Please note that this page is for easy reference and may not be comprehensive of all of our policies. Please see your printed handbook for our full policies.
How to Enroll Your Child
Reserving a Slot
When enrolling for the following month, families may reserve that slot by paying your first month’s tuition, enrollment fee and 1st supply.
Once the tuition has been paid, the slot is reserved. If you want to reserve more than 2 months ahead of time, the fee would be 50% of the tuition per month until your child is enrolled. Example if you don’t plan to start your child until 4 or 6 months ahead then those 4-6 months needs to be paid at 50% of the tuition to guarantee the spot.
Lil' Sunshine Childcare can’t hold the spot without payments while other families could easily enroll immediately. Payments are non-refundable.
Tuition, Fees, Withdrawal
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates will be provided at tours.
Lil' Sunshine uses DHS subsidy rates, if they change their rates, we follow their rates.
There is a 4% annual increase for each child on Jan 1 st.
- Enrollment fee: $100 (non-refundable)
- Monthly tuition: Due the 1st of each month (based on enrollment, not attendance)
- Late fee: $20/day if tuition is late
- Withdrawal: 30 days’ notice required (tuition is not prorated)
Parents are also asked to bring a big box of Costco Kirkland wipes to share for face wiping, children’s hands, wiping off their highchair tables, etc. It’s greatly appreciated - thank you!!
The non-refundable enrollment fee is $100; this is due with your application. The fee covers the set-up process at Lil Sunshine Campus, it allows the school to process your application and fit the student into the school schedule.
Monthly tuition is due on the first of each month, preferably paid through Procare, if possible.
Tuition cost is based upon enrollment, not attendance. Tuition is still due if your child misses a day due to illness, corvid, staffing issues, vacation, holiday or just a family play day. When families keep children out for a day or family time/vacation, Lil’ Sunshine Childcare does not credit accounts for days missed. Families pay for the month to hold the slot.
Withdrawal / Disenrollment
If you decide to disenroll your child from LSC, we require 30 days’ notice, tuition is paid in full and will not be prorated if your child disenrolls in the middle of the month.
When a child is old enough for kindergarten and a family chooses to un-enroll, please give us notice given this month, means that next month is your last full month. Example, if your child is moving on to kindergarten, notice can be given at any point in July and August is your final month of enrollment.
If a child must be removed from the school because it is not a good fit, the family will be refunded for the remainder of the unused care. Refunds are not issued for any other reason.
Collections
Families who do not pay on time will be subject to the $20/day late pay fee. Students are not allowed to attend if their slot is unpaid. Once payment is a week late, a meeting will be called to determine a payment plan.
If payment and late pay fees are not paid by the 15th of the current month, care will be terminated without refund for the remainder of the current month. Accounts will be sent to collections or small claims court. Parents are responsible for the cost associated with collections of unpaid accounts.
Calendar & Closures
Daycare Hours & Closures
Lil' Sunshine Childcare is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (30 minute early/late pickup available by prior arrangement with the Director).
Holiday and Annual Closures:
- Major holidays
- Spring & Christmas Break
- Staff training (2 days/year)
Please check the list of school closures in your packet, it changes yearly. We follow the Bend-LaPine school calendar for all the holidays, weather closures etc.
School closure = time to recharge for everyone - thank you for supporting our team’s well-being. View current closure list.
Families are billed for approx. 46 weeks per year. School closures are accounted for when calculating the yearly tuition. During our closure time, Lil' Sunshine staff enjoy time with their families, while you enjoy time with your family as well. This is a benefit to our teaching staff for their many years of dedication to taking care of your babies/children in our community. Time off prevents teacher burnout as they can rest and be refreshed and happy when returning to LSC. We really appreciate your understanding and support with this.
The school may also be closed unexpectedly in the event of an outbreak of sickness or disease, natural disaster, weather, staffing shortage or other emergency which affects our ability to operate. Refunds are not offered during such circumstances.
Staff Training
2 times a year all staff attend mandatory staff training to receive professional development hours. These dates will be posted up as soon as the classes are scheduled each year. A maximum of 2 days per year Lil Sunshine Campus will be closed for professional development training.
Parent’s Night Out
Once monthly Lil Sunshine Campus offers a parent date night call Parent’s Night Out. Its for parents who would like a time away from the children to go out on a date or etc. This event runs from 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm and costs $35 for the 1st child and $30 for a 2nd child, this will cover the staff time to stay in late and do crafts, and dinner. Pre-registration is required. See the signup sheet at the sign in desk. We will post an announcement.
Drop-off, pick-up, absences
Drop-off and Pick-up
When dropping off your child, please enter the school with your child and sign in at the computer desk. Please log in on the tablet and also on log book. Personal items can be left in your child's backpack, in their cubby. Check your child in with their teacher and head out for the day.
When it is time to leave, say a quick good bye to your child. It is better to experience the tears for a short time. Children develop trust this way over time. You can always place a call to follow up once you leave.
