Welcome to PALS

Dear Parents,

Dear Parents,

Tours will begin on Tuesday, February 3, 2026

To setup a tour, please text message Debra Malone. We will work hard to get back in touch with each family wanting a tour within 24 hours of the text message. Leave your name, child’s name, and child’s date of birth (including the year). Tours are given Tuesdays – Fridays from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm.    706-266-2062  Debra Malone, PALS Director

PALS registration for the 2026-27 school year will begin on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. We are working with our IT to update our webpage at this time. However, the current registration forms online will remain the same. Also, the tuition will remain the same.

Our hours for school are Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 – 1:00. 

We offer classes for children 6 months – kindergarten. Our teacher / student ratio is:

6 months - ~1.5 years is 4 adults (2 full-time teachers) to 8 babies

1.5 - ~2.5 years is 4 adults (3 full-time teachers) to 12 toddlers

2.5 years - ~3 years is 3 full-time teachers to 12 children

~3 years - ~ 3.6 years is 2 full-time teachers to 12 children

~3.7 years – 3.11 years is 2 full-time teachers to 12 children

Pre-Kindergarten (4 years by September 1) is 2 full-time teachers to 12 children

Kindergarten (5 years by September 1) is 2 full-time teachers to 12 children

**PALS preschool does not offer a one day a week choice.

I am excited about what this new school year will bring. It is the mission of PALS to help every child and their family feel welcomed, connected, and a part of the PALS community. You have entrusted the most important thing in your lives to us, your child. We thank you for allowing PALS to be part of your family and for sharing your child with us. Together, we will work to create positive experiences for your child to learn and grow. 

Let us embrace this wonderful opportunity with excitement and anticipation for the amazing blessings God has instore for us in the new school year. 

Thank you for choosing PALS,

Debra Malone, PALS Director

PALS Mission and Educational Philosophy

PALS Mission and Educational Philosophy

The mission of PALS is to provide a loving and learning environment for children and a support ministry to their families.

Babies – The primary developmental task for a baby is to develop a sense of trust. Babies develop this sense of trust by having their needs met and feeling comforted and loved. 
Toddlers – The primary developmental task for a toddler is independence. Creating an environment where toddlers can be successful to do things for themselves helps the development of independence.
Three Years to Five Years – The primary developmental task of children ages 3 – 5 years old is to play, explore, initiate activities, and test limits. Children who are allowed to experience these things will naturally turn to learning to read, write, and do arithmetic around the age of 6. 

PALS provides children opportunities to do things for themselves, while giving them enough guidance to enable them to succeed. We comfort them when they fail and encourage them to give it another try. We understand that children respond best to simple, concise instructions. We follow a regular daily schedule, allowing for flexibility as needed. We give children appropriate choices and time to finish what they are doing.

PALS IS A SUPPORT MINISTRY TO FAMILIES:

We see our role as not only meeting the needs of children, but also realizing that to best meet children’s needs, we must also meet the needs of their families. The Coop program at PALS is not only a means for a family to reduce their tuition cost, but also a way for PALS to cultivate a level of parent involvement and input that few preschools are able to match. 

WHAT MAKES PALS UNIQUE

Small class sizes
Low student – teacher ratio
More child-directed activities
Coop program – facilitates parental involvement & reduces tuition
Flexible days (2, 3, or 4 days per week)
Competitive tuition rates
Small classes provide enough interaction without presenting an overwhelming social situation for children.

DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICES

We believe children learn best through play, hands-on experience, & repetition.
We maintain a balance of child-directed play and teacher-directed activities.
We offer opportunities for a child to make choices for activities and play.
We encourage children to participate in group time, individual activities, and special activity classes (art, music, movement, chapel, story-time, and Tae Kwon Do)
We offer creative activities to stimulate the child’s interest while providing free play time for a child to explore a safe and loving environment with other children.

Co-op program

The Co-op program is a volunteer program where parents may choose to work as a teacher’s helper in the Baby or Toddler room once a month to reduce their monthly tuition. This also provides an opportunity for families to know other children and parents at PALS.

To be a co-op parent, and pay our reduced co-op tuition rates, the following requirements must be met:

· Attend the one-hour co-op training - Thursday, July 31 from 9:30 am - 10:30 am in Mobley Hall of the church

· Go through the process to obtain a national criminal background check. There is a cost for the criminal background check, paid by the parent.

· Families need to pick a day to serve as a volunteer (example: the second Wednesday of each month) unless your schedule has the flexibility for the volunteer day to be different each month.

It is the responsibility of the parent to call Emily Embree, administrative assistant, at 706-766-3294 if you are unable to meet your scheduled volunteer day. You will be required to work with Mrs. Embree to sign-up for another day during the month. You need to give a 24-hour notice if possible so adjustments can be made to the schedule. Failure to uphold your commitment to volunteering each month, will result in changing your tuition status from the discounted COOP tuition amount to the full tuition amount each month. This will be noted in your kindertales account after two months of not following through with your volunteer obligation. Please notify Debra Malone if you have issues or concerns before the two months expiration date to discuss your situation and make adjustments where needed.  

Parent volunteers will be supporting teachers in the baby room or toddler room. These teachers will assist with the routines of their class. All teachers and volunteers must wash hands and clean tables before / after snack and lunch. Volunteers WILL NOT be required to change diapers. ONLY full-time employees of PALS will change diapers and/or assist with bathroom needs. LIMIT YOUR CELL PHONE USE WHILE VOLUNTEERING AT PALS TO EMERGENCIES ONLY.

