ECFE/ School Readiness Classes
Attention all 3-year-olds!! Preschool Screening will be held the week of March 8-12 at Barnum Elementary. Preschool screening is for 3-year-old children born in 2017-2018, or are 4-5-year-olds that haven’t been screened or are new to our district. COVID-19 guidelines state all adults must wear a mask, one parent and one child may attend, no siblings. Paperwork will be sent home on February 19, you will fill it out prior to screening and return the packet with you. Contact our School Nurse, Melissa Johnson, at mjohnson@isd91.org or 218-389-6978 ext 1017 to register for your screening date and time. Deadline to register is February 16th, 2021.
Fall 2020-2021 PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Barnum Early Learning encompasses all facets of education, both informal and formal learning, birth through grade 3. We build upon the family’s foundation for lifelong learning and well-being of children. A holistic developmental approach is used to enhance social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of the families and children we serve. The fall of 2020 will bring forth the following to ensure the safety of our families and children.
- School Readiness and ECFE will continue to serve families everyday as scheduled in an In-Person and Hybrid Model.
- Begindergarten Mon-Thu 8:15-11:15a for 4-5 yr olds, Leaps & Bounds Mon-Wed 12-3p for 4 year olds, Little Steps Tue/Thu 8:15-11:15a for 3 year olds.
- If we move into a Distance Learning Model, then our classes would become Distance Learning as well.
- Minimum class size is 7 kids, and maximum is 17.
- ECFE Fridays 8:30-10a and/or in an Online platform.
- Children will be split up into groups using the CDC’s recommended group sizes.
- Busing will be available one way.
- Distance Learning will NOT be an option unless we are in a complete Distance Learning scenario.
- All staff will be expected to wear masks.
- Students will NOT be required to wear masks due to CDC guidelines.
- Additional cleaning and disinfecting protocols will be in place.
- Begindergarten Mon-Thu 8:15-11:15a for 4-5 yr olds, Leaps & Bounds Mon-Wed 12-3p for 4 year olds, Little Steps Tue/Thu 8:15-11:15a for 3 year olds.
*Classes may differ, contact us the week of August 24 to register and set up an open house time. Call us at 218-389-3001 or email one of the teachers at kwarpula@isd91.org (Kaitlin Warpula) or abigelow@isd91.org (Alisha Bigelow)
Please fill out the following form to start the registration process. One registered, we will contact you the week of August 24 to set up a pre-conference to finalize registration.
https://forms.gle/3aMQJkmC33V9iYry9
Click here for all the class dates: *updating, will add soon
Items to note:
- Begindergarten and Leaps and Bounds classes start September 9.
- Little Steps class starts September 15th.
- Cost for all programs based on a sliding fee scale. Pathway I & II Scholarship applications available upon request.
- Watch for Family Nights and Kindergarten Transition dates.
- Early Childhood Advisory Board meetings the 3rd Monday of September, November, January and April.
- Classes for the 2020-2021 school year will be a one-year commitment, there will be no refunds if you chose to discontinue attending.
Class Options for the 2020-2021 School Year: 
Begindergarten
When: M-Th 8:15-11:15
Age: anyone 5 by 12/31/20
Where: Room 110
Description: Begindergarten is a class for those children who just missed the cutoff for kindergarten or for those kindergarten ages who are not developmentally ready for kindergarten. Through play, large and small group, and independent work, children will become prepared for kindergarten by learning more of the pre-math and pre-reading skills, follow routines, build their social and emotional skills and have fun in a school setting.
Leaps & Bounds
When: M-We 12:00-3:00
Age: anyone 4 by 12/31/20
Where: ECFE room or room 110
Description: Through play, large group, and small group settings, children will continue to share, socialize with others, be independent and work on pre-math and pre-reading skills.
Little Steps
When: T/Th 8:15-11:15
Age: anyone 3 by 8/31/20
Where: ECFE room
Description: Through play and large group settings, children will learn to share, socialize with others, and become independent in a school setting.
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
When: Fridays, starting January 22. 8:30-10 a.m.
Who: kids 12mos-kindergarten & parents
Where: ECFE room
Description: Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a public school program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of 12mos. to kindergarten. ECFE includes parent-child time, parent education time and early childhood education time.
Baby Class Meet & Greet: Did you have a baby in the last 12 months? Having a baby soon? Come join Early Childhood Staff for a free, fun, laid back Meet & Greet evening! Meet the staff & other parents! Dinner will be provided, sibling care will be available, we’ll have some make and take projects, an informal speaker or two, and lots of fun! Wednesday, April 14th from 5:00-6:30 pm at Barnum Elementary in the ECFE room. Contact Early Child Staff to register at kcopenhaver@isd91.org or 218-389-3001.
Don’t let your child be left out.
School Census….counting every child 0-5 in the Barnum School District.
-Recently moved into our school district?
-New birth or family member ages 0-5?-New phone number or address?
Please call the Community Ed Office at 218-389-0108.
Families on our census receive valuable information regarding services, screening, events, and Kindergarten Roundup.
Contact the Early Childhood office at 218-389-3001 or abigelow@isd91.org for classes, or questions. We offer a sliding fee scale (resembling the free/reduced applications), scholarships, and we are flexible with our payments for tuition!
Disclaimer: Community Education reserves the right to combine and/or cancel a class due to lack of enrollment. All decisions will be made within 30 days of a class or session start date.