One of the goals of Real Beginnings Preschool is to provide a safe, secure, and loving environment for childrenin our care. In an effort to accomplish this, we have several security measures in place to protect the children, their parents and the church. We highly encourage parents and guardians to become familiar with these policies and procedures.

Security Check-In/Out System

When parents bring their child to the Preschool area, they are to check them in through our computerized security system.  They are to place the child’s name tag on the child’s back & take the Child In slip and give it to the child’s classroom teacher.  Upon returning for the child, the parent is to check the child out through our computerized security system.  The parent will present the Child Out slip to the classroom teacher. The teacher will check to see if the person picking up the child is pictured on the Child Out slip.  Children are not to be dropped off by or released to anyone under the age of 18 or to any not pictured on the Child Out slip. We also ask that only one parent at a time goes to a classroom door to drop off and pick up a child.

Allergies and Snacks

Due to the risk of allergies, the only food that is to be served to the children is that which has been pre-approved by a Preschool Director. No peanut products of any kind will be allowed in the Preschool area. If a child has an allergy, the parent needs to write what the child is allergic to on the Allergy Alert label & place that label on the child. Toddlers through Pre-Kindergarten age children are given goldfish crackers and lemonade for snack during worship care.

Visitors

All visitors are asked to check-in at Real Beginning's Welcome Desk so that they can be issued Security Labels, a Pager, and be directed to the child’s classroom.

Security Cameras

In an effort to increase the level of security provided for preschool children while at church, we have installed a security camera in each preschool room. There is a monitoring station for these cameras along with on-going video taping.

• Any parent desiring to view a videotape of their child in our Preschool has the right to do so.
• If a parent desires to view a videotape, they simply make their request to a Preschool Director.
• The security cameras, monitors & videotapes used & produced in the Preschool area are the property of Cascade Hills Church.
• No videotape will be allowed off CHC property and will be kept by the Preschool Personnel.
• The security cameras, monitors & videotapes are for use only by Cascade Hills Church.

Parent Pagers

Pagers are provided for our parents upon the request of the parent or recommendation by a Director or Teacher. We do request visitors to check-out a pager. Pagers can be checked-out at the Preschool Welcome Desk. These pagers are vibrating, not sound activated, so parents will need to wear the pagers. If a parent is needed while their child is in our care, we will page them. Upon being paged, parents will need to return to the preschool area immediately. Parents will be paged if a child becomes ill, cries excessively or sustains an injury requiring the parent’s attention. Upon returning to the preschool area, pagers must be returned to the Welcome Desk.

Crying Children

If a child has been crying inconsolably for 10 minutes, a parent or guardian will be paged to come to the Preschool area to comfort the child.

Wristbands

Each preschool classroom has a certain color of disposable wristbands given to them (each class has a different color wristband). Before the children leave the classroom for a group activity of any kind, teachers are to put a wristband on each child. This will assist the teachers in designating the children in their class if multiple classes are participating in a group activity.

Leadership

There must be a duly authorized Preschool Supervisor in the Preschool area any time the Preschool facilities are in use.

All adults teaching and serving in the Preschool area will need to submit to a background check and are not to work with children until their background check has been approved.

All persons secured as teachers or volunteers must be eighteen (18) years of age or over.

There is to be a Growing Room Teacher or CHC Preschool Director in the Preschool room whenever children are present. Children are NEVER to be left alone.

Parents are asked to serve in the Preschool area during at least one session per month, on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings, in order to provide adequate care for the preschool children.

Bathroom Usage

Preschoolers are to use the bathrooms in their classroom. Teachers are to allow the child to use the bathroom alone. If a child should need assistance while in the bathroom, the teacher is to tell the other adult in the room that they are going into the bathroom with the child. They are to then leave the bathroom door open while in the bathroom with the child.

Infant & Creeper Classrooms 

• Shoes are to be covered with the shoe coverings provided by Cascade Hills Church.
• Shoes may be removed & socks worn instead.

Diaper Changing

• Diapers are to be changed by Growing Room Staff only
• Diapers are to be checked and/or changed every hour and before & after naps.
• Disposable gloves are to be worn by the person changing the diapers. They must put on a different pair of gloves with each diaper change & dispose of the used gloves with the diapers.
• After cleaning & changing the child, the changing area is disinfected.
• Hands are washed after each diaper change.
• Parents are asked to bring an adequate supply of disposable diapers and an extra change of clothing, in case of an accidental soiling, for their child.

Infant Feeding

• Because of the serious responsibility involved in feeding preschoolers, children need to be fed before coming to the Preschool area with the exception of infants and creepers.
• Bottles must be prepared by the parents. Volunteers and staff are not allowed to prepare bottles.
• Bottles must be marked as to the date the bottle was made.
• A Preschool Director must do a “Bottle Check” before a bottle is given to a child.
• Bottles are only to be warmed in a crock pot or bottle warmer.
• While feeding a child a bottle containing breast milk, gloves must be worn by the person feeding the child.
• Only formula, milk, juice, or water (as provided by the parents of the child) will be fed to infants and creepers. The church does provide crackers, pretzels & lemonade which are given with parental consent.
• Lemonade, crackers and pretzels will be provided by the church as a snack for toddlers through pre-kindergartners.
• No food is to be served to the children other than what has been pre-approved by a Preschool Director.
• Parents of infants and creepers must leave clear feeding instructions with formulas already mixed in the bottle. We will do our best to feed your child their bottle at the time indicated.
• Parents are not to bring glass bottles or cups.
• Parents are to label all bottles, pacifiers, and cups with the child’s name.
• Parents are to alert their child’s teacher of any allergies their child might have and write it under “Special Instructions” on the child’s security label or use the Allergy Alert label.

