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Early Education
Read FAQs for New Center for Early Education at Merrill Community Campus
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Which schools will have classrooms at the Center? Asbury Elementary, Cory Elementary, Slavens School and Steele Elementary (the "Home Schools") all will have offerings at the Center.
- Cory Elementary, 1551 S. Steele Street/ 303-744-2726
- Asbury Elementary, 1320 E. Asbury Avenue/ 303-722-4695
- Steele Elementary, 320 S. Marion Street/ 303-744-1717
- Slavens School, 3000 S. Clayton Street/ 720-424-4150
2. What type of offerings will be held at the Center? All Home Schools will have full-day and half-day 4 year old preschool offerings available.
3. When will the classes begin and finish at the Center? The school day will begin at 8:30am. Morning half-day class will dismiss at 11:10am with afternoon half-day programs beginning at 12:40pm and dismissing with full-day programs at 3:20pm.
- Full-Day programs: 8:30am - 3:20pm
- Morning Half-Day programs: 8:30am - 11:10am
- Afternoon Half-Day programs: 12:40pm - 3:20pm
4. How do I apply for an offering at the Center? Applications for all offerings will be at each Home School or you may download an application from http://earlyeducation.dpsk12.org . Please return completed applications to your Home School. Upon acceptance, your child will be enrolled in the Home School with its preschool offerings being held at the Center. Please contact your preferred school or the Early Education department for more information on how to enroll.
5. In which neighborhood is the Center considered to be located? A child is considered to be in the neighborhood served by the Center if the child resides in the neighborhood of one of the Home Schools. Neighborhood children will be given the highest priority for participating in the programs at the Center. However, seats are limited, so there is no guarantee that a neighborhood child will be enrolled at the Center.
6. How does the "School of Choice" priority process work with the Center? Children enrolled in a Home School program at the Center will be treated as the Home School's preschool student. Choice preschool students are given a "currently attending" priority status. This "currently attending" status is a highest priority for children who choice in at the Kindergarten level.
7. Will some classes have students from all Home Schools? Some classes may have students from other Home Schools. Students will still be considered enrolled at the Home School where they applied.
8. Will there be special programs at the Center? There are incredible opportunities for collaboration and development of special activities at the Center simply because of the number of qualified preschool teachers present at the Center. Upon the hiring of a Director and the teachers, these activities will be developed and communicated to all participating parents or guardians.
9. Will there be before and after programs for the children at the Center? Kaleidoscope Corner, the district's provider of wrap-around programs, will be providing programs for children before and after the Center programs. There will also be activities for children in half-day programs, allowing these children to stay at the Center through the lunch period. All of these programs are tuition based. Tuition assistance is available. Please contact one of the Home Schools for more information.
10. Are the classrooms separated from the other programs at Merrill? The classrooms allocated to the Center will be completely separated from the other programs at Merrill. The Center will have a separate entrance, an area used only for drop off of preschool children, and a fenced, isolated playground.
11. Will transportation be provided from the Home School to the Center? Transportation to the Center will not be provided by the district. Parents/Guardians will be responsible for dropping off and picking up their child from the Center.
12. What type of interaction will there be between the Center and the home schools? Parents and students located at the Center will be invited and encouraged to participate in all activities of their Home School.
