Welcome to the Great Beginnings Program

The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District has a history of collaborating with preschools, child care facilities, and Head Start located in the school district and surrounding area.  The physical, emotional, social, and early learning of children are the focus of the school district as well as the community agencies.  The early childhood years are very important for children and their parents.  When children experience success in responsive, nurturing programs they gain essential skills and knowledge.

During the 2006-2007 school year, parents, administrators, teachers, and school board members reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of four-year-old kindergarten.  The committee found that research proved that four-year-old kindergarten definitely helped the children, the school, and the community.

During the 2007-2008 school year, a committee comprised of community agencies, parents, administrators, teachers, school board members, and childcare providers studied various preschool programs throughout the state.  From the information gained, the community-wide committee determined that four-year-old kindergarten was the right program to establish in the Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau community.  The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School Board voted to implement Great Beginnings with the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

Four-year-old kindergarten programs have been growing in number throughout the State of Wisconsin.  In the 2007-2008 school year 283 school districts in Wisconsin had programs.  The latest information states that 368 Wisconsin districts offered 4-year-old kindergarten in 2011-12. Great Beginnings is a tuition-free four-year-old kindergarten program available to every four-year-old in the school district.  We look forward to another successful 2012-2013 school year.

Great Beginnings serves children in three locations.  The three locations are Ettrick Elementary School, Galesville Elementary School, and Trempealeau Elementary School.  At this time, Ettrick Elementary School will have one morning session.  Galesville Elementary School and Trempealeau Elementary School will have two sessions (AM and PM). 

The Great Beginnings Handbook has been written to provide parents and other interested parties with information regarding our program.  We hope all will use the handbook to answer questions that may come up throughout the year.  If you have questions not answered in this Handbook, please do not hesitate to ask a teacher or call the Pupil Services office at 534-6392.

Jill Mason
Great Beginnings Coordinator

Rachel Fawver
Principal, Ettrick Elementary School 

Amy Oliver
Principal, Galesville Elementary School and Trempealeau Elementary School

Click on the attachment below to download the 4K Handbook in pdf format.