Bright Start of Colorado

Preschool and Childcare

1880 Willow Park Way Monument, CO, 80132 United States

(719) 339-6044

 

At Bright Start, our staff is dedicated to helping your child build the best foundation for their future. We focus on pre-academics as well as the social and physical growth of every child. We believe that children should be nurtured and supported in their early childhood educational experience so they may obtain confidence and pride outside the home. Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices we meet each child at their current level and help build their foundation from there. We practice positive modeling, encouraging reinforcement, and consistent classroom rules. Parents are an integral part of the learning process, and we will work as a team to meet the needs of your children. We look forward to learning with you, because great futures begin with a Bright Start!

Bright Start Preschool

(See below for Before/After/District Closure Care)

REGISTRATION 
Registration packets are available online or in the school office. All forms must be completely filled out before your child begins attending our school. Registration forms include current immunization record and copy of a recent physical exam or health certificate.

IDENTIFYING WHERE CHILDREN ARE AT ALL TIMES
Staff will sign children in upon arrival. Attendance is taken before we begin. As children transition in and out of the classroom, children are counted again to ensure the entire group is present. Periodic counts during classroom time are also carried out for your child’s safety. Please call or email if your child will be absent from class. Prior to staff leaving for the day an overview of the sign out log will be assessed to ensure that each child has been picked up. If a student is missing at any time, attempts will be made to locate the child and authorities will be notified immediately.

RELEASE OF CHILDREN
All preschool children will be signed out by a staff member to an authorized adult. Children will be released only to a parent or an authorized person listed on the enrollment form. We will require picture identification from any person that we do not know or recognize. Without a picture ID, a child may not be released to the person unknown to the staff. If the parent wants a person who is not identified on the enrollment form to pick up their child, the parent must notify the preschool in advance, preferably in writing. If an unauthorized person attempts to take a child, authorities will be called.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Fire drills, tornado drills, and lockdown procedures will be practiced on a regular basis to familiarize the staff and students in the case of an emergency. Information on the amount of time taken to complete the drill, procedures followed, and person(s) involved will be maintained in the Emergency Log. In the case of a lockdown, no-one will be allowed in or out of the school until the situation has been cleared. All staff members are trained in all emergency drill procedures. Maps are posted with evacuation routes. Children will be kept outside the building with staff members in the case of an evacuation where safe and appropriate. Parents will be notified through their emergency contact numbers.

COMMUNICABLE ILLNESSES
Preschool admission may be denied to any child diagnosed as having a disease or carrying a disease-causing agent whose attendance could be harmful to the welfare of other students. Management of common readily transmittable communicable diseases shall be in accordance with Colorado Department of Health guidelines. A student who exhibits symptoms of a readily transmittable communicable disease may be temporarily excluded from preschool attendance. Parents are requested to keep such students home until the risk of transmission in the preschool environment has passed and the child can participate in preschool activities. The preschool has the right to require a physician’s statement authorizing the student’s return to the preschool.

ILLNESS, ACCIDENTS, AND INJURIES
Children showing signs of illness should not come to school. Parents will be contacted if illness conditions are observed during the school day. If there is an illness, accident, or injury, we will use the emergency contact sheet to try to reach persons listed. The child will be isolated from the remaining kids as best as possible. A report will be filled out as necessary and given to the parent or guardian. The child will be kept as safe and comfortable as possible.

LATE PICK UP
Please allow enough time to arrive at the preschool, sign out, and pick up your child at the end of class. If a child has not been picked up after 10 minutes from the end of class, attempts will be made to contact you, and then the emergency contacts listed on the Enrolment Form will be notified. Provisions will be made for someone to stay with your child as long as possible however late fees will be assessed on any day that a child remains in our care after 5 PM close, or your designated pick up time at the following rate: 

  • First 10 minutes - $1/minute

  • Minute 11-59 - $20/minute

After 1 hour with no communication or pick up from you or an emergency contact, Bright Start will contact local police.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
Bright Start Preschool is heated and air conditioned inside the school. Our preschool classes will go outside for recess unless it is below 5 degrees F or above 95 degrees F. The Director will decide if other conditions warrant keeping the children inside. Please dress your children appropriately for outdoor activities. In the event of inclement weather, Bright Start will follow the delays and closures of Lewis-Palmer School District #38 schools.  If there is a school emergency or early dismissal, parents will be notified through their emergency phone numbers when to pick up their children.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-Teacher conferences will be held twice a year. If at any time parents or staff feels that an additional conference would be beneficial, additional conferences may be arranged.

COMMUNICATION
We encourage parents to ask any questions they may have. We believe that communication is an integral part of your child’s education. Emails will be sent weekly to update the class activities. If you would prefer a hard copy of the communications please let your child’s teacher know.

