Sharon's Serendipity
HOURS
Sharon’s Serendipity is open 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round. I’m open on snow days, but not when there is a severe storm warning. If for any reason I will be closed, I will attempt to notify parents by 6:00 a.m. Alternate care is the responsibility of the parents. I will be closed for two weeks, at separate times, for vacation. I will also be closed for the following holidays:
New Year’s Day* Presidents' DayMemorial DayIndependence DayLabor DayThanksgiving Day* and the day afterChristmas Day* and the day after*I will close at 5:00 p.m. the day before these days.
Morning arrival must be scheduled no later than 9:00 a.m. and afternoon arrival scheduled no earlier than 1:00 p.m.. Earliest departure 1:00 p.m. Exception will be made for doctor’s appointments or special events.
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment is open to children through twelve years old, regardless of their gender, race, disability, religion, cultural background or marital status of their parents. Applications for full-time or part-time enrollment are accepted whenever there is an opening. Applications for substitute care are accepted at any time. At the time of registration the following is required:
I must have met the child and parent(s)$35.00 non-refundable processing feeCompleted registration formsA completed Medical History and Immunization Form is required within thirty days of the child first day of care.
If a parent wishes to hold space for their child(ren) for up to four (4) weeks, a $100 non-refundable holding fee per child is required. The $100 will be applied to the child(ren)’s first week’s tuition. If the parent decides to not have their child(ren) attend Sharon’s Serendipity, the holding fee will be forfeited.
TYPES OF ENROLLMENT
Full-time care is a set schedule of forty hours per week.
Part-time care is a set schedule of less than forty hours per week.
Substitute care is occasional care dependent on the openings in the Sharon’s Serendipity schedule. Openings may be down times in the regular schedule, or absences or vacations of full or part-time children.
TUITION FEES
Full-time Care
Infants and toddlers; birth to 3 years $5.50/hour
$5.50/hourPreschoolers; 3 years to 6 years $5.25/hour
$5.25/hourAfter school; 6 years to 12 years $5.00/hour
$5.00/hourPart-time care/Substitute Care
Infants and toddlers; birth to 3 years $5.75/hour
$5.75/hourPreschoolers; 3 years to 6 years $5.50/hour
$5.50/hourAfter school; 6 years to 12 years $5.25/hour
$5.25/hourThere is a family discount of .25 per hour, per sibling whenever two or more siblings are present at Sharon’s Serendipity.
TUITION PAYMENTS
Parents will be billed electronically or on Monday, or the first day of the week their child is present at Sharon’s Serendipity, for the previous week. Tuition payments are due, in full, the next day your child is present. There is a fee of $5.00 per day the payment is late. There are no tuition allowances for holidays, family vacations, storm days or absences; unless a child is ill for more than two weeks, then half tuition must be paid in order to keep slot. A doctor’s note will be required.
There is a $25.00 fee for returned checks. After two returned check, only cash, money orders or certified bank checks will be accepted
At times, financial difficulties arise within a family. Please, be honest about such circumstances. Hopefully, we can work out a payment plan that will benefit your family, Sharon’s Serendipity, and most importantly your child.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Children should be dropped off at their scheduled arrival time. It is unfair to arrive late and hold up the day for the other children or to have your child miss part of an activity. If a child has not arrived within thirty minutes of his/her scheduled arrival time, I will assume he/she is not coming and proceed with the day’s activities, which may include leaving the daycare home. Parents will be responsible for tuition for that day.
If a child will be absent, parents need to notify Sharon’s Serendipity as soon as possible and no later than the child’s scheduled arrival time. Children must be dropped off by 7:45 am if they are going to have breakfast.
Only people authorized in writing will be permitted to take a child from Sharon’s Serendipity. For the protection of the children, I require picture identification from anyone picking up your child; there are no exceptions. If a person other than the parents will be picking up a child, the parents must give prior notification.
LATE DEPARTURE
It is imperative parents pick up their child at the pre-arranged time. Parents will be charged $5.00 for each fifteen minutes or part of fifteen minutes they are late picking up their child. If a parent wants a child to stay late, they must call before their child’s pre-arranged departure time to see if any open time is available. If no open time is available, the child cannot stay. I may waive the late fee, at my discretion, due to inclement weather.
Any child who is not picked up by 7:00 pm or one hour after his/her scheduled departure time, which ever comes first, will be considered an abandoned child. I will make every effort to telephone the child’s parents and those on the child’s emergency contact list before calling the Department of Social Service. Parents will be held responsible for any late fees.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Notice must be given fourteen days prior to any decrease in a child's scheduled time at Sharon's Serendipity and a new contact must be signed. Prior permission must be given before a child's hours are increased to ensure time is available and a new contract must be signed.
TERMINATING CARE
There will be a thirty-day trial period. During this time Sharon’s Serendipity or a child’s parent may choose to terminate care with twenty-four hour notice. After the trial period, written notice must be given fourteen days prior to the termination date. If a parent fails to give proper notice, they will be held responsible for two weeks’ tuition. Reasons for Sharon’s Serendipity terminating care include, but are not limited to, excessive late arrivals or departures, excessive absences, non-payment of tuition/fees disagreement between parents and staff regarding the policies of Sharon’s Serendipity, parents are discourteous, or a child is incompatible with the program.
Hours, Enrollment, Tuition, Payment,
Arrival and Departure, Late Departure,
Schedule Change, Terminating Care
