News : Tiny Vikes 4 Year Old Preschool

We are excited to be taking registration information for Tiny Vikes Preschool for the 2011-2012 school year. Remember: Children must be 4 on or before September 15 to attend Tiny Vikes.

Our preschool program will offer:

• 4 days of preschool per week for a total of 12 hours
• Class sizes of 17 or less with a certified teacher and associate
• Highly qualified preschool teachers with a college degree specializing in early childhood education. Teacher associates with a paraprofessional endorsement or two year degree
• Classrooms that align with the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards
• The state approved Creative Curriculum assessing social, emotional, physical, language, literacy, and math development
• Communication with parents include: Home Visits, Daily Communication Folder, 3 Formal Progress Reports, and 2 Formal Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Free Transportation for three or more students going to the same residence or daycare facility

Monthly Fee

Funding the preschool program is currently a “hot” topic as our state legislators are working on the state’s budget. We do not have all of the answers as far as what next year’s funding will look like, but we know that families need to make plans for where their four-year-olds will attend preschool.

Our anticipated best case scenario is that the program will be fully funded for next year and there will only be a milk/juice fee of $30 for the year.

Our anticipated worst case scenario is that families will pay as much as $135 per month for the program and a milk/juice fee of $30 for the year. Under the worst case scenario, we anticipate there being a sliding fee scale based on the household’s annual income. The monthly fee could be as little as $3 or as much as $135.

Please call Esther or Lisa at 436-4728 ext. 9201 or 9202 at Tilford Elementary or Sheila at ext. 9501 at Shellsburg Elementary to register your child.

Deb Hesson, Preschool Coordinator, will do a follow-up call to confidentially discuss your anticipated monthly feeas more information is finalized at the state level. You can then make an informed decision whether or not to have your child participate in the program.

Preschool Information Night will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Tilford Elementary on April 19 and at Shellsburg Elementary on April 18.