Frequently Asked Questions

We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Our school day is from 8:30am-3:30pm and our tuition includes 8:00am-5:00pm with optional added extended care options before and after.

 We enroll children from infancy (6 weeks) through 1st grade. Class placements are based on developmental readiness and availability. Siblings and faculty children are given priority in our nursery and toddler programs. 

· Yes, we offer part-time full-day options. We do not offer half-days at this time, however, half-day kindergarten may be offered if enough interest is expressed. 

· We do not offer drop-in care.

Thriving Roots is a private, holistic early education school, not a daycare. We offer a full-day option that blends the structure and quality of a private school with the flexibility many working families need. Our approach prioritizes intentional learning, emotional development, and a peaceful environment from infancy to 1st grade.

Tuition can be paid monthly or annually (with a 3% discount for annual payment). All tuition is billed in advance. If you need a custom payment option, please speak with our admissions team. 

 We are a year-round school. If a space becomes available during the school year or summer, we will reach out to families on our admissions queue to schedule a start date. 

Because we are a private school, we are not eligible to accept DWS or military subsidy. We offer minimal scholarships at this time and are exploring sliding scale support options for the future. 

 We offer breakfast until 8:20 AM. Snacks are provided in the morning, afternoon, and late afternoon. Fresh fruit and vegetable offerings are available in classrooms throughout the day. Families provide a healthy packed lunch daily. 

We use Playground, an all-in-one communication and billing app. Parents receive:

• Messaging with teachers and directors
• Daily updates
• Learning observations and photos (as time and safety allow)
• Incident and health reports
• Tuition billing and receipts
• A school feed
   

Note: Teachers prioritize supervision and classroom engagement over digital updates during the day. Limited updates may occur when substitute teachers are present.

All faculty complete extensive onboarding and continuous training in:

• Teaching practices
• Early Childhood Education and Development
• Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio methods
• Conscious and Positive Discipline
• Health & Safety practices
• Mandated to attend monthly, quarterly, and annual professional development days, conferences, and other personal and professional growth

All teachers pass background checks, fingerprinting, and are infant/child CPR & First Aid certified. We hold the expectation that all teachers are pursuing or have a degree, pursuing or have their CDL in Early Childhood Education, or pursuing or have their Montessori teaching credential.

 Yes! Families are invited to seasonal showcases, family connection events, and classroom celebrations. We believe in strong family partnerships and create space for you to engage meaningfully with your child’s learning. Parents are welcome to volunteer in different ways and are welcome to visit or observe the classroom with coordinated notice to preserve focus and flow.

•  Lower ratios with two teachers for focused supervision
• Co-teachers in every classroom with most classes below state ratio
• Security cameras throughout the school for leadership monitoring
• Locked exterior doors during all school hours
• Second locked front entry door for added security beyond the first entry point
• Keypad entry for only teachers and admin to access
• Single-entry outdoor area with a secured gate
• Name-to-Face checks when leaving the classroom and returning from outside

We prioritize cleanliness and hand hygiene. Classrooms are disinfected and sanitized throughout the day using a child-safe sanitizing product called Briotech, and handwashing is taught as part of our Practical Life curriculum. Handwashing happens throughout the day after transitions.

We are a well-child school. Children must be symptom-free (fever, vomiting, diarrhea) for 24 hours without medication before returning. Final return decisions are made by the student director.

Stay updated on local illness trends here: GermWatch – Intermountain Health

As a Utah private school, parents are required to provide either a current immunization record or an printed exemption form before your child’s start date. We respect medical freedom and support families in making informed decisions. Access the Utah exemption form here: Utah Online Exemption Module

Aside from reducing bacteria from the bottom of our shoes and keeping our school clean, we believe in the developmental and sensory benefits of going barefoot. With over 200,000 nerve endings in the feet, children gain balance, regulation, and grounding when connected directly to the Earth. Inside shoes or house slippers are always welcome when needed for safety or comfort. 

 At Thriving Roots, we use a combination of Conscious Discipline and Positive Discipline to support children in developing self-regulation, empathy, and respectful boundaries. We do not use punishment. Instead, we focus on co-regulation, emotional modeling, and consistent social-emotional teaching moments throughout the day.

We believe behavior is a form of communication. When a child needs more support, we partner with parents to create Growth Improvement Plans that help uncover root causes and provide consistency between home and school.

We also ask for family accountability in supporting this process, especially through routines at home and by reducing screen time, which is often linked to dysregulation and increased behavior challenges in the classroom.

Our goal is to create a safe, respectful, and connected environment where each child learns how to navigate big emotions and grow through guided support.

 No. Thriving Roots is a non-sectarian, non-political school. We do not teach any religious, spiritual, or political curriculum and welcome families of all belief systems.