Welcome! We’re excited to have your child join us at Spark Discovery Preschool for the 2025 – 2026 school year!  Preschool represents a truly important and formative time in the lives of our children, and we are thrilled to be a part of your child’s journey and growth. As we look ahead, we want to take a moment to share some important updates regarding the upcoming summer and the start of the new school year.

Your child’s schedule has been communicated with you earlier by school district staff from the Early Childhood Education Department for the ‘25-’26 school year.  If a parent/family is unclear about their child’s schedule for next year, please call and discuss this with Amy Yanez (720-652-7906), our registrar, who can verify their schedule with you. If a parent needs to discuss a change or review of their child’s schedule, please call the Early Childhood Education Department at 303-702-7815, as we are unable to make any changes or take requests at the school level since the inception of Universal Preschool (UPK). 

Spark! Preschool SCHEDULES for the 2025 – 2026 school year: 

• AM preschool – Monday through Friday, 8:30- 11:10 am 
• PM preschool – Monday through Friday, 12:25 – 3:05 pm 
• Full day preschool – Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 3:05 pm 

PRESCHOOL SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

• Last day of School – School  is out on Thursday, May 22.  This is also the last day for childcare. 
• Last day for most staff – Teachers have a workday Friday, May 23, and all classroom staff will be gone for the summer after Friday.
• Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day – the front office / school is closed.
• Office Hours from Tuesday, May 27  – Thursday, June 10 – During these dates, the office will be open from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm from Mon – Thurs. Some office staff will be working at Spark! Discovery Preschool in the front office. No teaching staff will be working. 
• Summer Break – Office is closed: Wednesday, June 11 to  Thursday, July 31, our school and front office will be closed for summer break. There will be a message on our phone about who families can call at the school district level if they have questions about registration or getting registered during the summer even though the school-based office is closed:  SVVSD Early Childhood Education Department  at 303-702-7815 – ask for Susan Mills.
• Reopening for the ’25 – ’26 school year:  Thursday, August 1 at 8:00 am, our front office will reopen.  Teachers will report back to work August 6. 

FINALIZING REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT at Spark! to have your child’s file ready to start:

Some families receiving this email may have not completed the registration process with St. Vrain Valley Schools, including an application in Infinite Campus, a Birth Certificate, Proof of Residency, and Immunizations, which are required by the school district to enroll children in the school district. At the school level we are tracking these documents, and Amy Yanez, clerk/registrar, can verify if you have turned in all of the documents needed. Submit required documents via one of the following ways: 

1) Drop them off at school – 555 8th Street, Frederick, CO 80530

2) Upload them to Infinite Campus in the registration portal.

3) Email/scan them to our registrar, Amy Yanez, at [email protected].

4) Fax them to the school at 720-652-7910, to the attention of Amy Yanez

Please ensure the documents are high quality / large enough to be read when printed by school staff: 

a) BIRTH CERTIFICATE: A birth certificate is required before a child can attend school. If families are unable to find theirs, we can take a receipt of an application for a new birth certificate. Once the new birth certificate is delivered to the family, a copy of the original birth certificate must be shared with the school by the parent.

b) IMMUNIZATIONS: Colorado law requires children in preschool to have an immunization record on file and to have the required immunizations.  If a child receives additional immunizations over the summer, we will need a copy of the new and updated immunization records.  Amanda Rivera, our health clerk, monitors each child’s immunization records to make sure these are complete, up to date, and compliant.  She can accept emails over the summer at [email protected], and she will report back to work on Wednesday, Aug 6.  If a child cannot receive immunizations because of medical, religious, or personal reasons, please go to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Immunization Exemption website at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions for instructions on exemption requirements for school.  This certificate must be turned into Amanda.

c) PROOF OF RESIDENCY: Proof of residency is required before a child can attend school.

Acceptable proof of residency include these types of documents: A water bill, an electricity bill, a trash bill,  a gas bill, a sewer bill, a lease/rental agreement, a housing contract, HOA statement, or the top of a bank statement. These documents need to have parent/family names on them.  

We are unable to accept these types of documents as proof of residency: A driver’s license, cell phone bill, delivery labels, junk mail, medicaid, public assistance documents, Internet service bills, passports, social security statements, toll road bills, or a blank banking check.  

CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS: If a child has the need for an Individualized Health Plan (IHP), due to on-going health needs such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures, diaper rash cream, or other health needs, please contact Amanda, our health clerk. We will work with any families to ensure any child with a health condition starts school with an individualized plan to support their needs.  Any child who needs medication administered during the school day will need an IHP, which needs to be signed by a physician.  Parents can reach out to Amanda at [email protected]; she returns to work on Wed, Aug 6. 

FOOD/MEALS:  Students will be served snacks in preschool and childcare.  They will be served meals in childcare and full day preschool too, and students can bring cold lunches to childcare and full day preschool.

