Parent Resources
IMPORTANT ACCESS LINKS
Brightwheel Access
Brightwheel is our family communication app where parents receive daily updates, photos, messages, and school announcements.
Tuition Payment Portal
Bill.com is our secure online payment system where families can view balances and submit tuition payments easily and safely.
School Weather Closings
School closings are communicated on local radio and TV stations (WTHR). In addition, A Learning Bee Academy Face book page will have up-to-date information.
ENROLLMENT & TUITION
Tuition Payment Portal
Bill.com is our secure online payment system where families can view balances and submit tuition payments easily and safely.
Enrollment Agreement
The enrollment agreement outlines expectations, responsibilities, and commitments for families enrolled at A Learning Bee Academy.
Enrollment & Withdrawal Policies
These policies explain enrollment requirements, withdrawal procedures, and important timelines for families.
Tuition Agreement and Assistance Information
Tuition assistance is available for families who qualify. We accept CCDF vouchers, On My Way PreK, and other scholarships to help make high-quality care accessible.
Health, Safety & Wellness
Safety & Security Policy
This policy outlines the procedures we follow to ensure a safe, secure environment for children, families, and staff at all times.
Illness Policy
This policy helps families understand when children should stay home to support the health and well-being of the school community.
Child Abuse Policy
Our child abuse policy explains mandated reporting requirements and our commitment to protecting children’s safety and well-being.
Alcohol, Drugs & Firearms Policy
This policy explains our strict standards regarding alcohol, drugs, and firearms to maintain a safe and child-centered environment.
Playground Policy
This policy outlines safety guidelines and supervision practices used during outdoor play and playground activities.
Weather & Other Emergencies Policy
This policy outlines how we respond to severe weather, emergencies, and unexpected closures to keep families informed and children safe.
Learning & Classroom Experience
Curriculum
Our curriculum outlines how children learn through play, STEM exploration, and developmentally appropriate activities that support the whole child.
Positive Discipline Policy
Our positive discipline policy focuses on guidance, communication, and teaching social-emotional skills in a respectful and supportive way.
What to Bring
This resource provides a helpful checklist of items your child may need each day to feel comfortable and prepared at school.
Food & Snack Policy
Our food and snack policy explains meal offerings, allergy considerations, and guidelines for families who choose to send food from home.
SCHOOL POLICYS & PROCEDURES
Drop Off Policy
To create a smooth and secure transition into the school day, we ask families to follow our drop-off guidelines. This helps teachers give each child the attention and care they need as they arrive.
Non-Discrimination Policy
A Learning Bee Academy is committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for all children and families, without discrimination of any kind.
Employee Selection Criteria
Our employee selection criteria explain how we hire and train qualified staff who are committed to providing high-quality care and early learning.
Solicitation Policy
Our solicitation policy explains guidelines for requests, promotions, or materials distributed on school property.
Family & Community Engagement
Volunteer Policy
The volunteer policy provides information for family members interested in volunteering, including requirements and expectations.
Fundraising Policy
This policy explains how fundraising activities are conducted and how funds support the school community.
Field Trips & Special Outings Policy
This policy explains safety procedures, permissions, and expectations for field trips and special school outings.
Non-Discrimination Policy
ALBA admits students of any race, color, religion, and national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities and does not discriminate in administration of its educational and admission policies.
Safety & Security Policies
SITE SECURITY
Classroom exterior doors are to be locked when not in use. All windows are to be closed and secured and all doors locked at the close of the school day. An opening and closing check-off procedure is in effect in all centers. Employees who open or close must follow the closing procedures listed in this manual every day. All closets, desks, offices, classrooms, or containers that are A Learning Bee Academy property, as well as briefcases, backpacks, book bags, parcels and other personal belongings of employees, are subject to inspection and search by A Learning Bee Academy or their designated agents.
REPORTING SAFETY ISSUES
Every precaution must be taken to guard against accidents to children and staff. It is the responsibility of every staff member to correct unsafe or messy conditions such as liquid, food, paper, extension cords, children’s clothes, toys on the floor, etc. All accidents, injuries, potential safety hazards, safety suggestions, and health and safety-related issues must be reported immediately to your supervisor.
