Center is prepared to care for your child in times of critical situations. In the event of an emergency that leaves our school safe and intact, parents will be contacted as soon as possible and children will be dismissed to authorized persons.

The staff at Tree Hill Learning Center conduct monthly emergency drills with the children. Though we have never experienced a major disaster, we take precautions should an emergency occur while your children are in our care. The most likely disasters identified for our site include: fire, earthquake, windstorms, and winter storms.

In the event of a disaster requiring children and staff to remain at the facility, we will have a 72 hour supply of food and water for children and staff.

Parents are required to review our complete disaster plan upon enrollment and annually thereafter. Staff will review it annually.

Fire:

In the event of a fire, building alarms will sound and lights will flash. Staff will enact rehearsed evacuation procedures with the children.

Evacuation Process:

In the event for fire or natural disaster, each site has a designated evacuation space.

Staff will stay with evacuated children until they are in the care of their guardians.

Power Outage:

One hour without power:

Infant and toddler parents will be contacted for dismissal

Two Hours without power: Remaining children will be dismissed.

Medical Emergencies:

All Tree Hill Staff maintain CPR and First Aid certifications. In the event a child needs medical attention, 911 will be called if necessary and parents will be contacted immediately.

Lockdown:

We have Soft Lockdown and Full Lockdown procedures for different levels of concern.

In a Full Lockdown, staff will gather children safely in their classrooms, close blinds and lock doors and wait quietly until clearance is given by the Director.