Pre-K FAQs

A Verona Area School District coordinated four-year-old Pre-K program that is play-based and follows the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards.

Any four-year-old living in the Verona Area School District (four years old on or before September 1, 2024).

 

 

You can check our Participating Sites that offer Pre-K and learn more information about each site.

 

Starting February 13, 2023, please visit **Student Registration Website** to set up a PowerSchool account and provide the following information:

Step 1 - Provide documents to VASD

Proof of Child's Name and Age and Proof of Residency

YOU MUST PROVIDE ALL DOCUMENTS 

Please contact the Registration Office at 608-845-4360 if you have any questions.  The Registration Office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday - Friday.

Step 2 - Pre-K Enrollment

An enrollment form will be accessible for families within a week after completing Step 1.  Families of legacy students are required to complete Step 2 by April 21, 2023 to secure their legacy space at their current Pre-K site.  The information you will be completing will include Pre-K  site preferences, transportation and if your child needs extended care during the day at an additional cost.

To prepare - please have the following information available when you are ready to complete the form:

• primary/secondary parent or guardian contact information (phone numbers, emails, addresses)
• other emergency contact information (phone numbers, emails)
• student doctor/clinic contact information (phone, address)
• student prescription medication details (if applicable) - must provide medication name, dosage details, and prescribing doctor

Step 3 - Welcome to Pre-K

Pre-K staff will work on placing your child at a Pre-K site. In May, your family will be notified which site and session your child will be attending, and you will begin to receive communication from the site regarding next steps to prepare for the school year.  In August, you will be notified regarding your child’s bus information.

This is a tuition-free program.  There is a $35.00 activity fee.  Some locations offer optional extended childcare.  Families are responsible for childcare costs beyond the Pre-K program.  Families must arrange childcare on a first-come, first-served basis.

A state licensed Pre-K teacher. A co-teacher is assigned to classrooms of more than 12 students.

Days and Times: Tuesdays through Fridays for 3 hours and 10 minutes 

*Early Morning Sessions: 7:50-11:00 AM or 8:00-11:10 AM (Times approximate) 

**Late Morning Sessions: 8:30-11:40 AM or 8:40-11:50 AM (Times approximate) 

An afternoon session may be available from 11:30 AM-2:40 PM if enough families are interested. (Times approximate) Days generally follow the Verona Area School District calendar 

Children are enrolled in the Verona Area School District’s program but taught in a local community preschool/childcare  location. Families will list their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice preference when they register on-line. The following sites are  participating in the Verona Area Pre-K Partnership:  

Big Apple Early Learning Academy *

Grateful Hearts Childcare and Preschool **

Here We Grow Learning Center **

Hometown Preschool *

La Petite Academy (Fitchburg) *

La Petite Academy (Verona) *

Little Blessings Preschool **

Once Upon A Time Child Care Center *

Pooh Bear Child Care & Preschool *

Reach Dane 8:00-11:30AM and/or 12:00-3:30PM

St. James Preschool **

The Caring Center *

The Goddard School **

Verona Montessori House *

YMCA **

Student currently attending a Pre-K site as a preschooler:

A legacy student/family that is currently attending a Pre-K site will keep the same spot they currently hold at their same preschool site. Those students will be placed first before new students enter the classrooms. Legacy families need to register under the same process as new students.

A sibling has attended the Pre-K site in the past:

A legacy student/family that has had a sibling attend a Pre-K site will be placed before new students enter the classrooms. Legacy families need to contact the Pre-K site and be placed on the site legacy list.  This is the responsibility of the legacy family.   Legacy families need to register under the same process as new students even if they have had children go through the VASD Pre-K program.

A sibling has attended a site that is no longer participating:

A legacy student/family that has had a sibling attend a Pre-K site that is no longer participating in the Pre-K program should contact Jennifer Skibba to be placed on the legacy list.  If the family contacts Jennifer before April 14^th students will be placed before new students enter the classrooms.   Legacy families need to register under the same process as new students even if they have had children go through the VASD Pre-K program.