EMERGENCIES
A Learning Bee Academy has an emergency preparedness plan that provides guidelines for a wide range of unlikely emergency situations, from a naturally occurring weather condition to a terrorist attack. The A Learning Bee Academy Emergency Preparedness Plan is posted here on the website as well as in the school’s foyer. A Learning Bee Academy educates parents about the emergency plans at Parent Orientation and Back-to-School Night at the beginning of the school year. The safety of the children and staff is always the school’s primary concern.
A Learning Bee Academy requires that staff members take emergency preparedness training and maintain an emergency preparedness plan for the school. Staff undergo emergency training every year, and the school runs two emergency evacuation drills in addition to monthly fire drills with the children.
Critical Incident Response Procedures
Serious Injury to a Child: Call 911 or the police. Keep the child calm and comfortable until medical service arrives. Call the child’s parents to report the injury. Report the injury to Bright from the Start – Child Care Services within 24 hours.
Loss of a Child: Call 911 or the police. Call the child’s parent to report the loss. Keep the other children calm. Call the neighbors to help assist in the search. Look in the facility, yard, and surrounding area.
Death of a Child: Call 911 or the police. Call the child’s parents. Keep the other children calm. Report the death to the Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning immediately.
Employee Selection Criteria
A Learning Bee Academy will always strive to exceed the best. Employees are selected on the basis of their qualifications to fulfill established specifications for the job. General criteria include education, experience, mental capacity, physical ability, and willingness to work in the specific environment, and the ability to perform the essential functions delineated in the “Job Descriptions” section of the staff handbook.
GUIDELINES
All employees are required to follow the A Learning Bee Academy Guidelines. Staff are expected to adhere to the A Learning Bee Academy code of ethics at all times. Employees must provide warm, nurturing interactions at the child’s level; these interactions should include child guidance and the use of developmentally appropriate early childhood education practices. Direct supervision of every child is expected at all times. Failure to provide supervision will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination.
STATE LICENSING RULES & REGULATIONS
All staff must be knowledgeable in the State of Indiana Department of Human Services Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers. Failure to adhere to these
policies may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. All staff are required to be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, hold a degree or be pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Development.
Each staff member must have current training in CPR for Infants and children, as well as First Aid with rescue breathing and choking. Each staff member must provide a statement informing the facility about any of the offenses listed in the State of Indiana Department of Human Services Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers rule book. State ratios are important indicators of quality. The center is required to maintain state ratios at all times. All staff are required to ensure that they adhere to the state ratios at all times. Make sure that you receive additional help when the number of children exceeds the ratio limit. Adherence is a dual
responsibility between teachers and management. Staff must never leave their group out of ratio, ensuring emergency assistance is always available. Staff are to notify the front desk for assistance when they need to leave the group, and the total number of children in attendance exceeds the state ratio.
Curriculum
Learning Bee Academy uses Mother Goose Time (Experience Early Learning), a system that uniquely weaves 33 research-based skills into playful games and projects. As children participate, they naturally grow in all areas of development, including social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development as well as the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum on a daily basis because it emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving through hands-on activities, such as robotics, coding, and engineering design challenges.
A Learning Bee Academy will provide all teachers with the instructional guidelines needed to develop age-appropriate learning activities, along with training to implement the programs effectively in their classrooms.
Alcohol, Drugs & Firearms Policy
The use of tobacco in any form, alcohol, or illegal drugs is prohibited on the premises. Possession of illegal substances or unauthorized and potentially toxic substances is prohibited. All staff will maintain sobriety while providing child care. Staff that is inebriated, intoxicated, or otherwise under the influence of mind-altering or polluting substances will be required to leave the premises immediately and will be subject to disciplinary action. No guns or other lethal weapons will be allowed in the child care setting. Parents required to carry firearms as a function of their job will lock firearms in their vehicle before entering the child care setting.
Smoking Policy.
