ICIA South Campus New Routines Q&A
Welcome to the Dragon Den at the South Campus!
Prepare for the 2025-2026 New Routines Welcome to the Dragon Den at the South Campus!
We’re excited to have your family join us. Our goal is to provide a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate experience for all participants.
This packet is designed to answer common questions and help you and your child(ren) prepare for a smooth transition into our daily routines. We encourage you to read through the information carefully and keep it handy for future reference.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Routines
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A: Unfortunately, no. Safety is our top priority, and there may not be adequate or qualified staff available to supervise students before your scheduled plan hour.
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A: No. Drop-off and pick-up are flexible within the hours of your enrolled Dragon Den plan. You may drop off later or pick up earlier as needed.
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A: No. While we would love students to participate in all planned activities, being absent, arriving late, or leaving early from the Dragon Den does not affect your school attendance record.
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A: Please refer to the Beginning and End of the Day table for the beginning and end of the day drop-off and pick-up times and locations. These are set to support smoother group transitions at the beginning and end of the day.
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A: If you arrive later or leave earlier than the listed time, please sign in or out at the front desk (located at Door 2). At those times, the group may be transitioning or engaged in activities elsewhere. Our front desk will inform the teachers accordingly.
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A: If your school day starts in the morning and you arrive after the listed drop-off time but before 8:15 AM, please directly go to Door 4 (arrival - Gym entrance) to meet your school teachers.
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A: Our teachers will escort students between their classrooms and the Dragon Den locations based on their schedules. Parents do not need to pick up or drop off children during these internal transitions.
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A: Yes. An authorized adult must sign your child in and out each day/time drop-off and pick-up.
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A: Yes. You may authorize other people to pick-up your child. You may add or remove them as needed by sending the information via email.
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A: For the safety of your child, please pick up promptly. The program closes promptly at 5:30 pm. A Late Pick-Up Fee of $20.00 is assessed for each fifteen minutes per child beginning at 5:31pm, with no exceptions.
Map with Entrances (Birdview)
Breakfast & Lunch
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A: Yes. We are a nut-free program. Please ensure that any food or drink you send does not contain nuts. Thank you for helping us keep the environment safe for all children.
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A: No. We are unable to refrigerate or heat any food or drink items. Please send meals that are ready to eat.
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A: Breakfast is served between 7:30 AM and 7:55 AM.
If your child will have breakfast at the Dragon Den, please arrive early enough to allow them time to eat before we take them to meet their teacher. Students must be with their teacher by the end of the arrival window to avoid being marked tardy. -
A: Lunch time varies depending on your child's Dragon Den plan. Generally, lunch is served between 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM.
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A: Meal ordering instructions will be provided by the school.
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A: Meals are only provided if ordered.
Please note:- AM classes are eligible to order breakfast and/or lunch.
- PM classes are eligible to order lunch only.
- Please see the School Meal Availability at South Campus Dragon Den table for the school meal availability.
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A: Yes. You may bring breakfast. We will also be offering AM snacks around 9:15.
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A: We do our best to encourage children to try their food and eat enough, but we cannot guarantee that they will finish their meals.
Snack Time
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A: Yes. We are a nut-free program. Please ensure that any food or drink you send does not contain nuts. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for all children.
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A: Yes. Snack times are scheduled in the morning, early afternoon, and late afternoon. Children may enjoy their own snacks or the program-provided snacks, with parent permission.
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A: No. However, parents must provide one-time consent for the program to offer snacks to your child. This permission is valid for the entire school year unless new snack items are introduced that require additional approval.
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A: The program only provides the following pre-packaged snack items:
- BelVita Breakfast Biscuits, Blueberry
- BelVita Breakfast Biscuits, Cinnamon Brown Sugar
- General Mills Cheerios Cereal
- HONEY MAID Graham Crackers
- Premium Saltine Crackers, Original
- Snyder’s of Hanover Mini Pretzels
- Wheat Thins Whole Grain Crackers, Original
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A: No drinks are provided during snack time. We encourage students to drink water, so please ensure your child brings a refillable water bottle to school each day.
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A: Please use the linked form to indicate whether or not you would like us to offer snacks to your child. If we do not receive your response, we will assume that you do not give permission, and your child will not be served program-provided snacks.
Schedules and Activities
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A: The South Campus Dragon Den offers fun, developmentally appropriate experiences designed to engage and support each child. Teachers carefully plan and facilitate a balanced daily routine that includes both child-directed and teacher-led activities. Even during free play, teachers are intentional in guiding social, emotional, and cognitive development through thoughtful interaction and observation. Activities include a mix of indoor and outdoor play, enrichment opportunities, and hands-on exploration that encourage creativity, curiosity, and learning through experience.
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A: The daily schedule may vary depending on the specific Dragon Den plan your student enrolls in. Each schedule is designed to offer a consistent structure while allowing flexibility to meet the needs of the group.
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A: Yes. Physical activity is an essential part of the daily routine. Activities are designed to support and strengthen gross motor development. While TK and Kindergarten students already possess key gross motor skills like running, jumping, climbing, and balancing, they are still refining these skills for better control, coordination, endurance, and agility.
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A: No. Weather permitting, there will be both indoor and outdoor activities planned each day. Outdoor time is physically and mentally beneficial and provides valuable opportunities for exploration, movement, and play.
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A: There is no scheduled nap time. However, a quiet time is provided after lunch during which children can rest or engage in calm activities such as reading, drawing, or puzzles.
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A: Most materials for daily activities are provided by the program. Occasionally, we may ask families to contribute simple household items to support or enrich special projects or themed activities.
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A: While most homework assignments at this age are minimal, we provide a quiet space and basic guidance to help children complete their work during the program. Homework support is available upon request by the student, their teacher, or the family.
Other important Reminder
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A: Most materials needed throughout the day are provided by the school and the program. Each child has a small designated space for their belongings, so we kindly ask families to keep items to a minimum.
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A: At this age, children are developing independence, and having a backpack they can carry on their own supports that growth. Please choose one that is appropriately sized—if your child cannot lift or carry it themselves, it’s probably too heavy. If the backpack drags on the ground when held, it’s likely too big. Wheeled backpacks are not appropriate for TK and Kindergarten students.
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A: Yes. Please make sure your child always has a complete change of clothes at the program, including underwear, a top, bottoms, socks, and an extra pair of shoes. Pack the spare clothes in a clean, labeled Ziplock bag.
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A: Toys and fad items from home are generally not allowed, except for comfort items that help ease your child’s transition or when specifically requested by teachers for special activities.
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A: Your child may wear what they typically wear to school. Since the daily routine includes outdoor play, please ensure they wear closed-toe play shoes with rubber soles—safe and suitable for climbing and running.
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A: For any questions or concerns about the Dragon Den at the South Campus, please email us at childcare@sccca.org. For urgent matters, call us directly at 949-559-6868.