Katy GT Academy

We are pleased that you have enrolled your child in our program. We want you to be a part of our Academy and your child’s education. We ask that you look over this Parent Handbook and then keep it at home for future reference.

HOURS OF OPERATION
KGTA operates Monday through Friday. The hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the summer camp and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the summer school.

HOLIDAYS/ EMERGENCY CLOSING
KGTA reserves following holidays:

New Years Day,

Memorial Day,

Independence Day,

Labor Day,

Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday,

Christmas Day.

Weather circumstances: if adverse weather conditions force a closing, parents will be called and a plan for each child’s pick up will be worked out.

CHECK IN/ CHECK OUT PROCEDURES

You are required to sign your child in and out of the program each day. This record is proof that your child is on site and is used in emergency situations. If a child is to be picked-up by someone other than a legal guardian, prior written notification is required. As legal guardian, you should provide the Center with at least two names of persons authorized to pick-up your child in case of illness or emergency. A photo ID is required for anyone picking-up a child. If either parent is not allowed to pick-up the child, a court order must be part of the child’s file.

VISITOR POLICY

Any visitor to KGTA must:

Sign in at the front desk & get a visitor’s badge.
Provide identification.
Have an approved purpose for a limited visit.
Be courteous of the classroom schedule and activities.

CHILD RELEASE POLICY

KGTA cannot release any child to an unauthorized person; therefore, we must
emphasize the importance of keeping this information current and accurate for your
child’s school records

children are released only:

To an authorized parent/guardian.
To a person authorized by written permission from the parents.
To an authorized person with a picture I.D. and/or other identification.
To an authorized sibling 18 years of age or older.

State Licensing requires that any request for a new person to be added to your child  ’s
pickup list must be in writing and delivered by the parent to the Academy.

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT

If we suspect a child has been abused or mistreated, we are required to report it within
48 hours to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and/or to a law
enforcement agency.

Child abuse and neglect are against the law in

, and so is failure to report it.
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE 1-800-252-5400

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The KGTA does not discriminate against any child or family based on race, color,
national origin, sex, religion or disabilities. Reasonable accommodations will be
made to provide services to all children enrolled in our program.

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

KGTA maintains confidentiality and respects the family's right to privacy,
refraining from disclosure of confidential information and intrusion into family life.
However, when we have reason to believe that a child's welfare is at risk, we will
share confidential information with agencies, as well as with individuals who have
legal responsibility for intervening in the child's interest.

Disclosure of children's records beyond family members, program personnel, and
consultants having an obligation of confidentiality shall require familial consent
(except in cases of abuse or neglect).

PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES

ENROLLMENT

ELIGIBILITY

KGTA enrolls all children, 5 year old to 12 year old for the summer camp and all elementary students from JWE, Alexander, Excely, Hayes, Creech.

APPLICATION CONTRACT

All children must be enrolled at KGTA before attending. Once the decision to
enroll is made, families must complete the following, sign where applicable, and
return these to the Academy prior to the child’s first day of attendance:

A registration fee, supply fee per child is due upon enrollment

Signed/Initialed Enrollment Agreement
Signed/Initialed Enrollment Information
Signed Parent Policy Agreement
Signed Discipline and Guidance Policy
Signed Dietary Agreement
Current Immunization record & Health Assessment with a physician’s signature

As long as a child remains enrolled at KGTA, all information in the file must be up-
dated and current or enrollment may be subject to termination.

Parents must also participate in the following before the enrollment process is
complete:

Program orientation
Parent Handbook review
Meet the teacher

VACATION WEEKS

During the 12 month contract agreement, 2 weeks may be designated as vacation
weeks. Payment is not required for these weeks provided your KGTA account is
current. The vacation time can not be used one day at a time; it must be used in 5
consecutive business day intervals. If the 5 consecutive business days occur over a 2
week time period and the child attends part of each week, tuition will only be charged
for one week and the second week will be designated as a vacation week. KGTA needs to have the vacation time off request submitted in writing prior to the child 
taking the actual time off.

ROOM ASSIGNMENT

Placement of a child in a classroom is determined by age and developmental level.
We want your child to be placed where his/her needs are met and their interest
challenged. While we do accept input from parents about room assignments, the
KGTA Director and Teachers will make the final decision based on what is best for
the child, other children, teachers and the Academy.

