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

NEW! Positive Parenting Class at Ridgeway School

Open to families with children birth through elementary

When: Wednesdays from 5:30-7:15 p.m.
- 5:30-6 p.m.: Light supper and parent-child activities in the Ridgeway Preschool Classroom
- 6-7:15 p.m.: Parent Education and Discussion Class and FREE childcare
Dates: Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15
Where: Ridgeway Community School

MORE INFORMATION

Winter/Spring 2023 Programs

Updated Jan. 4, 2023. Term 3 begins Jan. 24; Term 4 begins April 4.

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. 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: Monday 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:Tuesday mornings, 8-9:30 a.m.
Where: Early Childhood Room 106

Little Inventors

Spark your child's curiosity about how things work and how to use their imagination to create as we explore in our Little Inventors class. This STEM-based class will help your child explore the world using their senses. Join us as we explore, investigate, calculate and experiment with hands-on science, technology, engineering and math concepts. Learn with your child how fun, easy and important it is to incorporate math and science into your everyday life. Outdoor experiences will be provided, weather permitting.

Ages: Birth to 3rd Grade
When: Monday afternoons, 2:30-4 p.m.
Where: Early Childhood Room 106

East End ECFE

East End ECFE is an extension of our Early Childhood Family Education program for families, caregivers and children ages birth to 5 years old on the East end of town. 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. This class will be held weekly at the East End Recreation Center in Winona.

Ages: Birth to 3rd Grade
When: Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where: East End Recration Center, 210 Zumbro St., Winona

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! No registration required. The class is suitable for children birth to five years of age.

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

Preschool Play

Come and hang out in the big kid gyms in our preschool buildings! This time is set aside just for preschoolers in the Winona area and their families. Parents come and stay, and can play with their children or chat with a parent educator on site. We will share a circle time activity at the end of each session together. Activity resources will be provided during each meeting for you to take home to keep the fun going until our next open gym. Drop-in/no registration required.

Meeting dates:

Saturday, Feb. 25, 10-11:30 a.m. at the W-K gym
Thursday, March 30, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Goodview gym
Saturday, April 29, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Goodview gym
Thursday, May 25, 5:30-7 p.m., in the W-K gym

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 (Birth to Grade 3)
Conscious Discipline (Birth to Grade 3)

Mixed Ages (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 evenings, 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday afternoons, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Thursday mornings, 8-10 a.m.

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

Conscious Discipline (Birth to Grade 3)

This scripted curriculum is meant to improve parenting knowledge and skills, increase parents' ability to manage their own emotions and respond to children's challenging behaviors, and improve emotional management and behavior in children.

Learn how to increase connection, self-regulation and positive behavior management in your home, resulting in a happier and healthier home environment by:

Improving knowledge and skills in parenting.
Improving parental emotional responses to chellenging behaviors.
Learning better management of children's emotions and behaviors.

When: Mondays, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Where: Parent Education Room 103, Early Childhood Room 106

Other Opportunities

Laugh & Learn at the Public Library

Join Winona Public Library and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) as we enjoy a morning of stories, laughter and learning. We'll begin with story time from our Youth Librarian along with a variety of activities geared for the busy world of little ones for caregivers and children to participate in. This is followed by a brief discussion time led by an Early Childhood professional from ECFE while children continue with activities. Discussion topics include ideas for separation issues, encouraging language development, emotion management, and more.

When: Tuesday mornings, 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Winona Public Library
Free, no registration requited

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.

Winona Area Learning Center & Winona Senior High School

Family Gym Nights (Birth to 5 years old)

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. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 20, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24

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.

What are the benefits of ECFE?

Where is ECFE located?

Are there fees?

When will registration be processed?

Meet the ECFE Staff

Debbie Brady

Early Childhood Educational Assistant

School: (507)494-0913

Jill Burt

Educational Assistant

School: (507)494-0918

Angela Denis

Early Childhood Coordinator

School: (507)494-0915

Nicole Fedor

Educational Assistant

Mikayla Hurlburt

ECFE Teacher

Heather Millard

Early Childhood Family Education Coordinator, Parent Educator

School: (507)494-0916

Lynnea Pfohl

Parent Educator

School: (507)494-1468

Jennifer Slinkman

Early Childhood Secretary

School: (507)494-0913

ECFE PTA

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that contributes to the quality of life for families with young children in our community? Join EFCE PTA! Contact the ECFE office at 507-494-0913 for more information.