Appletree DAY Care #3

10A NCAC 09 .0601 · Violation

Name of Operation: APPLETREE DAY CARE #3 Facility ID: 92001305 Consultant: KIMBERLY GIROUARD Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/24/2025 Number Present: 49 Completed Date: 11/24/2025 Age: From 0 To 10 Total Minutes: 340 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 02:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor Appletree Daycare #3 for compliance with applicable childcare requirements for an annual compliance visit. A full assessment of childcare requirements was conducted today. Your program currently operates with a Five-star license. You received five stars on November 15, 2019, and are licensed for 113 children on first shift. You are approved to care for children 0-12 years of age. Your facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. When I entered the building, I observed your childcare license posted in a visible location. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Ms. Pauline Gremillion, Center Director. You accompanied me throughout my walkthrough of the facility today. My supervisor, Ms. Michele Remington, was also present during today’s visit. I, Kimberly Girouard, Child Care Licensing Consultant, monitored six (6) classrooms, the kitchen, three (3) playgrounds, staff/child ratios, supervision, capacity, group size, staff interaction and discipline, required trainings, criminal background checks, emergency medical care plan, administration of medications, storage of substances and medications, health and safety requirements, adequate and approved space, program records, and permit restrictions. At the time of my visit there were a total of 49 children present between the ages of 0yrs. – 10yrs. years of age. The children were observed engaged in indoor center activities and outdoor play. While inside I observed the children participating in circle time, engaged in art activities, engaged in center play, eating lunch, and going down for naps. Two infant rooms were monitored today. The infants were observed engaged in floor activities, eating breakfast and going down for nap. While conducting my walkthrough of the facility today, I observed the staff engaged in the children’s activities while providing appropriate supervision. I monitored three playgrounds today. Each offered a pleasant age-appropriate outdoor environment. While walking around the pre-school playground I did observe the grey covering on the stairs leading all the way up to the slide separating from the metal underneath. There were also areas where the grey covering was chipping. The green paint on a drum, attached to the preschool play structure, is also peeling/chipping. This facility does provide transportation. One bus, license EEY-1914, is used to transport children to and from school as well as for field trips. The bus was monitored today along with requirements required to be followed when transporting children. No violations associated with transportation were cited today. VERIFICATION OF RECORDS: *Last fire inspection - 7/2/2025 *Sanitation inspection - 6/20/2025 (5 demerits and a superior rating) *I reviewed the NC Secretary of State’s website and observed the owner of this facility, Appletree Day Care, Inc, listed as current and active. * Compliance history as of today’s visit was 97% * EPR plan was revised on December 24, 2024 * Fire drill – 10/30/2025 * Shelter In Place drill - 10/6/2025 * Playground inspection - 11/21/2025 Two violations were cited during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. During today's visit, the window sills and baseboards throughout the facility were found to have peeling and chipping paint. The outdoor space was found to have an unlocked shed that was accessible to the children, and the preschool permanent play structure was found to have peeling paint and the grey covering on the preschool play structure was found to be separating from the metal it was originally sealed to as well as chipping in a variety of areas. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 1329 Application for enrollment did not include all required information. Six children's applications were missing health information stating if the child had any health concerns the facility needed to be aware of and two children were missing emergency medical care information. .0801(a)(1-7) COMPLIANCE HISTORY According to NC General Statute all Child Care programs must maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past 18 months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Any violations documented during visits to your program may have an impact on the total compliance history score and cause your score to drop below the mandated level. Prior to today’s visit, the compliance history score for the center was 97% TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DCDEE has transitioned to a new Rated License process referred to as Pathways to the Stars and is in effect now. During today’s visit, Ms. Gremillion informed me she is considering becoming accredited. Ms. Gremillion does understand that the accreditation process will probably take longer than we have to renew her license. As of right now, all licensed childcare facilities will need to have their new license issued by October 2026. With this in mind Ms. Gremillion is leaning towards using Pathway 2 to renew their childcare license. I showed Ms. Gremillion where she can find information regarding our new QRIS Pathway to the Stars on the DCDEE website. Suggestions shared today: 1) I suggested Ms. Gremillion complete the rule rollout training in Moodle to acquire a good understanding of the new rules and QRIS (Quality Rating And Improvement System). Two violations were cited today. One was corrected during today's visit and one needs to be corrected immediately and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than December 10, 2025 (two days were added to the due date due to the Thanksgiving Holiday and programs being closed). The corrective action letter must describe accurately and in detail and include how and when the violation was corrected and a plan to prevent future violations. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information which could result in an Administrative Action. Your corrective action letter can be emailed to: Kimberly.Girouard@dhhs.nc.gov. Or it can be mailed to PO Box 1184, Wake Forest, NC 27588. Thank you for your time during today’s visit. If you have any questions I can be reached at: Kimberly.Girouard@dhhs.nc.gov 919-602-2582 PO Box 1184 Wake Forest, NC 27588 Kimberly Girouard, DCDEE Licensing Consultant If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times