Allergies: If a child has a food allergy, a meal modification form will be needed by our Nutrition Services Department to create a plan for modifying snacks and any meals based on need.  This form is available here or a copy may be picked up at our school’s office. This will need to be completed with the assistance of a physician. Once completed, please drop this off at the office with Amanda, our health clerk, so she can collaborate with Nutrition Services.

Preferences: If a family has a food preference, for example the family is vegetarian or the family has preferences based on religion, they should reach out to nutrition services for a meal modification plan in August to [email protected].

GENERAL HEALTH APPRAISAL FORM:  An up-to-date General Health Appraisal Form (GHAF) must be on file for preschool-aged students within the first 30 days of preschool and/or childcare.  This form is required by Colorado state licensing and must be signed by a physician, as the form requires a doctor’s signature, stating the child is healthy enough to attend preschool.  Children who start preschool on Monday, 8-18-5, must have a General Health Appraisal Form by Tuesday, Sept 16, to continue to come to school. Often parents drop this form off at their medical provider’s office, fax it to them, or take it to their next medical appointment. After dropping it off,  they request that the doctor’s office complete the form, and pick it up the next day. Some offices will also fax it to the school directly when it’s completed; our fax number is listed above.  Waiting to get this completed this summer will ensure families won’t have to update it during the school year as it expires one year from the last time the child visited the doctor’s office (not the date of the signature).

PRESCHOOL TEACHER / CLASS PLACEMENT:  We are working to complete the hiring of teaching staff for the 2025-2026 school year, which typically occurs in spring and into summer. In early August, each family will receive communication from the registrar, Amy Yanez, which will contain updated school-wide information, including each child’s schedule and classroom assignment for the school year. 

FIRST DAY OF CHILDCARE:  Childcare begins on Wed, Aug. 13. Questions regarding childcare can be directed to Tasha Lugg at 720-652-7908 or [email protected].

PRESCHOOL POPSICLE POP-IN PARTY Outside:  We will host an ice-cream social on Friday, August 8, 2025 from 3:00 – 3:30 pm.  This is an informal time to bring your child and family to meet the preschool teacher outside their classroom door. This serves an opportunity to help children transition to preschool and to become familiar with staff and the school. More information about this will come out in August. 

PRESCHOOL FAMILY ORIENTATION: Preschool families are required to attend a family orientation meeting with the teacher prior to the start of school in order to communicate about important policies and procedures, to complete paperwork, learn about policies/procedures/processes, and to give students an opportunity to visit the classroom.  

• Orientation will be held for AM and Full-day students on Wed, Aug 13, from 9:30 – 11:00 am 
• Orientation will be held for PM students on Wed, Aug 13, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm 

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL: The first day of preschool is Monday, August 18, 2025 for all enrolled students who have their required orientation forms and paperwork completed. 

PRESCHOOL BOO-HOO BREAKFAST / DROP OFF DESSERT for PARENTS/Adults: Sometimes the transition into preschool can be hard — for students AND for parents and families.  During drop off on the first day of school this is an optional opportunity for adults (after they drop off their child at preschool), to come to the front of the school, go to the cafeteria, and have a light snack as children are transitioning. There will be some tables, coffee and light breakfast, and family members could meet other preschool families there too. All staff will be “all hands on deck” with students to work on getting them successfully transitioned into classrooms, so there’s no official program or schedule.  

• Monday, August 18 at 8:30 am for AM session / Full Day session families
• Monday, August 18 at 12:25 pm for PM families

LATE START – Starting in the 2025 school year

Late start days will be held on the following Wednesdays during this upcoming school year: 

*Wednesday, September 3, 2025

*Wednesday, November 5, 2025

*Wednesday, December 3, 2025

*Wednesday, February 4, 2026

*Wednesday, March 4, 2026

*Wednesday, April 1, 2026

*Wednesday, May 6, 2026

• AM PRESCHOOL CLASSES on LATE START:  With the 5 day a week change for preschool beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, preschoolers will NOT attend AM sessions on late start days listed above.

• FULL DAY  PRESCHOOL CLASS on LATE START: Full day students will start school on late start days at 11:00 am. 

• PM  PRESCHOOL CLASS on LATE START: Students attending in the PM class will not be impacted by late start schedules.

PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS: As of early June, 2025, we are currently awaiting guidance from our district’s Office of Early Childhood regarding fall developmental screenings. We will share that information with you as we get closer to the start of the school year.

PRESCHOOL TRANSPORTATION: Our school district does not provide transportation to preschool for nearly 99% of preschool students. For some students with special needs, bussing will begin the first day of preschool as long as transportation services have been approved and coordinated with the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) case manager.  Parents of students with special needs can apply for transportation with their child’s special education case-manager during parent/family orientation. 

PRESCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:  We have a strong tradition of parent/family involvement and volunteerism, and we will be offering volunteer opportunities in the classroom again this year.  All volunteers must attend a required 90 minute training with the principal to be eligible for volunteering in the classroom, and more information about training opportunities will come out in August.  

CHILDCARE:  Licensed childcare programming offers extended-day care and opportunities for enrichment for families and children from 7:00 am – 5:30 pm Monday – Friday. Childcare requires separate tuition payments, separate enrollment paperwork, and a separate deposit.  Our school also accepts the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) through Weld County (not affiliated with SVVSD), to assist families in need of childcare discounts and scholarships for childcare. Childcare tuition, paperwork, and deposits are separate from preschool, as childcare and preschool are two different departments in our school district. Space is limited in the childcare program, so reach out to the childcare manager as soon as possible.  If families are interested in childcare for the 2025 – 2026 school year, please contact Tasha Lugg, Community Schools Manager, at 720-652-7908 or at [email protected]. 

PRESCHOOL TUITION:

For three year olds: The monthly tuition rate for students enrolled in a half day program in SVVSD will be $592.00 per month. There will be no registration fee. This amount will be due on the 1st of each month. The first payment will be due on September 1st. If you have questions about tuition, please contact Stacey Petering, at [email protected], who will send out information about how to set up an electronic payment portal closer to the start of school. 

For four year olds in full-day programming: For 4-year-olds who qualify for only part day Universal Preschool (UPK) but enroll in a full day program, the tuition portion will be $708 per month, Sept – May.

For any students paying full time tuition in full-day programming: Tuition for this programming is $1342 per month.

Scholarships: The Early Childhood Education (ECE) office can take any requests for scholarships based on eligibility; the staff in the ECE district office can be reached at 303-702-7815. 

PRESCHOOL SUPPLIES: 

Here is a list of school supplies for your child (these can be brought to school during orientation or screening in August): 

• 1 Box (10 Ct.) Washable Colored Broad Tip Markers
• 4 Glue Sticks
• 1 4 Oz. Bottle Elmer’s School Glue
• 1 Tray Of Washable Watercolors
• 1 Box (16 Ct.) Crayons
• 2 Cans (3 or 4 oz) of Play-Doh
• 4 Fine-Tip Dry Erase Markers, any color
• Boxes Of Tissue (Optional Classroom Donation)
• Plastic Storage Bags, Quart or Gallon Size (Optional Classroom Donation)

Optional Donations: Additionally, there are a few items that we use on a daily basis for preschool, as optional donations, for the whole class to use, which would assist the class in their work: 

• 5 oz or 8 oz cups (these are needed in a consistent basis all year for snack)
• Boxes of tissues
• Stickers (used as rewards, for fine-motor activities, etc.)
• Any craft supplies:  pipe cleaners, pom-poms, googly eyes, sequins, popsicle sticks, yarn, etc. 
• Tape for prototyping: Duct-tape, masking-tape, or blue-painter’s tape
• Paper plates or bowls for use with daily snacks or for projects
• Thin Expo markers (black)
• Play-doh (any color/brand, non-toxic)
• Tempera paint (washable, non-toxic, any colors)
• Additional glue sticks

Free School Supplies: If families are in need of assistance for school supplies, the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation supports our school and school district with donations of backpacks, which include all the required school supplies for students of all ages/grades in PK-12 in our school district.  To take advantage of this opportunity, please stop by the office to pick up a backpack at the front office to pick one up during orientation day (Aug 13).

PRESCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO):  Also, we have a great partnership with Spark! Discovery Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).  If you are interested in becoming involved with our PTO, please email the PTO at [email protected] to find out about getting involved.  The PTO actively supports the students and staff of Spark! Discovery Preschool. Because the PTO Board Members value your perspective, participation in our school, and  background experiences, we’d like to encourage you to consider joining the PTO Board for the 2025-2026 school year.  The purposes of our PTO are: 

• To support students, teachers, staff, and parents
• To create a welcoming climate and culture
• To facilitate family involvement
• To provide opportunities for families to better understand how to help their children
• To provide additional funding support for the school
• To create opportunities for our community to have fun and play together. 

Over the last several years, the PTO has hosted events such as celebrations, Family engagement activities, Spirit Nights at local restaurants, Spring Carnival, fundraisers, staff appreciation activities, and more.  The PTO also sponsors teacher grants to fund supplemental materials for enrichment activities in preschool classrooms.  The PTO meets monthly in a routine manner from 6:00-7:30 PM the last Thursday of the month and provides a free babysitter so parents can attend.

We invite families to join us on our social media outlets: 

SVVSD Web: http://sdpk.svvsd.org/

On Twitter: https://x.com/SparkDPS

Facebook: Spark-Discovery-Preschool-of-St-Vrain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkdiscoverypreschool/

We look forward to working with you and your child(ren) in the upcoming school year!  

With respect – Paige Gordon, Principal, Spark! Discovery Preschool