Westonka Community Preschool

  • The Westonka Community Preschool is a developmentally appropriate school readiness program that emphasize activities in all areas of growth, development and learning for children ages three (by September 1 of the current school year) through five years.

    Our classrooms provide a peer-group setting offering students an opportunity to practice important social and emotional skills that are so necessary for success in kindergarten while building on their understanding of pre-academic skills. Classes include a diverse grouping of children reflective of the community, with some classes inclusive with special education.  We try to offer two field trips every year plus there might be additional classroom trips to local destinations.  We see our parents as partners in our child's education.  We partner with you in a variety of ways on a monthly basis to help you enhance your child's growth and development. Our program staff are licensed staff or have many years of experience working with preschool aged children.

    We have preschool classrooms at two locations:
    Shirley Hills Preschool 2450 Wilshire Boulevard, Mound, MN  55364 
    Early Learning Center 5700 Game Farm Rd., Minnetrista, MN 55364

    Our Curriculum:

    We used a state approved curriculum called Creative Curriculum. This curriculum has been shown to improve child outcomes through effective teaching methods. It is a research-based and research-proven curriculum that provides infant, toddler and two year old teachers and preschool teachers with resources that are considered to be the most effective, while honoring a teacher's creativity and respecting their critical role in making learning exciting and relevant for each and every child.

    We also use a social-emotional framework in our classes called The Pyramid Model framework.  This framework emphasizes developing a child's social and emotional skills in order for them to be successful in life. Our classes are coached to fidelity and staff are continually being trained in the best practices and approaches to teaching social and emotional skills. We are excited to be in our second year of implementation of this framework.

    We incorporate Handwriting Without Tears into our daily schedules with small group work. This curriculum provides developmentally appropriate, multisensory tools and strategies that your child's teachers used to engage them in handwriting by addressing all styles of learning in their teaching of the skills. 

    Our Assessment:

    We used a state approved assessment called Teaching Strategies GOLD. This assessment is based on helping a teacher answer the questions, “What does this child know, and what is he or she able to do?” It provides staff with a variety of online tools to help them organize developmental data about each child to determine if the child is making progress compared to other typical children their age. Teachers then share this information out with parents during conference time.

    Other Services:

    Extended Day Child Care is offered year-round for through the Adventure Club program, which is open 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m, and available in all of our preschool locations.

To Register for Preschool:

Contact

  • For more information about Westonka Community Preschool, please contact:

    Sarah Grimm
    Early Childhood Coordinator
    grimms@westonka.k12.mn.us
    (952) 491-8580  

    or call the Early Learning Center office at (952) 491-8576