pre-k faqs

Students must be 4 on or before September 1st.

Free PreK Qualifications

Students can qualify for free PreK if they meet one of the following criteria:

1. Limited English proficient (TEC, §29.153(b))

2. Economically disadvantaged

3. Homeless (42 USC, §11302, and 42 USC, §11434(a))

4. A child of an active duty member of the United States armed forces

5. A child of a member of the United States armed forces who was injured or killed while serving on active duty

6. A child in foster care (presently or in the past)

7. A child of a recipient of the Star of Texas Award

https://cfbisd.edu/students-parents/pre-kindergarten-information/

Yes. We offer tuition-based PreK for families who don’t qualify for free for a very affordable rate.

https://cfbisd.edu/students-parents/pre-kindergarten-information/

Go to www.enrollcfb.com and complete the enrollment process online as soon as possible. If you have any student who has attended ANY CFB school, choose “Returning Family” and add your pre-k student. If you do not have ANY children attending school in CFB, choose “New Family” and complete the process.

CFB is an open enrollment district. Applications for PreK transfers and tuition-based PreK are still open with limited seats. Apply now to secure a seat!

Please submit questions about pre-k on our Pre-K Facebook Page or email questions to brazillet@cfbisd.edu. Please reference “Pre-K Question” in the subject.

Please email one of the secretaries in the office. Please reference “Pre-K Enrollment Question” in the subject.

• • • Nathaly Zapata: zapatana@cfbisd.edu

    • Myesha Nichols: nicholsmy@cfbisd.edu

    • Christina Martinez: martinezch@cfbisd.edu

Pre-K is a day full of fun and learning. School is from 7:40-2:55. If students are going to eat breakfast at school, they need to arrive by 7:25. We encourage all other students to arrive at school about 7:30 to give them time to unpack and get ready for the day before the tardy bell rings. Students are considered tardy if they arrive after the 7:40 bell. We begin dismissing pre-k students at 2:45 each day in a separate area of the building. We have separate drop and pick up areas for pre-k to reduce traffic congestion and help with safety. We’ve posted a sample daily schedule on our virtual site for you to look at. You’ll notice that there is a good blend of academic working time and center time. During academic learning time, the teacher teaches a lesson to the whole class or a small group of students. During center time, students are engaged in meaningful play activities that help foster creativity and exploration. Students also engage in physical activities, lunch, and rest time throughout the day.

Transportation is provided to students whose home school is Freeman and live a certain distance away from the school. Bus information including bus stop locations and pickup/drop off times will be provided at the beginning of the school year if your child qualifies for bus transportation. If your child does not qualify to ride the bus, families must arrange for their children to be dropped off or picked up from school each day by walking, car, or daycare. Tuition students must provide their own transportation. Parents are also given a transportation pick up card at the beginning of school. Parents or a responsible adult must show this card to the teacher or bus driver everyday in order to pick up the child. If you do not have your card with you, you will be asked to go to the office to show ID so that we can verify that you are authorized to pick up the child. Parents can request extra pick up cards if needed. Please be sure to include at least 2 additional adults on your child’s enrollment as emergency contacts. Be sure to check the “authorized to pick up” box so that these individuals are allowed to pick up your child.

https://bit.ly/2X5yEgG

We know safety is a concern for parents and it is our top priority as well. We have established many safety procedures that we follow to ensure students arrive and are dismissed safely from school. Each student is given backpack tags on or before the first day of school. These tags are attached to the backpack and tell all staff members who your child is, who the teacher is, and how they get home (bus, car, daycare, ATB, etc). The tags also tell the bus driver which stop your child should get off on. During arrival, bus students are met by a staff member and escorted to the cafeteria if they eat breakfast or to their classroom. Car riders and walkers are dropped off at the door by a parent or responsible adult and are monitored by staff members until class begins. For dismissal, teachers escort bus riders to the correct bus each day. We check tags twice before dismissing students. Teachers have checklists that they use to also ensure students are going to the correct location. Students are always closely supervised during arrival and dismissal to ensure they are going to the correct places. We guide students during this process from the first day of school until the last day of school!

