At DayStar...
We believe the purposes of education are to stimulate and encourage the development of the whole child; intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. The ways children are taught and encouraged in the early years of life inform how they develop and grow. The nurturing care they receive at this critical time affects the long-term development of their brains, personalities, values, character and even how they interact socially with others.
At DayStar Childcare is to work toward the individual development of your child. We believe in a comprehensive early childhood approach to education that is age and developmentally appropriate and one that is based on solid child developmental principles. The experiences encountered each day are designed to stimulate growth through active involvement, child participation, age appropriateness, cognitive appropriateness, and develop-mental relevance to the child. This includes holistic learning with the love of Christ being expressed in all that we do.
Our Goal...
In Our Setting...
Children have a stable, safe environment filled with challenging opportunities to learn and explore new things through play and discovery. Activities encompass literacy, math, art, music and movement. Each classroom is rich with conversation, books and reading. Teachers observe and plan curricula reflective of the interest and diversity of children and families represented in each class.
All areas of the child’s development are interwoven into the activities they encounter. Both free play and directed play are important components to our program. Whether they are running outdoors, creating a work of art, or quietly listening to a story, they will be learning.
Once a child reaches the age of 1 year, the child will move to DayStar Childcare. It is a Level 4 Paths to Quality, Unlicensed Registered Ministry with the State of Indiana. Our toddler program consist of two One’s classes and two Two’s classes. The One’s classes incorporate children who are one to 24 months. Our Two’s classes incorporate children who are age 24 – 36 months. Each of our four classrooms are designed to provide a developmentally appropriate environment for each individual child and the group as a whole. This design allows children to safely follow their inquisitiveness. Through exploration and teacher involvement, the toddlers and twos will develop self-confidence, and knowledge.
Using Creative Curriculum, the schedule for each classroom allows for ample time to play, explore, and learn in indoor and outdoor settings. The indoor setting provides opportunities for art, music, language, science literacy, drama, and sensory experiences. The outdoor setting provides opportunities for gross motor development as well as science, and language opportunities.
The teachers of these classrooms ensure that each child feels comfortable when they enter the classroom. They treat children with love, patience, and care. Our desire is that the treatment that each child receives from his or her teacher will develop a love for school and learning.
Toddlers and Twos
Preschool &
Pre-Kindergarten
DayStar Childcare has five preschool classrooms. These classrooms are divided into two Preschool classes and three Pre-Kindergarten classes.
Our program prepares children socially and academically for success in Kindergarten. These classrooms are organized in ways that encourage independence, responsibility, and confidence which are all necessary for this success.
Our educational program focuses on the development of the whole child; intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. These developmental areas are practiced by offering concrete, hands-on activities for the child to explore. They are also supported by the environment which is organized in areas that focus on all levels of development.
The preschool curriculum and environment are designed to offer developmentally appropriate opportunities that engage each child in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. Using Creative Curriculum, our trained staff develops and prepares activities that challenge and excite the children while integrating different learning styles appropriate for each classroom and each child.
Field trips and extracurricular activities are offered. These opportunities enhance the curriculum and learning experiences. DayStar has an annual membership to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and visits are incorporated into our planned activities. Crouching Tigers Karate provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to participate each week in Karate and life skills for an additional charge. Registration for Crouching Tigers is in August and in January.
DayStar provides before and after care for children ages 6 years through 6th grade or 12 years old. We also provide full-time activities for school agers during school breaks and summer vacation. During the school year, school aged children will have opportunity to work on homework and engage in both informal and group activities prepared by our staff.
During school breaks and summer vacation, DayStar has a developed curriculum to meet the needs and interest of our school agers. Planned educational activities, field trips and swimming opportunities are incorporated into the schedule each week during the summer. An end of the summer wilderness camping trip is planned each year to engage the children in nature experiences not available on a regular basis to most of our children.
School Agers
DayStar Infant Learning Center serves children from 6 weeks of age to 1 year. It is a Licensed, Level 4 Paths to Quality Facility with the State of Indiana. This program uses developmentally appropriate practices that are designed to provide children with a sense of love, belonging, and development. Children in this program eat, sleep, and play according to his or her personal schedule.
Every infant is a gift from God, designed with unique abilities, desires, and emotions. Our program is designed to assess each need of the individual child, create goals to meet that need, and provide educational experiences that assist in meeting the goals. Our infant environment provides a stimulating area that encourages visual, language, gross motor and small motor experiences to enhance learning through their own curiosities. Creative Curriculum and Indiana Foundations to Academic Standards for Children Birth to Age Five are used to plan appropriate activities that encourage growth and development for all of the children. Observations are made on a daily basis, and written observations are placed in each child’s portfolio monthly.
Our qualified staff guide and direct each child in every stage of development. It is necessary, especially in the infant room, for teachers and families to collaborate. Open communication should take place daily for the child to grow and develop in the most healthy way. DayStar realizes that it is in the best interest of the development of your infant to maintain consistent staff. When it is within our control, we will keep infants in the same classroom for at least 9 months.
