Imagination. Discovery. Curiosity.
The School
The SCI Preschool sets the stage for three and four-year-olds to make dynamic discoveries in the world that surrounds them, using all the incredible resources the Science Center of Iowa has to offer. Your little learners will flourish in an environment designed especially for them!
The SCI Preschool is newly enrolled in the NAEYC Accreditation self study program. For more information about accreditation please visit www.rightchoiceforkids.org
The Curriculum
With science and discovery as an overriding theme, special interest areas like music, art, literature, and nature give children a chance to explore the wonders of the world. Hands-on activities, interactive opportunities, and lots of play allow children to develop self image, language, motor and social skills in a fun, educational atmosphere.
The Educators
The SCI Preschool connects children to accredited teachers with professional training in early childhood care and education, and the general SCI staff provide positive, engaging classroom interactions. The Science Center of Iowa holds exceptional standards that value teachers with higher education experience.
The Families
Preschoolers’ families will benefit from SCI’s effort to link the classroom to the home through informational newsletters and emails, and assessments are built into the curriculum to build outside awareness of daily school activities. Teachers also provide bi-annual conferences that allow families to share in the growth and development of their child.
The Details
The SCI Preschool offers a variety of classes and session times:
• Part-day sessions run September - May
• Full-day sessions run September - August
Extended “before and after” care is available for registered preschoolers as early as 7:30 am and as late as 5:30 pm each weekday. A small breakfast and/or after-school snack is provided for children in before and after-school care sessions.
SCI provides preschoolers a “Lunch Bunch” option from 11:30 pm -1:00 pm daily, serving hot lunch from Eurest Dining Services, SCI’s exclusive caterer which also serves the SCI Food Chain Cafe. Menus are posted a week in advance for parents to review.
How to Enroll
To place your child on the enrollment list for the SCI Preschool, parents should submit contact information to the preschool by phone, by mailing in a completed Preschool Application, or after scheduling a personal visit with the Preschool Director. Enrollment requests are filed in the order in which they are received and parents of eligible children are notified before school begins to secure enrollment with a non-refundable deposit. Formal registration and deposit are required to guarantee your preschooler’s space.
Any child is eligible to be enrolled in the SCI Preschool provided he or she meets the following criteria:
• Three years old on or before September 15 for the three and four-year-old programs
• Four years old on or before September 15 for the four and five-year-old programs
• Have completed the required forms including: medical, immunization, emergency consent,
pick-up permission, photo release
• All children must be toilet trained
• Families of all students must be Science Center of Iowa members while the child attends preschool
To place your child on the enrollment list for the SCI Preschool Program or for details about class schedules and rates, call the preschool director at 515-274-6868 ext. 203. For information on other great programs for kids at SCI, check out our Camps, Classes, & Special Events!