CANCELLATION

Cancellation of the Enrollment Agreement must be:

Requested in writing
Two weeks prior notice
Approved by the Director

Parents who do not provide the Academy with the minimum notice must pay fees for two weeks after notice is given, even if the child no longer attends. Cancellation, if approved, negates the privilege of priority registration for the next enrollment period.

FEES & PAYMENTS

All fees are to be paid by check, money order. There is a $25.00 fee assessed for any returned check. If this happens twice, KGTA requires that payment be made with a money order only. All fees are non-refundable.

TUITION

KGTA tuition fees are charged weekly for the Summer Camp and monthly for regular school day and these fees must be paid in advance of services being provided. Weekly tuition fees are due on Friday for the following week or the account can be pre-paid in advance for more than a week.

LATE PAYMENT

A late fee will be assessed on Tuesday by 12:00 noon when payment is past due.
Failure to pay on time may result in termination of your child’s enrollment and if an
account is past due, enrollment contracts cannot be renewed. (There are no
discounts/reimbursements for days missed due to illness, absences, vacation, or the
Academy being closed for holidays or emergencies.)

ACCOUNTS

Parents will be informed of current rates when children are enrolled. If there is
an increase in rates, parents will be given one month’s notice regarding the new rates.
Parents are responsible for making payments every Friday and for keeping the
account current.

At the end of each calendar year the Academy will furnish a report, for income tax
purposes, of all tuition and fees paid for each child.

LATE PICK UP

Late fees are assessed if you fail to pick up your child on time. The fee is calculated at
$25.00 for any part of the first 5 minutes, an additional $20.00 for any part of the next
5 minutes, and $1.00 for each additional minute after 7:10 p.m. Repeated failure to
pick up your child on time can result in enrollment termination.

If we have not heard from the parent and we have not been able to contact other
authorized persons listed on the child’s enrollment form by 7:30 p.m., we are required
by law to consider a child abandoned and to call the police.

CLASSROOM GUIDELINES

Teaching staff develop individual relationships with children by providing care that is
responsive, attentive, consistent, comforting, supportive, and culturally sensitive.

ATTENDANCE/ ARRIVAL/ ABSENCES

Toddler and preschool classrooms begin curriculum instruction at 9:00 a.m. In order for children to receive the full benefit of our program and to participate with the group activities, we ask that you have your child here by this time. * Please do not ask the Academy or the teacher to hold breakfast for your child after 8:30 a.m.

If there is a special circumstance such as a doctor’s appointment requiring arrival after 10:00 a.m., please check with the Academy/Teacher and receive special permission for late arrival before brining your child to the Academy.

Call the Academy (281-646-7360) no later than 10:00 a.m. if your child is going to be absent that day (10:00 a.m. is the time the daily lunch count is made).

A full week’s tuition is due even if a child is absent one or more days during the week.

If you enroll your child for part time (i.e. two or three days per week) at KGTA, you
may not switch the days your child attends without prior approval from the Director and
Teacher.

NAPTIME

During the Summer Camp, we provide a supervised sleep or rest period after lunch for children 5 and 6 year old.

DISCIPLINE/ GUIDANCE METHODS

At KGTA the purpose of discipline is to help children develop self-control and to become responsible for their own behavior. Knowing what behavior is appropriate or acceptable in a situation is an important skill. We are committed to helping children learn to express feelings appropriately, to consider other peoples feelings and to negotiate their own conflicts.

We use non-punitive methods of discipline, which are directly related to the child’s
behavior and encourage the child  ’s participation. We ask the child to think about the
problematic behavior and to find ways to remedy the situation. Teachers like to work
closely with parents to understand each child  and to determine which methods work
best for that child, thus, teamwork with parents is very important.

If a child exhibits continually disruptive and unsafe behavior that is not resolved through appropriate behavior management strategies, the teachers will discuss the situation with a supervisor and parent to develop an action plan. All reasonable attempts will be made to work with the child and the family to resolve the behavior problem. Staff will keep parents informed of the progress made. Referrals to community resources or an outside evaluation may be suggested.

If a parent refuses to work with the staff in resolving the problem and/or the behavior problem persists resulting in a chronic situation requiring greater need for care than the KGTA teachers can provide, then the child’s enrollment is subject to termination.

