If you have any questions, feedback, or discussions of any kind, please contact us via phone at 515.708.0433 or by email at littlegenius108@gmail.com. Please note there are double “s” in the word genius. Sensitive issues will be discussed in private at a mutually beneficial time

There are several forms the make up the Little Geniuss enrollment packet. The Application, Liability Form, and Policies & Procedures Manual must be reviewed, completed, signed and in our possession before we can assume the responsibility of caring for your child for our Summer STEM Camp. This is to ensure that your child will get the very best care possible. If there are changes to any of the forms, please notify the Summer STEM Program Director to update your records.

If you have any questions regarding the completion of our forms, please feel free to contact the Program Direction.

Registration Fee: There is a $25 Non-Refundable registration fee per child at time of enrollment.

The cost of our camp per week is $125. You can pay the fees in advance for four weeks. If you wish to pay on a weekly basis, ensure you complete the payment prior to start of your child’s new week class time on Monday. Payment should be made by check, cash or PayPal Service. If you wish to make a payment by credit card, please use PayPal Services. The email address you would use to send the payment to is littlegeniuss108@gmail.com Please note there are double “s” in the word geniuss. In the notes section, please make a note of your child’s full name and the session they’re attending. Please know there will be a processing fee if you choose to send us payment via PayPal services.
Presently, we do not charge a late fee. However, repeated late payments may be grounds for termination and parents who are more than 2 weeks late on payment will be denied access to our camps until account is made current.

The success of our program depends upon the prompt payment of tuition/fees in order to take care of day-to-day expenses that are encountered. Tuition and fees are computed with the following factors in mind:

• Food, supplies, craft/activity/curriculum supplies, toys, technology, play equipment and books provided for the children
• Employee wages
• Building rent, heat, electricity, telephone, maintenance, and liability insurance
• Additional time spent, each day, on record keeping, parent-provider communication; clean up, and shopping trips for food and supplies

Parent Vacation: We will not bill you for the weeks your child is gone. However, you let us know in advance of any planned vacation so we can offer that week’s space to a family in our waitlist. 

Child Absent: We charge $125 per week. In the event your child is not able to attend for a day or two during the week, you will still be responsible for the full week fees.

If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds, there will be a $30 fee incurred as a result of the returned check. Your child’s participation in our camp may be halted until full payment of tuition and bank charges has been made, in CASH. In addition, upon the second returned check, only cash will be accepted for the duration of the program.

Our Summer STEM Camp will have a morning and afternoon session. We do not have a full-time service.

Our morning session is from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

Our afternoon session is from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please remember that we have a fixed week-to-week schedule for this summer. Our classes will start with a meditation practice prior to moving onto our STEM curriculum. Our meditation session aims to teach our kids breathing exercises that may help with concentration of the mind, and practice of positive thinking. It is our moment of silence and inner reflection. We request you drop off your child on a timely manner to minimize disruption to our class schedule.

Our facility is not open for parents or visitors during our hours of operation. We are only operating this summer and have a tight schedule that we hope to follow to ensure our kids receive maximum benefits from our program. Any unscheduled visits may result in teacher’s time away from our children. If you need to speak with the Director, teachers or do a child’s early or late pickup, please contact the Program Director.

It is normal for some children to have difficulty separating from parents, or cry when dropping off. Please make your drop off is brief, the longer you prolong the departure, the harder it gets. A smile, cheerful good-bye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back is all that is needed. We have seen, children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as parents are gone.

Please be brief at pick-up times, as well. This is a time of testing, when two different authority figures are present (the parent and the teacher). All children will test to see if the rules still apply. During arrival and departure, we expect parents to back up our rules. Please be in control of your child during pick up times.

Our normal procedure is to release the child only to his/her parents, or someone else the parents designate on the Authorized Pick up and Emergency Contact Form. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please notify us ahead of time via email, call or text. A verbal notice is fine on that day, if this person is on the list of people who are authorized to pick up your child. If the person is NOT on that list, we MUST have written permission to release your child. Please inform emergency contacts, or people designated to pick up your child, that if we do not know them then we will need to ask for identification. This is not meant to offend them. This is simply a measure taken for the child’s protection.

