FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What supplies does my child need on the first day of school?

A: The first day of child care is a special occasion for a child and a parent. Transitioning from having your little one at home to packing him/her up for child care is challenging enough without worrying about forgetting to pack something essential. Please remember to label EVERY item brought to school and bring in the completed child enrollment forms the first day. Thank you for providing the items on this list for your child’s first day.

For Infants:

  • Prepared formula/breast milk in plastic bottles labeled with child’s first and last name (send in fresh supply for each day)
  • Cereal/baby food for the day or week
  • Age appropriate eating utensils and bowls
  • Diapers and wipes – We request that you bring diapers in bulk at the beginning of each week. Pack a full container of wipes initially and bring a refill package for the start of each week, or as needed.
  • 3 bibs
  • 2 crib sheets/Sleep sack, if you want your child covered at naptime
  • 2-3 pacifiers
  • 2 sets of season appropriate clothing (labelled with your child’s first and last name.)
  • Diaper Cream & Ointment
  • Photos of Family: Providing your baby’s teacher with pictures of you and your family for their crib or classroom will help your baby feel at home. Having a familiar face to look at while you are at work helps ease the transition into their new environment.

For Toddlers:

  • Breakfast if needed, Lunch, & Snacks, Juices and milk
  • Sippy cup
  • 2 bibs
  • Diapers and wipes – We request that you bring diapers in bulk at the beginning of each week. Pack a full container of wipes initially and bring a refill package for the start of each week, or as needed.
  • Diaper Cream & Ointment
  • 4 pairs of underwear (if your toddler is potty-trained)
  • 2 sets of season appropriate clothing labelled with your child’s first and last name.
  • crib sheet and small blanket
  • Photos of Family

For Nursery/Pre-School:

  • Breakfast if needed, Lunch, & Snacks, Juices and milk
  • 4 pairs of underwear
  • 2 sets of season appropriate clothing labelled with your child’s first and last name.
  • crib sheet and small blanket
  • Photos of Family

Q: What forms are required to enroll my child?

A: The necessary child enrollment forms can be found on the Miss Dawn’s website under the “Forms” tab, click on the tab and scroll down to download forms and print the age appropriate forms that you will need for your child/children. If you need further assistance, please contact the director.

Q: What holidays are your Child Care Center closed?

A: The complete list of closings can be found on the website under the “More” tab, click on the tab and scroll down to School Closings.

Q: Is there a sibling discount?

A: We offer a sibling discount, with 15% off of the older sibling’s monthly rate.

Q: What are your hours of operation?

A: We are open Monday – Friday, from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Q: What is your Wellness policy and what will happen if my child becomes ill at school?

A: Our Wellness policy can be found on the website under the “Forms” tab, click on the tab and scroll down to review the Wellness Policy. If your child becomes ill in our care, we will contact you immediately at the phone numbers that you have provided on your Emergency Contact form. If you cannot be reached, your emergency contact person will be contacted to pick up your child. Emergency contact information must be updated routinely. You or an authorized adult are required to pick your child up from school immediately.

Q: What if my child requires medication while at school?

A: Since we are MAT certified to give medication, we require that a Medical Consent form be filled out by both the Physician and parent. The medication must be brought in it’s original container labeled by the pharmacy.

Q: What curriculum do you follow?

A: Our teachers teach through a thematic approach. This is a way of teaching and learning, which many areas of the curriculum are connected together and integrated within a theme. It allows literacy to grow progressively, with vocabulary and writing linked.

Q: How do I pay my tuition each month?

A: Families are billed on a monthly rate. If you have different needs, please speak to Miss Dawn to see if we can accommodate those needs. We accept Visa, Master Card, and American Express, but we prefer you to pay with your checking account or enroll in an automated monthly tuition debit from your checking account. Payment is due no later than the 10th of each month.

Q: How are the rooms staffed?

A: Each class follows the adult to child ratio based on the guidelines of OCFS (Office of Children & Family Services). Rooms are staffed with a state qualified teacher (Bachelor’s, Masters, or CDA in Early Childhood).  When the ratio is exceeded, the teacher works with an assistant, who has Early Childhood experience. We also benefit from the extra help of our college students and volunteers.

Q: Who will be caring for my child all day?

A: The staff at Miss Dawn’s Child Care consist of a director, teachers, and assistants, that are passionate about early childhood education. Your child will be in a classroom with 1-3 teacher/teacher assistants each day depending on the size of the class. Our staff receive background checks before starting employment and there is always a CPR and First Aid Certified staff on at all times. Many of our teachers have their college degrees, or CDA. This allows them to continue to provide your child with the best education possible. We also take online training courses all year round.

Q: Are background checks done on employees?

A: All employees, volunteers and interns who interact with our children, are required to be fingerprinted by a state certified facility with a complete background check including Sex Offender Registry.

Q: Does the Center close in bad weather?

A: When we experience severe weather, the school will be closed. Emergency closings and delays can be found on channel 12 news, the school outgoing message and you will receive a notice through an automated phone/text message. If the school closes midday due to changing road conditions, we will contact parents by phone with information for pick up. 

Q: Is food provided for the children daily?

A: We provide a morning and an afternoon snack, which follows the daily nutritional guidelines.  Children should bring breakfast if needed and a lunch daily with additional snacks. Sample menus are provided in the “more” section under food and Nutrition information.

Q: Will my child stay in the same room throughout their years at the Center?

A: We are a licensed program, through OCFS (Office of Child and Family Services). When your child reaches a certain age, your child is prepared for the next group at the Center. The family is notified by the teacher or Director as to a transition schedule and date. The transition process is gradual, with daily short visits, which build gradually based on the comfort level of your child. We will keep you informed of their progress throughout the transition.

Q: Are there any food restrictions?

A: We are a nut-free facility. This means we cannot allow any type of peanut butter or “nut” related foods in the classroom. This is for the safety of all children, due to severe or mild allergies at the Center. When bringing in items for birthday celebrations, be sure to speak with the classroom teacher first to make sure that the celebratory snack is safe for all children.  In addition, we follow the OCFS guidelines to prohibit any foods that are considered a choking hazard (hot dogs, carrots, popcorn, etc.)