2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR Welcome to Kids’ Camp, the after school program available to all kindergarten-5th grade children registered in Durango School District 9-R.

The Kids’ Camp web page is found at www.durangoschools.org under FAMILIES, then KIDS’CAMP. The goal of Kids’ Camp is to provide a quality program that is safe, educational, fun, and affordable. Our programs offer age appropriate activities under the supervision of competent, trustworthy, caring, and qualified staff. To meet the physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and recreational needs of children, our program will:

• Provide fun, enriching, academically oriented activities that engage children, stimulate curiosity, and help promote confidence, self-esteem and responsibility

• Provide children a safe and secure environment staffed by warm, friendly child care professionals

• Provide a relaxed atmosphere where children can socialize and make new friends • Provide a snack • Provide time for homework and supplemental work • Provide time for recess/physical activity

This Family Handbook outlines what you may expect from Kids’ Camp and contains our policies and procedures. We hope it will be helpful and look forward to providing you and your child with a quality after school program. You will find an example of what a week typically looks like at the end of this handbook. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. My work hours are Monday through Friday from 10:30am-6:30pm. I do spend most afternoons out at school sites and may not return a call until the following day. Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s care. It’s going to be a wonderful year! Audra Snow After School Program Supervisor (970) 247-5411 ext 1469 asnow@durangoschools.org 201 E 12th St Durango, CO 81301

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KIDS’CAMP SITE CELL PHONE NUMBERS

Animas Valley (970) 903-1842 Florida Mesa (970) 749-6360 Needham (970) 749-7565 Park (970) 946-9117 Riverview (970) 749-6968 WHERE DOES MY CHILD GO AFTER SCHOOL? The Kids’ Camp “home base” is the cafeteria of the school. Your child will check in there when the bell rings. Teachers or their aides will escort kindergarteners each day. Children attending Fort Lewis Mesa will ride a bus to Needham each day. Kids’ Camp staff will meet the bus to bring the children to join the rest of the group. Families will pick their child up at Needham. Children attending Sunnyside will ride a bus to Florida Mesa each day. Kids’ Camp staff will meet the bus to bring children to join the rest of the group. Families will pick their child up at Florida Mesa. WHERE DO I PICK MY CHILD UP EACH DAY? We utilize the cafeteria, the playground, the gym, the library, and the computer lab. Animas Valley and Florida Mesa: Ring the buzzer on the front door (just like during the school day). Staff will post signs on the front door indicating where Kids’ Camp is on school grounds, if there is no sign they are in the cafeteria. Park: Ring the buzzer on the front door (just like during the school day) to be admitted. Staff will write the Kids’ Camp schedule and location on a white board by the doors to the cafeteria. Please check the board to determine where Kids’ Camp is. Riverview and Needham: Both of these schools have doorbells outside of the exterior cafeteria doors. Ring the bell and a staff person will open the door for you. IDENTIFICATION? Any adult (parent, grandparent, family friend, etc.) WILL be required to show official identification in order to pick up their child. As Kids’ Camp staff becomes familiar with you, it will no longer be required. However, it is always a good idea to bring your ID with you in the event there is a substitute who does not recognize you. Please communicate this information to any person who will be picking up your child(ren).

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PLEASE FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH OUR PROGRAM’S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• All children attending elementary school, kindergarten through fifth grade, in Durango School District 9-R are eligible to enroll in the after school program. A Kids’ Camp specific Student Information form must be filled out and turned in to your school prior to first day of attendance. These forms are found as a Word document on the Kids’ Camp web page.

• Colorado law requires that students attending school be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. When registering your student, you must bring in your student's certificate of immunization or have an up-to-date certificate of immunization on file at the school.

• Beginning July 1, 2016, parents/guardians seeking non-medical (religious or personal belief) exemptions for children in kindergarten-12th grade must submit non-medical exemption forms annually. Medical exemptions only need to be submitted once and require the signature of your child’s doctor or advanced practice nurse. To submit a non-medical or medical exemption, go to www.colorado.gov/vaccineexemption and follow the instructions. Children with an exemption may be kept out of school during a disease outbreak.

• We have sites at Animas Valley, Florida Mesa, Needham, Park, and Riverview. If your child attends Fort Lewis Mesa they are able to ride the bus to the program at Needham. If your child attends Sunnyside they are able to ride the bus to the program at Florida Mesa. There is no return bus service.

