PARENT HANDBOOK
Welcome to the Northern State University
Children’s Center!
Purpose: To provide high quality,
reliable, convenient and affordable childcare
for the children of NSU students, faculty and
staff, as well as the community at large.
Hours: The Children’s Center offers
contracted childcare every weekday except
December 24-January 1. Fall and spring semester
hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Summer hours
are 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Test week hours are
7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Center is closed on
all legal holidays, and when NSU cancels day
classes due to bad weather.
General Information: The Center is
licensed by the South Dakota Department of
Social Services for a capacity of 78 children
ages four weeks to six years. We believe in
equal attention and care for all children
without regard to race, creed, sex, or
nationality.
Please meet with the Center director to complete
your childcare contract—we will not hold spaces
for children without a completed contract. When
you give your class schedule to the director,
please be sure to include the building and
classroom number for each class, and where you
are likely to be between classes. Families
wishing to join our program will be asked to
fill out a waiting list application, and added
as space becomes available.
Please notify the director of any permanent changes in your schedule; contracts may be changed only once per semester. Day to day changes should be written on your child’s sign-in sheet—we need this information in order to find you quickly in case of an emergency. The Center does not transport children off campus except in an emergency.
The Center reserves the right to:
- Take a child to the Avera St. Luke’s Medical Center emergency room in case of illness or injury.
- Contact the child’s physician, the Brown County Health Department, or the NSU Health Service concerning the child’s health.
- Allow the Center’s consultants and visiting students to observe the children.
- Allow children to be photographed, and use such photos for educational or publicity purposes.
- Take children on walking field trips as planned by supervising staff.
- Terminate childcare for non-payment of services.
- Dismiss any child whose behavior becomes detrimental to the peace and safety of the other children.
All parents must provide their campus mail
box number and email address. Please check it
regularly, as this is our official means of
communication. Each child will have a file
folder in his/her room for newsletters, billing
statements, receipts, etc. The parent bulletin
board in the Lindberg west lobby has information
on financial assistance, menus, babysitters, and
programs of interest to parents.
Center Curriculum: Our school implements
a center-based learning curriculum, with the
children able to choose from clearly outlined
areas where materials and supplies combine
around a common activity.
For children ages 3-6 years, there is a preschool session held in the mornings. Other activities are offered throughout the day, including computer time, stories, games, music and free play.
For toddlers, our program offers less structured learning activities encouraging the development of motor and social skills through art, games, and dramatic play. They also enjoy stories, music, and free play.
Stimulating curiosity and the senses with hands-on experiences allows children more choices and the freedom to be creative within a wide variety of learning opportunities each day. Self-direction builds your child’s self-esteem, self-control, and self-confidence, helping to prepare for a successful future.
"Children learn by doing, and playing is their work."
Arrival/Departure: We require that every child be escorted into and out of the building every day. If someone other than yourself will be picking up your child, please indicate it on the sign-in sheet, or call to let us know. We will not release a child to anyone without the parents’ written or phoned consent. The Center’s staff cannot deliver children to speech therapy, the Headstart bus, kindergarten, etc. Please inform the responsible programs that they will need to come in to drop off or pick up the child and sign the child in or out.
For the safety of your child, you must take the time to sign your child in and out accurately. In the event of fire, storm, bomb threat, etc., we use the sign-in sheets to account for children present. The sheets are also used to determine daily charges—we reserve the right to charge you for the entire day if you fail to sign in or out, or if we are unable to read or understand the times. There will also be a $5.00 charge for each time you neglect to sign in or out.
The Center closes at 5:30 p.m. A late fee of
$25 per 15 minutes per child will be charged at
5:31 p.m. if we are unable to lock our doors due
to late pickup. (Please don't rush on unsafe
roads--we don't charge late fees if the weather
is bad). If a child has not been picked up by
5:45 p.m., staff will attempt to locate the
people listed on the child’s registration form
as “emergency contacts”. If these individuals
have not been located, or a parent has not
arrived by 6:30 p.m., the Police Department
and/or Child Protection Services will be
notified to take custody of the child.
Meals: Every child exclusively eating
table food attending the center at mealtimes
will be served; lunch is served at noon and
afternoon snack is served at 2:30. Meals will
not be served to children who arrive a ½ hour or
more after scheduled serving times.
If a child is
present at mealtime, but is not normally
scheduled to be there and the parent did
not notify the director by 10:00 a.m. (when
meals are ordered) they will be charged $4.00
for lunch and $2.00 for afternoon snack.
All meals are nutritionally balanced to
include meat or meat substitute, a dairy
product, a fruit and/or vegetable, and bread or
cereal. A 20-day meal menu cycle is posted on
the lobby bulletin board. We do not have the
facilities to provide for special diets, and
parents are asked to provide meals and snacks if
diet restrictions are necessary for medical or
other reasons (accompanying documentation must
be provided). Otherwise, please do not send
food, cereal, or candy with your child, unless
there is enough to share with everyone.
