Merritt Island Presbyterian Church

Letter from Director: 

Dear Parents,

 We are so glad your child is spending this important time in their life here with us at the MIPC Childcare Center and Preschool.  We hope your child's experience with us will provide the basis for a great start in their social world and academic life, and that the values we impart will remain with your child for a lifetime.  Our staff strives to provide the best possible care for your child in a wholesome, loving and cooperative environment. 

Our mission is to give your child loving care in a Christian setting, and to help them develop mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially and academically.   We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions.  We believe the involvement of our parents in our program helps keep it the best it can be.  We hope you will consider participating in other aspects of our programming here at MIPC, and that you will encourage your child to growth in faith in their journey through life.

  In Christ's Love,   

Diana Hammer, Director

Merritt Island Presbyterian Church

Childcare Center and Preschool

 The Programs 

 Programs are available to children age infants through Pre-K.  We are open to the community as well as to members of the church.  We accept children of all races, colors or ethnic origins. Our programs operate in accordance with the traditional Brevard County Public School System's calendar; therefore, we will observe the same holidays.  A monthly newsletter will be given to you with an activities calendar. 

Children learn by doing and we will seek to provide many opportunities for your child to experience a variety of hands-on activities.  Each day the children will explore many aspects of God's creation.  A Bible story will be shared and the children will begin to experience and learn the truths of Jesus' love for them. 

The MIPC Childcare facility and personnel are reviewed annually by the State of Florida, and it meets or exceeds compliance standards in all categories.  We keep a low teacher-student ratio so your child will receive maximum attention and care while at our Center. 

Goal:  The Merritt Island Presbyterian Church believes that childrens’ experiences provide the basis for future life skills.  The goal of our Child Care Center is to serve as a model of excellence in child care in a Christian setting. 

 Preschool Weekday Program 

Preschool is available to children who will be two years of age by September 1, 2007 -  K-2, K-3 and K-4 classes are offered. 

Extended session, lunch bunch is available from 12:00 noon until 1:15 PM.  Please be sure to sign up if you child is staying until 1:15.  The cost for lunch bunch is $2.00.

The children enrolled in our preschool program will have the opportunity to learn through the following areas: art, music, movement, role play, science, math, language arts, cooking, home living and block play.  We believe the best activities for young children are hands-on and open-ended.  In other words, we will focus on the process, rather than the product. Each child's creativity and natural curiosity will be encouraged through curriculum that is developmentally appropriate to the children's needs, interests and abilities. We will nurture your child in the spirit of God's love.  Through Bible stories and activities, the children will learn to know and experience God's love for them.  

FOOD:  Each child should bring a nutritious lunch.We will provide  a morning snack.  Lunches must either be in paper, plastic or metal, if you use an insulated lunch box it must have a cold pack in it.  All must be marked with the child's name.  We cannot heat, cook or microwave any food, the lunch must be ready-to eat when brought to the center. Please feel free to bring in special treats for your child's class in celebration of his/her birthday; however, be sure to let the teachers know in advance for planning purposes. 

Occasionally there will be a classroom sign-up sheet for special treats for holiday celebrations or for ingredients for cooking in the classroom.  Your child's teachers will notify you of these plans.

School Policies

HOURS OF OPERATION:  The Childcare Center is open from 7:00 AM until 6 PM.  A late pick-up fee of $10.00 will be charged.  After 10 minutes, a late charge of $1.00 per minute will apply.

 STORM AND HURRICANE PROCEDURES: The policy for our Center is to close when the Brevard County Schools close due to hurricane or severe storms.  After a hurricane or storm has passed if the Brevard County Schools sustain damage and must remain closed, we will open if we have no damage.  A message will be on the answering machine to tell you when we will re-open after a hurricane has passed.  If we sustain damage, we, of course, will remain closed until all repairs are made and the Center is safe. 

SAFETY:  We strive to provide a safe environment for the children.  Many of our teachers are CPR certified, our facilities have been inspected and approved and fire drills are conducted on a monthly basis. Hopefully accidents will not occur, but children are active and despite close supervision, may do things that result in injury.  If your child is involved in a minor accident you will be informed of the occurrence.  If it is something of a serious nature the parent(s) will be contacted immediately. Please help ensure the safety of the children by driving slowly while on the church property and parking only on the designated area.  

