PARENT PARTICIPATION

Open communication between parents and staff is key to ensuring the success of each child. The staff at Once Upon a Time will provide information daily regarding children’s activities. A Communication Board located in each classroom will keep parents informed each day as to what children did each day. Staff will be available to speak with parents anytime. Each classroom will also have e-mail available as another communication tool. Once Upon a Time will have parent/teacher conferences twice a year (in April and November). Parents can request a conference or a meeting at any time.

A Parent Communication Board is located on the wall in the Commons Area. This board communicates daily information, birthday notices as well as other important information. Paper notices containing important information will also be posted on the Communication Board, the check-in computer, the front door and the stairwell doorway.

A “Friday Folder” system will ensure that at the end of each week, each child’s cubby is cleaned out and parents receive all important messages and paperwork. Children’s artwork, paperwork, any notes from teachers, financial information, newsletters from the Center Director, etc. will be placed in the Friday folder. In the event there is information which must be shared with parents prior to Friday, that information will be placed in each child’s individual cubby or in a designated area for parents to see and pick up at the end of the day.

A Parent Forum will be available for parents that wish to offer suggestions, ideas, complaints etc. Meeting times will be posted in the reception area and will be open to all enrolled families.

Parents are encouraged to visit the Center anytime, to volunteer in the classroom or on field trips, to share a hobby with the students or work on other activities in the Center. Please feel free to talk with your child’s teacher or the Center Director to arrange these activities.

The only time a parent would be denied entrance to the Center or access to his/her child would be in the event of a written court order stating this denial. Once Upon a Time must have a copy
of such a document on file at the Center in order to enforce this request. In circumstances where a custodial agreement is in place, it is important that parents / guardians indicate on the enrollment form who the custodial parent is and who may pick up, visit, observe, attend conferences of a child. Non-custodial parents/guardians will not be able to pick-up, visit, observe or attend conferences of a child unless the Center has documentation allowing this. The parent with custody is required to provide a copy of the notarized custody declaration, which will be kept in your child’s confidential file.