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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What paperwork do I need when first enrolling?
How do I know my child will be well taken care of?
Can I visit my child during the day?
Do the children go outside everyday?
How will I know what is happening during my child's day?
Is there a Director on site?
Will my child be challenged academically?
How does WSCCC define play?
What security precautions are in place?
 

What paperwork do I need when first enrolling?
The two most important forms are the Child Enrollment and Health form and the
Child Medical Statement.  The Child Medical Statement includes a statement
that your child is healthy enough to be with a group of other children.
 It is a required from that must be signed by your child's pediatrician.
We can not accept a list of immunizations only.  This form must be updated yearly.

Mostly self-explanatory, page three of the Enrollment and Health form requires parents
to sign three times.  Parents must list someone other than themselves to contact in case
of an emergency.  This form also must be updated yearly. 

The Infant Schedule or the Orientation Questionnaire help staff get to know your child
and make your child feel more at home.  Not all forms are necessary for every child so
please read them to see if they apply.  Other forms, although important, may be
submitted after the first day of enrollment.

How do I know my child will be well taken care of?
West Shore has been enrolled in Step Up to Quality, a quality rating system for early
childhood education, for three years.  WSCCC has a One Star rating.  To learn more,
please click on the link. You may view our center's last inspection and that of other
licensed centers at Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Can I visit my child during the day?
Absolutely!  Feel free to join your child at lunchtime, playtime -
anytime!

Do the children go outside everyday?
The children go outside in all seasons as required by Ohio state licensing
and as long as they will be safe; for example, if there is no lightning, the
children all have appropriate clothing, the temperature is not extreme.
We take into account many factors, not limited to but including the amount
of sun exposure, the wind-chill factor or heat index and pollution index.
We have an indoor large muscle activity area for those times when we
cannot go outside.

How will I know what is happening during my child's day?
You are welcome to call or visit any time.  The teachers write an Activity Note
every day for infants and toddlers.  The infant and toddler notes tell you when
your child slept and for how long, when your child's diaper was changed, and
for infants, how many ounces of their bottle they drank.  The Young Preschool
and Preschool teachers describe each class's daily activities on a dry erase board
located outside the classrooms.  The school age children arrange special events
so that parents may have an overview of what the children have been doing.
Also the Toddler, Young Preschool, Preschool and School Age program
write monthly newsletters.

Is there a Director on site?
Yes, West Shore's director is available to the staff and parents daily and most
importantly the director is on site to oversee the environment.  The director
is not regularly scheduled in a classroom and therefore free to observe and
mentor staff and to help create a safe age-appropriate learning experience
for your child.  Whenever the Director is on vacation or is off site for any
reason, the Assistant Director or another supervisor will be designated.

Will my child be challenged academically?
Studies show that 'best practice' prepares each kindergarten child to be enthusiastic
and ready to learn.  West Shore Child Care Center’s curriculum follows the Early
Learning Content Standards developed by the Ohio Department of Education and
fleshes out these standards using the children's interests and play.  West
Shore believes it is important that children learn by doing and we encourage
hands-on experiences.

Teachers  assess where a child is developmentally and where he/she might improve,
to set individual goals for each child and to plan an enriched, stimulating curriculum
around this assessment.

Activities that develop literacy and language arts,  art, science and math are all
incorporated into a theme-based curriculum developed around the children's
interests.  Research shows that social/emotional development is key to success
in school, so teachers work with the children helping them to learn to share,
enter play, resolve conflicts and to feel confident.  Teachers are given planning
time each week in which to discuss with their co-teachers their plans and goals
for the coming week.  Lesson plans are posted in each room for each week.
However, teachers reserve the right to change their activities at any time so
that they might follow the interest of the children. 

How does WSCCC define play?
We define play as it is defined within the Early Learning Content Standards, page 56:

"Play: A dynamic process that develops and changes, becoming more varied and complex,
allowing children to practice skills they will need later in life.  Play is the vehicle for
learning and development across domains, reflecting the social and cultural contexts in
which children live."

What security precautions are in place?
All of West Shore's children are in a wing of the church whose
entrances are locked with a keypad security system that uses codes
to open the doors.  The code is changed when needed for additional
security.  Other emergency exit doors are locked from the outside.

Parents provide the center with names of people who have permission to pick up
their children.   However if we have not been notified by parents that someone
other than themselves will be picking up, West Shore will call the parent for
confirmation even if the person is on their family's list.  If the person picking up
is unfamiliar to staff, they will also be asked to present photo I.D.  Parents of
school-age children need to inform the Center if their child will not be returning
after school to the Center for whatever reason.   If we have not been notified
and a child does not arrive off of the school bus as expected, we will call parents.