Sleeping Infants

For the prevention of SIDS, infants will be placed on their backs for sleeping.

Body Fluid

• Before wiping a child’s nose or eyes, gloves must be worn.
• Hands are washed after wiping a child’s nose or eyes.

Discipline

“Child Guidance” is provided by all Growing Room staff members who work with the children. Intervention before a problem occurs, redirection, and positive reinforcement of acceptable behavior will always be used first. The child is told what behavior is expected of him/her and should be given avenues to change unacceptable behavior. If the use "time out" is considered necessary, the time limit will not be more than one minute per year of age. Consistency is a key factor in the establishment of discipline; therefore, parents and staff must work together towards the same goal for the child.

Movies

The only movies or videos that will be shown in the Preschool area are those which are from the Cascade Hills Church movie libraries. These movies are rated "G".

Donations

We do appreciate and accept donations of Preschool toys and equipment. All donated toys and equipment will be inspected and a determination will be made whether or not it can be used in the Preschool area. If it is determined that a donated item cannot be used, it will be given to a family who can use it or to another non-profit organization.

Medical Procedures

• Typically, an injury can be treated with a little loving attention, a cool cloth, a little first aid cream and a Band-Aid.
• First Aid supplies are provided in the preschool area.
• Children will be treated for their minor injuries and an Incident Report will be completed and given to the parent upon their return.
• Preschool staff and volunteers are not authorized to dispense any over-the-counter or prescription medications.
• In the event a child needs more attention than we can provide, the parent will be notified.

Serious Injuries involving broken bones, convulsions, fainting, unconsciousness or other serious bodily injury will be treated as follows:

• The adult will keep calm and keep the injured child and other children as calm as possible. The adult will speak calmly to the child to reassure the child.
• An injured child is not to be moved or left alone.
• The other adult teacher is to get a Preschool Director.
• If needed, a Preschool Director will contact 911 and/or any medical personnel available on campus.
• A Preschool Director will contact the parents and advise them of the child’s situation and procedure being followed.

Illnesses:

• Children who become ill during a church activity will be isolated and the parents will be contacted to pick up the child IMMEDIATELY.
• Preschool staff and teachers are NOT allowed to dispense medication.
• Please see the recommendations taken from the Report of the Committee of the Control of Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics further in these procedures. 

Classroom Evacuations

If an emergency evacuation needs to be made of the Preschool area, the following must be observed:

• Classroom Teachers & Adult Helpers need to acquaint themselves with the evacuation route posted by the door in the classroom.
• Classroom Teachers & Adult Helpers need to count the number of children in their class. They will also need to take the sign-in sheet with them upon leaving the classroom.
• Classroom Teachers & Adult Helpers will calmly take the children from their classroom to the posted evacuation area or as directed by a Preschool Director.
• Upon arriving at the evacuation area, Classroom Teachers & Adult Helpers will count their children again and match the children to the names on the sign-in sheet.
• Parents will be directed as to when and where they will be able to pick-up their children. Parents will not be allowed in the Preschool area during the evacuation.
• Classroom Teachers and Adult Helpers will release the children to their parents once all the children have been accounted for and approval has been given by a Preschool Director.

Tornado

In case of a tornado, children will be moved to interior classrooms or hallways without windows. Children will not be released to parents until the all-clear signal has been given and proper check-out procedures are followed.

Additional Information:

• The Preschool facilities are for church functions ONLY. No one is to leave a child in the Preschool area for any reason other than a church-related activity.
• There must be a duly authorized Preschool Supervisor in the Preschool area any time the Preschool facilities are in use.
• There is to be a Growing Room Teacher or CHC Preschool Director in the Preschool room whenever children are present. Children are NEVER to be left alone.
• For the protection of the children and Preschool leadership, children who are ill must not be brought to the Preschool area. See the recommendations taken from the Report of the Committee of the Control of Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics further in these procedures.
• Parents are to pick up their children IMMEDIATELY at the close of scheduled church activities.

REMEMBER: the people who guide your child at church will be happy to discuss with you any questions or problems that you have regarding your child. However, a telephone call or visit during the week will be more effective than discussing the child in his/her presence and the presence of other children and adults. A Preschool Director is available at the church during office hours: Monday-Thursday. The Preschool Office is closed on Friday.

Recommendations taken from the Report of the Committee of the Control of Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A Child Must Not Be Taken to the Preschool Area When He/She Has Any of the Following:

• A fever of 101 degrees or more within the previous 24 hours.
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea – symptom-free for 24 hours.
• Any symptoms of the usual childhood diseases.
• Common Cold (including a runny nose).
• A sore throat.
• Croup.
• Any unexplained rash.
• Any skin infection.
• Pink eye or other eye infections.
• Any infectious diseases.

Children who become ill during a church activity will be isolated and the parents will be contacted to pick up the child IMMEDIATELY. Preschool staff and volunteers are NOT allowed to dispense medications.


If you have any questions or concerns about the Real Beginnings Preschool Ministry, please contact Sheri Nicholson, Preschool Director or Shenita Hodge, Asst. Preschool Director.  They can be reached at (706) 327-5743 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .