Pre K

Pre K Near Me in New Prague and Belle Plaine

Memories & Milestones Academy provides high-quality Pre K for kids in our Belle Plaine and New Prague communities.

Pre K is the time to foster independence. Self-esteem and confidence grow as children increase their independence. Practicing different skills within a safe environment will allow your child to grow their independence so they can tackle Kindergarten in stride.

We welcome you to visit our Pre K classrooms in New Prague and Belle Plaine, MN, to see learning, fun, and growing in action. Some exciting things your child will do; play outside daily, learn self-help skills, join group time, learn days of the week, challenge his/her mind, and most importantly be safe and well taken care of.

Schedule Your Pre K Classroom Tour

Or call New Prague: 952-758-5437, Belle Plaine: 952-873-3331

You & Your Pre K Student Will Love Our Academy!

• Engage your Pre K student with fun learning all day.
• Together, we help your Pre K student achieve milestones in time for Kindergarten.
• Students are in small class sizes with employees who care and connect.
• Our Pre K classrooms offer a welcoming, fun, and clean environment for your child to learn.
• Daily supervised outdoor play.
• Welcoming, fun, and clean environment.
• Nutritious & delicious balanced meals and snack.
• Open Monday-Friday 6:30 am – 5:30 pm ONLY closed ten planned days annually.
• Licensed, parent aware rated (4 out of 4) and nationally accredited.
• Virtual tools to connect daily with parents.

Schedule Your Pre K Classroom Tour

Or call New Prague: 952-758-5437, Belle Plaine: 952-873-3331

More About Our Pre K Program

Engage your Pre K student with fun learning all-day

Pre K students just want independence and fun! Our Pre K classrooms are organized around learning centers. Each center allows students the freedom of choice in a safe environment to practice independent decision-making. Students can count bugs, complete puzzles, build with Legos, sort colors, create zoos, and so much more. Learning at centers is balanced by teachers presenting groups lessons and activities so everyone can learn together.

Teachers at local school districts note that they can tell our students’ from the rest because our Pre K students focus for more extended periods. They behave appropriately and are ahead academically.

Together, we help your Pre K student prepare for Kindergarten.

Your Pre K student will learn from the nation’s top curriculums. Learning is organized and highly engaging. For example, students will create a word book with new words they are currently learning. They’ll trace letters and practice related words. They’ll bring their book home and practice reading the words to you. Plus, we have weekly assessments so we know exactly what students know and what we need to continue to work on next week.

Pre K is all about learning independence, to be ready for Kindergarten. We work on self-control, self-esteem, and creativity in our Pre K program. Now is the time to practice communication skills, make friends and figure out appropriate behaviors.

Pre K students are in small class sizes with employees who care and connect.

Your Pre K student will learn from professional employees in a caring environment. Our maximum Pre K class size is twenty children, and we always have two employees per class to ensure a ratio of one employee to every seven to ten students. Employees follow a leading research-based curriculum with the flexibility and professional support to teach in a way that’s best for your child.

Our Pre K classrooms offer a welcoming, fun, and clean environment for your child to learn.

We’ve designed and built our academy buildings with a focus on kids. It’s bright, colorful, and clean at Memories & Milestones Academy. Pre K classrooms focus on Kindergarten readiness with school-sized tables and chairs. Plus, students flow freely between learning centers, so they learn independence.

We have a rigorous cleaning process and sanitize with hospital-grade products on a regular and scheduled basis. All of our employees are involved in our cleaning and sanitizing process.  Additionally, we follow all COVID-related protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Daily supervised outdoor play

Pre K students need to get outside and play. They learn so much by just doing, but if they need help figuring something out, we’re there by their side to help. We’ve invested in top-of-the-line playground equipment and created a safe and secure area for everyone to run, jump, slide and continue learning outside.

Save time with nutritious and delicious balanced meals and snacks included.

There’s no need to pack meals when you attend Memories & Milestones Academy. We provide a nutritious and delicious breakfast, lunch, and snack every day. Your child is happy and nourished, and you save time and money.

Plan your schedule with confidence! We’re only closed ten pre-planned days annually.