The KGTA discipline/ guidance policy complies with the Texas Administrative Code
and the rules in the Subchapter L of Minimum Standards (www.tdprs.state.tx.us)

BIRTHDAYS/ CELEBRATIONS/ HOLIDAYS

The Academy celebrates the children’s birthdays in age-appropriate ways in the
classroom. The birthday celebration, however, is purposefully kept simple.

Food brought from home must be approved for sharing. Parents may bring
cake/cookies/cupcakes that are store-bought and labeled with the ingredients (this is a

child Care Licensing Minimum Standard Rule www.tdprs.state.tx.us). These will be served during afternoon snack and parents are welcome to join the children.

The child’s birthday observance at the Academy is not intended to take the place of each family’s special observance at home. If you do decide to provide a birthday treat for the class, be mindful that:

No gifts are to be exchanged
No treat bags or party favors are to be distributed in the classroom.

Birthday party invitations for parties away from the Academy may be distributed at school only through the classroom teacher. If you do not want your child’s birthday celebrated, please notify the Academy in advance in writing.

KGTA does observe traditional, national, cultural and seasonal holidays with activities that are educationally oriented and developmentally appropriate. Every effort is made to be culturally sensitive.

Please share with the Academy staff any celebrations that are important to your family,
so that these too may be included in our classroom planning.

BRINGING ITEMS FROM HOME

Children frequently want to share with their class nature items and treasurers from home. Such items are especially welcomed if they support the topic being studied. It is always a good idea to check with a child’s teacher first before bringing objects to the Academy.

We do discourage children from bringing toys from home; although, some teachers will allow items of comfort, such as a soft cuddly stuffed animal, to be brought to school to help a child  sleep more comfortably (please check with the teacher first).
When a child brings a toy from home, it is sometimes difficult for them to share and the toy could get lost or broken. The staff will not be responsible if these items are lost or damaged.

The Academy does not allow at any time toys of violence like guns, swords, or violent action figures.

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

Your child should be dressed in play clothes that are durable, comfortable and
appropriate for play and for the season. We will go outside daily, weather permitting.

Because a wide variety of activities take place at our Academy, we recommend clothes
that allow for freedom of movement. Many of your child’s favorite activities may
tend to be a little messy, like finger painting and digging in the dirt, so again make
sure the child’s clothes are suitable.

At KGTA children’s safety is of great concern, therefore, we ask that you send
your child to school wearing a sturdy shoe that supports the foot properly and
protects the toes. Sneakers with socks are the best. Children are not permitted to
wear open-toed sandals, clogs, and boots or flip-flops on the playgrounds
because they are dangerous for running and climbing.

We ask that you provide a complete change of clothing for your child to be left at school,
including shoes and socks. In order to avoid confusion and lost items, label each article
of clothing.

CLASSROOM CURRICULUM

WEEKLY LESSON REVIEWS

On-going assessments will be conducted throughout your child’s time with us. These
assessments are used to determine the weekly lesson plans for the whole class and also
to help develop individual curriculum goals for your child. Each teacher designs
classroom lesson plans around the emerging skills of the whole class.
There are also Plans for

for those children who need
help or challenge with emerging skills. The weekly plans are built around the
developmental domains with the teacher choosing five assessment items from each
domain. There is an objective and activity for each item.

A weekly review of the lesson is available for parents in the classroom, through email
and on the website. We encourage parents to support the activities and to practice the
vocabulary each week; it is also helpful for parents to read the same books with their child and to sing the songs and finger plays. Children learn by repetition.

ASSESMENTS

At KGTA an assessment will be administered onsite to determine your child’s
developmental age upon enrollment and thereafter throughout the year. The child’s
assessments will be used to:

Identify children’s interests and needs
Describe the developmental progress and learning
Design classroom curriculum and adapt teaching practices
Communicate with families
Arrange for referrals when indicated

The assessments are shared with parents during Parent/Teacher scheduled conferences.

REFERRALS

When program staff suspect that a child has a developmental delay or other special
need, this possibility is communicated to families in a sensitive, supportive, and
confidential manner with documentation and explanation for the concern, suggested
next steps, and information about resources for assessment.

Identifying children with disabilities or delays early helps minimize or prevent future
problems.
All screening referrals will be kept strictly confidential and will be used only to help
access appropriate care as needed.