DAILY RATES

REGULAR RATES

Regular Rate $13.50

If your child has been approved for free or reduced lunch, use these discounted rates:Reduced lunch rate: $10.50 Free lunch rate: $9.50

9-R EMPLOYEE RATES If a member of your immediate family is a

9-R employee9-R Emp regular Rate: $12.00

If your child has been approved for free or reduced lunch, use these discounted rates:9-R Emp reduced lunch rate: $9.00 9-R Emp free lunch rate: $8.00

WE MUST HAVE A 2019-2020 KIDS’ CAMP STUDENT INFORMATION FORM ON FILE AT THE SCHOOL YOUR CHILD ATTENDS BEFORE YOUR CHILD IS PERMITTED TO ATTEND. This includes last minute

additions. If you think there is any possibility you may use Kids’ Camp this year, it is a good idea to fill this form out and turn it in—just in case.

State law requires that a new form be filled out every year. This form should be turned in to your child’s school. Please DO NOT turn this in to the Kids’ Camp administrative office. This form can be found at

www.durangoschools.org under Families, then Kids’ Camp. The top of the form looks like this:

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If your child spends time in more than one household that utilizes Kids’ Camp, we ask that all households fill out separate Student Information Forms.

• The district does not issue year end receipts for child care. If you plan on itemizing child care expenses at tax time, you will need to keep track of your own expenditures—Stripe payment processing should send you a receipt after each transaction. Our tax ID number is: 84-6012500.

• You may choose to pay with cash or check in person at the 9-R Administration building located at 201 E 12th St. You will need to use the laptop available in the lobby area to start your child’s registration, when you reach the payment screen you will submit payment to the appropriate district employee and they will force the registration through.

• Licensing regulations require that we have an enrollment capacity based on an adult to child ration of 1 to 15. Registration is accepted on a first come (paid), first served basis. When/If we reach our capacity, we cannot accept any more registrations or drop ins.

• Refunds will be given if email notification is given 30 days or more in advance. If you need to cancel a day less than 30 days out, you may receive a refund if there is a waiting list and we are able to fill your vacated spot. You are required to notify Kids’ Camp if your child will be absent.

• You may also receive a refund if your child is withdrawn permanently, dismissed permanently

due to disciplinary reasons, or a family is asked to find alternate care due to inappropriate behavior by a parent or guardian.

• There are no transfers or credits for unused days or if your schedule changes. There are no credits or refunds for snow days or other school cancellations.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH:

The Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCCAP) This is available on a long term basis to qualifying families through the Department of Human Services. Call 382-6150. Apply for free or reduced lunch through the student nutrition department We have discounted pricing for those families that qualify.

Staffing of Kids’ Camp

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Kids’ Camp Student Information 2019-2020

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL 3 Please remember to update staff with every phone number and address change.

Each school site has a lead staff person- the site coordinator. The site coordinator is assisted by an aide. All schools currently have the ability to serve 30 children. Depending on the level of enrollment, we can look at adding staff to a school if it seems that we have 39 or more children needing care consistently. Attendance Procedures Attendance is taken several times daily. The final check is done at 6:00pm to ensure all children have been picked up. Parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the Kids’ Camp program staff if their child will be absent from the after school program. PLEASE call the Kids’ Camp phone number for your to report absences. Repeated failure to notify Kids’ Camp directly regarding absences may be cause for us to withdraw your child from the program. If a child is absent and we are unable to get confirmation of location from a parent or guardian we will call the police or the sheriff’s department to request help locating the child. When a child is absent during the school day they are not eligible to attend Kids’ Camp that afternoon.

KIDS’CAMP SITE CELL PHONE NUMBERS

I highly recommend programming this number in your phone.

Animas Valley (970) 903-1842 Florida Mesa (970) 749-6360 Needham (970) 749-7565 Park (970) 946-9117 Riverview (970) 749-6968 An unexcused absence will initiate one or more of the following actions: • The office will be contacted to see if the child was absent or dismissed from school. • Each guardian’s cell phone will be called. • The child’s guardians will be called at work • The child’s teacher will be contacted to see if they have any information. • We will use the building intercom system to try to locate the child in the school. • The school grounds will be checked. • We will call all emergency contact’s to solicit help reaching a guardian.• If a child’s guardians cannot be reached, we will contact the police to report a missing child. Parent Pick Up/Identification Adults picking up children at the end of the day are required to have a valid ID with them. We will not release a child if the adult is not on the “authorized to pick up” list, or if they do not have a valid ID. Parents who are going to be late must call program staff. There is $1 per minute fee for late pick up starting at 6:05. State regulations require that the Department of Human Services be called if a parent

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is more than 30 minutes late. Three late pick-ups may result in your child being dismissed from the program. School Clubs All children attending Kids’ Camp after they attend a school club must check in to Kids’ Camp first, they will then be released to the school club. We are unable to escort children to and from after school activities outside of Kids’ Camp. Snack One small snack is provided each day. Children are welcome to bring their own snacks to supplement what is provided--we encourage families to pack extra snacks for their child. If your child has a food allergy we will try our best to accommodate them. We have very limited options for gluten/dairy/nut/etc. free snacks. You are welcome to send snack in bulk to Kids’ Camp for your child and we will give them access to it each day. Visitors We will arrange for any outside agencies/individuals to facilitate activities and will perform background checks if needed. Hours of Operation Animas Valley and Florida Mesa Mondays: 1:20pm until 6:00pm