As you are aware, in a majority of states, employers are required to comply with the Clean Air Act, as well as with other city, state and federal laws governing smoking in the workplace. As such, A Learning Bee Academy policy was designed to provide a smoke-free environment for our children and employees who do not smoke. Smokers have a responsibility to refrain from smoking in all areas of the company premises. This includes the company building, parking lot, playground, any outdoor area, or while on center field trips or functions representing the Company in an area where children in our program may be present.
Any problems regarding this policy should be addressed to the Management. Please remember to observe this policy and respect the rights of your co-workers, both smokers and non-smokers. Retaliatory acts against employees exercising their rights under this Act is strictly prohibited.
When this policy applies: The policy is effective at all times, both on the program premises and in vehicles used by the program. It is also enforced when away from the program if on child care business (i.e. field trips and training).
Tuition Agreement and Assistance Information
Tuition Agreement
A Learning Bee Academy exists to ensure every child has the knowledge and discipline to excel in elementary school and beyond. We provide a safe, affordable, high-quality child care for children from 3 months to twelve years. We nurture the curiosity of each child so they grow in knowledge and in confidence in their capabilities.
Supplies & Tuition
Full-Time Rate Per Week Per Child with No Assistance
- Infant – $415
- Age 1-2 years $275
- Age 3 – 5 years $185
- Before and After Care $100
- Break Care only $75
One-Time Supply Fee Due At $40
All Children Must be picked up by the agreed time. There will be a $1.00 per-minute fee for the first hour after the agreed time. The Indiana Department of Child Services will be notified (2) hours after the agreed time.
The clock in the reception area will be used as the official time.
All tuition and fees are due in advance and must be paid in full every Monday. Late fees will be added if tuition is not paid by 6:00 pm on Wednesday of that week. The late fee is $5.00 per day starting on Wednesday. A child cannot start a new week if tuition fees are not up todate. No Exceptions.
*Enrollment at A Learning Bee Academy indicates that parents or guardians have read, understood, and provided consent to this policy as part of the registration agreement.
Tuition Assistance
At A Learning Bee Academy, we believe in clear, transparent pricing to help families plan with confidence. Most of our families qualify for Tier 2 tuition support, which significantly reduces weekly tuition costs. The rates listed on the pricing page reflect the Tier 2-supported tuition amount for eligible families. In order to provide these, we proudly accept CCDF and On My Way PreK and offer additional scholarship opportunities to families as needed. Our team is happy to help determine eligibility and guide you through the application process. Please fill out the Contact us form here if you need help.
Enrollment & Withdrawal Policies
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment priority is given to current students, their siblings, and alumni families.
- Applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Class placement is made on the basis of age and gender (in order to maintain a reasonable balance of boys and girls in each class).
- On the enrollment application, we ask specific questions to assist the center in meeting the daily needs of the child.
- There is a supply fee per child, due by your child’s start date. All applicants, regardless of entry date, will be charged the full supply fee.
WITHDRAWL
- Written notice must be provided to A Learning Bee Academy at least 7 days prior to withdrawal.
- If a child is withdrawn, there will be no refund after tuition has been paid.
- The supply fee is not refundable.
- If the written notification is less than 7 days, the family is responsible for tuition 7 days after
the written notification.
DISMISSAL FROM CENTER:
At times, a program may not be an optimal fit for a child or family. A Learning Bee Academy is a school that will make every effort to work collaboratively with families to resolve any challenges that arise. Additional resources may be needed to support a child’s success in the school environment. If, after all reasonable efforts are exhausted, and a problem cannot be resolved, A Learning Bee Academy reserves the right to dismiss a child from the program.
Enrollment Agreement
- I agree to pay each week or clock-in-on time and the first day my child attends with no deductions for absence(s) or holidays. If payment is not received prior to the close of business on the first day of attendance a late fee may be added.
- I agree to pay the one-time supply fee as stated below for the school year my child attends.
- I agree that if my child is absence for one week or more for the days and hours contracted to attend my tuition will be discounted 50% (written notice must be provided one-week in advance).
