The Bobcat Den Parent Handbook

Welcome to The Bobcat Den After School Program!
We’re excited to spend afternoons with your children, providing a safe, engaging, and enriching environment after school hours.

Program Overview

Daily Activities
Each day at The Bobcat Den includes a variety of fun and enriching activities:

Outdoor play and recess
Quiet time for reading and homework
Board games and puzzles
Building blocks and toys
Arts and crafts
Nutritious snacks

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday: 2:50 PM – 6:00 PM
Children may be picked up at any time before 6:00 PM.
Closed on holidays and non-school days.

Location & Contact Information

The Bobcat Den is located in the Brush Creek Elementary School cafeteria and is operated by Vail Valley Learning Services, LLC.

For questions or assistance, contact:
Jodie Metz, Owner-Director
📞 813-326-2553
✉️ bcesbobcatden@gmail.com
🌐 www.TheBobcatDen.com

Fees & Registration

Registration: One-time fee of $35 per child. All children must be registered to attend. Register online at www.TheBobcatDen.com.
Daily Rate: $32.00 per child
Payments: Collected automatically each week for attended days.

Attendance & Reservations

No daily reservations are required at this time. We staff to accommodate all children needing care. Please inform your child’s teacher and your child if they are attending The Bobcat Den each day to ensure smooth transitions.

Program Policies

Medications

We are only permitted to administer life-sustaining medications.
If your child requires such medication:

It must be stored on-site.
A current prescription must be provided.

Please plan for non-essential medications to be administered before 2:50 PM or after 6:00 PM.

Personal Belongings

Please send weather-appropriate clothing and a labeled water bottle daily.
Clearly label all personal items.
While we make every effort to prevent loss, we are not responsible for lost items.

Behavior & Discipline

At The Bobcat Den, we emphasize respect, kindness, and personal responsibility. Our approach to discipline focuses on helping children learn appropriate behaviors through guidance and consistency.

Our Discipline Approach Includes:

Two verbal warnings for inappropriate behavior.
Parental notification if problems persist.
Documentation of behavioral incidents and interventions used.
Behavior support planning may be initiated with parent involvement if behavior continues.

Suspension or Dismissal

If behavior issues continue after intervention, participation in our after-school program may be discontinued. Parents/guardians will be provided written notice and given an opportunity to meet with staff to discuss the situation before dismissal.

Behaviors That May Result in Immediate Suspension and/or Dismissal

The following behaviors are considered serious and may result in immediate suspension or permanent dismissal:

Physical aggression (e.g., hitting, kicking, biting)
Verbal aggression (e.g., insults, threats)
Bullying or harassment (verbal, physical, or emotional)
Destructive behavior (e.g., damaging property, throwing objects)

Parent Conduct & Mutual Respect

We are here because we care about your children. In return, we ask that parents:

Arrive on time for pickup.
Treat our staff with courtesy and respect.

Repeated late pickups or disrespectful behavior toward any staff member may result in dismissal from the program.

Health & Safety

Illness

If a child becomes ill during program hours:

They will be separated in a supervised, quiet area.
A parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.
Children must be picked up within 1 hour of notification.

Accidents, & Emergencies

Your child’s safety is a top priority at The Bobcat Den. If your child is injured while in our care:

First Aid: Staff will respond right away and provide appropriate first aid. Gloves are used when needed for safety.
Parent Notification:
- Minor injuries (like small cuts or scrapes): You’ll be informed at pick-up.
- Moderate injuries (like bites or sprains): We’ll call you the same day.
- Serious injuries (like head injuries or possible broken bones): We’ll call you immediately, and 911 may be called if necessary.
Documentation: An injury report is completed for every incident and requires a parent/guardian signature. Serious injuries are also reported to the state, as required by licensing rules.

General Emergency Preparedness

In all emergencies, staff will:

Remain calm and act swiftly.
Secure children's immediate safety.
Follow the Emergency Evacuation Plan.
Call 911, if applicable.
Notify the Program Director and parents/guardians as soon as safely possible.
Document the incident and response actions taken.

Evacuation Procedures

In the event of a real emergency requiring relocation, parents will receive a text message, and children can be picked up at Castle Peak Senior Center.
Head counts will be taken before departure, upon arrival, and continually throughout the event.

Training & Drills

Staff receive annual emergency preparedness training.
Drills are conducted according to Colorado licensing rules:
- Fire drills: monthly
- Lockdown drills: quarterly
- Evacuation/shelter-in-place: quarterly

Late Pick-Up Policy

We close promptly at 6:00 PM.
If you are running late:

Please call and let us know.
A fee of $1 per minute will be charged after 6:00 PM.

Frequent late pickups may lead to removal from the program. Your children have had a long day—being picked up on time makes a big difference!

Payments

Payment Collection: Payment information will be collected at the time of registration.
Auto-Billing: Payments will be automatically collected each week based on the number of days your child attended The Bobcat Den.
Questions? Please contact Jodie Metz directly at
✉️ bcesbobcatden@gmail.com
📞 813-326-2553

Thank you for being part of The Bobcat Den! We look forward to sharing fun, learning, and laughter with your children each day.