Frequently Asked Questions

How do you promote positive behavior?

• At Bright Beginnings, we use positive techniques to guide behavior such as redirection and anticipation and elimination of potential problems. We make direct eye contact with each child and explain the situation so they are able to understand the reasons for our requests. If all else fails we have a "Peace Table" were the children can go for a few minutes to calm down and regroup.

Why are families encouraged to send in lunches from home?

• Because of children's food allergies and the typical pickiness of young children, Bright Beginnings encourages families to pack lunches! We have found that our parents prefer to pack their child's lunches!.

Can I come in and volunteer?

• As partners in your child's well being, you are welcome in the classroom at any time! You will often see our Mommies and Daddies helping out at our fun programs or a Grandma having a special lunch with their grandchild! Please fill out our easy online Volunteer Form and we will contact you.

How is your nap time nurturing?

• During our 1pm to 3pm nap time your child is encouraged to sleep and rest on their mat. We turn off the lights, close the blinds, play soft Spanish Lullaby's and rub children's backs to help them fall asleep. Often a soft toy or a blanket is helpful in keeping a child happy and comfortable at rest time. Of course, we will also allow a child to rest at any other time they feel tired. Recently, we have bought lavender scent diffusers for each nap room. What better way to relax and fall asleep than to the scent of organic lavender?!

My child does not seem quite ready to move up to the next class, even though he is old enough. What should I do?

• We believe that each child is an individual and will and should develop as such! Chronological age has much to do with maturation and both physical and psychological development, however, many other factors affect the way our children grow and mature. We encourage you to wait until you feel comfortable that he is ready to move up and then spend some time observing the classroom to see how the other children interact with each other in that classroom. That will be a good way for you to judge his readiness. Some children just need extra time to grow and develop. In the long run, waiting until he is ready will make the transition much easier and smoother for everyone. We also encourage our teachers to have strong communication with each child's family so that everyone is on the same page!

What are the overall Core Priorities:

• 1.) Safety 2.) Encouraging each child’s sense of self 3.) Nurturing and stimulating intellectual and creative curiosity 4.) And last but not least The key element in providing the Core Priorities is our wonderful teaching staff!

What are the primary goals for each child?

• Our primary goal is to know and understand each child and while respecting their individual needs and differences, challenge, nurture and engage him! We see every child as their own person and take the time to learn what gets them excited to come to school but also what to work on with your child to help them feel more confident!

• We create a small group setting that encourages learning, promotes social skills, supports each child’s emerging autonomy and encourages self expression.

Tell me about the agencies that license Bright Beginnings.

• Rest assured, we are a fully licensed Preschool! We are licensed by the Verona Office of Licensing as well as the Albemarle Fire Department and the Thomas Jefferson Area Health Department.

What type of background checks do you do on the staff?

• We require a criminal record check (CRC) and a child protective service (CPS) check as well as I-9 documentation and a sworn disclosure statement for all staff members. We check two to three references on each staff member and greatly appreciate referrals from present or former families who know potential staff members first hand. Your child’s safety is our number one priority.

What about First Aid, CPR and MAT certifications?

• We are proud to say that 100% of our teachers and teachers assistants are CPR and First Aid Certified at Bright Beginnings Preschool!

How many staff have advanced degrees, teacher license or a CDA?

• 75% of our staff have either a college degree or higher, a teacher license or a Child Development Associates Degree!

What percentage of your staff are veteran staff?

• Seventy-five percent of the staff at Bright Beginnings Preschool are veteran staff. We strive to offer quality preschool, so we look for degrees in Early Childhood Education or one year of experience in a licensed preschool to help minimize staff turnover. Since teaching can be very stressful, particularly to newer teachers, we have mandatory training classes every Monday night during staff training. We also require all staff to sign a one-year contract that requires them to give us a sixty-day notice prior to leaving.

What is the average teacher tenure?

• Our average teacher tenure is 6 years with some staff working at Bright Beginnings 15-20 years. We find the combination of veteran staff with younger staff with recent college education to work well for us. Veterans can show the new staff the ropes and the new staff share the latest research and ideas.

How many staff have advanced degrees, teacher license or a CDA?

• 75% of our staff have either a college degree or higher, a teacher license or a Child Development Associates Degree!

What is the registration fee used for?

• Your registration fee ensures that your child has a spot in their classroom. We strongly encourage to put down your registration fee as soon as you know that Bright Beginnings is the right fit for your family to avoid any disappointment due to spots filling up quickly.

• The registration fee covers, but is not limited to, enrollment and administrative fees, equipment including supplies for the classroom, and fees associated with the security system.

What is included in the tuition?

• Your monthly tuition covers all pre school curriculum activities, programming and care during the school day as well as snacks, juice, cooking projects, and school materials. Special curriculum units are offered such as a music specialist, gymnastics, Spanish, yoga, cooking and Tadpoles- a virtual day note software to keep both parents in the loop, are included in tuition as well.

What is not included in tuition?

• Field trips and special events occasionally have a small fee. Parents provide diapers, wipes, nap sheets and other personal items. Lunch is not included in the tuition but can be purchased daily for $2.00-$3.00.

What tuition payment options do you offer??

• We prefer tuition to be paid on the 27th of each month for the upcoming month but can accommodate weekly or bi-weekly payments for a small fee. We accept credit cards, checks and money orders. You may also split payments between several credit cards or utilize flex spending options with your employer.

May I temporarily withdraw from the program and return at a later date?

• We always require a minimum of a 30 day notice when a family withdraws. However, many of our parents are professors or school teachers and have long summer breaks. Also we serve quite a few international families who take sabbaticals or lengthy trips from time to time. In these cases, use the termination form and turn it in 30 days in advance but note the return date and we will do our very best to return your child to his/her regular classroom upon your return. We allow this for withdrawals of at least 1 month. This does not apply to a short summer vacation or spring break.