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GUIDE TO
EARLY CHILDHOOD OPTIONS FOLLOW US @SVVSD WWW.SVVSD.ORG
Table of Contents Why Early Childhood is Important page 2 Small Talk, Big Results! A Birth to Three Reading Initiative page3 Preschool Programs page 4 STEM Discovery at Mountain View page 5
Why Early Childhood is Important
Early childhood education is foundational for your child’s social and academic success in school and life. Through age-appropriate learning experiences, students develop characteristics and skills encompassing the whole child in the areas of social, cognitive, physical and emotional learning. High quality early learning opportunities are vital in promoting brain development, understanding that 90 percent of development occurs by age five. Other benefits include increased learning outcomes, decreased crime and incarceration rates, significantly higher literacy and vocabulary knowledge (a strong predictor of literacy success in third grade) and increased graduation rates, preparing students to be college and career ready.
Spark! Discovery Preschool page 5 Kindergarten Programs page 6 Community Schools and Wraparound page 7
Early Childhood Office Shela Blankinship Early Childhood Coordinator blankinship_shela@svvsd.org 303-702-7815 Vicki Hergott Early Childhood/CPP Secretary hergott_vicki@svvsd.org 303-702-7815
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Learn more at: http://stvra.in/earlychildhood
small talk
big results!
Small Talk, Big Results! A Birth to Three Reading Initiative
Small Talk, Big Results! is working to build community awareness that reinforces reading success through vocabulary and language development for our youngest learners. This program encourages parents to talk to their infants and toddlers, focusing on the following areas: • Use more positive than negative words and comments Balance the use of positive and negative words and comments on a daily basis. Positive words and comments reinforce and promote self-confidence. • What you say and how often you say it matters Enrich vocabulary and language by using full sentences, descriptions and questions when talking. Encourage attention to an infant and toddler’s personal world, as well as the world around them. • Face-to-face conversations cannot be replaced Incorporate listening and speaking directly to infants and toddlers in your daily activities. Include talking in your native language and limit the role of technology as a replacement for face-to-face conversations. • Talking, singing, reading, writing and playing develop language Be creative when deciding how to interact.
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Preschool Programs
Preschool programs serve 3 and 4-year-old children and are offered at all elementary schools and Spark! Discovery Preschool. Programs emphasize kindergarten readiness by providing high quality early childhood experiences in safe, supporting and stimulating environments. Classrooms meet quality standards, state licensing requirements, and have low adult-to-child ratios. Students enrolling for preschool must be 3 or 4 years of age on or before October 1. The three options available are listed below. Tuition-based preschool opportunities include two, three or four-day options for all eligible students. All preschool classrooms are half-day mornings or afternoons. Parents and guardians must complete the tuition based application. Annual rates can be found on the preschool website. Special Education within St. Vrain Valley Schools identifies children ages birth to 21 who may be eligible to receive special education services. Federal and state law requires eligible children to receive free preschool once the student has turned 3 years of age. Our Preschool Program works collaboratively with the Child Find staff (District Special Education Department) in the assessment, identification and programming for children with disabilities. If a child qualifies for special education services, the Child Find team partners with parents and guardians to determine the appropriate placement and services based on each students individual needs. The Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) is a state-funded, free program for eligible children identified with certain risk factors. St. Vrain offers four half-days of preschool to CPP eligible children. All CPP preschool students must be 4 years of age on or before October 1. Support services for parents and guardians are part of the program and families are involved as partners in their child’s education experience.
Visit SVVSD’s preschool page for a full directory of schools, session dates and age requirements: http://stvra.in/preschool
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Learn more at: http://stvra.in/preschool
at MOUNTAIN VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STEM Discovery at Mountain View - BEGINNING FALL OF 2015
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mves.svvsd.org
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Mountain View Elementary will offer expanded opportunities for early learners, preschool, kindergarten and wraparound. Mountain View’s renovated facility houses state-of-the-art AY, JANUA classrooms and incorporates SD science,Rtechnology, engineering and math (STEM) experiences into early learning classrooms. The new early learning program will inspire students through inquiry-based learning experiences and develop school readiness by working collaboratively with families.
