Hopkins Preschools Guide 2018 19

Hopkins Preschools Stepping Stones • Kaleidoscope • Ready 4 K • Stay & Explore extended-day care

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You belong in Hopkins Preschools!

A world of discovery and learning for your child. engaging classrooms • natural playscapes • discovery-based curriculum • extended-day options What makes our Hopkins Preschools exceptional:

Hopkins preschools are unparalleled

Our preschools are designed to create excitement around learning for your young student. Our internationally recognized curriculum approach promotes curiosity and the development of the whole child.

Flexible options, including full-day and half-day preschool, and extended day care options.

We’re conveniently located at seven sites in Minnetonka, Hopkins, and Golden Valley. Our full-day option is open 6:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Meet us at our January open houses

Choose from school-year, summer, or year-round options.

Add Stay & Explore extended day care options to your child’s preschool session for flexibility when you need it.

Come visit us to experience why our families consistently rate us as exceeding their expectations. January open house Visit Us dates are listed below. Reserve your child’s space in Hopkins Preschools today!

• Curriculum. Our guided, discovery-based curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. The curriculum adapts to the interests of the children and allows them to plan, think, experiment, evaluate, and amend their ideas.

• The environment. Creative, engaging classrooms and nature-oriented playgrounds encourage exploring and inspire our youngest learners.

• Our well-trained teachers. Not only do all of our lead teachers hold a master’s or bachelor’s degree, they have extensive experience in creating nurturing surroundings that kindle curiosity and enhance learning.

• Social and emotional growth. Children make the academic, social, and physical connections to school, while creating long-lasting relationships.

• Preparation for kindergarten. Our preschool program prepares children for kindergarten and beyond, and inspires a lifelong love for learning and discovering.

Explore our classrooms, meet our teachers Visit us! January open house event dates: Stepping Stones Preschool

Kaleidoscope Preschool

Gatewood: Wednesday, Jan. 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Tanglen: Thursday, Jan. 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Meadowbrook: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 5:30-7 p.m.

Harley Hopkins: Friday, Jan. 19, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Meadowbrook: Monday, Jan. 22, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Glen Lake: Thursday, Jan. 25, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Full-day • Full-week

Half-day • Part-week

Hopkins Community Education: Building a great place to live

Early Childhood Programs

952-988-5000

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Inspiring a love for discovery and learning in our students Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum develops curiosity and discovery

Hopkins Preschools and Stay & Explore extended day program are inspired by the signature Reggio Emilia approach, developed in Italy. This educational philosophy is designed to provide a foundation for lifelong learning. Our preschool programs help your child learn critical thinking skills while developing social skills. Projects often originate from children’s interests or ideas, and teachers support and guide the project into an academic and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focus as we prepare children for kindergarten.

Reggio inspires deeper academic thinking — here’s how:

Children notice their shadows while playing outside in the natural outdoor playscape areas. Their teacher observes this and documents it as a learning opportunity. She brings a group of children together and encourages the children to think about what they observed. The teacher asks questions such as: “What is a shadow?” and “When do you see shadows?” As the children show an increased interest in this project, it leads to exploration of shadows several times throughout the day to see if the children can form hypotheses about what it takes to make a shadow. As the project evolves, the teacher guides the shadow activities into the following academic and STEM related areas: Math: Measuring shadows and graphing heights of shadows at different times of the day.

Art: Drawing, painting, and sculpting an object and its shadow, and making shadow puppets on craft sticks.

Science: Conducting experiments such as hanging colored translucent materials in the classroom window to change the color of shadows.

Music/Creative Dramatics: Listening to songs about light/dark and shadows, and using shadow puppets to invent stories or plays.

Literacy: Reading books about light and shadows, and helping the children create their own books.

STEM: Using iPads to search and learn more about shadows. • Setting up a shadow screen and projectors to create indoor shadows. • Dropping colored droplets of water onto an overhead projector to see the shadows created.

• Building with translucent bricks on a light table and noting the colors and shadows.

Guided by our nurturing teachers, children learn to think more critically while attaining turn-taking, cooperation, and problem-solving skills through small and large group activities.

Great communication with our families is a key to our success!

Families are an important part of our program. We pride ourselves on our excellent teacher-parent communication. In addition to daily highlights and family conferences twice a year, our families receive regular newsletters with recaps and previews of activities.