At pick up time, be prompt. Your child has an internal clock. When you arrive around the same time daily, your child will enjoy the classroom to a much greater extent. This is a great time to catch up with the teacher and see how your child is doing. Make sure to empty their cubby each day and take home their arts and crafts.
Others Picking Up
From time to time it is important for those on your registration form, other than the parent(s), to pick a child up. Weather related, a meeting runs long, or just a nice weekend away - this is a good training experience for your student. When this happens, try and let your student know in advance this is going to happen. If you don't have advance notice, call us and we will inform your child. This will reduce stress for your child in their school environment.
Guests should knock at pick up. We will need to see government issued ID to release your child to the new person. Once the contact has been verified through our system, they will be welcomed in and walked through the end of the day routine. Once a contact is verified, they will not need to produce ID again -unless a substitute is present.
Absences
If your child will be absent on a vacation, please let us know in advance. We will mark your child out. This will prevent a phone call home and keep us moving fluidly through the day with our other students.
Occasionally students will become ill and will stay home from school. Please message us through Procare to let us know.
Safety & Emergencies
Safety First ~ Locked Facility
Our facility is open to families Monday - Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, unless confer with the director about the schedule. We offer early drop off and later pick up with an agreement with the director. Please use your parent code to access the school. This code is for parents only. DO NOT GIVE this code out or allow children to have the code.
Open Door for Parents
Parents are always welcome to come at Lil’ Sunshine Childcare anytime, the door code is your key for entry. Please message us through Procare if you decided to come early like during nap time so we can slowly rub the child up and get the child changed if needed and be ready for pick up.e.
Emergency Readiness
All students and teachers at Lil Sunshine Campus (LSC) practice emergency preparedness monthly. These drills include fire, flood, seizure, chocking, lock down and teacher down. We highly value the safety of our students and their ability to feel secure in a stressful situation.
What to bring to daycare
Clothing & Sunscreen (for when the babies become mobile)
Students should be wearing clothes that are comfortable to run and jump in and shoes that can be put on by your child. Shoes with laces should only be worn if your child can tie them on their own. We recommend that children have VELCRO shoes so they can learn to put them on and off independently. Sandals are discouraged with the materials surface on the playground.
Seasonal clothing: Children should come with weather appropriate clothing and a jacket appropriate for each season. In wintertime each student will need a hat, gloves, winter coat, snow boots and snow pants. Students go out and enjoy the weather rain, snow or shine. In the summer, please provide a swimsuit, as students enjoy the sprinkler, water tables, water balloons and more. Swimming activities are not provided on site.
Hats and jackets are to be stored in your child’s cubby. Please leave toys and large snuggly items at home. Please LABEL coats, hats, gloves, change of clothes etc. with their names or initials so their clothes won’t go to the wrong children or take home by accident.
Extra clothing, Sunscreen, Water Bottle
Parents are asked to supply an extra change of clothes that is placed in a labeled gallon sized ziploc bag. If your child has an accident or needs to change clothes, please make sure to bring extras the following day.
Sunscreen is to be provided by each family. Sunscreen must be non-aerosol and needs to have your child’s name on it. This is administered prior to morning recess and after nap before PM recess. If you prefer your child to not have sunscreen, please let us know that you will not be providing it. Sunscreen is not provided by the school.
Please pack a water bottle and a light jacket or sweatshirt for your child at all times.
Bottles & Breast Milk
On 1st day, bring clothes and 1 bottle (we wash and sterilize it for every use). Read more about the 1st day here...
Frozen breast milk to be labeled with child’s name, date, and oz.
Meals & Nutrition, Birthdays
Meals & Nutrition
We sit down for breakfast, lunch and PM snack. If your child has special dietary needs, see the Director to work out addressing these issues.
Meals are provided for all children and follow ODE guidelines: protein, bread, fruit, veggies, and dairy. We provide milk with breakfast and lunch. If your child has special dietary needs, you are welcome to bring healthy beverages to substitute.
Teachers sit with the kids during meals, modeling manners and reading stories. It’s a calm and fun social time.
Meal Schedule (for our solid-food eaters in high chairs):
Birthdays Are Big Here!
We love celebrating your child’s special day! Reach out to the director to plan a sweet moment after nap time with treats and fun.
Health & Hygiene
General Hygiene & Vaccines
Handwashing is a must - and we do it a lot! Wellness is highly prized at Lil' Sunshine Campus (LSC) Hand washing upon arrival is highly encouraged for each student. In addition, students will be washing hands on arrival at LSC, before and after each meal, after recess, after wiping noses and after using the restroom.
Vaccines: When a child receives any vaccines, keep the kids at home for 48 hours to be sure there are no reactions and fevers from the vaccinations. I recommend scheduling your child’s vaccinations on Fridays so they can be supervised by the parents over the weekend. Ask the director about this reason if you are concerned.
Illness
Children need to stay home when they are sick. ** Look attached “Illness Or. Injury Policy# EORS-414-300
If a child has any of these symptoms, they may return after being symptom free for 24 hours (medication free). Children who have been on Tylenol or Motrin in the past 24 hours may not be at school.
