FAQ

Students who qualify for one of the following programs:

Title I Early Childhood Program is designed for children 4-5 years old (until they are age eligible for kindergarten), who first participated in a developmental screening to determine if they are eligible for the Title I program. Eligibility is figured using DIAL 4, ASQ SE and Parent Reporting.

Please visit https://pat.lsr7.org/2014/01/28/developmental-screenings/ to sign up for a screening (your child must be 3 years of age or older on the screening date).

The Early Childhood Special Education Preschool Program is designed for children, ages 3-5 (until they are age eligible for kindergarten), who qualify based upon an identification process of screening and evaluation that meets the state criteria for a child with a disability. We also provide services to children who are attending Lee’s Summit community preschools. Children who qualify may receive related services such as: speech, language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision services, hearing impaired services.

AFTER you have been notified that your child qualifies, you will need to upload your child’s immunization records, birth certificate and a current utility bill (gas, water or electric).

3 to 5 years old unless they are age eligible for kindergarten. In the state of Missouri, children are age eligible for kindergarten if they are 5 years old before August 1.

No, there are currently 14 classrooms at the Great Beginnings Center and 8 satellite classrooms due to lack of space and the need to serve a variety of children throughout the district. There are currently 5 Great Beginnings preschool classrooms located at Woodland Elementary and 2 preschool classrooms located at Meadow Lane Elementary and 1 at Westview Elementary. If your child qualifies, it is possible that they may attend one of our satellite classrooms, depending on your address and space available.

A Home Visit is a great way for you to partner with your child’s teacher/therapist. It takes place in your home, lasts for about an hour. Research tells us that parent/school connectedness creates better success for students. Home visits are part of the program your child is enrolled in, please call me if there is a reason you cannot complete a home visit with your child’s teacher.

Please help your home visit be as successful as it can be, turn off all distractions like the TV, computer and cell phones. Your child’s teacher will interact with your child, but their main focus is on you, so plan to sit beside them for this time together.

Contact your child’s teacher to see if there is anything they need for their classroom. Send healthy classroom snacks.

Read your child’s newsletter, opportunities for engagement and support are most often published here. We typically do not have parents at school volunteering while children are here. We have found that many of our students struggle to stay engaged when parents are present. We have several opportunities for you to engage with your child in the classroom throughout the year. Keep an eye on that newsletter for upcoming opportunities.

If your child is enrolled in Head Start with Mrs. Selby or Ms. Willis, your child will have meals at school. Otherwise, no, a small snack will be served, but not a meal. Parents are responsible for providing snacks for their child’s class. It is essential for parents to send snacks as assigned. If the snack is not received, your child’s class will not have snack for the day. Items must be store bought. Prepackaged items used in classroom activities must include a list of ingredients on the package. Whole foods are the exception (fruits/vegetables).

Drop off/pick up times are 10 minutes prior to class starting for car riders.

Transportation will communicate pick up/drop off times with you. Please know that as each child has to be buckled on and off the bus, this can cause delays. You should allow a window of time for your bus to arrive. Call transportation at 986-2400 with questions.

All transportation changes must be done by calling our front office. Please allow 5-8 business days for transportation changes to take effect.

If your child needs to take medication at school, DO NOT send medication in your child’s backpack. Medication must be brought into the health room by a parent. Contact the school nurse at 986-2462 to make arrangements for your child to take medication at school.

Your child must be symptom free of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.

Please call Great Beginnings school office at 986-2460 and if your child is a bus rider please call transportation at 986-4287 to let them know your child will be absent and when you plan on returning. If your child is sick, please call in everyday that your child is absent.

Your child will have opportunities to play in a sensory table (flour, cornmeal, water, sand, beans, rice), paint, use markers, glue, scissors, and will play outside daily. Your child should wear comfortable clothes and safe shoes for running/climbing. Please place an extra set of clothing in your child’s backpack. Please send a jacket/coat/gloves/hat with your child, we go outside unless it is below 20 degrees outside.

Yes, it should come to school every day so your child can take home important papers and art work. The backpack should be large enough to hold a manila envelope. Please keep an extra set of clothing in your child’s backpack in case of spills or other accidents.

Before and after school care is offered through Kid’s Country’s program called KC Cubbies that offers a program for children ages 3-5. Children must be 3 years of age by July 31, 2020. Visit the BASS page for enrollment information and pricing. 

Siblings/Cousins or other children under the age of 18 are not allowed in classrooms during the school day according to LSR7 Board Policy.

Yes, please send in commercially packaged treats for your child’s birthday. Also, please contact your child’s teacher to let them know when you plan to send the treats, they will adjust their snack schedule. LSR7 Board Policy states that items must be store bought. Prepackaged items used in classroom activities must include a list of ingredients on the package. Whole foods are the exception (fruits/vegetables).