Culver School
Preschool For All
Program Manual
2024-2025
Table of Contents
What Are The Qualifications Of Staff? 5
McKinney-Vento Eligible Students 8
What If My Child Needs Extra Help? 9
How Often Do Students Attend? 11
What Should My Child Bring? 14
Do The Children Go On Field Trips? 16
What Kinds Of Community Collaborations Exist? 18
Is There a Preschool Graduation? 26
Interested In Summer Activities? 26
What Are Developmental Milestones? 27
The mission of Niles Elementary School District 71 is to provide exceptional learning experiences that nurture, challenge, and inspire each student to contribute to a community of excellence.
Preschool for All, or PFA, is a high quality preschool program that provides early childhood education for students who are 3 and 4 years old. Niles ESD 71 was awarded the funds to support our PFA Program through a competitive grant and, as a result, is able to provide free preschool to eligible students. We are proud to serve all students in this program, including students in special education, students learning English and students who are considered at-risk with the goal of preparing all of our students for academic success as they begin their school career.
Niles ESD 71’s Preschool For All is a comprehensive program focused on the child at the center of all its activities. Early childhood research consistently shows that children learn best through play. Engaging in play provides ample opportunities for students to build and develop language skills, social skills, problem solving skills and academic skills. Additionally, our preschool program provides numerous opportunities to partner with families, make community connections and plan for a smooth transition to kindergarten.
All staff working with students within our school are licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education. Each PFA classroom is staffed by the teacher and a teaching assistant at a ratio of 1 licensed adult for every 10 children. The teachers in the PFA program are state licensed early childhood general education teachers. In addition to teaching general education, the teachers are licensed to teach special education and English as a second language. Our teaching assistants are licensed paraprofessionals. There may be additional staff working with the children as well, including but not limited to licensed speech language pathologists, social workers, and/or occupational therapists.
Students who are eligible for the PFA program must reside in Niles ESD 71 and be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1st of the school year that they are looking to attend unless the student is eligible for special education services. If a student is determined eligible for special education services by Niles ESD 71, that child can begin preschool as early as their 3rd birthday or a date thereafter at any point in the year. Additionally, any student who will be 5 years old on or before September 1st will be enrolled in kindergarten.
As you can imagine, the PFA program is very popular. The district is able to offer high quality preschool with numerous learning opportunities for the youngest learners residing in Niles ESD 71 boundaries all for free! The district uses a system to screen students to determine which students are eligible to enter the PFA program and which students will be placed on the waitlist. All interested parents or guardians must complete an online application, two age specific developmental screening questionnaires and corresponding consents, the PFA parent form and submit income verification in order to be considered for the PFA program. If a family requires assistance to complete the necessary paperwork, school staff will sit with the family and complete the form together. And, in the event that an interpreter is needed to assist the family, one will be provided at no cost to the family.
The application process for the beginning of the next school year is open to new families throughout March. Parents will then be notified in May regarding placement in the AM class, the PM class or the waitlist. A student can be added to the waitlist at any point in the year so long as the parents complete the screening process in its entirety. Students enrolled in the PFA program as 3 year olds, do not need to reapply for the next year. Existing students are automatically re-enrolled for the same time class (AM class or PM class) as they were placed their first year.
The questionnaires screen developmental and social emotional milestones. The developmental screening questionnaires as well as the PFA parent forms are reviewed and shared with the PFA teachers, teaching assistants and related service providers including the school psychologist, social worker, speech language pathologists and, as appropriate, occupational therapist and physical therapist. The results from the developmental screening questionnaires are shared with the parents and can state one of three findings: (1) developing like other peers this age, (2) some need for encouragement and activities to further develop specific skills are shared or (3) that an evaluation is necessary at this time to determine if the child is eligible for additional services and support through special education.
Children who are identified as homeless under McKinney-Vento will be immediately enrolled in the PFA program if it has not reached capacity. If the program is at capacity, the child will be placed at the top of the waitlist and the McKinney-Vento liaison will assist in finding the child an alternate placement.
While all children are welcome, we may not have enough room in the program for all applicants. Families will be notified in May as to whether or not their child was accepted into the program or placed on the waiting list. Placement in the program is based on multiple weighted criteria. This information is gathered through the application process. Children who are not placed in the program will be placed on the waiting list, which also follows the weighted criteria.
Once you have received notification that your child has been accepted into the program, you will receive follow-up instructions to officially prove residency and register your child in Niles ESD 71. Please note that there are no registration fees for preschool children.
