Mission:
The goals of the St. Rita Afterschool Program are simple: to provide families with a safe, fun place for children to grow emotionally, socially and intellectually while parents are working.
The Afterschool Program DOES follow the St. Rita school schedule.

PLAY IS A CHILD’S WORK.
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By providing a safe, nurturing environment and building a supportive, responsive, caring relationship with your children, the St. Rita Afterschool Program will provide the building blocks your child will need to develop a healthy self esteem, positive behavior, and the ability to cooperate with others. We will emphasize Christian Child Care. Prayers before meals, the religious significance of holidays, along with lots and lots of love and kindness will make clear our Christian emphasis. Good manners and respect for the rights of others are also emphasized. Discipline is handled in a firm, consistent manner.
The staff will use a positive approach to discipline. No child will be allowed to hurt themselves or others.

Open Door / Open Arms Policy:
Parents are welcome and encouraged to drop in and visit the Afterschool Program at any time.
We also welcome any parent volunteers.

Location:
Former convent-- Gray building behind school.

Staff:
Executive Director: Roger Costello (502) 969-4579
Director: Rose Ann O’Bryan Associate Director: Kim Koerner (502) 969-0628
(All employees are required to have a TB Test and Criminal Record Screening can check and safety environment class before employment)

1. All children receiving child care services in a day-care center licensed pursuant to KRS 199.896, a family child-care home certified pursuant to KRS 199.8982, or from a provider or program receiving public funds shall have the following rights:
> The right to be free from physical or mental abuse.
> The right not to be subject to abusive language or abusive punishment;
> The right to be in the care of adults who shall meet their health, safety and developmental needs.

2. Parents, custodians, or guardians of these children specified in subsection (1) of this section shall have the following rights:
> The right to have access to their children at all times the child is in care and access to the provider caring for their children during normal hours of provider operation and whenever the children are in the care of the provider;
> The right to provided with information about child-care regulatory standards, if applicable; where to direct questions about regulatory standards; and how to file a complaint;
> The right to file a complaint against a child-care provider without retribution against the parent, custodian, guardian, or child; The right to review and discuss with the provider any state reports and deficiencies revealed by such report.

3. The child-care provider who is licensed to KRS 199.896 or certified pursuant to KRS 199.8982 shall post these rights in a prominent place and shall provide a copy of these rights at the time of the child’s enrollment in the program.

Procedures and Policies - Days and Hours of Operation:
St. Rita Afterschool Program is open five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 2:45 P.M.to 6:00 P.M. during the school year.
The Afterschool Program will be following St. Rita's school calendar. Regular fees are due each week during the school year.

Holiday Policy:
The Afterschool Program will follow the same holidays of the school.

Bad Weather Policy:
The Afterschool Program will be closed if Jefferson County Catholic Schools are closed. Please tune in to Fox 41 news, if St. Rita (Jefferson County Catholic Schools) is on a delayed schedule, the Center will be open normal hours, 2:45 p.m - 6:00 p.m.) Parents are responsible to pay for all bad weather days.

Fee Policies: Late Pick-Up Fee:
St. Rita Afterschool Program closes promptly @ 6:00 p.m.
At this time the sign-out sheets will be picked up by a staff person and the time will be noted on the time sheet. You must obtain the sheet from the staff person in charge in order to sign your child out.
The late fee is to be paid to the individual on duty on that night. The fee for late pick-ups is $2.00 per child for each 1 minute past 6:00 p.m. The clock on the wall in the sign-in area will be considered the official time. Fee must be paid at time of your arrival. If the fee is not paid at your arrival time, it will be added to your account.

Enrollment Policy:
Our school year program is limited to students enrolled in St. Rita School. At this time we have a licensed facility for 57 kids K thru 8th grade.

Enrollment Categories:
Full-Time ~ Students attend 5 days a week.
Part-Time ~ Students, who do not attend 5 days a week, but have a specific number of days reserved each week, usually 3 or 4, for attendance.

Registration:
St. Rita Afterschool Program fall registration will be held each February.
* The NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee of $45.00 is due at the time of registration.*

Withdrawal:
If you choose to withdraw your child from any of our programs, you must give one week advance notice to the director, if notice of withdrawal is not given you will be charged for an additional week.

Safety Policy:
For the safety of your child do not drop him/her off outside. Please accompany your child inside, and do NOT leave your car running when you come into the building to sign your child(ren) in or out. If you send someone new to pick up your child we must be notified in writing prior to his / her arrival. Telephone calls will not be accepted. This change has come due to concern that anyone can claim to be a parent over the telephone. This problem can be avoided by listing anyone who may pick up your child on the Authorized Pick-Up Form.

