Handbook

(Please review this in full before your child is enrolled in IIFCP. It’s very important that you, as the parent, are informed about our policies and have a clear understanding of them. Thank you! <3)

Days and Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday from 7:00am-3pm.

Extra hours: 6:00am-7:00am and 3:00pm-4:00pm

Part Time Care: is $12 per hour during all hours and days of operation: 6:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday. For more than one child the rate is $15 per hour

Days Off:

Several national holidays are observed. School will not be offered during these days, unless a prior private agreement has been made with the director. “*” are marked for days that fall between Monday-Friday. Unmarked days fall on weekends but are recorded anyway. Dates are subject to change. A detailed list is below:

New Year’s Day: January 1st*

February 14th* & 17th* holidays

Doctor appointments & Tax days: February 18th*-20th*

March 20th*

Good Friday: April 10th*

My Daughter’s Surgery: April 27th*

Memorial Day: May 25th*

Personal Family Birthday: May 27th*

Family Vacation: June 15th-22nd

Independence Day (observed): July 3rd*

Wedding Anniversary Trip: August 10th*-14th*

Labor Day: September 7th*

The week of Thanksgiving: November 23rd*-27th*

Christmas Break: December 21st*-31st*

~The Director may also close the school on unscheduled days, provided she gives the parents a week’s notice, for important family occasions or if necessity requires the preschool to be closed such as personal illness or family emergency.

Payment Policy: 

All fees are required to be paid via electronic installment on our payments page. Fees are to paid two weeks in advance prior to care (every other Monday). Fees may alter as living expenses increase.

Fees without ACCESS:

  • $200 per week
  • + $12 per hour for hours before 7:00am and after 3:00pm. 
    (Extra hours fee is waived when enrolling 2 or more children)

Fees with ACCESS:

  • FREE with ACCESS except for a weekly $30 charge for classroom supplies. The $30 charge is due on the first Monday of each week.
  • + $12 per hour for hours before 7:00am and after 3:00pm. 
    (Extra hours fee is waived when enrolling 2 or more children.)

Part Time Fees:

$12 per hour (or $15 per hour for more than one child) is due on the same day via check or electronic deposit on our payments page.

Invested in Families Christian Preschool has partnered with ACCESS to provide parents with financial assistance and other resources that will be helpful to them in their childcare journey. ACCESS provides up to $170 per week to parents seeking financial assistance. For more information on their program, please contact Lupita at: 209-827-5694. You may also reach out to her physically at: 663 I St b, Los Banos, CA 93635

*Please note: no academics will be offered during extra hours.

Child absences does not affect tuition fees if the child is enrolled in full time care, unless it is substantial (3 days or more per week) and if it is for medical reasons, family emergencies and prior-discussed vacations. Requests for adjustable fees for children who miss 3 days or more per week will need to be discussed with the director a week in advance by email. You can contact her at investedinfamiliescp@gmail.com or through IIFCP’s business phone: 669-267-5765

For further disclosure regrading payments please see our payments page.. 

Multiple Child Discount:

Parents who enroll 2+ children in IIFCP will be acquitted from paying all extra hour fees 🙂 

Upon Enrollment:

IIFCP gives each child a month care-trail run to see if our daycare is a good fit for you and us. We believe each child is unique and deserves the very best! If IIFCP feels we cannot provide the excellent care your child(ren) require, we will kindly inform you and give you resources to look for childcare elsewhere.

Required Items (must be restocked as necessary):

For Children over 2:

A) 2 extra changes of clothes including socks B) 1 extra pair of shoes C) A pillow for sleeping D) A blanket for sleeping

For children under 2:

A) 2 weeks worth of diapers and wipes per child. B) 2 changes of clothes (including socks). C) 1 extra pair of shoes. D) Formula for 2 weeks. E) 3 personal bottles or sippy cups.

Policies on illnesses and Medication:

If a child displays any of the following symptoms they must be kept home: fever, diarrhea, nasal secretions that are thick or colored, sore throat, cough accompanied by a fever, chills and colored mucus, vomiting or nausea, eye drainage, unusual rashes, lice, ringworm, pinkeye (conjunctives) and lastly if the child is not feeling well and is crying excessively as a result or is lethargic as a result.Children who come to the preschool and display any of these symptoms will be separated from the other children until the parent/guardian or emergency contact can come for the child.