- I agree to pay any late pick-up fee that I may be charged as stated per child for each period my child is not picked up.
- l agree to pay via cash, CCDF voucher, debit or credit card. No checks.
- In case of withdrawal of my child from LBA, I agree to give LBA one week’s notice prior to withdrawal.
- A Leaming Bee Academy is open from 6 am to 6 pm. However, if it is absolutely necessary to close due to severe weather, the closure will be announced on Fox 59 and WishTV8. We will also contact the parent(s) or guardian by telephone 24 hours in advance.
*Enrollment at A Learning Bee Academy indicates that parents or guardians have read, understood, and provided consent to this policy as part of the registration agreement.
Illness Policy
Germs spread quickly in a preschool environment. All children and staff stay healthier when sick persons stay at home. Common sense must prevail in the case of colds, which can range from a mild case of sniffles to a full-blown sinus infection or deep cough.
- We use the EMERGENCY FORM to contact parents or another designated adult if your child develops symptoms of illness while in class. We will isolate your child in a comfortable, supervised place until he/she can be picked up.
- If one or more of the following symptoms is present in your child, we will call you to pick up your child from preschool:
- temperature higher than 100°F
- loss of appetite
- nausea or vomiting
- red, pink, or crusted eyes
- stomach ache
- earache
- diarrhea
- rash/infection of the skin
- pale or flushed face
- headache
- thick or greenish mucus from nose
- cough
- loss of energy/decrease in activity/falling asleep
- sore throat
IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT WELL ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE DAILY SCHEDULE, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME.
24-HOUR RULE: ANY CHILD WHO HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF ILLNESS IN THE PREVIOUS 24 HOURS MAY NOT ATTEND CLASS.
- Fever-free: A child should be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medicine. Please inform us immediately if your child has lice. We are required by licensing to follow certain procedures regarding the cleaning and removal of materials (dress-ups, etc.) within a classroom with lice.
- We also reserve the right to implement additional procedures, such as head checks, if a persistent lice problem were to occur. Please get into the habit of routinely checking your child’s head. If all parents check their children’s heads regularly, we can prevent any outbreaks at school.
Continuity of Operations Plan for Influenza (COOP)
The A Learning Bee Academy Continuity of Operations Plan for Influenza (COOP) is implemented by ALBA staff and parents in the event that influenza develops into a pandemic in Indianapolis. All parents/guardians of children enrolled at A Learning Bee Academy have a responsibility to assist in the successful implementation of the plan. A Learning Bee Academy’s internal preventive and responsive procedures, as well as parents’ responsibilities are outlined in A Learning Bee Academy’s Emergency Preparedness Plan (which can be found here on the website or ask the office for a personal copy).
COVID 19 POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Sanitation and Cleaning Procedures Our facility will adhere to the following additional cleaning and sanitizing practices adopted by The CDC and in effect for all centers as of 03/31/2020 until otherwise lifted :
- Suspend the use of sand and water table play
- Suspend use of Play-Doh or other clay-like materials
- Suspend the use of toys that children wear on their faces, such as masks and goggles, except masks or goggles that are worn by an individual child and stored separately for that individual child.
- Staff and children must wash their hands upon entering the classroom and upon leaving
- All hard surfaces must be sanitized twice a day and as needed
- Toys should be separated for sanitizing immediately after being placed in a child’s mouth
- All frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and phones) should be sanitized frequently throughout the day
- Access to food preparation areas should be restricted to only staff who are essential to food preparation
- Our facility will clean all toys at the end of each day, in accordance with CDC recommendations.
- Our facility will ensure that meals, if served, are individually plated
- Sanitize toys, furniture, and other equipment used by children weekly and when they become soiled or contaminated.
- Wash all soiled items before sanitizing.
Child Abuse Policy
- We endorse and encourage an open-door policy that allows parents and others to visit the facilities at any time, unannounced.
- We make every effort to screen each employee’s past employment record.
- The Office of Early Childhood is used to obtain criminal history checks on all employees.
