Enrollment Now Open for Little Raiders Preschool for 2019-2020 School Year

If you have a child who will be three or four years old this Fall, Little Raiders Preschool may be a great option for you.

Operated by the Portland Public Schools and located inside Oakwood Elementary School, Little Raiders Preschool provides developmental programs to help children prepare for entering elementary school. The program is linked to the academic and behavior expectations of the rest of the district.

Portland Public School Superintendent Will Heath said, “When a student is enrolled in Little Raiders, the student is getting a head start. The program is built to feed directly into elementary school.”

Oakwood Principal Elizabeth Findlay said, “Historically, Oakwood has had one preschool classroom. We added a second classroom during the 2017-2018 school year. Prior to the 2018-2019 school year the preschool classrooms had a lead teacher with general aides in each room. We have made some program changes and now have a lead teacher and associate teacher in each classroom, with general aide support. At any given time, there is always a lead teacher or an associate teacher in the classroom. Prior to the 2018-2019 school year the preschool curriculum was not aligned to our DK-2 program. This year we have made a huge push towards alignment of literacy curriculum and instructional practices are used in the classroom. We have emphasized that this is a preschool and we are preparing students to enter our DK or K program; teaching students how to be students, how to solve problems with other students, how to regulate emotions, how to make friends and talk to their friends, how to be a part of our school community, etc.”

Preschool Director Laura Prince said, “Themes are based on children's interest, community events and the Reading Wonders program. They focus on all areas of child development and individual needs based on weekly observations. They are hands on, engaging, age appropriate, child and teacher lead.”

Prince added, “Math and literacy are incorporated into our daily lesson plans and in all areas of our day. The children sign in daily and write in their journals to work on literacy skills. During our morning meeting the children count, discuss letters, letter sounds and shapes. Small groups and transitions are geared towards social emotional development and kindergarten readiness.”

Some of the requirements for entering the program are:

• Students must be 3 years old by the first day of school to enroll in the program

• Students must be fully potty trained to enroll in the program.

• Immunization Records, Student Physical and Enrollment Packet must be completed and submitted to start school

Enrollment options and prices are listed in the table below.

For more information, contact Director Laura Prince at (517) 647-2991 Extension 5213 or at lprince@portlandk12.org. You can also visit the Oakwood Elementary Schools homepage at http://www.portlandk12.org/1/Home.

Photos and images courtesy of Little Raiders Preschool.