Frequently Asked Questions and Information about the Center

We are open from 7:00am until 5:00pm Monday through Friday

• If you pick up after 5:00pm., there is a late fee of $10 for the first 15minutes (5:01-5:15pm) and $1 for every minute after 5:15pm. 

• The late fee will be assessed as an invoice on your Lillio account. Please refer to the Parent handbook to review the complete policy. 

*The Children's Garden has an open-door policy. You may visit your child's classroom any time during the day. You are also welcome ot call the office (717) 731-1095 to check on your child. 

The Center runs all year round. Our program year is from September through May. We switch to our summer program and add a School Aged classroom June through August. 

We are closed the following Summer Days

Friday June 5 - Teacher in serivice

Friday July 3 - Independence Day Holiday

Friday August 21 - Teacher in Service

We typically close for Christmas Eve and Good Friday.

In the event of inclement weather or an unusual emergency, a decision by the Director or the Pastors of St. John's may be made to delay the opening of the Center, close the Center early, or close the Center for the day. If such a decision is made, families will be notified via the Lillio App and the Local television stations (WGAL, WHTM, WHP, and FOX). 

The Main door to the Center will be used for drop off and pick up. Parent code access is required for this door. 

• Parents are given a code when their child is enrolled

• Parent codes will only give access at drop off (7:00am-9:00am) and then again at pick up (3:00pm - 5:00pm).  Admittance between those hours will be possible by usin gthe intercom system with the office. 

• Admission to the building during the hours of 9:00am and 3:00pm will be limited to make our buiding as secure as possible fo rhte safety of our children and staff.

• If you wish to visit your child's classroom during these hours, please notify the office. We find it helpful if you give us a heads up through a phone call, or Lillio messaging. 

Children are very active and sometimes get messy during the day. We recommend that you send your child with a few items and a few spare items:

• Two sets of seasonal appropriate clothing that can be left at the center 

  • during the winter: hat, gloves, warm socks,

• Nap-time items: 2 regular size crib sheets (for their nap mats), 2 lightweight blankets, and a stuffy (some type of comfort animal or fluffy toy that provides comfort). 

• We go on walks daily! Please provide sunscreen. 

• Water bottle (must be labeled). 

Items will be sent home weekly for laundering. 

Please remember to LABEL everything for your child. This includes, extra clothing, coats/jackets, water bottles, pacifiers, etc. If your child has special milk, the carton must be clearly labeled with your childs name. 

Packages of diapers, pull ups, and wipes must also be labeled. This prevents belongings geting lost or mixed up with other children's belongings. 

For specifics on whats needed for the infant room, please see the infant classroom on website, or find the drop down on this page. 

If you child is sick, please keep them home for rest and healing. 

Our policy states that a child will be sent home if they have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above (infants six months of younger is 100 degrees). 

If your child has vomited, has more than one diarrhea incident during the day, has any unknown rash, or other contagious condition, the child will be sent home. You will receive a courtesy call or message via Lillio if your child is not feeling well or is exhibiting illness like symptoms (runny nose, cough, stomach ache, etc) or after one diarrhea incident. 

If the child has two diarrhea incidents, the child will be sent home. Please understand that we assess each child individually. If you child is sent home from school for any of the above reasons, the child must stay home the following day or longer if the child is exhibint any symptoms of illnes or fever without medication. 

A note from your child's physician will be required if your child is home sick for more than two days before returning to school. 

Our illness policy is in the parent handbook. Our goal is to keep everyone healthy. We deep clean our toys weekly, regularly sanitize surfaces, and in times of illness spreading through the center we do a whole center sanitization. We take illness very seriously. 

The Lillio APP is our main form of communication with families. Each parent will create their own loggin and will be able to get updates about their child. 

*If you are not recieving alerts or emails, please contact the office.

Lillio app will update you on your child's day and any classroom information. It is an efficient way to communicate with the teachers or the office. It is also the way teachers may reach out to you if they want to keep you informed throughout the day. 

If your child will not be in attndance, please contact the classroom through the Lillio App and/or the office via phone call to let us know. This helps us with staffing the classrooms for ratio purposes. 

We serve breakfast, lunch and snack daily. We partner with USDA foods to provide well rounded meals for our little ones.

We are a NUT FREE school. 

We post a monthly menu on the Parent board outside of the office. It is also send via the Lillio app. We encourage children to try a little of everything served. If you know your child does not like the meal served, you may pack a lunch. If packing, please clearly label the bag, lunch box with your child's first and last name. All lunches will be refrigerated. 

