Hours of Operation:
1600 Black Bear Dr. Bldg #2, Manchaca, Tx 78652:
Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:00pm
9604 FM 1826 Rd. Bldg #2, Austin, Tx 78737:
Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:00pm
Open year round, except for holidays including New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. We are open during the week of Spring Break (March) but are closed for the week of 4th of July. We close for a week during Thanksgiving and 2 weeks during Christmas.
Bright Beginnings has 4 staff developments days per year where we close for 1 day each season. All other months will have an early closure at 3pm. Manchaca’s location will have their early closure on the last Friday. The 1826 location will have an early closure the first Friday of these months. This gives our teachers time to break down the prior month decorations, put up new decorations, prepare for the upcoming month or have a staff meeting.
We mostly follow AISD’s schedule for holidays and inclement weather.
Parents will be notified of all closure dates or any changes from our Year at a Glance hand out. No reduction in fees will be applied on these days.
Procedures for Release of Children:
Parents must notify in writing of all persons authorized to pick-up child(ren). Any person asking to pick up a child that is unknown will be asked to show identification and must be listed as an authorized pick-up. We reserve the right to refuse release of a child to unknown parties or persons appearing under the influence of intoxicating substances.
Tuition:
Tuition is due on the 1st of every month before 5:00pm. If the 1st falls on a weekend, tuition will be due the Friday prior. There will be a $25.00 late fee applied if payment is received after the 1st and an additional $10.00 fee for every day after that.
Supply Fee:
There is a $100 dollar supply fee due upon enrollment and once per year in March for each child. These funds are used specifically for the preschool to purchase toys, equipment, etc.
Late Pick-Up Fee:
Please be sure to pick your child on time. A late fee of $5.00/minute will be charged for pick-up after hours.
Returned Checks:
A charge of $30.00 dollars will be assessed for an insufficient check. If the returned check causes tuition to be late, the appropriate late fees will also be applied.
Child Illness:
We do not accept children who have a fever of 100 degrees or more, or who are vomiting, have diarrhea, pinkeye or a contagious rash. For the safety of everyone children must be fever free for at least 24 hours with no fever reducer, before re-visiting. If a child becomes ill while at school the parents will be notified to pick up their child immediately.
Covid: If your child tests positive for Covid they may end isolation after 5 full days. The 5 days must start after being fever free for 24 hours without a fever reducer. If your child has heavy symtoms after the 5 days then they will need to remain home until symtoms improve and they have a negative test. If a household member tests positive for Covid we ask that your child remain home until the family member is out of isolation and your child tests negative.
Please inform us ASAP if your child comes down with any illness. We will ask for parents to check in with a teacher through Procare to get clearance to return to school. We may require a doctors note.
If your child is prescribed antibiotics please inform our staff.
Sibling Illness: If child A is diagnosed with the flu, hand, foot and mouth disease, covid, strep or any other illness that would cause the Child A to be out for more than 2 days, their sibling, Child B is not allowed to return until Child A has a full bill of health and can return to school without spreading illness. This will be a strict policy regardless of Child B having no symtoms. Siblings will sometimes get the same illness later and we want to do our best to not spread any sickness throughout the school.
Coughs and Runny Noses: If your child has a developing cough that seems to be getting worse or is very disruptive to nap time, we will ask for them to be picked up or remain home for the day until the cough is improving and less frequent.
If your child has a very frequent runny nose where it needs to be wiped multiple times within a 30 minute time frame, or their runny nose has a green tint, we will ask for them be picked up or remain home for the day until symptoms are improving and runny nose is clear.
These symptoms could be from allergies, a cold or other illness and it can be hard for us to differentiate. Allergy symptoms continuing for a long duration can also turn into an infection. We want to do our best to not spread illness and keep all children and staff healthy.
If you the parent are not feeling well and are dropping off your child, we ask that you do not enter the schoolhouse and instead message us through Procare and we will meet y’all out front for drop off. If you have Covid, Strep, Flu, or any other very contagious illness, we ask that you do not drop off your child until you rand any other family members have recovered.