Child Abuse Policy:
These are the steps that St. Rita will take regarding child abuse:

1. Suspected Parental Abuse:
We will question the child about injury, bruises, etc.
Document in writing the injury, child comments, and parent’s comments.
If we suspect that child abuse has occurred, we will immediately call the Child Abuse Hot Line at 502-595-4550.

2. Suspected Staff Abuse:
We will immediately remove the staff person involved from the workplace while the incident is investigated.
Check the child and administer first aid if needed.
Call the Child Abuse Hot Line at 502-595-4550.
Call parents.
Call Licensing / Regulation Department within 24 hours at 502-595-4079.
*** We are required by Law to report any suspected abuse!!! ***

> Call parent while waiting for E.M.S.
> Call the Director if not present
> Take child's folder and emergency information to the hospital. If parents have no choice for the hospital, the child will be taken to Kosair Children's Hospital.
> Child's Teacher or Director will go to the hospital with the child..
> Call Licensing / Regulation Department within 24 hours.
*All children enrolled must have a signed authorization for emergency medical care and a brief medical history kept in his/her file.*

Immunization:
State Law requires that Child Care Centers have on file a current immunization record for each child. This is for your child’s protection against disease. You must provide a copy of immunization on your child's first day at the Afterschool Program. If your child has no immunization on file or immunization has expired, your child will not be allowed to come in our facility.

Sick Children:
Our program is not designed for the care of ill children. Children who become ill at St. Rita’s Afterschool Program will be separated from the other children.
*Parents will be notified to pick up their child immediately. Children need to be kept at home when any of the following situations are true:
> Child has any of the following symptoms: sore throat, fever, vomiting or diarrhea.
> Call Licensing / Regulation Department within 24 hours.
> There is a doubt concerning whether the child is well enough to attend the Center.
*** Remember that this is in the best interest of all the children in any of our programs. ***

Please call if your child has seen a doctor and is diagnosed as having a contagious illness. We are required to notify other parents of contagious illnesses.
The infected child’s name will be kept confidential.

Medication:
Medicine will be given only after a permission sheet is signed (to be kept on file). A log sheet will be provided for daily sign in of medication and directions.
Appointed staff members will give medication.
All medication must be in the original container, Prescription medicine must be up-to-date and have child’s name on it.
* WE DO NOT GIVE OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION. * Licensing now requires that parents must sign the log sheet prior to the medication being given.
***Note: Licensing has also informed us that sunscreen is considered a medication. All of the above guidelines will apply.

Special Rules to Note:
* Discuss any problems or concerns with the Director in private. If a lengthy discussion is warranted, please make an appointment to ensure that the problem is adequately addressed.
* Keep all emergency information up to date. Notify us of changes in your place of employment, telephone number, and any other pertinent information. If you are not able to receive telephone calls at work, please let us know who we may contact in case of illness, injury, or behavior concerns.
* Be sure to complete an authorization pick up form. This form will be kept near the check out sheet so that staff members may I.D. any persons unknown to them.
* Please send only authorized adults, at least 18 years of age, to pick up your child. We occasionally have new staff members, who will not know you by sight. Please be prepared at all times to show picture identification. It will take several weeks for a new staff member to get to know you and associate you with your child. Please be patient. It is the staff’s responsibility to make sure your child is safe. Please let anyone picking up your child knows that he/she must sign the sign out sheet, and may be asked for identification.
* Notify us of any custody changes or changes as to who is or is not authorized to pick up your child.
* We provide a smoke-free environment for the children. We ask that you extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, etc. before entering the building.
* Please note that at times we will be doing messy things. You may choose to send play clothes with your child so that he/she may change from his/her school uniform.
If you choose to do this, we ask that you put your child’s name in all the clothing. Due to fact that all of our children wear the same uniform, it is very difficult to return clothing if it is unmarked. Children, who have consistent behavior problems while changing clothes, will not be allowed to change. You will receive a notice of this type of misbehavior before this consequence is given.
* All children need to wear socks and shoes. If you choose to send your child in sandals or any other open toed shoes, the Enrichment Center cannot be held responsible for any injuries to the foot.
* Any person picking up a child must turn off their car ignition before entering the building. Leaving a car running and unattended on school premises is prohibited.
* We ask that you dress your child appropriately for the weather. We go outside every day, even in the winter. You may need to send jackets, gloves, hats, etc. for cool and cold weather. Again, please write your child’s name in all clothing. Unless a child has a doctor’s note stating that he/she cannot go outside, or we have specific instructions from the parents (a written note or telephone call)he/she will be going out to play.
* The children are served a snack every day when coming from school. Snack is given in the afternoon beginning at 2:50 P.M. If your child refuses to eat the provided snack, we are not required to provide another. If your child has food allergies or dietary restrictions, we must have a physician’s note on file. Alternative snacks will be provided in these cases. Snacks will not be held for children once snack time has expired.
* All children must wear shoes and socks. NO sandals, crocks, wedge or high heeled shoes, or open-toed shoes are permitted to be worn.
* NO cell phones are permitted at any time while in the Afterschool Program.
* Children may not chew gum at the St. Rita Afterschool Program.
* NO guns, knives, or other potentially dangerous items are allowed.
* During school, absolutely NO outside toys are allowed.