The information that you provide in the two developmental screening questionnaires and in the PFA Parent Form is designed to provide our team with sufficient information to know if your child may need additional support in our preschool program. We recognize that children come to us with many different experiences and may even be exposed to English for the first time in our classrooms!
The results from the developmental screening questionnaires are shared with the parents and can state one of three findings: (1) developing like other peers this age, (2) some need for encouragement and activities to further develop specific skills are shared or (3) that an evaluation is necessary at this time to determine if the child is eligible for additional services and support through special education. If the team has additional questions based on what was documented, one of our related services staff members will contact you to gather additional information. Additionally, if your child is currently participating in a daycare or preschool program, you will be asked to sign a consent allowing our staff to speak to their staff and our staff may request to observe your child in their facility. Finally, you may be contacted to discuss an evaluation of your child. If this occurs, the staff member will explain to you the reasons the school believes an evaluation for special education is warranted as well as the process. The school team can only complete an evaluation with your written consent. An evaluation for special education would determine the need for additional services and supports for your child.
If your child is accepted into the program, you will complete a Home Language Survey at the time of registration. If you indicate that your child speaks another language or that another language is spoken at home, your child’s English proficiency will be assessed within the first 30 days of school and you will be notified, in writing, as to whether or not your child qualifies for English Learning services.
Children learn through play. As a result, our preschool classrooms and schedule are designed to have numerous opportunities for children to engage in play with others and in self-directed play. Through a hands-on, play based, and well organized learning environment, the program will address all the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards. Teachers promote fine motor skills through table time activities which are manipulative based activities, along with art opportunities. Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Science, and Science Standards are all addressed in multiple ways: learning experiences in our designated interest areas, and small group and whole group instruction. Social Emotional and Communication skills are practiced throughout the preschool day in every activity and area available to the children. Students practice health, nutrition and personal hygiene during snack time where they are also enhancing their independence and table manners. Physical development is promoted through gross motor activities during outside play, in the gym, and through music and movement in the classroom.
The preschool program utilizes the Creative Curriculum which builds a high quality learning environment for all children. The classrooms are set up with designated learning areas that each promotes development and learning in various ways, and addresses all important domains of development. The learning areas in the classroom include the block center, dramatic play, science, toys and games, art, library, music and movement, listening center, and sand and water centers. Through each of these learning areas along with our whole group instruction, small instruction, and outside motor play each domain is taught. Additionally, the students are exposed to a language rich environment. Teachers enhance language by providing visuals for added comprehension.
Social emotional learning is a cornerstone of preschool. The PFA program uses the Pyramid Model to differentiate for social emotional learning. Teachers help students build relationships between their peers and the teachers. When provided with consistency and predictability, the students learn to reduce their anxiety and trust the teachers and staff. This happens through the use of visuals to learn the routines of the classroom and consistency in their daily schedule. During play activities, teachers facilitate problem solving skills by teaching children to share, take turns and compromise. If additional supports are needed, social stories may be used as well as visual problem solving cards are used to support students in communicating with others. Furthermore, some students may need direct instruction in techniques to calm down in a given situation.
All students are taught positive behavior through modeling in a high quality, supportive environment. If students exhibit inappropriate behaviors, they are redirected and provided with an alternate task or activity or provided with visuals including problem solving cards to resolve the conflict. Students in the PFA program are not suspended or expelled from school. Instead, teachers will create a plan to work with the students and their families, and if warranted, the school team may pursue an evaluation to determine the need for special education services.
Students in our PFA program attend school Monday through Friday for 2.5 hours. The morning program is from 8:30-11:00 and the afternoon program is from 12:00-2:30.
Students are expected to attend preschool daily unless they are sick. Please do not send your child if there are any signs or symptoms of illness or infection.
Students need to remain home until free of illness signs and symptoms without medication for 24 hours or, if necessary, until cleared by a healthcare provider. Return to school may require a note from a physician.
Parents must report a diagnosis of contagious disease, including but not limited to:
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A student with a diagnosed contagious illness must remain away from school and a note from a physician stating the date they may return to school must be submitted to school.
On any day that a child cannot attend school, a parent or guardian must call the school office to excuse the child, stating the reason for the absence. Parents must call the absence line (847-966-9280) the evening before or the morning of a student's absence, then press 5000 to leave a message stating your name, your child's name and the reason for absence. This process lets the school know that an absent child is safe at home and avoids the need for a note upon the child's return to school.
If your child becomes ill while at school, you will be contacted and you will need to pick your child up from school in a timely manner.
Preschool students are busy creating! Your child should bring a backpack that is big enough to hold a piece of paper without being folded. Please also pack an extra change of clothes and shoes for your child. And, if your child is not yet potty trained, please provide the teachers with diapers/pull-ups and wipes. No other supplies are required. Everything will be provided by the school, including a healthy snack.
