|
| ENROLLMENT
& GENERAL TOPICS |
How do I enroll/register my child?
Enrollment is
easy. Choose
one of three enrollment options: 1) Download and complete
the enrollment application, and submit it at your convenience, or
2) Request an enrollment application and school information
to be
mailed to you.
 (Click
here to get Acrobat® Reader® ) |
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
What types
of fees may I expect?
At
The Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy our goal is to
ensure that monthly tuition and fees are not a guessing game.
Our tuition and fees are streamlined for your convenience
and include: 1) Your specific tuition charges and 2) Catered
Lunch Fee, (The
lunch fee is optional for parents electing not to participate
will have one monthly tuition payment,) and
3) Uniform fees (
click
here for first time ordering information.)
|
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| What
is “Gifted and Talented”? |
|
"Gifted
and Talented" means a child who performs at or shows the potential
for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when
compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment,
and who exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual,
creative, or artistic area, possesses an unusual capacity for leadership,
or excels in a specific academic field.
|
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| Are
only Gifted and Talented children allowed to
enroll at The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy? |
|
No. Any child
between the ages of 2 and 5 years of age may attend The Woodlands
Young Learner's Academy. We believe that all children possess their
own special gifts and skills. Our goal is to discover and unlock
the “Young
Learner” in each child and cultivate those talents to encourage
our students to excel to their fullest potential.
|
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| Is there
an entrance exam or screening test required for my child to attend
your school? |
| No. The
Woodlands Young Learner's Academy does not require any type of
entrance exam to attend our school. |
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| My
child just turned two, and I want to transition my child into
full-day preschool by starting my child two days a week. Is
this possible? |
| Yes, we
have a variety of programs that provide a great deal of flexibility
for each family’s needs while allowing our students to receive
an exceptional educational foundation. |
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| May I visit
my child during the school day? |
|
Yes. Parents
are welcome to visit their child at any time. We have a monitor
wall available in the lobby if you are just checking and want to
observe your child’s class for a few minutes or you may go
directly to the classroom.
|
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| May
I volunteer for classroom activities, Young Learner’s Foundation™ and
special events? |
| Absolutely,
we encourage and welcome parent participation in all activities,
The Young Learner’s Foundation™, and all special events. |
| Go
back to Enrollment/General or FAQ's or Top |
| What
is The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy philosophy on discipline,
and how does the school discipline its students? |
|
The Woodlands
Young Learner’s Academy promotes good behaviors practices
through reward and constructive reinforcement while providing a
strong, loving relationship to foster respect and positive results.
Consistency is the key to develop and achieve successful learning
behaviors, and maintaining a safe, loving, and nurturing learning
environment maximizes each students learning experience. Detailed
expectations of our discipline guidelines are provided for you
and your child upon enrollment.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
|
| CURRICULUM/LEARNING |
| Does the National
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredit
The Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy? |
|
NAEYC requires
that schools pursuing its accreditation have one year of operational
experience before beginning its certification process. To streamline
this effort, The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy developed and
implemented its facility design, curriculum, and policies/procedures
using NAEYC’S criteria and standards.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
| Is The
Woodlands Young Learner's Academy licensed by the State of Texas? |
|
Yes. The
Woodlands Young Learner's Academy is licensed and registered with
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in accordance
with the Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, part 19,
Chapter 746.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
| Does
the current curriculum meet NAEYC standards? |
|
Yes. The
Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy curriculum exceeds NAEYC
instruction standards. Our curriculum is specifically tailored
to develop appropriate gifted education programs based on the Texas
Gifted and Talented Association Exemplary Standards.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
| Are
the curriculum and other enrichment activities geared towards
cultural diversity and education? |
|
Yes. Our
Young Learner's will participate in activities promoting cultural
diversity by encouraging connection with his/her own experiences,
languages, customs, and cultures of other students, as well as
being introduced to and discovering the traditions of many other
cultures.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
| Will
I be involved in my child's education? |
|
Yes! We
strongly encourage Young Learner Parents to take an active role
in their child’s TWYLA Experience, by volunteering as a room
parent, chaperon on field trips, event organizer, or assisting
your child’s teacher with curriculum preparation by cutting,
folding, or organizing materials required future activities.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
| Is the
curriculum flexible so that it may encompass the needs of students
at different levels of development? |
|
Yes. That
is one of the most important goals at The Woodlands Young Learner's
Academy. Children learn at different levels and pace. The
Woodlands Young Learner's Academy is committed to challenging each
student to his or her fullest potential in every program level
we offer.