DISCIPLINE POLICY
Discipline is usually not an issue at this age. We will use re-direction, positive modelling, fair and consistent consequences, and clear expectations. Should the need arise, the situation or behavior will be discussed with the child and suggestions given about better choices. Parents will be notified if the situation warrants a team effort between parents and staff.

TRANSPORTATION
Preschool children will transported via Bright Start buses for field trips only. All buses have 3 point adjustable seatbelts so car seats are not required. Preschool students will only be bused for field trips or park days. Prior notice will be given.

FIELD TRIPS
Field trips may be scheduled twice a year. Preschool students will have to submit a filled out permission slip to participate. Staff and student ratios will be maintained during the field trip. For summer information please see the summer section.


STORING AND ADMINISTERING CHILDREN’S MEDICATIONS
Medication will only be administered at school when a medication authorization form has been completed and signed by the parent/guardian and the Licensed Health Care Provider. All medication must be in the original container, clearly labelled with the child’s name and type of medication. Medications are stored locked in the office, inaccessible to the children. Medications needing refrigeration will be kept locked in a refrigerator in the office. All medications will be administered by the director (who has been delegated to by a Registered Nurse) and records will be kept regarding dosage, time given and any reactions. A Registered Nurse will review records monthly or as needed.

CHILDREN’S PERSONAL BELONGINGS Each child will have a cubby to keep their belongings in. We request that personal toys, money, etc. be left at home except when they are to be used for show and tell or during rest time. If your child is joining us for the full day, a blanket, one “snuggle buddy” need to be provided by parents. Pillows and storage bags for rest time will be provided.

SNACKS AND MEALS
Snacks and lunch are not provided by Bright Start except for birthday treats. Please send a daily snack in a container no larger than 6 1/2” x 9 1/2” in a separate container from their lunch box. If your child will be with us later than 3:00 please also send an additional snack. Lunch is not provided and must be in an individual container that does not require refrigeration or re-heating.
No pizza lunchables please.


T.V. AND VIDEO VIEWING  Select G rated educational movies maybe shown throughout the year. Prior notice will be given. Preschool classes utilize music and movement videos (such as Yoga, Kid Exercises, etc.) daily. Occasional educational videos are shown as well. Fridays a special movie may be shown during rest time.

TOILET TRAINING
Children may occasionally have an accident. We will ask that an extra set of clothes (full outfit including socks please) be left in your child’s backpack in a plastic zip bag labeled with your child’s name. We will put soiled clothes in a bag to be sent home and request that you replace them at the next class.

VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS
All visitors and volunteers must sign in and out on the volunteer log. Please let us know if you would like to volunteer your time. If you volunteer in the classroom, confidentiality regarding students must be maintained.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL
If within a reasonable time-frame the students and/or parents needs are not mutually beneficial with Bright Start and the other students, Bright Start reserves the right to withdraw the student. Refunds will not be given. Failure to stay current with tuition may be consideration for withdrawal. If parents would like to initiate a withdrawal of their student, a two week written notice will be required. Tuition will be collected during that time even if the child is not in attendance.

ATTENDANCE/TUITION
Tuition is based upon registered attendance and is due on the 1st of each month. Preschool class is offered Monday-Thursday 8:45a.m.-12:30p.m with optional extended care at an additional rate. September-May tuition is prorated for a consistent rate each month. Some months will vary, rates are based off of the following: 2 days/week: average 8 days - 30 hours/month 3 days/week: average 12 days - 45 hours/month 4 days/week: average 16 days - 60 hours/month 5 days/week: average 20 days - 200 hours (10 hours/day maximum)

 

Before/After/District Closure Care

REGISTRATION 
Registration packets are available online or in the school office. All forms must be completely filled out before your child begins attending our school.

IDENTIFYING WHERE CHILDREN ARE AT ALL TIMES
Staff will sign children in upon arrival. Attendance is taken before we begin. As children transition in and out of the classroom, children are counted again to ensure the entire group is present. Periodic counts during classroom time are also carried out for your child’s safety. Please call or email if your child will be absent from class. Prior to staff leaving for the day an overview of the sign out log will be assessed to ensure that each child has been picked up. If a student is missing at any time, attempts will be made to locate the child and authorities will be notified immediately.

RELEASE OF CHILDREN
All children will be signed out by a staff member to an authorized adult. Children will be released only to a parent or an authorized person listed on the enrollment form. We will require picture identification from any person that we do not know or recognize. Without a picture ID, a child may not be released to the person unknown to the staff. If the parent wants a person who is not identified on the enrollment form to pick up their child, the parent must notify the preschool in advance, preferably in writing. If an unauthorized person attempts to take a child, authorities will be called

.EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
In the case of a lockdown, no-one will be allowed in or out of the school until the situation has been cleared. All staff members are trained in all emergency procedures including fire, tornado, and other emergency situations. Maps are posted with evacuation routes. Children will be kept outside the building with staff members in the case of an evacuation where safe and appropriate. Parents will be notified through their emergency contact numbers.

