Mission Statement

Community Child Care Center is a ministry of Community Bible Baptist Church. With a faith-based approach to child development; we aim to nurture children’s God-given talents in a caring and stimulating space. We provide childcare that is flexible to the needs of busy working families and cater to the child’s needs as decided by parents who know their child best. Our curriculum is Christ centered. We strive to develop strong character in our students. We work to instill a sense of responsibility, kindness, citizenship, respect for both themselves and others, and a desire to always do their best. 

Licensing/Religious Exemption 

CCCC is a ministry of Community Bible Baptist Church (CBBC). We serve the community as an outreach ministry of Community Bible Baptist Church. We have met the requirements through the Pinellas County License Board and have obtained a religious exemption. Under the exemption we still must comply with employee screening, building, and health and sanitation requirements. 

Governance of Community Child Care Center is the responsibility of Community Bible Baptist Church, its deacons and administration.

Location 

CCCC is located in the multi purpose building of CBBC. The address is 6565 78th Ave N. Pinellas Park, FL 33781. Our phone number is (727)437-2208. In the event of an emergency where an evacuation is necessary, we will move to the extreme north end of the property. If an offsite evacuation is necessary we will relocate to 60th Street Baptist Church, 9309 60th St N Pinellas Park.

Parking/Drop Off/Pick Up 

The south entrance of the property will designated for CCCC drop off and pick up. Parents must accompany their child in the building. Sending your child in with an older child is not acceptable. 

Programs 

Our program is currently accepting ages two through four years old. We provide a biblically based curriculum for all. Children will have many developmentally appropriate activities and lessons offered to them throughout the day, along with time for free play and rest. 

If a four year old enrolls and turns five, they will be permitted to stay until the beginning of the coming school year. All children enrolled in our four year old program will be eligible to enroll at Community Christian Academy (CCA) for their Kindergarten year. Information will be given to CCCC parents regarding CCA enrollment as it becomes available. 

Every August and January we will promote children to the next age room if they have had a birthday or if they have become fully potty trained since the last move up. Children turning four during a VPK school year will not move up until August. 

Hours of Operation 

The center is open from 7:15 am to 6 pm Monday-Friday. We will follow the CCA school calendar for holiday and vacation closures, with the exception of spring break. We will remain open through the summer. 

Enrollment 

Enrollment will be on a weekly basis based on timely tuition payment. Parents must complete an enrollment packet which includes registration information, emergency contacts, pertinent health/medical information, and tuition agreement. Providing your child’s vaccination records or exemption is required for attendance. No enrollment is active until all necessary paperwork is on file. All files will be kept confidential. 

If it becomes necessary to withdraw from CCCC, please state this intent in writing to the director at least two weeks prior to withdrawing. A child who ages out of the program will not need written notification. 

Arrival Procedures 

Please arrive and park on the south side of the church campus. You may arrive no earlier than 7:15am. You must escort your child into the center and you must stay with your child until a staff member has acknowledged your arrival and confirmed that you are checked in. Parents will check in through the Brightwheel app by scanning the appropriate QR code upon arrival. 

A staff member will be present at the check in area from 7:15 am-9:45 am daily. We would prefer that you check in during this designated time but understand if circumstances dictate otherwise. If you arrive after 9:45 am please call the center upon your arrival and someone will let you in. 

If there are tears, please reassure your child and leave them with us. A drawn out goodbye can only make the separation harder. Parents are more than welcome to call the center throughout the day to check in on their child. Your peace of mind is important to us as well.

Departure Procedures 

Pick up will be similar to the drop-off procedures. Please park on the south side of the church campus. Staff will be present to check children out starting at 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. If you need to pick up your child before 3:00pm please call the center and someone will let you in. 

Parents will use the Brightwheel app to check out their child. Scan the appropriate QR code and wait for verification on the app that your child is checked out. A staff member will escort your child from their classroom to you. During busy pick up times please be patient with our staff as they manage gathering several children at a time for departure. 

