Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the hours of your center?
A: Renaissance is open year round Monday through Friday 7am – 6:30pm
Q: Who owns Renaissance?
A: Nobody! Renaissance is a federally recognized non-profit organization. The highest ranking officials at the center are the members of the Board of Directors.
Q: Who is on your Board of Directors?
A: The Board of Directors is made up of parents at the center. They are responsible for the well being of the center, its families, and its teachers. They determine center policies, prices, and select the director. Families get a lot of comfort from knowing that the people in charge are parents just like them!
Q: What are the qualifications of your teachers?
A: Since its inception in the early 1970’s Renaissance has committed itself to hiring supremely qualified staff members. All of our staff members exceed the State requirements for trained childcare professionals. They continue their education each year by attending classes and seminars. About half of our staff has a four year degree; another quarter our staff has a two year degree. The remaining quarter of our staff have completed a series of rigorous training courses that ensure they are fully knowledgeable in the fields of child development and education.
Q: Do you do background checks on your teachers?
A: Absolutely! Before anyone works or volunteers a day in our center we check their background through the National Background Database as well as the State Caregiver Background Database. This battery of checks helps ensure that our teachers are of the highest character and quality.
Q: Does you center close for any holidays during the year?
A: Renaissance only closes on 9 holidays each year. Otherwise the doors are always open. Those 9 holidays are:
- New Year’s Eve
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (4th of July)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Friday after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Q: When is a child too ill to be at daycare?
A: In accordance with State law Renaissance may not allow ill children to be at the center. Renaissance does not allow children to attend if they exhibit any of the following characteristics:
- A fever of 101 degrees or higher
- Vomiting
- 3 loose bowel movements in a 24 hour period
- unusual and spreading rash anywhere on the child’s body
- Lethargic behavior preventing the child from participating in the day’s normal activities
Q: When can my child return to daycare after being sent home ill?
A: In general, children are allowed to return to care when their symptoms have cleared. If a child is sent home for a high fever the child may not return until they are without a fever AND not under the influence of any fever-reducing medication (acetaminophen for example). A child who is sent home after suffering multiple loose bowel movements will be sent home again if the child has even one more such incident. A doctor’s note allowing the child to return to care is generally always an acceptable reason to return to care. When in doubt, the center defers to the American Academy of Pediatrics Childcare Guide which outlines when a child may return to daycare when ill. Center policies do allow us to use our best judgment in determining whether a child should remain in daycare while ill.
Q: What if I am planning a family vacation and know, in advance, my child will not be attending; do I get any “vacation days” for my child?
A: Yes! Renaissance is one of the only daycares to offer vacation days to its families. Each child is allotted 2 weeks of vacation days per year. Vacation day requests must be made AT LEAST 10 days prior to the vacation day to ensure they are honored.
Q: Can I get in contact with my child’s teacher during the day?
A: Yes! Every classroom has a telephone and voicemail box easily accessible 24/7 through our fast automated phone system.
Q: Do you provide meals for my child?
A. Absolutely! We provide all of the meals your child will need throughout the day. This includes a morning breakfast, catered hot lunch, and an afternoon snack. All of our meals are approved and monitored by the USDA to ensure only the highest quality meals are served.
Q: Will you even provide meals for my baby?
A: Yes! We provide meals to ALL enrolled children at no extra cost. This includes baby formula, infant cereal, and jar foods.
Q: What if I want to supply my child’s food?
A: You are more than welcome to supply all or a portion of your child’s meals.
Q: My child is allergic to some of the items on your menu. What can I do?
A: We simply ask that you provide a viable substitute food from home so that your child can still be served a balanced and complete meal while in our care. This same policy applies to families with dietary preferences such as vegetarian or soy-based. We have a lot of experience working with families with specific dietary restrictions and we are happy to assist you in whatever way we can.
Q: Who provides diapers for my child?
A: Parents are asked to provide the diapers needed for their child.
Q: Is there a discount if I have more than one child?
A: Yes! There is a 17% discount off of the price of the oldest child’s daycare when you have two or more children enrolled at the center. That is by far the most generous sibling discount in the Milwaukee area! It’s part of our commitment to building a community of families at Renaissance.
Q: Can I pay my daycare bill by credit card?
A: Yes! You can pay by credit card or automatic checking withdrawal. This takes the hassle out of remembering to pay your daycare bill every two weeks. It’s also a great way to earn some serious bonus points and frequent flier miles on your credit card!
Q: How can I find Renaissance?
A: Click here for directions to Renaissance.
Q: Can I visit my child during the day?
A: Absolutely! Parents are welcome to stop by unannounced whenever they like. You can always get into the building using your family’s private and secure entry code to visit your child.
Q: Is Renaissance a religious program?
A: No. Renaissance has always been a secular organization although our facility is currently located in a church.
Q: Do you have a playground?
A: Of course! Renaissance is home to one of the most beautiful playgrounds in Milwaukee. 10,000 square feet of trees, pathways, climbers, and gardens await your child throughout the year. There is ample space for children to explore and learn. With so much space your child is allowed the freedom to choose whether to play in a large group, small group, or individually. Our playground space is more than 6 times larger than the amount of space required of daycares by the State of Wisconsin.
Q: Where do the children play when it rains or is too cold to go outside?
A: Renaissance is fortunate to have a huge gymnasium available for all of our classrooms. It has plenty of space for your child to use his/her gross motor skills and make use of all that energy they have! The gym is more than 3 times larger than the amount of space required of daycares by the State of Wisconsin.