COMMUNICABLE ILLNESSES
Admission may be denied to any child diagnosed as having a disease or carrying a disease-causing agent whose attendance could be harmful to the welfare of other students. Management of common readily transmittable communicable diseases shall be in accordance with Colorado Department of Health guidelines. A student who exhibits symptoms of a readily transmittable communicable disease may be temporarily excluded from attendance. Parents are requested to keep such students home until the risk of transmission in the environment has passed and the child can participate in activities. We reserve the right to require a physician’s statement authorizing the student’s return to the preschool.

ILLNESS, ACCIDENTS, AND INJURIES
Children showing signs of illness should not come to school. Parents will be contacted if illness conditions are observed during the day. If there is an illness, accident, or injury, we will use the emergency contact sheet to try to reach persons listed. The child will be isolated from the group as best as possible. A report will be filled out as necessary and given to the parent or guardian. The child will be kept as safe and comfortable as possible.

LATE PICK UP
Please allow enough time to arrive at the preschool, sign out, and pick up your child at the end of class. If a child has not been picked up after 10 minutes from the end of class, attempts will be made to contact you, and then the emergency contacts listed on the Enrolment Form will be notified. Provisions will be made for someone to stay with your child as long as possible however late fees will be assessed on any day that a child remains in our care after 6 PM close at the following rate: 

  • 6:00 - 6:10 - $1/minute

  • 6:11 - 6:59 - $20/minute

After 1 hour with no communication or pick up from you or an emergency contact, Bright Start will contact local police.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
Bright Start Preschool is heated and air conditioned inside the school. Our preschool classes will go outside for recess unless it is below 5 degrees F or above 95 degrees F. The Director will decide if other conditions warrant keeping the children inside. Please dress your children appropriately for outdoor activities. In the event of inclement weather, Bright Start will follow the weather closures of Lewis-Palmer School District #38 schools, as well as offering Before School care on delay start days.  If there is a school emergency or early dismissal, parents will be notified through their emergency phone numbers when to pick up their children. In the case of an early dismissal, all After School care children will be picked up from their respective schools at the district's newly designated time.

COMMUNICATION
We encourage parents to ask any questions that they may have. We believe that communication is an integral part of your child’s care.  If you would prefer a hard copy of any communications please let your child’s teacher know.

DISCIPLINE POLICY
We will use re-direction, positive modelling, fair and consistent consequences, and clear expectations. Should the need arise, the situation or behavior will be discussed with the child and suggestions given about better choices. Parents will be notified if the situation warrants a team effort between parents and staff.

TRANSPORTATION

Bright Start offers before and after school care during the school session daily to the following schools: Monument Academy West Campus, Lewis-Palmer Elementary and Prairie Winds Elementary. We occasionally take field trips and transportation is provided with staff/student ratios maintained. Signed permission in the Enrollment paperwork will be required.

FIELD TRIPS
Field trips may be scheduled throughout the year. Students will have to submit a filled out permission slip to participate. Staff and student ratios will be maintained during the field trip. For summer information please see the summer section.


STORING AND ADMINISTERING CHILDREN’S MEDICATIONS
Medication will only be administered at school when a medication authorization form has been completed and signed by the parent/guardian and the Licensed Health Care Provider. All medication must be in the original container, clearly labelled with the child’s name and type of medication. Medications are stored locked in the office, inaccessible to the children. Medications needing refrigeration will be kept locked in a refrigerator in the office. All medications will be administered by the director (who has been delegated to by a Registered Nurse) and records will be kept regarding dosage, time given and any reactions. A Registered Nurse will review records monthly or as needed.

CHILDREN’S PERSONAL BELONGINGS Each child will have designated space to keep their belongings. We request that personal toys, money, etc. be left at home except when necessary/on a best judgment basis. If your child is joining us for the full day with no classes, some toys and electronic devices may be brought at your risk and discretion. 

T.V. AND VIDEO VIEWING  Select G rated educational DVD’s maybe shown throughout the year. Prior notice will be given. Occasional appropriate movies will be shown during full day care.

VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS
All visitors and volunteers must sign in and out on the volunteer log. Please let us know if you would like to volunteer your time. If you volunteer in the classroom, confidentiality regarding students must be maintained.

HOMEWORK

We will be doing Homework every afternoon for a minimum of 20 minutes (or longer if needed or desired).  Any children that do not have homework will choose between reading for those 20 minutes or to work on some type of educational task.