WELCOME 

Welcome to the Northminster Presbyterian Child Development Center (NCDC).  Thank you for your interest in our program!  Our goal is to create a loving and caring environment for your child/children - building positive attitudes, relationships and self-esteem.  We encourage spiritual, mental, physical, and social development through our program.  We hope that this school year will provide many meaningful and fun experiences for you and your child.

CLASSROOM #  828-324-0670

DIRECTOR OF NCDC                                ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NCDC

Cheri Locke                                                     Debbie Duncan

MINISTER                                                    CHURCH SECRETARY

Rev. James Bernhardt                                       Janice Simmons

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON TEACHERS

To protect the privacy of our teachers, this information is not available on-line. If you are interested, please request a paper copy of this handbook.

POLICIES AND HELPFUL INFORMATION

The following guidelines will help keep your child safe and help our school run more smoothly and effectively on a daily basis.  Please help us accomplish our goals by abiding by the policies.

1.  OPERATING HOURS

School hours are 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  If you choose to leave your child for lunch, pick up time is 12:45 p.m.  Please do not bring your child to the classroom prior to 8:45 a.m. and please pick your child up promptly at noon or 12:45 p.m.  Should an emergency arise that might delay your pick up, please notify the teacher as soon as possible (324-0670.)  Should late pick up become a problem, we will notify you.

There is a late charge for picking up your child after 12:00 p.m. or 12:45 p.m.  The charge is $1 per first 5 minutes and $1 per minute thereafter you are late.

2.  ARRIVAL and PICK UP PROCEDURES

Walk with your child to the classroom by way of the upper parking lot.  After entering the building, the Toddler Room is on the right, the Infant Room is the third door on the right, and the Older Toddler Room is straight ahead at the very end of the hallway.  You must sign your child in and out every day.  If someone other than you is picking up your child, a written note must be given to the teacher that morning.

Please use the upper parking lot if you are picking up your child at 12:00 noon.  The Preschoolers load in the lower parking lot and it becomes a traffic problem with everyone trying to use the same lot.

Please be extremely cautious in the parking lots and always be watchful for children, teachers, and other cars.

3.  SNOW DAYS

In the event of inclement weather, please tune your television to channels 3, 9, or 36.  The announcement will appear as Northminster CDC.  It will show if we are delayed or closed.  You may also log onto our web-site at www.northminstercdc.com.  There will be information on closings or delays on the home page.  We will also do our best to have a message on our school phone line if you call (828-324-0670).  If  there is no announcement, we will operate on a regular schedule.

There will be no makeup days or refunds.

4.  SICKNESS

If you feel your child may be getting sick (elevated temperature, nasal discharge, excessive coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, unidentified eye irritation, unidentified rash, unusual irritability, etc.) then please keep the child at home until these signs resolve.  Many doctors recommend that if a child has any fever in the last 24 hours, then the child should stay home for that day.  If the absence is due to a contagious disease, please contact us immediately, so that we may notify other parents so that they may watch their child during the incubation period or consult their physician if needed.

Parents and teachers agree that sick children should not be in the classroom.  Should the child become ill during the day, the teacher agrees to notify the parent or responsible party, and the parent agrees to pick up the child as soon as possible.

Please call us and let us know if your child is not coming to school (324-0670).

5.  REFRESHMENTS

The church PMO will provide a daily snack and beverages.  Please remind us if your child is allergic or sensitive to certain foods or beverages.

6. TERMINATION

The parent agrees to provide two weeks notice should it become necessary for the child to withdraw from the school.  The school agrees that after every effort has been made to deal with and correct dangerous or unmanageable behavior of a child, or non-compliance with school policy, the parent will be given notice.

7.  DISCIPLINE

Absolutely no physical discipline will be used, nor will any child be subject to ridicule, sarcasm, or isolation.  Should a child need to "cool down", we use a "time out chair."  This chair is not to be considered a punishment, but rather an opportunity for explanation, or quiet thinking.  Time in the time out chair will not exceed 3 minutes.  If there is a continuous pattern of disruptive or dangerous behavior, parents will be notified and a conference scheduled.

8.  REGISTRATION FEES and PAYMENT

Registration will be held in January of each year for the following Fall session.  Northminster staff and church members will be given priority, followed by current users - based on entry date in the program.  Then registration will be opened to all others.  You will be notified when registration will occur.  You will need to complete a registration form and pay a registration fee to hold your child's space. 

The registration fee is $50.00 and is non-refundable.  In addition to this fee, NCDC charges a monthly tuition fee which is payable on the first of each month.  An additional $15.00 late fee will be charged if tuition is not paid by the 10th of the month, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Directors.  Please make checks payable to NCDC.  Full tuition must be paid to maintain your child's place in class. 

Fees:    1 day a week:   $  41 per month

2 days a week: $  82 per month

3 days a week: $118 per month

            4 days a week: $156 per month

            5 days a week: $195 per month

            Lunch - $2 per day       Each child must bring their own lunch and drink.

** Preschool students will have a one time fee for the Science Center. The Science Center comes twice a month. The fee for this is $62.00 per year per child. This needs to be paid by August 15th with your September tuition. Please let us know if we need to work with you.

NOTE:  Once all available positions are filled, remaining applicants will be placed on a waiting list according to entry date and notified as positions become available. 

Summer Sessions will have a separate registration held in April, on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Registration fees will be announced.

9.  REQUIRED FORMS

In compliance with the policies of NCDC, we must have the following forms and payment on file for each registered child:

1. Tuition:   For summer session I and/or II and/or III by May 20, 2007.

                  For fall session – prorated total for August by August 15, 2006.

2. Health/Medical Information Form noting any restrictions if any.  Note the form

                 includes an up-to-date immunization record.  (If you have provided

                 this in the past year a new form does not need to be completed, unless

                 there has been any changes or additional shots).  You must complete a

                 new form each year.

3. The signed statement at the end of this handbook.

10.  MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Both the teacher and the assistant are trained in CPR and first aid.  In the event of a medical emergency, both 911 and the parent or emergency contact will be called.  NCDC will have signed authorization from the parents giving permission to have the child treated by a physician in case emergency care is needed before the parents can be reached.  Emergency health care information must be on file in the school.

11.  MEDICATIONS

No medications will be given to any child by the NCDC staff unless the physician notes on the Physician's Health Form that medicine must be given during PMO hours.

12.  TEACHER EDUCATION

All teachers and assistants take continuing education workshops and classes.

We ask that you read this handbook, date, and sign the last page, and return it by your child's first day of school.

            “I / we have read the policies of the Northminster Presbyterian Child Development Center and will abide by those policies as outlined in this Handbook.”

            ______________________________            _______________________             

            Signature                                                          Date

            ______________________________            _______________________             

            Signature                                                          Date

            Northminster Presbyterian Church

            Highway 127 North at 37th Avenue Northwest

            Hickory, North Carolina 28601

            828/324-6634

            NCDC Phone # 828/324-0670