How Drop-In Works

Operating Days and Hours

The Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our calendar follows a typical school calendar with the exception that the Drop-In Center will offer programs on days off from school. The Drop-In Center will follow all other major school holidays. Camp programs are offered during the summer months, except for August when the Center will be closed. A monthly calendar is available for your convenience.

Enrollment and Fees

The annual enrollment fee for a family enrolling one child is $195. The fee for a family enrolling two or more children is $250. Enrollment fees are non-refundable. The hourly fees are:

Families that have two children attending at the same time will pay the regular hourly rate, plus $4 extra per child per hour ($12 for two children; $16 for three children).

Reservations

Reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance starting at 7 a.m. by calling (847) 234-2799 or by completing a reservation request form at the Center. In order to limit the number of transition periods, reservations are limited to the hour and half hour only.

Child/Teacher Ratios

Parent Handbook

We have prepared a useful handbook, including the Drop-In Center's background, policies, and helpful information, in PDF format for your easy reference.

Camp Programs

Mini Camps are offered on days when school is not in session. Camp Gorton runs for 5 weeks during the summer. Two, 3-day mini camps are offered during the summer, one the week before, and one the week after Camp Gorton.

Drop-In Center Sick Policy

It is important for all of the children in our care to be safe and healthy. Each parent is responsible for assessing their child before bringing them to the Drop-In Center. Once you arrive at the Center, it is a DCFS requirement that you wash your child’s hands upon entering a classroom.

• · Your child has a fever of 100 degrees or more.
• · Your child vomits within the last 24 hours.
• · Your child has had diarrhea.
• · Your child has “goopy” discharge from one or both of their eyes.
• · Your child has an unexplained rash.
• · Your child has a sore throat and swollen glands.
• · Your child is unusually pale, cranky, has a lack of appetite, or confused.
• · Your child has lice or nits.

• · Your child develops a fever.
• · Your child vomits.
• · Your child has diarrhea (watery discharge).
• · Your child has “goopy” discharge from their eye(s).
• · Your child develops an unexplained rash.
• · Your child develops a sore throat and swollen glands.
• · Your child becomes unusually pale, cranky, has a lack of appetite, or is confused.
• · Your child has lice or nits.

The Drop-In Center reserves the right to ask for a physician’s note before allowing your child back into our care.

If your child has any allergies, please email Lisa Spewak at dicdirector@gortoncenter.org with this information.