Remember to send your children with hats, gloves and snow pants during the cold winter months. The students will go outside unless it is below 25 degrees Fahrenheit or raining.
Each day follows a consistent routine. Students arrive in the morning and work on a fine motor activity of their choosing. Students then transition to “circle”. Circle time lasts between 10 and 15 minutes and revolves around a theme and includes a story read aloud daily. The purpose of circle time is to work on developing attention skills and learn to be part of a large group activity. Children then have free choice time where they engage in free play and pretend, build and interact with one another to increase their problem solving, social emotional, pre-academic, language, and critical thinking skills. Following free choice time is another circle time that involves early literacy and early math skills through music and movement. Snack follows this second circle time. (Parents do not need to provide a snack; the school provides a healthy snack for the children.) The day ends with gross motor activities, usually outside on the preschool playground even in cold weather, where students work their large muscles while interacting with one another.
AM Preschool Schedule
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
8:30-8:35 | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival |
8:35-9:00 | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor |
9:00-9:25 | Table Time | Table Time | Table Time | Table Time | Table Time |
9:25-9:40 | Circle Time | Circle Time
| Circle Time | Circle Time | Circle Time |
9:40-10:30 | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers |
10:30-10:40 | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle |
10:40-10:55 | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack |
10:55-11:00 | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal |
PM Preschool Schedule
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
12:00-12:05 | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival |
12:05-12:30 | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor | Outside Play or indoor gross motor |
12:30-12:55 | Table Time | Table Time | Table Time | Table Time | Table Time |
12:55-1:10 | Circle Time | Circle Time
| Circle Time | Circle Time | Circle Time |
1:10-2:00 | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers | Free Choice Centers |
2:00-2:10 | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle | Clean up/ Second Circle |
2:10-2:25 | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack | Wash hands/ Snack |
2:25-2:30 | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal | Pack up/ Dismissal |
Snack is offered each day and follows USDA meal guidelines. An example of the menu for a week is shared below:
Field trips offer the students experiences to continue to learn and develop. Typically, there are two out-of-school field trips scheduled per school year and one in-school field trip per year. These field trips are designed to foster learning and increase family involvement. Families are not asked to pay for any of the field trips as they are paid for by the district.
Thank you for trusting us with your child enough to share them with us in preschool. We treat this relationship as a partnership in learning. Working together we can provide the best possible school experience for your child. To achieve this goal we provide ongoing opportunities for communication as well as school sponsored activities that you can engage in with your child. It is important for us to know how many of these activities are attended by our PFA families, so you may be asked to sign-in at these events.
Teachers communicate with parents in a variety of ways. The teachers and teaching assistants are outside at arrival and dismissal times for a quick check-in. Additionally, they are available via email, phone and, if needed, a meeting at school. Finally, the school holds parent teacher conferences twice annually and all families are encouraged to sign up for a conference.
Parents are invited to attend different activities at school. From the Preschool Information Night at the beginning of the year to Curriculum Night and Parent/Teacher Conferences we have built in opportunities for you to learn more about our program and hear about your child’s progress.
Culver has many different ways for you to get involved. Family Literacy and Math Night, EL Family Night and even in-school field trips are just a few of the events that we have planned. Additionally, we offer parent education opportunities that are specific to the development of your preschooler. And don’t forget to join us at the Preschool Celebration at the end of the year!
As you can imagine, we are happy to have more help! Please remember that the Parent/Teacher Association is always looking for members. The meetings are held monthly, and the money raised by the PTA is used to fund events or items for the students. Volunteering is another way that you can get involved at school! If you are interested in volunteering to chaperone a field trip or even in the classroom, we ask that you participate in one of our volunteer trainings prior to the day of volunteering or chaperoning and that you provide your valid state ID or driver’s license on the day of volunteering. Anyone interested in volunteering on a regular basis would have to go through fingerprinting and a background check.
As the famous African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child!” We wholeheartedly agree with this statement and therefore, we partner with different community organizations to help provide a variety of services for our students.
The most obvious collaboration is within our own district. While we are a preschool program, we have special education services and mental health services provided by the district. Additionally, we have a smooth process to transition students to kindergarten that includes preschool to kindergarten teacher articulation, a kindergarten screening, and a transition book for all incoming kindergarteners.
We work with Child and Family Connections to provide a seamless transition from Early Intervention services to Early Childhood Special Education Services, if the child is eligible, without undue disruption and duplication in the provision of services.
