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2427 North Jerusalem Road, East Meadow, NY 11554
(516) 781-3900
Welcome. We want to thank you for choosing Big Chief. We know that finding the right early child care is a very big decision and we take that very seriously. Big Chief is a family owned business established by Eleanor Picinich in 1954, Luanne her daughter joined her in 1978 and her granddaughter Katya became a part of the team in 2012. We as owners love what we do and are very hands on. We are licensed by the N.Y.S Board of Education, Department of Family and Children Services, the Board of Health and the Department of Transportation. We have a wonderful, dedicated staff that has been with us for many years. We strive everyday to do the very best for you and your child. We welcome your comments and suggestions in helping us to be the best we can be. We are always available, don’t ever hesitate to call. Again, we are delighted that you have enrolled your child in our school. Working together we can help your child grow into a fine student and a credit to our community. Thank you, Eleanor, Luanne and Katya Big Chief Philosophy To create an atmosphere where children can grow physically, socially, intellectually and emotionally. Where the child feels loved. Where he is never ridiculed or talked down to. Where he can discover and experiment. Where he is never afraid to seek answers to his questions. Where he is given tasks that are age appropriate so that he can be successful, for it is in being successful that he will want to learn more. When a child experiences success, he develops a good self‐image and this helps prepare him for his future education. Big Chief Nursery School 2427 N. Jerusalem Rd. East Meadow, NY 11554 (516) 781‐3900 PARENT HANDBOOK Registration: To enroll your child, fill out our registration form, sign both the front and back & enclose a $100 registration fee. This ensures your child’s placement. This registration fee is non‐refundable. Tuition Payments: Tuition is based on an annual fee and is divided into ten equal payments for you convenience. Payments are due on the 1st of each month. Because you are paying tuition on a monthly basis, this tuition may go up at any time, if deemed necessary. Please note that you are paying only for the days that school is in session and not for the days we are closed on our calendar (current year). Your first payment is called security and must be paid by August 1st. It will be applied as your tenth payment. If you have paid security and decide not to send your child to school and you inform us by August 1st, your security minus your $100 registration fee will be refunded to you. Your second payment will be due on September 1st. You may pay your tuition by check, made payable to Big Chief School. There is a $25.00 late charge if tuition is paid after the 10th of the month. If a check is returned to us by the bank, you will be responsible for a $25.00 charge. We will redeposit one check. If any other payments are returned to us by the bank, you will be required to pay by certified check for any future payments. Trial Period: If your child does not adjust to school during the first month, you will be charged for that month only and your security will be refunded. If you wish to withdraw your child after the trial period is over your security payment will be applied to the next month. At the end of that month, your child will be out of the program. Once the child has entered the month of January, security can only be used for the 10th payment regardless of the circumstances. Transportation: If your child is over 3 years old, they can have transportation to and from their house. You must fill out the transportation section of the registration form. A child can only be released to an authorized adult at the home. Our pledge is to always provide a safe secure ride. You will be hearing from the bus driver right before school begins. She will let you know the approximate time of pickup and delivery before he/she starts. You will need to bring in a booster seat that your child will be using, labeled with your child’s name. All other children must wear seat belts. No toys, eating or drinking on the bus. Transportation schedules are always hanging in the office. If your child will be absent on a particular day, please call the office before 7:45am for full day and morning children and before 11:45am for afternoon children so that we will not send a bus on that day. It is very important to note the name of your child’s bus driver so that when you call in you can let us know. If your child will only be absent for one day please tell the office to have him/her picked up the next day. Otherwise, we will not pick up child until we hear from you. Please have your child ready at least 10 minutes before the bus is due to arrive so that the driver is not kept waiting. Parents, pets, siblings cannot enter the bus. Transportation is provided to our customers as a courtesy. It is possible that your child’s driver may be out and not able to do the bus run. We will