Brainerd Public Schools

Learn something new, connect with others in the community, stimulate your creativity or improve your health. Adult Enrichment offers a variety of fee-based classes and activities designed for adults of every age.

The Brainerd Public School system regularly offers early childhood screening clinics during the school year for all children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. The state of Minnesota recommends this at age 3 and requires this for kindergarten entrance. Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of how your child is learning and growing. The screening includes a developmental assessment, social emotional questionnaire, vision and hearing tests, height and weight measurement and an immunization and health history review. The purpose of the FREE screening is to identify children who may need additional time and experiences to be ready for school. The sooner we get started, the more likely your child will begin school with the necessary skills to succeed. Here’s what screening does for you: Helps you find out how your child is doing and answers parenting questions Connects you to community services Registers your child for kindergarten Appointments are available throughout the school year. Three reasons to screen at age 3: 1.Screening can assist your child to be ready for school. 2.Any health or developmental concerns can be found earlier and help can be provided sooner. 3.Because screening is free, it's easy and it's good for your child =================================================================== REQUIRED FORMS for screening **You also need to provide copies of your child's Birth Certificate and current Immunization Record Forms can be emailed to: jennifer.lindholm@isd181.org =================================================================== Want to help your child know what to expect during their Hearing & Vision Screening? View our Social Story!

Little Warriors Childcare for the 2025-2026 School Year! 2025-2026 Preschool Information Packet Step-by-Step Registration Guide Little Warrior Childcare information can be found on page 4 of the packet. **Due to construction delays, we are postponing programming at Riverside Elementary until the 2026-2027 school year. Brainerd Public Schools Community Education is proud to offer Little Warriors Childcare, a collaboration between CHILD CARE and SCHOOL READINESS PRESCHOOL. Children will spend part of their day in Little Warriors Childcare and the other part in a School Readiness classroom. Little Warriors Child Care provides: *Convenience for families *Childcare is available for 3 years old to Pre-Kindergarten who are potty-trained *Flexible drop off and pick up times *Aligned curriculum so children receive enhanced learning around social, emotional, and academic development during the daily schedule. *Well-trained childcare staff that bring skills and knowledge that enhance each program. *Once a child has completed their final year of preschool, they would then be eligible to attend Fun & Friends School Age Care the summer before Kindergarten through 8th grade. Little Warriors Childcare services families and children at Nisswa Elementary School, Riverside Elementary (new site for 2025-2026 school year) and the Warrior Early Learning Center. Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM ●Half Day Childcare for students attending 1/2 day preschool: Child care on scheduled class days between 7:00 AM–5:30 PM when your child is enrolled in a half day M–Th, M/W or T/Th School Readiness class. Part of the day the child would be in their school readiness classroom and the other part would be in childcare. District Food Service available. Cost: $30/day (4 day/week min. for M-Th, 2 day/week min. for M/W or T/Th) ● M–Th Full Day Childcare for students attending Full Day preschool: Before/after childcare for your child on scheduled class days between 7:00 AM–8:00 AM and 2:45 PM–5:30 PM when enrolled in a Full Day M/W or T/Th School Readiness class. Cost: $20/day (2 day/week min.) ● Non School Day: Provides child care for your child between 7:00 AM–5:30 PM on days their School Readiness class is not in session (with Monday–Friday options). Excludes major holidays. District Food Service available. Cost: $45/day County Child Care Assistance and Pathway I scholarships accepted. Child must be independently toilet trained by first day of attendance. Summer child care for summer 2026 yet to be determined. A two week notice is required for cancellation once child care service has begun. Priority given to 4 & 5 year olds without district busing options.

