2009 Summer Letter

As a reminder if you lose your "Summer 2009 Kickoff Letter" - here is the primary text:

9 June, 2009

Parents of Summer Daycare Students:

The time has come to make final preparations for the summer daycare session. Let’s get the business end out of the way first thing, so we can get on to the more important part: having a GREAT summer break! Please read this letter carefully, and hold on to it for future reference.

1) Please complete and sign the attached childcare information sheet and return it to me with your activities fee of $50 per child included with your first payment, which you can bring when you drop off your child this coming Monday, June 15. The activities fee is critical, as it enables me to purchase supplies for the coming summer, including field trip t-shirts and crafts. It also helps fund admission for field trips (though it doesn’t cover all such admissions, it does defray the cost for me and makes it so we can do more fun activities). Please make checks payable to Stephanie Martinez.

2) Please pay for each upcoming week the Friday before service is rendered (or whatever day is your child’s last day of daycare for that week). This works particularly well if something should come up over the weekend and your child doesn’t come on Monday, so you don’t need to make a special trip over here just to deliver the check. (Why this is necessary: I barely break even during the summers, and I purchase food and supplies for each upcoming week over the weekend, so I need to get that money deposited first thing Monday morning to cover my costs and keep my daycare account from becoming overdrawn.) To keep my rates low, I must be very strict about this policy.

3) Unfortunately, I can not afford to waive payment for sick days or holidays and keep my weekly rates low. For this reason, as with other daycares, the weekly rate will be constant throughout the summer, regardless of attendance.

4) Please call me at 389-5078 between 8am and 8:30am if your child will not be coming to daycare, or if you are running late. We don’t want to be gone when you drop off your child, but we also do not want to delay an outing or activity because we’re waiting for somebody who isn’t coming.

5) Summer daycare hours are 7:30am – 5:30pm. There will be an additional fee for late pick ups. (Please note: 5 minutes late is still late. Our family often has evening activities and late pick ups create a huge inconvenience. I know from experience that it can’t always be helped, but please extend every courtesy if a delay is unavoidable. The sooner we know you’re running late, the easier it is for us to make accommodations.) I really don’t want to assess any additional fees, as it is awkward and uncomfortable for both parties - so please make every effort to be sure your child is picked up before 5:30. I will use the time on my Verizon cell phone as the “official” daycare time. Arrangements can be made in advance for an occasional early start or late pick up. As long as these arrangements are made early, they won’t result in any additional charges.

6) We will be doing a lot of swimming this summer. Your child will need a swimsuit and towel on a daily basis, as well as any goggles/noseplugs/earplugs you want them to have. If your child has an extra suit & towel, you can leave them at the daycare and they will be rinsed out daily and laundered weekly. Each child must have their own sunscreen, spf 35 or higher. A pair of sandals or flip-flops is also recommended, as we will be walking on gravel to get to the pool.

7) We will try to take a weekly field trip as regularly as possible (weather permitting). Field trips will generally be taken on a Friday, and you will be notified in advance of our field trip destination. Be sure your child is properly dressed for each field trip, including footwear, jackets, hats, and other appropriate supplies for the weather and activity. We use vanilla as a natural insect repellent. If you want another form of repellent used for your child, please provide it on the first day, and we will keep it here for use throughout the summer.

8) A cereal breakfast will be provided to all who arrive before 8:30am. You are welcome to provide microwavable breakfast foods for your child (up to 1 weeks’ worth can be stored here). A child arriving after 8:30 will be expected to have eaten breakfast before coming.

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions. My family and I are really looking forward to sharing the summer with your child - it will be full of fun, adventure, and learning!

Checklist for Monday, June 15:
___ Information Sheet/Permission Form completed & signed
___ $50 Activities Fee
___ Swim Bag including:
___ Swimsuit
___ Towel
___ Waterproof Sunscreen (spf 35 or higher)
___ Goggles/Noseplugs/Earplugs/Waterwings (if desired)
___ Insect Repellent (if desired)