We communicate with parents in 32 different ways!

In the Front Hallway:
Check for special information on our white announcement board and on-going information, such as the Monthly Menu and Calendar, on the Parent Bulletin Board.

Daily Communications:
To provide a positive atmosphere for your child's development, good communication is essential. We need to know information about your child that may affect his day at the Center (i.e. poor sleep, physical or emotional difficulties, medication, etc.). We are available everyday to discuss your child’s daily activities, health, and interactions with you. You may speak with your child’s Teaching Team, Supervisor, Director, Nurse, or Support Staff via telephone, or at drop-off and pick-up times. If there is a concern that needs discussion, let us know right away. If necessary, we will schedule a meeting at a mutually convenient time to address any concerns you might have.

Be sure to check these on a daily basis: classroom bulletin boards; individual cubbies for things to go home; and folders or mailboxes for notices, letters, and invitations to events, etc.

Infants and Toddlers have a Daily Track Sheet sent home everyday with them. Preschoolers and School-agers have a Daily Report posted in their classrooms, and take a detailed Weekly Letter home on Fridays. Sometimes, we may also communicate with parents via E-Mail. Should you wish to get a message to us, please send it to: childcare@rainbowchimes.org.

Meetings & Workshops:
Parents are encouraged to attend various meetings in the course of the year. The format of these meetings may be an informational seminar covering pertinent or timely topics; it may also be a one-on-one review of development or a concern which is being encountered with your child.

Recently scheduled workshops for parents included discussions about home safety, child nutrition, positive discipline, and language in development.

All parents must attend an Annual Kick-Off Meeting in late September, to be apprised of the Center’s focus and goals for the coming school year. We will also inform you of NYS regulations, RCI policies, Emergency Preparation, and various parental obligations.

We also schedule formal semi-annual conferences with parents to appraise our performance and your child's progress, usually in the spring and late fall of each year. In preparation for these Parent-Teacher Conferences, the Teaching Team puts in many hours to compile anecdotal records, assemble portfolios, and assess every child’s development. Parents are requested to honor the Teaching Team’s efforts by attending their children’s conferences.

We also ask parents to participate in our confidential Annual NAEYC Survey to determine general satisfaction levels and to elicit comments about our performance.

Center-wide Family Visiting Days:
We offer special Visiting Days every month so you can share a planned activity with your child (often related to the monthly curriculum focus):

January – Winter Wonderland
February – Valentine’s Day Breakfast
March – Pet Show
April – Spring Fling
May – Mother’s Day Breakfast/Tea
June – Father’s Day Breakfast/Tea
July – “Beach Party”
August – Carnival
September – Welcome Night
October – Harvest Festival
November – ShareFeast
December - Holiday Party

The Teaching Team members spend many hours and often, their own funds (by choice), to make the Center-wide Visits a special time for family sharing. Please come by whenever you can!

Special Center Events:
RCI sponsors events that invite the participation of the entire family. In the past, we have hosted Family Picnics, Multi-cultural Buffet Dinners, Open Houses, Summer Barbecues, Carnivals, etc. Please come!

Parent REPs:
RCI organizes a system whereby Parent Representatives volunteer to act as a liaison between the participants of the Center and RCI management. This system permits anonymity, encourages communication, and minimizes problems. Family Rep phone numbers are posted to encourage other parents to feel comfortable making contact.

Family Advisors:
We also maintain a Family Advisory Council, generally comprised of Family Reps, to provide a forum for the formal discussion and review of any curriculum, policy, and social issues that may be pertinent to the Center and its participants.

Tea with the Directors: -Each month, the Directors invite a few parents, staff members and volunteers to join them for an afternoon discussion over tea, scones, and little sandwiches. The topics for discussion usually include curricular components, community involvement, and areas where we might collectively make the program even better. This is a great opportunity to provide feedback and share insights directly with the Directors in a convivial
atmosphere.

Newsletter:
We periodically publish our newsletter, The Rainbow Times, to keep parents and community members informed of our activities.

Community Interaction:
Rainbow Chimes encourages interaction between our agency and the community we serve. By sponsoring support groups, conferences, seminars and community events, we offer our services and expertise to anyone requiring it. An information and referral network with local community service agencies contributes to program enhancements and provides services directly to children and their families.