Tuesday through Friday: 2:50pm until 6:00pm

Needham and Park Mondays: 1:30pm until 6:00pm

Tuesday through Friday: 3:00pm until 6:00pm

Riverview Mondays: 1:30pm until 6:00pm Tuesday through Friday: 2:55pm until 6:00pm

THE KIDS’ CAMP PROGRAM IS CLOSED ON HOLIDAYS, DURING SCHEDULED SCHOOL BREAKS, WHEN SCHOOL IS CLOSED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCIES, WHEN AFTER SCHOOL

ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCIES, AND ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS.

THE KIDS’ CAMP ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IS CLOSED ON HOLIDAYS AND DURING SCHEDULED SCHOOL

BREAKS.

UtilitiesOccasionally the City of Durango needs to shut the water off at a school, either for maintenance or because of a problem. If they determine that the water will be off for more than two hours we will require parents to pick up their children as soon as possible. State law dictates that students cannot be in a building without running water for more than two hours.

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If we lose heat and/or power, either through natural causes or because a utility company needs to make repairs, we will cancel programming and you will be required to pick up your child.

Behavior/Discipline Policies

We will work with you and your child to help to ensure their success. Should we experience challenges with behavior, you will be advised. A family may be asked to find alternate care if a child is unable or unwilling to behave safely. No refunds or credits will be given for short term dismissal. If the issue is severe or on-going, families may be told that their child can no longer attend and a refund will be given for the amount they have pre-paid.

Unsafe behavior is grounds for temporary and/or permanent dismissal from the program. This includes, but is not limited to, refusal to stay with the group, running away or hiding from staff, physical aggression/assault of another child or staff, threats to another child or staff, bullying, throwing and/or attempting to break or damage items, consistent refusal to follow rules.

If a child is exhibiting unsafe behavior, staff will contact a parent or guardian to inform them require them to pick their child up promptly. Refusal or inability to do so may result in a suspension of services.

If there is an issue it will be documented and discussed with the parent or guardian. Depending on the behavior, staff may complete an Initial Incident, Short Term, Long Term, or Permanent Dismissal form. A parent or guardian will need to review and sign the form with staff the day of the incident.

Inappropriate behavior by a parent or guardian including, but not limited to, verbal abuse of a child or staff, may result in a child’s dismissal from the program permanently.

Mandatory Reporting Kids’ Camp staff are mandatory reporters. We are required, by law, to report any suspicions of abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services. Influence of alcohol or drugs If Kids’ Camp staff suspects that an adult is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of pick up, and the adult is driving, Kids’ Camp will suggest the adult find an alternate method of transportation. If this suggestion is not taken, 911 will be called and the adult’s name and vehicle license plate will be reported. A report to Child Protective Services will be made. Health/Safety/Medications Every site is equipped with a first aid kit. At least one staff member at each site is CPR/First Aid certified. The site coordinator will notify parents immediately of serious injury or illness. A written record will be kept of all injuries and accidents requiring first aid.

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Emergency medications (epi pens/inhalers, etc.) are the only medications administered by Kids’ Camp staff. If a child becomes ill while at Kids’ Camp, the parent/guardians will be called. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, we will call the emergency contact numbers. We expect children who are ill to be picked up quickly. An ill child not picked up within an hour will assess a $1.00 per minute late fee.

If a child became ill during the school day and the parent or guardian was contacted by school day staff and asked to pick their child up, the child will not be permitted to attend Kids’ Camp.

In the event of an emergency warranting medical attention or considered life threatening, the Kids’ Camp staff will call 911 or take other necessary emergency procedures. Parents/guardians and/or emergency contacts will be contacted after 911 has been called. The Colorado Department of Human Services has issued regulations for the use of sunscreen and shade requirements at child care centers. Children over the age of four are allowed to apply sunscreen themselves. If you would like your child to wear sunscreen at recess please provide them with a bottle for their backpack. We will remind all children to apply it before heading outside for the day. Our exclusion from care is based on recommendations from the public health department. It includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Fever: Children should be kept home if they run a temperature of 100 degrees or more. They may return to care after being fever free without medication for fever reduction for at least 24 hours.

• Vomiting: A child who cannot hold stomach contents down, must be excluded from care until they have had normal meals and the vomiting has subsided for at least 24 hours.

