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Black Bear® Academy
General Considerations
The general office hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please note that we are unable to provide staff to oversee you child if you arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your class time or 10 minutes later than the time your program ends.
· Please be prompt when bringing your child to and picking him/her up from class. Our staff is very busy throughout the day and unable to sit with your child if you drop him/her off too early or pick him/her up too late. A late fee will be charged to your credit card on file, $1.00 for every minute if you have NOT called our office to notify us that you will be late. If you do call and notify us, we will allow ten minutes prior to charging any late fees. While we prefer not to implement this policy, we have found it necessary to have on record. Please be on time so we do not have to enforce it.
· Please be on time for the end of class good-bye song for our 18-30 month class, Lil’ Guys. Our little ones love running out of class to show mom, dad, and caregivers their projects and talk about class. It is our way of ensuring children feel excited and proud at school very early in their lives.
· Please be considerate of other children in classes. For those children attending the 9:15-10:15 Skills and Thrills classes only, please be prompt in picking up your children. For those children attending the 10:15-12:15 Language Enrichment classes only, please refrain from entering the class until the 9:15-10:15 class is complete. Please be supportive of your Lil’ Guy who may not understand why they are leaving and others are staying.
· Please let us know as soon as possible if your child will not be attending class or a scheduled therapy session. Advanced notice is requested so that we can offer another child your space as a make-up class and in turn, so that you also have a space when an unforeseen absence occurs. In order for your child to be eligible to attend a make-up class, you are required to provide notice of an absence. Make up classes are offered as a courtesy to our parents but are not guaranteed.
· While we love having our families using our facilities when their children are in class, we ask that siblings do not play in the classrooms or private therapy rooms, even if the students, teachers and therapists are out of the room or if class is over. Please use the toys and the designated play areas in the lobby. Please remember if your child mouths toys to put them in the designated “dirty toy bag” to be washed. You can find these black net bags attached to the wall in the lobby area.
· We have purposely set up our lobby like a home and love seeing all of you use it as we intended- getting comfortable. Mornings are a busy time at Black Bear and there is usually little staff available to monitor the lobby area. So, if you have a spill or a mess that you need assistance with, please let staff know so we can take care of it. Please remember to pick up crackers, cookies, sippy cups, etc. so that other children in the lobby do not have access to your child’s snacks. Many of our children have severe allergies that are triggered by touching or ingesting these foods. If coffee or soft drinks are needed, please let us know! We are happy to provide beverages for you and your guests and ask only that you drink them while you are in our facility. Please do not abuse this privilege by taking drinks “to go”.
· If you have a question or concern related to a specific class or program policy, please let our Directors know. While the therapists, teachers, and assistants are actively engaged with your child, those questions can only be answered by our Executive Director. We attempt to meet the requests of all of our parents but unfortunately, this is not always possible.
· Parking for Black Bear is located off the alley behind our building in the gravel parking lot. Please use the designated spots which are marked Black Bear Parking or risk being towed. Only those listed in the application or in writing by parent(s)/guardian(s) are approved to drop-off and pick-up child(ren). Please be sure that the child is under the supervision of a teacher before you leave the premises. When dropping off a child, parents and care-givers must sign in and when picking up a child, parents and care-givers must sign out. PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE CORNERS OF RAVENSWOOD AND BYRON STREETS. IT IS A VISUAL SAFETY HAZARD.
· There are only eight Black Bear Parking Spaces in the back of the building. Please park only in spaces designated for Black Bear or you will risk being towed. Staff Assistance will be available in the back of the building from 8:40 am to 9:15 am for student drop off. Beginning in August, for the 2008-09 school year, drop off will begin at 8:15 and end at 9:15. Drop off locations are in the back of the building, off the alley and in the front of the building, in the drop off zone. You are NOT allowed to remove your child from school without a teacher’s knowledge. Please check your packet for specific instructions regarding drop-off. Beginning in the fall of 2008, drop-off is mandatory for IKI, JK, and SK.
· If your child is sick, please do not bring them to school. We understand the difficulty with schedule changes but if your little one does not feel good, has a fever, significant congestion etc., we will most likely call you to return and pick them up. Our goal is to keep everyone as healthy as possible! Children who become ill may not remain in class. Children absent from Black Bear with an infectious illness must, before being re-admitted, exhibit at least 24 hours without fever and present a physician’s statement verifying that the child is no longer contagious. Parents, please do NOT bring your child to school sick.
· Black Bear does not supply extra clothing or diaper-changing supplies (diapers/pull-ups, wipes, ointments) for students. Parents must provide diapers/wipes, insect repellant (no DEET), sunscreen (please apply at home/before school), and two season-appropriate change of clothing. Please include two of each clothing item (two pairs of pants, two shirts, etc.) Please make sure to label all personal belongings and the bottom of your child’s shoes in permanent markers with your child’s name. Winter requires gloves, hats and scarves along with slippers for the classroom. Please label all clothing.
· To protect little feet, especially during outdoor activities, we ask that you avoid having your child wear sandals. Also, children MUST wear socks in the gym according to state health standards. No bare feet in our gym, please!
