The most obvious differences between Preschool and Pre-K are the ages of the students and the amount of time they are at school.

Learn more about the differences between our programs and what makes each one unique here!

Yes. We require children to be potty trained before starting preschool. Throughout the day, we take multiple whole-class bathroom breaks, and all children are encouraged to try.

Teachers are always nearby to offer reminders and assistance when needed, but we encourage children to try independently first. You can help prepare your child at home by practicing the entire bathroom routine, especially wiping independently, managing clothing, flushing, and washing hands.

We understand that occasional accidents happen and will always handle them with patience and care. If you choose to send your child in a pull-up, please know that our staff are unable to change diapers or pull-ups at preschool, so your child will need to manage it independently.

Accidents happen—even for children who are fully potty trained! If your child has an accident, we will handle it calmly and discreetly. We ask that every child keep a complete change of clothes at school, including underwear, pants, socks, and a shirt.

Teachers will guide your child through changing and cleaning up, while encouraging them to do as much as they can independently. We are always there to offer support when needed.

If accidents become frequent, we will connect with you so we can work together to help your child be successful and comfortable at school.

We love celebrating birthdays and making each child feel extra special on their big day! To keep celebrations simple and safe for everyone, please do not send in food, treats, or goodie bags for the class.

Don’t worry—we’ll make sure your child feels celebrated! Their teacher will have a special birthday gift and classroom celebration planned just for them. We look forward to making their special day a fun and memorable one at preschool!

Yes! We love having volunteers and welcome parents, grandparents, and other special adults in your child’s life to join us throughout the year. Volunteer opportunities may include helping in the classroom or joining us for special events and activities.

Beginning in October, your child’s teacher will send out a volunteer sign-up with available dates and opportunities. We love giving families a chance to experience preschool alongside their child and be part of our classroom community!

Yes! We love giving our students opportunities to learn, explore, and experience something new! We strive to provide 3–4 field trip opportunities each school year.

Some field trips take us off school grounds and may require transportation and an adult to accompany your child. Past adventures have included trips to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard.

Other field trip experiences come right to us! Past in-house experiences have included Sustainable Safari, Bruce the Bug Guy, and a magician.

Field trips and special visitors may vary from year to year. Details, including transportation and volunteer needs, will always be shared with families in advance.

To help your child have a comfortable and successful day, please send them to school with:

• A backpack

• A labeled water bottle

• Weather-appropriate clothing

• Snack(s)

• A lunch, if your child stays for lunch

We also strongly encourage families to keep a complete change of clothes in their child’s backpack, including underwear and socks. Preschool can get messy, and spills, bathroom accidents, and outdoor adventures happen!

Please label your child’s belongings whenever possible. This helps us make sure everything finds its way back home!

Students are required to bring a snack to school each day. A snack should consist of 2 items from 2 different food groups.

Please label your child’s snack container, lunch bag, and water bottle with their name. We also encourage reusable containers that your child can practice opening and closing on their own.

A preschool-sized portion is plenty! Snack is meant to give children a little energy during the morning rather than serve as a full meal. To see more about our snack requirements and for snack ideas, please click here!

For the safety of all of our students, please follow our classroom guidelines regarding food allergies and restricted foods. Please do not send in any items that contain tree nuts or peanuts.

Please also avoid foods that may present a choking hazard for young children unless they have been prepared appropriately. Examples may include whole grapes, popcorn, hard candy, whole nuts, and large or hard pieces of food.

If you are ever unsure whether a snack is appropriate, please ask your child’s teacher. We’re happy to help!

Grown-Ups Who Love Us Day is a special opportunity for the important people in our students’ lives to come experience a little piece of preschool with them!

Rather than limiting the event to a particular family title, we celebrate all of the grown-ups who love and support our children. It’s a chance for children to proudly share their classroom, teachers, friends, routines, and favorite activities with someone special to them.

Due to classroom space, we limit it to one special grown up per child.

Children and their grown up may participate in classroom activities, play together, create something special, read books, sing songs, and enjoy a special treat together.

Specific times and details will be shared with families before the event. Guests do not need to prepare anything special—just come ready to spend time with your preschooler and see their world through their eyes!

Lunch Bunch is an opportunity for children to extend their preschool day and enjoy lunch with their friends! Children bring a packed lunch from home and eat together in a relaxed, social setting.

Lunch Bunch is available to children who are at least 4 years old and attend our Monday/Wednesday/Friday preschool program.

Lunch Bunch is more than just lunchtime! It gives children extra time with their classmates while practicing independence, conversation skills, table manners, and cleaning up after themselves.

If your child participates, please send a labeled lunch with foods they can eat and open as independently as possible. Teachers are always nearby to help when needed, but we encourage children to give it a try first!

For lunch ideas and what to send, click here!

We are proud to be both a 4-Star Parent Aware Rated program and NAEYC Accredited! These recognitions reflect our commitment to providing children and families with a high-quality early learning experience.

4-Star Parent Aware Rating
Parent Aware is Minnesota’s quality rating system for early learning programs. A 4-Star Rating reflects the highest Parent Aware rating level and means our program has demonstrated quality practices that go beyond basic licensing requirements. These practices include supporting children’s development and school readiness, partnering with families, employing qualified and well-trained educators, and continually working to improve the quality of our program. Find out more about Parent Aware here!

NAEYC Accreditation
NAEYC stands for the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC Accreditation is a national recognition for early learning programs that demonstrate high-quality practices. Accredited programs are evaluated in areas such as relationships, curriculum, teaching, child development and assessment, staff qualifications, family partnerships, health, and the learning environment. Find out more about NAEYC here!.

What does this mean for your child?
It means our program has made a commitment to quality that extends beyond simply meeting basic requirements. We intentionally create a safe, nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment where children can learn through play, build relationships, develop independence, and grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.

These recognitions also represent an ongoing commitment. Quality isn't something we achieve once and check off a list—we continually evaluate our practices, support the professional growth of our teachers, and look for ways to provide the best possible preschool experience for our children and families.