Helping Hands Preschool at Cross Gates Family Fitness

**Philosophy**
The purpose of Helping Hands is to provide a positive growth experience for children. This program provides a place in which your child can play, have fun, feel good about themselves and at the same time develop physically, socially and emotionally. Most of all, your child will meet many new friends.

**Eligibility**
Children who are 2 – 5 years old are invited to attend. Parents, guardians and children must be willing to abide by the rules of the program and be responsible for any damages caused by their child.

**Hours of Operation**
Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays 9:00am – 1:00pm

**Drive-thru Drop-off and Pick-up**
Drive-thru drop-off service is from 8:45-9:10 in the morning. Drive-thru pick-up will be from 12:45-1:00pm at the Youth Activity Center entrance. You are always welcome to walk your child to their class in the morning and come inside to pick them up in the afternoon; however we ask that parents not stay with their child.

**What your child needs to have**
Children need to wear their blue Helping Hands shirt and tennis shoes every day. Upon registering, they will be provided with a blue Helping Hands bag in which they need to have a change of clothes and extra diapers or underwear. We ask that children not bring toys or games from home unless you have the permission from the teacher.

**Snacks and Lunches**
We will provide a snack and drink for your child in the morning. Please be sure your child’s teacher is aware of all allergies your child has. Lunches may either be packed from home or you may order lunch with your child’s teacher. Each day will have a hot lunch scheduled. No breakable items or lunches that need to be heated or refrigerated are allowed.

**Activities and Program Schedule**
The following are activities that your children will be participating in this school year in Helping Hands:
*Daily Classroom time learning numbers, letters, shapes and colors
*Play time includes playground, outdoor field, basketball gym, Sport wall and Jammin’ Jungle
*Special weekly programs – taekwondo, tumbling, fitness, guest speakers, art, music, dancing

**Rate**
The cost of the Helping Hands Program is as follows:
Members of Cross Gates Family Fitness
Monthly: $150.00
Non-members
Monthly: $175.00
Registration and Supply Fee: $99.00 (Includes uniform t-shirt and embroidered book bag)

***Months are not pro-rated based on holidays. Holidays are built into the monthly rate.

**Payment**
Upon registering a credit card must be filed for billing. This card will be billed for monthly fees prior to the first of each month. This card will also be billed for any unpaid lunches.
In order for your card to not be billed for the upcoming month, you must cancel the program prior to the 25th of the current month.
Any unused days will not be refunded.

**Late Pick-Up Fees**
We understand that there might be a situation that prevents you from picking up your child at 1:00pm. If you are ever stuck in traffic, or unable to make it for 1:00pm, you need to contact a Helping Hands’ teacher to make arrangements. Children who are consistently picked up late will be charged a fee of $1.00 per minute and/or will not be allowed to continue in the Helping Hands program.

**Withdrawing from Helping Hands**
If you wish to withdraw your child from the program, you must notify the Youth Activity Center in writing by the 25th of the month prior to the one your child will not be attending. If our billing department has not been notified by the 25th of the month prior to the one your child will not be attending, you will be billed for the full month.

***EMERGENCY CLOSINGS: in cases of severe weather such as hurricanes, flooding, snow or any other emergency, Cross Gates Family Fitness follows the advice of Parish and State officials and closes all children’s programs when the St. Tammany Parish School Systems make the same decision. If deemed necessary Cross Gates’ management will close children’s programs prior to the release of the school system. In this situation, please contact the Youth Activity Center at 643.2049.

**Check-Out Procedure**
Only those people whom you have listed as having your authorization are allowed to check out your child from Helping Hands. Children will not be released to anyone whose name is not on the list. Those people listed, must be 18 years or older and will be asked to show photo identification if not recognized by our staff.


**2011-2012 School Calendar**

August 12, 2011 - 1st day of class

September 5, 2011 – Labor Day Holiday
HH closed

September 30, 2011 – Parish Fair Day
public schools are closed, HH is open

October 7, 2011 – End of 1st 9 weeks
public schools are closed, HH is open

November 21-25, 2011 – public school Thanksgiving Holiday
HH is open Mon., 11/21 & Wed. 11/23. HH is closed Fri., Nov. 25th.

December 19, 2011-January 2, 2012 – public school Winter/Christmas Break
HH is open Mon., 12/19 & Wed., 12/21.
HH is closed Fri., 12/23-Fri., 12/30
HH reopens Mon., January 2, 2012

January 16, 2012 – Martin Luther King Holiday – public schools are closed, HH is open

February 20-24, 2012 – Mardi Gras Holiday – public schools are closed all week.
HH is closed Mon., 2/20 & Wed., 2/22.
HH is open Fri., 2/24.

March 9, 2012 – End of 3rd 9 weeks – public schools are closed
HH is open

April 2-9, 2012 – Easter Holiday – public schools are closed the week prior to Easter and the Monday after.
HH is open Mon., 4/2 & Wed., 4/4
HH is closed Fri., 4/6 & Mon., 4/9

May 18, 2012 – Last day of HH


**Discipline Policy 2011-2012**


Discipline consists of positive redirection or, if necessary, time out and/or loss of privileges. Time out is based on the child’s age and offense. Time out is usually one minute per age of the child per incident. Time out consists of sitting in a chair facing the group, but apart, still within supervision of the attendant. If a child misbehaves they may lose privileges such as Jammin Jungle or playground time.

On occasion appropriate consequences will be assigned to children who misbehave. However, the use of physical punishment or harsh language is strictly prohibited at Cross Gates Family Fitness.

Some examples of behavior that will not be allowed are: name calling, teasing, unwanted and/or inappropriate physical contact (hitting, pushing, biting, etc.), bullying, and being disrespectful. Misbehavior is not limited to the above items. It is the discretion of any Cross Gates Family Fitness staff member to determine whether any behavior is inappropriate.

Offenses serious enough for parents to be contacted will be documented in a discipline log. Our general guideline for serious offenses is as follows:
1st Offense: Warning, consultation with parents and child
2nd Offense: Sent home for the day
3rd Offense: 1 week suspension
4th Offense: Removal from program for the school year

Cross Gates Family Fitness managers and directors always reserve the right to remove any child from any program at anytime. No refunds will be issued for tuition for a child removed based on his or her behavior.