Health Policy

You MUST Keep your child home when he/she has:

Nasal drainage                        Sore Throat                 Rash                Chronic cough

A fever or chills                      Inflamed eyes              Diarrhea          New Medication

Nausea or Vomiting                Open Sores                  Impetigo

Head Lice                                Earache

Your child must be free of the above symptoms for 24 hours without the use of medicine before returning to school.  If your child has a doctor’s appointment due to a chronic symptom or condition, please keep your child home that morning until the doctor can make an assessment. We require a doctor’s note, if your child has an ongoing cough and runny nose, due to allergies or to asthma. Your child will need to wear a mask in the presence of the symptoms mentioned if the doctor deems it safe for them to be at school. These guidelines are in place for your child’s good health, as well as that of the teachers and other children in the classroom. 

Health Related Epidemic Policy

Based on information indicating an outbreak/epidemic from the Department of Health, the Director will close the preschool. If this should be necessary, the Director will send out an email to all families of the preschool informing them of the closure and the reason. The classroom teachers will also send out a message via the class BAND site.  There would also be a message concerning closure on our website. The preschool will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The Dept. of Health will instruct the Director when the preschool should be reopened.

COVID Policy

We have consulted three large pediatric groups in our local area.   They stated that they are following CDC guidelines on COVID and recommend the following to their families and as such we will be following the same guidelines at The Growing Place.

If a child is COVID-19 symptomatic or COVID-19 positive, they should stay home while symptoms persist. The child will be able to return to the classroom after 5 days have passed since the onset of symptoms and are fever free for 24 hours.

Once isolation has ended, people should wear a well-fitting mask around others through day 10. Testing is not required to determine the end of isolation or mask use following COVID-19 infection; however you can use the test to potentially shorten the duration of post-isolation mask use. Those individuals who are not able to wear a well-fitting mask should either isolate for 10 full days or receive a negative test to determine when they can safely return to the school without a mask.  Pinellas County Licensing prohibits the use of masks in our 1 and 2 year olds.

Children in a childcare facility are not required to wear a mask or face covering. Children and staff are encouraged to practice routine hand washing throughout the day.

Childcare staff will continue to routinely clean classrooms and high traffic areas. If a person with COVID-19 has been inside a school or ECE facility within last 24 hours, the space should be cleaned and disinfected.

Dress Code

Dress your child in:

Clothes suitable for art, the playground, etc. that are simple, sturdy, safe, not too tight, and easy to manage. (Label jackets and sweaters.) Please make sure that your child wears closed toed shoes with rubber soles. They should also be the right size and safe for climbing activities. Socks are advised.

Snack Policy

Due to the Health Department guidelines, home prepared food items, from staff or parents, intended for distribution among the children, are prohibited.  Parents will provide an individual daily snack for their child only. This needs to be in a disposable package, as we will not be allowed to save leftover food items.  Parents will provide a daily water bottle for their child.  This can be either disposable or a reusable water bottle.  Names must be clearly labeled on their water containers.

**If your child is in a classroom with food allergies, your child’s teacher will send home adjustments to what is allowed to be eaten in the classroom.**

Discipline Policy

The ultimate goal of our discipline policy is to promote healthy self-esteem in each child. We do this by:

  1. Providing a loving Christian atmosphere for students and staff.
  2. Building a positive attitude toward God, self, others and school.
  3. Encouraging parental involvement.
  4. Setting clear expectations for behavior.

We will not allow children to hurt themselves, others or destroy property.  Our purpose is to use natural consequences, redirection, and positive reinforcement. 

Potty Training Policy

Potty Training is a milestone that requires time and patience. Please be aware that children are required to be fully potty trained to enter our Three Year Old program at The Growing Place Preschool. While we recognize starting school is an adjustment for children, it is difficult to keep the classroom a safe and sanitary environment when toileting accidents happen. 

What does being fully potty trained mean? A child is not in pull ups or diapers. He or she recognizes and communicates on his/her own the need to use the bathroom. The child is consistently using the potty and going multiple days at home without having an accident. He or she is able to attend the entire school day without having an accident. Finally, they are able to wipe themselves, redress themselves, flush the toilet, and wash their hands once they have completed using the restroom. 

As a parent, you can help by dressing your child in belt less and/or elastic waist clothing. This makes it easier for your child to be successful in using the restroom.