All parents must sign their child in and out each day. For your convenience, a sign in/out sheet, pen, and a clock are located by the door, this gives us a written record of the child’s attendance, hours, and the person who brought/picked up the child each day.

Below is a sign-in sheet you will see when you pick-up and drop-off your child.

Our Summer STEM Camp fee is $125 per week. We will not amend the fees if your child missed a day or two during the week. If a child has vacation planned, please inform the Director in advance or mention time away on your child’s application so you will not be billed for that week.

Little Geniuss is operating STEM Summer Camps for the entire summer except on 4^th of July. There are no classes on 4^th of July. In addition, we do not offer make-up classes.

Children should arrive dressed for play. We like to have fun! Many of STEM activities may get messy so please don’t dress your child in nice clothing and expect them to be spotless when you arrive to pick them up. Clothing should be comfortable that allows children to move freely. In addition, we also ask you supply a pair of extra clothing, socks, and underpants in case there are accidents.

We prefer that children do not bring toys from home unless it is something that can be shared with the entire group (i.e. books, videos, etc.). Little ones have a difficult time-sharing with others, and it is even harder with their own special toys. If toys are brought, please note that they may be put away, if they are the cause of disagreements among the children. We are not responsible for any loss or breakage of personal items. All personal items must be clearly marked with the child’s name.

Children enjoy a structured schedule that allows for flexibility. A schedule helps the day to flow more smoothly and allows the children to anticipate upcoming events. We will adhere to our written schedule to the best of our ability. There will be times when we have to make adjustments to the schedule when there is a substitute teacher. We appreciate families considering our schedule when picking up or dropping off children. It is better if arrivals occur before we began our mindful meditation session. If arrival is during our meditation session, we request you come and go as quietly and quickly as possible.

We thank you for the information you filled out for us regarding your child’s individual needs. It will help us get to know your child better.

Noted below is our morning and afternoon schedule. Please refer to our Parents Information Package to see details on our week-to-week STEM plans.

MORNING SESSION Schedule:

9:00 a.m. – Children Check-In
9:10 a.m. – Daily Mindful Meditation
9:20 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – STEM Unit of the Week
10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Snack Time
11:10 a.m. – Daily STEM Activity (Numeracy or Literacy)
11:45 a.m. – Review STEM Mysteries explored
12:00 p.m. – Parents Pick-up

AFTERNOON SESSION Schedule:

12:30 p.m. – Children Check-In
12:40 a.m. – Daily Mindful Meditation
12:50 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. – STEM Unit of the Week
2:20 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. – Snack Time
2:40 p.m. – Daily STEM Activity (Numeracy or Literacy)
3:15 p.m. – Review STEM Mysteries explored
3:30 p.m. – Parents Pick-up

*Our last week (9) will focus on Art activities. Children will also learn Yoga and the basics of exercise and caring for the body.

We do not provide lunch. However, we will provide a snack in the morning and afternoon. If you wish to send food for your child, please make sure it does not contain gluten or nuts. If your child has allergies, and requires a modified diet, we must be notified of this in writing.  If a child has so many allergies that he/she cannot eat from our snack menu, we may require the parents to provide his/her snacks.

We never force a child to finish what is on his/her plate, but we do encourage each child to try one or two bites of everything. Sometimes they are surprised by what they like! Since we do not offer lunch, your child’s daily eating patterns will not be communicated to you.

We do our best to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Children’s hands are washed before and after snacks and after toileting. We use paper towels for drying hands, so children do not have to use the same towel. All employees are required to wash their hands frequently and also use antibacterial gel.

Children will use disposable plates, cups, and spoons for snack.

We disinfect toilet seats and clean potty chairs between each use.

We may do one fire drill for the duration of our program. In addition, our space contains a fire extinguisher and sprinkler system. All of our STEM activities are safe and chemical free, and does not require use of fire. 

