Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is helping to build the blocks for family and school
success. If you have children from birth to age five and are looking for support, information and education on raising children please join us at ECFE.

We welcome new families, your first term is always free.

ECFE is a Community Education program for ALL families and children birth through kindergarten. We offer a comfortable, informal parent discussion group, and a fun place to meet, learn, and play with other parents and children.

*You must register for all virtual offerings.

Immunization Form

Summer 2024
Winter/Spring 2024

Summer 2024

Summer Connections with ECFE

Wednesdays at Goodview Early Childhood
June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21
Two sessions each day to accomodate naps, lunches and other needs

Mixed Ages

10-11:30 a.m. & 12:30-2 pm.

ECFE's “Mixed Ages” class is a summer drop-in class for caregivers and their children, ages birth to 5 years. This opportunity provides a wonderful ECFE experience that includes age appropriate activities, as well as time to discuss questions on kids and family. Information and ideas on child development, parenting and community resources are also available.

We're Here!

Need to schedule a home visit or have questions about our offerings? Reach out! Email heather.millard@winona.k12.mn.us or l ynnea.pfohl@winona.k12.mn.us.

Winter/Spring 2024

Winter/Spring 2024 Programs

Updated Jan. 19, 2024. Term 3 runs Jan. 23-March 28. Term 4 runs April 2-May 30.

Non-Separating Classes

A non-separating class means you and your child will remain together for the entire class. Each class offers the ECFE experience, including parent and child time (PACT). These classes may also include a parent discussion in the same room as your child.

Baby & Me

Join the class at any time; babies and parents are always welcome! Babies bring joy and big changes to families. This is a weekly class for infants, birth to 12 months, and their parents. All of your baby questions and insights will be discussed with a Licensed Parent Educator and other parents of little ones. There are many opportunities to connect with other parents and find your parenting style as part of our time together. Your baby will enjoy being around other infants and you will learn the traditional ECFE circle time songs as well.

Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

When: Wednesday afternoons, 12-1:30 p.m.
Where: Parent Education Room 103

Play with Purpose

Discover learning through your child's eyes in these parent and child classes. Families will enjoy circle time, themed play, songs, and stories with their children as well as a variety of different activities. A Child Educator will lead this class along with available support from a Parent Educator.

Ages: Birth to 3rd Grade
When: Friday mornings, 8:30-10 a.m.
Where: Early Childhood Room 106

ECFE Around Town

ECFE Around Town is an extension of our Early Childhood Family Education program for families, caregivers and children ages birth to 5 years old throughout the district. This is a program that, like our other classes, will provide you and your family with a wonderful ECFE experience that includes ideas for creative, fun, age appropriate activities, as well as time to discuss questions on kids and family. Information and ideas on child development, parenting and community resources are also available.

When: Thursday late morning
Where: Locations around town TBD
No registration required

Drop-in Playgroup

Drop-In Playgroup is an opportunity for children to learn, grow and develop through play. There is something to keep every child happy and busy, with a baby and toddler area, activities for preschoolers, a great outdoor space plus lots of art, craft and messy play. And what’s even better — we clean up the mess afterwards!

Ages: Birth to age 5
When: Wednesday mornings, 9-10:30 a.m.
Where: Early Childhood Room 106
Free! No registration required.

Separating Classes

A separating class means parents/caregivers spend half of the class time together with their child and half in parenting education while the child stays with an Early Childhood Teacher.

Mixed Ages & Mixed Topics (Birth to Grade 3)
Love & Logic Continued (Birth to Grade 3)

Mixed Ages & Mixed Topics (Birth to Grade 3)

Parenting is tough! Let's do it together.

Join us for a class that includes learning activities for children and parent discussion. Parent and child interaction time is an opportunity to spend uninterrupted quality time with your child. During this time we have activities created by an Early Childhood teacher based on a theme and focused on all areas of your child's development. Parent discussion is conducted in a separate space based on you needs with a focus on the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework.

Discussions are supported by:

Research based curricula and materials such as Love and Logic, Conscious Discipline and Incredible Years
Podcasts, blogs and video channels run by today's top specialists in different areas of early childhood development.

There will be three classes:

Monday afternoons, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Monday evenings, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday mornings, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The classes will take place in the Parent Education Room 103, and the Early Childhood Room 106.

Love & Logic Continued (Birth to Grade 3)

Conversations in this class have been so good, we must continue Love & Logic for the rest of this year!

This curriculum provides parents with the skills required to feel more relaxed, hopeful and positive about their children and their relationships with them. As you learn more, you will discover that your job can be really enjoyable, and that you can teach personal responsibility and respect without losing your kids’ love.