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Spark! Discovery Preschool
Spark! Discovery Preschool, located in Frederick is an innovative early learning program for preschool-aged students, focusing on STEM. Spark! provides STEM programming using inquiry-based and design thinking models sparking learning through the application of science, technology, engineering and math with hands-on activities. Students learn to innovate, solve problems, create and communicate ideas in a positive, fun, engaging and rigorous preschool learning environment.
sdpk.svvsd.org
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Kindergarten
Kindergarten students and families are supported during this exciting transition into a more formalized instructional setting. Classrooms assist children to obtain the important selfregulation skills while providing educational experiences for students utilizing the Colorado Academic Standards. St. Vrain offers a variety of enrollment options to best suit student and family needs, offering both half-day and full-day opportunities in all elementary schools across the district. Students enrolling for kindergarten must be 5 years of age on or before October 1. Parents can select from the following options: • Traditional half-day sections (half-days a.m./p.m., 5 days per week) • Half-day, alternate day sections (1 half-day, 2 full-days per week) • Full-day, everyday sections (full-days, 5 days per week) Please contact your school of attendance for specific kindergarten schedule information. All full-day, everyday kindergarten sections charge a non-refundable registration fee. The half-day district kindergarten program is offered at no expense to families. Monthly tuition fees are charged from September to May to cover the other half of the school day. Tuition assistance applications are available for families who need financial assistance for full-day kindergarten. Applications are processed on a first come, first serve basis to those who qualify. Funding for tuition assistance is limited, so please apply early. Please speak with your building principal to learn if they offer additional options for full-day support. Special education or children with disabilities follow the same guidelines outlined above, including children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The services specified in an IEP will be delivered during the no cost portion of the day.
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Learn more at: http://stvra.in/kindergarten
Community Schools
Community School programs provide opportunities to enrich the lives of students and families in a safe, structured and positive environment allowing students to be creative, social and happy. Community school programs supplement learning and support the well-being of students. All programs are licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services. The staff is qualified and certified according to state licensing regulations. Below is a list of the enrollment options. Before and after school child care for students ages 5 to 12 is offered at specific school locations. Programs open at 7:00 a.m. until school begins and then again when school ends until 6:00 p.m. Enrichment classes are provided before and after school with an extensive menu of opportunities. Interest-based opportunities include, but are not limited to, arts and crafts, music and movement, community awareness, field trips and academic support programs. Summer camp and non-school day child care services are offered on-site, at specific school locations during the summer and non-school days. Times vary by locations.
Wraparound Program
Wraparound child care for students ages 3 to 5 is offered at specific school locations. Programs are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and provide wraparound services to students enrolled in a district preschool or half-day kindergarten program. Visit individual school websites or the district website for specific information and program availability.
Learn more at: http://stvra.in/commschools
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WWW.SVVSD.ORG • @SVVSD
Please accept my warmest welcome to St. Vrain Valley Schools and do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.
• A community of highly supportive, informed and engaged parents
• Comprehensive services for students with special needs
• High quality child care, preschool and kindergarten programs
• A wide variety of outstanding co-curricular programs
• State-of-the-art technology
• Numerous, engaging instructional programs for 21st century careers
• Safe, well equipped facilities
• Over 4000 highly qualified teachers, counselors and support staff
Our outstanding teachers, support staff, coaches, and administrators will engage and inspire our students as they learn and strive to succeed both now and in the future. To this end, St. Vrain offers a powerful combination of academic, social and emotional services and resources.
A world class PreK-12 education provides a solid foundation for a rewarding career and successful life. St. Vrain is committed to partnering with parents to optimize your child’s opportunities to achieve and excel.
Welcome to St. Vrain Valley Schools,
303-682-7205 haddad_don@svvsd.org @SVVSDSupt
Superintendent of Schools
Don Haddad, Ed.D. 395 S. Pratt Parkway Longmont, CO 80501
St. Vrain Valley Public School RE 1J
NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 631