The district supports the following arrangement relative to collaborating with non-contracted, third parties with an interest in  a student’s well-being: 

The district will work in partnership with a third-party provider to provide appropriate opportunities for observation of a student within the school setting. Observations will be contingent upon a signed release of information and a clearly defined purpose of the observation. The frequency of these observations might depend on the needs of the student, but typically would not occur more than once per month or once per quarter. 

1. Exchange of information between school staff and third-party providers will occur at a defined frequency that meets  the needs of both parties and only secondary to a valid release of information. 
2. Third-party providers are able to attend IEP meetings when invited by the parent. 
3. Third-party student-specific medical personnel are able to support a student’s medical needs in the school  environment per arrangement with the Director of Student Services. 

The Verona Area School District is a strong collaborative partner with several third-party providers and agencies serving the  students of our district and values their collaboration in the service of the students of the district. These parties adhere to the  aforementioned guidelines. We recognize that third-party providers deliver services to children beyond the school day and  seek continuity for the child across settings. We understand the value of communication and collaboration among school  staff and third-party providers and encourage this communication and interaction to occur in a manner that adheres to the  parameters noted in this letter. If you want more information, please request an official letter from the Verona Area School  District or click on this link: Third Party Letter.

Children will participate in play-based activities that provide rich learning experiences. A focus on learning through play  allows children to gain skills in all areas including social-emotional, cognitive, creative expression, early literacy, early math,  and self-help. Teachers will use materials and curriculum that enhance those experiences through a hands-on approach.

Pre-K uses the following frameworks for planning how we support students’ development: 

Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards

Pyramid Model

 

Pre-K uses the following curriculums to teach specific skills:

Creative Curriculum

Handwriting Without Tears

YogaKids

Second Step

 

 

What if I need transportation? 

▪ Families needing bus services anytime during the year will be limited to picking a Pre-K site within your  neighborhood zone.  

▪ Transportation will be provided if the child lives or is cared for at least ¼ mile or more from the Pre-K site.

▪ Your transportation zone will be determined by where your child is picked up and dropped off. 

▪ Pick up and drop off will be as close to the residence as possible, but busses will not go down cul-de-sacs and dead end roads. 

▪ Families participating in the Spanish Bilingual Program will be bussed to Pooh Bear Child Care and Preschool. 

Neighborhood zones for transportation: Link to find Transportation Zone 

Big Apple Early Learning Academy - Neighborhood zones: 10-15

Boys and Girls Club of Dane County - Neighborhood zones: 2, 3 and 6-9

Grateful Hearts (formerly Little Pilgrims) - Neighborhood zones: 6-9

Here We Grow Learning Center - No transportation is available

Hometown Preschool - Neighborhood zones: 23, 34-38, 42, 43, 53, and 59-61

La Petite Academy - Fitchburg - Neighborhood zones: 1-5 and 14-19

La Petite Academy - Verona - Neighborhood zones: 6-9, 39, 40, 42-58, 60 and 61

Little Blessings Preschool - Neighborhood zones: 46-58, 60 and 61

Once Upon a Time Child Care - Neighborhood zones: 19-38 and 41

Pooh Bear Child Care - Neighborhood zones: 1-5, 10-13, and 22. Pooh Bear Bilingual routes are district-wide

St. James Preschool - Neighborhood zones: 20, 21, 24-33, 41 and 42

The Caring Center and Verona Montessori House - Neighborhood zones 34-41, and 43-45

The Goddard School - Neighborhood zones: 6-9, 53-56, and 59-61

YMCA Stoner Prairie - Neighborhood zones: 1-5, 10-19 and 22

 

Factors to determine the above bus areas include but are not limited to the amount of space at each site, a balance in sites with and without additional religious programming, proximity and efficient patterns for our bus routes.

Link to find Pre-K Bus Zones