Pre-licensing visit·August 20, 2025

On August 20, 2025 at approximately 9:00am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Catrina Quimbo conducted a scheduled, pre-licensing visit to Happy Hall Schools-Ortega to ensure that health, safety and personal rights as required by Title 22 and Health and Safety Regulations governing California Child Care Centers will be met. LPA met with director of learning success, Michelle "Shelley" Marquez, and facility director, Brigette Gauthier, and explained the purpose of the visit. This is a change of ownership application. Facility is currently licensed as a combination center for a preschool component under facility number 414001724 and school component under facility number 414001725. Applicant requested for a total capacity of 121 children: 21 preschoolers (2-5 years old) and 100 school age children (TK-5th grade). Initial fire clearance was received July 11, 2024 for 121 children total (21 preschoolers and 100 school age). An updated fire clearance was received August 20, 2025 for 121 children total (21 preschoolers and 100 school age). The program operates at Ortega Elementary School. The program will operate Monday through Friday. Preschool program hours of operation are 7:00am to 6:00pm. School age program hours include a morning and afternoon session from 7:00am to bell schedule and bell schedule to 6:00pm. For the preschool program, LPA toured and measured the on-limit areas and classroom. For the school age program, per Health & Safety Code sections 1589.806(a), (a)(1), (1)(2) and (d) this program is exempt from square footage and toilet requirements. LPA inspected and toured school age program at the facility. The preschool program will operate in one classroom (E1) and one outdoor area. The school age program will operate in 4 classrooms (E2, E3, E4 and P39), black tops and two kindergarten play structures. (Continue Report on Page 2...) (Continued, Page 2...) Preschool Classroom measurements are: The indoor preschool measurements contain a total of 758.93 square feet which will accommodate the request for 21 preschoolers. School age Indoor areas: No measurements were taken for the school age program. The indoor areas for school age children include E2 (Tk to Kindergarten), E3 (1st grade to 2nd grade), E4 (3rd grade to 5th grade), and P39 (3rd grade to 5th grade). LPA observed all indoor activity space to be complete with age appropriate furniture, including tables, chairs, bookshelves, and other activity supplies for children. LPA informed director that staff are required to maintain direct visual supervision of the children at all times during indoor and outdoor activities. LPA observed the classrooms to be clean, safety, sanitary and in good repair. Floors of rooms have a surface that is clean. LPA observed rugs and carpet in classrooms. Per director, floors are cleaned daily and carpets are vacuumed daily. A comfortable temperature for children is being maintained. Furniture and equipment were observed to also be age appropriate and in good condition. There are soft play materials that are laundered bi-weekly. Per director, toys and materials are also sanitized bi-weekly while tables and chairs are sanitized daily. Preschool children sleep in the preschool classroom on floor mats. Sheets and blankets are provided by children's families that are stored in the classroom. Per director, sheets and blankets are sent home weekly for laundering. Preschool Outdoor measurements are : The preschool outdoor measurements contain a total of 2,056.92 square feet which will accommodate the request for 21 preschoolers. School age Outdoor areas: No measurements were taken for the school age program. The outdoor area for school age children are exclusive and include the black top and the two kindergarten play structures on the black top. LPA observed kindergarten play structures to be labeled for children ages 5 years to 12 years old. Per director, TK children are not authorized to utilize kindergarten play structures. (Continue Report on Page 3...) (Continued, Page 3...) The preschool program's outdoor area is fenced and enclosed, separate from the school age program's outdoor area. The school age program's outdoor area is also fully fenced and enclosed. There are a variety of outdoor toys, materials and equipment that are in good condition. There are play structures in the preschool program and school age program areas that have resilient padding underneath. School age program play structures sustain the weight of an adult. LPA did not observe any pools, spas, or bodies of water on site in either outdoor areas. Preschool program sinks and toilets: There are two restrooms in the preschool classroom for children's use. There are 2 toilets and 2 sinks available for children's use. Toilet and sink ratio are sufficient to accommodate applicant's request for 21 preschool children. LPA observed children's restroom to be in working condition, equipped with age appropriate toileting equipment. There is a diaper changing table that is within arm's reach to a sink. Changing table is equipped with moisture resistant materials and with sides of the changing table that are at least 3" high. Diapers and wipes are provided by children's families and are stored appropriately, labeled with children's names. LPA observed garbage bins with tight fitting lids throughout facility. School age sinks and toilets: Toilet to sink ratio was not counted for the school age program. LPA observed classrooms to have single, co-ed restrooms with doors. Restrooms allow for individual privacy. LPA observed restrooms to be in working condition. Sinks accessible to children do not provide hot water. Facility is equipped with multiple first aid kits, emergency backpacks with emergency supplies, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. LPA tested a carbon monoxide detector during today's visit, which was observed to be working. When medications are on site, they will be stored in the classroom, in a locked box, in a high shelf. Licensing documents are posted and made available for review. Children will be signed in and out of program with electronic signatures via an electronic application. Per director, each authorized representative has a unique pin number that acts as the individual's signature. School age children are signed in by program's staff and signed out by their authorized representatives. (Continue Report on Page 4...) (Continued, Page 4...) This facility plans to provide Incidental Medical Services \342\200\223 IMS. For IMS information, see PIN 22-02-CCP. A Plan of Operation that includes IMS must be submitted to the Department. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and link to publication: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA, available at: http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm Drinking water is available with children's individual water bottles that will be labeled with their individual names. There will also be a water jug on site (refilled through accessible sinks), if needed. For child care center licenses issued after July 1, 2022, the licensee shall test their water for lead within 180 days of licensure pursuant to Written Directives section 101700 (PIN 21-21.1-CCP). Director will submit a change of ownership waiver request to utilize previous licensee's lead testing results. A food service will be provided by the program that includes snacks only. Children's families bring lunch for their children daily. LPA reviewed with facility representative, the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained at The Facility, for child\342\200\231s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted. Facility representative was reminded that all adults 18 and over responsible for administration or direct supervision of staff, persons who provides care and supervision to children, and staff who have contact with children, including employees and volunteers, except as specified in Health and Safety Code section 1596.871, must obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption, or transfer their existing clearance or exemption, prior to initial presence in a Child Care Center. A civil penalty of $100.00 minimum/day for a maximum of 5-days or, if the penalty is for a repeat violation, for a maximum of 30-days per person will be assessed if this regulation is violated. Facility representative was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org site, a consumer education website that helps families obtain child care by connecting them to child care providers and Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout California. (Continue Report on Page 5...) (Continued, Page 5...) Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) regularly sends information to licensed facilities, providers, and stakeholders by way of Provider Information Notices (PIN), Program Quarterly Update Newsletters and other important information communication platforms. To receive important licensed related information to licensed facilities, visit the CCLD Important Information website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/subscribe and select the Child Care option to receive email communication A license for 121 children: 21 preschoolers (2-5 years old) and 100 school age children (TK-5th grade) will be approved when Centralized Application Bureau (CAB) has provided final approval. Facility numbers 414001724 and 414001725 will permanently close per CAB's final approval. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the facility representative, Brigette Gauthier.