If a child talks to a volunteer or needs to be comforted, please kneel down, make eye contact and comfort the child. Always encourage the child to return to participating in activities. Ask teachers for assistance if needed.

Parents and/or grandparents participating in the COOP program will receive an email with a link that will allow you to complete the requested background check information. This link will be sent to the primary email provided on the registration form. If a grandparent is the COOP volunteer for your child, text Debra Malone the grandparent's name and email address. Volunteers should receive this email in the upcoming week. If additional information is needed to request each background check, I will let you know via text message. Also, I will send you a text message when your background request has been submitted. There is a cost to this process. Last year, the cost was $25.00. The background check is valid for two years. 
The training session is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, from 9:30 am-10:30 am in Mobley Hall at Trinity by the River Methodist Church. Make sure to sign in for this meeting so PALS has a record of those in attendance.

The PALS Co-op program is not only a means for a family to reduce their tuition cost, but is also a way for PALS to cultivate a level of parent involvement and input that few preschools are able to match.

Thank you for participating in our PALS COOP volunteer program. We appreciate your dedication and support to PALS.

Debra Malone, PALS Director

2026-2027 Tuition Rates 

2026-2027 Tuition Rates 

Registration Fee:

Registration fee of $95.00 is charged at the time of enrollment. 

Discounts:

Families with two or more children enrolled in the PALS program receive a reduced registration fee of $60.00 each.

Families with three or more siblings enrolled in PALS pay ½ tuition for the third child BASED ON FULL TUITION RATES.

Tuition Options

    Option # 1 - Tuition for the 2026-2027 school year

    • Full tuition for 2 days is $173.00 per month
    • Full tuition for 3 days is $210.00 per month
    • Full tuition for 4 days is $245.00 per month
    • Full tuition for kindergarten – 4 days – is $285.00 per month
      Option # 2 - Tuition for the 2026-2027 school year
      • COOP tuition for 2 days is $128.00 per month
      • COOP tuition for 3 days is $165.00 per month
      • COOP tuition for 4 days is $200.00 per month
      • COOP tuition for kindergarten – 4 days is $240.00 per month
       
      The COOP program is a volunteer program where parents may choose to work as a teacher’s helper in the Baby or Toddler room once a month to reduce their monthly tuition. This also provides an opportunity for families to know other children and parents at PALS. Parent volunteers must pass a background check and go through a training session before participating in this program.

      Special Activity Classes at PALS

      Spanish

      Tae Kwon Do

      Music

      Movement

      Story-time

      Art

      Chapel

      Little Crumbles – a stem class using baking to teach math and science

      Curriculum

      PALS has a theme-based curriculum. Teachers plan age-appropriate activities around these monthly themes.

      6 months – 3-year-old classes

      Classroom activities include: arts and crafts, stories, music, fingerplays, and games. Classroom activities balance: fine and large motor skills, active and quiet, individual and group, child and teacher-directed, and choice.

      Pre-kindergarten classes

      PALS pre-kindergarten class is a special time focused on building strong foundations – academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. PALS pre-kindergarten classroom is a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, build friendships, and develop independence. The curriculum covers all the Georgia standards for pre-kindergarten. Throughout the year, students will work on skills such as:

      · Letter (upper and lower case) and number (1-20) recognition

      · Months of the year, days of the week, and weather concepts

      · Early writing and fine motor skills

      · Listening and following directions

      · Social skills like sharing, taking turns, and problem-solving

      · Developing routines, confidence, and independence

      The school day includes a balance of structured learning and play-based activities. Examples include: circle time, small group instruction, hands-on-learning centers, special classes and outdoor play. Children learn best through play, exploration, and meaningful relationships. The pre-kindergarten classroom is designed with these learning styles in mind. 

      Kindergarten classes

      PALS kindergarten’s primary goal is to prepare children for success in first grade. The curriculum covers all the Georgia standards for kindergarten. The kindergarten classes also provide a gap-year kindergarten for children with summer birthdays. The kindergarten curriculum used is: Math – Eureka, Phonics – Orton Gillingham, and multiple resources complied by the teacher are used for science and social studies. We believe children learn best through an interactive approach with hands-on lessons, repetition and play. Our small class size, along with having two teachers in class, allows us to individualize instruction to ensure all students are challenged and encouraged in their academic success.

      PALS Helping Hands 

      PALS Helping Hands 

      PALS Helping Hands is a new program designed to teach children the importance of giving back to the community. This program will provide an opportunity for PALS children to experience the benefits of doing good for others. 

      CHURCH
      COMMUNITY 
      SERVICE

      PALS HELPING HANDS PROJECTS FOR THE 2024-2025YEAR
      • Community Kitchen Drop Off Food Pantry
      • Fifth Avenue Nursing Home 
      • Christmas Gift bags for children in Floyd County Hospital 
      • Salvation Army
      • First Responder thank you cards 

      2024.2025 School Supply Lists

      PALS 2024.25 School Year Calendar

      Registration Form 6 months to 1.11 years

      Registration Form 2 Years to Pre-Kindergarten

      Registration Form 4 year old - pre-kindergarten

      Registration Form Kindergarten

      Registration Form Homeschool Gathering Class