Penobscot Bay Medical Center Creative Learning and Childcare Center welcomes all children ages 6 weeks to 5 years (pre-kindergarten). Racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity enrich us all. Children with challenging life circumstances or special needs are welcomed. When their challenges can be nurtured more appropriately with a lower staff ratio or different setting, parents are consulted to discuss alternatives. These alternatives may include a referral for an evaluation to assess the child’s individual needs and/or a different childcare setting. If your child attended another school prior to PBMC Creative Learning and Childcare Center, we reserve the right to request a report from the previous teacher and/or school.
ENROLLMENT and WAITING LIST
Children may be enrolled on a full or part-time basis. Enrollment is made on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to employees of Pen Bay Healthcare. Should we be unable to accommodate your request for childcare services, we will place your child on our waiting list. A child placed on our waiting list will remain on the waiting list with continued contact from the parent (children will be removed from the waiting list one year after last date of contact from the parent). There is a $50.00 fee to place a child on our waiting list (this fee is waived for Pen Bay Healthcare employees). The waiting list fee will be applied to tuition and is nonrefundable. You will be contacted with details of availability, once a space opens up.
NEW STUDENTS
New parents are invited to visit the Center. Appointments for a policy orientation are required and will take about an hour. An initial security deposit of $250.00 is required to guarantee enrollment for a new student. This deposit will be applied to tuition and is nonrefundable if the child does not enroll. A majority of our new students are accepted in September and at other times of the year depending upon availability. We cannot hold a spot without the security deposit.
RETURNING STUDENTS
Once your child is enrolled at the Creative Learning and Childcare Center, your space is secured until the time you choose to leave the program, or the center terminates enrollment for reasons listed in this handbook.
ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS
Contracts for childcare services between the parents and the Center outline the responsibilities of each party, the child’s schedule, classroom placement, and weekly tuition rate. Enrollment contracts are renewed annually, and schedules and tuition rates are revised. Contracted drop-off and pick-up times are the times the child ENTERS and LEAVES the building. These times are used to determine the staff schedule, so please be accurate when contracting these times. Your tuition obligation does not include the two "Holiday Breaks", which are contracted separately. Appointments to review new contracts are encouraged.
SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS
We will try to accommodate any change in your schedule. All schedule changes are considered permanent. If you reduce your child’s scheduled days, the vacancy will be filled. An increase in your child’s scheduled days depends upon availability. All schedule change requests must be made through the office. A minimum of two weeks written notice is required prior to any permanent schedule change or withdrawal from the program, and additional notice is appreciated for staffing purposes. For minor schedule changes, such as a change in drop-off or pick-up time for a particular day, kindly inform your child’s teacher and/or the office in advance.
VACATION and SICK DAYS
Families are welcome to take as much time off as they wish. Please notify the office in advance when planning to take vacation to assist us with staffing. This time off will not reduce the contracted tuition obligations. Tuition waived vacation is only offered during the Summer and Winter Holiday Break weeks for those children who do not attend. The Center does not offer sick days.
TUITION PAYMENT POLICY
CHILDCARE FEES ARE BASED ON ENROLLMENT, A RESERVED SPACE, NOT ON ATTENDANCE. Weekly tuition fees are due by noon the Friday prior to the week of service. We accept checks, cash, MasterCard, and Visa. Payment by credit card will be for the upcoming month total. Tuition checks should be left in the mailbox in the office door. Checks should be made payable to: PBMC Creative Learning and Childcare Center. Tuition payment received after noon on Friday is subject to a $10.00 late payment fee. Please plan ahead if you will not be coming to the Center on Fridays. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, you will need to reimburse that amount in cash. If a second check is returned, tuition will be paid either by credit card, cash or money order.
Weekly tuition fees cover a full 10½ -hour day.
Should any tuition payment be past due for a period of 10 days and payment arrangements have not been made with the office, the child’s enrollment will be immediately terminated.
WEEKLY TUITION FEES
effective: September 2009
(subject to change)
PBH Families
5 days per week - $165.00
4 days per week - $152.00
3 days per week - $114.00
2 days per week - $76.00
1 day per week - $40.00
Community Families
5 days per week - $185.00
4 days per week - $168.00
3 days per week - $126.00
2 days per week - $84.00
1 day per week - $45.00
ADDITIONAL FEES
Annual Registration Fee: $30.00 per child per year, used to help offset the cost of cc.net
Waiting List Deposit: $50.00 per child (fee waived for PBH employees)
Security Deposit: $250.00 guarantee enrollment at future date
After Closing Pick-up: $5.00 per minute per child for every minute past 5:30
Late Payment Fee: $10.00 for tuition payments received after noon on Friday
Returned Check: $25.00 per check
Family Discount: first child at full tuition; second child at 15% discount
Additional Days: Additional days of care beyond your contracted schedule will be charged at the higher, 1-day rate.
Damaged Property: Repairs to intentionally damaged property will be charged to the child's parents.
Statements are provided monthly. Keep a copy for your tax records as no specialized tax statements or reimbursement forms are provided.