Welcome to Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry! What an exciting experience it is to see children learning, working together, and enjoying the many blessings that God had provided at Trinity. It is a privilege for us to have the opportunity to come along side of you, the parents, to give children the highest quality of learning experiences. Each child will receive spiritual, academic and social training. The Lord has provided a wonderful staff of teachers and assistants to share in your child’s daily life. My prayer for your family is that God will richly bless you and provide all that is needed in the raising of your children.

Thank you for your trust and confidence in Trinity Lutheran ECM. If you would like information about Trinity Lutheran Church, or would like to speak with me, please call the church office at 903-593-1526. I’m looking forward to seeing you at Trinity Lutheran ECM.

Welcome to Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry. We are honored that you have chosen us to care for your little ones, and we take that job seriously. Our primary focus and purpose is to share the love of Christ with your children and family.

Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that young children need the opportunity to explore, create, learn, grow, and develop in an environment that is full of love, support, and concern. At Trinity Lutheran ECM, children are equipped with the tools necessary to build the foundation for a lifetime.

We always welcome parents and visitors on our campus. We believe that parent and school communication is vital to your child’s success. We welcome feedback and questions from you regarding the education and care that your child is receiving at Trinity Lutheran ECM.

If there is any way that we can be of assistance to you, please let us know. Thank you for choosing Trinity Lutheran ECM.

Trinity Lutheran Church exists for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel through outreach and by feeding the sheep of Jesus Christ.

To that end, the Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry (ECM) as an extension of the congregational ministry, provides child and family avenues for applying the Christian faith in all learning and playing situations. This is accomplished through:

As the home is God’s environment for the “training of a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6), the ECM is an extension of that environment in its assistance of the Christian family. Our children are an important and integral part of the Body of Christ. We cherish the opportunity to be instrumental in the growth process for them and their families.

Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry meets the child / staff ratios set by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Additionally, we staff our center with a “morning floater” and “afternoon floater”. The floaters assist the classroom teachers with specific needs of the children throughout the day.

Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry opens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The School Age program operates from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For an additional fee, extended day care is available when public school is scheduled to be closed. Please review the Holiday section to note the ECM closure days. All children must be picked up each day by 6:00 p.m. Our license does not allow us to care for children past 6:00 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry is operated on a non-discriminatory basis and no one shall be excluded from enrollment because of race, color, sex, religion, or natural origin.

Trinity Lutheran ECM is a non-profit ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church. Our Federal Employer Identification Number is 752847991.

Trinity Lutheran ECM is licensed by the state of Texas. Our license number is 140868. If you have questions, concerns, or comments about our facility, you may contact the Day Care Licensing Office at (903) 533-4167.

You may also obtain further information about our facility and other Texas Child Cares by accessing the Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services website at www.txchildcaresearch.org

Because Trinity Lutheran ECM is licensed by the state of Texas, you as the parent have the right to review the most current edition of the Texas Minimum Standards at any time during our hours of operation. A copy of Minimum Standards is located in the school office.

You also have the right to review Trinity ECM’s most recent Licensing Inspection Report any time during our hours of operation. This report is located on the bulletin board in the school office by our Licensing Certificate.

Trinity Lutheran ECM Staff is required by Texas Law to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the confidential Child Abuse Hotline. This number is (800) 252-5400.

When space is available for your child, you will be asked to pay the $50 new student enrollment fee. After payment of the fee has been obtained, you will be given a new student enrollment packet. The following information must be obtained prior to your child’s first day of care.

Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry offers the following programs: 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, or 5 days per week for preschool age.

It will be determined at the initial interview and in the child’s first weeks at the center if the child is ready for this type of child care program.

At any time during enrollment that we can no longer meet your child’s need, a two week notice will be given to terminate enrollment.

Two weeks written notice is required prior to schedule change based upon availability.

The Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry will be closed for the holidays listed below.

Parents are always welcome to visit the center and participate in the center’s activities during our hours of operation. All visitors will need to make the director or office staff aware of their presence in the building before entering a classroom. There is an ECM Visitor’s Log located in the school office that you will need to sign in and out on.

At the time of enrollment, parents will be asked to provide us with the name(s) and driver’s license number(s) of persons who are authorized to pick up their children. Upon arrival, these persons will need to report to the school office, with their driver’s license, so proper identification can be made. Once identified, these persons will be escorted to your child’s class.

If at any time you wish to change or update your child’s emergency contact(s) or authorized pick-up list, please contact the director so the approved changes can be made. We will not release a child to anyone without official written or verbal permission from the child’s parent or guardian.

All children coming to the center must be brought into the classroom by a responsible adult who may not leave until the child has been received by the teacher. It is essential that all children be signed in and out on the sheets provided.

When dropping off or picking up your child, please remember to observe the following rules:

For the safety of all, a traffic pattern has been established for the release of children from the center. It is as follows:

Parents will park their vehicle in a parking space, turn off ignition, and personally escort children in, or collect children from the center or school.

