Home

PARENT PAGES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email the webmaster (contact info)
to submit them.

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.  Up-to-date immunizations (shots) to protect your child
from things like the measles or the mumps are recorded on both forms; parents fill
out the Child Enrollment and Health form, but the Medical Statement requires a
physician's signature.  Parents will also need phone numbers for two local people
other than parents to contact in case of an emergency.  Both forms need to be
updated yearly.  Our infant schedule and orientation form are helpful if we receive
them before the first day.  These forms are meant to help staff get to know
your child and make your child's first days at West Shore easier.  Child care
requires a lot of paper work, and some forms will not be necessary for every child.
Other important forms can be submitted after the first day of enrollment.

How do I know my child will be well taken care of?
West Shore uses the guidelines for quality child care and developmentally appropriate
practice as outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
We are also licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and are
inspected twice yearly.  You may view our 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 much your child 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 have a quarterly parent event and parents
sample all the learning and fun the children have had by attending.
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 available to your child daily.  The director is responsible
for the curriculum and overseeing the programming.  Therefore the director is free to
observe classrooms, mentor staff, and develop a healthy learning environment for
your child.  Whenever the Director is on vacation or is off site for any reason,
the Assistant Director or another supervisor is designated and this information will be
posted outside the child care office.

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 provided by the Ohio Department of Education and
accomplishes these standards through the children's own interests and play.  West
Shore believes it is important that children learn by doing and we encourage
hands-on experiences.

Teachers are required to 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 knowledge.

Activities that develop cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills as well as language arts, literacy, art, science and math are all incorporated into a theme-based curriculum.
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.  Parents will be kept informed
through their child’s daily Activity Note.

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.