You are welcome to bring treats in for your childs room. Please be sure to provide enough for the whole classroom. 

We clearly designate which children have allergies when serving food. 

Communication is a vital part of the partnership between parents, teachers, and school administration. It is key in any positive relationship, so feel free to reach out with questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions! Many different forms of communication are used here at the Center.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) requires an acknowledgement when transfer of responsibility of child care occurs from parent to Center. WHen entering the classroom, your child's teacher will ask about your child's general wellness. This contact will acknolwdge the transfer of respnsiblity. You will also be asked to sign them in/out with the time on a weekly paper kept in their classroom. We ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during this transition time. Our goal is to ensure open communication during drop off/pickup. 

• Daily Verbal Communication: we attempt to do a daily health check at drop off and talk with you about your child's time at home. In the afternoon we try to discuss with you about your child's day and activities of the day. Sometimes the teacher that is there at drop off or pick up may be different than the one they are with all day. If you feel unsatisfied with their report at the end of the day, please dont hesitate to reach out through the App. 

• Lillio App: Each classroom can communicate through the Lillio app. Individualzed tracking of your child's well being, activities they enjoyed, and notices of items needed may be found on the app. The teachers will do their best to get pictures, activities, and other information needed out to you promptly. If there is an emergency please call the office. Our teachers may not always respond promptly on the app because they are teaching and leading the classroom. 

• Office Communication: The office also uses the Lillio app to communicate with families. Center-wide information, notices, and invoices are sent by the office through Lillio. The app allows parents to pay tuition via credit or bank withdrawal (usage fees charged). you may also review your account and print receipts, tax reports, with the lillio app. 

• Website: Basic information can be found on the website. www.tcgpa.org

• Monthly Newsletter: A monthly Newsletter from the office will be sent via Lillio App to all parents. Classroom swill post this on their parent board as well. This newsletter gives information about activites, church news, and calendar events in the school. 

Family Concerns

Children know when something is happening in their family life. THis may affect their school life as well. Please let us know if there is a seperation, divorce, or other events that may affect your child's mood, behavior, or health. Please infrom us if there is a custody agreement and privde a copy for your child's DHS file in the office. Information provided will be CONFIDENTIAL. 

Medicaiton may be administered here at school. It must be in it's original container/packaging with a prescription from your child's physician. The container/packaging must have your chlid's name on it. A medicaiton log will be given to the parent to sign with specific instuctions regarding the medication.  (this form can be found on the "Forms & Policy page of the website). 

Over the counter medications (Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl etc) MUST be accompanied by a physician's note with instructions for administration for your child. Medication WILL NOT be administered to your child without the above requirents. If you do not have a doctor's note about the medication you can come and administer it yourself to your child. 

 If you child needs medicaiton, please communicate this with your child's teacher stating how often the medicaiton is to be administered and if it needs to be refrigerated. Again, you must sign and update the Medication log every six months. 

Asthma and Emergency Medications (EPI Pen, Inhaler etc.) will be kept in the child's classroom in a locked cabinet or in the Grab & Go bag if the classroom is going out of the classroom. 

If your child has a specific or severe allergy, medical condition, or asthma, please express this with the office andyour child's teacher. Please include this information on teh Getting to Know me form in the classroom packet. This information will be kept in the classroom for reference to the teachers. An action plan for the speific or severe allergies, medial condition, or asthma must be signed and updated by your child's physician every year. THis is per DHS regulations. Medicaiton logs will be updated every six months. The Action Plan and Medication Log are requried if your child needs medication adminsitered. 

Payments can be made through the Lillio App

Checks can be made out to The Children's Garden. Please put in the memo your child(rens) name(s) and "tuition" or "activity fee". 

Tuition reminders go out on Wednesdays. 

The Children's Garden is a PEANUT/TREE NUT FREE facility. Peanut butter and all tree nut products are strictly prohibited due to ALLERGIES. This includes milk such as Almond Milk and Coconut Milk. We will not serve products that are not peanut/tree nut free. Pleae check LABELS for peanuts, tree nuts, or even "may contain", "processed in", or "in shared facility." No items with these phrases are permitted at the Center. This includes foods sent from home for lunch, mlik, snack or special treats. 

Gloves are worn by teachers when serving food. 

