Science Sprouts Discovery School (Southwest Springfield)
3447 W Farm Road 168
Springfield, MO 65807
417-496-8121
Serves children 1 – 6 years of age
View Handbook
Science Sprouts at the Discovery Center Preschool (Downtown Springfield)
438 E St Louis St
Springfield, MO 65806
Serves children 4 – 6 years of age
View Handbook
Overview
Mission
To inspire curiosity and a life-long love of learning through memorable and engaging hands-on preschool experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education
Vision
To deliver a world-class educational experience through cutting edge science for the next generation of world changers
Practices
We value quality, creativity, inspiration, experiences, people, learning, progress, caring and an open culture.
Our leaders have a proven history of responding quickly and making thoughtful decisions confidently based on facts.
Science Sprouts Discovery School programs will deliver engaging, play and inquiry-based, academically rigorous educational experiences based on the individual needs, interests, and strengths of each student. We will foster creativity, innovation,
wonder, joy, passion, and positivity in an affirming, safe, and just environment that strengthens character, leadership, responsibility, compassion and service alongside academic growth.
We practice problem solving, critical thinking, individuality, and failure in a way that gives children the safety to take academic risks and gain the confidence needed to obtain higher levels of achievement and develop their unique gifts.
We commit to loving our students and developing their talents.
Freedom of Inquiry
It is essential to the mission of the school for students and teachers to have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts that might conflict with certain political, religious, or ideological beliefs without being targeted for repression. Conflicting viewpoints will not only be allowable but encouraged when maintained in a respectful, emotionally safe atmosphere at age-appropriate levels of conversation. We will ask our staff and students to do their best to keep conversations strictly to scholarly viewpoints using a research-based approach. Teachers will be trained to carefully avoid controversial matters that are unrelated to the subject discussed or are best addressed at home. Thoughtful and respectful conversations on differing opinions will be allowable when contained within our school values of quality, creativity, inspiration, experience, people, learning, progress, caring and an open culture.
Commitment to continuous improvement
Science Sprouts Discovery School is built on the foundation of proven efficient and effective abilities of the Discovery Center to adapt and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. We ask all constituents including staff, students, parents, and members of the board to commit with a genuine desire to learn, succeed, and innovate. In our open culture when new methods or plans are discovered that will help us meet a clearly defined goal or objective, we commit to staying flexible and adapting together for the success of our students.
Admissions Policies and Procedures
- Submit application for admission
- Perform meet and greet with assessment
- Complete enrollment packet
- New student is accepted for enrollment
- Payment of one-time $100 enrollment fee
- Space is reserved once enrollment contract has been completed
Criteria for Admission
Children ages 1-6 (at Science Sprouts Discovery School) and children ages 4-6 (at Science Sprouts Discovery School at the Discovery Center) who thrive in flexible environments with mixed ages and abilities, enjoy an intellectual play-based environment, and can work independently with few behavior challenges are ideal candidates.
Immunization records are required for admission.
We reserve the right to refuse admission or re-enrollment to any student.
Enrollment Process
Families can apply at www.discoverycenter.org/preschool. Parents/guardians will be required to share physical and behavioral health information, including any allergies, and provide two additional emergency contact phone numbers and addresses. Enrollment forms, medical forms, and immunization records are required prior to the first day of care. You will be emailed directions on how to complete the enrollment packet.
Waiting List
All incoming students will be placed on a waiting list until at least 5 or more students complete the enrollment process, at which time a classroom will be open to no more than 10 students. If more than 10 students are accepted for admission, students 11-15 will remain on the waiting list until a second classroom of 10 students can be opened and so on. All students on the waiting list who do not receive a spot in a classroom will be refunded their enrollment fees.
Financial Responsibilities
New student enrollment fee
- One-time fee: $100
Tuition (based on chosen schedule):
Potty Trained (3 years old+):
- Full Time: $200 weekly ($867 monthly payment)
- Part Time: $40 per day
Diapered / Potty Training (1-3 years old):
- Full Time: $250 weekly ($1,083 monthly payment)
- Part Time: $50 per day
Thirty days’ notice must be given in writing for a student withdrawing from the program before billing will stop. Because costs of the program do not change based on daily attendance, we are unable to issue refunds on the days your child is absent.
Instructional Tools & Programs of Study
Instructional tools will be based on Missouri Early Learning standards to meet the individual academic needs and interests of each student and particular stages of brain development for the age of the student. These tools will include but are not limited to project-based hands-on learning, use of technology, songs, stories, creative imaginative play, guided discovery, kinesthetic (linking the learning to the senses), exploration, field trips, guest speakers, expression of concepts through artwork, plenty of time for kids to ask questions, and lots of body movement. We will place no limits on how fast a student can learn or how much time they need to learn hard things. We will utilize the rich network of connections the Discovery Center has fostered for over 20 years to engage appropriate partnerships with organizations such as NASA and the Smithsonian to facilitate instruction for the age, needs, and abilities of each student.
School Calendar
The Science Sprouts Discovery School acts as a childcare center, and will only be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The Science Sprouts Discovery School at the Discovery Center is only for preschool students and has a different school calendar (see handbook).
Summer of Science 2024
Learning and care will continue through the preschools; however, and students enrolled in a Discovery School program get deeply discounted rates to participate in all Summer of Science Camps.
Hours of Operation
The Science Sprouts Discovery School will be open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The Science Sprouts Discovery School at the Discovery Center will be open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Parents should drop off and pick up according to their chosen schedule.
Car tags will be distributed for pick up. Each adult who has permission to pick up your child must be listed in the enrollment packet. Anyone who does not have a Discovery School approved car tag will need to show a government-issued photo ID before picking up a child. If you need someone else to pick up your child, it is your responsibility to edit your child’s registration profile with the name and contact information of the approved pick-up person. In case of emergency, contact the Discovery School or Science Sprouts staff by phone to add someone to the pick-up list.
Students who are not picked up by their chosen schedule time will be billed $1 for every 1 minute of extended care provided by our staff.