- We aim to assign two employees to any given situation.
- We actively encourage comments and suggestions, both positive and negative.
- The Directors and Owner are continually supervising and monitoring every situation on an unscheduled basis.
- We are aware of our legal responsibilities as a mandated reporter of child abuse and have done so and will continue to report any suspected acts of abuse.
IF A COMPLAINT WERE TO SURFACE
From a Parent to us directly, we would:
- Listen, take notes, question, and generate specifics
- Immediately question staff
- If abuse is suspected, we would
a.) Call the police
b.) Call Children’s Protective Services
Playground Policy
A Learning Bee Academy families are welcome to use the playground after school when there are no classes outside.
Families are asked to leave the playground when morning and afternoon classes come outside. It is important to respect the fact that the children who are attending A Learning Bee Academy in the afternoon have paid for the privilege of using the playground and outdoor play area. We appreciate your understanding and suggest you use the play area at Welsh Park during these times.
Whenever parents are on the playground with their child or other children, parents are responsible for the supervision of their own child or children after school hours. Please do not leave a child or children alone or unsupervised on the playground at any time.
A Learning Bee Academy asks that all children, under the supervision of their parents, abide by the same guidelines that we use during school hours while using the playground with their children after school hours. These guidelines include:
- Children must have closed-toe shoes on the playground; sandals and Crocs are not safe on the sharp wood chips. (During school hours, be sure you are sending in appropriate play shoes to be worn on the playground, too!)
- The slide is a “down” slide, so children should enter feet-first, on their bottoms or stomachs. No head-first. Children should slide to the bottom of the slide and move out of the way for the next person and should not be standing on or jumping off the slide.
- Absolutely no tree climbing. This includes trees between the parking lot areas.
- No climbing on top of the house–“the climber is for climbing” is the language we use during the school day.
- Playing in the bushes is not allowed.
- If your child is on the playground, you must be with them to ensure they follow these rules and that you enforce them to support our teachers during the school day.
- The bikes and other toys from the center are for the use of the children during school hours.
- It is important that the children have consistent rules for both school and non-school hours to ensure their safety during the school day. This way, they have a clear understanding of what is acceptable and manageable in a group care setting like ours.
A Learning Bee Academy reserves the right to prohibit the use of our playground during all hours of operation, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Weather & Other Emergencies Policy
You must make your own judgment about driving in hazardous weather situations. If bad weather begins and you wish to pick your child up early, please feel free to do so. A Learning Bee Academy follows the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) calendar, with a few exceptions. An up-to-date calendar can be found below. The decision to close because of snow or other emergencies is in accordance with the IPS. In the event of snow or other emergency, please note the following:
- A Learning Bee Academy reserves the right to close regardless of the IPS decision, because local power outages, snow removal, or other circumstances may affect our ability to operate during inclement weather. An effort will be made to leave a voicemail message on the school answering machine and to contact parents through email.
How to Know If Schools Are Closed
School closings are communicated on local radio and TV stations (WTHR). In addition, A Learning Bee Academy Face book page will have up-to-date information (https://www.facebook.com/mylearningbee/).
Parents should get into the habit of turning on the news station every morning during the winter months. Sometimes, you will wake up to a beautiful morning, only to find out that school is delayed because of an unseen sheet of ice that covers everything. Every effort will be made to send an email on the parent listserv by 6:00 a.m. Please make sure your email address is up-to-date for important notifications.
Every effort will be made to send an email on the parent listserv by 6:00 am. Please make sure your email address is up to date for important notifications such as these.
EMERGENCIES
A Learning Bee Academy has an emergency preparedness plan that provides guidelines for a wide range of unlikely emergency situations, from a naturally occurring weather condition to a terrorist attack. The A Learning Bee Academy Emergency Preparedness Plan is posted here on the website as well as in the school’s foyer. A Learning Bee Academy educates parents about the emergency plans at Parent Orientation and Back-to-School Night at the beginning of the school year. The safety of the children and staff is always the school’s primary concern.
