Lucy Brock Child Development Center is open to children of faculty, staff, students, and the community. Families are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment to visit the center and observe the program in operation before submitting an application for admission. Applications may be requested by calling 828-262-3006 or can be downloaded by clicking on this application link. Completed applications should be returned to the following address:
Lucy Brock Child Development Center
Appalachian State University
253 Locust Street
Boone, NC 28608
lucybrockcdc@gmail.com
Applicants are placed on a waiting list for the appropriate program (Infant-Toddler or Preschool). Most often openings occur in the months between spring and fall semester when toddlers move on to preschool and preschoolers move on to kindergarten. In order to maintain the greatest possible diversity in group composition, general practice is to fill vacancies in each classroom based on the charastics (gender, race/ethnicity, ages, special needs) of current children and those on the waiting list. Because the primary mission of the Lucy Brock Child Development Center is to provide university students with the broadest possible range of experiences with children, the center staff strive to maintain a balance of age and gender in each classroom and give priority to children with, or at risk for developing, disabilities. Also, priority is given to children with siblings who are currently enrolled in order to help families reduce the stress of multiple settings. Because the center models best practices in serving all children, diversity in the groups of children served is a priority.
Within this framework, applications are considered in the order in which received. An example of the process of identifying a 3-year-old girl to balance group composition: the director would access the waiting list to identify a 3- year-old identified as having or being at risk for developing disabilities. If these conditions could not be identified the director would look for a 3-year-old girl with a sibling currently in the program. If the space is not filled that way, the director would offer the space to the 3-year-old girl with the earliest application date and proceed until the space is filled.
Once a child has been selected for potential enrollment in this way, the admission process begins. The family meets with the center director to review policies and receive answers to questions about the program. During this interview, families receive a guided tour of the facilities and are invited to spend time in the observation booth to see the program in action. The next step is submission of fees, health records and all required forms.
Family members are encouraged to spend time at Lucy Brock during the first week of their child’s attendance. Time is an investment that will bring long-term rewards. The goal is for children—and their families—to feel secure. Family members and teachers need to get acquainted and begin building a relationship of trust. This is a process that takes time to learn about the philosophy of the center and the approach of the staff with children. The center staff will learn some of the special ways parents comfort or interact with their child. Both parents and staff will have opportunities to ask each other the many questions that inevitably occur as the day unfolds. A number of decisions will be made with teachers in consultation with parents. Some examples could be when a 3-year-old is ready to stay for nap and afternoon play, or when parents are ready to leave an infant for the entire day.