CDEC 2328 - Little Grasshopper Academy

New Position Open!!

Now hiring an Early Childhood Teacher for our Preschool classroom who has a teaching philosophy and understanding that children learn best through play. We support our teachers in creating a stimulating classroom environment full of learning experiences for their students. We provide low classroom ratios, a positive work environment, and caring leadership! Professional growth and development are valued, and ongoing training opportunities are provided.

Candidate's Qualifications and Experience:
*High School diploma or equivalent (Required)
*Must be 18 years old
*Must pass a drug test and background check
*CPR and First Aid certification (We can assist you in obtaining certification)
*Food Handlers (We can assist you in obtaining certification)
*Early Childhood Education: 1 year (Preferred)
*Active Child Development Associate (CDA) credential (or willing to obtain)
*Childcare: 1 year (Preferred)

Responsibilities:
*Create a safe, nurturing environment where children can play and learn
*Partner with parents with a shared desire to provide the best care and education for their children
*Support your center's success by partnering with center staff to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and engagement
*Cultivate positive relationships with families, teachers, state licensing authorities, community contacts, and corporate partners

If you are interested in learning more about our program and joining our fantastic team, please send us your resume to [email protected].

Dear Parents of Little Grasshopper Academy,
We have EXCITING news!
As everyone already knows we have been looking for a playground structure for our preschool outdoor area. We have finally picked a perfect structure and we are going with Kaplan Early Learning Company. The children will be excited with all the many different play opportunities that are presented on this structure: pod climber, bone bridge, figure climber (rock wall), and it even has four different slides!! This magnificent piece of equipment cost $16,651 and we need your help. We are hosting a Fundraising Meeting on Monday, July 25th at 6:30 pm in the board room. LGA staff and I have come up with different fundraiser ideas, such as; Family Paint Night, Family Fun Day, and BINGO Night. All these fun activities will have a cost to enter. So, we can't wait to hear your great ideas for fundraising and ways that we can get the most participation. Together we can come up with outstanding ideas, so we can look forward to the day our children play on the Kaplan playground structure!
Thank you for your support.

Parents - We want you to be a Member!
We are looking for parents who want to serve on our Parent Advisory Baord. Our purpose for Parent Advisory Board is to facilitate communication between parents, staff, and director in an ongoing effort to support the quality of care.
The meetings are held once a month, on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm; so parents have time to attend. We will provide a light dinner and child care, and the meeting will last about an hour.
Parent Advisory Board will work with staff and director to review important issues, such as Events, Fundraising, Build Maintenance, and extracurricular activities. Parents Advisory Board also oversees the structure of parents' committees, ensuring each has clear charges and leadership in place. Each board member must serve on one committee and require one additional meeting each month.
We hope you will join us...Parents that are interested please stop by the office and fill out an application.
Thanks for your support.

Dear Parents,
LGA is licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and we follow the Texas Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers. As per Texas State laws, you as a parent have a right to access your child at any time. However, we strongly encourage parents to drop off their children by 8:30 am each day so that the child can take part in our full educational program. In the event that a parent is unable to pick up their child, they may authorize another legal adult to pick them up. Children will not be released to a minor. Authorized adults must be listed on the enrollment form to pick up the child and authorized adults must present a photo ID. Children will not be released to adults without a photo ID. If you need any further information please stop by the front office and speak with the director.
The Texas Minimum Standards and Rules for Child Care Centers states; Division 5, Release of Children
§746.4101. Who may I release children to? You must release children only to a parent or a person designated by the parent.
§746.4103. How do my employees verify the identity of a parent or a person a parent has designated to pick up the child?
(a) You must develop child-care center policies for the release of children, including a plan to verify the identity of a person authorized to pick up a child but whom the caregiver does not know.

COVID-19 Health Care Policy
The policies set forth aim to keep children and adults safe and healthy, while ensuring children are in a nurturing and responsive environment. Social distancing with young children is a challenging effort, but LGA staff will help and guide children. LGA will limit the number of people who can visit the childcare center.

Classroom Space/Physical Distancing -
LGA staff will implement developmentally appropriate activities for smaller group activities and rearrange furniture and play spaces to maintain 6 feet of separation, when possible. During rest time, cots will be placed 6 feet apart with heads in opposite directions. Class sizes will be limited per state licensing requirements.

Families are encouraged to limit the number of individuals with authorization to pick up and drop off from the center. While waiting for entry into the center families and staff will maintain social distancing using the floor markers. Upon arrival, LGA staff will complete a visual health screening and will ask families questions about the child's health and well-being including COVID-19-related symptoms within the last 24 hours. Temperatures screening will take place for children entering the center with a no-contact thermometer and will be logged. Individuals with temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or over will not be admitted into the program. Children will be monitored throughout the day for signs of illness. Children who become ill while in the program will be isolated using the designated special care room. Parents will be contacted for pick up or have a designated representative pick them up within one hour. LGA created health and safety protocols to help protect staff, children, and family members.

Dear Parents,
Welcome to Little Grasshopper Academy! We are glad that you have chosen our center to meet your childcare needs. We believe that children deserve the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe, enriching environment. Learning happens through positive relationships, exploration, experiences, and a sense of belonging that enable children to become productive contributors to the world in which they live. LGA provides warm, personalized care and developmentally appropriate programs for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. We believe that children are competently capable of complex thinking, curious, and rich in potential. Play is integral to children's learning and essential to the quality of life in childhood. Exploration and play are a child's primary ways of understanding the world. Children are agents of their own learning, actively building knowledge, skills, dispositions, and feelings. We are committed to fostering each child's self-esteem, well-being, and growing needs for independence. As part of our commitment to the children and families we serve, all our educators are encouraged and committed to ongoing professional learning and training opportunities. They are responsive, respectful, and dedicated to the children as individuals while nurturing their social/emotional, cognitive, and physical development and growth.

Always,
Ruby A. Robles