Current Families

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.

 

DateEvent
September 4CLOSED for Labor Day
October 2-6VA Farm to School Week
Friday, October 27Harvest 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 22-24CLOSED for Thanksgiving Break
December 18-January 1CLOSED for Winter Break
Reopen Monday, January 2, 2024
Monday, January 15CLOSED for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Wednesday, February 14Valentine's Day Classroom Celebrations
MarchLiteracy Month
March 29-April 5International Week
April 8-12NAEYC Week of Young Child
April/May (TBD)Spring Picture Day with Lifetouch Portraits
April/May (TBD)Parent/Teacher Conferences
May 6-10Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 27CLOSED for Memorial Day
Friday, June 7Pre-K Celebration Picnic, 3-4:30 pm
Monday, June 19CLOSED for Juneteenth
Tuesday, July 4CLOSED for Independence Day
August 5-9CLOSED 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