Using plenty of real life stories, examples and stand-up comedy, the authors make this a program that parents really enjoy being a part of. When adults learn in an entertaining, non-threatening atmosphere, they’re far more likely to beg for even more training.

THIS IS A TWO QUARTER CLASS.

Due to the specific curriculum that this class provides, it will run for two quarters. When signing up for this class you are committing to attending classes and paying fees for two quarters

There will be two classes:

Monday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday evenings, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The classes will take place in the Parent Education Room 103, and the Early Childhood Room 106.

Other Opportunities

Itty Bitty Book Club

Itty Bitty Book Club brings literacy and circle time activities to our Licensed Child Care Providers homes. Sign up for a monthly home visit from our Licensed Early Childhood Staff. Staff brings in activities, circle time and a fun reading program to the child care setting every month, September through May. Call 494-0920 for more information about the program. Note: The Itty Bitty Book Club Child Care Provider visits are scheduled individually and at your convenience.

WALC & WSHS Teen Parent & Prenatal Programs

Family Gym Nights (Birth to Age 5)

Do you have children who need to run off some extra energy? Well, you are in luck. ECFE's Family Gym Nights at Goodview Elementary School are back. Family Gym Night provides an indoor space for kids to scooter, jump, crawl, play with balls, use riding toys and more. This free family event is geared toward children ages birth to 5 years old. Parent participation and supervision are required.

When: Friday nights, 6-7:30 p.m.
Dates: Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 16, Feb. 23

Registration Information for New Families

Make sure that pop-ups from winonaschools.org are allowed with the browser you are using
Click here and enter your information

Helpful hints

The grade for your child is ECFE
Make sure you click on the red submit button once registration is complete to submit
Save your Parent Portal information You can use this in the future to register and/or to pay for your class.

Registration Information for Returning Families

Log into your Campus Parent Portal Account.
Click on the 2022-2023 Annual Student info update link on the left side of the screen.
Click on the ‘Click here to go to Existing Student Info’ (button on the left side).
Verify school year 2022-23
If you do not remember your Parent Portal access or if you have questions, email: portal.help@winona.k12.mn.us or call 507-494-0820 and they will forward the access information to you.
Begin registration update; click here to begin; verify info and make any changes; then save and continue.
Click on the child's student tab. If you are adding a new child, click on new student.

Other Information

Early Childhood Special Education

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are designed for children from birth until kindergarten enrollment who have been identified with a delay in development. Evaluations and services are provided at no cost to the parents.

Early Intervention Services for children birth through age two are provided in their natural environments through the public school system. A variety of service providers which may include an early childhood special education teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech/language clinician may provide direct services or consult with your child's team based on the family and child's identified needs.
Preschool Special Education services for students age three to Kindergarten entrance are typically provided in early learning environments. Specialized services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental adaptive physical education (DAPE), early childhood special education, and busing are provided based on the student's needs within their learning environment.

If you have concerns about a child in either of these age group, please make a referral in through one of the available options listed. Someone from the district will contact you to follow up with your concerns.

Birth to Age 5 Referral Printable Form
Birth to Age 5 Referral Electronic Form
Call 507-494-0842 to make a referral by phone.

If you would like more information about early childhood development or to make a referral through the Minnesota Help Me Grow system, visit the Help Me Grow website at http://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/index.htm .

Class Fees

How do I determine class fees?

The class fee is determined by your family income (see sliding fee schedule)
The fee is per child with a family maximum
No family will be turned away due to inability to pay
Pay for your ECFE class with a credit card OR pay in person by cash or check.
Please make checks payable to: ECFE

Family's Yearly Gross Income	Fee per child per class	Max per family per class
90,000 +	$95	$190
80,000-89,999	$81	$162
70,000 -79,999	$71	$142
60,000-69,999	$59	$118
50,000-59,999	$45	$90
40,000-49,999	$37	$74
30,000-39,999	$32	$64
20,000-29,999	$26	$52
Under 19,999	$11	$22

Early Childhood Education Programs
Goodview Elementary School
5100 West 9th Street, Winona

Video Tutorial on the Registration Process

Common Questions

What is ECFE?

How does ECFE work?

Separating Classes:
All our classes begin with parent child activities where parents and children play together in the early childhood room. Parents then move on to the Parent Education room, facilitated by a licensed parent educator, to meet other parents and discuss issues related to parenting. The children stay in the classroom with a licensed early childhood educator to enjoy a variety of age appropriate activities. Your child will make new friends, enjoy art activities, music, gym time and a snack.

Non-separating Classes:
In our baby and toddler classes, parents do not separate from their children. The baby group is held in the parent education room and the toddler group is held in the early childhood room.