Rec Care

Click here to download a Registration Form | Click here to download the Handbook

Dear Parents:  Welcome to the Manhattan Park District Rec Care Program offering before and after school care for community children.  I look forward to working with you in the coming year.  Our goal is to provide a safe place for community children to participate in our specialized program offering a wide variety of activities in an adult supervised setting.

This handbook has been developed as a general reference guide for the Manhattan Park District Rec Care Program.  I hope it will provide you with the information necessary to help insure a pleasant experience for you and your child. 

During the school year I encourage you to contact me, Vicki Pacewic, the Rec Care Supervisor, at 815-478-3324 should you have any questions.  Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.  I look forward to a wonderful year!                 

Philosophy

Rec Care is committed to meeting the need of supervised care for children before and after school through a safe, easily accessible, and reasonably priced program.
         
Our mission is:

1. To establish and maintain a pleasant, safe and positive environment.
2. To provide warm, trusting, competent and responsible staff who strive to meet the needs of the parents and children who attend our program.
3. To promote respectful interaction between our staff, parents and children.
4. To be supportive of parents and encourage involvement and communication.
5. To understand that each child is an individual and has different needs.
6. To assist children in the development of self-discipline and the understanding of limits, rules and expectations.
7. To encourage children to be responsible for themselves, others and their environment.
8. To provide a setting where children are expected to treat other children, staff, facilities and materials respectfully through their words and actions.
9. To encourage enthusiasm for cooperation, learning and having a good time.

REC CARE POLICY:
Information changes:

Changes in the information you provided on your registration form must be submitted to the instructor in writing.  This includes changes in those designated to pick up your child, your address, phone number, etc.  For the safety of all children we cannot accept verbal changes.

Activities:
We realize that children sometimes need to “unwind” from school, therefore we offer arts and crafts, games and outdoor/gym play and other appropriate activities in our recreational program.  We also provide the opportunity for quiet conversation or for children to work on their homework.  Our program is planned to provide children with choices, variety, limits and security while having a good time.  Our staff is continually adding new activities, games and crafts in an effort to make our program sessions fun and interesting. 

Personal toys/items:
In the interest of safety, and to avoid any problems, toys, games, movies, books, trading cards, stuffed animals or any other personal items from home should not be brought to the Rec Care sessions.  If any such items are brought and taken out during Rec Care by children please note the Manhattan Park District can not be responsible for any lost or broken items

Registration:   
The Rec Care program offers services for children who are in pre-school through 5th grade.  Registration forms must be completed and submitted prior to your child attending the Program.  You can register at the Park Office. There is a $10.00 registration fee and a $25.00 cashable deposit required.

 Deposit:As of July 1st 2008, a $25.00 cashable (if paying by check) deposit will be required. This will be applied to your last bill. If your balance is more than $25.00 you will receive a bill in the mail.  If your balance is less than $25.00 a refund check will be issued. Your deposit can only be used for your last payment at the end of the school year.

User Fees:
The Rec Care program fees are based on AM and /or PM attendance.  The Manhattan Park District charges by the hour.  If you sign your child in before 7:30am it is considered two hours.  If you sign you child in at 7:30am or any time after that, it is considered one hour.  Your child is signed in by our instructor in the afternoon.  From the sign in time until 4:05pm is considered one hour.  If you pick you child up after that, until 5:05pm, it is considered two hours and any thing after 5:05pm is considered three hours.

 Payments:
Payment is due one week after services are provided.  Invoices are mailed out every Tuesday.  It is your responsibility to pay any balance owed by the designated due date indicated on your invoice to avoid a $15.00 late charge.  Payment can be made:

1. At the Manhattan Program Center  Monday – Friday 8:30am–4:30pm

1. At the Program Center in the drop box
2. By credit card at www.illinoisepay.com
3. You may also sign up for our direct payment withdrawal from your checking account

Late payment fee:
Payments must be received by the designated due date.  A $15.00 late fee will be charged to your account each week your payment is not received up to two weeks. After two weeks of non-payment your child is not eligible for the Rec Care program.  Collection process begins after two weeks.  To avoid this you must contact the Rec Care Supervisor prior to the due date to arrange for special consideration and a payment plan.  You are required to fill out the Financial Agreement during registration.