Teacher Illness:
As care providers we try to do our best to stay healthy and germ free. If there is ever an occasion where too many teachers fall ill, all parents will be notified as quickly as possible so other arrangements can be made. We recommend that you have a backup plan in case of a closure due to illness or emergency. We will try to notify all parents the night before at the latest. Payment will not be required for these sick days and will be deducted from your next month’s tuition.
Medicine/Medication:
Bright Beginnings does not administer medication.
Please inform us if your child is on any medication or antibiotics at home.
Discipline and Guidance Policy:
Discipline must be:
- Individualized and consistent for each child;
- Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding; and
- Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self control.
A caregiver may only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self direction, which include at least the following:
- Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior
- Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements;
- Redirecting behavior using positive statements; and
- Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group when appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.
There must be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline are prohibited at any and Bright Beginnings Schoolhouse locations:
- Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment;
- Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training;
- Pinching, shaking, or biting a child;
- Hitting a child with a hand or instrument;
- Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth;
- Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child;
- Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive or profane language;
- Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed; and
- Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time
These confirm with the Texas Administration Code, Title 40, Chapter 746 and 747, Subchapter L, Discipline and Guidance
Open Door Policy:
Parents are welcome to come visit at any time.
Reasons for Dis-enrollment:
- Non-payment or frequently delinquent tuition
- On going behavior problems that become disruptive
- Failure to pay late fees
- Policy Violations
- If we are not able to meet a families needs and deem that a child or family is not a good fit for our center
A parent teacher conference will be made as a first step before dis-enrollment. If the situation is not handled, dis-enrollment can happen at any time and the parent will be notified.
Behavior Problems:
If a child is having behavior problems at school we will notify parents in our daily notes and recommend you to talk with them at home. A teacher may also address the situation at pick up to inform a parent of the situation and communicate about possible solutions. If needed a parent teacher conference will be requested. A plan and steps to handle the situation will be discussed. If the difficult behavior continues and there is no improvement we will need to dis-enroll.
Vaccine Preventable Diseases:
Bright Beginnings does not require employees to obtain any vaccines.
Immunizations:
Each child at Bright Beginnings Schoolhouse must meet the Texas Department of State Health Services immunization requirements according to their age. For more information visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/. An Affidavit for exemption must be requested if your child is not immunized. To request for an exemption visit https://corequest.dshs.texas.gov.
Bright Beginnings requires any child who receives any vaccine to not attend school until 24 hours afterwards. Some children can have reactions, feel ill or be cranky after receiving a vaccine. They can have a hard time participating at school. Due to this possibility we ask for you to keep your child home for 24 hours after receiving a vaccine and they may return to school after.
Health Statement:
Child Care Regulations requires us to have a health statement on file within 12 months of your child’s first enrollment date. Please ask your child’s pediatrician for this health statement for our records.
Hearing and Vision Screenings:
Information regarding the hearing and vision requirements can be viewed at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening/vision/vision-screening-requirements. A vision and hearing screening must be on file before your child’s 4th birthday (as required by state licensing).
Emergency Preparedness Plan:
We are required to hold monthly fire drills, as well as severe weather/lockdown drills 4x a year. Our emergency preparedness plan is posted on the information board inside the school building.
Alternate Shelter for the 1600 Black Bear location: Manchaca Fire Rescue 665 Farm to Market 1626 Austin, TX 78747
Alternate shelter for the FM 1826: 11401 Escarpment Blvd Austin, TX 78739
Medical Emergencies:
We do our best to provide a safe environment through supervising and childproofing. If a child were to have an injury such as a minor bump, scrape or cut, the appropriate first aid will be given, and accident forms will be filled out and signed.
We do have current First Aid and CPR training. If a major injury or medical emergency happens to occur, the parents will be contacted immediately. If we are unable to get a hold of either parent, we will call the emergency contacts given to us located within the enrollment paperwork. If necessary, we will call 911 or the poison control center and your child will be taken to the nearest hospital where you will be asked to meet us. We will do everything we can to stay with your child until you arrive.
Parents are responsible for all expenses involved in emergency medical treatment, including any required emergency transportation. The owners or anyone living at the property will not be held liable for any sickness/injury of either parent/guardian or child while on these premises.