Fun & Friends is a child care program for students in kindergarten through 6th grade. It has served the students of Brainerd Public Schools for over 30 years with age-appropriate, fun, recreational activities. Care is provided before school, after school, on non-school days, and over the summer. Sites include Nisswa Elementary, Baxter Elementary, Riverside Elementary, and Harrison Elementary (also servicing Garfield and Lowell). SCHOOL YEAR 25-26 School year registration will open in two different phases starting at the end of June. See the table below. Registration Windows Phases Who’s Included July 2–July 8 Priority Registration All families who have students currently attending Fun & Friends summer programming.All families who had students attend the 24-25 school year.Families currently on the summer 2025 waitlist prior to today’s date, 6/26/25. (These families will receive notification.) July 9–July 16 Public Registration Open to everyone to complete enrollment. All public enrollments will be placed in a lottery. The number of spaces will be based on staffing availability. Families will be notified of their status by July 25. *Families must sign up during the correct stage for their application to be considered. Signing up before your registration window will result in a denied application. How to Register: Registration is done online (HERE). Choose the Fun & Friends location you would like to register for and click “Enroll Now.” *The site options will not show up on this link until registration opens. Scheduling:Schedules are due every other Wednesday by 4:00 PM for the upcoming two weeks. Invoices will be sent on Thursdays and are due by the following Monday. Email reminders will be sent out every other week by Cassandra Hale, Fun & Friends secretary, with schedule’s due reminders. Invoices must be paid on time to keep your summer registration active. Rates School year rates are updated for the 25–26 school year and vary depending on the days scheduled per week. Program Number of days a week Rate per week After school 1 $17 After school 2 $ 34 ($17/day) After school 3 $42 ($14/day) After school 4 $48 ($12/day) After school 5 $60 ($12/day) Non-school day Any $45/day Registration Fee: Fun & Friends has a $30/year registration fee per child. If your child attends summer Fun & Friends, this registration was included with the summer contract and will not be added to the school year. If your child did not attend summer, there will be a $30 registration fee applied when your application is approved. Drop-In Days: If you are requesting child care with less than 7 days' notice, the daily rate will be $17/day for after school or $50/day for a non-school day. Please keep in mind that we are staffing and preparing our activities based on the number of kids scheduled, so we do ask for drop-in days to be limited. Please contact your Site Supervisor beforehand to make sure there is room for your child to attend as a drop-in. Incoming Kindergartners: Per MN certified child care statutes, a child must be entering kindergarten within four months of their first day in school age care. Records will be reviewed with district enrollment personnel to confirm that a child will be attending kindergarten in the fall of 2025. If a child, even if they are 5 years old, will not be attending kindergarten in September 2025, they are ineligible to attend school age care. For more information or to view our handbook, please visit the Fun & Friends website, HERE.

Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year is open! 2025-2026 Preschool Information Packet **Due to construction delays, we are postponing programming at Riverside Elementary School until the 2026-2027 school year. Registration Step-by-Step Guide Brainerd Public Schools’ Preschool Programs: Preparing Your Child for a Bright Future! Brainerd Public Schools take pride in investing in our youngest learners and in preparing children and families for success in school. We have a variety of preschool options serving 2 ½- 5 year olds. Our preschool program prepares children to enter school by focusing learning around classroom routines and procedures, social and emotional development and academic development. A Four Star Parent Aware Rated Program! Our preschool programs have earned a four-star rating from Minnesota’s Parent Aware- the highest rating possible! The Parent Aware rating system helps parents find preschools and childcare programs focused on high quality early learning and kindergarten readiness. Our Staff: All of our classrooms are staffed by licensed Early Childhood teachers and include a qualified teaching assistant. Many on our classrooms also have a licensed Early Childhood Special Education teacher as part of the teaching team, making our staff to student ratio lower than the state recommended average. Our Curriculum: *Frog Street Pre-K is a research-based curriculum organized around 9 thematic units integrating literacy, math, science, social studies, social-emotional connections, STEAM, technology, assessment, and family engagement. *Pyramid Model innovations focuses on improving the social, emotional and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to 5. *Second Step helps young learners harness their energy and potential by teaching them self-regulation skills to help them listen, pay attention, manage their behavior and get along with others. *Handwriting Without Tears uses music, movement and manipulatives to help teach students correct grip, letter formation and placement. *Gross Motor play is built into our preschool schedule each day whether it be gym time, playground time or even yoga and dancing in the classroom. Students at our WELC location participate in a Motor Lab at least once a week designed by Physical & Occupations Therapists from the Paul Bunyan Co-op. Please note that the following classes are currently on a waitlist: -WELC M-Th Mixed Age Mornings Click here to schedule your child's early childhood screening.

Youth develop life-long interests, skills and knowledge through sports, performing and visual arts, academics, special interest clubs, outdoor educational experiences and many more programs. Youth develop and enhance their own creative and physical capacities while sharing individual talents, skills, knowledge and character with others.