FAQ

The State Department of Health requires that we have a clear indication of each child’s immunizations prior to the start of school. The State of California requires a licensed physician’s certificate of good health and evidence of immunization for diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus (DTP), polio, mumps, measles, rubella, HIB, hepatitis B and varicella (chickenpox).

Children first enrolled in an early education setting experience high rates of illness. Research shows that those children will acquire a strengthened immune system and experience less illness throughout the elementary school years as opposed to children who did not attend preschool. CUMC Preschool promotes a healthy environment and works to prevent the spread of illness and disease in several ways:

• Staff and children wash hands throughout the day, especially before handling food, eating and after using the bathroom. 
• Staff is trained in Preventative Health Practices and implement Universal Precautions as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
• Classrooms, toys and equipment are regularly cleaned and disinfected. 
• Children with communicable diseases or illness are excluded from the Center. In the event that any one of the following occurs, we ask that you keep your child at home:
  • A rash of any kind until diagnosed, treated or declared harmless by physician 
  • Early colds (coughing and sneezing), very bad colds with purulent discharge 
  • Difficulty breathing, respiratory illnesses 
  • Lethargy, persistent crying and/or irritability 
  • Diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours before attending the Center
  • Red, runny or matting eyes – symptoms of pink eye (conjunctivitis) – please call your doctor 
  • Bronchitis – (if your child is coughing frequently) 
  • Head Lice – hair must be free of live lice and most dead nits (eggs). The child will be checked by trained staff upon his or her return 
  • A temperature of 100 F (or more) or any fever accompanied by:
    • A deep cough
    • Earache or draining ear 
    • Spasms of cough 
    • Sore throat

We are a preschool for “Healthy” children. A child who is not well does not benefit from our program and can adversely affect the health of the other children. If you have any doubts about your child’s health, please keep your child home and contact the child’s health care provider. In the event your child becomes sick while at Preschool, you will be promptly notified. We expect that you will come to the Preschool as quickly as possible to take your child home. There will be no deduction/reductions of tuition or trading of days due to a child becoming ill and missing any part of his or her regularly scheduled attendance.

CUMC Preschool will provide incidental medical services to children enrolled at the Preschool providing we can meet the child’s needs at the time of admission and throughout the child’s attendance at CUMC. Types of incidental medical services that may be provided include: Administering Inhaled Medication; EpiPen JR. and EpiPen; and any other incidental medical services contingent upon approval from the Department of Social Services – Community Care Licensing. Incidental medical services may be provided only when the child’s parent or authorized representative (any person or entity authorized by law to act on behalf of any child such as, but not limited to, a minor’s parent, a legal guardian, a conservator or a public placement agency), has provided written authorization and obtained written instructions from the child’s physician.

Each session you are required by law to sign your child in and out and indicate the time of day. The State of California requires a complete signature. You must leave the following information each time: a phone number where you can be reached and who will pick up at the end of the session. If it is someone not designated on your child’s office record, you must complete a short form giving permission for your child to be removed from school. If the staff is unfamiliar with the person, he/she will be asked to provide photo identification. It may be necessary to verify with the office that they are authorized to remove your child. Children will be released to either parent, unless you provide a copy of a court ordered Restraining Order. 

Your child may have a rough separation from you at the beginning. There may be tears. From our experience, the crying will soon stop and they will be on to playing in the classroom. When you leave, tell your child you love them, and assure them they are safe and you will see them when school is over. We recommend you leave quickly and rest assured we can handle the crying… it usually doesn’t last long. For transitions and promotions, too, we create a plan that’s tailored to their personality traits.

While we request that kids be potty trained before starting school, we realize it is not developmentally realistic that all children will be.  We expect accidents.  We suggest children who are still toilet learning send in extra pull-ups and a change of clothes in their bucket, and we will take care of accidents.

Due to our short instructional day for most students 8:45-11:45, we do not offer scheduled nap time. We encourage students to come to school well-rested and ready to learn. 

Please inform us if your child has an allergy, particularly one requiring immediate medical intervention. We will work with you to ensure your child is well taken care of and accommodated. 

For food allergies, we will inform all classroom parents, provide recommendations for allergen free snacks, and request all snacks be allergen free in that classroom. To be safe, we may also request that you provide your child their own snack, rather than partake in the classroom snack.