Safety and security during the day is also very important to us. All of our pre-k classrooms are in one hallway which helps us closely monitor students. Students do not leave our hallway unless they are accompanied by an adult. Students are allowed to leave the classroom to go to the restroom and are closely monitored during these breaks. Students also wear color-coded name tags that correspond with their assigned class. These name tags help all staff members quickly identify where a student is supposed to be during restroom breaks, recess, lunch, etc. Even if a staff member doesn’t personally know your child, these name tags make it easy for us to help monitor all students and ensure that they return to the correct class. When classes transition from one area of the building to another (such as lunch time or recess), students walk with their teacher and the assistant to the location. Staff members check to make sure that all students have left the room and have arrived at the designated location each time.

If your child has allergies, it is important to include that information on the medical information page during online enrollment. You will also need to speak to the school nurse and the teacher about your child’s allergies. Depending on the type of allergy and the severity, you may be required to provide paperwork from a doctor and medications in case of an allergic reaction. The nurse will speak to you about these requirements. All staff are trained yearly on procedures for helping students avoid allergens and handling allergic reactions. Depending on the type of allergy, your child’s classroom may be designated as an “allergen free” classroom - such as peanut free. If this is the case, all families are notified and the allergens are not allowed in the classroom. We ask that all families closely adhere to these guidelines. Your child’s enrollment file should be kept up to date with the most current allergy information from your doctor. We also make a note on your child’s name tag. This helps keep all staff members aware of your child’s allergies and especially foods to avoid. It is also important that you begin talking to your child about his/her allergies so that they are aware of things to avoid. At age four, we know we cannot depend on the child to tell us about their allergies, but starting at this young age will help prepare them to advocate for themselves in the future.

Breakfast is available in our school cafeteria daily. In order to purchase breakfast, your child will need to be at school by 7:25. At 7:25, a supervising adult will take your child to the cafeteria. They will then be assisted through the line to get their breakfast. Food preferences (such as no pork, vegetarian, etc) will be followed. They will sit down at a table and eat before going to class around 7:50. We ask that you do not send food from home for your child to eat at breakfast. Rather, it would be appreciated if they finished it at home or in the car before arriving at school. For lunch, you will be able to pack your child’s food or you can have your child get lunch from the cafeteria. Our lunch is from 12:50-1:20pm. Your child will be prompted to wash their hands before and after eating to ensure clean and safe practices. In the cafeteria, your child will sit with their class and teacher. As mentioned, you may pack a healthy lunch for your child in a lunch bag or box. Please label all lunch boxes and containers with your child's name to avoid losing items. We ask that the lunches are healthy and consist of things such as fruits, veggies, rice, sandwiches, idli, dosa, roti, deli meat, yogurt, etc. Please do not send sugary items to school in your child’s lunch. Many times students choose to eat these items instead of their main meal. You will also need to pack a drink for your child or they can drink water from their water bottle. Juice, milk, or water are great choices for lunch drinks. No caffeinated beverages please. Please send containers that your child can open independently to reduce frustration. We do not allow glass containers for safety reasons. You will also need to provide silverware and a napkin each day for your child to use. If you do not pack a lunch for your child, they will be assisted through the cafeteria line, like for breakfast. As mentioned, your child’s teacher will be actively monitoring the class at this time if any needs arise.

If there are specific food preferences that you would like for your child to follow, we ask that you let the teacher know. There will be a form that you fill out to confirm your preferences at the beginning of school. Common food preferences include vegetarian, no pork, etc. Each child gets a name tag that will show their food preferences on it. When getting food in the cafeteria, a staff member will make sure that their selections meet their preferences. Please talk with your child about your family;s food preferences to avoid frustration and disappointment when they go through the lunch line.

