View Our Policies

Confidentiality Policy

A Magic Kingdom is very sensitive to the fact that information concerning you, your child, and your family is private and personal. Trust and confidentiality are essential to building trusting relationships. We are committed to maintaining your privacy and protecting your personal information. A Magic Kingdom will not disclose information except as required by law or when there is a threat to the health and safety of the individuals and families we serve.

Physical Activity Policy

At A Magic Kingdom, we understand the importance of physical health of the children. In order to promote physical well-being, we provide the children with at least two hours of physical and/or large motor activity daily. We will achieve this goal through a variety of ways including outside play, music and movement, and a variety of indoor and outdoor large motor activities.

Medical Form and Immunization Records

It is mandatory that each child be fully immunized as set forth by state guidelines. Current record of your child's immunizations and a signed statement from your physician stating that your child is able to participate in group daycare must be furnished before your child may start at A Magic Kingdom. In addition, your child's medical form must be updated whenever they receive an immunization and at their annual physical. Any child who does not have a current and complete medical immunization record on file here will not be able to attend school until such documentation is furnished.

Absence and Health Policies

The health and safety of your children is our priority. For the sake of your child, and the sake of the other children at A Magic Kingdom, it is necessary to keep sick children home from A Magic Kingdom. Please remember that this is group daycare. It is not always possible to give your child the one-on-one care they deserve when they are sick. In addition, it is not fair to let your sick child make other children sick. Please be advised that we can not administer any kind of medication to your child. This includes over-the-counter medications as well as prescription medications. We are able to apply non- prescription diaper creams, sunscreen, and insect repellent with a signed permission note from a parent.

If your child is sick with diarrhea, vomiting, or fever during the night, please do not send them to school. If your child feels "under the weather" during the night, and you feel that they are well enough to attend school the next day, please be prepared to possibly receive a phone call at work to come and pick your child up. We will call parents if we feel that your child is too sick to be here. When we do call, we appreciate parents picking up their sick children in a timely manner (no more than 45 minutes to 1 hour). Please make sure that we have a phone number that we can reach you at if it is different from the one on your blue card. When you pick up your sick child, you will be given a note with guidelines for your child's return. Please be aware that even if your pediatrician says that your child may return to daycare, our policy may not allow their return until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours. Please adhere to the guidelines on the note. Children may not attend school under the following circumstances:

• Temperature of 100 degrees F or more
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Infectious diseases: strep throat, Coxsackie virus, pink eye, etc.
• Other symptoms/illnesses requiring one-to-one care

Children need to be symptom-free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. If your child is being treated with an antibiotic for a contagious illness, they need to be on the antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school.

Registration

It is important for you to visit our facility with your child. This way, we can be sure that our program will be a good fit for your family. If you choose to register your child in our program, there is a registration fee of $50.00. In addition, it is necessary to pay one full week of tuition before your child starts. This tuition will be held as a security deposit and will be used as your final week's tuition payment when your child leaves A Magic Kingdom. This fee and security deposit is non-refundable. It is also necessary to complete standard paperwork and submit a health form signed by your physician, which includes your child's immunization records.

Tuition Payment

We do our best to provide an environment in which children are cared for, nurtured, and educated. Our organization cannot meet these goals unless our only source of income, tuition, is paid in a regular and timely manner. Our policy requires payment in full for the week we are in. Since a spot is reserved for your child, you are required to pay weekly tuition regardless of whether he or she attends, including cases of illness, vacations, or holidays. A $5.00 late fee should be added if payment is received after the first day of the week your child attends school. Fees incurred due to returned or nonpayment of checks will be the sole responsibility of the parent. Any additional costs due to returned checks will be due within three days of notice to you and are subject to late payment fees. We require two weeks’ written notice to us if a child is going to be withdrawn. Providing quality education and child care and keeping the costs of tuition as reasonable as possible are among our priorities. We remain one of the most inexpensive nursery schools and day care centers in the area. We reserve the right to deny services without notice if you fall behind in your tuition payments. Feel free to speak with us or call us if you have any questions concerning your account.

Holidays and Delay and Closing Policies

We are closed for holidays approximately 12 days during the year, which will be listed on our school calendar. We reserve the right to close (based on enrollment) on a day between a holiday and a weekend. We will observe all major holidays in an attempt to further understand and enjoy all celebrations. Please share your family's unique traditions and celebrations with us, and take your turn in contributing party goods and supplies for your child's classroom.

We will follow the City of Schenectady Schools’ snow delay and closing schedule. If they are delayed one hour, we are delayed one hour. If they are delayed two hours, we are delayed two hours. If they are closed, we are closed. In the event of an emergency, natural disaster, dangerous weather, major power outage, etc., it may become necessary for us to close early. In the rare event of such an occurrence, we will attempt to notify each of our families by phone. In this type of situation, we appreciate your timely cooperation.

