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FAQ
GENERAL
FAQ:
Who
is able to pick up my child?
Children are only allowed to leave the facility with persons
listed in our files. Should you have any changes in your family
or care givers, please make our staff aware of them immediately.
What qualifications do your teachers have?
All of our teachers are specially trained to teach our unique
classes. Teachers, usually begin as a 3rd teacher in a classroom.
As they have proven they are ready to be an assistant, they
will be moved up and begin to train to be a lead teacher.
From there they will work their way up to being a lead teacher
in a class. All teachers have an educational background, with
varying degrees of schooling and are background checked.
HONORS,
EXPLORERS, COMBO, ART PROGRAMS FAQ:
What kind of commitment
do you require for your programs?
We only require one full month in advance payments. If you
choose to withdraw your child from a program, you give 30
days written notice and you will be able to use up the time
you have already paid for with no further payments. There
are also options to commit to more pay up front with discounts
and if this option is chosen would commit the child/parent
to the period they paid for up front.
For CraniumHONORS,
do you require a certain number of hours per week?
Based on your child’s assessment we will recommend 2
to 4 hours per week. If your child is ahead or at level, we
only recommend a 2 hour per a week class that can be a combination
of our Honors program and another program of your choice.
If we are trying to get your child up to level we recommend
2 to 4 hours per week that focus mainly on their reading and
math skills.
What
does the registration fee include?
Your registration fee includes all current, and future, assessments,
including a detailed report of your child’s progress
(if they are attending the Honors program) as-well-as all
materials needed for their class.
For CraniumHONORS,
when will I be updated on my child’s progress?
Depending on classes attended, we try to give updates on the
skills your child has attempted and mastered at 1, 3, 7, and
12 months, and at 5 month increments after the year mark for
the Honors program. Please feel free to speak with your child’s
teacher after class to update her on your child’s progress
in school and ask her about the skills that have been focused
on in class.
Do you do one-on-one
tutoring?
The Honors program is set-up to accommodate 5-6 children per
each teacher in a classroom setting that works on individualized
curriculum as-well-as promotes your child’s independence
and work ethic. This method of teaching mirrors a classroom
where they will have to share their teacher’s attention
with several other children. The low student to teacher ratios
allow us to give your child one-on-one attention, while also
promoting their drive and ability to work on their own in
their class at school.
For CraniumHONORS,
do you work on my child’s school work with them while
they are in class?
Do to the technology driven, classroom nature of our program
we are unable to do homework with your child in class. We
are able to focus on specific skills that your child's school
teacher has pinpointed for you. For example, if your child
is struggling with subtraction with regrouping, we will program
that skill into their customized learning path for them to
work on until they have mastered the topic.
Does my child need
to bring anything with them to class?
No. Everything your child will need is provided to them in
class.
Will my child get homework
to do before his/her next class?
We don’t want to put more stress on your child so we
do not require work to be done outside of class. Extra CraniumHONORS
work can be given for children to work on at home at the parent’s
request.
Are there make-up
days if my child is absent?
If your child is absent you can make-up a class as long as
you have called us at least one hour prior to the class start
time. Make up classes are not added on to a child's enrollment
but are used to "double up" or attend a day that
is additional to their normal weekly day(s) attended. You
must schedule a make up in advance by calling us to verify
we have the class space and to make sure we have the time
required to set up the learning curriculum for your child.
Please give us a call and let us know when you are planning
to make-up so we can be prepared for your child.
Do we have to un-enroll
and then re-enroll if we are going to be away for a month
or for the summer?
No. We offer a freeze to your account. Please let our office
staff know when you will be away for more then a few weeks,
so we can help you fill out a freeze form and therefore we
will not charge you during the time period that you are gone.
Payments will be set to resume when you return (always computed
one full month in advance).
Am I able to switch
classes if a conflict with my child’s day arises?
If there is availability in another class that works better
with your schedule, we will be happy to switch your child
to that class. Whether you want this to be a permanent switch
or a one week switch you must call us in advance so we can
verify availability and have the time to set up the curriculum
for your child.
Do I have to start
classes at the beginning of the month?
Each week is an individual lesson for all classes, and does
not build on the previous week. If you choose to start your
child in the middle of the month your payments for that month
will be prorated for the remainder of the classes.