We have a 15 minute snack time each day in the morning. Parents need to provide a healthy snack for their child to eat at snack time. Please do not send sugary items for snack such as cookies, cakes, candy, etc. These items often make students hyper in the morning and leads to difficulty concentrating in class. Like with lunch, healthy snacks include fruits, vegetables, crackers, bread, idli, roti, dosa, goldfish, yogurt, deli meat, etc. Please send the snack in a container your child can open and send any utensils your child may need. Snap-lock containers are easy for students to open! (see sample on the pre-k information page under "school supplies") Please make sure the container is clearly labeled with your child’s name. Your child will also be encouraged to drink from their leak-proof/spill proof water bottle during snack, lunch, and throughout the day. Please only send water in the water bottle. No juices, teas, or other drinks for snack please. Remember to label everything with your child's name!

Like with allergies, if your child is required to take medication during the day, please include that information on the enrollment form. Notify the nurse and the teacher. A doctor’s note and other information may need to be provided. The nurse will speak to you about the requirements. When it is time for your child to take the medication, a staff member will take them to the nurse’s office to receive their medication and then they will return to class. If you have questions during the year about any medications that your child needs to take at school, ALWAYS contact the nurse. Medications cannot be sent to school with a note in the child’s backpack. An adult must bring the medication to school.

If your child falls ill at school, a staff member will take them to the nurse’s office. They will be assessed by our full time registered nurse on campus to see what action will need to be taken. We ask that you are always near the contact phone you provide in case the nurse needs to contact you. In some circumstances your child might need to be picked up from school immediately. Please be sure to keep your emergency contact information updated.

Pre-K classes take multiple group restroom breaks throughout the day. Children are encouraged to use the restroom at this time to avoid leaving class during instruction. Your child may ask to use the restroom between group breaks and will be monitored by a staff member. Your child will be responsible for taking care of their own business without assistance. For example, we will not assist with belts, buckles, or zippers. We ask that you not send students to school with belts on. Pants/shorts/skirts with elastic work best in pre-k. If your child is wearing clothes with snaps or buttons, you will need to have your child practice manipulating these things independently. After using the restroom, your child will be asked to wash their hands before returning to class. They will learn proper hand washing techniques from their teacher but we encourage you to practice at home as well. If your child ever has an accident, they will be escorted to the nurse's office where they will be able to change into their change of clothes kept in their backpack. These clothes will need to be in compliance with our school uniform, be consistent with your child’s current size, and be appropriate for the current season. A full change of clothes (uniform shirt, uniform bottoms (skirt/pants/shorts), underwear, and socks) must be kept in your child’s backpack at all times! This will prevent us from having to call you to bring your child extra clothes during the day.

Our students have an allotted rest time each day in which they will be allowed to sleep or have quiet time. They will each be placed on their own mat (provided by you) and given their blanket (also provided by you). They will have a designated spot in their classroom to lay down. We understand that not all children will want to sleep at this time. Those children will be asked to have quiet time for at least fifteen minutes and then may be allowed to partake in a quiet activity like reading for the remainder of the 45 minute rest period. Your child does not have to nap at this time, but will be asked to stay calm and quiet for those that choose to. At the end of each day, their mats will be sanitized. We will also send home blankets weekly to be washed at home.

Pre-k teachers in Carrollton Farmers Branch are certified to teach early childhood education. They also hold an ESL certification. You can be assured that your child is being taught by passionate professionals who know the unique needs of young learners as well as learners acquiring English. At our school we have 8 classroom teachers and among them over 50 years of combined experience educating young children.

Yes, we are so thankful to have one to one instructional aides in every pre-k classroom at Freeman. Each teacher has their own instructional aide who is with them throughout the day, aiding in classroom instruction and helping with supervision. By having two adults in each classroom, we are able to spend more individualized time with your child helping them grow academically, as well as socially and emotionally.

The Freeman team does extend beyond just the teacher and aide in your child’s classroom. There is of course the dedicated administration team and office staff who keep our school running. . There is also a full time nurse at Freeman, Nurse Kaser. And this coming school year we will have not one but two full time counselors to see all of our students’ emotional health. Pre K students at Freeman especially love visiting the Librarian, Mrs. Reimer, starting in January every year. From our front office staff, to our wonderful custodians, to our cafeteria manager and everyone in between, we are here to help your child succeed in school! We can’t wait to partner with you and your child this year!