Children will not be allowed to leave the building or cross the parking lot without a parent (or adult) accompanying them.

The following developmentally appropriate activities for worship, educational, and social growth are integrated throughout the day / week.

Personal belongings brought to the ECM, such as wraps, toys, etc., are the responsibility of the child and parent. The center will not be responsible for loss, wear, and damage. Please make your child’s name on everything you bring to the center. Bringing toys from home is discouraged, unless for a special purpose.

The parent will not violate the hours of care agreed upon. In addition, a late charge will be made for children left at the center after 6:00 p.m. The fee is $1.00 per minute per child for children left after 6:00. The fee is due and payable at the time the child is picked up. In the event that the person picking up the child does not make payment, the payment must be paid the following day before the child is accepted back into the center.

Our ECM expenses are based upon the number of children enrolled. The absence of your child does not reduce the expense of the daily program. We are unable to allow deductions, credits, refunds, or make-up days. If the child is not attending school, parents need to notify the center by 10:00 a.m.

Our ECM uses the Wee Learn Christian curriculum for academic growth. We combine this with the study of thematic units and life experiences. Interest centers are placed in each classroom for the children’s enrichment

Since Trinity ECM is licensed by the state of Texas, all children who are registered for care must have a copy of their most current immunization record on file in the school office. If immunizations are due, your child may be temporarily removed from care until the required shots are obtained and on file.

If you as a parent wish for your child not to be immunized, an approved immunization exemption must be on file in the school office. To learn what exemption statements are approved, you may visit the Texas Department of Health’s Website at: www.tdh.state.tx.us/immunize.

For school age children, at the time of enrollment, you will be asked to sign a document saying that your child’s immunizations are current, and are on file with your child’s school. The statement must be dated, and include the school’s name, address, phone number.

In accordance with The Special Senses and Communication Disorders Act, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 36, requires a screening or a professional examination, for possible vision and hearing problems for the following children who are enrolled in a child care center.

First-time enrollees who are four years of age or older, and all children enrolled in programs who are four years of age by September 1 of each year. These children will be screened for possible vision and hearing problems prior to completion of the first semester of enrollment, or within 120 calendar days of enrollment, whichever is longest, or present evidence of screening conducted one year prior to enrollment.

Each child who is in the first, third, fifth, or seventh-grade must complete a screening or examination within the school year.

For preschool students, hearing and vision screenings will be conducted annually by certified screeners. This service is free of charge to our parents. You will be notified in advance of the screening dates, and be given a copy of your child’s screening results.

For school age students, we must have a signed statement from the child’s parent that the child’s screening records are current and on file at the school in which the child attends away from the center. The statement must be dated and include the name, address, and telephone number of the school.

In accordance with the Texas Department of Health, children who are enrolled at Trinity Lutheran ECM are not required to be screened for tuberculosis prior to attending child care.

The State of Texas does not allow the center to keep sick children. Parents must secure alternative child care for sick children. Please notify the school if your child is not going to be in attendance. In the event that the child has a contagious illness, the parent/guardian will notify the center. The child will not be allowed to return until all danger of contagion is past.

Please, for the health of your child and others, do not send your child to school if he or she is ill. Every child should be inspected at home each morning before he or she associates with other children in the school. The director or teacher has the authority to refuse your child if he/ she sees signs of illness. If your child becomes ill while attending the center and is sent home with a fever, the fever must be gone for 24 hours prior to returning to school. Since a portion of our program is outside, a child that is not well enough to be outdoors, may not attend school. When a parent is called to pick up a sick child, they must be picked up within one hour.

Trinity Lutheran ECM will give written notice in the event of any exposure to a contagious disease within the group.

Trinity Lutheran ECM is a center that “chooses to administer medication”. Medication is administered by the center’s director or authorized personnel. This service is offered to assist our parents. However, the laws regarding administering medication in a licensed child care center are very specific.

Medical Release Forms must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. These forms are located by the sign-in-sheets.

All medication must be in the original container. Medication cannot be given by us if it is put into bottles, drinks or food. Medication may not be sent in a child’s lunchbox or backpack.

Prescription medication must list on the original container the child’s name, name of medication, doctor’s name, pharmacy, prescription number, amount to be given, and how often the medication is to be given.

Children (siblings) may not share a prescribed medication in the center unless both children’s names are listed on the original container and above mentioned information must be on the container for both children.

Over-the-counter medications that state “under the age of 2 years, must consult a physician” cannot be given without written authorization from a doctor. Permission from the doctor over the phone is not acceptable.

Medication times are 11:30 p.m.- 12:30 p.m. and again at 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. We ask that you endeavor to maintain this time schedule.

Trinity Lutheran ECM will exercise reasonable care and judgement in all matters related to the welfare and safety of the child. In case of illness or an accident to the child, the center will promptly notify the parents. Any such measures or actions taken will be in the best interest of the child.

In case of an illness or accident requiring a physician and a parent/ guardian cannot be reached, the director/ staff member in charge may call a physician at the parents expense.

