• Connect to a School Community: The 4K Program allows your child to form lasting relationships with their peers, teachers, and school community, and provides a sense of belonging to their school.
• A Focus on Development: Our 4K program focuses on language development, reading and writing skills, number concepts, and cultivating relationships through peer interactions.
• Ready to Learn: 4K helps students build a foundation for school readiness by learning new skills, following directions and attending to the teacher.
• Long-term Benefits: Evidence suggests the benefits of early childhood education persist throughout a child's educational experience and beyond. 

• The 4K program is offered by Elmbrook Schools for District residents
• 4K is available at your neighborhood elementary school
• Enrollment is for children who are four years old, on or before September 1
• The 4K program is five days a week for a half-day, with morning or afternoon sessions
• Bus Transportation to and from school is provided by the District
• 4K curriculum is closely aligned to Elmbrook’s 5K curriculum to best prepare our youngest learners
• State-Certified Teachers and Assistants in all classrooms
• High-quality, wraparound childcare services are conveniently offered at each elementary school for a fee by the YMCA, and complement the District's 4K curriculum.

• Arrival / Welcome / Relationship Building
• Literacy (Foundational Skills: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Handwriting, Read-Alouds)
• Centers (Math, ABC's, Sensory, Library, Dramatic Play, Science, Art)
• Math (Bridges Resource)
• Snack
• Outdoor Learning
• Motor Lab

• Classroom Volunteers
• Field Trip Chaperones
• Parent Visits
• Take-Home Projects
• Cultural Celebrations
• School-wide Events

4K Wrap Care is conveniently and affordably provided by the West Suburban YMCA at each elementary school for a fee. Care is available only for students enrolled in the Elmbrook 4K program, but is limited on a first-come, first-serve basis.

4K Wrap Care is available from 8:50am - 12:55pm (AM), 11:35am-3:42pm (PM). YBASE care is available from 6:30am until the start of the school day and from the end of the school day until 6:00pm. YBASE is available for Elmbrook students in 4K-5th grades. 

Please visit the YMCA website for more detailed information and to register.

MORNING 4K WRAP CARE | SAMPLE SCHEDULE
8:50 AM Arrival & Structured Play Time
9:30 AM Circle Time
9:50 AM Art
10:15 AM Bathroom/Wash Hands/Snack
10:45 AM Group Gross Motor
11:15 AM Quiet Time (Resting or Reading Books)
11:35 AM Bathroom/Wash Hands/Lunch/Recess
12:50 PM Pack Up & Transition to School

AFTERNOON 4K WRAP CARE | SAMPLE SCHEDULE
11:35 AM Arrival
11:45 AM Bathroom/Wash Hands/Lunch/Recess
12:50 PM Quiet Time (Resting or Reading Books)
1:15 PM Circle Time 1:45 PM Art
2:00 PM Bathroom/Wash Hands/Snack
2:30 PM Structured Play Time
3:42 PM Pick Up or Transition to Y BASE

Work With Wrap Care!

Where Work Is Play: A Better Us Starts with U! At the Y, we offer more than just a paycheck. Building relationships and gain valuable experiences while working at one of the world’s most respected non-profits. Apply online to join our team of passionate individuals working for a cause and who want to make a difference! Our YMCA Before and After School Enrichment (Y BASE) and YMCA 4K Wrap Teachers work hard and play harder! Y BASE and YMCA 4K Teachers offer experiential learning, guided discovery and learning through play for the students in our program. Students explore interests through planned activities while experiencing a high quality, safe and engaging environment each day. Join our team of early childhood and out of school time educators and know you are a part of something BIG! Interested in learning more? Please visit www.gwcymca.org/Careers or click here for a direct link to view position opportunities position. Full Time and Part Time opportunities available (see positions below). Full Time opportunities include Free Y Membership, Health, Dental, Professional Development and 12% Retirement (2 yr vesting period). Have additional questions? Contact Christine Salerno at csalerno@gwcymca.org or call 414-454-4629 for more information.

How much does it cost?
The 4K program is an optional, tuition-free program offered by Elmbrook Schools. A small registration fee is collected at the start of the school year.

Is my child eligible for 4K?
Children must turn 4 years old on or before September 1 of the year they will attend 4K. 

Are 4K Teachers certified?
Our 4K teachers are Wisconsin-certified elementary teachers with an early childhood emphasis. Each 4K classroom is also staffed with a qualified assistant.

What time are the AM and PM sessions?
The 4K Program runs Monday-Friday. The morning (AM) session is scheduled to run from  8:50-11:35 a.m. and the afternoon (PM) session runs from 12:55-3:42 p.m.

What are the school days for Elmbrook's 4K program?
The 4K program will follow the Elmbrook Schools calendar.

Is childcare available for before and after 4K?
Childcare (wraparound) is provided outside of 4K hours and delivered by West Suburban YMCA.  Registration and fees are required and space is limited.

My child is not completely potty trained.  Do they need to be fully potty trained before they can enroll in 4K? 
Our 4 Year Old Kindergarten is part of our public school offerings.  Any student who will be 4 years old on or before September 1st of the school year to be enrolled is eligible to participate.

My child is advanced in their academic and/or social skills for his/her age.  Can they enroll in 4K if they will not be 4 before September 1st?
We do not have an early entrance approach for students entering 4 year old kindergarten.  Students must be 4 on or before September 1st at the start of the school year to be enrolled.  Please reference Board Policy 5111 for additional information.

Our family has decided not to enroll our child who will be 4 years old in the 4K program at this time.  If we change our mind later in the school year, can we still enroll him/her?
Yes, any student who will be 4 years old on or before September 1st of the school year to be enrolled is eligible to participate in our 4K.  If a family chooses to enroll later than September 1st the student will still be eligible to enroll.

Transportation is provided for students enrolled in Elmbrook's 4K program through our busing partner GO Riteway. This includes mid-day busing where only 4K students will be on the bus. 

The School District of Elmbrook offers pre-school screening for children ages 3-5 who are suspected of having a disability in the areas of speech/language; motor skills; social skill development and/or cognitive development. Visit this page for more information.

Click here to access the 4K Family Guide.

• Click here to access health forms and documents