SACC Policy

Mission Statement

The mission of the Western Academy Charter School is to provide a quality program that supports children’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development in a safe, secure environment before and after school hours.

Daily Activities

Daily schedules for the after school program includes arts and crafts, board games, computer time, homework time, movies, special events and outside play (weather permitting). If a child wishes to do so, they may study independently or read quietly. A snack time of 15-20 minutes is allocated indoors every day.

Start Date: Thursday, August 10, 2023

Days Available: Monday-Friday, school days only

Hours of Operation

Before School Care

Western Academy Charter School offers before school care services from 6:45 AM – 7:45 AM. To ensure our students safety, all children arriving on campus prior to 7:30 a.m. must enroll in the program. The cost per hour is $3.50 per child. Free breakfast is available from the Palm Beach County School District Food Service (based on a grant and is subject to change).

After School Care

Western Academy Charter School offers an after-school care program from 2:45 PM – 6:00 PM, at a cost of $3.00 per hour for the first child, and $2.50 per hour for each additional child. In addition, a $5.00 activity fee is included each month.

We offer two options and they MUST be designated by the 1^st of every month:

- - - Part Time till 4:00 PM
    - Full Time till 6:00 PM

Registration

Upon acceptance into the afterschool program, a completed registration form and $25.00 registration fee is due and secures a student’s place in the program.

The $25.00 registration fee (per student) is non-refundable after the first day of school.

Snacks

Every day one snack and one drink will be provided. You can look on our school website to see the daily snack schedule. Please let us know if your child has any food allergies or any other special requirements. If your child does not like the snack provided you may send in an alternative.

Withdrawal

Please notify the school as soon as you know you will no longer need the program. Please be aware, once your child is withdrawn from the program there is no guarantee that space will be available should your child need to return. There will be NO REFUND FOR UNUSED or MISSED DAYS.

Payment Schedule/Options

Fees are based on the number of school days in each month. Payments in the form of cash (exact amounts only), personal checks, money orders or cashiers’ checks will be accepted. Checks, money orders or cashier checks must be handed in during pickup from the program. The front office or your student’s teachers can NOT accept these payments. Make all checks payable to “Western Academy Charter School” or WACS. Please place your child/children’s name(s) on all checks, the month it relates to and whether FT, PT and/or AM.

All fees are considered late if not received by the 7^th calendar day of each month (excluding August). Tuition must be paid in full for the entire month; it cannot be paid for by the hour. Any fees not received by the 10^th calendar day of the month will receive a 10% late penalty. Any accounts with an outstanding balance on the 15^th calendar day of the month will receive a $25.00 reinstatement fee (per child) on the account and your child/children will not be allowed to participate in the program until all outstanding fees have been paid. If these due dates fall on a weekend, holiday, or school break, they will be due on the next school day. If payment is not made within the 15^th calendar day of the month your child will be removed from the program.

If a check is returned due to insufficient funds, payment must be made by money order or cash for the remainder of the year. There is a $25.00 fee charged for all returned checks.

Parents are obligated to pre-pay total charges monthly, and payment is expected by the third week of the previous month. Once your child/children have started the month, payment must be made for the ENTIRE month, even if students are withdrawn before the month is complete.

These collection procedures will be strictly enforced. Failure to comply will mean the removal of your child/children from the program.

Western Academy Charter School is an authorized provider of services thru Early Learning Coalition Palm Beach County or ELCPBC (formerly Family Central). They can be reached at 561-514-3300. However, failure to pay the parent fees and file all the appropriate paperwork with ELCPBC for reimbursement to WACS will mean the removal of your child/children from our program unless other payment arrangements have been made.

Attendance Policy

As a result of our need to ensure the safety of our students, the following policies must be followed:

Students enrolled in the After School Program are expected to attend/report on all school days.
If your child is not going to be attending on a regularly scheduled day, you must notify the school after-care office, not the main office, by 1:00 pm that day or provide notice in writing, prior to the absence. The After Care phone number to call in your child’s absence is 561-795-2186.
Failure to notify may result in the student’s name being removed from the aftercare program. Notification of removal will occur by written correspondence.

Students will NOT be dismissed from aftercare between 2:45 PM to 3:15 PM due to the interference it causes during our normal dismissal. Students will start being dismissed at 3:16 PM.

Discipline

Discipline to the fullest extent possible, follows the Western Academy Charter Schoolwide Discipline Plan. However, before and after school child care is not a required educational program. Therefore, students with repetitive behavior issues that compromise their safety or others may be involuntary withdrawn from the program at the Principal’s discretion. If a student is removed from the program due to discipline reasons, any prepaid funds will be refunded as a prorated amount based on the number of days in attendance during that month.

