Student Handbook

Tuition, Fees and Refund Policies

As a traditional language school (Heritage School) recognized by the California Department of Education, the school offers three options for Chinese classes for TK to 8th grade: full-time Chinese classes (five days per week), part-time Chinese classes: four days a week or three days a week (6th grade & up). We also have middle school tutoring (6th grade & up) and a variety of extracurricular courses.

TK - Grade 5

• Full-time classes five days per week, part-time classes four days per week
• Students are placed in Chinese, English, and Math classes upon evaluation of skill levels.
• The school offers the following programs:
• Chinese: students are placed in traditional or simplified Chinese classes based on preference (both are provided)
• Mathematics: Strengthening of computing skills, Common Core Standards in English application problems and Singapore Math.
• English: Listening and speaking practice, vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, compositions and essays (for Grade 2 and up)
• Traditional Language and Culture: Poetry, the Three Character Classic, Standards for Being a Good Student and Child, Chinese historical stories, idioms and proverbs, the Analects of Confucius, and Chinese folk songs.
• Other curriculum: JELIC, dance, singing, recorder, drum band, lion dance, arts and crafts, handmade crafts etc.
• Music ensemble: According to the instruments the students can play, we will arrange them as accompaniment in the songs we learn, interactive group activities, little percussion group…etc
• Standardized testing practice: CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress), advanced sixth grade testing (middle school math diagnostic tests)
• Electives: English writing class (second grade and up, in small class settings), tennis, MPM, art, chess, LEGO/Robotics, individual piano classes etc.
  • The sessions for these classes last 8 weeks and fees are collected separately.
  • There is no refund at the end of the session for dropouts or absences.

  Middle School (Grade 6-Grade 8)

  • Full-time classes 5 days per week, part-time Chinese classes: 4 days a week or 3 days a week
    • Chinese: simplified and traditional Chinese (“華語” textbook, school textbook), compositions and essays, Chinese cultural studies, idioms practice.
    • Math: Algebra, Algebra1, Geometry, common core word problems.
    • English: Grammar, reading comprehension, composition writing and literature.
    • One-on-one assistance with school work and homework: Bring any questions from school (classwork, homework) to ask one-on-one.
    • Standardized testing practice: CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress)
  • Electives: English writing class (2nd grade and up, in small class settings), tennis, MPM, art, chess, LEGO/Robotics, private piano lessons, private clarinet lessons etc.
    • The sessions for these classes last 8 weeks and fees are collected separately.
    • There is no refund at the end of the session for dropouts or absences.
  • English Tutoring Class
    

    After finishing school homework, students can attend a session for English language assistance, where English classroom exercises and homework are taught one-on-one, as well as mock English school exams.

  Class Options and Tuition:

  • Full-time classes (TK-8, five days per week):
    • Tuition for students who arrive at 12 p.m. is $800.00 per session (4 weeks, includes materials).
      
    • For those who arrive after 2:00 p.m., tuition is $680.00 per session (4 weeks, includes materials and one early dismissal day per week).
  • Part-time classes (TK-8, four days per week):
    • An option of four days in the week (the selected days must remain constant throughout a session)
    • Tuition for those who arrive after 2:00 p.m. is $610.00 per session (4 weeks, includes materials and one early dismissal day per week).
      ※ If during a last minute situation, your child needs to attend an extra full day of classes (regular one afternoon of classes), the fee is $50/day.
  • Part-time classes (6th grade & up, three days per week):
    • An option of three days in the week (the selected days must remain constant throughout a session)
    • Tuition for those who arrive after 2:00 p.m. is $530.00 per session (4 weeks, includes materials and one early dismissal day per week).
      ※ If during a last minute situation, your child needs to attend an extra full day of classes (regular one afternoon of classes), the fee is $50/day.
  • English tutoring class:
    • For those who arrive after 2:00 p.m., tuition is $400.00 per session (4 weeks).
• If siblings attend the school simultaneously, there will be a $60 discount for the tuition if both attend five days a week, or $30 discount for the tuition if both attend four days a week or five/four days a week.
• If at any time the number of days that your child can attend Happy Childhood changes, please inform our office one section before (4 weeks) in order to arrange administration and transportation.
• No tuition fee will be collected for the two weeks break over Christmas.

Deposit and Registration Fee:

• Students must be at least 4 years and 9 months old to enroll in the school.
• A prepayment of the 10th session tuition ($680/$610/$530) is required as a deposit at the time of registration. Those who do not comply with our policies as stated in this handbook will not receive a return of their deposits.
• The registration fee (non-refundable) for new students is $100.00 per student. The student’s sibling(s) receive a 20% discount on the registration fee.
• Parents must pre-pay the tuition fee for the 10th session of the school year. If they do not abide by the fee policies listed in this handbook, the deposit will be used for compensation
• For new students registering for 2025-2026, if parents register before 5/31, the registration fee will be waived.

Daycare Fees:

• February/Spring Breaks and Staff Learning Days: The center provides morning day care starting at 8:30 a.m. with afternoon classes following the regular schedule. There must be a minimum of 5 students signed up for any childcare services. Day care fees are as follows: full day (8:30-2:30) $50.00, morning (before 12:00) $30.00, afternoon (12:01-2:30) $30.00. Those who arrive after 2:00 will not receive additional charge.
• Parent/Teacher Conference Week early dismissal: A flat fee of $10 a day will be collected.
• Childcare: Full day (8:30-6:00) $70.00, morning (before 12:00) $40.00, afternoon (12:01-6:00) $50.00. There must be a minimum of 5 students signed up for any childcare services.

