Welcome to Rogy’s Learning Place

Proud to be a partner in your child’s future:
The management and staff of Rogy’s Learning Place would like to welcome you to our center.  Our centers have served families since 1972, enjoying a long and rewarding partnership with the communities we serve as providers of quality childcare and education. Our goal is to meet the needs of families in a friendly and respectful manner. Parents are a child’s “first teacher.” As professionals in the field of early childhood education, we encourage your involvement. A partnership between parent and staff is an important element in creating an environment that aids a child in developing a positive self-image and fostering a joy of learning that will last a lifetime.

We know the choice of a preschool or childcare center is an important and exciting decision—and we are happy that you are considering Rogy’s as your partner. We want you and your child to feel comfortable and happy with your decision. This parent handbook is here to help, providing information and ideas to help make your child’s experience with us a happy and productive one. Welcome to the Rogy’s family.

A little about our history:     back to top
Rogy’s, family owned and operated since 1972, is operated by Mrs. Rogy, her two daughters, Wendy Pettett and Dawn Meyer, and her son Rick Rogy. The family has nearly 100 years of combined experience in the childcare industry. They all are actively involved in operations and committed to providing excellent care for all children in an environment that educates and nurtures them as individuals. The Rogy family also has an executive staff with years of experience in early childhood education. Our regional supervisors have a history with Rogy’s that ranges from 10 to 30 years and are the key component in our commitment to consistency. We pride ourselves on the retention and stability of our supervising staff.

Today, Rogy’s is the largest locally owned and operated childcare center in central Illinois (we also have two locations in Ohio). Each site is fully equipped to enhance your child’s “growing” experience, with highly trained staff, creative educational programming, and the outstanding care that has positioned Rogy’s as one of the area’s most respected and well-known names in child care.

Quality childcare for all children:
Our mission is to provide a pathway to learning for all young children. We aid them in developing a positive self-image, and through our child-focused programming, we foster a joy of learning. The opportunity to learn is introduced through developmentally appropriate activities designed to develop skills in the areas of social, physical, and cognitive growth. This opportunity, available to all children and their families, is presented in a warm and accepting environment that encourages a sense of security and trust.

We believe all children deserve an equal opportunity to learn and develop to their greatest potential. Children learn in a positive, nurturing, stimulating environment where they’re encouraged to solve problems, be independent, satisfy their natural curiosities, make choices, and understand the impact their actions have on others. “Thoughtful play” is productive play that develops self-esteem and cognitive skills. We believe that an eclectic approach to education provides the opportunity for a balance between adult- and child-initiated activities.

Parent involvement is an important part of our well-balanced, family-oriented program. We have an open-door policy in which you are welcome to visit at any time and encouraged to participate in any or all activities. Our goal is to become a partner with your family in our common goal of providing quality education and care for your child. We want you to feel comfortable with our staff and free to make suggestions regarding your child’s education and daily routine during his or her membership in our program.

Teachers who excel:
We carefully hire teachers who love children and are enthusiastic about educating, nurturing, and encouraging them to become independent, confident individuals.

Guiding your child’s class through each day of learning and fun is the primary teacher’s responsibility. If you arrive early in the morning or pick up your child later in the evening, you may not see your child’s primary teacher, whose day may begin or end at a different time. But he or she is supported by other teachers and caregivers who work to ensure consistency in your child’s day.

To keep you up-to-date and involved in the learning process, our teachers provide daily written reports on your child’s development. Feel free to ask the teachers and director about your child’s progress, too. Together, we can help your child become a lifelong learner, creative thinker, and problem solver.

Beginning your Rogy’s experience:      back to top
Making your experience at Rogy’s a positive one right from the start is our number-one goal. Here are a few details you can take care of in advance, so when the big day arrives, you can concentrate on helping your child feel comfortable in a new situation.

Touring our facility:
One of the best things you can do before enrolling your child is tour our center and meet our staff. A tour gets your child excited about the first day of school. Your child can see the fun activities he or she will participate in, explore the classroom, meet the teacher, and make new friends—all with you present for support and encouragement.

Enrolling your child:
Prior to the first day of school, please complete the admission application, handbook agreement, medical forms, and permission forms and give them to the director. Completing this paperwork may take some time, but it’s critical to your child’s safety and required by state and local licensing agencies.

