Program Overview

Welcome to KIDS Connection (KC) we hope you and your child have an enjoyable experience with us.  Our program strives to provide a safe, educationally enriching, fun and rewarding experience for all students of Athens City Schools during the hours where there may be no adult supervision in the home.  Children will have the opportunity to engage in activities that will benefit them emotionally, physically, and educationally. The program includes crafts, sports and games, snacks, art and music, field trips, and many other creative and cultural activities. A special time each day will be allotted for homework and tutorial assistance, if needed. The program is conducted and planned by staff trained to meet the needs of children and to provide positive adult role models.  Parent input is important to our programs’ growth.  Please feel free to share any comments with your Site Director or the Program Coordinator at 423-745-1796.

Staff Responsibilities

 Staff is hired on the grounds that they will be positive role models for children.  A site director along with the childcare workers manages each program site.  The site director who is under the guidance of the program director directly supervises all childcare workers.  All staff are recruited and interviewed by the program director.  Each staff member is required to have a background check with the State of Tennessee and to submit three references from individuals who can confirm their suitability for working with school age children. 

Registration and Enrollment

Enrollment is maintained to keep a low ratio of children to adults in accordance to Tennessee Department of Education guidelines to ensure proper supervision of children.

Children may enroll in the program at any time through the school year or summer.  Children kindergarten through sixth grade may participate in the school year program.  Children who will be in kindergarten may participate in the summer program at Four Star Academy.  Enrollment priority will be given for children needing care for a full week; however a child may be enrolled for early dismissal, school breaks and summer break.

Hours of Operation

            Regular hours are as follows: Before Care- 6:00a.m. to 7:30a.m. or bus pick up.    After Care – school dismissal to 6:00p.m. School breaks including summer

6:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.  We will be closed without reduction in prices the following holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4^th.

Four Star Academy

Before care hours are 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.  After Care hours are from school dismissal to

6:00 p.m.  There is a 10 hour limit for pre-k students to be in the building.

Program Fees

Upon enrollment for before and after school care during the school year a registration fee of $25.00 is due and non-refundable.  Upon enrollment for KC’s Summer Adventure there will be a separate registration fee of $25.00.  KIDS Connection will begin school care registration in July and summer registration in April. 

Weekly payment is due on Monday of each week, whether child is in attendance or not.  If school is out on a Monday for a holiday and KIDS Connection is open payments will be accepted on Tuesday without a late fee.  All daily rate fees must be paid on Monday for the week your child will be attending, whether your child attends on Monday or not.

Daily rates are for children attending 2 days or less. 

If you pay on a daily rate and your child needs care for a week (3 days or more) you must pay the weekly rate.  Payment must be made by 6:00p.m. on Mondays.  A late charge of $5.00 will be charged.  Please do not send payment with child or leave payment with school staff.  There are no reductions in fees if child is absent. If your child is absent from school for sickness or vacation you must continue to pay your regular weekly rate or daily rate fees for KIDS Connection.

If payments are 15 days late - your child will not be able to continue and will be dismissed and placed on the waiting list.  All payments including late charges and a registration fee must be paid in full before child is re-enrolled. No partial payments will be accepted you must pay in full amount owed to keep your child enrolled in the KC Program.

            All checks must be made to Athens City Schools.  A $15.00 service charge will be assessed on returned checks.  After receiving two returned checks, KIDS Connection will only be able to accept cash or money orders.  Receipts will be given at the time of payment.  All returned checks must be paid in full including the $15.00 service fee within 24 hours to Athens City Schools’ Finance Department located at Central Office.

If a problem arises and childcare is needed on an emergency temporary basis for children already enrolled on a weekly basis, there will be a $6.00 charge for each day included in the weekly fee.  (I.e. Your child is enrolled in after care but you need before care on one morning due to an emergency situation -child may attend as long as adult/ratio is met).  This must be approved before you bring your child in.     

Late Pick-up

All program sites will close promptly at 6:00 p.m.  If you arrive after 6:00 p.m. a late fee will be assessed for every 15 minutes. (I.e. if you arrive between 6:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. you owe $5.00 for one child, $10.00 for 2 children).  Failure to comply with the closing time on three occasions may result in dismissal from program.

Inclement Weather

KIDS Connection will follow Athens City School Policy on Inclement weather.  KIDS Connection will follow the schools when closed.  If schools are delayed KIDS Connection will be open.  If school is dismissed during the school day KIDS Connection will be closed also.  Please listen to your local radio stations 1390 AM, 1450 AM, or 101.7 FM.  If any changes in the weather happen after school hours please listen to the radio stations above for KIDS Connection closing.

Pick up and Drop off Procedures

Children must be personally checked in/out with staff knowledge.  Child must be signed in /out daily.  Please use your full name and do not initial.  The person checking out your child out must be on the pick up list and be able to show verification.  Child may not walk home or meet their parents outside the building or parking lot.  Persons picking up child must be 18 years of age. 

Illness and Medication

KIDS Connection cannot provide care for sick children.  Please make alternate arrangements if they are sick.  To ensure the safety of the other children we must ask that all children who become ill while in our care be picked up soon as possible. 

If your child must take medication during the program hours you must fill out a Medication Release form for each medicine and send all medicines in the original container in a plastic bag clearly labeled with your child’s name and signed written instructions.   All medicines must be brought in by parent/guardian and verbal, as well as written, instructions should be given to the site director.  KIDS Connection cannot administer oral medications, including aspirin or ibuprofen, without written instructions from parent/guardian.

All students who attend field trips to pool or outside activities must wear sunscreen.  Sunscreen should be applied by parent/guardian and staff will re-apply sunscreen on face, arms, and shoulders if needed.

Field Trips and School Sponsored Events

We are always excited to announce our plans for parent child activities and field trips for our families to enjoy.  As always we welcome any additional suggestions or ideas. 

Field Trip Procedures at KIDS Connection we strive to make your child’s experiences educational and fun.  We will have many opportunities throughout the year to take field trips to out of town or local community events and/or places whether we walk or we are transported by Athens City Schools Transportation Department.

Permission Form Each child will have a permission form that needs to be filled out for each trip they attend.  Please fill out the form with your child’s name and the date and time of the sponsored activity.  

Field Trips and School Sponsored Events cont’d

Volunteers If you would like to attend as a chaperone you must first complete our local background check by the local police department at no charge to you.  All chaperones must drive their own vehicle or they may walk with us. 

Behavior Management and Expectations

All children are expected to follow the rules established by KIDS Connection.  Your site director will explain these guidelines at the enrollment visit. 

The KIDS Connection mission is to provide a safe, relaxed, and secure, atmosphere for all children where they can explore, learn, and have fun.  We want all children to improve socially, academically, and enjoy themselves while they are away from home and parents are away at work. 

If behavior problems occur, site director will contact the parents verbally and if needed in writing.   If child fails to comply with the rules it may lead to disciplinary action, being suspended or removed from program.  Parents must help the staff in letting your child know the importance of proper behavior.  We want all children to have an opportunity to enjoy themselves in our program. 

For Parents

            Parents-we want to relieve you of any concerns you may have about your child’s care.   Please check the updates about our program at the sign out table.  Parents are the most important part to the support and expansion of our program, so please come to us with any concerns you may have.  Please let us know if your child is going through any changes that may affect his/her day at our program.  Your child is important to us and we want to work in cooperation with you to provide quality care.