Come Join your neighbors at the new Tuition-Based Preschool at Waters. Children will enjoy a play and literacy-based curriculum where they will engage in pre-reading and writing activities while exploring the world around them. Literacy, math, science, music and art are integrated throughout the curriculum. There are learning centers that include sand & water tables, art, block play, dramatic play, writing, reading, games and puzzles, science and math. Children will have fun while they learn and prepare for kindergarten and life! (OK maybe not that much!) What is the Tuition Based PreK Educational Approach? The mission of the CPS Tuition-Based program is to ensure that all children, ages 3 and 4, have access to comprehensive, high-quality pre-school options. Waters offers a literacy-based curriculum that supports reading-readiness, math activities, fine arts, music and gym. Waters is committed to creating an engaging learning environment that supports the unique potential of each individual. Waters' Tuition Based PreK will be a dual language program, using 50% English and 50% Spanish instruction. Effective programs can help students develop high levels of academic achievement as they become both bilingual and bi-literate. Click here for a brief description of what a dual language class can do for your child. Will my child get to participate in Waters' Community Garden? Waters is proud to have a unique garden with over 200 species of plants. Through the Ecology program, the PreK class will have its own garden bed to experiment with, while learning about plants and the environment. What is the typical class size? The preschool classes enroll a maximum of 20 students. How many teachers are there? There will be a teacher and a teacher's aide. What are the class hours? Waters' Program will run Monday through Friday from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. Teachers ask that the child is present from 9 am-12:30 pm. Students can stay for less than the full day, but must still pay the full tuition. What is the cost? The CPS Tuition-Based Pre-School program offers a full-day preschool at a cost of $200/ wk, a total of $7200 for the 2006-07 school year. What ages do you accept? Children must be age 3 by September 1 and toilet-trained to attend. Enrollment is on a first-come first-served basis. How do I sign up? Applications are available at Waters School or by visiting WatersToday.org. The current deadline for applications is March 15, 2006 (but Mar. 1 is preferred). There is a $400 deposit with each application. How do I learn more? Please feel free to call Assistant Principal Ms. Kipp at 773.534.5090 to arrange a tour or answer any questions. We hope to see you this fall! STATE-FUNDED PRE-K Right across the hall is the State Funded Preschool. It has the same curriculum as the Tuition-based, but it is free. There is both a morning and an afternoon class, each of which lasts two and a half hours. Your child must be screened to qualify for this program. It is designed as a very inclusive program. Less than 2% who are tested do not qualfiy. You can visit Waters Front office to request a screening for hte State Funded Pre-K.