Updates to the Parent Handbook (April 2022)

Sundowners’ mission is to provide licensed, non-profit high quality, affordable and accessible early learning and childcare programs to meet the needs of children and families in our communities. To be able to meet the care needs of families in our communities a few changes have been made to our schedules offered and Registration and Financial Information effective April 4, 2022. Changes have been made to our parent handbook Registration and Financial Information section found on pages 21 to 26. An updated copy of the parent handbook has been emailed to you, is available on the parent board at your child’s centre and is also available on our website at sundownersdaycare.com. Key changes have been outlined below.

Schedules

Sundowners offers full-time and part-time registrations with a set schedule. Part time can mean just the before school or just the after-school service or any care less than five days per week. Part time registrants must commit to the same days of service to ensure adequate staffing, accurate billing, and must be a minimum of two days per week. Part-time schedules will offset one another when possible. Additional day(s) may be available, space permitting, and cannot be guaranteed more than one week in advance.
Part time registrations with a varying schedule are subject to centre availability and may not be available at all centres. Varying schedules may be available in specific situations and will be processed as an exception (see Exceptions). Programs with large waitlist may not offer variable schedules.

If a client is currently using a variable part-time schedule, they will be permitted to remain on that schedule for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year. Once re-registration for 2022-2023 is available clients may not be permitted to utilize variable schedules unless variable schedules are offered at their centre and are approved as an exception.

Reserved Spaces

The tuition you are charged depends on what program(s) you have reserved for your child (enrolment). Once you have reserved that space for your child, you will be responsible for the tuition for that space, regardless of attendance, including sick days or vacation. Sundowners does not permit vacation time during the school year. Clients who register for summer care can select vacation days during the summer months, at the time of registration. PA days, Winter Break and March Break for Kindergarten and School Age children are not charged unless care is used.

Schedule Changes

Schedule changes may occur throughout the school year and must be put in writing to the site supervisor and are subject to approval based on space availability. A minimum of one week notice is requested for schedule changes. To ensure that all legislative regulations are met, children must be registered in a program to attend that program. Occasionally, extra care may be available, depending on space availability. Space availability for extra care cannot be guaranteed more than one week in advance.

Exceptions

Sundowners’ Administration staff will try to accommodate client needs within existing financial policies. There are times when this cannot be accomplished. Administration staff are not authorized to make exceptions to Sundowners’ policies. If requesting an exception, please forward your request in writing to your site supervisor. All requests will be forwarded to the appropriate department and must be approved by the Executive Director. All payments need to be made as per current policy. However, if an exception is made, a refund or credit will be forwarded.

Registration for the 2022-2023 school year is scheduled to open in the next few weeks. Current clients will have an opportunity to re-register for the next school year prior to new clients registering.

We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions, please reach out to your site supervisor.