Little Geniuss will be teaching STEM curriculum that is designed by experienced Science and Engineering professionals. Much of our curriculum is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Please refer to the Parents Information Package to see the week-to-week STEM mysteries we will explore throughout the summer. Moreover, as part of our daily STEM Numeracy and Literacy Component, kids will utilize Math and Literacy Workbook. Our teachers will also use supplement curriculum such as Engage New York and Singapore Math to teach our Math component.

Please note, our curriculum is very different from traditional schools. In traditional classrooms, the teacher is mainly the transmitter of knowledge. In a STEM classroom, the teacher is facilitator of knowledge. Our kids will learn various concepts week to week by getting involved in hands-on projects, using technologies, body movement, games, arts and crafts, music, and educational videos. The only traditional component we have is our workbooks, however, it is combined with Math and Literacy games.

Educational videos will be used as a tool to help children unwind and relax. As part of our curriculum, our children will watch no more than 20 minutes of television per day, and some days none at all. Viewing may include PBS and child-friendly, educational-style videos, such as National Geographic, Mystery Doug, Barney, Richard Scarry, Wee Sing, etc. We have carefully screen everything the children will watch as part of our curriculum and watch along with the children. We avoid any type of graphic images, potentially frightening images, unpleasant language, or anything of that nature, as we believe that young children are extremely impressionable.

For our STEM Curriculum, ages 3 to 6 will work together in teams every day. However, for STEM numeracy and literacy, children will be placed on an advance or beginner’s group, depending on their level of understanding with numeracy and literacy.

On a daily basis, we have STEM Numeracy or Literacy Activity planned. Moreover, we have an Advance Group & Beginner’s Group. The Advance Group will consist of children who have complete mastery of alphabets and numbers. They will work on developing their numeracy skills by engaging in visual learning of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. We will also engage our kids in math puzzles and games. Our hope is that our curriculum contributes in development of child’s logical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Our Beginner’s Group will consist of children who are in the process of learning numbers and alphabets. Our focus with this group is to teach them complete recognition of alphabets and numbers 1-20 by the end of the summer. We will use Math workbook by Pegasus and Literacy Workbook by Dreamland. Moreover, on a daily basis this group will engage in Alphabet and Numeracy games led by the assistant teacher. 

For families who are only with us for certain weeks, we will make placement decision based on the information you provided in your child’s application. 

Almost all of the week, our teachers will send all of our families a letter which informs them of STEM activities and lessons we’re working on. Our letters may also include tips for parents to help the child reinforce the learning from our program. If you have any questions or concerns about our teaching and learning methods, please contact the Program Director.

There are certain center rules that all children will be taught and expected to follow. This is for the safety and well being of everyone.

There will be no running permitted in the facility. Hitting, pushing, biting, grabbing, kicking, spitting, or pinching other children/ /adults will NOT be allowed. No standing or climbing on chairs or tables. There will be no use of obscene, derogatory or disrespectful language.

Children may not walk around the facility with food, cups or bottles. Respectful treatment of other people and all property, toys, and furniture is expected. Please support us in the enforcement of these rules, in order to create a better environment for all.

No smoking is permitted on the premises.

If we feel a child is being abused or neglected we will report the issue to the State. Always be sure to let the Program Director know when you drop your child off if he/she has any unexplained cuts or bruises.

If you ever feel that Little Geinuss is not operating in a safe manner, please bring the matter to our attention. We will review the matter and ensure necessary measures are taken to create a safe and comfortable environment for our little ones.