Please always have your photo ID with you when you come to pick up your child. As staff becomes familiar with you they will not ask to see it daily, but at times there may be staff filling in at the parent area who is not familiar with you and they will be required to check an ID. Please note that any person that is not listed as a parent/guardian or as an emergency contact person, will not be permitted to pick up your child. 

Late pick up fees will automatically be added after 6:00 pm for $15. An additional $15 will be applied each 15 minutes. If you are running late please give the center a courtesy call. 

Financial Policies and Procedures 

Registration 

A non-refundable registration fee of $150 per child (max of $175 per family) will be paid at the time of enrollment. 

Tuition 

Tuition will be billed automatically via ACH debit or Visa/Mastercard weekly on Monday. Billing information will be submitted with the enrollment packet. A $35 return check fee will be billed automatically if your payment returns as insufficient funds. Children will not be able to attend beyond Monday until the client account is at $0. No payments will be accepted on site. Please use the online pay portal to keep current on your account. We understand that sometimes extenuating circumstances do occur, please communicate these issues with us so that we can work with you. 

A 10% discount will be given to the second and third child for each family. 

Late pick up fees will automatically be added after 6:00pm for $15. An additional $15 will be applied each 15 minutes.

Vacations

CCCC runs on a school year calendar. When we are closed during school vacations, you will not be charged tuition. Additionally you will be allowed an additional two weeks of vacation time where you will not be charged. Please submit a vacation tuition waiver at least two weeks in advance so we can make note of it in our system. Vacation time will reset each August. 

Academic Year Enrollment 

Children who do not attend the summer months will be required to withdraw and re-enroll at the beginning of the school year. Parents of academic year enrollment, who previously withdrew for the summer, will be given an opportunity to reserve their child’s spot for the fall by pre-paying for the first two weeks of the school year. If a parent decides not to do this, they will enroll during the allotted general enrollment period and could possibly risk not securing a spot for their child. 

Student Dress Code 

Please dress your child for PLAY and COMFORT. We ask that no shirts that show midriff be worn. Skirts, dresses, and shorts should fall at the knee. Pants and shorts are permitted for all students. Socks and sneakers are the preferred footwear. 

Parent Communication 

Communication between parents and staff is important for a child care center to run effectively. Parents are more than welcome to call the center any time to voice any concerns. CCCC parents will also have access to the Brightwheel App where teachers and administration can send daily notifications to the group as well as to individual parents when situations arise. When raising a concern, please go through the proper channels by reaching out to the director/administration first. We will in turn speak to the staff involved to make sure the situation is rectified in a timely and proper manner. 

Teachers will provide formal progress reports during the school year each quarter. 

Daily Schedule 

Students will follow a consistent daily routine/schedule. It is important for the children to have consistency and dependence on their schedule in an effort to promote independence. Children will have access to developmentally appropriate activities, outside play, curated lessons, and a sensory stimulating environment. 

Health 

Children are God’s gift to us, given for our care and love. Your child’s health and enjoyment of the hours spent at CCCC are the top priority for all of us who are involved with the program. It is our goal to see that each child has nutritious food, adequate rest, plenty of fresh air, opportunities for a balance of highly active play and more passive activities, good health habits and an environment which is clean and free of infection to the degree possible in a setting such as this.

The main protection for your child’s health is for us to exclude ill children from participating in our program, thus preventing your child from contracting that illness. In like fashion, we must exclude your child to protect the other children should he/she be exhibiting any symptoms of illness. Childcare providers find that the child’s health is often taken for granted, even though illness may be the greatest source of parental anxiety. Not only is a sick child very uncomfortable, but the parent faces the prospect of missing work and possibly jeopardizing career advancement opportunities.

Please observe the following child care health policies: 

1. Children will be excluded from CCCC for any of the following health conditions:

• A fever of 101 or higher

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea—two loose bowel movements in 2 hours

• Any unidentifiable rash

• Common childhood diseases: measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc.