The director reserves the right to refuse a child returning to the preschool with any unknown illness. Children may return to preschool 24 hours after any of the following symptoms has subsided or a physician’s note has been provided and signed saying the child is not contagious.

~A written consent from the parent/guardian must be signed and dated giving the director permission to administer any prescription medication to the parent/guardian’s child. The director reserves the right to refuse to give any medication to the child(ren).

Special Events/Field Trips:

Before a child can attend any field trip or upcoming special event a consent form will be given out and must be signed and dated by the parent/guardian giving the director permission to transport and watch over the child at the set location of the event/field trip. Failure to have the permission form signed will result in your child not being able to go to school that day. A fee may be charged to cover the cost of the trip. Failure to pay the fee will result in your child not being able to go to school that day.

Meetings:

Monthly meetings will be offered for parents who wish to discuss concerns and or praises about the program or their child. A two weeks’ notice must be given to the director to set up a meeting. Your concerns and praises as a parent are very important to me and I would love to meet with you! Please contact me by phone: 669-267-5765 or email: investedinfamiliescp@gmail.com

Discipline Policies:

Discipline is an important part of every child’s life. It is never to be offered in anger/frustration or as a way to humiliate a child. Rather discipline will be offered in a loving/caring way to direct the child’s behavior in a way that will promote personal growth as well as a teachable moment. Discipline is not punishment or abuse. Rather it is a natural part of child-rearing. Forms of discipline that will be implemented will be talking to the child about a better behavior option, showing the child how to implement this option, hearing the child’s reasons for the unpleasant behavior, natural consequences if the behavior does not change (such as time-out and losing privileges). If the behavior does not change with the above implementation then a behavioral modification program may be ensued with the prior knowledge of the parent/guardian of that child. A meeting may be necessary for the director and parent to come up with a good program for the child. Physical spanking or shaming or anything of that manner will NEVER be implemented in this program to correct a behavior or guide a desired behavior. If a child poses continual threat to other kids (ex: hitting, punching, pushing, name calling) then this will be taken more seriously as parents are entrusting their child’s safety to IIFCP. A notification will be sent out to the parent of the child and steps will be taken once agreement is made from both parties (the director and the parents). If the threatening behavior consists then the child may be pulled from the program.  ~For a short video explanation of incorporating character development in child rearing, click here. 

Newsletters:

Seasonal Newsletters will be given to the parents/guardians of the children attending Invested in Families Christian Preschool: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter.

Immunization for Children:

Prior to admission to IIFCP, children shall be immunized against diseases as required by the California Code of Regulations, Title 17. *If your child is not up to date on their immunizations they may still be admitted as long as you have a written notice from your child’s pediatrician with the immunization schedule. *

Health History and Medical Emergency Information:

The following information must be provided for your child before they attend IIFCP:

  1. Where parents can be reached: full names, addresses, and work and home phone numbers.
  2. At least two people to contact if parents can’t be reached: phone numbers and addresses
  3. The child’s regular health care providers names, addresses and phone numbers
  4. The hospital the child’s family uses: name, address and phone number
  5. The date of the child’s last physical examination. For children 2-6 years old the examination must have been done within a year. If not, then the child must be examined within 30 days of enrollment.
  6. Any special health problems or medical conditions that a child may have and procedures to follow to deal with these conditions. Examples include: allergies, asthma,diabetes, epilepsy, sickle cell anemia, etc. The director must be informed in1) what happens to the child during a crisis related to the condition; 2) how to prevent a crisis; 3) how to deal with a crisis; 4) whether she needs training in a particular emergency procedure. The director reserves the right to refuse any child with a special medical condition if she feels she cannot properly care for the child with excellence or the other children in her facility properly while attending the sick child.
  7. The child’s immunization status (whether the parent chooses to follow immunization recommendations or not)
  8. Whether the child has been evaluated with a TB skin test – only high-risk children in the center will need a skin test.
  9. *California regulations require that each child accepted into this program have a written medical assessment before or within 30 calendar days
  10. ***In case of any medical emergency the director will utilize her training in CPR and First Aid on the child. Regardless as to whether or not the child revives, the legal guardians of the child will be informed. An incident report form will be filled out and given to the legal guardian(s) and if necessary, the child’s physician and/or Memorial Hospital will be contacted and the child will be transported there. *** Please note: IIFCP will do our best to keep all children safe and in good health who are in our care. Your child is very important to us! 🙂  

