PRESCHOOL/VPK
•••
At Highlands Christian Preschool, our loving and caring teachers provide a warm, safe, and fun environment for preschool children who turn 4 years old, on or before September 1 of the current school year.
Highlands Preschool program is accredited by Cognia (formerly SACS), FACCS (Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools), and Middle States Association. We also maintain full compliance with Florida’s Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) and the Department of Children Families (DCF). Our teaching staff has been selected for their devotion to Christ, their strong knowledge of early childhood development, and their compliance with state standards for VPK and early childhood education.
In order to best accommodate the needs of our families, Highlands offers half-day and full-day preschool schedules:
Half-Day: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Half-Day - 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Full-Day: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Aftercare: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Our preschool curriculum is designed to build the spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of the individual child according to God’s specific plan.
Theme-based units and hands-on learning centers are combined with A Beka curriculum to provide learning experiences that promote character development, while building on the academic foundation of literacy and mathematical skills through hands-on learning activities.
Preschool Activities
Preschool classroom activities generally follow the schedule below, with allowance for flexibility according to the needs and interests of the students each day.
Learning Centers
Bible/Chapel Time
Circle/Calendar Time
Language Arts Lesson
Literacy Centers
Snack & Story Time
Recess
Math Lesson
Math Centers
Writing Lesson
Lunch & Story Time
Science/Social Studies Lesson
Specials: Music, Drama, PE, STEM, Library, Art
Literacy Centers
Math Centers
Review the Day
Dismissal
How to Apply for VPK
Children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year to be eligible. If their fourth birthday falls Feb. 2 through Sept. 1 in a calendar year, parents can postpone enrolling their child in VPK that year and wait until the following year when their child is 5.
FIRST, REGISTER ONLINE WITH THE OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING:
Parents must obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” from the Office of Early Learning. The application will take approximately 15 minutes to complete online and you will need your child’s birth certificate and proof of Florida residency. Once you have completed the application, you will be sent a certificate by email. Bring that voucher to the school office where you will be asked to sign and date the document.
THEN, ENROLL FOR VPK AT HIGHLANDS:
Complete the Highlands Christian Academy online application at www.highlandschristian.org.
At the top of the home page, click on “Admissions” then “Enrollment Info 2024-25”.
On the next page, click on “Create an Account” at the top and follow the instructions.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY HIGHLANDS:
A completed State of Florida School Entry Health Exam form
A current Florida Certificate of Immunization
A copy of your child’s original birth certificate
Proof of health insurance
A photo ID of any person(s) picking up the child
Thank you for considering the Highlands VPK program. Being part of a larger, well-established, and accredited school does provide some opportunities that other VPK venues may not offer. In addition, should you desire for your child to continue his/her educational journey here at HCA, the transition from VPK into K5 is very simple and convenient. We look forward to serving your family and helping you become part of our Highlands family!
QUESTIONS:
If you have other questions specific to HCA’s VPK program, please call our Admissions Coordinator at 954-421-1747 x1026.
For answers to general questions about Florida’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program, please visit http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk
Stephanie Thompson
Preschool/VPK Director