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We are proud to have a 4-star rating for each of our preschool programs. To earn a 4-star rating schools must prove they are excelling in the use of best practices in preparing children for kindergarten in the following ways: Obtaining extra in-depth training for staff; building strong, caring relationships with each child; adopting the latest approaches in keeping children’s learning on track; focusing on children’s health and safety; and committing to activities and routines that best support children’s learning and growing. Visit us to see our preschool programs for yourself! Call 952-988-5000 for a tour.

Hopkins offers preschool choices to fit your family:

2018-19 Hopkins Preschool Options 1 Full-Day, Year-Round: Stepping Stones Preschool

Year before kindergarten • 4-5 year olds • Monday-Friday, 6:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Stepping Stones Preschool is a year-before-kindergarten experience that provides full-day programming, with a school-year or year-round option.

Children must be four years old by September 1. Program runs from September to June (school-year) or September to August (full year).

3 Locations: Tanglen Elementary, Gatewood Elementary, and Meadowbrook Elementary.

Stepping Stones tuition: • 2018-19 full-year tuition is twelve payments of $990.

• School-year-only tuition is nine payments of $1,025.

2 Half-Day, Part Week: Kaleidoscope Preschool 2-5 days/week • Saturday option • 3-5 year-olds

Kaleidoscope Preschool offers parents a choice of classes that are two, three, four, or five half-days per week for children ages 3-5. The Kaleidoscope school-year program runs from September to May. Full-week option: Section J. Current Kaleidoscope families have priority registration for 2018-19. Tuition assistance may be available for qualifying families.

3 Locations: Harley Hopkins Family Center, Meadowbrook Elementary School, and Glen Lake Elementary.

Tuition: Tuition for Kaleidoscope ranges from $180 per month to $395 per month depending on chosen section (see section choices online or call for space availability).

2018-19 Kaleidoscope Preschool Class Sections: Classes run September 10, 2018 to May 24, 2019 Harley Hopkins Family Center Classes for 3’s, 4’s & 5’s

Children must be 3 years old by the first day they attend any 3’s and 4’s class.

• Section A - 3’s to 5’s $245/month Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00-11:30 am • Section B - 3’s to 5’s $180/month Tu & Thur 9:00-11:30 am • Section C - 3’s and 4’s TEAM $245/month Tu, Wed, Thur 1:00-3:30 pm • Section D - 3’s and 4’s $245/month Mon, Wed, Fri 9:15-11:45 am • Section E - 3’s and 4’s TEAM $180/month Tu & Thur 9:15-11:45 am • Section F - 3’s and 4’s $180/month Wed & Fri 9:00-11:30 am

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Year Before Kindergarten (YBK) Classes

Children must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2018 to enroll in a YBK section.

• Section I - YBK $245/month Mon, Tu, Thurs 9:00-11:30 am • Section J - YBK $395/month Mon, Tu, Wed, Thur, Fri 9:15-11:45 am • Section K - YBK TEAM $245/month Tu, Wed, Thur 1:00-3:30 pm • Section M - YBK $315/month Mon, Tu, Wed, Thur 8:30-11:00 am

Saturday Class: 3-5 years

Children must be 3 years old by the first day of class.

• Section SAT - 3’s to 5’s $130/8 sessions Sat., Sept. 22-Nov. 17 9:30-11:30 am Sat., Jan. 19-March 9 9:30-11:30 am

Glen Lake

• Section G - 3’s and 4’s Wed, Fri • Section GL - YBK Mon, Tu, Thur

$180/month 9:30 am to 12:00 pm $245/month 9:30 am to 12:00 pm

Meadowbrook

• Section R - 3’s and 4’s Tu, Thur • Section S - YBK Mon, Wed, Fri • Section T - 3’s to 5’s Tu, Wed, Thur

$180/month 9:15 to 11:45 am $245/month* 9:15 to 11:45 am $245/month 12:30 to 3:00 pm

*Section S is eligible for Stay & Explore extended care TEAM classes are jointly taught with staff from Kaleidoscope Preschool and Hopkins ECSE programs. Your 4-5 year old may be eligible for Stay & Explore extended-day childcare. See chart for details.

Half-day, Full Week: Ready 4 K Preschool Half-day • Full-week • Free preschool program for qualifying families Ready 4 K Preschool is a free preschool for four-year-olds whose families meet the eligibility guidelines (below). Children may ride the school bus if they reside in the school attendance area.

Program requirements: To qualify for this free year before kindergarten program, families must: • Live in the Hopkins Public Schools attendance area.

Priority registration and transportation is given to families residing in attendance areas of Tanglen, Alice Smith, Eisenhower, and Gatewood.

• Your child must be 4 years old by September 1, 2018.