We are an equal opportunity provider, so we consider all applications for enrollment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

A nonrefundable registration fee is required for enrollment. It’s an annual fee collected each fall. If you pay the initial registration fee three months or less prior to the designated date, you can forego payment until the following year.

Keeping children safe:
To help ensure your child’s safety, all of our centers feature a Secure Access System, located at the front entrance. Each parent receives an individual security code necessary to enter the building. To help us maintain the highest level of security, please keep your code confidential. When your child no longer attends the center, your code is erased from the system.

In addition, most of our classrooms are equipped with observation cameras, and monitors are located in the director’s office. You’re welcome to observe your child’s classroom at any time.

Picking up your child:
On your enrollment forms, you provide information about people authorized to pick up your child and those to contact in case of an emergency. We keep a file containing their names, addresses, and phone numbers. Please let the director know in writing as soon as possible if any of this information changes.

If you want someone not listed in this file to pick up your child, please fill out the daily authorized pick-up sheet at the front desk. That person will be required to show a photo I.D. prior to releasing  your child.

When divorce is an issue, please indicate on your enrollment form the name of the custodial parent and those authorized to pick up your child. The custodial parent must give us a copy of the divorce decree, which will be kept confidential in your child’s file.

If you have an order of protection or restraining order that pertains to your child’s protection, please notify us immediately and provide a copy of the legal document.

Making your child feel secure:
Change can be hard for people of any age, so feeling somewhat apprehensive about your new school is normal—both for you and for your child. Following are a few tips to help your child’s first day go well:
•  If your schedule allows, bring your child in to visit before the first day.
•  Talk with your child about the teacher and the children he or she saw and met.
•  Discuss the daily routine with your child.
•  Ask the director about upcoming activities, so your child can get excited about some of the fun things the class will do.

Wearing the right clothes:
Our program is filled with “hands-on” learning opportunities—activities that can sometimes be messy. So we recommend you dress your child in casual, washable clothing with comfortable shoes that are safe for large motor activities.

Since our classrooms go outside daily, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the day’s weather. Bring extra clothing to store in your child’s personal cubby—including a shirt, pants, underwear, and socks—for messy times or when an accident occurs. Make sure to label these clothes, as well as items like coats and jackets that come off during the day.

Bringing toys and personal belongings:
If your child wants to bring a toy or other item for show-and-tell, please let the teacher or director know and label it for an extra measure of security. And if your child wants to bring a “security” item for rest time, that’s okay, too. The rest of the time, however, we prefer that children use our toys and equipment instead of bringing them from home, in order to help us avoid losing or breaking these items.

Making the first day a positive adventure:      back to top
Starting school is an exciting prospect for “little learners,” but for some children the first day can also be confusing. As concerned partners who care about your child’s happiness, we work with you to make your child’s first day as happy as possible. Here are a few things you can do to make it go smoothly:

•  Arriving and departing:
When you arrive and leave Rogy’s each day, sign your child in and out along with the time of arrival or departure. These forms are located at the front counter. Once you’ve signed your child in, please help him or her to the appropriate classroom.

•  Helping your child adjust:
When the first day arrives, you can help your child with the transition in many ways. Talk with your child about the exciting activities that will happen throughout the day. Let your child bring a special item to feel more secure. Take a little extra time in the morning and stay as long as necessary to help your child feel comfortable. We assure you, from our experience, that your child will settle down shortly after you leave. Feel free to call us at any time during the day to see how your child is doing.

Some children adjust easily to their first day of school, but others find it difficult to say goodbye. Both reactions are normal. Children are individuals who react to situations differently. If your child is hesitant about your departure, take a moment to reassure him or her that you’ll be back at a certain time. This uneasiness usually doesn’t last for more than two or three weeks, so please be patient. If you’d like some suggestions on how to help your child adjust, feel free to ask the teacher or director.

Communicating to build a partnership:       back to top
We pride ourselves on effective communication with parents. Our open-door policy means we encourage you to visit the center at any time and are always open to your suggestions or questions concerning your child’s day.
We offer many ways to communicate. Our staff is available on a daily basis to listen and discuss your wishes regarding your child’s needs. We also communicate through our monthly news brief, monthly teacher letters, daily reports regarding your child’s day, and a parent board located in the foyer. Additionally, please feel free to call whenever you have questions or concerns. Communication is an important component in the relationship we have with our families.