Returned checks:   

A $15.00 service fee will be added for each returned (NSF) check.

Schedule:
  Rec Care follows the District 114 school calendar.  Sessions begin on the first full day of school.  We are not open during holidays, vacation/breaks, or during emergency school closings due to weather or events.  We will provide service on early release days.Time:

Rec Care hours for Anna McDonald are 6:30am-8:30am and from 3:00pm-6pm.  The hours for Wilson Creek are 6:30am-8:45am and from 3:15pm-6:00pm. 

Morning sign in and Late Pick-up:
The Rec Care AM session begins operation at 6:30am.  If your child attends Am Rec Care, the drop off person must come in to the Rec Care room and sign the child in.         

The Rec Care PM session operates until 6:00pm.  We recommend that one of the designated contacts on your registration form is available to pick your child up by 6:00pm in the event you can’t be here by 6:00pm.  If you know that you are going to be late and your emergency pick up person is not available, please call Rec Care and inform the instructor of the approximate time you will pick your child up.

Late fees will be issued to your invoice at the rate of $1.00 per minute after 6:00pm.
Action will be taken if these policies are not followed and/or abused.

Action is as follows:

1. The first offense is a verbal reminder.
2. The second offense is a written reminder.
3. The third offense is a written reminder and a 1 week suspension of the use of the Rec Care program.
4. The fourth offense is termination of the child’s registration from the program for the remainder of the year.

Snacks:

The Rec Care program has appropriate snacks and beverages available for children to purchase during the session.  Items such as milk, cereal and breakfast bars are available during the morning session.  Children may bring healthy snacks from home but no candy or caffeinated beverages will be allowed

Health:
Please be sure to provide us with any dietary restrictions including food allergies on your registration.

It is important that children not be sent to the Rec Care program if they are ill.  If your child becomes ill after being dropped off, we will call you first and then your emergency contact to come and pick your child up.

Should an accident occur Rec Care staff will provide basic first aid care.  For serious injuries/illness we will call 911 and then contact the parent/guardian.  Parents will be responsible for emergency medical charges for any services provided for your child.

Note: All accidents/injuries/illnesses will be documented and discussed with the parent at the time the child is picked up.

 Discipline:

If a child behaves or acts in a way that could be determined by the Rec Care to be inappropriate or of a dangerous mature, disciplinary steps may be taken which may include removing the child from the activity or taking away a toy/material that is being mistreated.  A child may be required to sit in a designated “time out” area until they are in control of their actions.  If a child’s actions are extremely inappropriate or of a dangerous nature a parent will be called to pick their child up immediately.  Any serious actions will cause suspension from the Rec Care program as determined by the Rec Care Supervisor.If unacceptable behavior continues, we will do the following:

1. 1st offense

1. 2nd offense

1. 3rd offense

1. 4th offense

1. 5th offense

If the same or similar behavior occurs, an incident report will be written and the child will be removed from the Rec Care program for the remainder of the school year 

We have  zero tolerance for foul language and physical abuse to an Instructor/Supervising Adult or other children.

Note:

All disciplinary situations will be documented and discussed with the parent at the time of pick up.

Taxes:Rec Care is not a child care program, but depending on your circumstances, the cost of the program may qualify for a tax deduction.  On request, we will provide you with the amount you have paid for the program for the year.

Communication:
           
Communication with parents is one of the most important aspects of the success of our program.  If there is any situation occurring at home that might influence your child while they are attending our program, please let us know.  We want your child’s Rec Care experience to be positive.

We value the opportunity to talk with parents and exchange information, but we want you to know that our staff is dedicated to giving their full attention to the care of your children.  Please feel free to arrange a meeting or phone call with the Rec Care Supervisor to discuss your concerns at a time when she can give you her full attention.  You may contact the supervisor at 478-3324 to arrange a meeting.

Vicki Pacewic
815-478-3324 office
815-560-1074 cell
Rec Care Supervisor