Center Policies
Below you will find some of the Center's policies highlighted in the Handbook given to new parents.

Admission Policy and Procedure. Green Tree Early Childhood Center welcomes all children regardless of their race, religion, sex, national origin, lifestyle or special needs. We practice non-discrimination in client services and employment practices. Interested families are invited to tour the facility, interview the director, observe your child’s potential class, and complete the appropriate forms. Since the child’s well being is our most important concern, we ask that the parents fill out all registration forms completely and thoughtfully. Please keep these forms current by updating them whenever any information changes, including changes in address, phone numbers, emergency contacts, people that can pick up the child, recent immunizations or well-child checkups.

Children will be admitted on the date of the parent’s choice after forms and fees are presented. Should there not be a space available, the child is placed on a waiting list and parents will be notified when a space becomes available. Children of federal employees and siblings of enrolled children are given priority on the waiting list. Part-time enrollment is an option for federal and non-federal families based on consideration of available space and enrollment projections. Drop-in care is available for children currently enrolled at Green Tree, again depending on space availability. (See below for further information about drop-in care.) Because of staffing and budgeting considerations, Green Tree does not provide rebates should the Center be closed due to holidays or inclement weather.

Ice and Snow. We want to ensure the safety of the children at Green Tree. When snow or hazardous road conditions exist, the Center will close according to guidelines set by the Seattle Public School District. Closure is not at the discretion of the Center. Green Tree will not go over ratio at any time; please be prepared to stay with your child until we have sufficient staff to maintain our licensed ratios. In the event that the weather worsens after the Center has already opened, and the Seattle Public School District decides to close the schools, you will be contacted by the Center to come and pick up your children immediately. For this reason it is particularly important that you keep the Executive Director and the teachers advised of where you can be reached at all times.

Earthquake Precautions. In the event of an earthquake, the staff have been in emergency evacuation procedures. We ask that parents prepare an “earthquake kit” for each child enrolled at Green Tree. See your child’s teacher for more information.

Daily Sign In/Out Procedure. It is very important that your child be signed in and out each day. The parent or guardian must sign the child in on the clipboard located in the classroom before leaving the child in the care of the center. Please write your child’s name and time of arrival as well as the estimated time you plan to pick-up your child A full signature is required. Please, also sign out with a full signature and the time when you pick up your child. It is necessary for this to be done each day.

Clothing. Children should wear clothes that are suitable for active play, washable, and easy to manage by them selves. Everything must be clearly marked with your child’s name. Each child also has a “cubby” for his or her things. Please be sure to keep an extra set or two of clothing (including socks) in the cubby.

For excursions, make sure each child has a raincoat and boots. Each child should have a sweater or jacket to allow active movement. For the winter, please don’t forget mittens and hats. In the summertime, have a swimsuit and towel on hand. In order to establish a nurturing atmosphere in which all our children will be comfortable, we ask that your child not wear clothing to school that depict mean or scary characters.

Field Trips. Infants and toddlers are taken for stroller walks whenever weather permits. Preschoolers take walks to the library, monorail rides to Seattle Center, and occasional field trips to special events by Metro bus. Our staff to child ratio will be increased appropriately to provide adequate supervision. Before any field trips are taken, parents must sign a permission form and return it to a lead teacher (see attached permission slip).

What To Bring From Home.
Clothes: In addition to changes of clothing, please bring a blanket for naps. Please also keep abreast of your child’s supply of disposable diapers and wipes.

Food: Parents are responsible for providing bottles, formula and baby food for infants, and food substitutes for waddlers and older children with special dietary needs.

Toys: We encourage children to leave their toys at home, with the possible exception of a naptime friend or transitional object. Feel free to discuss this with the teachers.

Birthdays and Other Holidays While it is important to us to recognize special days in children’s lives we strive to celebrate them in ways that are child-centered, educationally oriented and developmentally appropriate. Every effort is made to be culturally sensitive. Please share with your child’s teachers any celebrations that are important to your family, and how you celebrate them, so that these could be included in the classroom planning. Please coordinate birthdays with the classroom teacher. Green Tree will provide a special snack for birthdays or if you choose to bring a snack to celebrate a special day we encourage healthy alternatives such as frozen yogurt, fruit bars, or cereal bars. All food brought to share with the class must be store bought and labeled with the ingredients (this is a licensing requirement).

Discipline Policy. We strive to keep the children busy and interested with a variety of suitable activities each day. We are positive and sensitive to individuals and are determined to avoid stress and resolve conflict. We encourage children to verbalize and listen to each other, and we work to see that they understand the limits and expectations. This should prevent most problems before they even occur. When preventative measures fail, gentle verbal reminders and suggestions are offered. Children are taught specific skills for problem solving and conflict resolution. No one is ever allowed to slap, spank, or otherwise physically punish a child who is in our care. Our most severe disciplinary measure is a brief “time apart” from the group followed by a teacher/child discussion. This is not considered punishment, but a way to provide safety for the group and security for an out-of-control child.