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Below you will find answers to questions most often asked by new parents exploring the possibility of enrolling their child at Morning Star Child Care. If you have any question not listed be sure to call: (734) 424-9193 or send us an e-mail to:
info@morningstarchildcare.net
We would be happy to assist in any way!
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Will my child be challenged?
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Learning is very important to us at Morning Star. Our teachers keep up-to-date with current research in cognitive development and appropriate teaching techniques for young children. Each day Morning Star teachers offer their students a wide variety of learning experiences—all taught in a fun, creative, and “hands-on” method.
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Is this an academic based program?
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Young children need learning experiences that will provide a foundation for future academic success. Morning Star teachers integrate mathematics, pre-reading (including letter recognition), vocabulary development, science, and writing into their curriculum planning. Pond life, dinosaurs, community helpers, oceans, and farms are just a sample of the interesting and educational thematic units taught at Morning Star.
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What are the qualifications of your teachers?
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Our teachers are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to young children. All our lead teachers have previous early childhood or elementary education, training, and experience. Many of our teachers are currently enrolled in university classes to continue their education. Our teachers attend conferences and workshops to discover and learn additional creative ideas to use in the classroom.
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What will my child do during the day?
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Children at Morning Star are active and busy! In the morning the children participate in a circle time (stories, songs, fingerplays), center activities (table games, science, language, or math activity), art or craft project, snack, and outdoor play on our ½ acre playground. An afternoon rest time is followed by another snack, craft projects, stories, and more outdoor play.
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Do the children go on field trips? |
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We have a wonderful new minibus that is used for field trips. On those “no school” days, our school-age children often travel fun places around Washtenaw County. The preschool children go to a pumpkin patch in the fall. They also like to visit other playgrounds in the area. Parents are always informed, and permission granted, before any trip away from the center.
Toddlers (1-2½) go on walking stroller trips around Dexter. They do not go on field trips using any vehicle. Toddlers enjoy playing in their own special toddler play lot.
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Do you provide lunch?
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Morning Star provides two healthy snacks, milk, and juice each day. Parents may send in a packed lunch from home for their child. Morning Star also offers parents an opportunity to purchase a hot lunch for their child. Delicious hot lunches are provided by the Dexter Community Schools. Morning Star provides milk with lunch and will microwave food as needed.
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Are you open in the summer?
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Our preschool and toddler programs operate on a year-around schedule. Morning Star offers a summer camp for school-age children.
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Do you give any discount for vacation days? |
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Tuition paid on a monthly basis earns two free weeks credit per year. A semi-monthly tuition payment plan earns one free week per year. The free weeks are calculated into the year’s tuition and apply only to children enrolled in our year around toddler and preschool classes. Tuition for children enrolled in our school age program and Developmental Kindergarten is based on the child’s set schedule and is expected regardless of sick or vacation days.
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May I enroll my child on a part-time basis?
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All children may attend Morning Star two, three, or five days per week. The Developmental Kindergarten offers a morning class, afternoon class, or full day class. School age children may attend mornings before school, after school, and/or on all those “no school” days.
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Do families receive a discount for more than one child?
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Yes! A 7% discount is offered to families with more than one child enrolled. This applies to full time enrollment. One discount allowed per family.
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How do you communicate with parents? |
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Morning Star is linked into an Internet site called Kinderstreet. Parents
simply go to
www.kinderstreet.com,
and then enter a secure site using a password. Parents may view their
child’s general information, emergency contacts, and tuition. At “Monthly
Bulletin” parents easily see activities planned for the month, the center’s
holiday schedule, and lunch menu. Through Kinderstreet parents may e-mail
messages to the center and receive messages, field trip permission slips, plus
lots of other helpful information from us. Kinderstreet is a quick and
convenient method of communication between the parent and center. We’re pleased
to be one of the first centers to install and use Kinderstreet!
Parents of children age one to three receive a daily log of their child’s
day. All families receive the Morning Star News. This periodic
newsletter is filled with informative articles concerning the center and the
activities of the children. Parent/Teacher conferences are held each
November. Parents are welcome to call or drop by the center anytime to
speak to a director or teacher.
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What is accreditation? |
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Morning Star is accreditated through an organization called The National
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC
created its accreditation process in 1985 to set professional standards for
early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality child
care and early educational programs. To earn NAEYC's accreditation, Morning
Star conducted a self-study to determine how well our curriculum and program
met the national standards. Parent and teacher surveys were distributed
and improvements made. Morning Star was then visited by an independent,
professional validator.
Lastly, our request was reviewed, and approved, by a national panel. Morning
Star's process toward accreditation took two years from start to completion and
is valid for five years.
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Why would Morning Star want to be an accreditated center? |
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Accreditation insures that Morning Star Child Care is offering children the
highest quality of care. Our teachers are required to routinely up-date
their education by attending conferences and workshops. Accreditation
requires Morning Star to keep child/teacher ratios at a lower level than
maindated by State licensing. This means that the children in our care
will receive the personal attention they need for healthy growth. Morning
Star's teachers are dedicated to their profession and each child in their
classroom.
Accreditation gives our teachers the recognition they rightly deserve.
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