Health Procedures

Students unable to stay with their groups due to injury or illness will be held at the afterschool office or sign-out location. This program follows school day guidelines in dealing with emergencies. If necessary, minor first aid is administered by qualified staff and parents/guardians are notified at sign-out. For serious illness or injury, the afterschool office contacts parents/guardians immediately and immediate pick-up is necessary. In order to avoid injury, students are expected to follow the school day dress code and to wear close-toed shoes at all times for safety.

Afterschool personnel cannot administer any type of medication unless a medical authorization form signed by a parent/guardian and the physician form is on file in the afterschool office. Students are not allowed to possess any medication at any time, with the exception of prescribed asthma inhalers.

Drop Off (Before School Care)

To ensure the safety of all children, every children participating in the before school program must be signed in daily by an authorized adult. Students should NOT be dropped off in the front of the school as the front office will be closed until 7:30 a.m.

Release of Students

To ensure the safety of all children, every children participating in the after school program must be signed out by an authorized adult. Only those persons listed on the registration form or student authorized pick-up list will be permitted to sign out your child.

If there is a custody issue, a custody order from a Florida Court must be provided to Administration, who will provide a copy to the After-Care Director.

YOU MUST RING THE AFTERSCHOOL DOORBELL, NO CHILD WILL BE RELEASED UNLESS YOU SHOW PROPER ID AND SIGN OUT. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

Anyone signing out a child must be able to provide proper identification (picture ID) before any child is released. Be prepared to show ID upon request. This is for your child’s safety. Please do not feel offended if asked to show photo identification. The school requires that whoever signs out a child must show ID and must use their full signature and put down the accurate time.

Late Fees

The collection of late fees will be rigidly enforced. The official time is the time shown on the clock at Western Academy Charter School.

For Half-time program

4:00 – 4:05 Grace Period

4:06 – 4:15 $5 late charge (per child)

4:16 – 4:30 $10 late charge (per child)

4:31 – 4:45 $15 late charge (per child)

4:46 – 5:00 $20 late charge (per child)

5:01 – 5:15 $25 late charge (per child)

5:16 – 5:30 $30 late charge (per child)

5:31 – 5:45 $35 late charge (per child)

5:46 – 6:00 $40 late charge (per child)

After 6:00 pm, there will be a $5 fee per minute charge (per child). After 6:01 the police will be notified to arrange transportation of the student.

For Full-time program

There will be a $5 fee per minute charge (per child). After 6:01 the police will be notified to arrange transportation of the student.

The school will send a payment notice home with the student and payment is required within 5 business days. Failure to comply will mean the removal of your child/children from the program until payment is received.

Exceptions will be made for parents calling in advance to let us know of an emergency.

Every attempt will be made to contact someone on the emergency card to pick-up the student.

The official time is the time shown on the clock in the Western Academy School office. These collection procedures will be strictly enforced. Failure to comply will mean the removal of your child/children from the program until payment is received.

Influenza

The Florida Department of Health (the Department) monitors influenza, or “flu,” activity levels throughout the school year. Flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as young children, the elderly, and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious complications from flu. The Department is encouraging families to get vaccinated for flu now.

Vaccination is the best way to protect against the flu and severe complications from the flu. Vaccination is most crucial for children with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. The flu vaccine is offered in many locations including pharmacies, clinics, employers, and schools. Contact your health care provider, county health department, or visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/findaflushot to find a flu vaccine center near you.

The flu vaccine is safe. The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all individuals six months of age and older receive the flu vaccine each year. Since infants under six months of age are too young to get vaccinated against influenza, it is important that family members (including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers) and other caregivers for these children be vaccinated to help protect them from the disease.

It is especially important that parents keep sick children at home to prevent spreading the flu virus to others. Additional flu prevention steps include staying away from people who are sick, covering sneezes or coughs with a tissue or your elbow, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and frequent handwashing.

If your child becomes sick with flu-like illness, contact your health care provider as soon after symptoms begin as possible. Symptoms of the flu often include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, or fatigue. Antiviral medication for flu has been shown to reduce severity and length of disease, decrease the risk of complications from influenza, and reduce the risk of death among hospitalized patients, particularly in those that start treatment early in their illness. Health care providers can prescribe antiviral treatment if appropriate. Treatment is most effective when started within 48 hours, so contacting your health care provider as soon as your child becomes ill is important, especially if your child has underlying health conditions.

