INTRODUCTION:
In order to make things smoothly as possible, we have written this policy manual for you. It contains important information and will answer many of your questions. Please take a few moments to read all the way through this manual and please store it as a reference.
If there are any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are looking forward to working with you this year.
“At the very early stages of a child’s life, parents act as the first and greatest influence on their children’s development and education. Nonetheless, research shows that contact with other children and good quality care and education provided for children in their early years raises standards and enhances opportunities later.” DFEE, UK. 1998
 

FIRST STEPS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY PHILOSOPHY:
First Steps International Academy is a full service preschool serving children from one to five years of age. We provide a learning environment in which traditional and contemporary styles of teaching are carefully integrated. Our curriculum is carefully crafted by our staff based on the developmentally appropriate guidelines of international standards for young children. First Steps International Academy employs loving teachers who have credentials in Early Childhood Education and we feature a low teacher/child ratio. We are licensed by the Florida Department of Children & Families.
We believe early childhood is a crucial stage of life in terms of children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. Growth is both rapid and differential. A significant high proportion of learning takes place from birth to age six. We know it is a time when children particularly need high quality care and learning experiences.
By identifying individuals’ needs and targets, First Steps International Academy promotes fulfillment of each child’s potential while striving for excellence. We help student’s foster inquisitive and analytical minds, so that they may learn skills and technology that will guide their studies and approach to life long after they have left us. We emphasize respect for the culture, feelings and values of self and others as the basis of purposeful participation in the global community.
 

REGISTRATION AND TUITION: A non-refundable registration fee is necessary prior to or upon initial enrollment to reserve a place for your child at First Steps International Academy. Tuition is due either the first week of each month or by Tuesday of every week. If tuition is not paid by Tuesday of each week then a late charge of $15.00 will be charged to your account. There will be a charge of $20.00 for any returned checks.
Each child will receive two vacation/sick weeks per school year. This becomes effective after three months of enrollment. The weeks cannot be used together.
Once the free weeks have been used, you will be responsible for the full year’s weekly tuition payments regardless if your child attends school or not. Days missed for any reason may not be made up.
 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: Parents are required to sign their child in and out of the center everyday. The “sign in and out” screen is located in the entrance area. As an additional security measure, we ask that you drop off and pick up your child in their classrooms, not at the front door or within the lobby.
 

HOURS OF OPERATION: First Steps International Academy is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parents are subject to a $1.00 late fee for every minute a child is picked up after 6:30 p.m. The payment is due at the time the child is picked up from the center.
Because First Steps International Academy takes pride in the educational well being of each child, we ask that parents bring children in no later than 09:00am in order to participate fully in the days educational activities.
 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: Every parent is required upon registration to fill out a Medical Authorization form. The form can be obtained at the office and must be returned to the Director within a week of registration.
 

IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY: First Steps International Academy follows the Broward County School System advisory when to close.
 

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: First Steps International Academy will observe the following holidays:

HEALTH POLICY: In order to protect your child form sickness, we ask that all parents keep their children at home if they are sick or appear to be ill. A child that has a fever, general body rash, diarrhea, symptoms of conjunctivitis (inflamed eye, weepy eyes, or pus), impetigo, head lice, yellow/green runny noses or other communicable disease or conditions will not be admitted into the center. A cold that is making your child uncomfortable or tired, or if it might be contagious through coughing, sneezing, or touching is motive for keeping the child at home. If your child becomes ill, you will be contacted immediately and will be asked to pick up the child within two hours of being notified. If your child was absent from the center due to sickness, a doctor’s note is required to return to the center.

MEDICINE POLICY: If your child is required to take medication, it must be prescribed by his/her physician. If the medicine is not prescribed, then a doctor’s notice must accompany the medication. A “Medicine Authorization Form #5” provided by Broward County must be filled out completely on a weekly basis and signed by the parent or guardian in order of the medicine to be administered. Please make sure that prescription medication brought to First Steps International Academy by the parents or guardians be in their original container with the name of the physician and child and medication directions (dosage amount and times to administer medication) written on the label. If a spoon is necessary to administer the medication, it must be labeled with the child’s name.

A hot lunch is included in the weekly tuition. Substitutes must be pre-ordered at the beginning of the month. A menu will be posted in the entrance area and a copy will be placed in your child’s cubby.
Upon enrollment, please notify the director and the teacher of any food allergies or restrictions your child has. If your child has allergies to any food, an alternate meal will be provided.
Candy: Do not allow your child to bring gum, candy or any “junk food” in his/her school bag.
 

DISCIPLINE POLICY: First Steps International Academy believes that every child should learn from their mistakes and be taught how to handle themselves in situations properly. Appropriate behavior will be highly praised. Inappropriate behavior such as biting, hitting, scratching, kicking, pinching, spitting and profanity will not be tolerated. Time-out, or as we refer to it (thinking time), is a procedure that involves placing the child away from the group to give them time to think about what they have done.
If inappropriate behavior continues, a conference will be held with the director and the child’s parents to discuss the inappropriate behavior and provide the best possible resolution. If the child’s behavior does not improve after everything possible has been done, and for the safety and welfare of all children, First Steps International Academy reserves the right to suspend and/or withdraw the child from the school.
 