Trinity Lutheran ECM will provide supplement accident insurance coverage.

Parents are responsible for keeping emergency phone numbers and addresses of those persons designated to pick up your child current.

In the event of a facility emergency, such as a power outage or water main break, we will accept children, and inform parents of the facility emergency. Parents may render judgement as to whether they would feel secure dropping off their children. If the problem has not been corrected by 9:30 a.m., or in a reasonable length of time, the facility will begin calling parents, and request them to pick-up their children. Our child care licensing representative will also be notified at this time.

In the event that part of our facility is rendered unsafe due to explosion or gas leak, during our hours of operation, we will relocate to the lower half of the parking lot. If the gymnasium or other campus areas are safe, we will use these to protect children from long exposure to the elements. Parents will again be notified by phone, and asked to come pick-up their children if the problem is not correctable, or if it is too dangerous to continue providing care. Our child care licensing representative will again be notified.

At Trinity Lutheran ECM the only time we will transport your child will be during a pre-approved field trip or in the event of a medical or school emergency. For all children under the age of four, a child safety seat will need to be provided by the parent at the time of the class field trip.

Enforcing rules reassures children that we love them and we care what they do. When we desire good behavior of children, we must realize that when discipline is needed it must be planned thoughtfully. It is not the child’s behavior that we must guide, but more importantly, his/her feelings about the behavior. Behavior patterns will be altered as the child grows to adulthood, but his/her feelings about themselves and other people may become deep-seated attitudes.

The goal of our discipline is to direct the students toward acceptable behavior which helps develop self- control, and to maintain the order necessary to accomplish the academic and social growth we desire. We do not see discipline as punishment, but rather as correction. Students may be corrected for displaying behavior such as:

In order to provide a safely structured environment, general class rules are established for each preschool classroom. The rules are reviewed frequently so that children will learn expected behaviors. Children who do not follow the rules are removed from group participation.

Most corrections will be handled by the teacher through a verbal reminder, or by restricting the child’s freedom or privileges. Parents will be notified if the problem continues.

When negative behavior is exhibited, the caregiver will discuss the situation with the parents, informing them of the strategy chosen to help the child resolve the difficulty. The faculty needs the cooperation and participation of the parents in following through at home with the chosen methods to provide consistency in the solution strategy.

In cases where a problem persists and there is no behavior change, a child will be sent to the Director. Parents will be notified in writing or verbally if their child is sent to the Director. Students who consistently fail to respond to efforts of correction may be dismissed. Much care is taken to insure that correction is handled properly. We do not expect perfection from our students, but reasonable cooperation.

Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Ministry is a non-profit ministry, making every effort to maintain the lowest tuition possible consistent with the highest standard of program and care for a child. The school reserves the right to make adjustments in tuition as required by increased operation expenses. Parents shall be notified in writing of general tuition increases at least 30 days in advance.

A Vacation Request Form must be submitted to the Director one week in advance. Students may not attend during their designated vacation time. All children enrolled in child care will receive one free week of five consecutive days (Monday- Friday) of vacation time after being enrolled for one calendar year.

Many special activities are provided throughout the year for parents, students, and teachers in order that they may interact with one another. The following is a list of some of the special events that may be celebrated:

At Trinity Lutheran, we believe that communication with parents is vital to the success of your child’s schooling. Listed below are specific times when you the parent will receive immediate written or verbal notifications from the school.

Policies of Trinity Lutheran ECM are set by the Early Childhood Ministry Board of Trinity Lutheran Church. This is a group of volunteers comprised of church members who serve faithfully.

Changes made to ECM policies and procedures, affecting children and families, will be given to parents in writing. If updates are made to the Parent Handbook, parents will be asked to sign a new Acknowledgment of ECM Handbook.

Questions regarding the policies may be addressed to the director. The ECM Board meets monthly, and its meetings are open to faculty and parents unless executive sessions are called.

Parents are expected to support and uphold the ECM policies. Without this cooperation and confirmation from the parents, a double standard exists between the home and the center, which is counter productive to the students development and the center’s effectiveness.

If at any time misunderstandings develop between the center and the home, it becomes the obligation of both to resolve these in a Biblical manner: that of going directly to the parties involved for clarification and explanation. The center confesses that although all teachers are chosen for their Christian commitment and high ideals, they are not immune from error. All suggestions and comments from parents will be examined fully, and are welcomed and encouraged for the overall strengthening of the center.

The center agrees to work closely with the parents in the education of the children. This includes provision of competent teachers, a full and developmentally appropriate curriculum, regular reporting, proper student supervision and communication with the home.

Any parent who openly demonstrates to students or other parents a lack of support for the center policies is undermining the center’s positive intent and thereby hindering its effectiveness.

In full cooperation with the center, parents are expected to attend conferences and actively support other planned activities knowing that parental participation is critical to the health and well-being of the center and the child.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the policies and procedures of Trinity Lutheran ECM, you may contact the school office at (903) 593-7465 to speak with the director.

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6