FAQs
frequently asked questions
Let’s Make Things Simple
Choosing childcare is a big decision. We’ve gathered answers to the questions families ask most to help make finding the right fit a little easier.
Enrollment
We enroll students aged 6 weeks through VPK (Bear Lake Elementary Before and After School care)
Happy 1: 6:30am-6:00pm
Happy 2: 7:00am-6:00pm
We offer full time care and part time is based on availability.
Yes
You can stop by or call to schedule a visit and we can give you enrollment paperwork and take payment to hold your space.
Waiting lists depend on the age group and the time of year. Giving us a call to let us know what age your child is and when you are wanting to start will allow us to answer that question. We do have 2 locations near by so we do our best to make a space available for you
Yes!
You can schedule a tour on our website Happyfacesprepschool.com or you can give us a call to schedule a tour.
Mission & Values
Our staff truly care about the children in our care and will make their classrooms feel like a 2nd home. Our school has a wonderful community and you will make friends for life. The local elementary school is only a few streets away so you can continue your journey with Happy Faces with before and after care if your students attend Bear Lake. We also have a wonderful summer camp program for ANY elementary age students.
We want to help kids reach their full potential in being well rounded socially, emotionally and teaching them the skills they need to be successful while feeling loved, safe, and valued.
We have been serving families since 2001.
We truly care about our families, staff and communities. We are able to focus our time and energy on our schools since we aren’t spread thin over multiple locations. Our families come from our own community and we build relationships that last a lifetime.
It takes a village and parents are the most important part of that village. We have to work together to help our children reach their full potential and feel safe and supported. We have an open door policy and we use the Procare app to send messages and pictures throughout the day to our parents.
Programs & Learning
We offer School Readiness (seminole county), VPK, and Summer Camp for school aged kids
Our VPK program focuses on teaching kids routines, structure, and many foundational skills like letters, numbers, sight words, and writing. These skills are essential for Kindergarten readiness.
We use the Creative Curriculum.
While teaching independence is important, learning is very hands-on and includes sensory activities.
Typically students will start their day with breakfast and circle time. Next students will participate in teacher led centers that focus on different skills (fine motor, gross motor, art, building, sensory, creativity, etc). Then we go outside to move our bodies. Next is lunch time (provided by our school which follows Food Program guidelines). After lunch ages 3 and under will take a nap . VPK will begin free centers where they have the freedom to choose their centers before participating in music and movement and review before snack and dismissal. When the students 3 and under wake up from nap they will have snack and then move into their free centers. After free centers they will do music and movement before going outside once more. At the end of the day they will have review and some table top activities before dismissal. Pottying and diapering vary by age and are constant throughout the day.
Yes we have various playground areas for the children to enjoy.
No child is the same so our teachers focus on meeting all children’s needs and adapting their lessons to support each child by offering different approaches to learning.
Teachers
Not every teacher is the same but our staff complete the DCF trainings to receive their 45 hours and many of our teachers have their CDA. Our staff is also CPR and First Aid trained and certified.
We are very fortunate to have many teachers who have stayed with us for a number of years such as 18, 15, 10, and 5 years. We do have some teachers who have recently joined our team but would love to have them stick around and grow with us.
We follow DCF ratios.
Infants 1 to 4 Toddlers: 1 to 6 Pre-K: 1 to 11 VPK Prep: 1 to 15 VPK 1 to 11 4s/5s: 1 to 20 School age: 1 to 25
We use an app called Procare to message families and send pictures throughout the day. We are also available by phone call.
Safety
Children are never unsupervised and we ensure that the environment they are learning and playing in is free of hazards.
We have a code on our front door that only parents are given to keep our children safe.
Yes
If students have a fever of 101 or higher, are vomiting or have diarrhea they will be sent home and can return when they have been free of these symptoms for more than 24 hours without medication. If we believe your child has something contagious (such as a rash or Conjunctivitis) we ask you to have it checked out by a medical professional so we can keep it from spreading.
Every child will need a little time to warm up to a new environment. You are welcome to bring your little one along with you for a tour so they can see the school, students and teachers while holding your hand so the first day drop off doesn’t feel as intimidating. Our staff is also very aware that the first day of school can be scary for little ones and there will be plenty of hands to hold and hugs to be given.
Family Communication
Your child’s teacher will make lesson plans each week based on what your child will be learning and will be happy to share that with you. You will also receive pictures of what your child is doing throughout their week.
We do our best to send a picture a day or more to each family. As for updates you can talk with your child’s teacher at drop off and pick up.
We use an app called Procare to message families and send pictures throughout the day. We are also available by phone call.
Yes we have an open door policy but we do ask that any visits are brief or from a distance because it can be a big distraction to the children’s routines and learning.
Tuition & Fees
Our tuition includes our curriculum for all ages, breakfast, lunch and snack. We do offer our formula and purees for infant families but you may also send in premade bottles and purees of your own.
We provide breakfast, lunch and snacks. We do offer our formula and purees for infant families but you may also send in premade bottles and purees of your own.
There is an annual registration fee of $100.
Yes we offer 10% off the oldest sibling for weekly tuition.
We accept SR for Seminole County.
Tuition is due the Friday before the upcoming week.
