Late Fee Policy
Pick-Up Deadline
Our daycare closes promptly at 6:00 PM. We kindly request all parents to ensure their children are picked up by this time. If you anticipate being late, please notify the center as soon as possible by phone.
Late Fee
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A late fee of $5.00 per minute per child will apply for any pick-ups after 6:00 PM.
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These fees are in place to cover the overtime wages of staff who must remain at the center with your child.
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Please note that two staff members are required to stay during late pick-ups to ensure safety, resulting in both staff members being delayed.
Staff Considerations
Our staff work long hours and have personal responsibilities and families to return to after their shifts. Late pick-ups disrupt their schedules and are not fair to the team who have already devoted their day to caring for your children.
Exceptions
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We understand that unexpected delays can occur. In the case of a one-time emergency, the late fee may be waived at the discretion of the management, depending on the situation and the time of pick-up.
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Repeated or habitual late pick-ups, however, will result in consistent application of the late fee policy.
Fee Payment
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Late fees are the parent’s responsibility and must be paid directly to the staff who remained with your child.
Questions or Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to speak with the office.
Subsidy:
Subsidy is available for eligible families. To determine eligibility, please visit the following website: http://humanservices.alberta.ca/financial-support
If you will be receiving subsidy, you must be approved for subsidy prior to your child attending at the Centre. Proof of approval must be provided to the office prior to starting. If you wish to start prior to approval being received, you will be required to pay the full monthly fee and you will be credited the following month, if applicable. If your child does not attend the Centre for the requisite number of hours as per subsidy requirements, you will be responsible for the difference.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP YOUR SUBSIDY VALID AND UP TO DATE. IF YOUR SUBSIDY EXPIRES AND IS NOT RENEWED ON TIME, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL FEES UNTIL SUBSIDY APPROVAL IS PROVIDED TO US.
Please note that the subsidy office is quite busy and it is best to provide all documents required for renewal at least one (1) month prior to subsidy expiry to avoid disappointment. If you provide documents late, you may be required to appeal the subsidy office to back-date your subsidy, which is not guaranteed. Subsidy may be applied for on-line at the website above. To be considered full-time, a subsidized Day care child must be at the center a minimum of 100 hours per month, and a subsidized Out of School Care child must be at the center a minimum of 50 hours per month. We are happy to assist you with your subsidy applications and provide you with computer if needed. We can fax or scan any information that subsidy requires. Our door is always open!
Nutrition Policy
At our center, we prioritize providing nutritious snacks to support the health and well-being of all children in our care. Here's how we manage nutrition:
Snacks Provided by the Centre
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Schedule:
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AM Snack: Served between 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
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Mid-Day Snack: Served between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM (room-dependent).
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PM Snack: Served between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM (room-dependent).
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Guidelines:
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Snacks incorporate at least two food groups daily.
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Menus follow Canada Food Guide and Alberta Nutrition Guidelines.
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Our menu rotates on a four-week basis and is updated seasonally.
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Copies of the menu are available upon request and are displayed in each room, the kitchen, and the front entrance for parents' daily review.
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Lunches Provided by Parents
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Parents are required to send lunches for their children.
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All food brought from home must adhere to Canada Food Guide and Alberta Nutrition Guidelines.
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Please avoid sending soda, candy, or other sugary snacks.
Infants (0–12 Months)
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Parents must provide formula or blended food.
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For infants 12 months and older, meals will follow parents’ instructions.
Food Allergies and Restrictions
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If your child has food allergies or dietary restrictions, we ask that you provide their snacks.
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The center serves halal and vegetarian snacks and will strive to accommodate dietary needs. Please discuss specific requirements with us at the time of registration or as they arise.
Mealtime Practices
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Mealtimes are social activities where children are seated and encouraged to remain calm.
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Educators foster social development and healthy eating habits by supporting children in making independent food choices.
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Children are encouraged—but not forced—to try new foods.
Food Safety and Hygiene
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All dishes are washed and sanitized per AHS standards and air-dried before storage or reuse.
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Snack dishes are promptly returned to the kitchen after use.
Our center is committed to supporting children’s nutritional needs while fostering independence, social skills, and healthy habits. If you have any questions or specific dietary requests, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Child Guidance Policy:
The Child Guidance Policy applies to the Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten and Out of School Care age groups. Our Centre strives to provide a safe environment in which children are expected to be respectful to themselves, others and to property, whether belonging to them or others. Politeness, cooperation and responsibility all follow from our primary rule of Respectfulness. Appropriate behavior management is used to guide, protect and enhance self-esteem. Both preventative and intervention strategies are used to encourage positive behavior. Preventative methods begin with role modeling by the staff. When a child’s caregivers are polite and considerate to others, they set the tone for everyone at the center. Each child’s individual needs, development level, family and cultural experiences are taken into account when determining and encouraging age-appropriate behavior. Distracting children, offering them choices and keeping them engaged in developmentally appropriate activities, and effective transitions from activity-to-activity help to prevent difficult behavior in children. Consistency is key when explaining consequences of behavior and setting limits.
Staff Qualification and Development Policy:
Working with children on a daily basis requires specialized knowledge and skills to ensure daily programming and interactions are positive and challenging. All staff members at our facility hold Early Childhood Development certificates and have been certified by the Government of Alberta. All staff members must provide the center with original and recent policy security clearances prior to start work at our center. It is also a policy at our center that all staff working with children must have first aid certificates. First Aid workshops will be periodically held to ensure our staff keep their first aid certificates valid. We believe that our experienced and knowledgeable staff will create an exciting and safe learning environment for your child. Staff certifications and first aid certificates can be found on the Staff Board in the entrance of the center. To assist our staff in their continued education, staff will be provided with an opportunity to upgrade and use professional development funding provided by the Government of Alberta. The staff at our center will also periodically attend workshops (either on site here or conjunction with another child care center) to continually upgrade their skill set. Information regarding these workshops is posted in the staff room.
Executive Director:
The Centre’s Executive Director is the principal executor of the Centre’s policies concerning operations and programs. The Director is also responsible for the implementation, supervision, and coordination of all aspects of the operation of the center in compliance with the Day Care Act.
Assistant Director:
The Assistant Director will take on the role of Director when the Executive Director is unavailable.
Qualifications of the Executive Director and or Assistant Director:
The minimum requirement for the Executive Director and or Assistant Director is that s/he must have completed a training program in early childhood education or equivalent. A minimum of 3-5 years of experience working with children and families required. Administrative and Supervisory experience is also necessary. A current First Aid Certificate, course in infant CPR is also required and Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector Search.
Early Childhood Educators:
The permanent, full-time teaching staff are responsible for the daily care, instruction and supervision of the children at the center, under direct supervision of the Executive Director and or Assistant Director. Educators are responsible for the daily planning, implementation and evaluation of the program activities.
Qualifications of the Early Childhood
Educator: Level 1 – Child Development
Educator Level 2 – Child Development
Educator Level 3 – Child Development
Educator The teacher employed at our Center must have completed a training program in early childhood education, or its equivalent, as outlined in the Child Care Licensing Act and Regulations. Successful work experience in the field of early childhood education and the necessary personal qualifications, such as the ability to relate warmly to children, strong interpersonal skills, patience, dependability, flexibility, and physical stamina, are also required. All staff are required to have a current First Aid Certificate, and Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector Search.