Can we come in and
try out a class before I sign my child up?
We offer 1 free trial class to new families who want to see
what our programs are all about. Your child will be able to
participate in a full class, including generic, grade appropriate
curriculum for the Honors classes. Please call us to schedule
your trial!
What is the procedure
for canceling my child’s enrollment?
Please let the front desk staff know if your child will no
longer be attending classes with us. You must fill out a cancellation
form, or let us know in writing, 30 days prior to their last
day. Once we have the cancellation in writing, we will cancel
your payments and you may use up the remainder of the time
you have paid for.
Does my child need
to be potty trained?
Yes for CraniumHONORS, CraniumART and CraniumCOMBO. For CraniumEXPLORERS,
CraniumPREK, CraniumHONORS-PreK we do not require your child
to be potty trained. Please have them in a pull-up and let
your teacher know if they have any special needs.
Cranium
Academy (Preschool) FAQ:
Are
snacks, lunch, breakfast included?
Light snacks will be provided during the day. For the "regular"
hour preschool students lunch will not be needed since the
normal pick up time is between 12:00pm - 12:30pm. If your
child has a health concern, please let us know immediately
and we will do our best to accommodate your child or have
you pack them a snack to eat. For all extended day and full
day students, breakfast and lunch is not included. Parents/guardians
might want to pack/supply lunch for their child (see next
question for more detail). We will also have lunch available
for purchase. Please see the office staff to order lunches
for your child, if this option is needed.
Will you be able to
refrigerate and heat my child’s lunch?
We will not be able to refrigerate or slow heat your child’s
lunch. We can heat up foods that have been precooked and are
in a microwave container and can be warmed up in minute or
less (this does not include frozen meals). Please pack an
appropriate lunch (with an ice pack if needed). Your child’s
lunch will be stored in their cubby until lunch time. Please
pack your child’s lunch in a thermos if you would like
it to stay warm for them until lunch time.
What if I forget to send my child lunch?
Your child will be given lunch for that day and your account
will be charged appropriately.
Is breakfast included
for the full day children?
Breakfast will not be provided to our full day children. If
you would like them to eat breakfast at school, please bring
breakfast with them and let your child’s teacher know
you would like them to eat before they get started with their
day.
We work full time, most of the year. How many days
can our child come to your facilty per calendar year?
We have options available that allow a child to come every
week day for all but seven (7) closed days per calendar year!
Starting with the summertime of 2010 we will have summer camps
every week between the preschool stop and start dates. For
yearly Cranium Academy (preschool) students only we have a
tuition option that is the same cost as the current monthly
preschool rate. For Thanksgiving week, New Years break and
Spring Break we have camps for most of the days. Please click
on our Schedule
webpage and check near the bottom of the page for our special
holiday camp schedule and details.
Does my child need
to bring anything to school with them?
We ask that, due to the lack of storage space, you have your
child leave their backpack and toys at home. Each child’s
cubby will have room for their lunch box, a change of clothes
(if appropriate) to be kept in a small zip-lock baggie, extra
pull-ups (if appropriate), and the work they do throughout
the day. Your teacher will let you know if you will need anything
else or when it is appropriate to bring in show-and-tell.
Please leave all treasures at home as we can not be responsible
for the loss or breakage of items.
Will my child have
homework?
Homework is not required in our academy. You can leave your
child’s education to us! We recommend that you read
daily with your child, research has proven, children who are
read to on a regular basis outperform those who are not.
What programs are included
in the academy?
The Academy classes include most programs that are offered
at Cranium Clubhouse. This currently includes, but is not
limited to, CraniumHONORS (reading and math), CraniumART,
CraniumEXPLORERS (critical foundation learning skills), CraniumMUSIC,
CraniumTV, CraniumGYM, and CraniumGLOBE (languages, including
Chinese, Spanish, and Sign Language).
Do you currently offer
VPK?
We are going to offer a special VPK option in 2010, with priority
given to all of our currently enrolled students. Please feel
free to stop by and ask our front desk staff for more information.
Does my child have to be potty trained?
Our youngest children (Cranium Associates) are not expected
to be potty trained. We ask that you keep a change of clothes
and extra pull-ups in their cubbies in case of an accident.