There are about 22 students in each Pre-K class. This number is based on the ratio set by the state of Texas.

We believe in learning through play! As a STEM school we know that students learn best through discovery, and discovery happens at this age when children play together. We have high academic expectations for our students, and through play they practice language development, problem solving, critical thinking, and social skills that they will need as they progress in school. This thinking is also the basis for teaching content in broad themes, allowing children to make connections between subjects through their discoveries.

Savvas: Three Cheers for Pre-K is the curriculum we use. Each unit is integrated across subjects. We also use the Every Day Counts Calendar Math kit for our daily calendar time, and we use Sanford Harmony as our social-emotional curriculum. If you would like to learn more about each of these curriculums, you can find more information on the pre-k information tab under "curriculum" and explore them further.

We teach a wide set of skills based on the Texas Pre-K Guidelines. You can find the link on the pre-k information page under "TEA Pre-K Guidelines". The domains of those guidelines are Social and Emotional Development, Language and Communication, Emergent Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and the Fine Arts. As you can tell, we cover a lot of ground in a year. We have an especially strong focus on language acquisition.

Yes, we believe pre-k is beneficial for all students. In Pre-K not only do children gain academic skills, but they also gain confidence, social, and emotional skills. There is always something new to be learned. Therefore, there are always opportunities to extend a lesson. If your child has already mastered the skill that we are practicing as a class, they can continue on to the next skill so they are still actively learning and growing. In Pre-K, we also spend time teaching students routines and procedures used in school. Students learn how to listen well, how to share, how to be patient, how to participate in class, and how to solve problems. These are all skills that will prove tremendously helpful in your child’s transition to kindergarten.

To put it simply, no! Those are among the skills that we will study with your child this year. We are prepared to meet your child at their level when they enter school. I know many parents are concerned about whether learning English will become an obstacle. Do not let that worry you. All of our teachers are trained to help English Language Learners succeed. If your child is four, then they are ready for pre-k and we are ready for them.

Attending Pre-K is an exciting and new time for your four year old. To help your child be prepared for their pre-k journey, there are several skills you can practice with them. Some of these skills include - using the restroom independently, being able to spend time away from their primary caregiver, singing the ABC’s and counting, beginning to write their name, using 5 to 6 words in a sentence, and running and walking independently. Just like pre-k helps prepare your child for kindergarten, working on these skills will help prepare your child for pre-k. Don’t worry if your child has not mastered all of these skills. We will work on them in school as well.

As your child’s caregiver, you can help prepare them for pre-k by talking with them about school. Talk through what they can expect on their first day of pre-k. Tell them you will drop them off and they will have a wonderful day and always remind them that you will return to pick them up after school. Reassure them by encouraging them to come back and tell you one thing they did today that they enjoyed. You can also begin a night time and morning routine. This will help your child prepare for waking up early to get ready for school. Children who are 4 need about 10-12 hours of sleep each day so establishing a routine ahead of time will help make the transition to pre-k that much easier.

These are just some of the things you can do to help your child prepare for pre-k. To find more skills to practice with your child prior to pre-k, you can read the SchoolAHoop Blog articles linked on the pre-k information page under "blogs". We are very excited to watch your child learn and grow this year in pre-k.

We spend the first nine weeks of school focusing on teaching routines and getting to know your students. In October we start weekly homework assignments that re-emphasize the skills we practice at school. This homework can often take the form of a written math or reading activity, and a skills based activity calendar. Your child may also have opportunities to work on assignments using our online learning platform called Seesaw.

Your teacher is a great resource and will definitely keep you posted on all that your child is learning in class through parent phone calls and emails, social media posts with pictures of activities we are participating in, and parent conferences. In addition, you will receive your child’s report card with how they are progressing in academic skills every 9 weeks. Throughout the year, teachers will also communicate positive reports about your child and how they are progressing in the Pre-K Guidelines and skills we are teaching. You and your child’s teacher are a TEAM. As they share information with you, it’s also important that you share questions and concerns and celebrations with us as well. We enjoy working with families to help the children grow.

