Early Childhood Education is a core component of Community Education where families and young children begin their relationship with Waconia Schools. We recognize that every student has unique needs. It is our goal to offer the best learning environment for your child. Academic and support specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to deliver classroom instruction. This collaboration is designed to support each child who comes through our door to reach his/her full potential.
Waconia Wildcat Preschool provides innovative classrooms where creativity and imagination flourish. Our inclusive program helps all children discover a joy of learning. Your child will be immersed in a stimulating environment that encourages physical, intellectual, and emotional development through play based investigation, purposeful questioning and exploration for deep learning and a seamless transition to kindergarten.
There are other preschool options available in Waconia, but our preschool is the only preschool that aligns with the Waconia School District curriculum and the overall K-12 system. We work closely with Early Childhood Special Education and kindergarten teachers to foster a successful transition from preschool to kindergarten.
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ECFE is a family education program for all parents and their children from birth to kindergarten age. Classes and special events are planned to be enjoyable learning experiences for both parents and children together. Parents share, gain new ideas and receive support from one another during parent discussion time. Children have the opportunity to be with other children and learn with creative activities in a stimulating and caring environment.
ECFE offers a variety of classes for parents and children to come together to connect as a family, to discuss issues relating to your child's stage of development, and to meet other families. Classes are available to parents with infant, toddler, and preschool-age children.
Classes usually meet once a week for 90 minutes during the fall, winter, and spring sessions. A typical ECFE class begins with a "parent–child time," where parents and children participate in fun learning activities together. Families join together for a circle time to enjoy songs and fingerplays. Parents later join a parenting discussion by a parent educator while children continue their play with an early childhood teacher in the children's classroom.
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District 110’s Early Intervention team provides a continuum of special education services for children beginning as early as birth and following them up to kindergarten.
Services for eligible children from birth to age 3 are provided in the home or child care setting. Early intervention staff work with the child and his or her parents to facilitate learning opportunities, not only during the time when teachers and therapists are visiting but also within the family’s daily routines (e.g., playing, eating).
Early Childhood Special Education services for students aged 3 to 5 years old are delivered in a variety of settings, including the Wildcat Preschool classroom and smaller group options, including center-based programming. Our goal as an Early Intervention team is to provide services that meet the individual needs of children with various developmental abilities. Services are determined by the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) team, and are based upon the student's unique educational needs.
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The early childhood years, from birth to the start of kindergarten, are an important time of rapid learning and growth. Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of how your child is growing and developing. Between the ages of 3 and 4, screening can detect possible health or learning concerns, so that children can get help before they start school.
At your child's screening, a trained professional will check:
- vision;
- hearing;
- height and weight;
- immunization (shots) status;
- large and small muscles;
- thinking, language, and communication skills; and
- social and emotional development