Welcome Back! Important Back-to-School Reminders for Early Minds Families
We are so excited to welcome everyone back for another school year at Early Minds!
As we settle into our new routines, we wanted to share a few important reminders that help our days run smoothly and keep our children, families, and staff healthy and safe.
Drop-Off
Early Minds opens at 7:00 AM. We ask that all children arrive by 9:00 AM, as this is when our daily curriculum and classroom activities begin.
If your child has an appointment, please try to schedule it early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Our latest drop-off time is 10:00 AM. Children arriving after 10:00 AM will not be able to attend that day.
Pick-Up & Approved Pick-Up Persons
If someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your child, please send us a message through Brightwheel before 2:00 PM.
The person picking up must be listed on your child’s approved pick-up list. If you need to add or remove someone, please let us know and we will send you an updated form. The most recently completed form becomes your child’s current approved pick-up list.
Infant & Yearling Pick-Up
When you arrive to pick up your infant or yearling, please send us a message through Brightwheel when you get here. We will get your child ready for you.
Please wait in the foyer and your child’s teacher will bring them to you.
Late Pick-Ups
Early Minds closes promptly at 5:00 PM.
Pick-ups after 5:00 PM are subject to a late fee of $25 per child for the first 15 minutes and $5 per minute thereafter.
Nap-Time Items
Please send your child’s sleep items in a reusable bag. Because cubby space is limited, we do not have enough room for backpacks.
Children who use sleep items should have a crib-size sheet (toddler-bed size for toddlers and infants), one small blanket and one small lovey. Pillows are not needed.
All sleep items must fit easily in your child’s sleep cubby.
Extra Clothes
Please make sure your child always has extra clothing at school that is appropriate for both the weather and their current size.
Children grow quickly, so please check their extra clothes periodically throughout the year.
Label Everything
Please label your child’s clothing, cups, bottles, food containers, sleep items and other belongings.
We recommend Mabel’s Labels, which are dishwasher- and washing-machine-safe. If you order through Mabel’s Labels, please select Early Minds as your fundraiser.
A Reminder About Our Sick Policy
One of the best ways we can protect our classrooms is by keeping children home when they are sick.
A child who is experiencing symptoms of an infectious illness cannot attend until the applicable return-to-care requirements have been met. Children also need to be well enough to comfortably participate in normal classroom activities without requiring a level of care that prevents staff from safely caring for the rest of the group.
A few of our most common reminders:
- Fever of 100° or above: Child may return after being fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
- Vomiting: 24 hours without vomiting.
- Diarrhea: 24 hours without diarrhea.
- Strep: Children cannot return while throat cultures are pending and may return after 48 hours on antibiotics.
- RSV: 48 hours fever-free without medicine and after wheezing and coughing have subsided.
- Flu/COVID: 48 hours fever-free without medicine and symptoms must be improving.
Please remember that a healthcare provider’s clearance does not override the return-to-care protocols in our Healthcare Policy.
For complete information, please review our Healthcare Policy and Parent Handbook.
Thank You!
We know that’s a lot of information, but these little routines make a big difference in helping our days run smoothly.
Thank you for partnering with us and for trusting Early Minds with your children. We’re looking forward to another wonderful year of learning, growing, playing and making memories together! ❤️