About Us

Health and Safety

Illness

Fever most commonly accompanies respiratory illnesses such as croup or pneumonia, ear infections, flu, severe colds, and sore throats. It may also occur with infection of the bowel or urinary tract, and with a wide variety of viral illnesses.

Whenever there is a large group of children together there is a much greater chance of children becoming ill. To lessen these chances we try to maintain a regular regimen of hygiene for the children, the toys, and our center. We hope to lessen the frequency of illness with the following policy.

  • Any child showing signs of fever of 101 degrees or more may not remain at Twin Oaks. If your child goes home with fever please allow 24 hours before returning your child.
  • A doctor's release must be obtained upon returning to the center if your child has had a contagious illness.
  • Exposures to contagious illness should be reported to the center for a safe and healthy environment for all.
  • After a child has 3 diarrheas in a day the child must go home.

Keeping your child's immunizations up to date as required by the Mississippi State Health Department is of the utmost importance. We are required to have current copies of 121 forms (shot record) for each child on file. A child who is enrolled here at Twin Oaks will not be allowed to attend without a current 121 form on file. As your child grows up you will be required to supply the updated 121 form for our records. We will notify you of your child's immunization status and will work with you to keep his or her record current.

Medication

Twin Oaks will only administer if it is to be given more than twice a day. Parents must give medicine at home in the morning and evening. Twin Oaks will not be responsible for administration of medicine otherwise.

Medicine will be given, ONLY, after parents have completed our Medicine Authorization form including all appropriate blanks and signatures for each medicine to be given and at each change of medication. A new form must be completed at the beginning or each week in which medicine is to be given.

Only medicine with a druggist label will be administered at our center. Each container must have a druggist label showing the child's name, date purchased, correct dosage, and doctor's name. Medication prescribed for another child or family member will not be accepted. Over-the-counter medicines will not be accepted without the above druggist label showing the correct information and the proper form completed. No pain or fever reducers will be given at the center.

Twin Oaks will administer medicine once per day unless special arrangements are necessary. Please take all medicine home at the end of each day. Medicine may not the brought to the center mixed in with infant's formula bottle.

Sun Safe Practices

  • Suitable areas of shade are provided to accommodate all the children on the playground.
  • Our teachers will monitor each child to avoid harmful over exposure from the sun.
  • The UV index will be monitored each day and outside playtimes adjusted for high levels each day.
  • If you wish your child to wear sunscreen we will be glad to apply it at the proper time. We ask that you fill out a request form and supply the sunscreen. The form is available from the director.
safety

Evacuation Plan

In the event we are required to evacuate the building Twin Oaks will transport the children in staff autos. The children will be transported to one of the following places depending upon the circumstances:

  • Anniston Elementary School, 2314 Jones St., Gulfport, 863 4600
  • McDonald's, 1010 Cowan-Lorraine Road, Gulfport, 896 5111

You will be notified by telephone where to pick up your child. All requirements met in the Transportation policy will be adhered to in the event of an evacuation.

Car policies

Twin Oak's vehicles that are used to transport children are:

  • Insured to cover the transportation of children
  • Have current safety inspection stickers, licenses and registrations
  • Have appropriate number of seat belts to comfortably transport children
  • Driven by licensed adults
  • Staff to Child ratio is maintained at all times

Driver responsibility

Each driver shall see that children board or leave the vehicle from the curbside of the street and are safely conducted across the street or accompanied to their destinations.