Parent Participation

Parents are an integral part of our center. We act as an education resource for parents and as a source of emotional support for the everyday problems of child rearing. A quality child care program cannot exist without a partnership between the parents and the staff.

Parents have the opportunity to give input informally on a daily basis, in the context of annual program evaluations, parent-teacher conferences and board meetings. We believe in close partnerships among staff and parents which provide the continuity and reinforcement between what the children learn at the Center and what they experience at home. Parents are welcome visitors to the classroom and are encouraged to share their special skill and interests with their child's class. Field trips and special activities provide opportunities for involvement.

A parent publication , The Children's Journal, is distributed quarterly. Each issue includes a letter from the Board Chairperson and the Executive Director, a calendar of upcoming events and articles written by staff and parents. We welcome parent participation as writers, editors, designers and, of course, readers.

Each month Concord Children's Center publishes a Newsletter with information about upcoming events, center wide news, and classroom curriculum updates. We also use a center-wide email list serve to communicate with families throughout the year. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Each parent is asked to participate in two parent-teacher conferences per year to exchange information and concerns. In addition, a parent or teacher may request to have a conference at any time during the year. Informal conversation about a child can, and does, take place at at each end of the day, especially with parents of infants and toddlers. Children understand and listen to adult conversations so we ask that potentially sensitive topics not be discussed around a child of any age. Teachers are available by telephone any day - please call the program office during their working hours.

Home-School Communication

Regular communication among parents and teachers can be of enormous benefit to each child. We want to know about events at home which will affect a child's day with us. At the same time, we will let parents know of their child's adjustment and progress, and of events at the center.

Please check our bulletin boards daily for any messages or announcements. It is important that parents know what is happening at the Center. In addition to the bulletin boards, each family has a mailbox in the classroom where messages, notices and tuition bills will be placed. Please check these daily, also. Parent permission for class lists with addresses and phone numbers is understood unless we hear from parents specifically.

Arrivals and Departures

Parents are responsible for bringing their children in the morning and for picking them up at the end of the day. For the safety of the children, it is very important that parents speak to the teachers directly when bringing their child to school and when picking them up.

The Concord Public Schools arranges for the transportation of the after-kindergarten and 1st grade children from their schools to the appropriate Center.

Parents will pick their children up at day's end. While we realize there may be exceptions, we do not encourage car pools because we feel that it is very important that parents be part of their young child's classroom every day, if possible.

Only the people whose names appear on the Authorization for Release Form will be allowed to pick up your child. If someone else will be coming, whether on a temporary or regular basis, we will need a signed note from you. In an emergency, phone calls are accepted.

If you pick up your child after closing hours, you will charged $5.00 per quarter hour or any part of a quarter hour, payable to the teacher who had to stay with your child. Parents will receive a warning upon their first lateness. It is vitally important to the children and the teachers that the closing hours be strictly observed. If you are continually late after closing time, you will be referred to the Board of Directors for a decision regarding continued care.