RE: Summer Child Care
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Nancy Walker
May 5, 2012, 4:23:49 PM5/5/12
to Pinellas Primary Families, fami...@pinellasprep.org
Dear PPA Families,
Thank you for the feedback on Summer Camp and I am hoping to offer an alternative, which will be discussed later in this email. A few wondered why we hadn’t known approximately how many were going to attend before even planning the camp. You may recall that Mr. Fuller sent a survey to families to see if there was enough interest; a significant number replied. Unfortunately, only a few actually enrolled. Many of you indicated in your feedback that it is very late to cancel and you had intended to register, but the camp was cancelled before you could.
What we have encountered, not only in Summer Camp but other things as well, is that families will either sign up for things and not show up (child care on off school days, PTEG events that entail them purchasing food, etc.), or show up without reservations (i.e. Grandparents Breakfast - leaving no food for those that made reservations). Historically, field trips have been another difficulty when parents don't sign permission slips by the due date. In today's economic climate, it is extremely important that we know how many people to plan on.
We understand that things come up and happen within families and you may be forced to change your plans; it happens to all of us. However, when we hire staff, purchase food, or count on volunteers to help supervise, it is simply not good practice or fiscally responsible for us to be without the money we need to do an activity, or to pay for something that is either given or thrown away (i.e. Olive Garden dinners).
We are cognizant of the difficulty created for parents when we offer something and then cancel. That is why I spent several hours on the phone finding alternative day camps for summer and put links to them at the end of the cancellation announcement. However, many of you indicated in your feedback that you would at least like to have child care, similar to what we've had during Spring Break and Professional Development days. We are considering this and will have an answer to you by Monday, May 7. Please complete the child care survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KR3L62M but PLEASE do not indicate you would use the service if you would not! Please realize that the school cannot have this service if it costs the school money! We need a minimum of 12 children each day to break even. Also, please read the rest of this email to understand how the child care service would work:
• Childcare services would be open only to incoming K-5 students.
• There would be NO discounts available for free or reduced lunch.
• Children must bring their own lunch, but snacks will be provided. If a child forgets their lunch, you will be charged $2.25 for us furnishing their lunch; we will not allow a child
Please remember that this is NOT a notification that we will have the summer child care, but that I will be sending a survey to help decide if there is enough interest. Again, PLEASE do not say you will attend just to “help out a friend” by boosting the affirmative responses so we will provide the service. Remember, the school cannot afford to lose money. The final announcement will be made Monday and should we decide to move forward with the summer child care, I promise we will not cancel it.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation,
Mrs. Walker
--
Nancy Walker
Principal
Pinellas Primary Academy
For students in Kindergarten - 3rd Grades
http://www.pinellasprimary.org/
Phone: (727) 536-3600
Fax: (727) 536-3661
Thank you for the feedback on Summer Camp and I am hoping to offer an alternative, which will be discussed later in this email. A few wondered why we hadn’t known approximately how many were going to attend before even planning the camp. You may recall that Mr. Fuller sent a survey to families to see if there was enough interest; a significant number replied. Unfortunately, only a few actually enrolled. Many of you indicated in your feedback that it is very late to cancel and you had intended to register, but the camp was cancelled before you could.
What we have encountered, not only in Summer Camp but other things as well, is that families will either sign up for things and not show up (child care on off school days, PTEG events that entail them purchasing food, etc.), or show up without reservations (i.e. Grandparents Breakfast - leaving no food for those that made reservations). Historically, field trips have been another difficulty when parents don't sign permission slips by the due date. In today's economic climate, it is extremely important that we know how many people to plan on.
We understand that things come up and happen within families and you may be forced to change your plans; it happens to all of us. However, when we hire staff, purchase food, or count on volunteers to help supervise, it is simply not good practice or fiscally responsible for us to be without the money we need to do an activity, or to pay for something that is either given or thrown away (i.e. Olive Garden dinners).
We are cognizant of the difficulty created for parents when we offer something and then cancel. That is why I spent several hours on the phone finding alternative day camps for summer and put links to them at the end of the cancellation announcement. However, many of you indicated in your feedback that you would at least like to have child care, similar to what we've had during Spring Break and Professional Development days. We are considering this and will have an answer to you by Monday, May 7. Please complete the child care survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KR3L62M but PLEASE do not indicate you would use the service if you would not! Please realize that the school cannot have this service if it costs the school money! We need a minimum of 12 children each day to break even. Also, please read the rest of this email to understand how the child care service would work:
• Childcare services would be open only to incoming K-5 students.
• There would be NO discounts available for free or reduced lunch.
• Children must bring their own lunch, but snacks will be provided. If a child forgets their lunch, you will be charged $2.25 for us furnishing their lunch; we will not allow a child
to go without lunch.
• Children will be supervised by a minimum of 2 childcare workers.
• Child care workers will be employees of PPA, Inc. but may not be our usual child care staff (one of them would like the summer off and we will be open 11-1/2 hrs. each day).
• Children will be supervised by a minimum of 2 childcare workers.
• Child care workers will be employees of PPA, Inc. but may not be our usual child care staff (one of them would like the summer off and we will be open 11-1/2 hrs. each day).
The additional workers may consist of teachers or educational assistants.
• Tutoring will be available, but is NOT included in the price of child care. Tutoring arrangements will be between the parent and teacher, but PPA will furnish a quiet place for
• Tutoring will be available, but is NOT included in the price of child care. Tutoring arrangements will be between the parent and teacher, but PPA will furnish a quiet place for
the tutoring. (Contact information for tutors will be made available.)
• The hours would be 6:30 am - 6:00 pm. Any child picked up after 6 pm will be subject to $1 per minute late fee, which is due and payable within 24 hrs.
• Fees MUST be paid by Friday prior to the upcoming week. No credit will be extended unless prior arrangements are made with the Administration.
• All current before and after care balances MUST be paid in full in order to be accepted into the summer child care program.
• The hours would be 6:30 am - 6:00 pm. Any child picked up after 6 pm will be subject to $1 per minute late fee, which is due and payable within 24 hrs.
• Fees MUST be paid by Friday prior to the upcoming week. No credit will be extended unless prior arrangements are made with the Administration.
• All current before and after care balances MUST be paid in full in order to be accepted into the summer child care program.
Please remember that this is NOT a notification that we will have the summer child care, but that I will be sending a survey to help decide if there is enough interest. Again, PLEASE do not say you will attend just to “help out a friend” by boosting the affirmative responses so we will provide the service. Remember, the school cannot afford to lose money. The final announcement will be made Monday and should we decide to move forward with the summer child care, I promise we will not cancel it.
Again, the link to the survey is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KR3L62M
Thank you for your patience and cooperation,
Mrs. Walker
--
Nancy Walker
Principal
Pinellas Primary Academy
For students in Kindergarten - 3rd Grades
http://www.pinellasprimary.org/
Phone: (727) 536-3600
Fax: (727) 536-3661
Ramsdell Walker
May 7, 2012, 5:53:42 PM5/7/12
to fami...@pinellasprimary.org, Pinellas Prep Families
Good evening,
It is with the utmost regret that we are unable to move forward with summer child care this year. After taking into account all aspects there was not enough interest and we would lose money. Here is the link to a list of summer camps.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Walker and Mr. Ramsdell
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