Preschool
2024-25 Early Learning Registration
- January 29 - January 31: Priority registration for current families
- February 5: Registration opens for Summer 2024 and 2024-25 School Year
- Part-Day Preschool
- Full-Day Preschool
- Add-Ons
- Contact
- Rising K's Summer Preschool FAQs
- 2024-25 Full-Day Preschool FAQs
Part-Day Preschool
We offer year-round preschool programs for two-, three- and four-year olds. We focus on excellence for the whole child and have full access to all school district resources, including Early Childhood Special Education. We keep your children safe, prepare them for kindergarten and provide you with parenting education and support.
The main highlights of part-day preschool include:
- For ages 2 and up.
- Class options are 2, 3, 4, or 5 days per week during the school year.
- Class time options are 2.5 to 3.75 hours per day.
- Classes are located at the Wayzata Early Learning School.
Full-Day Preschool
Full-day preschool is a childcare program within the Early Learning School. It’s a high-quality program designed to meet the social and educational needs of children. This is a cost-based full-day pre-kindergarten program with wrap around childcare for children who are 4 years old by September 1 of the school year.
The main highlights of full-day preschool include:
- For ages 4 and up.
- School days follow the school year schedule.
- Classes are located at all district elementary schools.
- Hours of operation are from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Add-Ons
Add on to your child’s preschool day with any of the following classes,
exclusively for 3-and 4-year-olds who are already enrolled in our Wayzata
Early Learning School preschool.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)
Our popular class is filled with creative activities that help build STEM skills. While engaging in this play-based learning, children practice attentiveness, persistence, inventiveness, creativity and teamwork—investigating, building and solving problems together. For 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in our Early Learning School preschool.
Literacy Enrichment
Children get to practice and enrich their literary skills. We focus on phonics,
phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, reading comprehension and fun! For
4- and 5-year-olds already enrolled in our Early Learning School preschool.
Buzzy's Book Bunch
Children get to enjoy high-quality literature and engaging projects while reinforcing the language arts standards they are working on with their classroom teacher. For 3 and 4-year-olds enrolled in our Early Learning School preschool.
Contact
Preschool Contact
Jessica Jirele
Early Learning Manager
jessica.jirele@wayzataschools.org
763-745-5294
Lisa Stankiewicz
Early Learning Manager
lisa.stankiewicz@wayzataschools.org
763-745-5292
Michele Bedor
Early Learning School Director
michele.bedor@wayzataschools.org
763-745-5042
Rising K's Summer Preschool FAQs
Rising K’s - Summer Preschool
Frequently Asked Questions - Summer 2024
Program Information
- Risking K's Summer Preschool is located at the Early Learning School (17340 County Road 6, Plymouth)
- Wayzata Early Learning Rising K’s program is available for students entering kindergarten
- Hours are 7:00 a.m-5:30 p.m, Monday through Friday
- Open from Wednesday, June 12-Friday, August 16 (4:00 p.m)
- The program is closed on:
- Wednesday, June 19
- Thursday, July 4
- Friday, July 5
- The program will open late at 9:30 a.m on Monday, June 24 for staff training and professional learning
Lunch and Snacks
A breakfast snack and an afternoon snack are provided. More information about hot lunch options will be shared soon!
Field Trips
Rising K’s will offer onsite events and special guests. We are in the process of planning and finalizing plans for the summer program and will share the calendar once it is finalized.
Programming
Our engaging and enriching program is specially crafted for children who will enter kindergarten in the
fall, providing them with a fantastic head start before their elementary school adventure begins. We utilize the
Creative Curriculum, Classroom Engagement Model, Pyramid Model, and Second Step curriculum.
Registration
- Registration for Summer Rising K's opens at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2024.
- Priority will be given to students currently enrolled in our full-day preschool program if they register between 8:00 a.m on February 5 and 4:00 p.m. on February 9. This does not include students currently enrolled in our part-day program at Early Learning School, part-day program at any elementary school, or Wayzata Kids families.
- If we have the capacity, registrations will then be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis for all other eligible students attending our Rising K's program must be 4 or 5 years old and registered for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Families must register for at least 35 days. A consistent schedule provides a predictable and stable routine that preschoolers need to be successful. We are requiring a 35-day minimum to provide this stability for students and staff.
- Families have until May 1 to change their schedule without any fees.
- changes after May 1 will be charged the contract change fee
- withdrawal of contracts after May 1 will be charged a two-week minimum or the first 10 days of their contract if they haven't started
2024-25 Full-Day Preschool FAQs
Full-Day Preschool Frequently Asked Questions
School Year 2024-2025
Q: How many students are in each class?
A: There are a maximum of 20 students in each class with a 1:10 staff to student ratio.
Q: What time is care available?
A: Full-day preschool provides care for students from 7:00am -6:00 p.m. Our preschool school day coincides with the elementary school day and Wayzata Kids provides wraparound care before and after the school day between 7:00-8:00 am and 3:30-6:00 p.m.
Q: Does preschool follow the same calendar as the district?
A: Yes. Our Wayzata Public Schools district calendar is the same for all of E-12.
Q: Is care available on non-school days?
A: Families enrolled in a full-day preschool class have the option of registering for care provided by Wayzata Kids on non-school days at an additional cost. Information regarding non-school days will be sent to all families enrolled in full day preschool in September.
Q: Are meals provided?
A: Wayzata Cafes will provide breakfast to all full day students at no additional cost. Full-day students may either bring lunch from home, or receive a hot entree or bento box lunch provided by Wayzata Cafes at no additional cost. Milk is available for purchase with home lunch for $0.55. In order to purchase milk you must set up an account with Wayzata Cafes and add money to your child’s account. Menus are located on Nutrislice.
Q: Tell me about the curriculum…
A: The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features inquiry, exploration, and discovery as the foundation of all learning. As a content-rich, developmentally appropriate curriculum, it delivers academic rigor alongside social-emotional development and cognitive development.
Q: Do students nap in full day preschool?
A: Every full-day preschool class has a required 30 minute rest period.
Q: Is transportation available for preschool students?
A: Transportation is not available to preschool students enrolled in full-day preschool.
Q: What does a typical day look like?
A: A typical school day will include the following:
- Free choice time
- Breakfast/snack
- Large group activities
- Small group activities
- Outside/indoor movement activities
- Lunch
- Rest/nap and quiet time
- Music, movement & art
- Story time
- After school care/choice time with Wayzata Kids
Q: Can I meet the teacher and see the classroom?
A: Families will have the opportunity to meet their teacher and visit the classroom at the end of August, prior to the first day of school. Information will be sent out in early August on how to register for this visit.
Q: Special Education
A: Full-day preschool staff are not trained Special Education staff. Our program will do our best to accommodate children with special needs. Students must be able to stay with the group and follow district and program expectations.
Q: Does my child need to be potty trained to attend full day preschool?
A: Yes. Students attending full-day preschool must be able to use the bathroom independently.
Q: What age does my child need to be to attend full-day preschool?
A: Students attending preschool must have birth dates between June 1, 2019 and September 1, 2020 to attend for the 2024-2025 school year. The program emphasizes academic, social-emotional, and physical development for preschoolers. Children who are 5 years old and eligible for kindergarten may not be a good match for this 4 year old program. For more information about kindergarten please contact our Welcome Center.
For more detailed information about our program and policies please review our Family Handbook and Behavior Guidelines.