November 19, 2018, 8:43am | St Vrain Valley School District
St. Vrain Valley Schools offers high-quality preschool programs in every community across the district. We are committed to shaping today’s children to be tomorrow’s young adults, parents, business owners, industry leaders and senior citizens. Studies have shown that children participating in preschool programs are more likely to graduate high school, go to college and earn more in their careers. The purpose of the district’s Preschool Program is to provide a high-quality early childhood experience for our youngest learners in a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment. We believe family partnership’s are vital to a student’s success in our program. Ongoing opportunities for parent involvement are offered throughout the school year and strongly encouraged
Preschool Open Enrollment
January 6-17, 2020
Find a Preschool Program in St. Vrain
The Early Grades Matter
Developing skills at an early age is critical to a child’s educational success. Language skills at the age of one or two can predict literacy skills at age five. Most research today indicates that children participating in rigorous preschool programming exhibit more positive health, social-emotional and cognitive outcomes than those that do not.
“Quality preschool programs and positive relationships with caring adults provides a strong foundation for children and increases their chances of being successful,” says Edwina Salazar, Executive Director of the OUR Center, a local basic needs provider that maintains its own four-star rated child development center. Roughly 60 to 75 percent of families utilizing these services are part of low-income households.
At Spark! Discovery Preschool, a stand-alone STEM preschool facility within St. Vrain, students regularly engage in design thinking challenges that build upon teamwork, problem solving and social development. Keeping Humpty Dumpty protected from falling off a wall or devising a way to keep the family dog from chewing on shoes are clever scenarios to engage even the youngest preschool students.
“By facilitating design thinking challenges, we achieve a higher level of rigor within our coursework,” says Spark! Discovery teacher, Jess Harbison. “We are setting them up to be better problem solvers, collaborators and critical thinkers. That is what the jobs of tomorrow will call upon.”
Mountain View Elementary’s STEM Discovery Preschool is another program within St. Vrain using these techniques. By incorporating iPads, makerspaces, prototyping resources and guest speakers, teachers are able to integrate STEM and the arts seamlessly. Mountain View parent Liz Lasher says she is impressed by the growth her daughter, Marilyn, has shown.
“Mountain View does a great job of integrating STEM curriculum and developing emotional intelligence in the classroom,” says Lasher. “Marilyn consistently surprises us at home with new terms and phrases she has learned. She is more outgoing, asks more questions and is more independent.”
St. Vrain Valley Schools is committed to shaping today’s children to be tomorrow’s young adults, parents, business owners, industry leaders and senior citizens. Studies have shown that children participating in preschool programs are more likely to graduate high school, go to college and earn more in their careers. In 2014, the White House Council of Economic Advisors reported that for every $1 invested in preschool education, our economy sees a return of $8.60. This is largely based on increased earnings as students enter the U.S. workforce.
Chris Barge of the Community Foundation of Boulder County directs the organization’s School Readiness Initiative and feels St. Vrain is performing head and shoulders above many school districts in the state and across the country.
“As a school district, St. Vrain manages its finances very well, especially in a state where resources are scarce,” says Barge. “Placing emphasis on early learning and performing above expectations is why St. Vrain Valley Schools continues to succeed.”