• Qualify for financial assistance. To determine this, contact Harley Hopkins Family Center at 952-988-5000.

• Be able to regularly attend preschool 5 days a week for the entire school year.

Registration: To register for Ready 4 K, please come to our enrollment desk at Harley Hopkins Family Center, 125 Monroe Ave S, Hopkins.

3 Locations: Alice Smith Elementary, Eisenhower Elementary, and Gatewood Elementary Schools.

To see if you qualify, call 952-988-5000.

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Extended-day Care: Stay & Explore!

4-5 year olds. Extend your child’s preschool day with flexible scheduling.

Stay, learn, and explore with us — flexible options are available at Harley Hopkins Family Center, Eisenhower Elementary, and Meadowbrook Elementary to extend your child’s preschool day. See chart at right for Stay & Explore options and locations.

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Summer Preschool: Summer preschool options are on last page.

Stay & Explore: Extend your child’s preschool day Stay, learn, and explore with us! We are excited to offer families flexible extended care options at three sites in fall 2018. Families of 4-5 year olds who choose the Kaleidoscope preschool program at the Harley Hopkins Family Center or Meadowbrook sites can add care options before and/ or after their child’s preschool session. Ready 4 K families will also have before and after preschool care options at the Eisenhower site. Your child will enjoy this engaging social and learning experience, and you will have flexible care options designed to meet your needs.

Visit ThinkSmall.org as a resource for help with childcare costs.

Eisenhower Ready 4 K

Meadowbrook Kaleidoscope

Harley Hopkins Family Center

Before school

6:30-9:00 am, $14/day

6:45-9:15 am, $14/day

not available

Extended day

11:30 am-3:30 pm, $26/day

12:00-4:00 pm, $26/day 11:30 am-6:00 pm, $37/day

After-school

3:30-6:15 pm, $14/day

4:00-6:00 pm, $14/day

Minimum/maximum days per week

2 days per week minimum 5 days per week maximum

2 days per week minimum 3 days per week maximum

2 days per week minimum 5 days per week maximum

Nutrition

Breakfast, lunch, and snack included in tuition cost.

Breakfast, lunch, and snack included in tuition cost.

Students bring breakfast and lunch. Snack is provided.

Open non-school/late starts

6:30 am-6:15 pm, $54/day

not available

not available

Bus transportation

9:00 am and 3:30 pm

not available

not available

Online lottery registration opens on Jan. 15. Lottery takes place on Feb. 16 at noon.

Register: HopkinsSchools.org/preschool, select Stay & Explore Child Care

Preschool Registration Information Important Program Fee Policies

Registration & Program Information

Registration for the 2018-19 school year will be lottery-based. Waiting lists will be kept for all classes as openings may become available.

• Deadlines for School Year 2018-19 and Summer 2018: • Feb. 16, 2018 (Stepping Stones, Kaleidoscope, and Summer Adventures) District residents (first priority), current open-enrolled, and out-of-district families may submit their registrations until noon on February 16, 2018, to be included in the lottery. Families will be notified the following week.

• Feb. 16 and later: Spaces are filled first-come, first-served.

• Summer Stepping Stones is filled on an ongoing, space-available basis beginning Feb. 16.

• Register for Ready 4 K Preschool any time after March 10 in person at Harley Hopkins Family Center, 125 Monroe Ave. S., Hopkins.

• Changes: Class sizes, staffing, locations, or programming may be changed at any time during the course of the year if there are enrollment fluctuations, if class needs warrant change, or District initiatives warrant location change. Families will be given the first opportunity to move into other program openings if a class must be canceled or altered.

Register: Online

HopkinsSchools.org/Preschool Online Registration

Stepping Stones or Kaleidoscope

Registration

You will need to set up an account first if you have never used a Hopkins Community Education program (if you already have an account, log-in with your email).

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• Kaleidoscope and Stepping Stones tuition is billed in equal monthly payments based on the selected program option.

• Tuition is due by the first of the month. A $15 late fee will be assessed on all accounts past due.

• Financial assistance: Please register in person if using assistance or registering for Ready 4 K. For Kaleidoscope, limited tuition assistance is provided for qualifying families through the School Readiness program (952.988.5000). The Stepping Stones program accepts Hennepin County Childcare Assistance (612.348.5937) and MN State Early Learning Scholarships (651.641.6604).

Visit ThinkSmall.org as a resource for help with childcare costs.

