Info | A Good Start Preschool

Welcome to A Good Start Preschool and Learning Center!

It is the philosophy of “A Good Start (AGS)” to develop the whole child. This development takes place through social skills enhancement, academic learning, daily devotions (nondenominational Christian Bible stories are taught), and creative play time. Reading and writing are very important in any child’s development and at “A Good Start”, children are encouraged to read and write by the teaching of phonics, picture journals, along with sight word memorization and story/word comprehension. Children are also read to several times daily. We sincerely believe, reading is fun.

It is our goal to prepare each child for kindergarten and to help them develop into confident individuals. Children give us what is expected of them (so we have high expectations), however, we only want the best that each child can give. We will provide an atmosphere of love, laughter, and learning, with boundaries that allow each child respect and room to grow.

“A Good Start” is licensed by the Department of Health and complies with all the standards put forth by that department. Children are admitted regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, or religion.

AGS is inspected by the Department of Health and Sanitation, The
Bureau of Child Care, and Missouri Division of Fire Safety periodically throughout the school year. The visits are announced and unannounced.

Admission:

“A Good Start” is licensed to care for children between the ages of 2-11 or throughout the Elementary School years. Classes are filled on a first come basis according to date of enrollment (enrollment is complete when parent(s) visit the facility, fill out an application form, and pay the non-refundable registration fee of $150.00. $100 for each additional child enrolled at the same time.). If you are out of town and can not visit a telephone conversation can be substituted and an application/enrollment form can be emailed in to AGS.

If a parent wishes to hold a space for a future date you will need to complete the Childcare enrollment form and pay a $150.00 registration fee. A start date should be scheduled at that time.

Missouri laws that govern child care providers’ states that within 30 days of enrollment we must receive:

*A medical/health report, that you will receive upon enrollment from AGS, for each toddler or preschool child. This report must be completed and signed by your child’s physician. The parent(s) of school age children must also provide a medical/health report that they can complete indicating their child’s health history along with any other current health issues, restrictions, or any specialized care.

What you will need by the first day of enrollment:

1.Completed application.

2.A copy of up-to-date immunization records.

3.First/Last weeks tuition.

4.Fitted crib sheet and blanket for your child’s nap/rest time.

5.A complete change of clothing (top, bottom, socks, underwear) put child’s initials on all items.

6.If your child is in the 2 & 3 year old class a box of wipes should be brought at the beginning of every month.

7.If you have not paid the $150.00 registration fee it is also due at this time.

8. Once a year (August) or at the time of enrollment a school supply list is given to every child.

Please complete all forms. A space is provided on the enrollment form to list any person/people you would like to pick up your child. This info must also be entered through our preschool APP.

Any AUTHORIZED person will be required to provide a picture I.D. to our staff before being allowed to leave the facility with your child and the staff at A Good Start must be notified through the APP.

What Parents Can Expect From AGS

1.That we treat children, parents, and family with respect.

2.Provide a safe, warm, and educational environment.

3.Provide a variety of educational, social and age appropriate activities.

4.Keep parents informed of any news pertaining to their child’s day, week, and progress in the preschool environment.

5.Keep accurate records.

6.Provide good role models for the children.

7.Foster each child to become safe, independent, and caring.

What is expected of Parents:

1.Tuition payments are made through the Preschool APP or Direct Deposit on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Any return payments will be charged a $50.00 late fee.

2.To contact Mr. Jonathan if there is a problem, no problem is too small. (school # (573)814-2689 and (573)228-3200

3.To drop off children before 10:00 am and to pick up before or by 6:00 pm.

(A $1.00 late fee will be charged for every minute you are late. This late fee must be paid before the child returns to school, the following day.)

4.To make sure that your child always has a complete change of clothing in their cubby, please put your child’s name on every piece of clothing.

5.To not bring your child to school sick. Example: If you child is sent home from preschool or school sick Monday, they cannot return until Wednesday.

6.To always give us a chance to explain any situation. I will also give you the same chance.

7.To bring your child in weather appropriate and safe clothing. Children must wear shoes, only enclosed toe shoes are allowed on the playground. Each child will be expected to go outside daily (weather permitting, please dress appropriately). Please do not ask us to keep your child inside. Please refer to the Recess section for further clarification.