PROGRAMS OFFERED: A combination of learning centers and developmentally appropriate activities will be used throughout the day. These centers will be discovery, experience-based systems allowing children to move through specially designed learning modules. Children will spend their time daily learning basic skills, social skills, self-expression and fine and gross motor skills. All of this will be integrated at a pace and level that corresponds with each child’s capacity and maturity.
 

After School Program provides Elementary school children with a stimulating and fun environment to ease their transition from school to home. They are assisted with their homework involved in our physical program and will enjoy various supervised activities. An afternoon snack will be provided for the children attending
the “After School” program. Transportation to and from the child’s local elementary school is included in the program. Some classes are offered at an additional charge; please contact the office for more information.
Summer Camp: Our Summer Camp program will include sports, arts and crafts, gymnastics, karate, movies, animal visits, exciting field trips and much, much more! For more information on our day camp program please call us.
 

DRESS CODE: There is a mandatory school uniform: Navy blue T-shirt with schools logo and kaki pant. Children are required to wear the schools uniform at all time. Please understand children need to be in comfortable clothes, appropriate for both indoor and outdoor activities. In the interest of safety, sandals, flip-flops, jellies, or boots may not be worn to school. We recommend that all children wear sneakers. To foster independence, parents are encouraged to purchase clothing that the children can easily manipulate. Children must keep a complete change of clothing on hand at school for spills and other emergencies. These clothes, as well as those worn to school, should be labeled with your child’s name (including socks and shoes). Getting “dirty’ is a part of learning, so don’t be upset if your child comes home “painty” or “sandy”. Extra school T-shirts can be purchased at the office.
Children should not wear expensive jewelry to school or items that hang form their neck or ears. Other children are curious and in the course of play, these items may be lost or broken. Hanging items are also a safety hazard as children can catch them on playground equipment or have other children pull them from their neck or ears.
 

PERSONAL BELONGINGS: Except for toys that may be needed to help your child make the transition from home to school, please leave toys at home. If an item is brought to the Center we cannot be responsible for it. Occasionally, there will be a scheduled “Show and Tell Day” upon which time your child may bring to school a toy or another item that will be shared with the class. We do not allow war-like toys, guns or other toys of a destructive or violent nature to be brought to the Center.
 

NAP TIME: All children in the Pre-K classrooms and under are required to sleep or rest during this time. Each child will have their own sanitized cots and sheets. Children should bring their labeled blankets. The blankets will be given to you each Friday to be laundered at home. Naptime at the Center is from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. It is not recommended that you pick-up or drop off your child during these hours, as interruptions can be disruptive at this time.
 

VOLUNTEERS: First Steps International Academy would like to be an extension of your family. We encourage you to participate and volunteer in school activities such as Mother, Father and Grandparents Day, Halloween Parade, Holiday Show and many more! If you are interested in donating your time, please notify the Director or your child’s teacher and you will be asked to complete a volunteer form.
 

COMMUNICATION (Parent/Teacher Director):
A. Progress Reports: Each child’s progress is followed throughout the course of the year and two evaluations for all children are completed and given out to parents.
B. Conferences: Conferences are also suggested periodically. If a conference is needed with parents, your child’s teacher or the Center’s Director will contact you. For parents who wish to schedule a conference with the teacher or the Center Director, an appointment needs to be made in advance.
C. Bulletin Boards: Please make sure to check the bulletin boards in the entry way and in your child’s classroom to keep yourself informed of current events planned activities, and articles that may be of interest to you.
D. Newsletters: Newsletters are an important form of communication between the Center and the home. Newsletters allow us an opportunity to notify parents about what your child will be doing in the classroom, current events, notes from the Director and other newsworthy information.
 

IMMUNIZATIONS: No child will be allowed to start school without a valid Florida certification of immunization that specifically shows the date of vaccinations and physical exam (TB test included). Forms for the above are available from all Florida Doctors and Health Clinics. It is the responsibility of the child’s parents to obtain completed health forms and to update as required periodically by the Health Department. Health forms are due on or before the child’s first day of school.
List of Immunizations:
2 months DTP, OPV, Hib
4 months DTP, OPV, Hib
6 months DTP, Hib
12 months TB Test
12 - 15 months MMR, DTP, OPV, Hib Booster
4 - 6 years DTP Booster, OPV Booster kept in a portfolio
10 – 12 years MMR (Second Dose)
We recommend that your child receive the Varivax vaccine for Chicken Pox but it is not required by the State or First Steps International Academy.
 

FIELD TRIPS: Children may participate in educational and recreational field trips suitable for their age level. Parents will be notified and required to sign a permission slip for each trip.
 

BIRTHDAYS: The birthday of your child is a special time and can be celebrated with his/her class. This is also a great way for parents to visit the school. Plan to come in and read a story to the class, share something special that you do, play a game with the class, etc. Some parents enjoy making a contribution to the class by purchasing a book for the class library in honor of their child’s birthday. If you choose to do this, please inscribe the book donation and have the “birthday” child talk about it. Food items that are easy for children to handle may be brought in. We find that hard candy, small games that come apart and other items in party bags can be hazardous to small children. Please give at least one week’s notice to your child’s teacher so that necessary arrangements can be made.
 

(Please label all items)

Two year olds

Pre-K 3

Pre-K 4

Pre-K 5 (3 to 5 year olds)

Parents will need to take their child’s blanket and crib sheet home every Friday for laundering and brought back to the Center on Monday.

Disclaimer:
First Steps International Academy reserves the right to change or modify these policies at any time without notice.