Illness: A child’s health is of special
concern in a large center like ours. Upon
arrival, children will be observed for signs of
ill health. A child who appears ill will not be
admitted to the Center. A child who has had any
of the following in the previous 24 hours can
not be at the center: a temperature of 100
degrees or more, a constant cough, an
unidentified rash, discharge or redness of the
eyes, or vomiting/diarrhea (2 or more abnormally
loose stools). If these symptoms develop at the
Center, the child will be isolated from the
others, and you will need to pick him or her up
immediately. The Children’s Center reserves the
right to require a physician’s statement upon
the child’s return from the illness. Please
inform the director if your child has been
exposed to, develops symptoms of, or is
diagnosed as having a contagious disease, so we
can be more alert about handwashing and other
preventive measures. The director reports all
incidents of contagious disease to the South
Dakota health department. The best way to avoid
missing class or work because of a sick child is
to plan ahead to find an alternative
caregiver--this might be a relative, neighbor or
friend you could call when your child is ill.
DO NOT BRING SICK CHILDREN TO THE CENTER!
Please keep in mind that bringing a sick
child to the Center will cause other children to
get sick—if all families keep sick children at
home, everybody’s children will stay healthier.
This will mean fewer missed classes and fewer
illnesses for parents and staff. Avera St.
Luke’s hospital can provide childcare for
children too ill to attend our center—call
622-5551 for more information (pre-registration
is required).
Outdoor Play: The children participate in
outdoor activities every day that the weather is
mild (a wind chill of 10 degrees or warmer, with
no rain or falling snow, a heat index of 90 or
above will limit play to 45 minutes). Children too ill to go
outside are too ill to be at our center, and
should stay home—we do not stay inside with
individual children. Please send adequate,
labeled outerwear each day.
Sunscreen/Bug Spray: Due to possible
allergic reactions, we will only apply sunscreen
or insect repellent supplied by parents for
individual children. Please be sure to provide
us with labeled lotions or sprays designed for
children as needed.
Medication: Medication will be given once
a day at lunchtime. Parents must sign or update
a medication authorization form each day that
the child needs medication. These forms are
available in your child’s room, or from the
director or preschool supervisor. The center can
dispense only prescription medication in the
original pharmacy container. If your physician
recommends over-the-counter medicine, we must
have written or phoned permission from your
doctor before we can dispense it. All medication
must be kept out of the reach of the
children—please ask the director or preschool
supervisor where you can store your child’s
medicine. To protect your sick child as well as
the other children at the Center, please inform
your doctor that your child attends group
daycare, and follow the doctor’s advice as to
when he or she can return to the Center.
Immunizations: All children must be
up-to-date on their immunizations—please provide
the director with an updated copy of your
child’s shot record each time your child
receives an immunization. Maintaining these
records is a requirement of the South Dakota
Department of Social Services—we must have
current records in order to be licensed to
provide childcare.
Conferences: Parent conferences are not
required. The director and/or preschool
supervisor are available to discuss your child’s
progress at your convenience—please contact them
to schedule a meeting. If anything comes up that
we feel you should know, we’ll let you know
immediately…we hope you will do the same.
Discipline Policy: Our primary concern is
the health, safety, and emotional well being of
each child. Our limits of the children’s
behavior are set for the protection of others,
and to some extent, for the safety of our
equipment.
We do not strike children, or use punitive
methods of discipline. We use time-out when
someone has been physically harmed in order to
remove a child from the distractions of the
other children or toys; a teacher has a
follow-up discussion with the child regarding
the behavior. Children are never permitted to
administer punishment to their peers, but we do
encourage them to “use their words” to build
communication and cooperative skills.
Staff will inform parents of discipline
problems, but we strongly suggest that parents
not feel responsible for disciplining a child at
home for behavior dealt with at the Center.
In cases of extreme behavior problems, such as
repeated and uncontrollable hitting, kicking,
biting or crying, the parent will be asked to
meet with the director to discuss documented
problem behavior. The center reserves the right
to dismiss any child whose behavior becomes
detrimental to the peace and safety of the other
children.
Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect: Our staff
is required by law to report any case of
suspected child abuse or neglect to the
Department of Social Services.
Diapering Policy: We assume that every
child in diapers arrives freshly changed, and
then check/change every two hours (or more often
when necessary). Parents are responsible for
providing an adequate supply of diapers and
wipes—when a child has no diapers of their own,
we will supply them at a charge of $1.00 each.