|
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
| Do students
get outdoor playtime each day (weather permitting?) |
| Yes. Part
of the mystique of The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy is its
outdoor play facilities. The
Tadpole Parks & Lagoon Splash Adventure is a one of
a kind outdoor amusement park. |
| Go
back to Curriculum/Learning or FAQ's or Top |
|
|
NUTRITION: MEALS/SNACKS:
|
| Are
nutritionally balanced meals and beverages available throughout
the day? |
|
Yes. The
Woodlands Young Learner's Academy provides our students a well
balanced lunch, morning and afternoon snacks, for our parents,
we have a complimentary coffee bar located in the lobby, and
during pick-up hours, we offer “Bye-Bye
Snacks” for both students and parents to tide everyone over
until they arrive home.
|
| Go
back to Nutrition or FAQ's or Top |
| What kinds
of lunch programs are available to the students? |
|
The Woodlands
Young Learner's Academy offers a daily hot and healthy catered
lunch program. If a family elects
not to participate in the lunch program, then we have accommodations
available for storing of lunches brought from home.
|
| Go
back to Nutrition or FAQ's or Top |
| How
do I enroll in the catered lunch program? |
|
As part of each
student's enrollment, they are automatically included in TWYLA's
catered lunch program. If
you elect not to enroll your child in The Woodlands Young Learner's
Academy Lunch Program, then we ask that you supply a lunch from
home (including a drink.) We have cold storage available
for meals requiring refrigeration.
|
| Go
back to Nutrition or FAQ's or Top |
| Is
the lunch program nutritionally balanced for
the age groups children who attend The Woodlands Young Learner's
Academy? |
|
Yes. Working
closely with our caterer, The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy
has developed a menu that is both nutritious, while
being appealing and appetizing to our students. Daily menus
may include a hot entrée with either beef, chicken, or
fish accompanied by soup or salad, and a drink.
|
| Go
back to Nutrition or FAQ's or Top |
| Is
there an additional cost The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy
Lunch Program? |
|
No, the cost of
the catered lunch program is included in each student's monthly
tuition.
|
| Go
back to Nutrition or FAQ's or Top |
|
| FACILITIES/SAFETY: |
| Is the
school clean, safe, and well maintained? |
|
Yes. The
cleanliness and safety of our facility is a top priority for students
and their families. The Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy
maintains a full-time custodial staff for daily cleaning and up
keep during school hours, and combined with the daily cleaning
responsibilities The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy follows
a comprehensive weekly and monthly recurring cleaning program.
