GSLC Parent Handbook 2007-2008

The Center is available to children 18 months through five years of age. We follow the Conroe Independent School District Calendar. This calendar can be accessed at the Conroe ISD website. It is also printed in the front part of the Interfaith phone directory. The parents will be notified of any additional dates of closure. The Center is open from 8:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for all programs. Parents are welcome at the center any time during hours of operation. Activities for each class vary each day. The daily schedule is posted at the entrance to each classroom, a copy of which is available upon request. A daily snack is provided, and rest or “nap” time is offered in the afternoon to every child, three years old and younger.

The doors open at 8:30 a.m., at this time parents may bring their child to the classroom or utilize the car line. The children will be lined up for dismissal in the Fellowship Hall at 12:00 p.m. for half day and at 2:30 p.m. for full day. Please inform the teacher or director if it is necessary to pick-up your child early.

Please send a note with any transportation changes. If the person is picking up your child for the first time we will ask for a copy of their driver’s license. Your child’s safety always comes first.

Please do not let your child out of the car in car line without assistance from staff. Please use the sidewalk when walking your child to or from the building.

It is important to remember to inform the Center of any new phone numbers, addresses, health insurance policies, doctors, relatives’ phone numbers, contacts, and people whom you have indicated on your child’s enrollment form to be trusted with the release of your child. Please inform the director by phone or in person that you have sent it in the child’s bag or hand it to her personally. When changes to the Center policies are made, you will be notified in writing and asked to sign and return an acknowledgment form.

Please do not allow your child to bring any valuable items to school. Toys of normal value are permitted for classroom events such as “Show & Tell”. If your child needs a special stuffed animal or blanket for nap time, please feel free to send it in their backpack.

GSLC will provide a healthy snack daily, such as apples, cheese cubes and crackers. Children need to bring a nutritious lunch with them each day as per their schedule. Toddler's, Two's and Three's eat lunch at 11:30 a.m. All remaining classes eat lunch at 12:00 p.m. When preparing sack lunches, remember to pack food that does not need refrigeration. Prepare the lunch so that the child can handle it easily. You know your child’s eating habits and abilities better than anyone. Don’t forget to cut fresh apples and grapes into slices and to peel oranges. Please bear in mind that we must open all of your child’s lunch. So if your child has a habit of eating dessert first, you might want to make a fruit cup the dessert!

Parents are welcome to make birthday’s special events for the children. If you wish to share your child’s birthday with the class, we welcome you to do so by bringing cupcakes or cookies for snack time. Please let your child’s teacher or the director know in advance when you plan to bring a birthday snack.

Your child’s teacher may request parent assistance for seasonal parties or events. Class parties may vary and the teacher has the flexibility to orchestrate the extra curricular activities in her room in the manner she sees best suited to the class.

Tuition is based on a ten month cycle. Checks should be made payable to Good Shepherd Learning Center. In the memo space put “childcare;” not “donation”. You will be responsible for any bank fees charged to the Learning Center for any returned checks.

We hate to see anyone leave! However, if you must withdraw a child, please give a two-week notice to the director or the office administrator in order to avoid incorrect charges and to make sure all personal belongings are returned to the child.

Incidents where a child is injured, parents will be contacted and an incident report will be sent home.

When the incident involves another child, both parents will be notified and an incident report will be given. If there is a persistent problem with an individual child, the parents will be notified with both phone call and written incident report. At that time, a meeting will be arranged with the parents, the teacher, and the director to discuss recommendations.

Your child’s teacher will be gentle and loving, yet firm when necessary. We believe that God has given us the responsibility as teachers (assisting parents) to guide children to learn how to control and be responsible for their own behavior and emotions, and also to take into consideration others’ rights and feelings.

The teacher may redirect a child to a different activity or allow the child time and space to gain control. The teacher also will focus on positive behavior and will be a good example to the children.

Limits on behavior are for the safety and respect of the child’s self, those around the child, and property. In the event that a child is repeatedly disrespectful, uncooperative, or continually uses bad language and a teacher is otherwise unable to guide the child’s behavior, the following steps will be taken:

Children should come dressed appropriately for the weather and for both indoor and outdoor play. Clothing should be loose enough to provide comfort and freedom of movement. Please avoid clothing with violent cartoon logos. Please mark all clothing with the child’s name (especially outerwear). Tennis shoes or play shoes are suitable for indoor and outdoor activities. Please no Crocs. Each child should bring a complete change of clothes, including underwear and socks, labeled in a Ziploc bag. Please put your child’s name on everything!

The Special Senses and Communication Disorders Act, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 36, requires a screening or a professional examination for vision and hearing for the children who are four years of age by September 1st of each new school year and first-time enrollees who are four years of age or older. Testing must be done within 120 calendar days of enrollment, whichever is longest. You may have the screening conducted by licensed or certified screener or a health-care professional. Refer to Texas Health and Safety Code, §36.011, for specifics on vision and hearing screening. This information may be accessed on the Internet at: www.tdh.state.tx.us/vhs/.

A complete explanation of illness and emergency policies is available in the State of Texas Minimum Standards For Daycare if you should like to refer to it.

Be sure to record allergic conditions or reactions or other special medical information on your enrollment application.

If your child requires medication, bring the medication to the director and the director will administer it to your child. It will need to be in the original prescription bottle, with the child’s name, the prescription number and dosage instructions. You will need to sign a release form naming the medication and the time to be given. These forms are available from the director. Prescription medicines can only be given to the child whose name appears on the label, not a sibling. No over-the-counter medicines will be administered nor allowed on campus.

In the unhappy (and extremely unlikely) event that a child is seriously injured while at the Center, common sense as well as the State of Texas dictate the immediacy of professional medical attention. This is why your signature authorizing emergency medical care must be on file. You, your child’s physician, and Emergency Medical Service (911) will be notified immediately upon such an occurrence.

If C.I.S.D. is closed due to bad weather, Good Shepherd will also be closed. Please listen to local radio or television stations for this information on closings.

Everyone runs late once in a while due to circumstances beyond their control. Each parent gets two grace incidents. After that, there is a $15 penalty for being more than 15 minutes late. There is a 15 minute pick up time after sessions are over, then the late period starts.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
9191 Cochran's Crossing Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381
Learning Center (936)-273-2080
Church Office (936)273-1919