St. Vincent's Child Care Center
Your Child's Day

Curriculum
St. Vincent's Child Care Center bases its curriculum on developmentally appropriate practice. Developmentally appropriate means providing activities, materials, environment, interactions, and experiences which are appropriate for the age and development of the particular child.

A full statement of the guidelines followed in the development of this program and curriculum is available in the Director's office.

Daily Schedules
For children less than one year old, staff will attempt to follow the eating, sleeping and activity rhythms of each individual child. After one year, structured activity times are gradually introduced. Each classroom has a posted daily schedule of activities.

Daily Reports
Parents of children under two and one-half years of age will receive a written daily report of food and beverage consumed or appetite, time spent resting, diaper changes and general activity.

Naps
Children are given an opportunity to nap or rest each day. Preschoolers who do not sleep will be encouraged to rest quietly and then offered quiet activities.

Food and Meals
Healthy, nutritious meals and snacks are part of the educational component of St. Vincent's Child Care Center. Children are encouraged, but not forced, to eat foods offered. Fruit juice, milk, and water are the drinks offered to the children.

Teachers eat with the older children, setting an example of desirable social conduct and providing unobtrusive information about nutrition.

Children are served a morning snack, hot lunch and afternoon snack each day. Another 5:30 pm snack is also offered to children who stay longer. Weekly menus are made available to parents and posted in each classroom.

The Center does not provide breakfast. If your child needs to eat breakfast here, parents must provide it. All food brought into the Center must be single use for the day it is brought. We can not store food in classrooms or cubbies. Milk, juice, glasses, bowls, plates and utensils will be available each morning.

Only staff will have access to the kitchen. This is a Health Department regulation. Please do not take juice, milk, or food items from the kitchen.

Formula, Baby Food, and Diapers
The Center does not provide formula, baby food, diapers or wipes. Parents are responsible for providing an adequate supply of disposable diapers. The Center has adequate storage space if parents wish to bring diapers by the bag. Diapers are checked every hour and are changed if soiled or wet.

Formula, bottles and baby food containers must be clearly marked with the child's name. Milk, mixed formula and baby food cannot be kept overnight for future use.

Clothing
Children should wear washable, comfortable clothing each day. Each child must have a seasonal change of clothing, including socks and underwear, available at the Center at all times. It is most helpful if all items of clothing are clearly marked with the child's name.

Field Trips
The children in Preschool may go on field trips. Field trips are an important part of the educational component of the curriculum. Whenever a field trip is planned, parents will be notified in writing of the date, location, departure and expected return time. With the exception of regular neighborhood walking excursions, parents must sign a permission form for each field trip experience. Children without signed permission forms must stay at the Center.

If transportation is necessary for any field trip Hospital vehicles, which are equipped with appropriate child restraints, are used. Parents of children three years of age will be asked to put car seats in the Center van for use during the field trip.

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