• Diarrhea: This is defined as loose watery stools that cannot be contained. If a child has three stools in a period of 2 to 3 hours that cannot be contained in the diaper or clothing, parents will be notified. Numerous germs can be passed through feces and if it is uncontainable there is greater danger that it will spread, potentially infecting several children. The child may return to care once they have normal stools while eating regular meals.

• Nose & Eye discharge: Children who have thick, green, excessive discharge will need to be excluded from care until they have seen a doctor and it is under control.

• Conjunctivitis: Commonly known as pink eye, this is a condition that is very contagious. A child whose eyes are inflamed, red, itchy or draining with mucus needs to be removed from care. They may return once the child is on medication for 24 hours and there is no further drainage.

• Open blisters or sores: Any open place on a child’s skin that is bleeding or oozes bodily fluid can be hazardous. The child needs to be excluded until the skin is crusted over.

• Skin rashes: All skin rashes need to have a doctor’s note indicating the child is not contagious in order to return to care.

• Sore Throat: A child who has a sore throat especially if accompanied by fever or swollen glands should be kept at home. A child with strep throat must have had at least 24 hours of an antibiotic to return to the center.

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• Respiratory Symptoms: This includes difficulty in breathing, or continuous coughing to the point that the child cannot rest comfortably.

• Head Lice and Nits: Parents will be notified to pick-up a child with a suspected or confirmed lice infection. Treatment will be required. The child may return to school as she or he is completely free of lice and nits. Children will be inspected when they return to school.

Personal Possessions Kids’ Camp is not responsible for lost or stolen property. Children are responsible for their personal belongings. Items not allowed during the instructional day are not allowed in the Kids’ Camp program. We strongly recommend that personal items be left at home. Children are not permitted to use personal technology while at Kids’ Camp. Media/Screen Policy We do have access to the computer labs at school. We monitor children’s site choices closely. Only approved educational sites are allowed during this time. Computer use is limited to one 30 minute visit to the computer lab each week. On rare occasions (usually due to Kids’ Campers earning a reward or inclement weather) Kids’ Camp will show a movie. We use https://www.commonsensemedia.org to decide which movies are appropriate for the group to watch. You may opt your child out of any media/screen time on the Kids’ Camp Student Information form. Field Trips Kids’ Camp does not leave school grounds for field trips. Inclement and Excessively Hot or Cold Weather and Rain During periods of severe weather children will remain indoors. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for recess.

School Cancellation There are no credits or refunds for snow days, weather related after school program cancellations, or utility related cancellations.

Special Needs Services

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In collaboration with school personnel, decisions to provide services to any child will be made with regard to appropriateness of programming, safety, capacity based on attendance numbers, and individual student needs. Special needs services comply with ADA.

Safety Policies The Durango School District is required to have safety guidelines on site at each school. These include:

• Evacuation procedures • Lock-Downs/Lock Outs • Communication between schools and administration during crisis situations• Fire drills • What to do in case of a gas leak • What to do in case of serious injury or medical emergency • Emergency Call Procedures • Listing of Emergency contacts

These policies are available on flip charts stored in Kids’ Camp spaces.

Filing a Complaint about Child Care

Childcare facilities must provide written information to parents at the time of admission and staff members at the time of employment on how to file a complaint concerning suspected licensing violations. The information must include the complete name, mailing address, and telephone number of the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care. Amy Davlin 1575 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203-1714 (303) 866-5958

SAMPLE WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Monday1:30-1:45 Check in

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1:45-2:20 Recess2:20-2:35 Snack

2:35-3:00 free choice3:00-3:30 crazy eights: Epic air traffic control

3:30-4:00 Reading/ Homework4:00-4:30 Growth Mindset week 2

4:30-5:00 SPARK: sharks and minnows5:00-5:30 Computers

5:30-6:00 Free choice/ Clean up

Tuesday3:00-3:15  Check in/ free choice

3:15- 3:30 Free choice3:30-4:15  Recess4:15-4:30 Snack

4:30-5:00 Homework/ Reading5:00-5:30 STEM: How fast does the earth spin?

5:30-6:00 Free choice/ Clean up

Wednesday3:00-3:15  Check in/ free choice

3:15- 3:30 Free choice3:30-4:15 Recess4:15-4:30 Snack

4:30-5:00 Homework/ Reading5:00-5:30 SPARK: Clean your room

5:30-6:00 Free choice/ Clean up

Thursday3:00-3:15  Check in/ free choice

3:15- 3:30 Free choice3:30-4:15 Recess4:15-4:30 Snack

4:30-5:00 Homework/ Reading5:00-5:30 Crazy Eights: UFO Landing

5:30-6:00 Free choice/ Clean up

Friday3:00-3:30  Check in/ free choice

3:30-4:15 Recess4:15-4:30 Snack

4:30-5:00 Reading5:00-5:30  Popsicle Stick geometry

5:30-6:00 Free choice/ Clean up

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