FAQ

We want this to be a positive experience for you and your child and give equal opportunity to all families regardless of race, creed, sex, religion, national origin, economic standing or physical condition.

We at Sunny Days Learning Academy believe in developmentally appropriate curriculum and strive to enhance social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth in young children. Our program is a combination of play-based and Montessori that inspires curiosity and creativity through a variety of group activities and free-play in themed centers.

During the school year, we serve students ages 2-5 years old. We have a class for our 2 and 3 year olds and two that are 3, 4 and 5 year olds.

Our ratio of adult to child is 5:1. City of Boise requires a 6:1 ratio, but we have a real focus on quality over quantity.

Our facility is open from 7:45 am to 5:00 pm.

We offer programs that are TuTh, MWF, and M-F. In our 2 and 3 year old classroom, we offer half-day options, as well.

We roughly follow the Boise School District Calendar for days off. We are closed Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day (2-Days), Winter Break (5 days around Christmas), New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, President’s Day, Spring Break (5 days in March). Our last day of the school year program is the Friday before Memorial Day. During the summer program, we will be off for the 4th of July. The regular school year for 2025 starts August 13th.

Our facility uses the Brightwheel app for messaging, photos, daily activities, and billing.

During the school year program, we use Experience Curriculum with our play-based program for the 2 and 3 year old class, and the 3/4/5 class is led by a Montessori certified teacher and much of that training is integrated into the classroom.

In both of our classes we work on creating a safe space for children to express themselves as the learn to interact with their peers. We recognize that some aspects of social-emotional development are going to be based on age-appropriate strategies.

At our school, we have a variety of activities that include free choice activities with variety of educational toys, early literacy development, art projects, outdoor activities and music and movement. We have extracurricular activities, as well, with mobile gymnastics and soccer programs.

Yes, we have a large outdoor playground. In the winter months, we have opportunities for gross motor soft play, dance parties and yoga.

We use positive discipline with students and the use of empathy, redirection and breaks when necessary. Our discipline policy has graduated interventions for extreme cases.

Our 2 and 3 year old class does not use screens in the classroom. The 3/4/5 class uses videos, slideshows during circle time to support the educational goals.

To ensure the safety and security of your child, we have taken several measures, so you have peace of mind. The building is equipped with both a security and fire alarm system that is connected to first responders in the event they are needed. The main entrance has a doorbell, so we can identify parents or visitors before entering. The large playground is fully fenced in, so students have a secure space outside to explore. All of our procedures and fire drills have been reviewed by the Idaho Stars program.

We have a plan for localized and neighborhood emergencies that have been gone over with all staff members in our building orientation. Parents will be called for a illness and a minor scrape or bump will be documented as an incident report in Brightwheel.

Please tell the teacher when your child is ill. You can contact us via Brightwheel prior to school and send a message to the teacher. Please use good judgment and the following guidelines will be used in determining when to send a sick child home:

FEVER: Usually fever is a sign that the body is fighting off an infection or a contagious disease. Fever is defined as an elevation of 1.5 degrees above the normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (by mouth). A child with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will be asked to remain home or a parent/guardian will be called to come an pick up the child. A child should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to preschool.

DIARRHEA: In that event that a child has more than one instance of loose, watery stools. Their parent/guardian will be called to come and pick up the child.

VOMITING: If a child vomits at school, a parent or guardian will be called to come an pick up the child. We ask that you not send a child that has been vomiting with other symptoms to school.

COVID-19: Sunny Days follows the Boise School District for guidance on Covid-19 procedures on masking and quarantine.

INFLUENZA: A child with a fever, persistent coughing, congestion, chills or muscle aches in any combination should be kept home or asked to go home.

SORE THROAT: A child with a sore throat who has not seen a doctor, should be kept home or asked to go home. Also, if your have excessive nasal discharge, especially if yellow or greenish, we ask that they stay home.

RASHES: A child with an unidentified rash that is spreading and/or getting worse over time will be sent home.

LICE: Sunny Days has a “NIT-FREE” policy; students will have to be kept at home until initial treatment has been completed.

In all of these cases, the Sunny Days Learning Academy recommends that a physician be consulted. If your child is ill or possibly ill, please be thoughtful of other parents and children and keep him/her home until he/she is well.

All staff MUST have a City of Boise Childcare Worker license. The requirement for a license includes a current CPR/First Aid certification, fingerprinting, sex offender registry check for each state lived in the past 5 years and continuing education.

Teachers clean and sanitize classrooms the classroom multiple times a day, and their is a cleaning rotation for all the toys. Children and staff wash their hands at the start of the day and each time they use the restroom or before they eat. A commercial cleaner comes in twice a month to deep clean the building.

Students with health conditions are admitted. We make sure to educate our staff on their condition and work with the parents to create a safe environment.

We do not provide meals at our facility. Students bring a cold lunch to school that is prepared by their family to accommodate various dietary needs. We do offer a group snack in the afternoon with our 3/4/5 class. The snack fee of $50 every 4 months covers this cost. Students bring their own snack if there are special circumstances.

Yes.

Our classes eat lunch around 11:30 am and snack is given in the afternoon between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm.

Our staff has various qualifications that include Montessori training, Elementary education and experience and medical training.

All of our staff participate in IdahoSTARS training.

We have opportunities for parents and families to come to events.

Not at this time.

2 and 3 Year Old Program

• Tuesday & Thursday Half-Day 8:30am-12:00pm $300/mo
• Tuesday & Thursday Full-Day 7:45am-5:00pm $425/mo
• Monday, Wednesday & Friday Half-Day 8:30am-12:00pm $450/mo
• Monday, Wednesday & Friday Full-Day 7:45am-5:00pm $600/mo
• Monday thru Friday Half-Day 8:30am-12:00pm $650/mo
• Monday thru Friday Full-Day 7:45am-5:00pm $950/mo

3/4/5 Year Old Program

• Tuesday & Thursday Full-Day 7:45am-5:00pm $425/mo
• Monday, Wednesday & Friday Full-Day 7:45am-5:00pm $585/mo
• Monday thru Friday Full-Day 7:45am-5:00pm $900/mo

There is a waitlist once a class fills or they are under 2 years of age.

We accept ICCP for students and families that qualify.

Enrollment is done online through our online application. An application fee of $100 is required at the time of application.

We will prorate the first month to begin tuition on your child’s start date. There is no penalty for changing schedules, but there is a 30-notice requirement for withdrawing from the school.

We will try to work with families that have students that have medical needs. We are not equipped to deal with developmental delays, so we may not be the best fit for your child.

We do not have any additional support services, but have some great referrals.

Both classes have slightly different schedules, but a typical day would include free-choice activities until all the students arrive by 9:30 am. The morning would have a circle time and outdoor activities. Classes have lunch around 11:30 am with the younger class going down for a nap around 12:30 pm. The older students have time in the art room and an afternoon circle time or extracurricular activities. Weather permitting, students will spend time outside in the afternoon.

We give opportunities for parents to make the transition into preschool a smooth one by coming up with a plan that will help their child best by being flexible with the schedule.

We provide nap mats and bed rolls and students can bring their own stuffies or blankets. Students have supervision during nap time that last from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. They will have a snack after they wake up.

Not at this time.

Transitions are done with songs and timers.