Opening the magical doors of knowledge:      back to top
Learning is the technique of acquiring skills and understanding. Our curriculum was developed with the “whole” child as its focus. Because each child is developmentally unique, we give your child the opportunity to grow as an individual. Activities, materials, and teaching methods are age-appropriate, creating a classroom environment that challenges your child’s learning potential at all developmental levels.

Children learn best by doing. Our curriculum is an eclectic approach to early childhood education, providing numerous opportunities for exploration, hands-on activities, and child-initiated choices. Our approach to education provides a learning opportunity that encourages children to become independent and develop an understanding of their environment. It gives children a beginning foundation for success in school.

Infants:
Soft objects, books, toys that change how they look or sound when manipulated, and music are all a part of our warm, responsive infant environment. So are loving caregivers, who spend the day talking, singing, and playing games with your child.

Each baby has its own crib, furnished with a sheet and a bumper pad. Feel free to bring a blanket and other items to make your baby feel secure. A daily written report keeps you up-to-date on your baby’s sleeping, eating, and diapering schedule.

Toddlers:
Rapid development is part of being a toddler. And toddlers thrive in our safe, nurturing environment where they’re encouraged to think through their actions, solve problems, and experience new things.
We provide written progress reports each day documenting your toddler’s eating, napping, and diapering routine, as well as activities your child participated in throughout the day.

Two-year-olds:
Two-year-olds are curious explorers of the world around them. Our enriching environment, range of educational toys and materials, and self-directed activities help enhance their sense of discovery and encourage their independence—all of which prepares them for the adventures of preschool.

Toilet training is another part of our daily routine. When you feel your child is ready, we are here to assist you in this adventure. During the toilet-training process, please let the teacher know what is most comfortable for you and your child. We provide a daily report with your two-year-old’s eating, napping, and toileting routine, as well as things accomplished during the day.

Preschool:
Your preschool child is involved in many hands-on activities to enhance his or her learning experiences. Our approach to education provides a learning opportunity that encourages children to become independent and develop an understanding of their environment. Our day is filled with a variety of choices for learning, with a good balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. Our classrooms are divided into Interest Areas that encourage your child to explore and imagine while developing school-readiness skills. We provide a brief report informing you about your child’s day.

School-age:
School-age children need a break from school—a creative, fun, and relaxed environment in which to learn. In our less formal setting, your child can play games with friends, create art projects, have fun outside, challenge his or her computer skills, relax in our quiet area, or complete homework assignments.

To accommodate working parents, we offer transportation to and from many local elementary schools. We also provide a full-day program when your child is out of school. And during the summer months, we offer a camp filled with fun activities and field trips to enrich vacation time. (An additional fee is required for field trips.)

Discipline:
Redirection and a positive approach are the best way to discipline. A positive attitude is always our guide when correcting inappropriate behavior. Generally, the incidents we encounter are minor and warrant a simple redirect approach. For inappropriate classroom behavior, we implement a time-out in a quiet area. Children who misbehave are expected to stay in the area for one minute per year of age. Infants and toddlers are redirected, and time-out is not implemented.

Occasionally, more severe disciplinary problems may arise. At these times, open communication between parents and the director is critical to resolving these issues.

Basic essentials:      back to top

•  Payment and Billing:
Prompt payment of tuition is helpful because it lets us focus on your child’s educational environment, not on collecting fees. All fees are due and payable in advance on Monday of each week. (In the case of divorce or separation, the parent or guardian with custody of the child is responsible for payment.)

Payment in full is required for your child’s scheduled days. You do not pay if your child has the chicken pox, measles, or mumps (one week is allowed), if your child is in the hospital, or if there has been a death in the family.

Parents who become more than two weeks delinquent on payment may be asked to remove their children until payment is made in full. During that time, the child’s position in our center cannot be guaranteed for re-enrollment.

•  Vacation Time:
You receive vacation time after your child has been enrolled in the center for six months. You receive the total amount of days your child is enrolled a week times two. For example, if your child is enrolled two days a week, you receive four vacation days per year. If your child is enrolled five days a week, you receive 10 vacation days per year. Vacation days may be taken as sick days, personal days, vacation days, etc.

•  Holidays:
We observe the following holidays. If a holiday falls on your child’s scheduled day(s), full payment is required. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, we reserve the right to celebrate it on a Monday or Friday.