We wish we could bring all of you into our classrooms as we have done in years past! But we have tried to think of the best virtual solution. We have included a slideshow of our classrooms during the year that you can view on the main pre-k page of this virtual website. You will notice the emphasis on centers for play and many areas for flexible seating. You can even take a peek at the students in the library and the cafeteria spaces too! Check out our classroom Facebook pages as well to view hundreds more pictures of pre-k in action. We are excited to welcome your children in our classrooms in the fall.

We understand separating from parents can be hard, especially for the first time. We care about your child and their feelings. It is important that you talk with your child ahead of time about what is going to happen on the first day of school, and maybe even everyday for the first week or so. Remind them you will drop them off and they will have a wonderful day and that you will return to pick them up after school or see them when the bus drops them off. We have found the best thing to do is give your child hugs and kisses and then say goodbye. Walking away quickly once you have said good-bye will keep your child from holding on to you or running after you. A staff member will comfort your child if they are upset. Your child will be able to calm down more easily once you are out of sight. We will comfort your child when you leave and as needed during the day. Most children calm down within minutes of parents leaving and begin to become more interested in the classroom and the other students. Separation anxiety can last from a few days to a few weeks. Please do not keep your child at home if they are crying about coming to school. This sends the message that they are in control of their attendance and can easily become an excuse they use during the year. Continue to reassure your child that they are safe and will have fun at school. If your child is having trouble, you can be assured that your child will get used to coming to school and that it will get better!

Students get a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity each day. When the weather permits, students are taken outside to play twice a day. Students participate in 30 minutes of structured gross motor activities daily such as: group stretching and exercising, balancing, locomotor skills, parachute play, ball handling skills, riding tricycles, etc. Students also get 30 minutes of free play on the playground. Students learn and develop language through play and spend about 90 minutes a day participating in meaningful center time.

We have frequent brain breaks throughout the day. This could mean stopping to play a quick game or getting up to dance! Students spend a minimal amount of time sitting in one spot. There is constant movement through songs and dance and interactive play. We also have scheduled restroom, water, and snack breaks during the day.

All of our pre-k classrooms have their own set of iPads that are equipped with learning and interactive apps. The iPad station is part of our center time to ensure that all students are exposed to technology. We have Interactive whiteboards in our classrooms that are used to enhance our lessons. Our school also has technology and engineering makerspaces where students have access to computers and other STEM equipment and materials.

In pre-k, fine Arts and PE are taught by the pre-k teacher in the classroom. We include lots of music, singing, dancing, movement, and brain breaks in our lessons throughout the day. We have structured and unstructured physical activities where we work on gross motor skills. Our lessons and centers include art skills where students practice coloring, drawing, painting, sculpting, cutting, and gluing. Students are constantly designing, creating, and constructing new things throughout the year.

We know that 4 year olds can be active, energetic, talkative, and impulsive! These things are what makes four-year-olds so fun to work with! Your child will have lots of time to use this energy in a positive way during the school day. There are times when your child will need to have a calm body and practice self-control. Some students make this transition easily and others need our assistance to learn these school readiness skills. We are constantly working on listening, following directions, staying in our spot, taking turns, sharing, being kind and empathetic, and problem solving when they are having difficulties with a classmate. These skills often have to be explicitly taught and practiced. We help children learn these skills all year.

When a child is not following our behavior expectations, we try to use a more positive approach and redirect the child to help them make a better choice. We use strategies such as giving the students an opportunity to take a break instead of immediately using time-out, redirecting them, using a calm down corners, and celebrating good choices with praise, incentives, and rewards. Sometimes a child may need a natural consequence such as a loss of a privilege or play time to refocus and then is encouraged to rejoin the group or activity.