We will work with you to help in the potty training process.
We ask that our Bachelors and Masters children be fully potty
trained.
Can I drop my child
off earlier or later than the normal times for regular or
extended hours? What about if I’m running late to pick
my child up?
Yes we have a program called EXTEND FOR A DAY. Extend for
a day (must be confirmed ahead of time to ensure proper student/teacher
ratios):
Regular Hour Students: $ 15 Daily charge for extended pick
up. $ 25 Daily charge for full day drop-off and pick up
Extended Hour Students: $ 15 Daily charge for full day drop-off
and pick up
If you are running late for pick up on any day, please give
us a call so that we can let your child know that we have
heard from you. There will be charge of $5 for every 5 minutes
you are late picking up your child. Please speak with the
front office staff if you need to arrange, in advance, to
have your child stay with us later(see extend for a day program
above).
What kind of discipline
practices does the Academy use?
Positive Reinforcement is the main form of discipline used
at Cranium Clubhouse. We are working on teaching the children
that there are consequences to their actions. We will give
them several warnings throughout the day and may utilize timeout
(1 minute per age of the child) on a rare occasion, if appropriate,
or have them not receive the reward (a sticker or stamp) for
the day, if they have had a tough day. Your child’s
teacher will let you know if your child’s class is utilizing
a special reward system in their class.
Are there make-up days
if my child is absent?
Make-up days are not available to our Preschool children.
If you know you are going to be gone, please ask your teacher
and they will prepare a packet of work for you to bring with
you, or on your trip/vacation.
When will I receive
updates on my child’s progress?
You will have scheduled conferences with your child’s
teacher in December and May. You will receive a written update
in late February or early March. You are always welcome to
speak to your child’s teacher before or after class
to discuss their progress or any concerns you may have.
Can my child start
in the Academy in January rather than August?
Yes – depending on enrollment we can put you on the
waiting list for a January start. We are generally full for
the entire school year (August to May), but people do have
job transfers or other circumstances that require a change.
If a spot becomes available, we will let you know as-soon-as
possible. Some children also enroll for only the fall semester.
Please speak with the office staff and we will let you know
if we already know that there is a spot opening up for January.
Can I volunteer to
help in my child’s class?
Each class will have opportunities for special involvement.
All classes have a Halloween party, Holiday party, Valentines
party, and end of the year party that we will ask for parent
volunteers and have parents bring in items for. There will
also be other occasions when teachers will ask for the parents
help. Please be on the look out for notes or announcements
from your child’s teacher.
How do teachers communicate
with the parents?
We give each student/parent a daily update report. In addition,
each week you will receive a class update from our teachers
(weekly newsletter). We will highlight what your child’s
class focused on and describe key activities. Our weekly updates
are also a great way to communicate any center and class news.
What
qualifications do your teachers have?
All of our teachers are specially trained to teach our unique
classes. In order to become Cranium Clubhouse Certified our
teachers, usually begin as a 3rd teacher in a classroom. As
they have proven they are ready to be an assistant, they will
be moved up and begin to train to be a lead teacher. From
there they will work their way up to being a lead teacher
in a class. All teachers have an educational background, with
varying degrees of schooling and are background checked. For
all Cranium Academy (preschool) teachers, they are also required
to have 45 hours of training in key areas such as:
Behavioral Observation
Early Literacy and Language Development
Child Development and Child Growth
Age Appropriate Practices
Safety, Health and Nutrition
State and Local Regulations
Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Throughout their employement they receive at least 10 hours
of continuing education each year. The majority of our teachers
recieve both CPR and First Aid Training. But all of the above
leaves out the most important qualification and requirement
= the teachers heart and personality. Due to the unique learning
and play environment we have at Cranium Clubhouse, we are
fortunate to be able to select some of the best teachers in
all of Orlando. Their passion and dedication to the kids is
simply amazing. Their enthusiasm and desire to deliver our
educational curriculum is truly unmatched.
Do
you have a Florida Child Care License?
Yes. Our
Florida Child Care License # is C09OR0753. You can
also you view the Florida Licensing Standards brochure (Know
your child care facility) by clicking
on the following link which opens up a pdf of the brochure.
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