DISCIPLINE:  In our preschool programs, we want the children to know there are certain things that they can do and certain things that they cannot do.  Children want and need limitations. Prevention is the best tool we can use with your children.  We will always try to anticipate any problems and avoid unpleasant situations.  However, when a child goes beyond the limitations that have been set for him or her, discipline becomes necessary.  

We use the time out system as our method of discipline for our two-to-five-year-old children.  If a child displays unacceptable behavior s/he is removed from the activity for a time period of one minute per year of child's age.  The teacher explains to the child the reason for his/her being given time out.  Following the time out, the teacher talks with the child again about his/her behavior.  We will let the disobedient child know that we still love him/her, but disapprove of his/her actions.  At this point s/he is permitted to return to the group activity. If the unacceptable behavior persists, the child is taken from the classroom to the Director's office.  The Director, through observations and conversations with the child, makes an effort to determine if the child has a special need or an unresolved problem that is causing the behavior.  If, in the opinion of the Director, a parent needs to be notified, the Director will so notify the parent.

 Under NO circumstances will a child be spanked, shaken, jerked, or scared in any way by a teacher or anyone caring for the child.  Food will never be withheld as any type of punishment.

LEAVING AND PICKING UP A CHILD: Doors will be open each morning at 7:00 AM.  Children should be escorted to their classrooms by a responsible adult. Before leaving the premises, parents should sign their child in, and indicate if the child is staying for extended lunch bunch. Class will be dismissed at 12:00 noon.   Children will not be released to any adult without proper authorization.   Children not picked up at noon will be placed in lunch bunch, and the $2.00 fee will be charged.  An additional $2.00 fee will be charged forthe lunch. All children must be picked up at or before 6:00 PM. 

HOLIDAYS: The Child Care Center and Preschool will be closed for the followingholidays - New Years’s Day, Labor Day, Good Friday, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, July 4th, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The Preschool portion of our center follows the Brevard County School schedule for all teacher holidays, work days and spring break etc. 

DAY CARE ABSENCES: Students can have five days absences a year without payment.  If thestudent is absent after the five days the entire fee for the week is due.  The student may also be absent for one week vacation without payment.  If the student is gone for several weeks the student may lose their spot in the center if no fee is received.  To re-enroll the $50.00 Registration fee must be paid again (providing there is room).

HEALTH:  We will accept only healthy children for care in our program.  If your child has a cold, fever, or virus, please do not bring him/her.  This is a courtesy you would expect from others attending.  If a child is not well enough to play outside with other children, s/he should be kept at home.  We cannot leave children alone in a room.  Please do not bring children in with a fever.

 What is considered a "sick child?" 

• Colds, especially with mucus that is thick or yellow to green in color; congestion, coughing, sore throat, etc.
• A fever of 100 degrees or higher
• Any infectious process, including "pink-eye" (reddened eyes with purulent drainage)
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Chicken-pox sores that are not completely scabbed over (no new blisters present)
• Head lice (child must be completely free of nits in order to return to school
• Contagious or erupting skin                                                       -4-

Children with some of these symptoms may become ill:

• lethargy
• loss of appetite
• persistent crying or fussy behavior
• poor color 

Please use discretion when bringing children with the foregoing symptoms to our program.  Should your child become ill during the day, you will be called and asked to come pick up your child. There is no doubt that children in preschool settings have greater opportunities for exposure to a multitude of germs.  We will, however, make every effort with our sanitation procedures to protect your child's health.  We will notify you if your child is exposed to any contagious disease. 

MEDICATION RELEASE:  If it is ever necessary for your child's teacher to dispense medication prescribed by your physician, we will need a signed authorization to do so.   Medication must be in its original container and the label must show the date, physician's name and dosage instructions. 

ALLERGY ALERT.  In addition to informing the Director of allergies at registration, please be sure to make your child's teacher(s) aware of any allergies. 

TOYS:  We have toys and equipment in the classrooms.  Please do not allow your child to bring toys or items of value from home (other than those items that serve as a security item).  Children are welcome to share a favorite book or tape.  Please be sure it is labeled with the name of the child.  No toy guns or facsimiles are allowed. 

REGISTRATION:  At times of registration we will need:  (1) A completed registration form;  (2) HRS Form 680 showing that all immunizations are current and a statement from your physician that the child is in good health; and, (3) payment of  non-refundable registration and supply fees.                                                      -5-