The Woodlands Young Learner’s
Academy also employs an evening cleaning crew that thoroughly cleans
the building after hours. Our staff also maintain a clean and
safe environment for your child, which includes sanitizing all
toys and equipment. Concerning safety, The Woodlands Young Learner’s
Academy conforms to all equipment and furnishing manufacture’s
guidelines/recommendations for preventative maintenance and periodic
safety inspections.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Are
personal hygiene and proactive health policies established and
practiced daily? |
|
Yes. Our
staff follows explicit procedures with regard to diaper changing
requirements, hand washing, specifically after assisting with blowing
noses and restroom visits, and any person who handles food wears
disposable gloves and hairnets. In addition, each employee of The
Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy upholds specific dress
and personal hygiene requirements.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Are
sick and contagious children allowed to come
to school? |
|
Unless
the student’s parents provide written proof by a health-care
professional that a medical examination has been performed, stating
that student may be included in The Woodlands Young Learner’s
Academy daily activities, students will not be admitted to school
if they: (A) have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater, (B)
demonstrate signs or symptoms of possible severe illness such as
lethargy, abnormal breathing, uncontrolled diarrhea, two or more
vomiting episodes during the previous days attendance, (C) a noticeable
a rash, or (D) a health-care professional has diagnosed the child
with a communicable disease.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Are
all outdoor play areas fenced and secure? |
|
Yes. A
ll exterior fences at The Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy
are six feet (6ft.) high exceeding the four feet (4ft.) required
by the State of Texas.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Is each
exterior entry point into the school secure, so that only persons
with proper codes may enter the building? |
|
Yes. By
design, The Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy exterior entry
points outside our fenced perimeter. Those doors are monitored
with a keyless entry system that is directly linked to our school’s
management software.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Is there
a security check and balance for student pick-up and drop-off? |
|
Yes. The
Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy uses a state-of-the-art
clock in and clock out system that integrates directly with the
school’s management software, and also shows a photo of the
person entering a family specific code to verify that they are
the authorized pick-up individual currently listed in the school’s
records.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Are
there proper emergency plans in place addressing specific events
with an established practice schedule? |
|
Yes. The
Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy posts evacuation plans
in each classroom in the event of an emergency. Students participate
in fire and tornado drills monthly.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| What
type of transportation do you offer? |
|
The Woodlands
Young Learner’s Academy provides transportation for all school
sponsored field trips, and specific after-school pick-up requirements.
Contact our Executive Director for specific details.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
| Is the
school vehicle(s) equipped with seat belts, and is the seat belt
policy enforced? |
|
Yes. The
Woodlands Young Learner's Academy school bus meets and is equipped
with seat restraints required by National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
|
| Go
back to Facilities/Safety or FAQ's or Top |
|
|
PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION:
|
| What
type of updates and communications will I receive concerning
what activities and concepts my child is learning? |
Parents
with children in our Early
Learner's program will receive daily activity reports. All
of other students will have weekly communications that summarize
the current weeks activities, and what themes and concepts will
be taught the following week. In addition, each of our core
curriculum teachers will have an e-mail address for direct communications. Each
month, our newsletter, TWYLA Times is e-mailed
to the e-mail address on file, and for added convenience, copies
will also be available at the front desk.
|
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
| Are
there regularly scheduled Parent/Teacher conferences? |
| Yes. Each
student receives a comprehensive parent-teacher conference in the
fall and spring. |
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
| May
I schedule a conference with the Executive Director? |
|
Absolutely.
Our Executive Director maintains an open door policy, and encourages
parents to schedule one-on-one conferences. We ask that parents
try to schedule conferences in between our peak transition and
drop-off and pick-up hours or between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
|
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
|
| STAFF/TEACHERS: |
| What
type of training do the teachers have? |
|
The
Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy teachers are the key to
our school. Each instructor receives comprehensive initial and
ongoing training to make certain our staff possesses the tools
to provide each student with higher level thinking skills. Their
training encompasses the differentiation process to address the
enrichment programs taught at The Woodlands Young Learner’s
Academy.
|
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
| Do
the teachers have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood
Development or an Education Degree? |
|
Although
not a general requirement of employment, The Woodlands Young Learner’s
Academy evaluates employment candidates on their overall merits
and qualifications including, their ability to bring value to The
Woodlands Young Learner’s Academy, its programs, and their
capacity to adhere to and communicate the schools philosophies
and standards.
The curriculum teaching positions, or more specifically the instructors
who will have the responsibility of introducing and teaching our
students the core academic elements of our curriculum, have very
specific employment criteria, which includes a combination of or
one of the following: A) Masters in Elementary Education, B) Bachelors
of Elementary Education, C) Early Childhood Education Certification,
D) CDA, and E) Years of experience teaching elementary or preschool
age children.
|
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
| Does
each teacher receive annual performance evaluations? |
|
Yes. Each
teacher at The Woodlands Young Learner's Academy will receive an
annual review by the Executive Director, as well as other members
of our Leadership Team and a peer review.
|
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
| Are
the teachers required to have CPR and First Aid training? |
|
Yes. TWYLA will
certify each staff member in both Child CPR and first aid, and
provide the necessary recurring training.
|
| Go
back to FAQ's or Top |
