About the Bear's Den Program
About the Bear's Den Program
BEAR'S DEN
Please read all the guidelines below or click here for document.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Before school hours are from 6:45 am to 8:10 am. No child will be accepted before 6:45 am. All children must be signed in upon arrival. NO EXCEPTIONS! Students who participate in the school breakfast program will have the opportunity to eat breakfast at 8:00 A.M. If you would like your child to eat breakfast at school, please make arrangements to buy breakfast with the cafeteria manager.(Before Care does not provide breakfast). When the morning bell rings at 8:10 A.M. students are released to go to their homerooms
After school hours are from 3:45 pm to 6:00 pm. Students will be released to the After-School Program at the end of the school day. Pick-up will not be allowed until 4:10 due to bus and car rider dismissal.
The Before and After School Program will not be open during student holidays. We will be open for Early Release/Conference days, and regularly scheduled school days that students attend. We do offer after care to enrolled students until 6:00 P.M. on half days. We are closed during scheduled school holidays, teacher workdays, or when the school is closed due to weather concerns.
The program cannot be used as a drop-in service (per Columbia County policy). Students who are late pick-ups (at 4:00pm) from regular school will be placed in the program at the emergency drop-in fee of $10.00 per child per day.
ENROLLMENT PRIORITY
Due to the limited space, acceptance into the program will be on a first come-first serve basis. Enrollment procedures require completion of a registration form for your child(ren) online at https://ccboe.revtrak.net/ prior to attending.
WITHDRAWAL
All students withdrawing from the program must notify Ms.Miner, one week prior to the date of withdrawal. Students that withdraw from the school must settle their account with Bear’s Den before withdrawing.
FEES AND PAYMENTS
At the time of registration there will be a $25.00 non-refundable registration fee per child. This fee will be collected annually at the time of registration.
Weekly fees are as follows:
Before School only fee - $20.00 p/w
After School only fee - $45.00 p/w
Before & After School fee $65.00 p/w
Payment is for the child’s slot in the program. All balances are due by Monday. Any accounts with a balance after that will be charged a $10.00 late fee. If a child is under contract, regardless of attendance, you will be charged weekly. In the event an emergency suspension is needed, you must notify Ms.Miner, the Program Director, a week in advance so that you will not be charged for that week.Without prior notification, you will be charged, and payment is still due. We accept payments online at https://ccboe.revtrak.net/ or in the form of cash or money order in a SEALED envelope. Make money orders out to WES or Westmont Elementary. There will be a $25.00 fee for items returned by the bank. Payments are due PRIOR to attending. If you prefer to pay monthly, payments must be made by the 1st of each month. Please note all payments, including late fee(s), must be paid before students will be allowed to attend before/after school. Any accounts that are more than two weeks past due can result in the child being withdrawn from the program. Progress Reports and Report Cards may be held until balances are paid in full.
MEDICATIONS
No medications will be dispensed during the After-School Program. Medicine will have to be given during regular school hours. First-Aid will be administered as needed.
DISCIPLINE
The Before and After School Program will enforce the same rules and guidelines set forth in the Columbia County Board of Education Elementary School Code of Student Conduct and Westmont Elementary Student Handbook. No refunds will be given in the event of a student’s dismissal or suspension from the program.
Reasons for dismissal are as follows:
1. Failure to pay as agreed;
2. Behavior that is disruptive, inappropriate, hazardous to others (severe or repetitive in nature), or does not follow the Student Conduct;
3. Excessive (3 or more) late pick-ups.
A child may be reviewed for dismissal from the program for inappropriate behavior at any time, at the discretion of the school principal and director.
The drop-off and pick-up area, for the Before and After Care program, is in the cafeteria (left side of the school).
Morning Care: During drop off close to our bus arrival (8:10), please do not park on the curb, find a parking spot to walk your student in. Do not “drop off” your child at the front door. Students that are dropped off in the morning will receive a written notice. Please do not sit in your car for a period of time before bringing your students in, this could cause a backup with other parents coming in and possibly buses. If you are arriving at 8:10, we ask that you please go through our car line because morning care has ended.
Aftercare: We ask that pick up start at 4:10, if you need to pick up between 3:40 – 4:00 please utilize our car line to pick up your students. The entrance for our after care is also our bus line. For safety reasons, A PARENT MUST sign their child in and out daily. All students must be signed in and out from the aftercare door or playground using the I-pad. Children will only be released to persons, with proper ID, who are listed on your registration form. We will not allow your child to leave with anyone not listed. In instances when it is necessary for someone different to pick your child up, a signed note is required from the parent. Parents must pick up children no later than 6:00 P.M. There will be a $1.00 per minute fee, per child, for children that are picked up after 6:00P.M. This payment is due at the time of pick-up or the fee is added to your next invoice.
*After the third occurrence, your child will be withdrawn from the program.
ACTIVITIES
The Before School Program provides a welcoming safe place for your child to wait until the beginning of school. Students will be able to socialize with their friends and prepare for a new school day. The After-School Program includes a light snack. Students will not be allowed to return to their classrooms for anything they left behind. After school activities include supervised playtime on the playground, independent reading, group games, movies, and computer time.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Students can not have toys from home. Exceptions are pens, paper, crayons, markers, and coloring books.
EMERGENCIES
If there is an emergency involving your child, we will follow regular school emergency procedures. If your child is injured seriously, first aid will be applied, 911 will be called, and you will be contacted. If your child is taken from school for any reason during the school day, please request that the After-School Program personnel be notified. Be sure to keep us informed as to changes in phone numbers, emergency contacts, and any other pertinent information.
AGREEMENT
* By registering your student for the before and after school program, you acknowledge that you have read the Westmont Elementary Before and After School Guidelines. You understand that if these guidelines are not met, your child(ren) will be removed from the program. You are acknowledging that this program is not a licensed child care facility. You also understand this program is not required to be licensed by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and this program is exempt from state licensure requirements.