Animal Policy:
There is a chicken coop and goat pen located on the 1600 Black Bear property. The children will not interact with the chickens during school hours and will not enter the goat pen.
There is a bunny cage located on the Black Bear playground. The children are able to feed and interact with them with teacher supervision.
Nap Time:
Preschool children ages 18 months through 5 years are required to rest everyday. Naptime hours are from 12:30 to 3:00 and Bright Beginnings provides a blanket and mat. Your child may bring a small stuffed animal or special blanket if they like. Naptime items will be sent home for washing every Friday.
If a child is not sleeping after 1 hour we will provide them with a quiet activity. If they are not able to remain quiet or are disruptive to nap time then we will ask a parent to come and pick up.
If you need to pick up during nap time please let the teachers know and message us through Procare when you arrive. Someone will bring your child and their belongings outside so nap is not disrupted for the other children.
Snacks and Meals:
Morning and afternoon snack is provided. Parents are required to provide their child’s lunch. We are not responsible for nutritional value or for meeting the daily food needs for lunch.
Please do not send and glass containers to school. Lunchbox containers should be plastic or metal. The lunchbox compartment containers work well. A few lunchbox containers we recommend are Bentgo, Lunch Bots and Planet Box. Please pack utensils from home if they will be needed for lunch.
No-Sugar Nutrition Policy:
The kiddos do better with their daily activities when they have a high-protein breakfast and lunch. Please do not send your child to school with high-sugar ingredient breakfast, lunch or snacks. This includes pop tarts, fruit snacks, lunchables, uncrustables PB&J, jello, high-sugar protein bars and juices. Bright Beginnings has a no sugar policy, except for cooking days, birthdays and holidays. Please pack their lunch with protein, fruit and veggies. You can talk to Ms. Jessica for lunch ideas and for bringing sugar to school for a special occasion.
Supplies:
Parents must supply the following items:
- Diapers/Pull-ups
- Creams/Ointments/Powders
- A Water Bottle (we recommend a stainless steel water bottle. They keep the water cool and are a good size for school. Simple Modern, Thermos and Yeti have some stainless steel options)
- 2-3 complete change of clothes
- An extra pair of shoes
- Lunches in a lunch box
- Utensils
Labeling:
Please label your child’s water bottles, lunchboxes, bags, sweaters, etc. We want to ensure all personal items get sent home with the correct family and we are able to hand out the correct items to each child. You may label with a sharpie or there are many great personalized sticker label options on Amazon.
Daily Schedule:
7:30 – 9:00 Preschool Opens – Free Play
9:00 – 9:15 Clean up and Wash Hands
9:15 – 9:30 Snack Time
9:30 – 10:00 Project Time/ Indoor Play
10:00 – 10:30 Outside Play
10:30 – 10:45 Outdoor Physical Activity
10:45 – 11:00 Outdoor Art/ Free Play
11:00 – 11:15 Clean Up/ Wash Hands
11:15 – 11:30 Story Time
11:30 – 12:15 Lunch Time
12:15 – 12:30 Clean Up/Potty Breaks/Quiet Time
12:30 – 3:00 Nap Time
3:00 – 3:15 Wake and Clean Up
3:15 – 3:30 Afternoon Snack
3:30 – 4:00 Free Play/Circle Time
4:00 – 5:00 Outside Play/Physical Activity/Pick Up
Weekly Activities:
Mondays: Music Day
Alternate Wednesdays: Science/Cooking
Water Activities:
Water activities will be held during the summer months. Water tables and sprinklers will be used. Parents will be notified of the specified splash days.
Sunscreen / Bug Spray:
We will provide sunscreen and bug spray when needed. During warmer weather we ask that parents apply sunscreen at home before drop off. This helps save time with our morning routine. We will reapply in the afternoon before going out for recess. Bright Beginnings uses natural sunscreen and bug spray brands. If you prefer a different brand, please provide it with your child’s name on it.
Child Drop-Off:
You may drop-off your child between 7:30am and 10:30am.