Arrival and Departure

Our school is designed for the working family, so we are therefore open twelve months a year, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., on weekdays. Please be observant of our opening time; though teachers may be in early to prepare for the day, they cannot let you into the building until 7:30 a.m. As a courtesy to our staff, please be on time to pick up your child. If you will be unavoidably detained, please call. We charge a fee of $1.00 per minute, per child, for each minute past 5:45 p.m. that you are late. This fee should be paid directly to the teacher that stayed with your child. Though this may seem excessive, please remember that our staff is only paid until 5:45 p.m. and have families of their own to take care of and get home to.

Upon arrival, please be sure to present your child to their teacher. At departure time, please be sure to say good-bye to a teacher so we can be sure of the whereabouts of your child. Arrival and departure time are also important times for communicating with your child's teacher. Unfortunately, they can also be hectic times for parents and teachers. If needed, please feel free to call your child's teacher during the day. Please keep your child with you at arrival and departure time. When you are in the building, you are responsible for your child. We discourage parents from allowing their children to run ahead of you in the parking lot, to another part of the building, outside, or to other classrooms.

Please drive SLOWLY in our driveway and parking lot. We suggest a speed of 5 mph. Please be sure to heed the STOP sign on the side of the building where our driveway and parking lot meet. Please be considerate of other parents and children when parking. Automobiles should not be left running in our parking lot. A car could slip into gear and move on its own. (We have seen this happen on more than one occasion.)

If someone other than you will be picking up your child, please notify your child's teacher when you drop your child off. We appreciate you writing a note as well. If the person picking up your child is not listed on your release form, you must sign a note stating who will be picking up your child and granting them your permission. Please be advised that we will ask anyone we don't know to present identification to us before we allow them to pick up your child. Please notify anyone picking up your child of this policy so they will be prepared. In the event of an unavoidable circumstance that you or someone else on your list becomes unable to pick up your child, please call us and let us know who will be picking them up. This will be offered, as a courtesy, for emergency situations only. At all other times, we must have a signed note of permission from you. If your child is going to be absent, please let us know in advance whenever possible. For unplanned absences, please notify us in the morning.

Student Evaluation

We send home report sheets daily for the Infant, Waddler, Weeble, and Toddler classes. These "daily sheets" relay information to you about your child's activities, eating, sleeping, playing, diapering, and pottying matters. Our Toddler, Nursery, and Pre-K classes receive a "Weekly Sheet," which lets you know what your child learned, questions to ask them, and important reminders. Using the weekly sheet, you are able to see the progress your child is making when you discuss their learning experiences with them. Pre-K children receive progress reports in January and May. In addition, parent teacher conferences are held in the spring for children that are eligible to attend kindergarten the following September. Progress reports and conferences inform parents about social and academic progress. If you wish, all parents are always welcome to schedule a parent-teacher conference at any time.

First Days

Starting school is an exciting time for children and parents. We understand that you may have many questions about our program, your child's adjustment, and your own role. We can never predict how children will respond to the first few days of school, especially if this is the first time away from mommy and daddy.

If you show enthusiasm about the experience, your child will be confident because he or she trusts that you're happy with A Magic Kingdom. A relaxed and unhurried parent means a relaxed and unhurried separation from your child. It is best to show your child that only "little people" come to A Magic Kingdom... that mommies and daddies go to work and then return.

It is not advisable to linger too long in your child's classroom. When you're ready to leave, give your child a hug and a kiss and leave. We can't promise that your child won't cry, but we do promise that they won't cry alone. We are masters of distraction and redirection! Younger children need to see that "mommy/daddy comes back.” For the first few days, it is advisable to keep your child's day shorter than it would normally be to ease them into the separation. Speak directly to your child's teacher about any concerns you have about your child's first few days. They are happy to assist you with suggestions and ideas to make the separation easier. Once your child becomes familiar with their new routine, we're confident that dropoff times will be happy and calm for children and parents.

Grievances

The best policy is a direct policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to come to us. Speaking directly to your child's teacher may help in some situations. If this does not resolve the problem, speak to a director. Directors are responsible for school policies and procedures. If you can recommend changes, please do. We are always open to new ideas and comments. A Magic Kingdom looks forward to serving you and your family. Thank you for your trust in our school.

Snacks and Lunches

A Magic Kingdom provides a morning snack and an afternoon snack for children in the toddler, nursery, and pre-K classrooms. We usually serve foods such as fruits, crackers and cheese, pudding, pretzels, cereal, cookies, juice, and milk. We occasionally serve "treats" to celebrate a special occasion. We do our best to make snacks nutritious and enjoyable. You are always welcome to send in a snack from home for your child.