• Head lice

• Strep throat

• Conjunctivitis

CHILDREN MUST BE FREE OF THE ABOVE NAMED CONDITIONS FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT THE USE OF TYLENOL, MOTRIN, ETC. OR HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH THE APPROPRIATE MEDICA-TIONS FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING TO CCCC.

2. While ear infections themselves are not contagious, the upper respiratory infections that cause them are. In addition, at the early stages of an ear infection, a child is uncomfortable and not easily cared for in a group setting. Please keep them home until treatment relieves their misery. 

3. Should there be a medical problem or emergency, the staff will call the person designated on the Emergency Contact Form. Parents will be asked to update this form when information changes or routinely every six months. 

4. We prefer not to give over-the-counter medications to the children. If your child must have these medications, then we must have a written note from their doctor stating what the dosage is and how often it is to be given. Parents must also fill out and sign the medication log in the child’s classroom. 

In order to dispense prescription medications, the medicine must be in its original container with the pharmacists’ label stating the child’s name, name of medication, amount and frequency of dosage and the doctor’s name. Parents must also fill out and sign the medication log. Only staff with first aid certifications will be allowed to administer medications to your child. 

Food 

At this time, we are asking that parents send two snacks and a lunch for their child. As we grow and expand we may change these requirements. If you send your child with a water bottle please make sure their name is on it. 

**We are a peanut free campus** 

We understand that when your child has a birthday that you may want to send in a special treat for the class to share. This is welcome! Please let us know of your intent to do this ahead of time so we can inform you of any class allergies or food restrictions. 

Personal Belongings and Clothing 

We ask that parents provide one set of emergency clothing to leave with the center. Please bring this extra set of clothing in a large gallon size ziploc bag with your child’s name on it. In the event that we need to use this set of clothing we ask you to replace it promptly. 

If your child uses diapers or pull ups, please send a daily supply in their backpacks along with wipes. Staff will not be required to apply any type of diaper cream unless it is prescribed and proper medication documentation is provided (see above medication requirements).

Children are NOT to bring toys from home to CCCC. It is very easy for them to be lost or broken in group play. It may also be difficult for the child to share his/her own toys, as well as confusing to the other children who expect the center’s rules on sharing to hold in all situations. The only exception to this is when teachers ask children to bring a specific item from home for an activity. In NO CASE should toy guns, war toys or toys of violence be brought to CCCC. 

Naps 

We believe it is important for each child to have a quiet time to rest or sleep during the day. All children will participate in this quiet time. Older children who need less sleep will be given the opportunity for a quiet rest. Parents should bring a blanket and pillow for the child to use during this time. This blanket and pillow will be sent home each Friday to be washed. 

Calendar 

Community Child Care Center will be closed the following holidays and vacations. 

Labor Day 

Thanksgiving (1 week) 

Christmas/New Years (2 weeks) 

MLK Day 

Presidents Day 

Easter Obsrvance 

Memorial Day 

July 4th 

CCCC will follow same days off as Community Christian Academy. In the event of an unforeseen cancellation, we will follow CCA. Please note that CCCC will be open Spring Break.

Discipline Policy

Community Child Care understands that children are a gift from God and that any positive or negative treatment of a child will impact them. At CCCC we believe in reinforcing good behaviors and make strong efforts to catch them in action of a positive behavior that we would like to see repeated. In turn, children will be children and as negative behaviors arise we will deal with them on an individual basis. Staff will use redirection as their first course of action with any behaviors in an effort to teach the child self control. The following policy has been prepared in accordance with Florida Child Care Laws.

