August 2017 Director's News

DIRECTOR’S NEWS

Fort Atkinson Preschool and Childcare August 2017

August News August is like the Sunday
of summer…...
It’s hard to believe but only three more weeks and summer is over! We’ve
had a lot of fun this summer and will miss those of you leaving us to head
off to kindergarten and back to “big kids school.” We hope you stop back
to visit us and tell us all about it!
There are a few more important dates for summer session:
August 16-KU and Explorer Splash Pad Trip
August 23-Rainbow and Sunray Splash Pad Trip
August 24-ALL PAPERWORK DUE FOR FALL-NO EXCEPTIONS
August 29-Whole Center trip to Animal Gardens
August 31-Last day of attendance for children for summer session
September 1-Paid closure date for summer families
September 1– 4-6 pm Drop in for open house-4K, Rainbows, Sunrays, KU
September 4– Labor Day-paid closure day for families in fall session
September 5-First day of school!
Final bills for families in the summer session will be available August 10th
and due by August 25th. Please remember if your child is leaving before
August 31 you must give two weeks notice to avoid being charged.
Fall kindergarten families-be aware your child may not have kindergarten
September 5th or 6th as they start on a rotation. We DO NOT have all
day care available on those days for school age children, only before/after
school care. If your child is enrolled in KU and will not arrive on 9/5 or 9/6
by bus please notify us so we do not have to locate him/her.

In This Issue

 Summer Session dates
 Fall Session information
 Rate reviews
 Family Satisfaction Survey Results

Explorers explore the park!

Rate Reviews

If you have been with us in past years you
know we typically review our rates in
August and any changes are put into
place September 1. We have decided
that going forward we will be reviewing
rates in December and any rate increase
will be effective January 1, 2018. This will
enable families who use flexible spending
accounts to plan more easily and will align
with our center fiscal year.

We understand child care is a large Rainbows enjoy water day outside and
expense for families and do our best to Sunrays enjoy the “water” inside!
keep costs as low as possible. That said
know that our child care center is five More August News
stars and unusual in the quality and
education of staff , environment, All classroom cubbies, KU mailboxes, lockers and locker tubs should
curriculum and more. These high be emptied by August 31. September 1 we will be cleaning and
standards create additional expenses and moving lockers for fall session. You may bring your things back to
therefore across the board comparisons to Open House on September 1 if you are returning.
other centers and their charges can not
always be made. If you child is in 4K please bring his/her supplies to Open House or on
the first day of school. We do not have a place to store them prior to
Wisconsin SHARES is a program for low September 1. There is no supply list for 3 or 4 year old preschool or
income families who are working or wraparound, supply costs are paid for through your yearly enrollment
attending school who need financial fee.
assistance with childcare. In order for a
child care center to accept SHARES Everyone should have received paperwork for the fall or a letter
payments they must be licensed by the confirming your child will not be returning. It is very important that this
state of Wisconsin and rated by paperwork is returned no later than August 24th as it all must be
YoungStar. We are proud to be able to entered into the computer prior to September 1. Thank you in
accept SHARES families at our center. If advance for your cooperation.
you, or someone you know are having
trouble paying for child care and making If your child will be in Kids United in the fall please remember that you
ends meet you may want to check out must contact the bus company to arrange for transportation to and/or
their website at www.dcf.wisconsin.gov/ from the center. For most families there is a charge for this service.
wishares/eligibility . This charge has nothing to do with our center and is part of a contract
between you and the bus company. In the past the morning bus has
If you are not already signed up for Tuition picked up here around 7:10 am so make plans to drop any morning
Express (automatic withdrawal from KU students off by 7 am during the school year. Afternoon KU starts
checking or savings) we encourage you to at 3:30 when the bus arrives. If you are dropping your child off for
do so. This means no late fees for you afternoon KU they may not arrive before 3:30 pm as there is not staff
and lower administration costs for us that available for school age children until that time.
we can pass back to families.

2017 Parent Satisfaction Survey Results

We surveyed 64 families at the end of the 2016-2017 fall session. We had 53 families
(83%) respond. Below you will find the survey results. Thank you to those of you who
participated. Please know that we take your input seriously and strive to make changes
that will improve our school and your family’s experience here. Your suggestions are
always welcome-please stop in the office, call or email, or if you prefer you can make
anonymous suggestions through the suggestion box on the parent shelf in the hallway.

How long has your child attended Why did you choose our school?
our school?

less than 1 year 1-2 yr cost quality
3 yr or more convenience other

How likely are you to reccommend our Overall how satisfied are you with the
school to others? teachers at our school?

extremely likely very likely extremely satisfied satisfied
moderately likely slightly likely somewhat dissatisfied dissatisfied
would not recommend
How satisfied are you with the playground? Toys,
How satisfied are you with the physical equipment, space, etc...
environment of your child's classroom? Space,

furnishings, toys, other supplies

extremely satisfied satisfied very satisfied satisfied somewhat satisfied dissatisfied
somewhat dissatisfied dissatisfied

How satisfied are you with the family events we How satisfied are you with the director?
host (Mom's Day Spa, Bunny Brunch, etc...)?

very satisfied satisfied somewhat satisfied dissatisfied very satisfied satisfied somewhat satisfied dissatisfied

Is there anything we could do to improve your I feel I receive adequate communication
experience with our school? from...

No Yes 100 Director Office School District
A sampling of comments (and follow up): 80
60
40
20
0

Primary Teacher

What I appreciate most from our last two day care centers is how clean you keep everything! You have just the right amount of toys and things always feel calm
when I drop my kids off. Other day cares have felt very chaotic like there was no structure. We love it here!

These events are always so well thought out and fun for families. We look forward to them very much

This is all well balanced. We don't get overloaded - it's just the right amount. The same with Facebook - I actually read the articles because the posts are not
overwhelming or too few .

The big tree scares me. Kids should not be playing underneath on windy days for safety. (on days with wind advisories, or any day an exceptional wind blows in
we use the gym, the arborist checks and maintains the tree at least yearly)

Any time anything has come up (which is rare) it's handled immediately!

I'm very satisfied. I think Jen has done a wonderful job.

Satisfied - I was very, very impressed with the very quick response and follow through after a "bullying" incident that occurred

Very satisfied! Jen is very helpful and prompt in her responses.

I wish there was an option for 2.5 year old who aren't potty trained, like PCP and Bethany. (This option is currently being explored)

Vacuum rugs daily. Some mornings the rug they sit on looks filthy. (This is scheduled to be done each evening after close, this comment has been passed on to
our janitorial service)

I wish you provided lunch. But I understand why you don't. (Our kitchen facilities do not meet standards for commercial food preparation, if enough families ex-
press interest we could look into meal delivery options, of course this would be an additional expense for families).

More pictures or a webcam would be awesome (classes will be adding Facebook pages this fall which will give families more photos and insight into daily