Children's Academy is still looking to add some quality team members to our staff.  Continued rapid growth mean that we need staff, especially in the two new classrooms that we opened.  We anticipate those classrooms growing fast and they are designed for two teachers each and we'd like to be ahead of the game.  We offer a great working environment, above average starting pay for our industry, paid holidays and vacation time after one year of service.  I you think we'd be a good fit for you, come check us out!

Things are busy around Children's Academy!  We just recently opened two new classrooms, the older infants and 3's Preschool and are now licensed for 147.  We currently are at 94 children, with a few more that are pre-enrolled to start in the next few months.  It has been a roller-coaster growing this fast, with staffing the biggest challenge.  I'm happy to report that we have just put two new highly experienced staff on board that are fantastic.  We have also elevated one of our best to Assistant Director to add an additional layer of leadership.  We have begun to settle into some routines here that have allowed the classes to run more smoothly and learning activities are going well.  We will be continuing our referral programs and no registration fee for the time being because we feel it is important to reward our customers for their referrals.
 
We have spots in all age ranges for the time being, but infants and ones are really filling up.  Preschool and school-age care, both before and after and for summer programs are where our largest numbers of openings are.

We love our customers and that you all for the support.

​-Scott

Children’s Academy Child Care & Preschool
Parent Memo – May 4, 2016
 
 
We would like to take the opportunity to update you on some things that are taking place in and around the center and some measures that we are taking to streamline the operation of our facility.  We are well aware that it can seem chaotic at drop-off time, especially in the 8:00-9:00 hour.  Please bear in mind that the rapid growth of the center has a huge effect on that and that we are working hard to make that time easier.  We have had an average of 5-6 new children start with us each week since the first of the year, so we have had a relatively large number of children transitioning into the center at any given time.  This creates a loud and somewhat chaotic time that persists typically until around 9:00 when classes start to begin their daily activities.  I can assure you that a typical day runs relatively smooth after everyone is here and breakfast is over and cleaned up.  Everyone is new here and we are all still taking time to get to know each other!  As our classes fill completely and the steady stream of new children begins to wind down, it will get much easier.  We also want to share with you some ways that we are working very hard to make operations smoother.

• Staffing:  In our experience, it takes about a year to build a great staff at a facility this size.  When we opened a new center in the past, we grew at about half the rate that we are at this center.  With the rapid influx of new children, we need roughly one new team member every 1.5 weeks!  We are working to stay ahead of that by around two staff members and are now bringing on board three new highly experienced staff.  We would rather get the right team members than hire just anyone, so this process is challenging.  Needless to say, you will see some new faces around the center.  I can assure you that we do not hire anyone and just drop them in a class without supervision.  Each new team member works with our core staff as a helper before they are allowed to work on their own, with very few exceptions.  Should you have any questions regarding staff, please let us know.
• Classrooms:  We are opening our last two classes today!  The Kentucky CHFS has visited today to inspect our new classrooms and has increased our licensed capacity to 147.  That will be our final number and all of our space is now licensed.  I would also like to note that while here, an inspection of all of our classrooms took place and we received no deficiencies!  That means that we met or exceeded all the requirements set forth in the KY State Child Care Regulations.  This will relieve some of the classes that are completely full and also allow us to take some new children.  The timing couldn’t be better since we reached a point just this week where we could not accept any more children in the infants and threes until these classes were open and staffed.  The new classes opening are in those age ranges.  Please be patient as we work to transition our classes by age to the appropriate class.
• Part-Time Status and Rates:  Children’s Academy no longer accepts any NEW children for part-time care.  As far as we know, we are the only center in the area that has a part-time option at all, and that will continue for CURRENT part-time customers only.  We have again surveyed the rates in our area and find ourselves to be among the most reasonable for the type of facility and care that we provide.  Our full-time rates will remain the same, however our part-time rates will increase by $15.00 weekly effective May 16, 2016.  This increase is being made to invest in staffing, since we still must staff all of our rooms full-time regardless of status of the children attending in those classes.  Additionally, we are tightening our payment procedures.  Please be sure that your payments are made on Monday of the week of service.  We will not consider them late until Wednesday of the week of service.  We know that there are a few of you who have special payments arrangement that are necessary and if we have made an agreement with you in that area, it will remain in place.  Reminder – Payment is due even if your child has been absent.  You must use vacation time to be excused from payment for an absence.
• Referrals:  We will continue our referral program until we are close to licensed capacity, which we expect to take place sometime in the summer of this year.  Our referral program is as follows:  Each referring customer receives a $100.00 credit to their account and the referred customer will receive their fifth week free.  We appreciate your confidence in us and feel that our customers should be rewarded for their loyalty to us and willingness to refer their friends, family and neighbors.  We could not grow without you.

 
We greatly appreciate your patience as we grow.  I can assure you that the safety and security of your children are our top priority and we work very hard to ensure that your children are cared for in the best possible way.  There is no greater trust that you could place in us than the care of you little ones, and we are working hard to be the best center in Southwest Louisville.  We know that there are some growing pains, but we are working hard to streamline our center.  It’s hard to believe that it has only been five months, but we feel privileged to get to know each and every one of you.   
 
 
One Last Reminder
Teacher Appreciation Week is this week
Please show your appreciation to your child’s teacher in some way