General Policies

Download our 2020-2021 Parent Handbook

Our school hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Once your child is in therapy, if you would like to observe, please do so quietly without interfering. If you arrive early for pick-up, please observe quietly. If you drop your child off prior to 8:30 or arrive after 2:00 to pick your child up you will be billed before/after school care. In an emergency, please contact us at: 904.928.0112.

If you have questions concerning Little Star or your child’s program, please schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher and/or a Director after school hours.

If your child eats lunch at Little Star, please pack everything (s)he will need to eat. We prefer you send microwaveable safe containers and needed utensils. We will provide water and napkins. If your child attends after school, please send a healthy snack.

Sick Child Policy

We understand the challenges that keeping a sick child at home can present to a family, especially when both parents work. In the end, it is in the best interests of the children and the therapists working with them, that children who are sick stay home, rest and recuperate. Just as illness can spread quickly through your own family; illness can spread quickly through our Little Star family if we do not exercise good judgment and prevention!

Sometimes it is easy to tell when common sense and good judgment dictate that your child stays home. If your child is “too sick” to go to school or “too sick” to participate in meaningful activity, he or she is too sick to come to Little Star. Sometimes, though, it is not clear-cut. To assist in this sometimes difficult decision, Little Star Center has adopted the following sick policy.

Please note: If your child develops any symptoms or illness, while at Little Star that would require him/her to go home, you will be called to pick him/her up. Parents are expected to pick up their sick child as soon as possible, but no later than one hour after receiving the call.

As always, consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.

Fever
If your child’s temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, keep him/her home. Your child should be fever free (without medicine) for 24 hours before returning to Little Star

Mild Cough/Mild Runny Nose
If there is NO fever, and the child is acting normally, attendance is fine.

Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms
Bad coughs, “barking” coughs or coughs with wheezing should be evaluated by a physician as they could indicate croup, bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. The child should stay home until the cough improves or until released to do so by the doctor. You do not need to wait for the cough to disappear completely.

Diarrhea/Vomiting
Keep your child at home until the illness is over – meaning it’s been at least 24 hours after the last episode (without control by medicine).

Sore Throat
Minor sore throat is usually not a problem. A Severe sore throat may be strep throat (even if no fever is present). If your child has a severe sore throat, keep him/her home and contact your physician (a special test is needed to determine if it is strep throat). If your child has strep throat, keep him/her home until 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic.

Earache
Earaches are not contagious, but your child should be kept home if they are very uncomfortable or have other symptoms which require them to stay home.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Keep your child home until the doctor says it is OK to return. Pink eye is highly contagious and most cases are caused by a virus (cannot be treated with antibiotics). Bacterial conjunctivitis will require an antibiotic. Keep your child home for at least 24 hours after the first treatment. Only your doctor can determine if pink eye is viral or bacterial. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, the child may come to Little Star with a note from the physician verifying allergic conjunctivitis.

Rash
Your child should see a doctor before coming to Little Star if he or she has a rash that is not related to diapering or other known non-contagious causes (i.e. allergy). Once cleared by a doctor your child may return.

Chicken Pox
Keep your child home for at least 7-10 days after the eruption of blisters. If your child has a fever 14-21 days after exposure, your child must stay home. All blisters must have dry scabs before returning to Little Star. Please notify Little Star of any known exposure to chicken pox even if symptoms do not develop.

Antibiotic Treatment
The child must have completed at least 24 hours of antibiotic treatment before returning to Little Star.

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