TECHNOLOGY POLICY

KGTA uses technology to extend learning within the classroom and to integrate and
enrich the curriculum. The use of passive media (television and video) is limited to
developmentally appropriate programming.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Children are offered opportunities to engage in enrichment programs that enhance
their development. These classes are held at the Academy.

HEALTH & SAFETY

ACCIDENTS/ EMERGENCIES/ FIRST AID

KGTA works hard to provide a safe environment for the children at all times.
However, part of growing up can include bumps and bruises. Our Academy is equipped
with simple first aid supplies and if a child has a minor accident the staff will provide
appropriate first aid to the child.

When injuries do occur, we make two copies of a written report to inform parents
about the accident. One copy is for the parent and the other copy is to be signed by
the parent and kept in the child’s file.

If a child has a serious injury, a trained staff member will provide first aid and you will be contacted to pick up your child. If there is an emergency requiring immediate medical attention, 911 emergency personnel will be called and the parent and/or the child’s physician will be notified. If a child needs to be transported by an ambulance, a staff member will accompany your child if the parent is not available. When the parent is unavailable, alternate names in the child’s file are contacted as well.

HYGEINE

Every effort is made by the KGTA staff to prevent the spread of germs. We strive to
maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, which includes required hand washing
for children and teachers and instruction in hygiene to help minimize the spread of
germs.


ILLNESS/ ‘SYMPTOM FREE’ RULE

One of the most serious challenges facing group care situations for young children is
preventing illness.

KGTA uses the following guidelines to protect your child as well as others from
contagious illness. We realize that this can sometimes be an inconvenience for parents
but we trust that you will understand the necessity for such a policy. If any of the
following conditions occur, while your child is in attendance, you will be notified and
your child must be picked up from the Academy as soon as possible:

The child has one of the following:

Fever, armpit temperature of 99.4 degrees or greater

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Head Lice

Symptoms of an infectious disorder such as ringworm, pink eye, etc.

Any other condition deemed necessary by the Director/ Teacher for the well being of your child and the other children enrolled.

The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in facility activities.
The illness results in a greater need for care than the staff can provide without compromising the health, safety, and supervision of the other children.

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease is to have strictly enforced
standards regarding the exclusion of ill children. We need your help for this.

Do not bring ill children to the Academy and if your child becomes ill at the Academy, please pick the child up immediately.

If your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease, please notify the Academy. It is
important for us to be aware of what children may have been exposed to so that we can communicate this with other parents.

THE 24-HOUR ‘SYMPTOM FREE’ RULE

The Academy’s policy requires that your child be free of symptoms of illness: fever,
diarrhea or vomiting for at least 24 hours.

Fever-free means without medication for fever reduction.

Please keep in mind that if we send your child home because of illness, the child will
not be admitted to the Academy the next day because the 24-hour period will not have
elapsed. Do not rush a child’s return to school following an illness. The Academy reserves the right to require a doctor’s statement before the child can be re-admitted
to the Academy.

MEDICATIONS

In order for KGTA staff to administer medication we must adhere to the following:
(www.tdprs.state.tx.us)

All medicine must be in the original container.
The container must be labeled with the child’s name.
If it is over-the-counter medication, it must state the amount to be administered by child’s age and/or weight. All medicine must be labeled with the date (if prescribed) or the date brought to the Academy. The medicine must include directions on how to administer the medication. If the medication is prescribed, the name of the physician prescribing the medication must be on the container. All medications must have an expiration date and we cannot administer medication after the expiration date. The medicine can only be administered to the child for whom it was intended.

The parent has to sign an authorization form and include the dates and times for the Academy to administer the medication and these directions must follow the label
directions.

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NUTRITION

KGTA participates in

If a child requires a special diet, you must provide the food from home and your
child’s file must include a signed statement that KGTA is not responsible for the
nutritional value of the food brought from home or for meeting the child’s daily food
needs. In addition, if a child requires diet modifications for health reasons we must
have written approval from a physician or registered-licensed dietician.

Any food or beverage brought from home must be labeled with the child’s name and date.

MEALS

Monthly menus are carefully planned. Copies of the menus are available at the front desk and are posted on the parent board in the front lobby and on the KGTA website.