St. Rita Afterschool Program Rules for Sports and Extracurricular Activities:
* Students who must leave the program to participate in sports or extracurricular activities must have permission, in writing, from his/her parent. This note must include the time and day(s) of the week that your child will leave for the activity. If these days and times change, you must notify us in writing before your child will be allowed to leave.
* Due to state required staff-to-student ratios, the Afterschool Program staff will no longer be able to walk the children to practice. Please make arrangements with your child’s coach to stop by the Program before and after practice to pick up and return your child safely. The coach, or person designated by you to take your child to practice will note the time of departure and return. If your child will not return to the Program following his/her practice, the person who takes your child to practice must be listed on your Authorized Pick-Up Form.
* Please note that when a child is picked up by his/her coach or designated adult, St. Rita Afterschool Program is not responsible for the child’s care until he/she is returned to the Program.
* For our liability and the safety of the children, failure to comply with the rules stated above will result in your child not being allowed to leave the Program for extracurricular activities.

Behavior Philosophy:
St Rita Afterschool Program is an extension of St. Rita Catholic Church. We continue the stated philosophy of our Christian Community to assist parents and school in educating our children in a Christian setting. We consistently teach our children to maintain a quality of respect for themselves as well as others. We must not assume that another person knows how we feel or what we need. We encourage our children to tell others how they feel in words. "Stop that!, I don’t like it when..., That makes me feel...," etc. We tell them to use their loud and, sometimes, angry voice, if necessary, to let another person know that they are serious. If that does not resolve the problem, the child should immediately get an adult person to assist. Our liability pertaining to the safety of our children demands that we teach them to disagree with words, not actions that may hurt them. A child is NEVER justified in hitting or injuring another child.
Our behavior goal for the children is self-discipline. Each child freely chooses one form of behavior over another. He/she must, therefore, learn to accept the consequences of that chosen behavior.

Behavior Policy:
In response to growing concerns regarding behavior problems, St Rita Afterschool Program has implemented the following policy. This policy will deal with minor and major behavior problems separately. Please read this policy thoroughly and discuss it with your child. You and your child will be required to sign a document stating that you will adhere to this policy. This document must be turned in within the first two weeks of your child’s attendance. A new agreement must be signed at the beginning of each school year.

Dealing with Major Behavior Problems:
Behavior problems that interfere with the health, happiness and well-being of others will not be tolerated. It is not fair to other children if one child’s behavior choices interfere with the peaceful running of our program. Severe behavior problems will be dealt with as follows:
> Parents will be called immediately by their own child, detailing their behavior.
> If behavior continues, parents will be asked to seek care elsewhere.

Examples of major behavior problems:
1. Fighting, spitting, wrestling, kicking, hitting, or any other action taken with the intent of inflicting harm. Rough play often leads to real fights; therefore, play fights carry the same consequences as real fights.
2. Any violent behavior towards others (children and teachers).
3. Disrespect; such as, talking back, inappropriate language, defiance, etc.
4. Destruction of Afterschool Care property, which includes toys, toilets, cots.
5. Theft from the Afterschool Program or other students.

House Rules:
> BASIC RULE: Do not hurt yourself, others, or things
> Speak for yourself - not everybody else.
> Listen when others speak - then they will listen to you.
> Show respect - every person is important.
> Take charge of yourself - you are responsible for your actions.
**The first day of Afterschool Care will be used to set the ground rules.**

> A child may be asked to withdraw from the center for the following reasons:
> Excessive biting
> Discipline and/or behavioral problems
> Parents not complying with company rules
> Children not being able to conform to a childcare atmosphere. Adequate time will be given to try to work with the child, but the decision whether the child/children will be terminated from the center will be the directors.

Qualified Staff:
We have a highly qualified and caring staff. Teachers will be CDA certified, or have equivalent experience. Each staff member is trained in CPR and First Aid. All employees will attend additional child training classes throughout the year.