First Discoveries
Academy

We had an amazing summer camp, and we are looking forward to an equally amazing school year!  

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Wondering about our Health and Safety Precautions related to COVID-19?  There is lots of information right at your fingertips!  Have questions?  Just ask!  We are committed to keeping children and staff safe and healthy this year!

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Here's what you need to know about the new school year:

 

First Day of School at First Discoveries

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The first day of school is:

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• Wednesday, August 18th for our Kindergarten/Primary class

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• Wednesday, September 1st for Preschool and VPK/PreK

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Afterschool for Local Elementary Schools:

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• Hillsborough County Public Schools resume on Tuesday, August 10th.  We will be picking up from Brooker Elementary School; dismissal time is 1:55 pm (12:55 pm on early release days).

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• If you are signed up for afterschool care at First Discoveries, please confirm if you have any changes to your schedule as we are finalizing our bus rosters.  Remember to let the elementary school know that First Discoveries will be picking up your child.  We recommend having us pick up your child on the first day of school to prevent confusions at the school the first week.

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• In the event of school closures this year, we will be offering distance learning support for children enrolled in our afterschool program.

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• Please remember that you need to send a Brightwheel message by noon each day if we are not picking up your child at the elementary school.

 

Kindergarten/Primary Class:

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• Virtual Open House: Monday, August 16th at 4:00 pm (A recording will be available if you are unable to attend)

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• Meet the Teacher: Tuesday, August 17th from 10:00 to 11:00 am

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• First Day of School: Wednesday, August 18th

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• Daily Schedule: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, with early release at 12:30 on Mondays and and on select days listed on the school calendar

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• Arrival Time: between 8:00 and 8:30 am

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• Dismissal Time: between 2:30 and 3:00 pm

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Preschool and VPK/PreK Classes:

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• Virtual Open House: Monday, August 30th at 5:00 pm

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• Meet the Teacher Stay and Play Visit: Tuesday, August 31st from 10:00 to 11:00 am

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• First Day of School: Wednesday, September 1st

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• Daily Schedule: depends on the schedule that you selected during registration

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Stay and Play Visits:

If your child is preregistered for the Preschool Class or PreK/VPK Class for the upcoming school year, you are encouraged to schedule a Stay and Play visit before the first day of school.  Please email if you would like to attend.  You are welcome to drop your child off (as long as we have a completed enrollment packet on file so we have emergency contact information).  Due to current health and safety procedures, if you would like to stay with your child, families may attend the outdoor portion of the Stay and Play as family members are not currently allowed inside the building.

 

School Supplies and School Shirts:

We recommend that families bring their school supplies by the school prior to the first day of school if possible.  See the school supply list above.

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Don't forget to purchase a t-shirt for the new school year if you don't already have one!  We wear our school shirts on Wednesdays for our Spirit Days.  If we are able to take any field trips later this school year, every child will need to wear a school shirt on the field trip.

 

Semi-Annual Supply/Registration Fee:

Please remember that the semi-annual supply/registration fee of $150 is due on August 1st and on January 1st.  Half of the fee is used for insurance costs for the school, and the remaining funds are used to replace/purchase consumable supplies for the school, including art supplies (paint, construction paper, etc.), puzzles, and other materials. 

 

Children enrolled in the Kindergarten / Primary class have a $500 book fee due in August (may be covered by scholarships) for registration and for books and curriculum materials.

 

School Dress Code:

We encourage families to adhere to a simple dress code—  Children should come to school in comfortable clothes that allow them to participate in messy, busy explorations.  Please wear tennis shoes rather than crocs or sandals.  Girls must always wear shorts under their dresses/skirts.  We will wear our school shirts on Wednesdays and all field trips.  School shirts are available for $10 each (order shirt online).  School shirts ordered online will be sent home the first week of school.

 

Parking for Families:

To prevent families from being blocked in the driveway, we ask families to follow our parking policy.  Our teachers park in the grassy lot at the back of the property, leaving 5 parking spaces available for parents at the front of the building.  If there are no parking spaces available, you are welcome to park in front of the dumpster or on the grass on our property.  Please do not park in our neighbors' yard. 

 

Also, to prevent air pollution please turn off your engine rather than idling your engine!  

 

For safety reasons, children may never be left unattended in vehicles.

 

Parent Communication App:

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to download the Brightwheel app and login with the email you supplied to the school.  You will need your phone to scan a QR code at drop-off and pick-up each day; be sure that you know your access code.  The app will also allow you to receive messages from the school and from your child's teacher.  All families are required to have access to Brightwheel either on your mobile device (phone or tablet) or on the website.

 

Be sure to watch for the first day of school pictures on Brightwheel! 

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Late Arrivals:

Children must arrive at school no later than 8:45 am so that they can participate in all of our morning routines.  Children may only arrive after 8:45 am if they had a doctor's appointment that morning (note from the doctor's office is required) and if they notified the school in advance.

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Pick-up Procedures:

Your child's dismissal time is at 12:30, 3:00 or by 5:00, depending on the schedule that you choose.  Early dismissal is at 12:30 on Monday for K/Primary and the Inclusion Preschool programs.  Please arrive on time for dismissal.  Staff members have specific responsibilities after those scheduled times.  If you need to pick-up later than normal, please notify us in advance.  There are fees for extended day programs and for late pick-ups.

 

See You Soon!

 

We are looking forward to an amazing school year!

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please let Ms. Jennifer or Ms. Cindy know!

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