We value communication and keeping parents informed, especially when it comes to your child’s social and behavioral skills. Your child’s teacher will inform you of their behavior through the blue communication folder, emails, and phone calls as needed. We also make it a habit to give positive feedback to each family regularly. In October we have a scheduled conference with each family. Other conferences can be scheduled as needed. We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions or concerns!

We ask each child to bring a set of school supplies for the year. The pre-k school supply list is located on the pre-k information page under “school supplies”. You can order a school supply pack from our vendor Yubbler. This pack includes most of the needed supplies, but a few items are not available through the vendor. You will find a list of these extra items under the “additional items” button.

You will also find a list that you can print and use to purchase the items on your own.

Please do not write your child’s name on the school supplies. We will do that at school once we get more guidance about how supplies and materials will be managed due to COVID.

Please DO write your child’s name on any personal items that will go back and forth between school and home (backpack, lunch bag, water bottles, snack and lunch containers, blankets, nap mats, jackets, etc).

Although your child is small, it is necessary they have a larger backpack with a front pocket. Your child’s snack should be in the front pocket each day, water bottle in the side bottle pocket, and his/her blue folder in the large pocket. It is also important to note that there should be enough room to fit their change of clothes. Also keep in mind that jackets and their blanket should fit in the backpack as well. Many parents of bus riders also prefer to find a backpack big enough to hold the lunch box. (see example on virtual site)

Food containers for lunch and snack time should be containers your child can easily open on their own. We have found that snap type lids are easier for children to open and close independently. These are also spill proof. Glass containers are not allowed for safety reasons. (see example on virtual site)

Water bottles should be spill proof and leak proof. Water bottles with built in spill proof straws work best. (see example on virtual site)

Blankets for rest time should be small enough to fold and fit in your child’s backpack.

Plastic folding nap mats (size 19 x 45 inches) are preferred so that they can be easily wiped down and cleaned on a regular basis.

Students are required to wear uniforms each day. This promotes uniformity of student dress and minimizes distractions. A copy of the dress code policy is located on our virtual site. Please pay close attention to the SPECIFIC colors allowed and the color and types of clothing that can be worn UNDER the uniform when the weather gets cooler (ex. Long sleeved shirts or leggings). If you would like for your child to wear a sweatshirt or sweater INSIDE the building, it must be a uniform color. Jackets worn outside can be ANY color. These “outside” jackets will be removed once inside the building. If your child is not in uniform, you will be called to bring an appropriate change of clothing. Most dress code violations are due to incorrect colors (the incorrect shade of the color) or items worn under the uniform. Please see the examples of the colors on the pre-k information page under “Dress code”.

Shoes - All students are required to wear close-toed shoes to school that fit securely on your child’s feet. We have found that shoes with velcro allow your child to take his/her shoes on/off independently. Shoes with laces are frequently a distraction in class as students play with them and put them in their mouth. If you choose to send your child to school in shoes with laces, please DOUBLE TIE the laces tightly so that they do not trip and so the staff is not having to tie them frequently.

At Freeman, we really value that our school is so diverse! We love celebrating our students and their families’ cultures. We highlight how special and amazing it is we are all so different. Freeman Elementary is a STEM school and our Pre-K program is special because most of our curriculum and activities are already STEM based. As you’ve heard before, we learn through play in pre-k. Each classroom loves turning their dramatic play centers into new things that follow our units of study. One month, the students are playing in a kitchen type setting, the next month they may be camping, and the next, bowling! Our teachers are all so creative in giving students new experiences! Your child will love coming to school and learning at Freeman Elementary!

We value your participation in your child’s education and our school. Your biggest contribution is actively participating in your child’s learning by checking the blue folder daily, reading newsletters and messages sent by the teacher, talking to them about what they are learning, practicing skills taught in class, reading to your child daily, completing homework and projects, and making sure your child gets plenty of rest, is on time for school, has good attendance, and is prepared for school each day.

We also encourage you to participate in school groups, activities, and events. Joining PTA and attending school events in person and virtually through social media is an awesome way to show your child that you value and support the school community. We look forward to partnering with your family!