make every effort to find a replacement, but you may be asked to provide your own transportation when this is not possible. There is no eating permitted on the bus!! Your child needs to eat at least a half hour before the bus is due to arrive so that he/she will digest their food properly and not feel ill on the bus. Morning children leave Big Chief at 11:45 and Full time and afternoon children leave at 3:45. Please be home in plenty of time so that you are home when the bus arrives. The bus cannot sit in front of your house and wait. Someone must be available to come out of the house to meet the bus so that your child may board and/or be taken off the bus safely. Drivers cannot get off the bus. On a snowy, icy day if you live on a dead end street, please call us for your pick‐up spot. We will not go down a dead end street in snow or ice. Medical Information: Your child’s current medical form is due before they can start school. Your child may not attend school without a current medical form on file. Please be sure to schedule your doctor appointment at least one month before the medical expires (medical forms are only valid for one year from the date of exam). Medication: If your child is to receive medication or has an epi‐pen, please bring it in on either the Meet‐The‐Teacher day or the day before and see Miss Luanne or Miss Josephine between 10am‐3pm. All medications must be clearly labeled with the child’s name and dosage. Medications must be in the original container and must be sent to the attention of Luanne. Medication must be accompanied by a Written Medication Consent Form for the prescription drugs filled out by the doctor and the parent. A Verbal Medication Consent Form is only good for one day filled out by the parent. These forms can be downloaded from our website: www.bigchiefschoolandcamp.com. These forms are also available in our office. We cannot administer medications without these forms. Emergency Release Forms: Please fill out the Emergency Release Form, complete with pictures of those you have authorized to pick up your child in the case of an extreme emergency. This form must be at Big Chief on your child’s first day of school. Pick up: If someone other than yourself is picking up your child, the person picking up must be listed as an alternate pick up on your registration form and must show picture identification. Meet The Teacher: You will receive an e‐mail from us prior to the Meet the Teacher giving you the name of your child’s teacher as well as the symbol for the classroom. We offer Meet the Teacher to enrolled families before school begins each fall. You may meet the teachers, explore the classroom and play on the playgrounds. Please limit your time visiting to ten minutes while in the classroom in order to give each child a chance to look around the room. You will be responsible for your child on the playground that day since the staff will be busy in the classrooms speaking with parents and meeting other children. You will need to bring a complete set of clothing to leave at school in a clearly labeled zip lock bag along with diapers and wipes if needed. Please label all clothing throughout the year including jackets, boots, hats and school bags. All children will need a picture of themselves for their cubbies with the exception of our 4 year old and kindergarten classes (they will not need a picture). Full time children need to bring in a crib size sheet and blanket (except for the 4 year olds and Kindergarten). Please label everything!! If you are unable to bring your child’s change of clothing, blanket, etc on that day, you may drop them off at the office on the day before the Meet the Teacher between 10am and 3pm. Please do not give them to the bus driver or send these items to school with your child on the first day. You will only be able to meet the teachers on the Meet the Teacher day since they are busy setting up the classrooms and making all the preparations so that your child’s first few days will run smoothly. You will be given your child’s nametag at the Meet the Teacher. This nametag must be worn by your child for the first two weeks of school. The tag will indicate your child’s class symbol, transportation information, session and allergies. Sign in: School begins at 9am. If your child attends a ¾ day, school begins at 11am. Take your child to the classroom and sign in. Please do not linger, give your child a hug and kiss and say goodbye. You must also sign out at the end of your child’s day. Morning students must be picked up in the office at 11:45am. Afternoon and full time students need to be picked up between 3:45 and 4:00pm in the classroom. If you are picking up early, sign out your child in the office. You will not be permitted to go to the classroom. When you are dropping off or picking up the child please remember to close the gate. You will need to knock on the classroom door; the doors are locked for the safety of the children. Extended hours: Scholl hours are 9am to 4pm. The morning session is from 9am to 12pm and the afternoon session is from 