Please don’t be on the phone when dropping off or picking up your child. We want to make sure we have a chance to speak with parents and that everyone is aware when a child is dropped off or leaving.
Withdrawal Policy:
Parents/Guardians are required to provide at least a 30 day’s notice when they withdraw their child unless you are within the 30 day trial period time frame.
Physical Activity and Outdoor Play:
Children benefit from physical activity and outdoor play. Vigorous physical activity provides healthy exercise for children’s hearts, lungs, and muscles and facilitates the development of their fundamental movement skills. Typical vigorous activities that our childcare center incorporates in our daily schedule are running, jumping, hopping, active games, races, water play (sprinklers during the summer) and dancing. Child Care Licensing requires 3–4-year-olds to have 90 minutes of physical activity per day. We include 90 minutes of active play in our daily schedule and get a large amount of our active play outdoors. The children have 1 hour of free outdoor play in the morning. Around 30 minutes of this time the children get unstructured physical play. After outdoor free play, a teacher led physical activity is done for 15 minutes. This same schedule of unstructured and structured physical activities is done during our afternoon outdoor play as well. We also incorporate physical activities indoors, a small amount during our circle time each day, during transitions and the kids also enjoy dance parties.
Active Play During Inclement Weather:
We ask that parents dress their children appropriately based on the weather. The class will continue to go outside in cold weather as long as the children are comfortable. Children in other states play in the snow, we ask that you bundle them up to stay warm for outdoor recess. During days with excessive heat, we will spend a longer time outside in the morning and may stay in during the afternoon or go out for a shorter period of time. We ask that you dress your child in summer clothes and we will remind the class to have water breaks to stay hydrated.
If it is too cold or hot where the class in uncomfortable outdoors then we will incorporate our 90 minutes of physical activity indoors with circle time, active games, and dance parties.
Appropriate Clothing and Footwear:
We recommend comfortable clothing and footwear that will allow a child to participate freely and safely in physical activities. Please make sure your child wears clothing appropriate for the weather and comfortable shoes to run in. Tennis shoes, comfortable boots, water shoes during splash days and rainboots during rainy or muddy days. Open toed shoes are permitted if your child can run comfortably in them. We ask that the girls wear shorts or bloomers under dresses. This will help with privacy and also remaining clean during outdoor play in the sand box and sitting on the ground.
We want every child warm during the colder days when we play outside and everyone wearing appropriate summer clothes during the warmer months, so nobody overheats during our active play. The weather can change drastically in one day here in Texas, so make sure you have extra pairs of clothing in your child’s cubby for each season just in case it is needed. We recommend 2-3 pairs of extra clothing and an extra pair of shoes in case of weather, accidents or spills. Please do not have your child come to school in blue jeans unless they are able to take them off and on during potty breaks.
Belongings From Home:
All belongings, including clothes, shoes, blankets, etc. need to be in a bag or backpack that fits in your child’s cubby.
Toys From Home:
We ask that toys from home are not brought to school. We will allow one small stuffed animal for nap time.
Jewelry:
Please do not send your child to school with any jewelry. Necklaces and earrings can be problematic in child care as they may be pulled on, can break, get snagged during active play, or small pieces can become a choking hazard if taken apart.
Potty Training:
At Bright Beginnings our teachers work together with parents to potty train when ready. We ideally want each child potty trained before turning 3. We recommend parents picking a weekend where they can be at home to focus on potty training. A small incentive (treat or prize) for sitting or going on the potty works well. Wearing underwear or nothing that whole weekend is highly recommended. If your child is doing well, we will try wearing underwear at school and will have a potty timer on for when we help them to go try. They will get a prize from our treasure chest when using the potty at school. If your child is not ready for underwear yet but is using the potty, please send them to school with pull ups that have the Velcro tabs on the side to make it easier on the teachers when they need to be changed. Please also make sure your child wears clothing that is easy for them to take off and put back on. Please no blue jeans. Leggings, sweats, loose pants are best. Please have a few pairs of extra clothes, socks and an extra pair of shoes each day.
