St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic School

AAC R9-5-603.B. B. Except as provided in subsection (D) a licensee shall ensure that an outdoor activity area: 1. Is enclosed by a fence: a. A minimum of 4 feet high; b. Secured to the ground; and c. With either vertical or horizontal open spaces on the fence or gate that do not exceed 4.0 inches; 2. Is maintained free from hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and broken toys; and 3. Has gates that are kept closed while an enrolled child is in the outdoor activity area

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children in the outdoor activity area: *There was a broken hula hoop with cracked plastic; and *The pink little tikes car was missing the steering wheel, exposing sharp plastic.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.17. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 17. A staff member: a. Prepares a weekly menu at least one week in advance, b. Includes on the menu the specific foods to be served on each day, c. Dates each menu, d. Posts each menu at least one day before the first meal on the menu will be served, and e. Writes food substitutions on a posted menu no later than the morning of the day of meal service;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the menu lacked the specific type of cheese and yogurt served to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-306.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a dated attendance form containing an enrolled child’s name with the time of each admission and release of the enrolled child. 1. Except as provided in subsection (A)(2), a licensee shall ensure that the attendance form is signed with at least a first initial of an individual’s first name and the individual’s last name by each enrolled child’s parent or individual designated by the enrolled child’s parent, each time the enrolled child is admitted or released. 2. An electronic fingerprint verification or an electronic signature may be used in place of a signature of the enrolled child’s parent or designated individual to admit or release the enrolled child. 3. If an electronic signature is used to admit or release the enrolled child, the licensee shall adopt policies and procedures to ensure that the individual whose signature the electronic or digital method of identification represents is accountable for the use of the electronic or digital method; 4. A licensee shall develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that the identity of an individual is known to the staff member or is verified with picture identification before releasing an enrolled child to the individual. 5. A licensee shall not release the enrolled child to an individual other than the enrolled child’s parent or other individual designated in writing by the enrolled child’s parent except when the enrolled child’s parent is unable to collect the enrolled child and authorizes the licensee by telephone to release the enrolled child to an individual not so designated. a. The licensee shall verify the telephone authorization using a means of verification that has been agreed upon between the licensee and the enrolled child’s parent at the time of enrollment. b. The licensee shall document the means of verification in subsection (A)(5)(a) on the enrolled child’s Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card. 6. A licensee shall not permit the self-admission or self-release of an enrolled child unless the enrolled child is of school age and the licensee has obtained and verified written permission from the enrolled child’s parent. 7. A licensee shall maintain the attendance form on facility premises for 12 months after the date of attendance.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, 5 child admission and release records reviewed lacked the following: Child #1: A release time and signature on 5/2/25 and 5/7/25; Child #2: A release time and signature on 5/2/25 and an admission time and signature on 5/7/25; Child #3: A release time and signature on 5/2/25; and Child #4: A release time and signature on 5/7/25.”

AAC R9-5-301.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a facility director: 1. Designates, in writing, an individual who meets the requirements of R9-5-401(2) to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility; 2. Supervises or assigns a teacher-caregiver to supervise each staff member who does not meet the qualifications of R9-5-401(3); 3. Prepares a dated attendance record for each day and ensures that each staff member documents on the attendance record the time of each arrival and departure of the staff member; and 4. Maintains on the facility premises, the dated attendance record required in subsection (B)(3) for 12 months after the date on the attendance record.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, 5 staff attendance records reviewed lacked the following: Staff #1: A departure time and signature on 5/14/25, 5/8/25, 5/7/25, and 5/6; Staff #2 and Staff #3: A departure time and signature on 5/13/25, 5/12/25, and 5/6/25; Staff #4: A departure time and signature on 5/8/25; and Staff #5: A departure time and signature on 5/7/25.”

AAC R9-5-603.C. C. Except as provided in subsection (D), a licensee shall ensure that an outdoor activity area:1. Is enclosed by a fence: a. A minimum of 4 feet high; b. Secured to the ground; and c. With either vertical or horizontal open spaces on the fence or gate that do not exceed 4.0 inches; 2. Is maintained free from hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and broken toys; and 3. Has gates that are kept closed while an enrolled child is in the outdoor activity area

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1’s observations, there was a small 2 inch gap down the seam between the artificial turf and rubberized surface area on the outdoor main playground.”

AAC R9-5-203.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that each staff member submits to the licensee a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card each time the fingerprint clearance card is issued or renewed every six years.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation, staff interview, and the Compliance Officers' observations, Staff #1 (start date 2/13/2023) lacked a valid fingerprint clearance card from 6/19/2024 to 7/1/2024. The staff member stated she had attempted to apply for the card prior to expiration, but the DPS website would not let her proceed. She received the new fingerprint clearance card on 7/1/2024. Staff #1 was not onsite at the facility while the card was expired.”

AAC R9-5-303.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that the licensed capacity of each indoor activity area or room is posted in that activity area or room.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, the capacity was not posted in the Pre 3 Room.”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, there were 18 children present in the Pre 2 Room but the attendance roster had 22 children recorded as present.”

AAC R9-5-302. A. A licensee shall prepare a written statement of child care services provided by the licensee that includes the following:1. A description of the facility’s child care services classifications in R9-5-204; 2. Hours of operation; 3. The facility’s street address, city, state, zip code, mailing address, and telephone number; 4. Child enrollment and disenrollment procedures; 5. Charges, fees, and payment requirements for child care services; 6. Child admission and release requirements; 7. Age-appropriate discipline guidelines and methods; 8. Transportation procedures; 9. Field trip requirements and procedures; 10. Responsibilities and participation of parents in facility activities; 11. A general description of activities and programs; 12. A description of the liability insurance required by R9-5-308 that is carried by the licensee and a statement that documentation of the liability insurance coverage is available for review on the facility premises; 13. Medication administration procedures; 14. Accident and emergency procedures; 15. A notice stating inspection reports are available on-site; 16. A provision stating that the facility is regulated by the Arizona Department of Health Services including the Department’s local street address, city, state, zip code, and local telephone number; 17. The procedures for notifying a parent at least 48 hours before a pesticide is applied on a facility’s premises; and 18. A statement that a parent has access to the areas on facility premises where the parent’s enrolled child is receiving child care services. B. A licensee shall provide a copy of the written statement of child care services: 1. To the Department: a. Before the facility receives a license, and b. Every 12 months after the date of the license as required by A.R.S. § 36-883.01; and 2. To a parent when the parent requests a copy of the written statement of child care services.

“Findings: During a review of the Facility's Statement of Child Care Services and the Compliance Officer #2’s observations, the Statement of Services did not include 3 of the 18 required elements of Child Care Services below: ** Field trip requirements and procedures. ** A notice stating inspection reports are available on-site. ** A description of the liability insurance required by R9-5-308 that is carried by the licensee and a statement that documentation of the liability insurance coverage is available for review on the facility premises.”