                                                            • New Year’s Eve Day
                                                            • New Year’s Day
                                                            • Memorial Day
                                                            • Fourth of July
                                                            • Labor Day
                                                            • Thanksgiving Day
                                                            • Day after Thanksgiving
                                                            • Christmas Eve Day
                                                            • Christmas Day

•  On-time pick-up:
We realize that emergencies happen; however, it is important to pick up children on time. Late pick-ups take personal time away from our teachers, who have appointments and families to be with. Parents who arrive after closing time are charged a late fee of $5.00 per child for every 15-minute increment. If parents are more than one hour late, and we are unable to contact anyone listed on the enrollment form, we are required to call the proper authorities.

•  Breakfast, lunch, and snacks:
We provide a nutritious breakfast/snack, a hot lunch, and an afternoon snack. Breakfast is served between 8-8:30 in the morning. If you want your child to receive breakfast, please make sure he or she is here before 8:45. (Breakfast is not provided for latch-key children, unless they are part of our full-day program.) Lunch is served between 11-11:30, and an afternoon snack is served between 3-3:30.

We plan our menus in accordance with state health requirements for school-age and preschool children. All meals and snacks are served family style. Our teachers are encouraged to eat with your child, serving as role models. Manners and etiquette are part of our daily routine.

If your child has food allergies, please include this information on your enrollment forms. If your child has any other nutritional needs, please notify the director in writing and we’ll do our best to see that they are met. We are not, however, able to make exceptions due to food dislikes.

At most of our centers, we ask you to provide formula and baby food for infants and toddlers. When you are ready for your child to be introduced to soft foods, please let us know so we can work with you and your child to make this happen.

•  Illnesses and medications:
Illness is a part of growing up. However, in order to protect the health of all children at our center, please keep your sick children at home. (The enclosed insert contains guidelines to help you make the right decision.) If your child becomes ill while at our center, the director will contact you to make arrangements to have him or her picked up.

We can administer over-the-counter and prescription medication with your written instructions. Over-the-counter medication must be labeled with your child’s name, date, and directions for administering the medicine. We are unable to exceed the recommended dosage for your child’s age. We can administer prescription medication if the medicine is a current prescription from your doctor. It must be labeled with your child’s name, directions for administering the medicine, prescription date, physician’s name, and prescription number.

Please give your child the morning and evening doses of medication at home. We’ll be happy to give the afternoon dose. If the prescription requires more doses during the day, we can accommodate that as well.
We can also give nebulizer treatments. For our staff to give these treatments efficiently, we prefer mid-morning or mid-afternoon time slots, which give us more opportunity to administer the treatment uninterrupted. If this request causes any difficulties regarding your child’s needs, please speak to the director.

If you’d like us to use topical products—such as diaper ointment, teething gel, or sunscreen—please provide them along with written approval and instructions.

•  Birthdays and other fun times:
We hold holiday parties throughout the year in each classroom. You’re welcome to participate, and we’ll notify you in advance when these events occur. You’re also welcome to bring snacks and party favors for holiday or birthday celebrations. However, to comply with local licensing agencies, we can only accept commercially prepared foods (unopened and packaged by a bakery or manufacturer).

•  Days on-the-go:
Sometimes, we’re on the go to various outings or field trips. Children are transported in our childcare van or by a private bus company. So that your child age three years or younger can attend these events, please supply a car seat for the childcare van. We provide adequate notice before field trips and require your written permission so that your child may participate.

•  Insurance protection:
We carry a primary accident plan in the event your child is injured during school activities. We also carry general liability and commercial auto insurance.

•  Weather emergencies:
Our centers very seldom close; however, if we must because of severe weather or some other emergency, we will broadcast the closing before 5:30 a.m. on local radio. Please ask your director what channels to listen to. You will be charged for the first two snow/cold days of the season.

If your child uses our van transportation, please note that vans operate at our discretion. If a winter storm occurs during the day, please contact the center for van information. If the weather is severe during morning hours, vans won’t operate until we feel it is safe for travel. This may result in your child being tardy to school.
 
 

If you should have concerns, request, suggestions, etc. about the Child Care Program we ask that you contact your Director who is immediately responsible for the daily conduct of the program. If you do not feel that your concerns are being addressed please contact our Executive Director.  [Executive Directors]

If you still do not feel your concerns are being addressed you may contact those persons that are legally responsible for the program. [Owners]

Note:  The above is a general summary of our policies and procedures and are subject to change at any time without notice.  Please refer to you center's Parent Handbook for details of your specific center.