1pm to 4pm. Do not drop off any earlier than the time indicated. If you need care for your child, we are open from 7:15am to 5:45pm. Please contact the office for pricing. First two weeks: The first two weeks of school are extremely important both to the child who is making an adjustment to his/her “new world” and the parent who is anxious about the child and how he/she is doing their first few weeks. As educators, we share your concerns and we have planned a program to offer the child a very nurturing and loving environment. During these first two weeks, the children will be introduced to the daily routine of toileting, washing hands, using tissues and hanging their jackets in their own cubbies. They will be making new friends, sharing toys and cleaning up after center time. The will be learning classroom and playground rules and, of course, they will be exploring the various learning centers in their classroom. Every parent will hear from his/her child’s teacher by the second week of October. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us. Picture day: We do have professional pictures taken of the classes, as well as of the individual children. You will be notified well in advance of picture day. You are under no obligation to purchase any of these pictures. All we ask is that you return those pictures that you do not wish to keep or the money for those you are buying, as soon as possible. Artwork: During the school year, your child will bring home examples of thing we do in class. You will be able to see your child’s progress both physically and cognitively. You can help in many ways. Talk with your child about what is going on in class. Praise him/her for the work he/she brings home. Try to find a place to display your child’s work so that he/she knows that you respect and are proud of what he/she does. Breakfast: Parent will need to provide their child with breakfast food if they are eating at Big Chief. Breakfast is only for the children who are signed up for the XXAM session (7:15‐8:00). We will serve to them at 7:45. By 8:15, breakfast will be over and cleaned up. Breakfast cannot be served any other time. Your child must eat before coming to school. Children coming in for the XAM session (8:15‐9:00) must have breakfast at home. NO PEANUT PRODUCTS, BLUEBERRIES, GRAPES, CARROTS OR CHERRY TOMATOES!!!! Lunch and Snack Reminder: Lunch will be served only to the children who are here for a ¾ day (11:00‐4:00) or Full day (9:00‐4:00) Kindergarten children who come a half day must bring in a box lunch. All children need to bring in one fruit per day. Illness: Is Your Child Too Sick for School? You don’t want your child to miss school; but neither do you want to send a sick child to school and endanger him or her and other children as well. When should your child stay home from school? Here are a few guidelines you might wish to follow: *A bad cough or cold symptoms can indicate a severe cold, bronchitis, flu or even pneumonia. Some children suffer one cold after another all winter long, and a run‐of‐the‐
mill cold should not be a reason to miss school. But if your child is not acting “right,” has a fever, has difficulty breathing or is becoming dehydrated, it could be serious. Check with your pediatrician right away. *Diarrhea and vomiting make children very uncomfortable, and being near a bathroom becomes a top priority. If your child has repeated episodes of diarrhea and vomiting, accompanied by a fever, a rash or general weakness, consult a doctor and keep your child out of school until the illness passes. However, a single episode of diarrhea or vomiting, unaccompanied by any other symptoms, may not be reason enough for the child to miss school. But please make sure we know how to reach your or another responsible adult during the day, in case diarrhea and/or vomiting reoccurs and your child needs emergency attention. (This is an important rule to follow whenever you send your child to school with any of the symptoms mentioned here). *Fever is an important symptom; when it occurs along with a sore throat, nausea, listlessness or a rash, your child may be carrying something very contagious. Most pediatricians advise parents to keep children home during the course of a fever and for an additional 24 hours after the fever has passed. *Strep throat and scarlet fever are two highly contagious conditions caused by streptococcal (bacterial infection). They usually arrive with a sore throat and high fever. Some 12‐48 hours after the onset of scarlet fever, a rash will also appear. A child with either strep throat or scarlet fever should be kept home and treated by a physician. After 24 hours on an antibiotic, a child is usually no longer contagious and may, with the doctor’s permission, return to school. *Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is highly contagious and uncomfortable, so take heed when your child complains of any eye or eyes burning, itching and producing a whitish discharge. Minor cases (caused by a virus) and severe cases (caused by bacteria) require treatment with prescription