Exclusion for Illness:

All children with a contagious illness will be excluded from Invested in Families Christian Preschool until 24 hours after symptoms have disappeared or a doctor’s note stating the child is no longer contagious. This is for the protection of the other children, the Director’s baby/family and to give the sick child time to recover properly. If a child is found to be contagious while at Invested in Families Christian Preschool, the child will be separated from the other children until an authorized adult is able to pick the child up. IIFCP is in compliance with Title 22. Some reasons for exclusion include:

  1. The illness prevents the child from comfortably participating in daily activities.
  2. The illness requires more care than the child care staff is able to provide without compromising the health and safety of the other children.
  3. The illness is any of the specifically diagnosed conditions listed below:
  4. Fever along with behavioral change or other signs of illness such as vomiting, sore throat, rash, diarrhea, earache, etc. Fever is defined as having a temperature of 100 F or higher under the arm or oral temperature of 101 F or higher. Oral temperatures should not be given to children under 4 years old.
  5. Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness until medical evaluation allows inclusion.May include unusual tiredness, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, continuous crying or anger, or difficulty breathing.
  6. Diarrhea-runny, watery or bloody stools
  7. Vomiting more than once in 24 hours.
  8. Body rash with fever or behavioral change
  9. Sore throat with fever and swollen glands or mouth sores with drooling
  10. Eye discharge or pink eye
  11. Severe coughing
  12. Impetigo,until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated.
  13. HepatitisA, chickenpox, mumps, measles, rubella or shingles.
  14. Child is irritable, continuous crying, or requires more attention than the director/employees can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children in the director’s care.

Reporting Requirements:

As a mandated reporter, the director has been trained by the state to identity telltale signs of abuse. She is required by law to report suspected child abuse. It is not her job to investigate or question the child or legal guardian, she is only legally obligated to report notable signs. 

Nutrition and Foods Brought from Home:

IIFCP does not provide meals. Parents are welcome to bring their kids early, with their breakfast to eat it before classes start. Lunch will be served at the kids’ kitchen table in family style. IIFCP will occasionally feed children for special celebrations like birthdays. IIFCP will notify parents on such occasions.

Ages: 

IIFCP is geared toward children ages 2-6 (this can be negotiated depending on each individual’s child’s maturity level). 

No Smoking, Alcohol or Use of Illegal Drugs:

IIFCP does not allow any smoking, alcohol or illegal drug usage within the facility or the property of the facility. This is strictly forbidden by law and will not be tolerated for the safety of the children, the director’s baby and her family. Any person who uses any of the above mentioned on the property will be asked to leave immediately.

Emergency Locations:

In the case of any natural emergency that renders the facility unsuitable: fire ,flood, earthquake, etc, the director will escort the children in her facility to one of her emergency locations. Information about these two locations will be disclosed to parents who enroll their children in the preschool.

Accidents/Sicknesses:

IIFCP will do our best to provide a safe, secure, germ-free learning environment where your child(ren) can flourish. We truly care about each child who comes through our doors and have taken extensive safety measures to make sure your child is provided with an anti-accident-prone home! However, we cannot honestly guarantee no accident will come to your child or that they won’t pick up any sicknesses, including COVID. No environment is totally risk free. The undersigned parent or legal guardian assumes all risk of injury or harm to the child while the child is at the daycare center or on approved field trips. The parent or legal guardian agrees to fully release, indemnify, defend, and forever discharge this daycare center, its owners, staff, employees, and agents of and from all liability, claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses, actions, and causes of action in respect of death, injury, loss, or damage to the child, or by the child, howsoever caused, arising out of or to arise by reason of or during the child’s participation in the daycare.