Hand Washing

Your child's hands will be washed upon entering the classroom. This will help prevent the spread of germs in the classroom. Children and teachers wash their hands many times during the day. These times include but are not limited to: before and after snacks and meals, restroom breaks, after using a tissue, after going outside to play, before and after sensory acitvities, and any time bodily fluid is involved. We also use hand snaitizer with children two years old and older, with parents permission. Hand Sanitizer does not replace handwashing. There are specific times hwen Hand Sanitizer is deemed appropriate acconrding to DHS regulations. 

Injuries

Children are learning and exploring their bodies and accidents happen. If your child is injured during the day, you will receive an incident report to sign explaining exactly how the injury occured and how it was treated (ice, band-aid, TLC, etc.) After signing the report, parents will receive a copy, the office will receive a copy, and a copy will go into the child's DHS folder in the office. If the child needs medical care; the incident report will accompany the parent to the medical facility for medical staff to complete. This will be reported to DHS within 48 hours of the incident. 

Biting

Children will bite provoked or unprovoked. In the case of biting, teachers will contact the parents of the child that bit and the parents of the child that was bitten. An incident form will be provided for biting. 

Fire Drill

DHS requires us to have routine Fire Drills every 30 days. If you arrive during a fire drill, you may NOT enter the building with your child. You may join your child's classroom at their designated spot and remain with your child until the Fire Drill is over. After the Fire Drill you may accompany your child back to the classroom to sign them in. 

We take cleanliness seriously at The Children's Garden. To improve air quality and ventiliation, we use a higher quality HVAC filter. There are many things we do each day to ensure the safety and health of your children. 

1. After each snack, meal, or sensory play at our tables, we clean and sanitzie the surfaces and chairs. The tables are cleaned and sanitized before the room opens and again at closing time. 

2. Sippy Cups will be washed with dish soap and sanitized every day. We will send cups home on Friday's for home washing. 

3. Water coolers are emptied and air out at the end of the day. Fresh water and ice are added every morning. 

4. Cots and nap mats are sanitized weekly or more if illness is present in the room. Parents are required to supply two set so fnap bedding. Bedding will be sent home at the nd of the week for laundering. 

5. Restrooms are cleaned and toilets are scrubbed. During the daytime, surfaces are cleaned and sanitized after each use. Restroom floors are mopped regularly and classroom floors are mopped dialy. 

6. Carpets and rugs are vacuumed at least once a day or more when needed.  Professional carpet cleaning is done periodically during the year. 

7. Phones and surfaces are sprayed and sanitized daily. 

8. Trash is taken out daily or more hwen needed. Trash can lid is sprayed and sanitized.

9. All cleaning products are kept in locked cabinets.

As a ministry of St. John's Lutheran Church, Christian Education is a vital part of our daily routine in and out of the classrooms. This is taught throughout the Center with prayer at snack and mealtimes, singing bible songs, listening to bible stories, creating artwork/crafts relating to the Christian Faith. St. John's is an ELCA Lutheran congregation. You can learn more about ELCA values here . 

Preschool, Kindergarten, and School age will attend a weekly chapel service in the sanctuary lead by one of the Pastor of St. John's. This often looks like a song, hearing a bible story, talking about God's love for us. The lessons include taking care of our neighbors, how to treat each other with kindness, and learning that God is always with us.  We frequently read from the SPARK Story bible. All Children are required to participate in chapel. If you have any questions about what is taught, please reach out us and we will set up a meeting with the Pastors. 

All children who are new to the Center will be evaluated after 45 days in attendance. We use an evaluation tool called Ages and Stages. Ages and Stages is used for children birth to six-years old. Questionnaires are completed by parents and teachers to assess the child's general devleopent. The activities discussed in each questionnaire reflect the developmental milestones. Results form both questionnaires are assessed to see where the chidl is devleopmentaly. Teachers may need to adjust lessons to fit the devleopmental needs of the child. After the 45-day assesment is completed, mparents may request a conference if htey feel one is needed. The Developmental Continuum is also used to communicate a child's growth development. The asessment is for ages birth to three-years old. This assessment is completed four times a year (October, February, May, and July). After the assessment, parents may schedule a conference if they feel one is needed. 

Observations 

Observations are an objective look at what a child does and says out loud. The teachers observe the child's day by noting how the child plays, learns, and interacts with their peers. These observations are used to help the teachers plan lessons that are most effective to the children ant their learning needs. They also provided documentation of the children's skills, knowledge, behavior, and accomplishments over a variety of learning areas to enhance teaching and learning. Pictures may be included for the child's portfolio. Documentation is entered in the specific tools and copied for your child's portfolio. We use observations to complete a Development and Learning report four times a year. 