We’re open Monday-Friday from 6:30 am – 5:30 pm. The ten days that we are closed annually are announced in advance for your convenience. You can rely on us for Pre K.

We’re Parent Aware-rated (4 out of 4), state-licensed, and nationally-accredited.

Families all around the New Prague and Belle Plaine area give our Academy top marks. We’ve earned the highest possible rating from Parent Aware and achieved national accreditation by meeting NAEYC’s 10 standards for high-quality early childhood education.

Stay connected to your Pre K student and our team during the day.

We use virtual tools to connect with parents daily. You’ll know what’s going on with your child and have the opportunity to celebrate recent achievements. It also allows you to ask our teachers questions. Through our LifeCubby app, teachers can enter daily routines, upload pictures, and share information for parents to see throughout each day.

Schedule Your Pre K Classroom Tour

Or call New Prague: 952-758-5437, Belle Plaine: 952-873-3331

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Pre K Program

What Pre K ages do you serve? 

Pre K is determined by the date of birth. Age 5 by the September prior to Kindergarten to Kindergarten is Pre K.

What are your hours?

We are open Monday-Friday, 6:30 am – 5:30 pm.

Do you close unexpectedly?

No. You can rely on us. We are only closed ten planned days each year.

Do you offer part-time schedules?

Yes. If you need care less than five days, we offer two-day and three-day contracted schedules. Each day you may utilize 10 hours of child care/Pre K.

What curriculum do you use at Memories & Milestones Academy?

We use High Reach in New Prague and OWL in Belle Plaine.

What is your Pre K classroom size?

Our Pre K classrooms capacity are 20 children.  We have one employee for every 7 – 10 students. 

Do you offer military discounts?

Yes, we accept NACCRRA. Thank you for serving our country. We appreciate everything you do.

Do you accept MN child care assistance?

Yes. We are approved to receive payments from the State of Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program.

Are you licensed?

Yes, we have a license from the MN State Department of Human Services and the MN Department of Health. We are also top-rated by Parent Aware and nationally accredited by NAEYC. We believe in exceeding rules and regulations.

Are you Parent Aware rated?

Yes, we are 4 out of 4 star Parent Aware Rated. We do accept Pathway I scholarships.  Ask us about Pathway II scholarship availability. 

Do I have to bring meals for my child?

No, leave the work to us. We include nutritious and delicious meals every day. Our Academy provides breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Do the kids go outside every day?

Yes. The fresh air and mother nature is wonderful for every child. Weather permitting, we go outside every day. We follow our Health Nurse guidelines to determine when the weather is too cold or too hot (Younger children guidelines differ from the older children).

Does my child need to attend a separate Pre K when enrolled at Memories & Milestones Academy?

Our Pre K is a step above our preschool program and stresses independence in preparation for Kindergarten.  We believe kiddos learn so differently at ages 3, 4, and 5.  Our Pre K program expands on previously achieved learning milestones in our preschool program.

Do your employees have educational degrees?

Yes, some of our employees do hold an Education degree. We meet and exceed MN State requirements. We also offer ongoing training and materials for all employees.

What socialization activities do children do?

Such great friendships are present. Most of our Pre K children have grown up together here at the Academy. Our Pre K kids get super creative and initiate group play with their friends.  Throughout the year, we have magicians, bounce houses, themed days (for example, movies and splash/water), and holiday events.

What about cleanliness?

Cleanliness is super important.  We clean and sanitize on a regular scheduled basis.  All our employees are involved in our cleaning and sanitizing process.  We are germ aware and have always washed hands, covered coughs, cleaned, sanitized, etc., numerous times each day.   Additionally, we follow all COVID-related protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy. 

How do you communicate with parents?

We believe in daily communication.  In addition to in-person communication, we use LifeCubby!  This is an app that allows employees to enter daily routines, upload pictures throughout each day, and enter information for parents to see throughout each day.  Employees and parents can communicate through LifeCubby also.

Schedule Your Pre K Classroom Tour

Or call New Prague: 952-758-5437, Belle Plaine: 952-873-3331