The best way to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy during flu season is to:

- - - - Get vaccinated;
      - Keep sick family members home;
      - Contact your health care provider if you or your child are experiencing flu-like symptoms; and
      - Follow your doctor’s guidance on treatment.

For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/parents/index.htm.

Open Door Policy

Western Academy’s aftercare policy is based upon the belief that a child’s development is best promoted through a partnership between home and school. Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to visit our aftercare program without a prior appointment and observe their child. While we do have an open door policy, the safety and security of our students is paramount. As a safety feature, all parents or guardians will have their photo ID scanned and entered into our Raptor system in accordance with the Florida State Jessica Lunsford Act for pre-approval and clearance. Photo identification will be required. At visitation, all parents or guardians are required to check in at the aftercare desk and must sign into the visitor computer. Only parents or guardians who are pre-cleared will be allowed to enter the aftercare program. To avoid disruptions to the program, only approved parents or guardians may enter. Additional visitors or children are not permitted.

Personal Items

Our program, school and our staff are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Children should be careful with the items brought to school and leave these items in their backpacks. Expensive items should NEVER be brought to school.

Tax Information

For filing your annual income taxes, our FEIN is 56-2316078. Western Academy Charter School, with a written request will provide a printout of the payments received. This printout is informational only. The IRS will not accept this printout as acceptable backup during an audit or review of your return. They will require bank copies of canceled checks.

Upon written request, we will also provide payment verification for employer child care reimbursements.

Prime Time Palm Beach County

Western Academy Charter School participates in Prime Time Palm Beach County, Inc.

Prime Time is a non-profit, intermediary organization dedicated to out-of-school time (OST) programs. Prime Time oversees a system for reaching quality standards through assessment, program improvements and quality coaching. They also provide professional development, career advising and network opportunities to our staff and through partnerships, supports a range of enrichment activities available to OST programs.

Prime Time partners with local organizations to offer expanded learning opportunities to our students at no additional cost. They offer programming in academics, health and wellness, integrated arts and positive youth development.

WESTERN ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PAYMENT POLICY

Tuition must be paid in full for the entire month. Payments must be made prior to services rendered. If student(s) enroll after the first installment due date, the total monthly tuition must be paid upon registration. Payments not made on or before due dates are subject to a late payment charge and reinstatement fee.

WITHDRAWAL/LATE PAYMENT FEE/LATE PICK-UP FEE POLICY

I understand and agree to abide by the policy that there is a two-week written notice for withdrawal of any student from the afterschool program. In addition, I understand no refunds or credits will be given for vacations, illness, withdrawals or disruptive behavior releases. I further understand that if fees are not paid by the due date that a late payment fee will be assessed and that my student will be automatically withdrawn from the program. I further understand there is no guarantee space will be available at a future date should I wish to reenroll my student. I also understand that if my student is picked up late, there is a late pick-up fee. If picked up late more than three times, my student is subject to dismissal from the program with no refunds or credits given.

DISMISSAL/SIGN-OUT PROCEDURES

I understand that for the safety of my student(s), any person I assign to pick up my student(s) is required to produce photo ID upon request at sign-out on a daily basis. I further understand that I, or any person I assign, am/is required to use official full signatures on any and all afterschool documents, including registration forms, sign-out sheets, parent/guardian notes etc. Furthermore, every sign-out sheet must include the time of pick-up. I also understand that my student’s information will need to be updated regularly. Inappropriate behavior including hostile, threatening language from parents/guardians can result in parents/guardians having to make other arrangements for student pick-up. Failure to follow these policies will result in immediate dismissal of the student from the program.

TEACHER/STAFF SIGN-OUT

I give permission for my student(s) to be signed out by teachers/staff of Western Academy Charter School in order to help in classrooms, receive extra help, tutoring, afterschool sports, clubs, etc. I understand that my child will be under the supervision of school staff during the time they are signed out of the program.

BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES

Behavior reports indicate ongoing problems needing to be resolved. Behavior plans and parent/guardian/teacher support will be sought and age-appropriate consequences will be assigned as necessary. Students receiving three behavior reports during the school year may be dismissed from the afterschool program. Reasons for behavior reports include but are not limited to, any violence, failure to follow directions or safety rules, inappropriate language, disrespectful behavior towards the afterschool staff and/or others, etc. Should it be determined that a student’s behavior proves harmful to him/herself or others, immediate dismissal from the program will result.

INFLUENZA (flu) VACCINE NOTIFICATION LETTER

I have read and understood the influenza information to parents in regards to the importance of the flu vaccine.

PARENT STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING

I have read, understood, and accepted all afterschool rules, policies, and procedures of Western Academy Charter School Age Child Care Program (SACC).