We maintain a positive discipline policy, which focuses on prevention, redirection, love, consistency and firmness. We stress two main patterns of behavior: respect for other people and respect for property. The children are explained the rules of the facility frequently, so they are all familiar with the guidelines. Please keep in mind that there WILL be disagreements between children. Young children have a hard time expressing their feelings. Sometimes they hit, throw toys, bite, etc. We will try to prevent problems, redirect when appropriate, discuss inappropriate behavior, encourage making amends when offense involves another person, and sometimes withdraw privileges based on the principle of “natural consequences”. An example might be where a child is misusing a toy then he/she will not be allowed to play with the toy for a period of time. The use of time outs will be rare except when a brief cooling off period is needed. Sometimes when children are fighting or throwing toys, we will put the toy in a short time out, and then bring it back into circulation a little later. This seems to work better than giving the child a time out.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will there be any spanking, physical abuse, verbal abuse, name calling or isolation used. Neither food nor sleep will ever be withheld from children as a means of punishment.

If a discipline problem arises that does not respond to the above-mentioned techniques, we will hold a conference with the parents. Together, we will try to find a solution. You may be called to remove your child from our program if his/her behavior prevents us from being able to properly care for the other children. If the problem continues, other arrangements for the care of the child will have to be made, for the safety and well being of all.

The following illness policies will be strictly enforced, for the health, well being and safety of all concerned.

Sick Child Policy: Under no circumstances may a parent bring a sick child to our camp. If the child shows any signs of illness or is unable to participate in the normal routine and regular camp program, we will notify the parents to arrange a pick-up. Sick children can expose all children and staff members who they come in contact with. Sick children want care from their parents in the comfort of their own homes.

Every effort is taken to reduce the spread of illness by encouraging hand washing and other sanitary practices (see our policies on cleanliness and hygiene).

Due to illness reasons, if your child is unable to participate in the normal activities of the summer camp, then your child MUST stay home.

In the event a child becomes ill and needs to be picked up, the parent(s) will be called and are expected to come pick the child up within one hour (60 minutes). If the parent(s) cannot be reached, or have not arrived within an hour, the emergency contact person will be called and asked to come pick the child up.


Symptoms requiring removal of child from day care:

• Fever: Fever is defined as having a temperature of 100°F or higher taken under the arm, 101°F taken orally, or 102°F taken rectally.
• Fever AND sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, irritability, or confusion.
• Diarrhea: runny, watery, bloody stools, or 2 or more loose stools within last 4 hours.
• Vomiting: 2 or more times in a 24 hour period. Note: please do not bring your child if they have vomited in the night.
• Breathing trouble, sore throat, swollen glands, loss of voice, hacking or continuous coughing.
• Runny nose (other than clear), draining eyes or ears.
• Frequent scratching of body or scalp, lice, rash, or any other spots that resemble childhood diseases, including ringworm.
• Child is irritable, continuously crying, or requires more attention than we can provide without hurting the health, safety or well-being of the other children in our care.

Parents will provide any medications needed by the child, including over-the-counter and prescription medicine. Written authorization is needed for us to administer ANY medication, prescription or over-the-counter. NOTE: All medicines must be in their original container with pharmacist’s or manufacturer’s label, child’s name, dosage instructions, current date, name of medication, and times to be administered clearly written.

Minor bumps and scratches are inevitable, but we make every effort to keep the children safe through supervision and childproofing. Minor injuries receive appropriate first aid, and if an emergency injury or illness occurs, you will be contacted as soon as possible. If necessary, your child will be taken to the nearest hospital where you will be asked to meet us. If you are not going to be at your usual place of employment, or at home, please make sure that we have a number where you can be reached.

Parents are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment, including emergency transportation, if required. The owners of Little Geniuss, Ms. Dimple Patel, or its staff members will not be held liable for any sickness/injury of either parent/guardian or child while on these premises.

We reserve the right to terminate a child for the following reasons (but not limited to):

• Failure to pay
• Routinely late picking up your child
• Failure to complete the required forms
• Lack of parental cooperation
• Failure of child to adjust to the program after a reasonable amount of time
• Physical or verbal abuse of any person or property
• Our inability to meet the child’s needs
• Lack of compliance with handbook regulations
• Serious illness of child

By signing this Policies & Procedures Manual, I acknowledge that I have received a copy of this manual. I acknowledge that is it my responsibility to read and comprehend the information contained in this manual and to consult with the Program Director if I have any questions and concerns regarding its content.