2 & 3 years old

3 days a week (2 &3’s) $195.00 a week

Full time (2 &3’s) $205.00 a week

4 & 5 years old

Note: Children may be required to be potty trained before being allowed to enter the 4 & 5 year old class.

Full time (4 &5’s) $195.00 a week

3 days a week $185.00 a week

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL

Weekly $100.00

Off School Days (Daily Rate) $60.00

Transportation $75.00 a month (Sept – May)

Off School weekly rates $175.00

Tuition Payments may be made by Direct Deposit, or through our Preschool APP.

Payments must be paid bi-weekly or monthly..

The registration fee for new students is $100.00. This is non-refundable. If your child is absent for more than 2 weeks without payment, for any reason, you will need to re-enroll your child into AGS. A two weeks written notice is required prior to your child’s last day. If advanced notice is not received, the last weeks payment will be forfeited and anything owed to AGS will be added to the enrollment fee. If a two weeks notice is provided then the last weeks tuition payment paid at time of enrollment will be applied to your child’s last week.

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS:

Please be advised that payment arrangements may be discussed and a one time per year grace arrangement may be made for one weeks tuition without a late fee being charged. We at AGS, recognize that some events beyond one’s control may occur. Payment arrangements need to be made prior to the date that tuition is due. Please be advised that only one arrangement may be made per family per year.

In case of emergency, pandemic, act of God, or circumstances beyond our control tuition will not be waived or refunded.

UNPAID BALANCES AND EXCESSIVE ABSCENCES:

If your child is absent for more than 2 weeks without payment, for any reason, you will need to re-enroll your child. A two weeks written notice is required prior to your child’s last day. If advanced notice is not received, the last weeks payment will be forfeited and anything owed to AGS will be added to the enrollment fee. If a two weeks notice is provided then the last weeks tuition payment paid at enrollment will be applied to your child’s last week.

RETURNED PAYMENTS:

A $50.00 fee will be charged for any payment declined for insufficient funds.

Naps:

State licensing regulations require preschools to provide rest periods for children in full-time care. We take our daily rest period after lunch (1:00-3:00 pm). Our youngest children nap during this time. However, some of our older children prefer to just rest quietly on their cot. PLEASE BRING IN A CRIB SHEET (this is exactly the right size for our cots) AND A SMALL BLANKET FOR YOUR CHILD IF HE/SHE ATTENDS PRESCHOOL DURING NAP TIME. Your child’s blanket and sheet is to be taken every Friday to be laundered and returned on Monday’s.

Holidays:

Regular tuition payments are due the week of any holidays.
Holidays and snow days are considered when determining the tuition rate. We will not
make any tuition adjustments; the weekly rate will remain the same on holiday weeks.

We are closed for the following holidays:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day and the day after Christmas
Teacher Workday – 2 per calendar year (Spring & Fall) which are posted on the school calendar of events.

(Should the holiday fall on a weekend, the preschool be closed the Friday preceding or the
following Monday). The Christmas week off days will be determined on a year-to-year basis.
Please see the calendar of events on the parent board for up-to-date information.

Absences:

There will not be a reduction in tuition because of
absences or vacations. Parents are responsible for tuition fees because of the space we
have reserved for your child, whether they attend or not.
There are no unpaid weeks of vacation. If your child goes on vacation, their tuition
payment should continue to be paid as scheduled. If tuition payments are not paid on
time, then a late fee will be applied.

Unpaid Balances:

Withdrawl

Snow Days:

AGS always plans to be open on snow days, however there are rare times when we feel we must close. In the event that the roads are hazardous we may open at a later time when roads have been cleared (snow time will be 9 am) or we may close at an early time based on the weather (parents will be notified at least 2 hours in advance if this occurs). In the event that we have to open late, close early, or have to cancel school for a day(s), there will be no refunds or applying the day(s) to future payments. Please be advised that the tuition is set up in a standard, UNCHANGING WEEKLY RATE. Holidays and snow days are considered when determining the weekly tuition rate. We will not make any tuition adjustments, your weekly rate will remain the same.

