Parent Resources
Everything Parents Need from The Ossining Children’s Center
all in one convenient location
Hello, Ossining Children’s Center family!
OCC prepares children for success in school with a basis for lifelong learning, with high quality, educational child care as diverse as the community we serve. At OCC, children build a strong foundation for life, and our community is likewise strengthened.
OCC School Schedule and Closures
OCC is open year–round, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Traditionally, OCC is closed on the following National Holidays:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents’ Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday
Christmas Day
Please note: OCC closes for several staff development/preparation days prior to each new school year.
Enrollment and Scholarships
Visit our enrollment and scholarship page for applications and to learn more.
Meet the Teachers!
Learn more about the teachers and administrators who will be helping your child succeed!
Reviews From Parents of OCC Students
OCC Drop‑off and pick‑up procedures
Upon arrival each morning, your child should be accompanied into the building by an adult. Please be sure to sign in and check in with staff. Arrival after 10 am (during the school year) must be accompanied by a doctor’s note; during summer hours if you are arriving after 9am, a doctor’s note is mandatory.
OCC closes at 5:55 PM. A late fee will be charged when a staff member must stay with your child past 6:00 PM. If you are late, a fee of $10.00 will be charged to your account for each 15-minute increment of lateness.
OCC Illness policy and when to keep a child home:
If he/she is not well enough to participate in the program, including outdoor play, please keep your child at home. For highly communicable conditions, such as Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye, Coxsackie/Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease, or an undiagnosed rash, OCC requires your child be seen/treated by a physician, who should provide a note stating that a child is no longer contagious when s/he returns to OCC.
Illnesses with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting must be followed by 24 hours with no symptoms in order to return. If a child is ill with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea for 2 days or more, a physician’s note is required.
OCC Medication administration procedures
For children who may require the administration of prescription medication, a MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) certified staff member is available at all times. This medication should be provided to staff in its original packaging, along with a permission slip signed by you and the doctor, and will be held in the front office. If your child requires an epi-pen or nebulizer/treatments, please include an action plan, provided by a medical professional.
OCC Staff to Child Ratios
Infant class
1 adult to 2-3 infants
Toddler class
1 adult to 4 toddlers
Young preschool classes
1 adult to 4-5 children
Pre-Kindergarten classes
1 adult to 7 children
School-age classes
1 adult to 10 children
School Menu
OCC Daily Schedule
This is meant to show a typical day but it is adjusted based on staffing and season
Daily Schedule by Age Group
Infants
The course of your child’s day is individualized based on his/her needs.
Toddlers
The program is individualized, with a gentle introduction to a routine, similar to that outlined below.
Threes
Pre-K - 7:00 – 8:30 AM Arrival, handwashing, breakfast, free play
8:30 – 9:00 AM Children’s “Morning Meeting”
9:00 – 10:15 AM Planned activities (creative arts, child’s choice) + Specialty activities (music, nature, garden)
10:15 – 11:00 AM Unstructured outdoor play (running, swings, balance beam)
11:00 – 11:45 AM Handwashing, lunch
11:45 – 12:30 PM Structured indoor physical activity (dance, gymnastics, creative movement)
12:30 – 2:30 PM Nap time
2:30 – 3:00 PM Handwashing, snack
3:00 – 4:00 PM Planned activities/child’s choice + Specialty activities (music, nature, garden)
4:00 – 5:00 PM Unstructured outdoor play (running, swings, balance beam)
5:00 – 6:00 PM Handwashing, quiet activities
School-Agers
7:00 – 8:30 AM Arrival, handwashing, breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 AM Children’s “Morning Meeting”
3:00 – 3:30 PM Handwashing, snack
3:30 – 4:00 PM Outside play (weather permitting)
4:00 – 4:45 PM Handwashing, homework/reading time
4:45 – 5:30 PM Arts and crafts/special projects
5:30 – 6:00 PM Quiet games
Attendance and Lateness Policy
Please notify OCC if your child is absent due to illness, family trips or appointments, so that we can better plan the days activities and meals.
OCC’s Inclement weather procedures
If OCC needs to close due to extreme weather, an email will be sent to families as soon as the decision is made. OCC website will also post closing notifications on the ‘Banner’ at the top of the webpage. On Snow Days OCC follows the closings or delayed openings of the Ossining Public School District. Relevant information will be announced on TV News Channel 12.
OCC Field trip permissions
We incorporate age-appropriate field trips into our programs to expand our children’s world. Our children take excursions to museums, local farms, zoos, theatres, and the like. Participation in these experiences requires parental signing of the field trip permission slip included in our application materials. If such permission has not been given, the child may not attend OCC on the day of the trip.
Common Downloaded Documents
Family engagement opportunities
Would you like to join the Parent Committee and plan social activities and community play dates? Contact Hilary Clark: hclark@ossiningchildrenscenter.org
Parent Engagement Opportunities:
OCC has a Facebook page where we post photos of children engaged in their activities
Back-to-School-Night, offering parents an introduction to their child’s teachers, classroom environment, and the educational objectives of the OCC is offered to UPK students as well as Older 3’s.
Midyear preschool verbal conference to address your child’s progress
End-of-the-year preschool conference including a written evaluation.
Parents can always request additional meetings during the year with their teacher, the social worker, assistant director