Late Fees and Deposit

• The center’s regular hours of operation are from 3 to 6 p.m. There is $1 per minute late charge for students picked up after 6:30 p.m. If a student needs to stay until 6:30 p.m. regularly, an extra $80 should be included with the tuition payment each session. The $1 per minute late charge also applies to students who are not picked up by 6:45 p.m.
• Tuition payments are due the second Friday of each session. Payments of more than 3 days overdue will have an additional fee of $60 late charge.
• If a student will be absent, there will be no refund.
• A four-week notice is required when a student does not plan to attend the next session. In order for the session deposit to be refunded in full, we require that the notice be given on time.

Transportation

• Regardless if the student attends four-day or five-day classes, transportation fees cover a period of 20 days (staff learning days, national holidays, and absences are not refundable). For three-day classes, there will be an additional $3 for each student. Our drivers will pick up students according to the regular school dismissal time. Fares will vary based on the distance of the school to our center, as well as the number of students being transported.
• No fees will be collected for Thanksgiving, winter, Mid-Year, or Spring Recess. If English schools have class during the Thanksgiving Recess, then fees will be charged for the number of class days.
• Transportation fees are for students who attend the school four days a week, it cover a period of 16 days (including Staff Learning Days, national holidays, and absences). Our drivers will pick up students according to the regular school dismissal time. Fares will vary based on the distance and the amount of transported students.
• For parents who usually arrange transportation themselves: If you need us to arrange one-day transportation, the fare is an additional $3 for one student (space permitting). For one-week transportation, the fare is an additional $1 for one student (space permitting).
• If your child has other extracurricular activities, please arrange their own transportation.
• Parents, please notify the center and driver when your child is going to be absent.
• We encourage parents to arrange their own transportation.

2025-2026 Calendar

*Fall Semester: 8/18 - 12/19/2025
*Spring Semester: 1/5 - 6/5/2026

Holidays

(Dates are based on Cupertino School District’s Calendar; no day care service is provided for the legal holidays listed below)

1. Independence Day (July 4, 2025)
2. Labor Day (Sept. 1, 2025)
3. Thanksgiving (Nov. 27, 28, 2025)
4. Christmas Break (Dec. 22, 2025 - Jan. 2, 2026)
5. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19, 2026)
6. Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16, 2026)
7. Memorial Day (May 25, 2026)

Technology Rules

Before entering the classroom, students need to turn in their phones and smart watches to the teacher for safekeeping

• NEVER change computer default settings
• Only log in to your own account. Do NOT log in to other students’ accounts.
• During homework time, computers can only be used for research and homework. Not for playing games, watching videos, or listening to music.
• During free time, computers cannot be used to go on inappropriate websites or used for cyberbullying. Posting personal reviews or comments is not allowed.
• At most, only two students may share a computer at once.
• Please make sure your hands are clean before using the computers. Food is prohibited in the computer room to keep the classroom clean. When you are finished using the computer, clean the tables and push in the chairs. Failure to follow the rules above will result in the student not being able to use the computers

Guidelines for Sharing School Videos

Please respect the privacy of the children and other families. Videos shared by the school are for private family viewing only. Do not publicly repost, upload to social media platforms (such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc.), or share with unauthorized third parties. To protect students’ image rights and privacy, we kindly ask parents to help us ensure the safety and privacy of all children. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

Kendo and Dance Class Guidelines

Students participating in Kendo or Dance classes must follow the instructor's rules. If a student misbehaves or fails to comply with the teacher’s safety instructions, they will not be allowed to continue in the class and will be held responsible for any resulting incidents.

Pets at School Rules

• Cats and dogs must have their rabies vaccine and owners must have a record that is not yet expired as proof.
• Owners must be present with their pets at school.
• Pets may not run around school.
• Before bringing pets, the office staff must approve.

Emergency and Administering of Medication

• In the event of a health emergency, the center will notify parents immediately; however, if the parents cannot be contacted, the center will follow state regulations and call 911 if needed.
• Students with high fever, diarrhea, vomiting or any other infectious disease must not come to the center for health and safety reasons and as in consideration of other students and staff. The fastest way for your child to get well is to rest. Parents please notify the center and driver when your child is going to be absent.
• If student contact a communicative disease, parents must notify Happy Childhood Education Center so that any exposure notice may be posted.
• It is not our practice to dispense medication to students. However, if a parent feels it is necessary, a written consent is required and physician must have prescribed the medications. We will monitor when your child takes his/her medication.

Center Safety

• The center strives to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for all students. In case of improper conduct by any student, the center will try to resolve the situation by counseling with the student and/or parents. If the misconduct persists, the center reserves the right to refuse admission for such students; a two- week notice will be given to parents regarding the dismissal prior to the next session.
• For the safety of your child and legal responsibility of the center, it is imperative that parents and drivers sign in and out on the attendance sheets each day.
• Please notify the center in advance if someone else other than the assigned driver or parent is transporting your child.
• Toys and dangerous items may not be brought to the center.
Registration Form