Attendance Records:

Mealtime:

Outdoor Recess/Toys:

It is a state licensing requirement and policy of AGS that all children will spend some time outside everyday (weather permitting). Please dress your child appropriately. If your child has a medical condition that is susceptible to hot or cold weather, please relay this to the teacher (appropriate doctor documentation must be provided). Please do not ask us to keep your child inside. If your child is healthy enough to attend AGS then they are considered healthy enough to be outside.

Toys: Toys are not to be brought to school except for scheduled Show and Tell. Do not bring toys that will not fit into your child cubby. Do not bring toys that have multiple pieces or toys that are expensive. AGS is not responsible for lost or stolen toys.

Discipline Policy:

Verbal instruction and correction is our first form of discipline. Verbal expectations are taught and modeled by teachers and older students. When positive verbal instruction is not effective, redirection is often used, or separation – removing the child from a particular problem or conflict. The child may also be sent to a place of reflection, or a thinking chair. The child may also be separated from the class for a particular time and given another task such as building blocks, coloring, or spending time in another classroom.

We reserve the right to dismiss any child immediately who is a danger to himself/herself, the other students or teachers. We reserve the right to dismiss any child whose parents are a danger to the preschool, staff, or other students also or if a parents is acting inappropriately. What’s perceived as appropriate or inappropriate will be determined by the director/owner or the person in charge at that time.

Termination:

Health Policy:

We will be following community, and CDC guidelines in cases concerning Covid-19 infection and exposure.

When Children Should Not Be Brought To School:

Children should not be brought to school if any of the following symptoms have been occurring in a 24 hour period:

Fever or temperature of 99 or above
Rash (an unexplained rash of any kind)
Sore throat (strep throat, etc.)
Vomiting or diarrhea
Eye discharge, bloodshot eyes, or eyes swollen not from eye injury (in the case of pink eye, or bloodshot eye a doctors statement, medication and 48 hour period with prescribed medicine is required).
Ear discharge or earache
Severe Coughing-if the child gets red or blue in the face and/or has a high-pitched croup of whoop sound after coughing
Severe Allergy Symptoms
Grey or white stool
Unusually dark, tea colored urine
Difficult or rapid breathing
Severe itching of body or scalp, this may be signs of lice or scabies
Nits or visible insects

Each parent is to message Admin in the App if their child contacts any of the following listed or non-listed communicable diseases: Covid-19, measles, chicken pox, lice, ringworms, strep throat, hepatitis, scabies, thrush, conjunctivitis, impetigo, stomatitis, scarlet fever, etc.

If any of the above symptoms occur, you will be notified to pick your child up (as soon as possible). The child who was sent home because of fever, diarrhea, vomiting, pink eye, etc. should not return to preschool the following day. If your child is sent home Tuesday they cannot return until Thursday, only if they are well. If your child exhibits behavior that is not normal for him/her such as increased irritability, fatigue, or any other signs of discomfort, we will contact you to discuss the situation. We also may require you to pick the child up.

Please be advised that if your child is well enough to be at school, they are considered healthy enough to participate in all activities including being outside.

Medication Authorization:

A Good Start shall administer only oral medication to children when requested by the child’s physician. All prescription medication shall be brought in their original, childproof container with the name of the medication, the name of the person for whom it was prescribed, the name of the physician, and the specific instructions for administering the medication. No medication shall be transferred between containers. .

Over-the-counter oral medications shall be administered with written authorization from the child’s physician. Again, medication shall be in its original container with the child’s name on it. The prescribing physician shall give written instructions as to the type of medication being administered, for how long and the correct dosage for the age/weight of the child. All medication is to be stored in the front office or in the staff refrigerator. AGS WILL NOT ADMINISTER FEVER REDUCING MEDICATIONS OR THOSE MEDICATIONS WITH A FEVER REDUCER AS ONE OF THE LISTED INGREDIENTS. All medications administered will be oral in the form of liquid or pill/tablet.

Map and Directions:

A Good Start Policies & Guidelines

Welcome to A Good Start Preschool and Learning Center!