Please pack a lunch for your child, including a beverage. If your child arrives early, feel free to send in breakfast, too. Our Infant, Waddler, Weeble, and Toddler rooms have a microwave and a refrigerator. Please keep in mind that space is limited in the refrigerators. Our Nursery and Pre-K rooms do not have refrigerators or microwaves. Thermos containers work very well for hot food, and ice packs or frozen juice boxes are good for keeping cold foods cold. We recommend a modestly sized lunchbox for your child clearly labeled with their name. Please make lunch nutritious and minimize sweets. We will do all we can to encourage your child to eat, but every appetite is different and children go through various eating patterns. It is not our policy to make sure every bite is eaten, but to emphasize eating in a relaxed, quiet, and friendly manner.

Toys from Home

Children may bring in toys to help with the transition from home to school. They must, however, adhere to the following guidelines:

• No more than one toy per day
• No weapons or weapon accessories
• Should be small enough to fit in child's cubby
• Should be suitable for group play
• Shouldn't be fragile, expensive, irreplaceable, or have many pieces

Teachers are not responsible for lost or broken toys. Children may only play with toys from home during free play time so they will participate fully in school activities. Children do not have to share their special toys, but if they share with one child, they must share with all. If a toy is being used manipulatively to leave other children out, it will be put away. In the event that a child cannot adhere to these guidelines, they will be asked to leave their toys at home.

Birthdays

If you would like us to acknowledge your child's birthday, please let us know a day or two in advance. You are welcome to celebrate your child's birthday at AMK. If you'd like to provide a treat, we would be happy to serve it at snack time. For more elaborate festivities, please speak directly to your child's teacher about your plans.

Peanut-Free Rooms

The Infant, Waddler, and Weeble rooms at A Magic Kingdom are peanut- and tree nut-free. Delayed weaning (past a year) and late introduction of highly allergic foods for children with a known family or personal history may help to prevent the development of food allergies. Ideally, it's best to wait until twelve months to introduce cow's milk, soy, wheat, corn, and citrus; twenty-four months for eggs; and thirty-six months for peanuts.

Please do not send in any food that blatantly contains peanuts or tree nuts, such as peanut butter and foods that contain nuts (cookies, trail mix, and other things that contain walnuts, almonds, pecans, peanuts, etc.). Many food labels carry warnings that products may have been manufactured in plants which also make peanut products. At this time, these types of foods will be permissible. We realize it is virtually impossible to create a totally peanut- and tree nut-free environment. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you need any help in making peanut- or tree nut-free food choices for your infant or toddler child, please feel free to ask us for help. Our older Toddler Room and Pre-K rooms are not included in this rule.

Clothing

Children should wear comfortable clothes that don't inhibit physical activity or messy artwork. They should wear sneakers or rubber-soled shoes for safe running and climbing. If you choose to send your child to school in sandals or open-toed shoes, please be sure to send in sneakers for playground fun. We will not allow children to run and climb on playground equipment in inappropriate footwear. Please supply a complete, clearly labeled change of clothing for your child each season, including a sweater or sweatshirt, socks, pants, shirt, and underwear. In the summer months, pants and long-sleeved shirts should be exchanged for shorts and short-sleeved shirts. These "spare clothes" will be kept in a labeled box for your child in their classroom until needed. When buying clothes, please keep in mind less complicated clothing is easier for children to manage easily. During potty training, easy-access clothing makes learning bathroom skills less stressful. Please send diapers or an adequate supply of underwear, depending on your child's needs. Soiled clothing will be placed in a plastic bag to be laundered at home.

Nap Time

Our Infant and Waddler rooms nap "on demand." Children in our Weeble, Toddler, Nursery, and Pre-K programs rest for approximately two hours during the day, from approximately 1:30-3:30 pm. Typically, the children first enjoy a story or video for about half an hour as they wind down. This is a very soothing and relaxing time of the day. Our children work hard and play hard and are generally ready for a nap. While the vast majority of children do fall asleep at nap time, "quiet time" accommodations are made for those children who remain awake.

Breastfeeding

Here at A Magic Kingdom, we value your choice of breastfeeding or bottle feeding. We understand it can be a difficult decision and support your choice. While it can be a joyful experience, we also understand it can be challenging. We encourage you to feel comfortable if you choose to breastfeed here at A Magic Kingdom. Our infant room offers a comfortable and cozy environment to do so. If you desire more privacy other locations will be made available at your request. Our staff understands the importance of breastfeeding to your child's development.

Please feel free to discuss any concerns or questions you have with your infant's teacher. Resources are available upon request.