Niles ESD 71 is a member of Niles Township District for Special Education (NTDSE), the local special education cooperative. NTDSE offers free monthly parent sessions on early childhood topics for parents of all preschool children. We also partner with NTDSE to provide individualized special education services, as appropriation. Finally, NTDSE provides professional development to district faculty and staff to support the success of all students.
We partner with the Early Childhood Alliance (ECA), serving Niles Township. The ECA is a collaboration of 45 different resources for early childhood parents, including a variety of early childhood providers, local government services, social services, health services, and other entities looking to support children. The ECA strives to provide resources for families of early childhood children.
STAR NET Region II is another great early childhood entity that provides family education and professional development to the Niles ESD 71 preschool team as well as other early childhood educators in surrounding counties. We have partnered with STAR NET to provide family sessions including Teaching Positive Behavior - Techniques That Work!
We also work with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to provide primary health care services twice annually to uninsured children, including physicals, immunizations, sick-child visits and health education, as well as diagnosis, treatment, referral and follow-up for chronic illnesses.
SMILES Dental Clinic also provides children with dental care at school as Medicaid (Children’s Health Insurance Program CHIP) and most other insurances cover 100% of prevention treatment. Dental services can also be provided to families who need financial assistance.
Niles-Maine District Library is another community organization that we collaborate with in order to instill a love of reading in our preschoolers. Our students have participated in field trips at the library and the children’s librarian has come to Culver to read stories aloud to our children. Additionally, Niles-Maine District Library holds a preschool fair that Culver attends annually to tell our community members about our PFA program and answer any parent questions.
Culver School provides instruction in compliance with Erin’s Law, a state mandated, age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education program for students in preschool through high school. The purpose of these lessons is to help students develop knowledge, decision-making skills, and behaviors which promote safe living in the home, school, and community. Each year we partner with Childhood Victories Inc. to provide parent education regarding sexual assault and developmentally developmentally appropriate instruction in Personal Body Safety Program to our preschool students.
Finally, we partner with Early Head Start and Head Start. The Early Head Start home visiting program is for pregnant moms or parents with children ages 0-3. This program includes educational parent sessions, weekly visits, monthly social groups, resources for families, and inclusive programming to support students with special needs. We also have a partnership with Head Start through the Childcare Network of Evanston. Head Start is a comprehensive child development program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Head Start services include education, social services, and health and family involvement.
Change is a constant in life, but often, we are better prepared if we know what to expect, and we want to afford that same opportunity to your family as students both enter and exit our preschool program.
Parents will receive a communication from the District identifying the registration process once a child has been offered a seat in the program. Following enrollment, over the summer, parents will receive the Preschool For All Program Manual to provide them with information about the program, including the date and time for the Preschool Information Night as well as the school calendar. Over the summer, the incoming preschoolers will receive a letter with a picture from the teacher welcoming them to the classroom. The parents then attend the Preschool Information Night before the first day of preschool where they learn about the expectations for preschool, the classroom routine, drop-off and pick-up procedures, how to contact the teachers, the volunteer policy and have an opportunity to see the classroom.
When students are in their final year of preschool, the preschool teachers meet on multiple occasions with the kindergarten teachers to discuss their students and share data for each child. The preschool and kindergarten classes participate in activities together, such as outside play. Also, within the final year of preschool, the parents are notified of the Kindergarten Screening process, which takes place during the school day and they will receive the school calendar and information Kindergarten Information Night which takes place before the new school year begins. Furthermore, the preschool students who will be transitioning to kindergarten visit the kindergarten classes during the preschool day for a 30 minute period of time toward the end of spring. At the end of the year, the students each receive a “I’m Going to Kindergarten,” book that explains what to expect in kindergarten. This book includes pictures of all of the teachers and locations throughout the building including the cafeteria, music room, gym, STEAM room and Media Center. In the fall of their kindergarten year, the students transitioning to kindergarten attend 1 hour of school before the first full day of school as an orientation of kindergarten.
While we do not have a preschool graduation, we do have a preschool End of Year Celebration! Please join us to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of all of our students, not just those transitioning to kindergarten. The teachers will notify you regarding the date for The End of Year Celebration.
While we know that everyone develops at their own pace, it is important to be aware of age appropriate developmental milestones. Skills that develop over time are referred to as developmental milestones. Please refer to the 3 year old and 4 year old developmental milestone checklists on the next pages that can be downloaded for free from the CDC’s website to review expected skill development.
Available on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/freematerials.html
Available on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/freematerials.html
Available on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/freematerials.html
Available on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/freematerials.htm
Niles Elementary School District 71