Red Wagon Day Care and Pre-school

The Center, a family support for our community’s children ages 3-5 years (3-6 years for the summer program), is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Service and operates without discrimination of race, color, or national origin.

Members of First Congregational Church make up The Center’s board and the church provides indoor and outdoor space.

The curriculum is designed to meet the individual growth and development of each child enrolled. The staff works cooperatively with parents to assess each child’s development, interests, and on individual goals based on this assessment. The flexible curriculum offers programs in areas of development: intellectual, social, physical, emotional.

Newsletters informing parents of happenings are distributed, and we look forward to getting to know you better through daily sharing and special parent visits.

Teaching Staff

Our experienced teaching staff (from left to right) is Amanda Peterson, Wendy Simmon (director), Marianne Whitmer, Laura Hozak, and Jill Sanders-Colgan.

Admission Procedures

Admission is on a “first come, first serve” basis, and applications are dated upon receipt. When a vacancy occurs, the application date will determine the order for contacting parents of waiting list children. There is a non-refundable registration fee of $75.00 per child.

Hours of Operation

Sessions are Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The staff has other responsibilities, therefore, parents are asked to bring their children and pick them up only within these specific hours. Children enrolled full days begin a rest period at 1:00 p.m. Children in our care beyond regular hours are charged a late fee for each incident. This late fee is $5.00 for every 15-minute period, or fraction thereof. A notice of termination will be given after two late pick-ups.

Attendance

An enrolled child is expected to be in attendance for the schedule agreed to by the director and parents. A two-week written notice is required when withdrawal is necessary.

Parents, guardians, or adults designated by parents, are to accompany the child inside and sign the child’s arrival and departure time. Written notification given to the director is needed when child is to leave with an adult other than those authorized. If your child will not be present, please notify us by 8:00 a.m.

An information-exchange between parents, director and teachers occurs twice daily – during arrival and departure. This provides an important continuity between the family environment and the child-care setting. We are pleased to answer any questions or to help with any problems parents may have regarding their children. If during arrival or departure there is not enough time for this type of exchange, a more in-depth discussion time can be arranged.

There is a two-week adjustment period for your child to see if this type of situation is appropriate for their development at this time.

Weather or Non-Weather Related School Closures

Announcements on local radio stations and the ABC and NBC early morning television programs will be made on days Red Wagon is closed due to snow or other natural disasters such as power outages or water main breaks. Decisions to close will be made only when storms are severe enough to close Moline Public Schools or when conditions beyond our control lead to a temporary closing of school.

Termination

A child will be removed from the group when, after reasonable trial, he or she demonstrates inability to participate in or benefit from the type of care offered by the Center or whose presence is detrimental to the group. Discharge may also be made for failure to meet health standards or failure of parent(s) or guardian(s) to meet financial obligations. Parent or guardians shall be given prior notice and reasons for discharge. In such an event, two weeks notice will be given to the parents to allow time to make other arrangements. If possible, assistance and suggestions concerning type of care needed by the child will be given to the parents.

Calendar

Red Wagon is closed for these specific holidays:

• January 1
• Martin Luther King Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Spring Break (varies yearly)
• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July (varies yearly)
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veteran’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Friday
• Christmas Break (varies yearly)

Immunizations

Initial medical report shall be dated not less than six months prior to enrollment. All children must have completed the following tests and immunizations prior to entry:

• Diptheria
• Measles
• Polio
• Hepatitis B
• Lead Screen
• Pertussiss
• Mumps
• Haemophilus Influenzae B
• Chicken Pox Vaccine
• Tuberculin Skin Test Mantoux Method
• Tetanus
• Rubella

By state law, if immunizations were started late, the child must be on a schedule and up-to-date on immunizations. Other health policies are guided by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Health

The Center is licensed to provide care for healthy children. No facilities or medical staff is available to care for sick children. Therefore, sick children will not be allowed in any of the rooms. Health inspections are done on all children at arrival time. If a child becomes ill during the day, a parent will be contacted, and the child picked up. Emergency information forms are updated so teachers know how to contact parents.

Parents are requested to keep their child home if he or she exhibits any symptoms that might indicate a contagious disease:

• Fever within the previous 24 hours
• Constant “hacking” cough
• Vomiting within the previous 24 hours
• Skin eruptions or rash
• Redness of throat or eyes
• Diarrhea
• Evidence of extreme fatigue

If a child develops any of these symptoms, the parents will be notified to pick up their child. The child cannot return to school until all symptoms are gone, or until a signed physician’s certificate is brought stating the child’s condition is not contagious.

In the event medication is necessary at school, even though the child’s conditions is not contagious, a parent or guardian will sign an authorization form and initial a medication form provided by the Center. These forms are kept on file and give the parents’ authorization for the administration of prescription and non-prescription drugs. The medication form needs to be initialed each day the prescription is administered. Both prescription and non-prescription medication shall be accepted only in its original container. Prescription drugs shall be labeled with full pharmacy label. Over the counter (non-prescription) drugs shall be clearly labeled with the child’s first and last name.

For the protection of the other children, parents are asked to immediately report any illness to the child’s teacher. Staff members and parents should notify each other immediately if a child is exposed to a contagious disease.

Discipline and Management Procedures

It is the philosophy of the Red Wagon staff, and an Illinois State law, that no form of physical punishment is used. For the safety of the children, however, some form of discipline or managing the children’s behavior is occasionally necessary. This is done primarily through keeping the children engaged in a wide variety of stimulating activities providing plenty of love and physical interaction and praising good behavior.

Accidents or Emergencies

The Center makes every effort to insure the safety of all children. In the event of any emergency and/or accident, a parent is immediately contacted. When neither parent is available, other relative that can be reached will be called next. If they are unavailable, the child’s physician is called. Emergency forms should be updated as the information contained on them changes.