Connections Preschool

A preschool option for District 196 resident 3- and 4-year-olds available at 13 school sites across District 196.

Applications for the 2020-2021 school year opens Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 20.
Applications received after March 20 will be reviewed if space becomes available throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

View the 2020-2021 preschool brochure.

Young children are eager to learn and play. Connections Preschool gives children an opportunity to interact with other children in fun, engaging activities while learning important skills. The curriculum supports young children in developing skills in the following areas: creativity and the arts, language and literacy, mathematical and scientific thinking, physical and motor, and social and emotional. Children in Connections Preschool assume increasing personal responsibility and independence as they grow and develop.

The application link below is for the current school year only.

2019-2020 Application View 2019 Brochure Pay Preschool Invoice

Contact Us

Dakota Valley Learning Center (DVLC)
office 952-388-1960
email connectionspreschool@district196.org
address 4679 144th St. W., Apple Valley, MN 55124

Kindergarten Bridge to School

A 4-day program for children who will begin kindergarten in District 196 in September 2020.

Bridge to School takes place the mornings of August 17-20, 2020. It is designed for children to ease transition into kindergarten. Students will become familiar with their new school environment, teaching staff, classmates and routines of the day.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2020Registration open April 1 - May 8 Questions?
Call 952-388-1953, Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4pm.

Program Beliefs

Early childhood is a remarkable time of psychological, physical, social and academic development.
Learning is a social process where children grow through play, exploration and inquiry.
Families are a child's first and most influential teachers.
Each child has unique strengths.
Children thrive in a safe environment where their needs are met through mutual respect, nurturing and consistency.
Strong family, school and community partnerships help ensure a child's success in school.

2019-20 Connections Preschool Calendars

Meet Our Teachers

Parenting Resources

District 196 Information

Early Childhood Screening - 14301 Diamond Path, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Call 651-423-7899.

Early Childhood Special Education - For information on evaluations and early intervention. Call 952-388-1900.

Kindergarten and Magnet Schools - General information for incoming kindergarten families. Or go directly to kindergarten enrollment to start the pre-enrollment process.

New Baby - Do you have a new baby? Are you new to town? If so, please contact Student Information Services at 651-423-7640 with your family’s updated information so you receive important program information and updates.

School Attendance Locator

Activity Ideas

Favorite Links

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning at Vanderbilt University
Common Sense Media
Conscious Discipline
The Ellyn Satter Institute - Models for Feeding Dynamics and Eating Competence
Healthy Children (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Help Me Grow Minnesota
Kids in the House
Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D.
Mom Enough
Pacer Center - Champions for Children with Disabilities
ParentAware - Tools and information to find quality childcare and early education
Parenting Counts
PBS Parent Resources
Positive Discipline
Simplicity Parenting
Zero to Three

Parent Aware 4-Star Rating

Connections Preschool is a 4-Star Parent Aware Rated Preschool based on demonstrated use of practices that best prepare children for kindergarten.
Parent Aware is the State of Minnesota's Early Childhood Quality Program Indicator. Star ratings help families identify programs using the practices that best prepare a child for kindergarten.
Learn more at www.parentaware.org

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