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, academically rigorous educational experiences based on the individual needs 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.
Policies
While COVID-19 is changing how we learn, teach and come together as a community, Science Sprouts Discovery School will remain a welcoming, fun, engaging, creative, inspiring and safe place for kids to learn and grow.
With over 100,000 hours in COVID-care, we’ve pioneered best practices on keeping people safe. We are committed to the health and safety of our community and will follow recommendations from the scientific community.
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, safe emotional 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 will be 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
- Complete enrollment packet
- New student is accepted for enrollment
- Space is reserved once enrollment contract has been completed
Criteria for Admission
Potty trained students ages 3-6 who thrive in flexible environments with mixed ages and abilities, enjoy a challenging intellectual environment, and can work independently with few behavior challenges are ideal candidates.
Immunization records are required for admission.
Because of the current climate of COVID-19, it is recommended for all students to have reliable internet access and an internet connected device to work on from home.
We reserve the right to refuse admission or re-enrollment to any student.
Enrollment Process
Tuition is $200 per week with an income based sliding scale. It is our goal to offer a diverse socioeconomic community with a sliding tuition scale. Families can register 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. 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
Application fee – Free
New student enrollment fee – one time fee $100
Tuition – $200/week, can be billed weekly or monthly.
30 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.
Academic Calendar
Fall 2020
October 2020 – First Day of Semester 1
November 26, 27 – Thanksgiving Break
December 24,25 – Winter Break
Parent / Teacher Conferences – TBA
Spring 2021
January 1 – New Years Day (no school)
January 4 – First Day of Semester 2
January 18 – Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. (no school, students and families will be invited to march together with our community)
May 21 – Last Day of School Year
Summer 2021
TBD
Summer of Science 2021
Discovery School students may wish to participate in Summer of Science Camps at the Center. Visit www.discoverycenter.org/camps for more information.
Hours of Operation
Students may be dropped off at the main entrance starting at 7:00 am and picked up anytime before 6:00 pm.
As a licensed facility we must meet licensing requirements and should you have any questions, a rulebook will be provided for you to read and review.
Science Sprouts Discovery School reserves the right to update and/or amend these policies at any time and will provide a revised copy to parents should that occur.