eye drops. It’s best to keep your child home until your doctor says it’s all right to return. *Ear infections, unless properly treated, can cause permanent hearing damage. Here again you should follow the 24‐hour rule for fever and antibiotic therapy. *Mites and lice, once brought into a home or school, can quickly produce an epidemic. Mites are tiny insects in the same class as spiders and ticks; they irritate the skin and cause scabies. Lice are tiny parasites (like ticks) that thrive on the warm, damp scalps of children. It is required that you keep the child home until all the lice and eggs are gone. Caution your child against sharing anybody else’s combs and brushes or clothing, especially hats. You can put linens, clothing, etc., in the dryer to kill the lice. Vacuum mattresses and carpet in general. Make up days: For part time children, you will receive one make‐up day for every 2 days that your child is absent. For five full day children who are absent for 5 consecutive days, there will be a monetary credit applied to the next month’s tuition for half the amount. Birthdays: If your child is having a birthday party and you would like to invite some of his/her classmates, ask your child for the first names of the children he/she would like to invite. Then send a note to the teacher requesting a birthday list, and she will fill in the last names and addresses of those children. You may then mail the invitations or you may have the teacher put them in the backpacks for you. If your child is unable to give you the names, ask the teacher and will give you the names of the children your child likes to play with. Seasonal classroom parties: Please refer to the monthly Tom‐Tom on our website so you will know whether it is appropriate to send in food. Remember that we are a Peanut Free school and items from home cannot be used and will be returned to you at the end of the day. Phone numbers: If any information such as phone, cell or work numbers have changed, please notify the office immediately. Weather report: We may sometimes feel that it would be unsafe for our drivers to transport your children. It is our policy on such occasions to be open without transportation. If you are unsure, check for snow/weather closing on Channel 12 (Cablevision), KJOY 98.3FM, WHLI 1100AM, WBAB 102.3FM, WBLI 106.1FM. Our decision to be open without transportation is for the benefit of our working mothers and fathers who can deliver their children as early at 7:30am, allowing themselves more time to get to work. All part time children may make up the day. Of course, if there is a blizzard and we ourselves cannot get to Big Chief safely, we will be closed. Backpacks: Full time students should bring a backpack two days per week, the first day of your child’s week to bring in their sheet and blanket and the last day of their week to bring home their sheet, blanket and any artwork or notes. Part time children and those children in the four year old class should bring in their backpacks on the last day of their week. Kindergarten students should bring their backpack every day. Clothing: Please send your child to school wearing shoes or sneakers. Avoid sandals and having more than one lace per sneaker. Always dress your child appropriately for playing outside. In winter, remember boots, mittens, warm coat and a hat that covers the ears. If your child wears boots to school, please send in shoes or sneakers so they do not need to stay in boots all day. Wearing snow boots all day is not healthy for your child. Boots are made to be worn for short periods of time, not for 8 hours. Boots have no support, no arches (which promotes flat feet), and are big and sloppy. When you wear boots, your feet sweat, get wet and then you are back in the cold with wet feet. This leads to foot fungus, getting sick and poor foot development. If you would like, send in a pair of shoes or sneakers that stay here. Nap Time: All full time students will be offered a rest/nap time which will be in their room on cots. Parents need to provide a crib size sheet and a small blanket. No pillows are allowed. Transportation: Special Visits: During the month of March, the parents of our three year olds will be invited to make an appointment to spend a morning or afternoon visiting a four year old class and learning about the curriculum. For those parents of our four year olds, who will have half day Kindergarten, you will be invited to observe our Kindergarten and learn about the curriculum. Parent‐Teacher Conferences: We have parent teacher conferences in November and again in May. Kindergarten Graduation: Our graduation ceremony is on an evening in mid June. It is a wonderful night for the families of our Kindergarten children. Website: Please check our website www.bigchiefschoolandcamp.com for our monthly newsletters and updates. Summer Camp: Any information for camp can be obtained by calling us at 516‐781‐
3900. Questions or concerns: remember, if you have any questions or concerns; please do not hesitate to call us. Sincerely Eleanor, Luanne and Katya Picinich