A Learning Bee Academy requires that staff members take emergency preparedness training and maintain an emergency preparedness plan for the school. Staff undergo emergency training every year, and the school runs two emergency evacuation drills in addition to monthly fire drills with the children.
Critical Incident Response Procedures
Serious Injury to a Child: Call 911 or the police. Keep the child calm and comfortable until medical service arrives. Call the child’s parents to report the injury. Report the injury to Bright from the Start – Child Care Services within 24 hours.
Loss of a Child: Call 911 or the police. Call the child’s parent to report the loss. Keep the other children calm. Call the neighbors to help assist in the search. Look in the facility, yard, and surrounding area.
Death of a Child: Call 911 or the police. Call the child’s parents. Keep the other children calm. Report the death to the Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning immediately.
Positive Discipline Policy
A Learning Bee Academy is committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for all children. The school’s behavior policy encourages children to develop social skills that reflect many of A Learning Bee Academy’s values, including self-control, respect for others, and positive self-esteem.
Teachers model appropriate behavior and guide positive interactions among children and adults. Nurturing these social skills is a central component of the Creative Curriculum®, helping children grow into successful, lifelong learners.
A Learning Bee Academy’s commitment to an age-appropriate and play-based curriculum ensures that activities are child-centered and promote positive social interactions. Teachers carefully craft the environment, communicate and enforce clear boundaries and expectations for behaviour, and use nonverbal cues and/or redirect a child’s behavior to foster success.
When a problem arises, the teacher relies on modeling appropriate behaviour, teaching peacemaking skills, and presenting stories or scenarios that reinforce the desired behavior. Children learn to make suitable choices and develop techniques for regaining self-control when they feel frustrated. Instructive and individually appropriate consequences help to strengthen the child’s self-control and self-esteem.
When a child experiences a particularly challenging t ime, the school encou rages parents and teachers to work together and develop appropriate strategies. If a specific circumstance needs attention, the teacher will follow these procedures:
- The teacher will observe and document a child’s behavior.
- The teacher will discuss the child’s behavior with a parent and inform him or her of learning-based strategies the teacher will implement. The teacher will discuss options with the director.
- The teacher will follow up with the parent about how these strategies are influencing the behavior.
The Importance of Positive Relationships
“Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.”
- We form warm, caring attachments with our children, within key worker groups and beyond, respecting individual feelings and needs. The key person will nurture a special relationship with a group of children and their families.
- We find opportunities to give encouragement to children, with practitioners acting as positive role models for behaviour and relationships with others, taking account of different needs and expectations.
- We aim to guide and support our children’s developing social and emotional skills by careful observation, assessment, and then planning.
- We plan for opportunities for children to play and learn in different situations, sometimes alone and sometimes in groups of varying sizes. We give opportunities, space and time to develop their personal, social and emotional skills.
- We aim to support children to work together and begin to take account of ideas and preferences which differ from their own.
- We aim to establish caring, professional relationships with families to promote understanding of the importance of children’s development in this prime area. We work together for the best outcomes for their child, respecting parents/carers as their first and enduring educator.
What to Bring
Please remember to label each item your child brings to school (lunchbox, backpack, coat, sweater, hat, mittens, boots, etc.).
Dress
- Your child should be dressed for active and participatory play. A Learning Bee Academy does not want a child’s creativity hampered because he/she is wearing clothing that should not get dirty.
- Your child should wear sturdy, protective shoes (no sandals or Croes®) that will enable him/her to run, climb, and ride a bike with ease.
- Children go outside most days, so please dress your child appropriately.
- In the winter, hats and mittens are needed every day. Snow pants and warm boots are important whenever there is snow on the ground.