· Black Bear is closed if the following Holidays if they fall on a work day only: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and 4th of July. Our JK, and SK programs will follow the Chicago Public School calendar. Students participating in this program will have the above holidays as well as additional non-attending days and breaks. Please check the school calendar on the Black Bear website at www.blackbearacademy.com
· Payments: programs operating under the academic schedule are tuition based and tuition payments are divided into four payments. Programs which are scheduled by sessions require the total tuition upon registration to reserve your child’s space in both the current or upcoming sessions. No space will be held for your child without payment in full.
· Next session sign-up is always the fifth week in the current session for current families and the 6th week of the current session for new families. Payment in full is due prior to holding your child’s space. Your space is not reserved until your payment is made. No refunds will be given after a space has been reserved for your child. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are not able to attend Black Bear® AND we are able to sell your space, we will return all but 25% of your tuition. Additionally, if you paid by credit card we will deduct a 3% fee charged to us by our credit card processing company. Time lost through absence or illness can be made up in another class if space is available and occurs within the same session. This is provided as a courtesy but is not guaranteed.
· Refunds and Cancellations: Refunds or credits will not be issued for absences due to illness or taking a child out of class for any reason once that space has been purchased. Time lost through absence or illness can be made up in another class if space is available, if a make-up occurs within the same session, and staff is notified prior to child’s absence. Make-up classes are offered as a courtesy to families but are not guaranteed as part of the program. Individual Speech Therapy appointments must be cancelled 24 hours in advance or a late cancellation fee of $25 will be added to the total balance due. All payments are due at the time service is provided. We do not bill insurance companies but will be happy to provide you with a statement of services. Additional copies of receipts, beyond the initial receipt provided, are .89 per page for the first 25 pages and .60 per page thereafter.
· Toileting: Children may be brought to the bathrooms and assisted by both male and female staff members. Your enrollment implies that you understand this policy and have enrolled your child in the Black Bear Program with this understanding confirming your consent.
· Change of clothing: Please provide two changes of seasonally appropriate clothing for your child. Please include socks, gloves, jackets etc. Children must wear socks to participate in gym activities. This clothing, as well as diapers and wipes for children not potty trained, should be marked with the child’s name. Children attending summer camp must have a change of clothing available. Winter classes require each child have a pair of slippers during the winter months.
· Food may not be brought from home without permission and knowledge of Management: Snacks are provided in class and camp activities and may contain sugar. Please inform Black Bear if you do not want your child to participate in snack time activities. If your child requires specific foods due to diet restrictions or allergies, please discuss with classroom teachers. All first grade students must bring their lunch from home. Assistance will be available for food requiring stove or microwave preparation.
· Emergency Situations: In the event of an illness, accident, or emergency: Black Bear Preschool has permission of the undersigned to administer first-aid as it sees fit in the child’s best interest. In medical emergencies, Black Bear will use the facilities of the City of Chicago and dial 911. At the same time we will do our best to contact you or the provided emergency contacts. Please advise us in writing if you wish to make any changes in this emergency procedure in regard to your child.
· Media: Newspaper or publicity photos and photos used in Black Bear® newsletters, website, brochures, and advertising may be taken in groups or individually within the Black Bear or in any setting deemed proper by a member of Black Bear’s staff. Such exposure may also include television or other forms of media. Your signature on this agreement and/or your original Black Bear Contract constitutes a full release including relinquishing rights to receipt of gratuities or royalties immediately or in the future. All photos, films and other material involved remain the property of Black Bear Academy.
· Records concerning your child will not be released unless you request so in writing. Records will be released only if all fees due to the school are paid. This also pertains to personal information (verbal), aside from nonspecific generalities. Please understand that compliance with the law will supersede any agreement made here.
· Research Programs: In the event that Black Bear® is approached by any party or agency, public or private, to aid, assist or take part in a research program involving your child, you will be contacted and your permission regarding your child’s participation will be requested. From time to time, your child’s class may be observed by visiting parents, graduate students, or other professionals.
· Beliefs: A formal religious program or instruction is not offered. Respect for all beliefs, however, is inherent in our philosophy. Our philosophy believes children should be nourished, loved and joyful in their childhood.
· Observation/Trials: Parents understand that at different times other parents and/or professionals may watch the TV monitors to observe a child, other than yours. There may also be a child in a class on a trial basis to determine which may be the best class for them which may increase that class size for that day only.
· Sign-up for spring soccer and summer camp will occur the beginning through the fifth week of session four. You must attend session four to be considered a current family. Fall session enrollment is not based on summer participation. Academic program applications must be submitted by the last working Friday in December and notification of acceptance will be provided either by letter or in person by January 15th, the following year.
I have read and understood the Rules and Regulations at Black Bear® My signature and enrollment of my child into any Black Bear program implies my acceptance of theses policies.
Parent/s Signature: ___________________________________ Date _________
Staff Signature: _____________________________________ Date _________
Maureen E. Black, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech- Language Pathologist
Executive Program Director
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