Program information
Mission
Promoting the safety, well-being, and development of every child while partnering with schools and the community to be the best choice for families.
Vision
A safe community where exploration and growth are encouraged and celebrated.
Program Requirements:
What is the age requirement for Little Cubs?
The child must be 3 years 9 months old by August 7th (no exceptions).
What is the price for the full day Little Cubs program?
Tuition is based on $56.00 a day. Reimbursement will not be made if your child is absent. If you choose to withdraw your child from the Little Cubs Program during the school year, a mid-month reimbursement will not be made.
Will Little Cubs get specials?
Yes, our Junior Kindergarten students will have options such as Music & Movement, Physical Education, Library and STEM available to them. Please see our parent board and our newsletter for our rotations schedules.
What are the hours of operation?
We are open from 7:00 am - 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. We are only open when Mountain View Elementary School is open. We will continue to review the needs of the community and we will send surveys out from time to time to determine if the hours and days will change. We are a 9 - month program and therefore follow the School year calendar. We do not operate in the summer.
Little Cubs @ Mountain View Parent Handbook
Curriculum:
Does the Little Cubs curriculum follow the district preschool curriculum?
No. Our Little Cub program will follow Mountain View’s K-2 curriculum. This program is designed to prepare students for kindergarten or to give older students one more year of extended learning before entering kindergarten.
The handwriting curriculum used in Little Cubs is Learning Without Tears and Get Set for School which uses multi-sensory, developmentally appropriate strategies to increase success with early writing and math skills. Learning Without Tears and Get Set for School is incorporated into the daily curriculum and children will gain both fine motor strength as well as confidence in their math and writing skills based on the implementation of the LWOT strategies.
The Math curriculum used in Little Cubs is Bridges. Bridges focuses on developing students’ deep understandings of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and ability to solve complex and novel problems. It also blends direct instruction, structured investigation, and open exploration. It taps into the intelligence and strengths of all students by presenting material that is as linguistically, visually, and kinesthetically rich as it is mathematically powerful.
Little Cubs uses Zoo Phonics for developing children's phonemic awareness and pre-reading skills. Zoo Phonics is a multi-sensory kinesthetic curriculum that teaches children how to identify different sounds in words and the distinct sounds of each letter.
Little Cubs uses a combination of several different social/emotional programs to enrich our whole child learning experience. We encourage children to monitor their emotions and regulate themselves. These teaching strategies include The Zones of Regulation and Second Step for early learning.
Second Step for Early Learning 2nd Step
MVE Community -
Our Program is 100% invested in the Mountain View Elementary community. This means we participate in school wide activities including Fun Run, Field Days, and Assemblies.
Celebrations - We love to celebrate birthdays in our class! If you would like to provide a birthday treat for your child, please provide enough for 24 students and make sure the treat is store-bought, nut-free, and all the same flavor and type. Please check in with the staff for dietary restrictions or food allergies.
We invite Families to 2 Events per year as decided by the team at the beginning of the school year. Otherwise, holiday celebrations are closed to the classroom.
Communication - In order to be successful with teaching your child, please communicate any necessary events with us (family changes, behavior, life transitions, sickness, dietary changes, etc.) It is our priority to keep your child safe and happy.
Conferences - We have formal parent-teacher conferences twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. We will email when the time gets closer with information on specific dates and times. These are conducted in oerson with examples of child's work.
IEP/504 -
My child is on an IEP. He/She is serviced through the district and receives his/her services in the part time preschool program. Will my child have the opportunity to participate in this pre-kindergarten program?
The Junior Kindergarten program abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides that no otherwise qualified individuals with a disability shall, on the basis of a disability, be excluded from participation in Douglas County School District activities and programs.
Role of Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and 504 Student Service Plan: The Pre-Kindergarten program falls outside of the realm of general education curriculum and is defined as an optional, enterprise (sole source of funding is from tuition paid by parents) program. Special education services outlined in these plans do not apply to the Pre-Kindergarten program, although specific modifications or adaptations may apply, depending on the accommodations.
Pre-enrollment meeting: If it is determined that the [Junior K] program needs to provide accommodations that are not currently in place (additional training or higher staffing levels, for example), and these accommodations are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the child, the Program Manager may request a pre-enrollment meeting with parents and appropriate school team members who have knowledge of the child's needs prior to the first day of attendance. We may need to delay or suspend attendance if time is needed to implement accommodations (Ex: Staff need to complete specific health and safety training, additional staff needed, etc.). The purpose of the meeting is to gain a clear understanding of the child's needs, assess current and needed accommodations, and develop a support plan.
Parent Responsibility: Parents shall communicate their child's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs with the pre-kindergarten program director and school principal prior to the first day attended.
Students who have an IEP and are being serviced through the half-day preschool program and would like extended learning in our pre-kindergarten program will be afforded a discounted rate of $44.00 a day M-Th.
What is the difference between a preschool and junior kindergarten program?
Although there are many similarities, the main difference between our two programs are age and depth of school readiness. At Mountain View, our Little Cub program is focused on students who are at least 3.9 years old on August 7, 2023, and it is aligned with our Mountain View curriculum which provides students with more advanced learning opportunities and skill development.
Douglas County School District Nondiscrimination Notice:
In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District’s Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, complianceofficer@dcsdk12.org, 720-433-1083.
Outside Agencies
Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.