The Development and Learning report is designed for sharing information with each child's family. It provides narratives that support the child's knowledge, skills, and behaviors in relation to each objective or dimension. Based on the child's developmental levels, it recommends activities for the family to provide additional support for the child. 

Guided Behavior

Our classrooms provide a poositive and nurturing environment. We strive to make each child a successful in the classroom. We model appropriate behavior and reinforce positive behavior we observe. When negative behaviors occur, we address these in several ways: verbal reminders, redirection to other activities, or some quiet time in the cozy corner of the classroom. Although some behavior is developmentally appropriate, we still have to maintain a safe learning environment for all children. If a child has a difficult day, we will communicate this with the parents. Each child is treated with respect and love as they learn from these experiences. Teachers will answer any questions or concerns regarding guided behavior. 

Our center wide classroom rules encompass three basic concepts:

• Take Care of Yourself

• Take Care of Your Friends

• Take Care of Your School

Using these three simple rules helps cover justa bout every problem a preschool child encournters at school. Please share these ideas and thoughts with your child at home. 

If you child receives any type of services from Early Intervention, we must have a copy of the Individualized Family Service Plan (ISFP) or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or both if child has both. A copy will be kept in the child's portfolio and in their DHS file in the office. If the child has a Behavioral plan, we will also need a copy for the files. These plans must be updated yearly. Thes plans help teachers guide instruction and lesson planning to best support the child's needs and to help them thrive in the classroom. Teachers will follow all recommendation indicated in the plan. 

If a child is receiving outside support services including but not limited to, speech, occupational or physical therapy, or behavior support, the therapists are welcome at the Center to support the child. 

If your child regularly receives outside support, we need to know if their person may not be here on a given day. This helps us to best assist our teachers and your child. 

Outside Agencies

We require outside agencies to submit written documentation outlining the professional conduct expectaions for their staff while here at our Center. We also mandate that agencies be willing to meet with our staff using a collaborative appraoch. A mandatory meeting with our administrative Staff must take place prior to any agency beginning services. The intent of this is to align expecations, clarify responsibilities, and build a partnership to support the developmental needs of the child receiving services. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting. 

Referral to Outside Agencies

When a teacher, with the support of the Director, determines that a child/family needs outside services such as medical, dental, developmental, mental health, clothing, food, shelter, etc. the staff member can assist the family if the fmaily is receptive to assistance. The following steps can be used to assist families:

• All information provided to the Teacher/Director is confidential

• The Director maintains a list of approved organization and resources. 

• The Teacher/Director will determine if a third-party is needed. If a professional is needed, the Director will contact the professional and assume responsbility fo rht ereferral. If not needed, the teacher/director will communicate the referral resources to the family. 

• Parental consent is needed for outside support. 

Our classes go outside every chance we can get as long as the weather is nice! (provided no rain, snow, air quality alerts etc.) They love to go on walks, play in the grassy area, as well as our preschool playground, and our infant/toddler playground. We ask that they are dressed seasonally appropriate and make sure ot Label all items includeing coats, jackets, hoodies, scares, gloves. 

• If the temperature is between 25 degrees (including wind child) to 90 degrees (including heat index). 

• Sunscreen with SPF30 is required. Children six months and older are required to sunscreen to participate in outside activities. Sunscreen must be lotion without any dyes. Aerosol cans are not permitted per DHS regulations. 

The children in Preschoo lthrough Kidnergarten will participate in in-house activities.  This can range from yoga instructor,  fitness for focus, library reader, guitar player and music guide, butterfly house, or even a petting zoom. Whatever the activity we have for them we will provide an activity form for both in-house or off campus activities (School age only for off campus).  This form will need to be completed and returned to the office with payment. These activities are optional for children to participate. 

Due to staffing ratios, any child not participating in the activity or field trip, will need to remain home on those days. Parents must sign a ehavior policy for field trips for their child to attent. This policy adresses misconduct before or during a field trip. If a child misbehaves during a field trip, a parent willb e called to pick that child up. The Director will determine if a child may attend the field trip if behavior is an issue. Field trip shirts are required for all off-campus field trips. An order form to purchase field trip shirts will be included with the activty form.