CURRENT FAMILIES
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Parent Handbook
All families enrolled in the Child Development Center should follow the guidelines and procedures outlined in the Parent Handbook. We recommend family to read through the handbook before and during the onboarding process to get familiar with policies such as illness and medication, inclement weather, family vacation, late pickup, tuition payment, withdrawal notice, etc. For additional information or questions, please contact the Center staff or email cdc@gmu.edu.
Inclement Weather
The Center will follow the University’s administrative schedule on closings. Upon enrollment, all families are required to register for Mason Alerts. In addition, all families will provide preferred contact information for the Center Alert notifications upon enrollment. If the University closes early due to weather or power loss, parents must pick up their children within 60 minutes of notification or no later than the University closure. All families must designate an individual authorized to pick up their child if they cannot get to the Center.
Nutrition Menu
Morning snacks, lunch, and afternoon snacks are served daily. The Center is a nut-free environment, and we implement systems during meals to ensure the safety of children with food allergies. Please contact the Center if the students have dietary restrictions or preferences.
What's on the Menu? Check the sample menu below for our daily food options, including regular and vegetarian options for lunch.
2023-2024 Calendar
Mason Child Development Center follows the University holiday calendar and closure announcements received through the Mason Alert system. Dates are subject to change. The Center reserves the right to close on additional days to support Professional Development and program requirements. Additional activities and events will be shared with families as they are scheduled.
Date | Event |
---|---|
September 4 | CLOSED for Labor Day |
October 2-6 | VA Farm to School Week |
Friday, October 27 | Harvest Festival, 3:30-4:45 pm |
November (TBD) | Picture Day with Lifetouch Portraits |
October/November (TBD) | Parent-Teacher Conferences |
November-January (TBD) | Family Cultural Celebrations |
November 22-24 | CLOSED for Thanksgiving Break |
December 18-January 1 | CLOSED for Winter Break Reopen Monday, January 2, 2024 |
Monday, January 15 | CLOSED for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
Wednesday, February 14 | Valentine's Day Classroom Celebrations |
March | Literacy Month |
March 29-April 5 | International Week |
April 8-12 | NAEYC Week of Young Child |
April/May (TBD) | Spring Picture Day with Lifetouch Portraits |
April/May (TBD) | Parent/Teacher Conferences |
May 6-10 | Teacher Appreciation Week |
Monday, May 27 | CLOSED for Memorial Day |
Friday, June 7 | Pre-K Celebration Picnic, 3-4:30 pm |
Monday, June 19 | CLOSED for Juneteenth |
Tuesday, July 4 | CLOSED for Independence Day |
August 5-9 | CLOSED for Professional Development |
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Illness
Please contact 703-993-5960 or cdc@gmu.edu to notify the Center of your child's absence due to illness. When a child is sent home due to illness, the child must remain home the entire next day until symptom-free for at least 24 hours. Families must pick up sick children within 1 hour from the Center notification. Please inform the Center immediately if any other infectious diseases are present in your home. When possible, refrain from bringing sick siblings into the Center to help prevent the spread of infection. See the Parent Handbook's "Illness Prevention" for more information.
Pickup Policy
All adults picking up children will be asked to provide photo identification to a Center administrator to be confirmed for authorization pickup prior to the release of a child. Parents/Guardians may provide a list of authorized individuals during enrollment. To update the pickup list, please contact the Center administrators for changes. See the Parent Handbook's "Release of Children" for more information.
Tuition Payment
Monthly statements are emailed to all families, and payment is due on the first day of each month. Late fees apply on the sixth day of the month or the first day of the following two consecutive months if payment has not been received. Tuition or fees that are not paid within 30 days of the due date will result in the suspension of a child's enrollment until all fees and tuition are paid. See the Parent Handbook's "Tuition, Fines and Collection Policies" for more information.
Absence/Vacation/Withdrawal
Please contact 703-993-5960 or cdc@gmu.edu to notify the Center of your child's absence to help us to have an accurate headcount of the students in each classroom. This will help our teachers to better plan for course content and adjust planned activities. Please note that the Center does NOT provide credit for absences due to illness, vacations, or extensive travel abroad. If the family wishes to withdraw from the program, please provide a written notice at least 30 days in advance. See the Parent Handbook's "Withdrawl from the Program" and "Tuition" for more information.
FAQs
Yes, a daily report is available at the end of the day highlighting the basic activities of the day, such as curriculum activities, mealtime, toileting/diapering, rest, etc.
All questions regarding your child should be directed first to your child’s lead or assistant teacher. If you are unable to reach the teacher or have additional concerns, contact the Director or Assistant Director at 703-993-5960.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be scheduled twice a year, typically in the fall/winter and spring, to discuss your child’s developmental progress. Additional conferences may be scheduled with your child’s teacher as needed at any time throughout the school year.
Medication Authorization (MAT) trained staff are authorized to administer medication to children on behalf of a parent when absolutely necessary. Whenever possible, medications should be administered at home. In the event that a child requires medication, parents must request required authorization forms from a member of the Center Administration and complete and submit the form before medication can be administrated. For more information, please see the Parent Handbook (PDF) "Health and Safety" section.
Please contact 703-993-5960 or cdc@gmu.edu to notify the Center of your child's absence to help us have an accurate headcount of the students in each classroom. This will help our teachers to better plan for course content and adjust planned activities. Please note that the Center does NOT provide credit for absences due to illness, vacations, or extensive travel abroad.
We offer both regular and vegetarian menus and accommodate most dietary needs. If the current meal program is unable to meet a child’s dietary needs, parents may provide a nut-free alternative from home.
We work with families to ensure the safety of children with allergies at all times. Parents must share knowledge of food and other allergies at enrollment on a VA DSS required form, which will be shared with the Center's administration team, all classrooms, and kitchen staff. Specific protocols are implemented in the classroom to ensure the safety of our children.
If we suspect a child has experienced an allergic reaction, teachers will notify the Center's administration immediately and follow the protocol for that particular child included on the allergy list. Only Medication Authorization (MAT)-trained personnel may administer medication if needed. There is always a MAT-trained staff member present during the Center's hours of operation. Please see the Parent Handbook (PDF) "Allergy Policy and Procedures" section for more information.
If the family wishes to withdraw from the program, please provide a written notice at least 30 days in advance. Withdrawal from the program is considered permanent. Families who withdraw their children will not be guaranteed a space in the future unless the families continue to pay tuition. See the Parent Handbook (PDF)'s "Withdrawl from the Program" for more information.
Children typically transition to new age-groups in accordance with the school calendar. The decision to transition a child to the next age group depends on their date of birth as well as their developmental readiness for new challenges in a new environment. Additionally, 2-year-olds are required to be fully toilet trained prior to moving to preschool due to the design of the facility. Children with a birthday after September 30 may be required to repeat a year to ensure FCPS cut-off date requirements are met.