Mission Statement:

Invested in Families Christian Preschool is designed to bring glory to God by promoting the health of the family unit in America. We believe that the health of a nation is determined by the health of the families in that nation. It is a proven fact that society is only as strong as the people that make up that society. Throughout the years our culture has put more emphasis on academic success and achievements than they do on the emotional health of the people in that culture. As a result of this collective decision the family unit has suffered. Divorce rates have increased dramatically over the past few decades, teen suicide has increased, and school shootings have increased. Although academic success and goal achievement is crucial, emotional well-being is equally as important. The beginning of identity and self-worth is in large encrusted in the hearts of children in their formative years. Invested in Families Christian Preschool is not only designed to offer your children excellent academics that prepare them for Kindergarten but it is also designed to build children up in their formative years in love and therefore self-worth. We believe that God has created everyone with invaluable worth and that every person is eternally loved by the Creator of heaven and earth. Understanding God’s love is what builds people up -1 Corinthians 8:1. We incorporate Biblical ethics in our teaching to promote character building designed to help children be successful in society. Things like personal responsibility, honesty, integrity, compassion, fairness and morality will be taught in a gracious environment that fosters growth.

“If a person’s character makeup determines his future, then child-rearing is primarily about helping children to develop character that will take them through life-safely, securely, productively, and joyfully. Parents—and those who work with children—would do well to keep this in mind. A major goal of raising children is to help them develop the character that will make their future go well.” –Boundaries With Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend pg.15

~For a short video explanation of incorporating character development in child rearing, click here. 

Ashley also offers optional monthly life-coaching sessions with prayer for the parents/legal guardians of the children in her program. This is the part of the program that is designed to promote the health of the whole family unit. In short, IIFCP is meant to be a blessing to the whole family.

Consent for Pictures on Social Media:

IIFCP will be taking pictures of children in care for professional reasons only (Seasonal Newsletters, special art projects, business promotion, etc). Never will your child be photographed using the restroom or under any other inappropriate circumstance.

Consent for Faith-based teaching:

It is very important that you, as the parent, are aware of the belief’s of IIFCP and legally agree to allow the implementation of these belief’s in weekly chapel and lesson plans. Please review the following beliefs below:

The Bible: We believe that the Bible is the holy word of God and that it is entirely infallible (Matthew 5:18). The Bible is also described as food for mankind’s soul (Matthew 4:4). It is the basis for Christian living and our instruction manual. We do not believe in picking and choosing Bible verses (Psalm 19:7). We believe in the book as a whole and thereby submit to it regardless of changing culture, political correctness or human theology. There is nothing that we will omit from it and there is nothing that we will add to it.

God: Through the Bible we see God as love (1 John 4:8), our Heavenly Father (1 John 3:1), gracious, and righteous, and full of compassion (Psalm 116:5) and the Creator of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1). God is also seen as holy (Isaiah 57:15), and the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)

Jesus Christ: is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one goes to the Father (God) except by Him (John 14:6). We believe that Jesus Christ is the only true Savior of mankind (Acts 4:12). That He died for the world’s sins, that He is made the believer’s righteousness and justification before the Father and that through Him we become children of God (1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:24, 1 John 3:1). We believe that it is only through making Him Lord and Savior that a person inherits Heaven as a gift of God’s immeasurable grace through saving faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Holy Spirit: is the Comforter, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Counselor, etc of the believer (John 14:26). He is God’s Spirit and is a gift from God (1 Corinthians 2:11). He is the Guarantor of promise of the Christian’s inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). 

For enrolling parents: after reviewing IIFCP’s handbook, you will be required to sign a contract stating that you have read and agree to all of the terms and conditions of this handbook. Your signature on the form is a binding legal document:

I,____________________, the parent/guardian of, ______________________, verify that I have read and understand the policies outlined in Invested in FamiliesChristian Preschool’s Handbook and contract. I hereby consent to provide the documents, currency and items listed above. I hereby agree that failure to provide any of these things, may result in my child’s denial of being admitted into the program and/or termination from the program. I acknowledge that this is a legal document and contract.

Name: _________________________________ _______    Date: ____________________

Termination:

IIFCP reserves the right to end childcare at any point at their discretion.

Note: As IIFCP is always looking to improve the quality of our program, this handbook may be subject to change. If any changes are made, all parents and legal-guardians of enrolled children will be notified immediately.*

~If you have any questions or concerns that were not answered in IIFCP’s handbook, please contact the director by email at: investedinfamiliescp@gmail.com. She would be happy to clarify any questions and ease any concerns. 

~First Image by Myriam Zilles from Pixabay

~Last Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna from Pexels