- Full pack of unopened diapers and wipes
- two or more changes of clothes
- pacifiers (not attached to anything)
- Bottles, premade, labeled as follows
- Name
- Date
- Time prepared
- number of ounces
- contents (formula or breast milk)
- Full pack of unopened diapers and wipes
- two or more changes of clothes
- blanket for naptime to be taken home on Fridays to launder and bring back on Monday
- Water bottle clearly labeled with the child’s name
- At least one full change of clothes for accidents or spills
- blanket for naptime to be taken home on Fridays to launder and bring back Monday
- water bottle clearly labeled with the child’s name
Food & Snack Policy
MEAL PROGRAM
A Learning Bee Academy participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Through this program, we provide daily nutritious meals and snacks to all enrolled children at no additional cost to families. Meals include breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack.
NO OUTSIDE FOOD POLICY
To help ensure the safety of all children, families are asked not to send food from home. This policy helps us manage food allergies, maintain consistency, and meet nutritional guidelines for all students.
Food sharing among children is not permitted. Families are encouraged to talk with their child about this rule to help reinforce safety expectations.
NO PEANUT & TREE NUT POLICY
A Learning Bee Academy has adopted a strict no peanuts and no tree nuts policy. This is a preventative safety measure to reduce the risk of exposure for children with life-threatening food allergies.
To further reduce risk, we practice:
- Frequent handwashing
- Tabletop cleaning before and after meals
Families can help by ensuring children arrive with clean hands and faces each day. We appreciate your cooperation in helping keep all children safe.
USE OF FACILITY BY OTHER GROUPS
Please note that our building is used by other community groups outside of school hours. While these groups are aware of our no-nut policy, we cannot fully monitor or guarantee compliance outside school hours.
DIETARY NEEDS & EXEMPTIONS
At enrollment, families will receive a Nutrition Inc. application to document any dietary needs or exemptions.
To accommodate a dietary modification, a doctor’s note or documented religious reason is required.
If your child has a food allergy, families may coordinate in advance with the administration to provide an alternative option when appropriate.
Examples of Foods We Provide
Fruits & Cereals
- Fresh fruits (apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, berries, melons, etc.)
- Applesauce cups (various fruit flavors)
- Raisins and other dried fruits
- Unsweetened cereals without nuts, including:
- Chex (Rice, Corn, Wheat)
- Corn Flakes
- Crispix
- Kix
- Life
- Wheaties
- Kashi (approved varieties only)
Snacks
We provide small, nutritious snacks each morning and afternoon, often including fresh fruits or vegetables, whole-grain items, and water.
Weekly meal schedules are posted:
- On the main office door
- In classrooms
- In our Parent Communication Portal
Snack Examples
- Small bagels with cream cheese (no nut varieties)
- Pretzels (excluding nut-containing brands)
- Nutrigrain bars or yogurt bars
- Special K Bars (non–Honey Nut)
- Fig Newtons (all flavors)
- Rice cakes (nut-free brands only)
- Quaker Quakes / Mini Delights (approved flavors)
- Potato soy crisps
- Muffins (excluding banana nut; approved brands only)
Thank You
Thank you for supporting our food safety policies and helping us create a healthy, inclusive environment for all children.
Solicitation Policy
A Learning Bee Academy strictly prohibits both employees and others from soliciting and/or distributing literature on A Learning Bee Academy premises during business hours, unless otherwise provided in a valid and enforceable collective bargaining agreement. A Learning Bee Academy has established specific policies on solicitation for employees and for non-employees.
EMPLOYEES:
May neither engage in solicitation of any kind, nor allow themselves to be solicited during their work time; May not distribute or post any kind of literature in work areas or on bulletin boards; and May be subject to immediate dismissal or corrective action if they violate the policies.
NON-EMPLOYEES:
May not solicit and/or distribute literature of any kind, anywhere on A Learning Bee Academy premises, including bulletin boards; and are subject to the strict enforcement of this policy by managers and others in authority at A Learning Bee Academy
Additional Note:
Extracurricular Babysitting. We discourage center staff members from accepting extracurricular babysitting jobs from parents at our centers. Our teachers are childcare professionals and deserve to be treated as such, and should not be viewed as babysitters by parents. In addition, after spending a busy day with children at the center, all staff members need free time away from the children and vice versa.
