Vienna Pre-K

They must be 3-, 4-, or 5-years old. If a child is not yet 3, they may start the day after their birthday even if the school year has already began, given the program has an available opening.

Vienna Pre-k does accept children who do not live in the Vienna district # 55 if we have abailability once all of our chidlren int he district have been enrolled. To put it simply, we can enroll 20 students at a time. If we have 19 children apply who do live in the district and 3 apply who do NOT live in our district, we must serve those within our district first. Two who do not live in district would be placed on a waiting list.

Pre-k is 8:30 am- 2:30 pm. Pre-k students typically do not ride the bus. Our pick up and drop off times are set in order to eliminate traffic throughout the building as much older, larger students begin and end their day.

We prefer they are potty trained before starting school simply because accidents take a teacher out of the classroom and from all other children to clean up in the restroom. However, we are here to nurture and support all skills that are age appropriate and potty training is very natural at this age. To speak bluntly, we accept that wiping noses and bottoms is part of the job. It's just a few of the ways we love and care in Pre-k.

Vienna Pre-k provides lunch and a snack everyday. Lunches are $2.00 per day and children are allowed to pack a lunch if you'd like. Our lunch and snack menus are on each month's newsletter. Lunch menus can also be found at www.viennagradeschool.com. Pre-k eats lunch in the cafeteria. Snacks are eaten in the classroom and are more of a family style where the kiddos help set the table, pour their own drinks, and clean up their own messes. Yes, there are lots of messes. Sometimes I make them myself. Okay, a LOT of times I make them myself. We encourage the kiddos to clean up their messes because we are teaching that mistakes happen, it's okay, and they have a role and responsibility to care for our classroom community because "we are a team, learning and growing together". Our snacks are provided free of charge and follow the DCFS guidelines for the nutritional recommendations for children 3-5 years old. Each day we provide foods from at least two food groups. We try to also provide more than one option each day. For example, if we have yogurt and peaches, we will have milk and water to drink. This gives a serving of protein (yogurt), fruit (peaches), and dairy (milk).

We do take a nap/ rest after lunch with dimmed lights, calming music, and lots of love and pats on the back. Pre-k provides nap mats that are sanitized and stacked each day. If your child has a favorite blanket they like to sleep with, they may bring it to school. It will be kept in their cubbie Monday- Friday. On Friday we will send it home in their bookbags and ask that it be cleaned before it returns on Monday. For health and safety reasons, if the blankets are not cleaned, they will not be used in the classroom.

In order to start Pre-k, each child must have a certified copy of a birth certificate, proof of residency, current physical and immunization record, packet of enrollment papers (permission to pick up form, etc.), a regular sized book bag, and a change of clothes (tops, bottoms, underwear, socks). Each child will also need a 2 pocket folder to carry papers back and forth between shool and home. Feel free to pick out a super cool one together or one will be provided by Pre-k staff.

No. The pre-k program is an all day program from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. Enrollment must be three, four, or five days a week with regular attendance. If your child is going to be absent, please call the classroom at 618-658-9395 or the grade school office at 618-658-8286. This helps with planning activities, snack, lunch count and more. A written reason is required by the State of Illinois after 5 days of congruent absence. If more than 20% of a child's monthly enrollment is missed without a valid reason, your child may be dropped from the program in order to offer the spot to another child on the waitling list. At the beginning the 2018- 2019 school year, we had 7 students on a waiting list.

Starting school can be such a roller coaster for families just as much as the kiddos. We know that you worry about your child's wellbeing and behavior. Biting and hitting is normal at this age but not okay. Our philosophy is Guidance vs. Discipline. Positive Guidance uses tools to help shape a child's behavior and as they happen rather then punishing after. These tools include: *Setting a good example of communication- "Hm. I can see that you're really angry right now. Can you tell me why? You want the toy? Well who had it first? Okay let's TELL him that you had it and you were still playing with it." *Providing a safe and engaging environment- We regularly rotate materials in the classroom to keep children's interests. Staff play with children to suport their learning and provide examples of respect. *Diverting attention from the challenging situation- "I'm sorry. There isn't room to play in the restaurant right now. Maybe while we wait, we can go to the art area and make some menus or signs so that when it's your turn, you will know what kind of food to order?" *Setting limits and offering choices- "You are running in the classroom and that's not safe. You can run outside. Right now you can find somewhere to play or if you want to move, we can dance on the carpet." *Redirecting behavior to another situation- "Our blocks are not for hitting. They are for building because hitting hurts! If you want to hit something, we can go to the carpet and find a drum!" *Reinforcing positive behavior- Pre-k staff simply states the behavior we WANT to see rather than the behavior we DON'T want to see. Instead of "Don't run" we say, "Use your walking feet inside please". Instead of "Don't yell" we say, "Use an inside voice please." Using the tools outlined above, staff intervention to a behavior such as hitting may look like a teacher down on both children's level to encourage problem solving. It may sound llike, "Wow. Look at Bryce's face. How is he feeling? Yes he's sad. Why is he sad? Because you hit him. Yes hitting hurts. You hit him because you were angry and wanted that toy. Try using your words to tell him, 'Bryce, I want that toy back. I had it first.'" This is a lengthy conversation to have with a three or four year old, I know. But these conversations help children understand how to regulate their emotions, recognize the feelings of others, recognize their own effect on others, and provide an example for how to communicate respectfully.