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Our Children
A Shining Star Learning Center is pleased to be recognized as the child care
provider selected by choosy parents in the Bloomington/Normal area. We have
worked hard and will continue to work hard for the families we serve.
Everything about A Shining Star Learning Center has been created especially for
young children and their parents. Everything, including our building, playground,
educational programs, parent-friendly schedules, etc., has been designed with
the best interests of our children in mind.
The mission of A Shining Star Learning Center is to provide excellent early
childhood care and education to the families and children in our community.
We would love to have your child join our Shining Star family!
Infants
At A Shining Star Learning Center, we want our infants (ages 6 weeks -
15 months) to feel safe and loved in their environment. Our staff strives
to meet the individual basic needs of each infant with lots of love and care.
Infants make their own schedules…eating, sleeping, playing, cuddling…while
developing at their own pace. Staff continually monitor and observe each child
while creating curriculum to assist the child to meet their developmental goals.
There is a balance of active and quiet toys for the infants to discover, play,
and learn. Older infants have access to the playground area outside each of
the infant rooms. Infants also enjoy frequent rides in the stroller or buggy.
Each room is equipped with a changing station and hand-washing area for
sanitation purposes. Food prep areas include a refrigerator, sink, and counter top.
Staff/Child Ratio 1:4
What we provide:
• Sam's - Simply Right (Enfamil)
• Infant cereal
• Jarred baby food
• Table food, when your child is ready
• Feeding utensils
• Crib sheets
What to bring:
• Disposable diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper rash ointment or crème*
• Sunscreen*
• Teething medication*
• Bottles
• Pacifiers
• Two complete changes of clothing
* DCFS requires a parent/guardian sign a permission slip before staff can apply
any topical ointment.
Toddlers
The toddler rooms are designed to provide a healthy, safe, stimulating
environment to the active needs of the toddler age children (15 - 24 months).
Toddlers need the freedom to explore their surroundings, yet follow a predictable,
classroom schedule. Toddlers enjoy time to discover and play in designed center
areas. Children at this age are exploring independence, peer socialization, and
language development.
Toddler rooms have a wide variety age appropriate toys and equipment to
dramatically recreate the world around them. An outside playground area,
designed just for the toddlers, is a fun place to play. On rainy or cold days,
the toddlers enjoy playing in the indoor gym.
The toddler rooms are adjoined by a restroom equipped with child sized sinks
and toilets to aid in teaching self-help skills of handwashing and toilet training.
Other self-help skills encouraged in the toddler rooms are drinking from a cup
with a lid and feeding themselves with eating utensils. The children sleep on
cots during afternoon naptime.
Staff/Child Ratio 1:5
What we provide:
• Feeding equipment
• Cot sheets
What to bring:
• Disposable diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper rash ointment or crème*
• Sunscreen*
• Teething medication*
• Two complete changes of clothing
• Blanket
• Water bottle
* DCFS requires that you sign a permission slip before we can apply any topical ointment.
Two-Year-Olds
At A Shining Star Learning Center, our 2-year-old rooms are designed for the
active child discovering and learning through our play-based curriculum.
Planned activities focus on problem solving, language, physical and social/
emotional skill building.
Two-year-old rooms have a wide variety age of appropriate toys and equipment
to dramatically recreate the world around them. An outside playground area,
designed just for the 2-year-olds, is a fun place to play. On rainy or cold days,
the 2-year-olds enjoy playing in the indoor gym.
The 2-year-old rooms are adjoined by a restroom equipped with child sized sinks and toilets to aid in teaching self-help skills of handwashing and toilet training.
Potty training gets plenty of attention in these classrooms, while the staff works closely with the parents as a team to help the children achieve and maintain this milestone. Other self-help skills encouraged in the 2-year-old rooms are drinking from a cup without a lid and feeding themselves with eating utensils.
The children sleep on cots during afternoon naptime.
​
Staff/Child Ratio 1:8
What we provide:
• Feeding equipment
• Cot sheets
What to bring:
• Disposable diapers (until your child is toilet trained)
• Wipes
• Sunscreen*
• Two complete changes of clothing, including underpants and socks
• Blanket
• Water bottle
• Optional: small, travel sized pillow
* DCFS requires that you sign a permission slip before we can apply any topical ointment.
Preschool
At A Shining Star Learning Center, our preschool rooms are designed for
the active child discovering and learning through our play-based curriculum.
The children are encouraged to develop skills and creativity through both
self-directed and structured activities and enjoy a variety of activities with
emphasis on school readiness.
Preschool rooms have a wide variety of age-appropriate toys and educational equipment to dramatically recreate the world around them. An outside
playground area, designed especially for the preschool child, is a fun place
to play. On rainy or cold days, the preschoolers enjoy playing in the indoor gym.
The staff adds fun, creative large motor activities and movement games for
large motor coordination.
The preschool rooms are adjoined by a restroom equipped with child sized
sinks and toilets.
​
A Shining Star Preschool graduates participate in a promotional ceremony
each May before entering into kindergarten.
Staff/Child Ratio 1:10
What we provide:
• Cot sheets
What to bring:
• Disposable diapers (until your child is toilet trained)
• Wipes
• Sunscreen*
• Two complete changes of clothing, including underpants and socks
• Blanket
• Water bottle
• Optional: small, travel sized pillow
* DCFS requires that you sign a permission slip before we can apply any topical ointment.
​
School Age
School-age children are welcome at A Shining Star Learning Center where we provide a before and after school program. A Shining Star Learning Center provides bus transportation for children attending Sugar Creek, Fairview and Prairieland Elementary schools. Unit 5 School District provides bus transportation for some children attending Parkside Elementary. Please check with Unit 5 Transportation, (309) 557-4287, to see if your child is eligible for transportation services.
After school each day, the children are provided a nutritious snack, followed
by quiet time to either complete homework or read a book, then free play either inside the classroom or out on the center’s playground.
On days when children are out of school, a more structured schedule with
various activities and art projects fills the day. At A Shining Star Learning Center, the school-age room is a fun atmosphere to where the children love to interact with their friends. During the summer months, a full-time summer program includes exciting learning activities and field trips.
Reading exercises and math skills are implemented to keep the children intellectually stimulated during the summer. Besides our outdoor activities,
the children participate in an air conditioned environment on hot and humid days.