Techniques

• Positive statements are used in giving direction to behavior

• Redirection is consistent with the child’s needs

• The child is given opportunities to make choices and solve problems

• Suggestions are given in time to prevent conflicts

• Comparisons of children are avoided

• Unacceptable behavior is clearly explained and the child is told what is acceptable. Approval of acceptable behavior is clearly expressed

Responsibility 

Discipline of children shall primarily be the responsibility of classroom staff in accordance with the individual child’s age, stage of development, and the knowledge that the teacher has of the child’s needs. We also view guidance as a team effort and an ongoing learning process, so feel free to ask for help if you need support in any child guidance situation including with your own child. 

Methods 

Disciplinary methods used shall be based on guidance to help the child develop inner control, self-responsibility, respect for the rights of others, as he learns to cope with the daily experiences of living and working with others. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL Verbal abuse will not be allowed by staff. No yelling, no obscene language and no put downs between adults or between adults and children. Spanking, threatening, and withholding food cannot be used to discipline children. 

Respect 

The staff shall accept and learn each child for who they are as a unique individual. If a child’s behavior becomes unacceptable,  this shall be explained to the child in a positive way without humiliation, fright, or physical harm. The child shall then be helped to find a better way of resolving their problems or meeting their needs. Respect for their feelings shall be maintained. 

Time Away 

Time away is a technique that will be used sparingly and carefully. It will be used primarily when children hurt or potentially hurt others or themselves. Aggressive behavior needs to be stopped as quickly as possible, and time away is often, but not always, the best method for doing so. Time away will only be used when a child has repeated aggressive behavior and the teacher already explained to the child that such behavior is not acceptable. Time away will be one minute per year of age. No child in time away will placed anywhere alone or out of the sight of staff. A child should be offered a cool down tool or sensory toy while taking a time away. 

Biting Policy 

When biting occurs, these immediate steps will be taken: 

• Separate the child who bit and the bitten child.

• Staff will explain to the child that biting hurts and not a good choice of behavior.

• Biter will be put in a time away if developmentally appropriate.

• Staff will attend to the child who was bitten, will apply first aid as needed. If skin is broken staff will wash it with warm water and soap. Ice will be applied if any puffiness or swelling is present.

• Staff will document the incident and write up a parent notification for both children involved.

Parent Notifications 

Written parent notifications will be issued with any aggressive behavior or ongoing disrespect. An accumulation of parent notifications over a short period of time may result in a child being suspended for a set amount of time. 

Expulsion Policy 

While we do not want any child removed from the program permanently because of ongoing behavior, please know that in the rare case that a child is consistently aggressive and causing harm, it may become apparent that CCCC is not the best environment for them. Removal from the program will be an extreme last resort. Managing a child’s behavior will be a team effort involving parents, staff, director, and church staff if necessary, expulsion will only be considered after multiple parent/director meetings, suspensions, and executing a behavior plan have been attempted. 

Students with Special Needs 

All children are a gift from God and each child posses their own unique set of abilities. At CCCC we will happily accommodate children with special needs. A team meeting with parents and staff, prior to enrollment, will be required so that staff can fully under-stand necessary accommodations that need to be made to meet their child’s needs. Parents will need to understand that we will do our best to care for their child and provide them with the least restrictive environment, but there could be a chance that we are not the best place for their child, but, we are willing to try. By the fall of 2022, there will be a certified special needs teacher on site at the adjoining K-12 academy and will be a resource to children with special needs through the Community Christian Academy R.E.A.C.H. program. 

Handle With Care Policy 

We understand that life circumstances can often dictate a child’s behavior. While we do not need to know specifics, please let us know if your child is (or could be) experiencing possible behaviors associated with family dynamics/issues. We ask that you send us a private message through the Parent Engage App that simply states “Handle with With Care”. This will alert the proper staff that there is a chance of your child having an “off” day. This could also be used if the child had a rough night or morning. 

We genuinely care for you child and family. If ever you have a greater need that could require counseling please let us know and we can contact church staff that is trained to help and counsel appropriately. If you would like to contact the church office directly please call (727)323-4907.