• There is a one-time, non-refundable $30 registration-processing fee, which must accompany the application for Stepping Stones and Kaleidoscope school year programs. There is a $30 processing fee charged for dropping Kaleidoscope Summer Adventures after registration is accepted.

• Deposit: One month’s tuition for Kaleidoscope (check course section for monthly tuition) or $500 for Stepping Stones is due as a deposit for School Year/Full Year 2018-19. This deposit will be applied to your child’s last month of tuition. This deposit is refundable only until July 15, 2018.

• If you need to leave the program during the school year, we require a written 30 day notice of withdrawal. At that time, this deposit will be used as your last month’s tuition.

• Stepping Stones families earn a two-week tuition credit if a family chooses the full year program and attends continually from Sept.-August. Monthly fee is calculated on an annual basis. Your tuition may be altered if you change contracts after school starts.

2018-19 Preschool Registration Form

Register Online anytime!

Important: One registration form per child per class. Please review registration deadlines and information on reverse side.

Ready 4 K registration must be done in-person at Harley Hopkins Family Center, 125 Monroe Ave. S., Hopkins

HopkinsSchools.org/ preschool

Please fill out and return with your deposit and registration fee to: Hopkins Preschools, Harley Hopkins Family Center, 125 Monroe Ave. S., Hopkins, MN 55343

Student (*required information) *Child’s Legal Name_____________________________________________________ Name child prefers to be called _________________________ First

Middle

Last

*Child’s Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY): ___________________

Gender: q Male q Female

*Immunizations up to date: q Yes q No (a copy of your child’s immunization record must be faxed to 952-988-5349, attn: Preschool for completed registration.)

Allergies? q Yes q No If yes, please explain: _______________________________________________________________________________________ *Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino q Yes q No

*Primary Language ______________________________ *Birth Country ____________________________

*Race: q Am. Indian/Alaska Native q Asian qBlack or African American q Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander q White q Other___________________ McKinney-Vento Homeless: q Yes q No My child is currently receiving special services: q Yes q No If yes, explain ___________________________ Registering Person (*required information) *Name (Last, First, M.I.) ____________________________________________________________ *Relationship to child: q Foster Father q Father q Foster Mother q Mother q Guardian - Male q Guardian - Female q Other Relative - Male q Other Relative - Female *Home phone____________________________ *Work phone______________________________ *Cell phone_____________________________ *Address________________________________________________ *City _____________________________________*Zip ____________________ *Email address_________________________________________________________________________________ Education Background: q Doctoral q Master’s q Bachelor’s q Associate’s q Some College q High School q No Diploma q No schooling beyond eighth grade Number of people in household: ________________ *Receiving interpreter assistance: q Yes q No *Classroom volunteer: q Not volunteering q Classroom volunteer q Parent Advisory member q Other Employment Status: q More than 25 hours/week q Less than 25 hours/week q Unemployed, seeking q Unemployed, not seeking We are residents of the Hopkins School District. q Yes q No *Please mark your home school: qAlice Smith qEisenhower qMeadowbrook qGatewood qGlen Lake qTanglen q Other________________ In addition to registering person, please provide additional parent/caregiver information: First Name: ___________________________ Last name: _______________________________________ Phone: ______________________________ Email: _______________________________________ Address (city, state, zip) _________________________________________________________ Please provide two additional emergency contacts/authorized pick ups: Name: ________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ Name: ________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ *Person responsible for bill _____________________________________ *Parent Signature _____________________________________________ q Check if you DO NOT wish to receive our monthly electronic newsletter. By not checking this box, you will be added to our e-newsletter mail list.

Application Form: Program and class section desired and applicable fees: Stepping Stones Preschool 2018-19 School Year/Full Year Stepping Stones Site: q Gatewood q Meadowbrook or

q Tanglen (Summer 2019: Tanglen and Meadowbrook combine to 1 site.) q I am applying for the 2018-19 Full-Year Program September 2018-August 2019 at $990/month

*Note: Summer sites or dates may change due to District initiatives. Parents will be notified.

q I am applying for the 2018-19 School-Year Program September 2018-June 2019, at $1,025/month Summer Preschool 2018: Kaleidoscope or Stepping Stones q I am applying for Kaleidoscope 2018 Summer Adventures (ages 3-5) (Summer Kaleidoscope preschool registrations will be charged a $30 processing fee if dropping class(es) after registration has been accepted.)

June 5–28 (Tues, Wed, Thurs), 9:00-11:30 a.m., summer tuition: $235

q I am applying for Stepping Stones 2018 Summer Before Kindergarten, June 15-August 22, 2018, summer tuition: $900/month Stepping Stones Summer Site: q Gatewood

q Tanglen

Credit card payments If you would like to pay by credit card, please register at HopkinsSchools.org/preschool then go to “register online.”