Special Needs:
We will do our best to accommodate children with special needs. If the accommodations are more than what our center can offer or we are not able to meet a child’s needs as it would alter our daily schedule and program then we would recommend another center. We are not a special needs school. Each child will be individually evaluated to see if our center is a good fit. We will stay in good communication with parents regarding this.
Parents Participation:
Parents are always welcome at Bright Beginnings Schoolhouse. If you would like to come outside of drop off and pick up hours, please notify the director before arrival.
Breastfeeding Mothers:
Parents have the right to breastfeed while at Bright Beginnings. An adult sized seat is available in the classroom that enables mothers to breastfeed comfortably.
Security / Surveillance System:
Bright Beginnings has a surveillance system. There are cameras put in and around the school for the safety and security of the children/teachers and during closed hours.
Door and Gate Safety:
The front door code is only for parents. Please do not share it with family members or friends if they are picking up. They can ring our doorbell and a teacher will let them in.
Please make sure to close all doors/gates when you enter or leave the school. We want to ensure the children’s safety and don’t want anyone able to walk out of a gate or door. We also ask that you please don’t allow or teach your child how to open any of the doors or gates on the premises. We want to ensure all our safety measures are in place.
Absences:
As Bright Beginnings has a wait list and high demand, we cannot give a reduction in tuition for any absence. Please notify Ms. Jessica if your child will be absent. Families will need to pay full tuition to keep their child’s spot.
Bad Weather:
We follow AISD’s closures closely for safety. If AISD closes due to bad weather, Bright Beginnings will also close. If AISD has a 2-hour delay, we will open at 9:30 am. If severe weather is to be expected please tune in to local TV stations or radio. We will notify all families through a Procare message.
Parking:
At the 1626 Location: Please drive in the driveway to the school building and park to the right of the schoolhouse. This allows others to drive in or leave as needed. Please do not block any cars in.
At the 1826 Location: Please drive in the driveway and park in one of the designated parking spots, or if they are occupied, park along the street in front of the main gate.
To keep everyone safe we ask that parents make sure to hold your child’s hand or have them close next to you while walking to and from the car. We ask everyone to also double check when backing out or pulling in for any children nearby. Lastly, please make sure to reduce your speed to max 5mph while entering the property and throughout the driveway. We have children and animals that could be around and we want to ensure everyone’s safety.
Questions or Concerns:
Any questions or conversations that need to be had with a teacher or administrator will need to be at appropriate times. Please be respectful of the teachers schedules with the class and also communications after hours. During school hours the teachers need to focus on the children and cannot take calls or leave the classroom. Please use our app Procare for communications or if a conversation in person needs to be had please ask to set up a time through Procare so we can ensure enough coverage. We kindly ask for parents to send messages or reach out during school hours and not when school is closed. Please respect the teachers times with their families and away from the school, unless it is an urgent matter.
Please bring any major concerns or questions to the owner. You can ask to speak with her directly. Ms. Jessica will set up a time to meet and go over any questions or concerns. Contact the owner, Jessica Davitt at 512-777-9574 or by email at msjessicadavitt@gmail.com.
First 30-Day Trial:
Once your child is enrolled, we will start a 30-day trial period. During this time you can determine if Bright Beginnings is a good fit for you and your child. The teachers will also observe and determine if the child and family are a good fit. At the end of this trial period, we will get together to make a decision whether schooling should be continued or not at Bright Beginnings. If the decision is to dis-enroll, a 30-day notice is not now required.
Revisions to Handbook and Contract:
There may be revisions made to this handbook and contract. We have the right to make changes in rates and policies, as we deem necessary. Rates can be adjusted only once a year. You will be notified in writing of any changes that may occur.
Important Information:
Required notices such as a copy of the Child Care Center license, most recent license inspection report, emergency preparedness plan and other required notices are posted on the information board inside of the schoolhouse.
A copy of the Texas “Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers” is available in the Child Care Licensing: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us
Local Child Care Licensing Office: (512) 834-3195
Texas law requires caregivers to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or law enforcement.
Texas Child Abuse Hotline: 800-252-5400 or https://www.txabusehotline.org
Texas Child Abuse Hotline: 800-252-5400 or https://www.txabusehotline.org