We must ensure that all children and parents at the center are treated equally. Teachers who babysit the same children may naturally show favoritism toward those children or their parents, whether intentional or unintentional. Such favoritism is unfair to the other children and parents and would be considered disruptive and unethical.
We recognize that some teachers enjoy babysitting and need the extra income it provides. We encourage our teachers to babysit for families that do not attend A Learning Bee Academy.
Volunteer Policy
A Learning Bee Academy encourages parents to become involved in the preschool. Teachers regularly include parents in special celebrations and welcome parents who want to share special talents with the class. A Learning Bee Academy also asks that parents share their talents and time to help make the school the special community it is.
Here are some ways you can help:
- Class representative/room parent
- Fund raising
- Computer (website, assisting staff with database software, etc.)
- Parent directory
- School beautification
- Outreach/marketing
- Newsletter
- Graphic design
- Sewing
- Library support
- EBay/Craigslist selling
Fundraising Policy
A Learning Bee Academy holds fundraising events to earn money for specific improvements or classroom equipment. These fundraisers will be outlined in written communication. We request that families participate in these events to promote community spirit and support our high-quality program financially.
Some of our past fundraisers have included:
- Trike-a-Thon
- Family Picnic
- Silent Auction
- Kids Creations
- Scholastic Book Fair
- Restaurant Nights
Please feel free, in lieu of participating in the fundraising events, to make a one-time tax-deductible donation to the Learning Bee Academy. We will be happy to provide you with all the necessary paperwork to submit with your annual taxes.
Field Trips & Special Outings Policy
At A Learning Bee Academy, families provide written permission for their child to participate in field trips and special outings as part of the enrollment process. This permission allows children to accompany their class and staff on authorized activities, including neighborhood walks, park visits, and trips taken in an approved vehicle.
Families will receive advance notice of all planned field trips that require transportation or occur off-site, with the exception of neighborhood walks or nearby park visits, which may occur as part of regular classroom activities. If a family chooses not to have their child participate in a scheduled field trip, the child should not be brought to the center on that day.
A Learning Bee Academy maintains insurance coverage that includes field trips and off-site activities. All outings are planned with safety, supervision, and age-appropriate experiences in mind.
Drop Off Policy
Drop Off
Attendance sign-in: Upon arrival, please record time and initials on the attendance sign-in application either on your phone or via the kiosk in the classroom
- Early arrival: If you arrive early for your child’s class, please wait in the hallway to allow teachers to prepare for the class. Teachers will welcome your child into the classroom when preparations are complete.
- Late arrival: Please be considerate and try to arrive on time. Frequent late arrivals disrupt the class and your child’s school day. When you arrive late, please go directly to your child’s class to sign in on the posted attendance sheet.
Dimissal & Pick-Up
- Attendance sign-out: Upon arrival, please record time and initials on the attendance sign-out sheet kept in the main office
- It is important that all children be picked up on time. Our staff members have responsibilities before and after class sessions, so it is important that parents be mindful of dismissal times to ensure a smooth school day. It is also upsetting for your child when they are unexpectedly the last person in the class to be picked up.
- Late pickup: Please keep ALBA’s phone number, (317) 238-3978, programmed in your cell phone in case you are running late, so the teacher can let your child know you are on your way. If you are late picking up your child, you will be charged $1 per minute. Payment will be due upon arrival to office. Please be aware that there is a $ 5 per-minute late fee for any child picked up after closing. We do provide parents a 30-minute grace period before the late charge takes effect.
- Early pick-up: Be sure to follow the regular attendance sign-out procedures, time, and initials on the class application.
Authorized pick-up:
- Anytime someone other than the typical pick-up person picks up your child, please let your teacher know.
- If your child is to be picked up by someone other than a parent or the “persons authorized to pick up child” (listed on your child’s Emergency Form or added to your brightwheel account), you must provide written notification via note or email (email to dthompson@mylearningbee.org only)
Learning Bee Holidays
The following days we will be closed in observance:
- New Years Day
- Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday
- Presidents Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day and the Friday After
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Our Partners
We are honored to work with our community partners who help make A Learning Bee Academy available to the community.