We begin serving lunch at 11:30 a.m. and the lunch count is based on the number
of children at the Academy by 10:00 a.m. Please call the Academy if you are going to
be late.

The Academy does enforce a no candy rule in the classrooms. Our goal is to maintain the
quality of the child’s daily nutrition and we ask that parents join us in this effort to
promote healthy children.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES / DRILLS

The KGTA places a high priority on being prepared for a variety of emergencies that
may arise. We have set up an emergency plan as follows:

Stay informed. KGTA staff monitors alert statuses of any kind on a daily basis. When an alert is in a heightened state (for weather or otherwise), the radio and Internet are checked regularly for breaking information. Assess the situation and act. Upon receiving pertinent information and/or official notification, a decision is made to either move to a predetermined safe area of the building, evacuate or conduct a shelter-in-place.

Communicate. In the event of an emergency and after the necessary actions are taken,
KGTA staff will call parents to inform them of the status of the children and the situation.

Evacuation – Fire and evacuation drills are held monthly to acquaint the children with
evacuation procedures. Evacuation routes are posted in each classroom and in the KGTA lobby.


Shelter-in-Place – In the event of a shelter-in-place decision, each room is equipped
with an emergency supply kit that includes all of the items recommended by the
Department of Homeland Security. Each room has a step-by-step manual on what to
do in a variety of situations.

Severe Weather Emergency/General Procedures

Stay inside away from windows.
Assume protective posture.
Keep calm and do not get excited.
Use two-way radios to monitor the situation and to communicate if further action is necessary.

KGTA will monitor all severe weather @www.nationalweather.com/

PARENTS: THE SCHOOL/ HOME CONNECTION

Parents’ involvement in their child’s education is encouraged at KGTA in both formal
and informal ways. It is important for parents to know what is happening in their child’s
classroom as well as at the Academy. Please make every effort to stay informed; you are
your child’s advocate and their most important teacher.

CLASSROOM PARENT INFORMATION BOARD

There is a bulletin board located in the classrooms that contains both general and specific parent information. Please make a point to stop by and check the information on the board each day. This will help with the process of communication and connecting parents with the Academy.

PARENT CONFERENCES

All parents are invited to participate in parent/ teacher conferences. These conferences
will be held during school hours and at a time that is convenient for both the parents and the teacher. Occasionally a teacher may request a parent conference when there are special concerns in the classroom. We ask that parents respect this request with prompt attention.

PARENT MEETINGS/ CLASSES

KGTA has parent meetings through out the year. This includes general meetings, new parent orientations and program/ classroom Open House. Periodically, parenting classes are held in the evening. These classes cover a variety of topics related to the Academy’s program and the young child’s development.

KGTA ADVISORY BOARD

The KGTA Advisory Board is composed of a group of dedicated parents, students, staff and faculty members. It serves in an advisory capacity to provide support and guidance to the Director.

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PARENT RESOURCES

KGTA maintains an online resource library for our parents. Other helpful resources for
parents can be found at the following web sites; www.parentinginformation.org ; www.zerotothree.org ; www.iamyourchild.org ; www.collabforchild  ren.org

PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATIONS

When you have a concern, please remember…..

Teachers want parents to be satisfied with the acre their child is receiving. Talk to the teachers directly whenever possible, if you would prefer to talk with the Master Teacher or Director. Use the Solution/ Resolution worksheet found in the Appendix of the Parent Handbook to facilitate verbal communication.

REALIZE that if you have a concern with a teacher, the Master Teacher or Director will need to investigate and talk with the teacher about your concern in order to deal with the issue in a straightforward manner. Please give teachers a chance to correct minor issues.
On the other hand, don’t allow concerns to build up. As concerns occur, share them with the teachers. It is disturbing to find out "later" that a parent had a number of concerns and never expressed them.

Sometimes we cannot make the changes you may request due to other restrictions, but we ALWAYS want to hear your suggestions. We promise to consider them seriously and respond to you in a timely manner.

If at anytime a parent wishes to meet with their child’s teacher to discuss issues that may arise, he/she can contact the teacher to schedule a meeting. We do ask that you schedule a conference with your child’s teacher to discuss issues in depth, and not try to discuss them during drop- off and pick-up times.

Have Questions?

We welcome your questions and queries. Please see our Contact Us page for complete contact information.