Payment or registration questions? Contact us: 952-988-5000 HopkinsSchools.org/preschool

Kaleidoscope Preschool 2018-19 School Year (September-May) q I am applying for the 2018-19 School Year Indicate 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices 3’s and 4’s classes 3 to 5’s Classes YBK Classes ____Sec D ____ Sec A ____ Sec I ____Sec E ____ Sec B ____ Sec J ____Sec F ____ Sec C ____ Sec K ____Sec G ____ Sec T ____ Sec GL ____Sec R ____ Sec SAT ____ Sec S

____Sec M

Add $30 registration fee for Stepping Stones or Kaleidoscope school year programs (non-refundable once registered) $________ (There is no registration fee for summer-only Kaleidoscope or Stepping Stones registrations, but there will be a $30 processing fee charged if dropping a class after registration has been accepted.)

Deposit of tuition

$________

Total fees due:

$________

include: Kaleidoscope School Year: 1 month’s tuition for your first section choice Kaleidoscope Summer: $235 Stepping Stones School Year/Full Year 2018-19: $500 Stepping Stones Summer 2018: $480

Method of payment: q Cash (do not mail cash) q Check #___________ (payable to ISD 270)

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Hopkins Preschools and

Presorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 161 Hopkins, MN 55343

Extended-day Care locations:

Stepping Stones Preschool: M-F, 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m., year before kindergarten Gatewood Elementary, 14900 Gatewood Drive, Minnetonka, 55345 Tanglen Elementary, 10901 Hillside Lane, Minnetonka, 55305 Meadowbrook Elementary, 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, 55422

Kaleidoscope Preschool: Half-day, part-week, 3-5 year olds Harley Hopkins Family Center,125 Monroe Avenue South, Hopkins, 55343 Meadowbrook Elementary, 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, 55422 Glen Lake Elementary, 4801 Woodridge Road, Minnetonka, 55345

1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55305 HopkinsSchools.org Time Value

Ready 4 K Preschool: Half-day, full-week, year-before-kindergarten Alice Smith Elementary, 801 Minnetonka Mills Road, Hopkins, 55343 Eisenhower Elementary, 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins, 55305 Gatewood Elementary, 14900 Gatewood Drive, Minnetonka, 55345

Stay & Explore extended day care: 4-5 year olds, 3 sites Harley Hopkins Family Center,125 Monroe Avenue South, Hopkins, 55343 Eisenhower Elementary, 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins, 55305 Meadowbrook Elementary, 5430 Glenwood Avenue, Golden Valley, 55422 2018 Summer sites: Changes may occur dependent on District initiatives.

New preschool sites coming soon!

To serve our families better — watch for information in your mailbox with details.

Or, contact Preschool Programs Supervisor, Kathy Willett, at 952-988-5004 or Kathy.Willett@HopkinsSchools.org

Summer 2018 Preschool Options Kaleidoscope Summer Adventure Class (half-day, 3 days a week, 3-5 year olds)

Fill your child’s June mornings with preschool fun!

Join us for hands-on learning experiences with books, writing activities, songs, games, art, STEM, dramatic play, and outdoor exploration.

Classes are held at Harley Hopkins Family Center.

Summer tuition is $235. Limited financial assistance is available for qualifying families. Sections may be divided by age, depending on enrollment.

Dates & Time (open to ages 3-5):

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

June 5-29, 2018 • 9:00-11:30 a.m. • $235

Questions? Contact us!

952-988-5000 HopkinsSchools.org/Preschool Kathy.Willett@HopkinsSchools.org

Registration: Submit your registration form by noon on Feb. 16, 2018 to be part of the registration lottery. Registrations received after Feb. 16 will be accepted in the order received. Registration form inside, or register online at HopkinsSchools.org/Preschool Questions? Call us at 952-988-5000.

Stepping Stones Summer Before Kindergarten (Monday-Friday, 6:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m., summer before kindergarten, for 4-5 year olds) Make the most of your child’s summer before kindergarten! Stepping Stones offers an enriching summer preschool opportunity for children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2018.

Tuition: Summer tuition is 3 payments of $900, which includes breakfast, lunch, snack, and field trips. Program runs June 15-August 22, 2018 Registration: Registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis beginning Feb. 26. For available openings, please call 952-988-5000 or visit: HopkinsSchools.org/Preschool