Mascot Club FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

The staff at my child's Mascot program seems so young. What are their qualifications?
Arizona Dept. of Health Services as well as the Paradise Unified School District have specific guidelines for staff positions. All Mascot Managers must qualify as Center Directors under DHS regulations. Some of the managers have degrees or are in the process of earning one. Associates must be at least 21 years old and have a combination of credit hours from an accredited college or university and the appropriate number of training hours. They are responsible in the absence of the manager, so they must meet many of the same requirements. Group leaders must be a minimum of 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED and at least six months child care experience. HERO interns are high school seniors in the PVUSD who are enrolled in Home Economics Related Occupations class and receive credit for working. They are not only evaluated by the manager, but by their HERO coordinator at their school.

What does it mean when people say that Mascot is a licensed program?
The Mascot programs are licensed by the AZ Dept. of Health Services and must meet the regulations stated in the Administrative Code. Our programs are inspected by the state for health and safety on a yearly basis. Inspection reports are available to the public through DHS or at your Mascot site. DHS requires a certain amount of staff training per year, appropriate staff to child ratio, clean and appropriate space, and other administrative requirements.

What kind of activities do they do in Mascot?
Children have to opportunity to participate in a variety of activities from arts and crafts, computers, sports, and clubs. Homework time is offered at each site and assistance is available, however we do not offer tutoring. Each manager has been trained in using the Arizona Educational Standards and applies this to their lesson plans. Each activity relates to the educational standards in some way.

What kind of training do the staff that work at Mascot have?
Each staff member is required to have current CPR and First Aid and attend a minimum of 12 hours of additional training per year. They attend a yearly statewide conference and have opportunities to attend regional and national conferences as well.

I registered my child for summer camp where our Mascot staff will be going, and now I find out her favorite Mascot staff member is at another camp. Why does the staff get split up between camps?
Staffing is based on the needs of the camp as well as staff schedules. Since parents have the option to send their child to any summer camp, we try to anticipate where they will go and place staff accordingly. Sometimes families will be split between two summer sites and we need to place staff at both camps. Also, because many of our staff attend summer school we need to look at how their school schedule matches with our work schedule and place them according to their needs.

What do I do about days that my student is out of school, such as Presidents Day?
For many of the days off of school, we offer what is called Mascot Camp. Camps are not offered at all schools, usually three schools are open during camp days, but we try to spread out the location of camps so there will be one near your home school. You can purchase these camp days for $36 a day, which includes any field trips they might be taking. You can register for camp days over the phone, in the office, or by mail. Payment is due at the time of registration, we do not bill for camp days.
 
Does Mascot cover early dismissal days?
If you are signed up for the afternoon program, early dismissal days are included in your regular price. If your student only attends in the mornings, you can purchase the early dismissal day for $24.

My child goes to Hawk Club and holiday camp days are always held somewhere else. Why?
Due to the number of children who attend camp and the schedules of our staff, we must combine in order to provide a twelve-hour day of care. Every year the Community Ed office works with the principals and the facilities department to determine the best possible location for camps. We try to rotate schools, and eventually we get to all of them.

My child's Mascot club is run out of the cafeteria. Why does the school we go to for camp days have a dedicated classroom?
Each campus is different. Although the principals value the Mascot program at their schools, we do end up with conflicts on space. Because our program is licensed, we have strict guidelines to adhere to as far as space. If the school cannot meet those guidelines either by a space in the cafeteria or a classroom, we will not provide a program at that school.

I can understand Mascot being closed for some of the major holidays, but why is there no childcare available the whole week before school starts?
The week before school starts is the time when the Mascot staff close down the summer camps and start up their school year sites. The school needs a chance to get their areas cleaned and ready for the first day of school. The staff is in training and attends meetings held by their principals in preparation for the first day of school.

What are the hours of the Mascot Program?
Mascot hours in the morning are from 6:30 am until 15 minutes prior to school opening; hours after school are from school dismissal until 6:30 pm.
 
I hear that Mascot fills up fast, is this true?
Yes, the Mascot program does fill up very quickly. The best thing to do is make sure you register early, as registrations are taken on a first come-first serve basis. Do not wait until the last minute, as many of our schools will have filled up.
 
Is the Mascot Program located on site or are the children bussed?
The Mascot Program is located on site at each school. Usually, the program is located in the school multi-purpose room, but it can be located in a classroom or portable.

Is there a second child discount?
Yes, every child after the first child in a family gets a 15% discount.
 
How can I pay for Mascot?
Mascot payments are taken online via our website at http://comed.pvschools.net, in the office, or by mail. We accept cash, checks, money orders, Visa and Mastercard.
 
Is Mascot a drop-in program?
Mascot is not a drop-in program. You will select an option for your students, such as 5 afternoons a week, which you stick with for the school year.
 
Can I change the number of days a week that my student attends?
You can change the number of days your student attends Mascot only at the beginning of a billing cycle. Each time you change your option, a $25 change fee is included.
 
My son goes to Liberty, why is his program called Patriot Club and not Mascot?
The name for the entire program is the Mascot Club, each school has it’s own mascot such as the Patriots, and this is how we differentiate between schools.
 
How does billing for Mascot work?
Billing for Mascot is on a monthly basis. Invoices are sent to the family home at the same time each month, due by a certain day. You can pay for more than one month at a time, or the whole year’s tuition.
 
In months like December and March, where the children are out of school for breaks, do I still pay my normal amount for Mascot?
Yes, you still pay your normal amount for Mascot even in a month like December when the students are only in school for two weeks. To figure the monthly cost of the program, we take the daily cost of the program and multiply it by the number of days the students are actually in school. We then take this total and divide it into 9 equal payments, starting in August and ending in April.
 
What will I need to bring with me when I sign up?
If your student is new to the program or has not been active in the program recently, you will need to fill out a blue immunization card. To complete the immunization card, you will need:
            -2 emergency contacts of people who don’t live with you or with each other,
              including names, phone numbers, and complete addresses
            -current immunizations, including the Hep A if your student is under 6
            -doctor’s name, address, and phone number
            -hospital’s name, address, and phone number
 
Because we are state licensed, it is imperative that the blue immunization card be filled out completely and correctly. We will not register your student if any information is missing.

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