Toys from Home: Toys and learning
activities are provided by the Center—please
leave yours at home to avoid confusion. A
labeled security item (such as a much-loved "blankie")
that will comfort your child is welcome, but
personal treasures brought from home cause our
young friends tears, anger, and frustration, and
can be lost or broken—please leave them at home.
Rest Time: All children at the Center
after lunch will lie down for a ½ hour. Sleepers
will be allowed to wake on their own until 2:00,
when we will wake them for snack. Parents are
asked to please not drop off or pick up their
child during this important rest time--if a
child’s arrival or departure during naptime
continually disrupts the other children’s rest,
parents will not be allowed to drop off/pick up
at that time in the future. Children should keep
a labeled blanket for rest time in their drawer
or cubby. Parents are responsible for laundering
nap items—we suggest Fridays.
Dress: The Center stays quite warm, even
in winter—it’s a good idea to dress your child
in layers (a sweater over a T-shirt) so clothing
can be removed if your child becomes too warm.
We encourage creative sensory play (such as
paints, clays, and other messy items), and ask
that you dress your child in sturdy, easily
washed items that we don’t need to worry about
staining—old jeans, T-shirts, and “garage sale
specials” are ideal. Sturdy shoes are
best—thongs, strapless shoes and cowboy boots
hinder children in climbing or running games.
The local fire code requires that all children
wear shoes, so your child will need shoes in
addition to snow boots in the wintertime—you are
welcome to leave a pair in their drawer or
cubby.
Holidays Off: The NSUCC will be closed on
the following holidays:
• Native American Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving (2 days)
• Christmas Eve through New Years Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• President's Day
• Spring Break
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Memorial Day
• Labor Day
• Independence Day
Have a safe and happy holiday with your child!
Help Us Save The Earth: The Center can
recycle the following items: Campbell’s labels
(and several others—check the poster in the west
lobby), which we can redeem for toys and
equipment; plastic grocery sacks for bagging
soiled diapers; used children’s clothes,
especially underpants and slacks (what we can’t
use, we’ll offer to other families here); toys
of all kinds (no guns, please). We especially
welcome small toys and trinkets to use for Bingo
prizes. Thanks for your help and support!
Forgot your carseat? The Center has one to
borrow overnight--just ask the director or
preschool supervisor. We want everyone to arrive
home safely!
What to Bring:
Infants: Child biographies are
mandatory. Please provide us with a biographical
information sheet to post in the room listing
your child's eating/sleeping pattern, likes and
dislikes, etc. This information is a tremendous
help to us, and will help baby’s day run more
smoothly. Bring pre-mixed formula or breast milk
in labeled plastic bottles, and juice and baby
food in labeled containers. Because each baby
prefers their food prepared a different way
(with formula, water, fruit, etc.), we ask that
parents bring cereal already mixed and ready to
warm and serve--we'll rinse the labeled
container and return it to baby's drawer.
Parents are responsible for getting items into
the refrigerator as needed. Every child has a
labeled drawer for storing disposable diapers, a
labeled box of wet wipes, and labeled spare
clothes. Please check this drawer daily, take
home any soiled clothes, and restock diapers,
wipes, and clothes as needed. Pacifiers must be
labeled. The Center provides bibs, bowls,
spoons, burping cloths, sipper cups, and
toys—please leave yours at home to avoid
confusion. Daily specific written instructions
regarding your child’s care should be written on
the sign-in sheet. All infants are fed and
napped according to their own schedule.
One-Year-Olds: Child biographies are
mandatory. Please provide us with a biographical
information sheet to post in the room listing
your child's eating/sleeping pattern, likes and
dislikes, etc. This information is a
tremendous help to us. Every child has a labeled
drawer for storing disposable diapers, labeled
wet wipes, and labeled spare clothes. Please
check this drawer daily, take home any soiled
clothes, and restock diapers, wipes, and clothes
as needed. If for some reason your child borrows
clothes from the Center, please launder and
return them as soon as possible. Diaper bags,
blankets, and clothes should all be labeled. The
Center will provide 2% milk, table food, snacks,
sipper cups, dishes, spoons, bibs and
toys—please leave yours at home to avoid
confusion. Please leave specific written
instructions on the sign-in sheet if your child
needs naps or feedings other than the regularly
scheduled times.
