Ridgeway Community School is happy to announce that at the end of December we received notification that Ridgeway Community School's application to the Minnesota Department of Education for an approved Instructional Preschool Program beginning with the 2024-25 school year was approved. This means that next year we will be able to provide free lunches and breakfasts to our preschool students. It also means that we will be able to apply for a Parent Aware rating and for other state supported preschool scholarship programs that would allow eligible families some assistance with the cost of our program tuition.
As our preschool program was full with a waiting list last year, we are giving our currently enrolled and waiting list families’ priority enrollment through January 31, 2024. Beginning on February 1st we will be opening up our enrollment in our preschool program to other families who would like to have their children attend. Enrollment for new preschoolers to our program will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We plan to offer the same choices in preschool programs for the 2024-25 school year as we did for the 2023-24 school year. There will be an overall program enrollment cap of 18 students and a cap of 10 students in our all-day – every-day program. Here are the options available:
- 3 mornings per week (M,W,F) - with limited transportation to and from area day cares
- 5 mornings per week (students can use the transportation available on M,W, and F)
- 5 full days per week with wrap around childcare (Enrollment priority will be given to students who will be 4 years old by 9/1/2024. If this program option isn’t full by 6/1/24 we will open the program up to 3 year olds.)
When selecting the program you wish to enroll in you may identify multiple options you are interested in. If selecting multiple options please put the #1 in the box with your first option and the #2 for your second option.
We expect there will be a slight increase in this year’s fees for the upcoming school year and will share those fees when they are set by our school board at their February board meeting. A copy of our current year’s program descriptions and fees can be obtained by clicking on the button to the left.
Other Enrollment Requirements:
This year, due to our status as an MDE approved Instructional Preschool Program, we are also requiring that any student who will be enrolling as a 4 year old complete their Early Childhood screening prior to September 1, 2024. Any 3 year olds enrolling in our preschool program will need to complete their Early Childhood Screening by the end of September 2024. Please note that the last scheduled preschool screening provided by Winona Area Public Schools is Tuesday April 9th. Most of Winona’s Early Childhood Screenings are conducted on Thursdays. If you haven’t scheduled your preschooler’s early childhood screening yet we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Early Childhood Screening can be conducted as soon as a child turns three years old, although the “ideal” screening time is generally recommended to be around 3.5 years old. To schedule your child’s Early Childhood Screening in Winona go to the Winona Area Public School’s Early Childhood Screening web page. Other school districts also offer Early Childhood Screenings once or twice a year, check their websites for dates.
Please note that prior to your child’s attendance in our preschool program they will need to be up-to-date on their state-required immunizations or have a notarized exemption on file. A copy of the immunization form is also attached to this package. They will also need to be fully potty trained and be able to manage the entire toileting process independently.
Ridgeway Community School does not discriminate against students on the basis of their intellectual ability, achievement, aptitude, athletic ability, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability.
Special Education Services: Due to state guidelines Ridgeway Community School's Preschool-Aged Enrichment Programs are not able to provide Early Childhood Special Educational Services. However RCS staff can assist families in accessing these services for their children from their resident public school district. For more information on requesting an evaluation for Early Childhood Special Educational Services please go to Minnesota's Help Me Grow. This website shows the developmental milestones for children from newborns through age 5.
What Are Milestones? Children develop in certain predictable ways, referred to as developmental milestones. Milestones cover four areas of a child's development -- cognitive, communication and language, social and emotional, and motor. Milestones help you understand how your child learns and grows. The Help Me Grow website also provides lots of great information on how you can support your preschool-aged child's development. The website also has information on how to refer a child for consideration for supportive developmental services, or Intervention Services.
Why Intervene Early? Intervention services are based on your child’s individual needs in order to help your child learn and grow. Accessing intervention services as early as possible will ensure the best developmental outcomes for your child.
- Decades of rigorous research show that children’s earliest experiences play a critical role in brain development.
- High quality early intervention programs for infants and toddlers can reduce the incidence of future problems in their learning, behavior and health.
- Intervention is likely to be more effective and less costly when it is provided earlier in life rather than later.
- High quality intervention services can change a child’s developmental path and some children catch up to the same developmental levels as other children their age.
- Families benefit by being able to better meet their child’s needs from an early age.
Preschool Enrollment is done on a first come - first serve basis. To enroll in one of Ridgeway's preschool options please complete and return the Preschool Enrollment Application available at the tab on the left of this page along with a non-refundable fifteen dollar registration fee to the school office. Enrollment in our preschool program does not guarantee enrollment in our kindergarten program as state law does not allow us to give enrollment preference in our kindergarten to 5th grade programs to students who have attended our preschool program. Preference for enrollment for our K-5 educational programs IS given to siblings of students already attending Ridgeway Community School and the children of school staff members.
- Enrollment Form: This form indicates your interest in enrolling your child in one of Ridgeway Community School's preschool program options.
- Non-Refundable Registration Fee: The $15.00 one-time fee is used for the administrative purpose of setting up your child for preschool.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FORMS NEEDED:
- Request for Student Records - Please complete this form so that we can request a copy of your child's Early Childhood Screening. As described above those students who will be 4 years old on 9/1/24 need to have their Early Childhood Screening complete prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year. Three year olds who are enrolling need to have their screening completed within 30 days of enrollment.
- Immunizations: (includes a list of required immunizations). Ridgeway Community School’s immunization policy states that all students need to be up to date with their immunizations or have a notarized waiver on file at the school office in order to begin school in the fall. This form, or a copy of your child’s immunization records, can be faxed to the school from your child’s doctor. The fax number is 507-454-9567.
- Transportation Form: Transportation is available from several area home day-care programs in the school's van. This seats in the van are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To reserve your child's spot in our preschool van please complete the transportation form return it to the school office. On this form you can indicate if your child will need transportation or if you will provide your own transportation. Also on this form is an area to indicate who can pick your child up.
- Scholarship Form: Ridgeway Community School has a limited number of $300 fee-reduction scholarships available for preschool students. In order to be eligible for the scholarships families must submit a scholarship application and the form for educational benefits (Free and Reduced priced lunch form). These forms can be submitted to the office as soon as a family has received confirmation that they have secured a spot in the class.
Please contact the RCS office at 507-454-9566 or if you have any questions about the above forms or any deadlines that are attached to these forms.
NOTICE TO PARENT/GUARDIAN: Tennessen Warning – MN Stat. 13.04, subd. 2: As a part of the permanent record for all students registered in the Ridgeway Community School #4083, information deemed private or confidential is collected. This data will be available only to district employees on a need-to-know basis. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may result in inaccurate records and incomplete services.
