Enrollment

Classrooms at 515 Jefferson

We’re excited to meet you and your little ones!

This section is for families interested in enrolling in our early education classrooms at 515 Jefferson: Tesoro, Scoperta, Avventura, Vita Mia, and Malaguzzi. For Immaginare and Discovery Care, see the GRCDC section below.

The first step in our enrollment process is to add your name to our waiting list. You can do so by filling out the form below and paying the $25 fee. If you receive or are eligible for MDHHS childcare assistance, the waiting list fee is waived.

Enrollment Timeline

Enrollment generally takes place at the end of the school year. In late August, current students transition into their new classrooms and openings are filled. During the year, openings are filled from the waiting list as they occur.

February

Survey current families for schedule updates

March

Survey waiting families to confirm desired schedules

April

Work on room placements

May-June

Notify waiting families of enrollment

August

Student transition and new enrollment begins

Due to the high demand and limited space in our classrooms, we follow a very intentional enrollment process. Priority goes to, in order, current employees, current families, families who receive MDHHS childcare assistance, and other waiting families based on when they joined the waiting list. Therefore we are not able to provide specific details on enrollment wait times.

Tours are provided when your name is approaching the top of the waiting list so you’re able to make an informed decision on enrollment.

Tuition Rates

The rates shown below are per week. Families may choose to be billed weekly or monthly.

Click here for more information about which classroom is right for your child.

Effective August 19, 2024

Weekly

M/W/F

T/Th

Tesoro

$383

$285

$197

Scop­erta/
Avven­tura

$367

$274

$186

Vita Mia

$331

$254

$166

Mala­guzzi

$321

$243

$160

  • Tuition rates are set based on the cost of running programs for the entire year and divided by 52 weeks.
  • Accepting a slot in a classroom requires payment for the weekly tuition regardless of attendance or closures.
  • Each family may select one vacation week each year when payment is not due.

Closure Dates

  • Transition Week: Aug 12 – 16
  • Labor Day: Sept 2
  • Autumn Break: Nov 28 – 29
  • Winter Break: Dec 14 – Jan 2
  • Spring Break: Apr 7 – 11
  • Memorial Day: May 26
  • Juneteenth: June 19
  • Independence Day: July 4
  • Snow Days align with GRPS
  • Professional Development Days – quarterly Friday afternoon throughout the school year

Community Events & Celebrations

  • Family Breakfasts: occasional days providing intentional time for families to connect with classroom teachers, 8:30-10am.
  • Diversity Dinner: An evening event for children and families to bring a favorite dish to share.
  • Birthday Celebrations: All classrooms gather to celebrate birthdays from the month.
  • Seasonal Celebration: Come into the classrooms to take part in some children-inspired activities.
  • MLK Day: Each classrooms explores ways we can be inclusive and show kindness.
  • Family/Teacher Conferences: Families welcomed in to reflect on their child’s year so far with their teachers.
  • Month of the Young Child: Activities during April to celebrate the capabilities of the young child and our image of the child.
  • Art Auction: A fundraising event where children collaborate on projects to sell at auction.
  • Reading Month: Several day-time events throughout the month that families are invited to.
  • Remida/Earth Day: A celebration of things reusable and recyclable!
  • Garden Gear Up: Stop by to help us spruce up our outdoor spaces.
  • Portfolio Night: Children leaving for kindergarten are invited to open up their portfolio of work and reflect with their families.
  • End of Year Celebration: Families are welcomed to stop by for games and to celebrate everything their children have been a part of in the year.

Classrooms at the Child Discovery Center

Our Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) preschool, Immaginare, and our school-age program, Discovery Care, are located in the same building as our partnering elementary school, the Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center, at 409 Lafayette Ave.

Immaginare

As a partnership with the Great Start Readiness Program, enrollment for the Immaginare preschool is managed by Kent ISD. Immaginare runs during the school year and follows the GRPS calendar. There is no tuition, but all families must be eligible to apply. Enrollment begins March 1 and continues until all openings are filled. See the Kent ISD GSRP for eligibility and enrollment information. When enrolling, request the Immaginare preschool program.

Discovery Care

During the school-year, Discovery Care provides before and after school child care to the students who attend the Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center elementary school. Half day and full day care are available on days when the elementary school is closed due to planning, professional development, and most holidays. If the elementary school closes due to weather or power outage, Discovery Care is also closed.

The summertime Discovery Care program is open to the public.

For more details, see the Discovery Care page.

Lauren Huyck

Mentor Teacher

B.S in psychology and writing
A.A. in early childhood education
Teaching since 2010

My name is Lauren Huyck and I am the afternoon lead for the Scoperta classroom. I started as a teaching assistant when the center was still part of Aquinas in 2010. When we became the GREDC in 2012, I stayed on. In 2014, I was excited to accept the role of lead teacher.

I have a Bachelors in psychology and writing, and an associates in early childhood education. I am currently working on getting a Masters in psychology with a concentration in child development.

I love seeing the children grow and learn. There are so many developmental milestones that I get to see and experience. I fell in love with the Reggio approach and work to incorporate it in all my experiences with children. It has definitely taught me to treat children as citizens of the world.

I honestly could go on about how much I love the work I do and how passionate I feel about every child having quality care but that would take eons. So I will end with these two quotes:

“To take children seriously is to value them for who they are right now rather than adults-in-the-making.”

Alfie Kohn

If you trust play, you will not have to control your child’s development as much. Play will raise the child in ways you can never imagine.

Vince Gowmon