2012-13 Summer & Fall Enrollment
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FAQ

Q:  Is Joy Foundations Christian Preschool & Daycare affiliated with a specific church denomination?
A:  Joy Foundations Christian Preschool & Daycare is a not-for-profit, non-denominational Christian preschool and Christian philosophies are taught here.

Q:  What is your Admission Policy?
A:  We are a childcare facility licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and we comply with all applicable laws, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  We do not discriminate based upon race, sex, national origin, religion or physical or mental handicap.

Q:  What is your Enrollment Priority?
A:  1. Currently enrolled/returning students
      2.  Siblings of current students
      3.  New Applications    

Q:  What is your Registration Procedure? :
A:  NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee of $50 is due when registration/application form is submitted. 

Q:  When is tuition due?
A:  Monthly tuition is due by the 15th of each month.  Late notices will go out on the first day of the following month (i.e., September tuition is due August 15th and late notices will go out on September 1st).  Our tuition is based on the number of days in a school year and not on the number of days in each month.

• A late fee of $15.00 will be applied to all tuition paid after the 1st of the month.
• A $20 fee will be applied on all returned checks.

 

We reserve the right to not accept your child in the program if you tuition is not paid by the first attendance day of the month.  Children will be accepted back in the program upon receipt of tuition provided there is space available.  If there are financial difficulties, please speak to the director to work out a payment schedule.

The school provides a full-time professional staff for the entire school year.  Because of the school’s financial commitments, tuition is not subject to adjustments because of illness, absence, “weather days”, holidays, family vacation days or withdrawal of the child.

Q:  Will my child need a physical prior to attending preschool / daycare?
A:  Yes.  The State of Illinois requires that a physician examine each child within 6 months prior to entering school.  This medical report must be returned to the school office by the first day of school.  Re-examination is required every 2 years.  By law, we may not admit a child whose health form has expired.  The State of Illinois is now also requiring a vision/hearing screening be kept on file for children 3 years and older.

Q:  What curriculum does your center follow?
A:  We are a theme-based center.  This means teachers are free to choose the theme of their choice and present it to the children.  All math, language, science and social study activities will revolve around that theme.  An example would be apples/leaves in the fall, plants/insects in the spring.

Q:  Is your preschool / daycare peanut free?
A:  Due to a rising number of children with allergies to peanuts, we will not serve foods containing peanuts or peanut butter.  When selecting foods to send to school, please do not send any food items containing these ingredients.

Q:  Does my child get a snack during class?
A:  All of our classes are served a daily snack.  We ask that parents volunteer to bring snack on a regular basis.  A snack schedule will be available.  If a snack is not provided, the preschool will provide a daily snack for each child.  An acceptable snack list is listed below.  Snacks must be individually wrapped and no homemade snacks will be accepted.  Any donation that does not meet these requirements will not be served.  We prefer for special occasions that an alternative other than foods be brought for the celebration. (See the Birthday and Special Occasions section of the handbook).  All food products must be store bought, pre-packaged foods with ingredient labels printed on them.
Acceptable Snack List:

• Crackers (Ritz, Goldfish, Cheese, Saltines)
• Graham crackers and Teddy Grahams
• Pretzels
• Popcorn
• Rice Cakes
• Granola bars or fruit breakfast bars
• Muffins (mini-size)
• Bagels
• Tortillas
• Breadsticks
• Applesauce cups or fruit cups
• Fruit (bananas, bag of small apples, raisins)
• Cheese (cheese sticks or cheese slices)

 

Q:  How do I know that the preschool / daycare is closed?
A:  A school calendar will be sent out by August 1 of each new school term listing days we will not be in session including holidays and teacher training days.   We will follow District 158 school schedule.
For emergency closings, such as weather, please go to the Emergency Closing Center website www.emergencyclosings.com and search for our facility by name, Joy Foundations Christian Preschool & Daycare or call them at 847-238-1234 from a touch-tone phone and enter our phone number, 847-515-2155.  You can also listen to all the local news channels for closing information (Channel 2, 5, 7, Fox 32 or WGN-TV). Please listen to make sure which of our programs is closing.  We may close only the preschool and not the daycare.
We also may cancel a session due to some unforeseen church-related event.  Reimbursement will not be made under these circumstances.

Q:  Is the building secure when my child is attending preschool / daycare?
A:  Absolutely.  We take your children’s safety very seriously. When children are present in the building, the doors are locked from the outside with the exception of arrival and departure.  Arrival procedure is a front door drop off.   A staff person will meet your child at the car, and sign your child into the building. Or, you may choose to park and walk your child into the building.
Departure procedure is a pick up at the child’s classroom door.  Parents must come into the building for pick up.  The registered parent or designated person must sign their child out at the classroom door.  Please sign your full name and not initials.  When picking up, please wait in the foyer until a staff member has opened the Center door.
Your child will be allowed to leave the school ONLY with the registered parent or those persons specifically authorized by the parent in writing.  All parents must fill out a parent release form.  The state law requires a parent’s written permission to release a child to someone other than the parent.  If the staff does not recognize the designated pick up person, a driver’s license will be required. 

Q:  What type of continuing education do your teachers get?
A:  We believe it is important to keep all staff up-to-date on new ideas, materials and classroom procedures.  To accomplish this, each staff member will receive at least 15 hours of in-service training per year.