Sick kiddos need to STAY HOME if they have:
Outbreaks
In the event of an outbreak, a notice will be posted at the school. An outbreak is defined as an event where there are more than two (2) family cases in any seven (7) day period. Notices are posted about communicable diseases. Good communication between families and teachers is important to keep everyone healthy.
Medication Administration
Parents are welcome to come by anytime to administer medication to their child. Teachers will administer lifesaving medication if needed. This includes EpiPens, inhalers and adrenaline. If parents need this option, please see the Director to set this up. Forms to be filled out and signed on the day of.
Diaper cream can be administered with the ointment provided by the parent, the tube being labeled, and written permission given by the parent and kept on file.
Please keep your child’s medical records up to date - we want to be ready for anything.
Release of Medical Information
Your Child's Medical Information
Having all the necessary medical information available at the time of an emergency is a lifesaving decision. Please list all medical conditions on the child’s enrollment sheet.
If new things come up, please ask us for a new enrollment sheet. With these updated students receive the best in emergency care.
If parents opt to not disclose the medical situation of an enrolled student, the school reserves the right to terminate this agreement without notice or refund.
Keeping a current copy of your child’s medical card and shot records on file is important. Yearly shot records are updated and assessed by the Deschutes County Health Department. Records that are incomplete or not up to date are pulled and families can receive “love letters,” from Deschutes County threatening to terminate their child from enrollment in childcare, medical cards are imperative to be up to date in case of an emergency. If you want your child to be vaccination exempt, please let me know and I can print out a form for this.
During the time when children are at school, it is expected they will have tussles, scrapes and accidents. This is a normal part of growing up and is to be expected. These will be documented carefully and discussed with you at pick up. Parents and guardians agree to hold harmless Lil' Sunshine Childcare in the event an accident or incident should occur. If you have additional questions about an accident that occurs, please see the Director.
Behavior & Guidance
Student Behavior
Students are expected to have some learning interactions while in school. These will include making choices that are not choices we would make as adults. During these experiences, it is expected that students will learn from their choices and make better ones in the future, as is age appropriate.
If a student continues to repeat a behavior that is uncouth, a conference will be held with the family to determine a course of action that will suit both the child and the family. If the behavior persists during the school day to the point of disruption for the classroom, the family will be called to pick up the student. Sometimes a new day, brings new light on old learning experiences.
All students under 36 months of age will at times act out towards another child or bite them. It is developmentally appropriate and to be expected. They put toys, food, and friends in their mouths. They are learning how to interact with others and to understand their own emotions. Students who love to put things and friends in their mouths or hit or push are shadowed by the teacher. It’s the teacher’s job to shadow and redirect to avoid biting and other harmful behaviors.
If a bite or other injury occurs, the child who has the “Ouchy” will have ice/ first-aid applied, and an incident report will be written. Parents will be contacted at the soonest availability to inform them as to what has happened. Understand through that we cannot share the name of the other child(ren) involved for privacy reasons.
Guidance
Positive redirection is the method of guidance used at Lil Sunshine Campus. This includes verbal redirection, distraction, joining another group, helping the teacher or taking time to cool off. If a student is worked up and needs time to cool off, the child is welcome to go to the quiet corner to garner some alone time.
Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, work with the child’s physician or other health professionals as needed to best serve the student.
Parent Behavior
In addition to our student behavior policy, it is expected that parents will be on their best behavior while in our school. Lil' Sunshine Campus reserves the right to terminate if parent behavior is threatening, violent or intimating in any way at any time to any member of Lil’ Sunshine Campus - parent, teacher, child or visitor. Parents removed for this concern will not be refunded.
Parent Communication & Confidentiality
Parent Communication
It is important to maintain open communication between parents and teachers. We are committed to providing feedback on learning milestones as well as points of hardship. Every family and every student matters to us and we will always have your child's best interest at heart. We are open to suggestions and happy to offer feedback and support as well.
Parents must drop off their child to the person in charge and share any information needed to ensure a happy day. For example, if your child did not sleep well, was up late, or is extra tired, or is not feeling well, we kindly request being told this information so that we can be sensitive to your child's needs.
Calendar and Bulletin Board
Check out our website calendar and postings on the parent board for information about fun events coming up.
Confidentiality
Children’s records are kept confidential. All teachers have signed a confidentiality agreement and fully understand its importance.
Media Release
While enrolled, pictures will be taken of students for year books, Facebook, Facebook groups, craigslist advertisements and newsletters. All students past and present can appear at times in these avenues. This helps us provide potential parents with authentic insights into our daycare and is important for family outreach to our current families. If you do not want your child to be on our website, Facebook, or other marketing, please notify us in writing.
Email, Text and Phone
Lil Sunshine Childcare asks you to provide a current email address for monthly newsletters. Email is a do not reply address. Email is a great way to share positive things happening at school. Teachers are not allowed to use their personal phone while at LSC, please send messages through Procare or text the director directly.