Two-Year-Olds: Child biographies are
mandatory. Please provide us with a biographical
information sheet to post in the room listing
your child's eating/sleeping pattern, likes and
dislikes, etc. This information is a
tremendous help to us. Every child has a labeled
drawer for storing disposable diapers, labeled
wet wipes, and labeled spare clothes. Please
check this drawer daily, take home any soiled
clothes, and restock diapers, wipes, and clothes
as needed. Each child learns to use the toilet
at their own rate—please let us know when your
child is ready to begin toilet learning, write
any specific instructions on their sign-in
daily, and we’ll be happy to help any way we
can. This is a big skill for little people to
learn, and accidents will happen: please be sure
your child has several extra sets of clothes,
and we’ll place all soiled articles (bagged in
plastic) in your child’s drawer. Positive
communication is key at this time--please feel
free to discuss your child’s toileting progress
with us through notes, phone calls, and in
person, and we’ll do the same. If for any reason
your child borrows clothes from the Center,
please launder and return them as soon as
possible. Diaper bags, blankets, nap items, and
clothes should all be labeled. Parents are
responsible for laundering nap articles—we
suggest Fridays. Meals, snacks, sipper cups,
dishes, spoons, bibs and toys are provided by
the Center—please leave yours at home to avoid
confusion.
Three, Four, Five and Six-Year-Olds:
Child biographies are mandatory. Please provide
us with a biographical information sheet to post
in the room listing your child's eating/sleeping
pattern, likes and dislikes, etc. This
information is a tremendous help to us.
Every child has a labeled cubby for storing a
complete labeled set of clothes and labeled nap
items. The Center cannot be responsible for
items that are not permanently labeled with the
child’s name—please label all clothing, boots,
shoes, and outerwear. Meals, snacks, dishes and
toys are provided by the Center—please leave
yours at home to avoid confusion.
Fees and Payments
Financial Assistance for Childcare: Financial Assistance for
Childcare: The Northern Financial Assistance
office wants you to know that you may qualify
for additional financial assistance for
childcare. Contact the Financial Assistance
office about your eligibility or for additional
information.
South Dakota Child Care Services may also be
able to assist you with paying for childcare.
Low-income families may apply for financial help
with their childcare bills; assistance is based
on household size and gross monthly income.
Contact Child Care Services at 1-800-227-3020
for more information.
Rates: Toddler and preschool activities
are included in all rates.
NSU student families: $3.25
per hour for part time students and $105 per
week for full time students. Part time care
is considered any care less than 30 hours per
week.
NSU staff & faculty families: $3.75
per hour for part time staff/faculty and
$110 per week for full time staff/faculty.
Part time care is considered any care less than
30 hours per week.
All other families: $4.25 per hour
part time and $115/week full time. Part time
care is considered any care less than 30 hours
per week.
Snacks and Lunch Included in
Rates
Other Charges: New families are charged a
non-refundable $20 registration fee. A deposit
of one week’s full-time childcare costs per
family will be required when a child is
enrolled, which can be applied to your final
bill if the center is given two weeks written
notice that your child is leaving our program.
A non-refundable supply charge of $2.00 per child
per week for those attending 20-50 hours per
week and $1.50 per child per week for those
attending 1-19 hours per week will be billed to
cover the cost of art and craft supplies, new
toys, bibs, tissues, etc. This allows us to
provide necessary equipment without raising
rates more frequently.
Payment: Advance payment is required for
all children. Parents can pay one of two ways:
Payment for the entire semester, including your initial deposit, can be taken from your financial aid at the beginning of each semester. Your childcare contract will outline your expenses for the semester based on your class/work schedule, and will authorize the Finance Office to add that amount to your semester’s tuition and fees bill. If you go over your contracted hours, it is your responsibility to make additional payments to keep your account at a positive balance.
Advance payment can be paid on the first of each month; your childcare contract will outline your expenses for the month based on your class/work schedule.
Receipts: Receipts are
written for all payments, and will be placed in
your child’s file in their room. Please save
these receipts for tax purposes—a $5 fee is
charged if we must total your payments for the
year. Our tax I.D. number is 46-6000364.
Parent Financial Responsibilities: Your
account balance will be maintained at the
Center, and you will receive a notice of your
balance at the beginning of each month in your
child’s file. When an account is two weeks past
due, it will be reported to the Finance Office,
and you will not be allowed to register or
receive transcripts until it is paid in full.
When an account is one month past due, the child
will not be accepted at the Children’s Center
until the bill is paid in full. If the bill is
not paid, collection efforts will begin
according to the guidelines set forth by the
Board of Regents collections policy.
All childcare accounts must
be paid in full at the end of each semester--no
subsequent care will be provided until your
account has a zero balance or positive credit.
The NSU Finance Office will place a hold on your
records, you will forfeit your deposit, and you
will be denied any services of the University,
including registration, receiving transcripts,
or receiving financial aid. Child Care
Assistance payments still due will be estimated
and credited to your end-of-semester bill, but
parents are responsible for the balance. Please
plan ahead! The director can help you estimate
your expenses for the semester, and the Northern
Financial Assistance office is available if you
don’t feel you can meet your childcare
obligations without help.
Thanks for all your help and support—together,
we can provide a positive learning experience
for your child!
Updated October 2006