Preschool Program FAQ's
Preschool Program FAQ’s:
How does my child qualify for preschool?
A: Through the preschool screening process. All children must be screened and qualify in order to attend either the Preschool for All or the Head Start Preschool Program. Please visit our website for details www.hcusd2.org >Parents/Students >Preschool Program Information >Preschool Program & Screening Details. The screening process does not guarantee an opening in the preschool programs. Both programs are grand funded and therefore space is limited. We always advise parents to have a backup plan for childcare in case you are not offered a preschool opening. Your child will then be put on a waiting list in case we have any openings mid-term.
How do I get my child screened and when is the next screening?
A: Screenings take place in the Spring and are by appointment only. If the screening schedule is open you can make an appointment from this website. Go to our home page and click on the box labeled Preschool Screenings. An appointment link will be provided. If the box is not available then the screening schedule is not open at this time. Please click on the link below and leave your contact information so we can include your child in the next round of Spring screenings.
Preschool Screening Contact List
*Screening Requirements* per the bylaws of our preschool grants: we must collect the parent's proof of income and the child's official birth certificate prior to the preschool screening. Refusal to comply with the state's requirement will suspend your child's preschool screening results and program eligibility until the requirements are met.
How old does my child have to be for preschool screening / the preschool program?
A: Any child who turns 3- or 4-years old on or before September 1st is welcome to be screened for preschool. Any child that will be 5-years old on or before September 1st is considered Kindergarten eligible and is no longer eligible for preschool or preschool screening.
How do I get into Head Start?
A: The Head Start Program is a collaboration between Kankakee School District and Herscher School District. Therefore, you must attend the Herscher School District Preschool Screening as well as complete the Head Start application process. The Head Start staff will determine who attends the Bonfield Grade School, Head Start Program after the screenings and the applications are processed.
How do I contact Head Start?
A: Head Start can be contacted at -
Proegler School
710 N. Chicago Ave
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone 815-933-0773
What is the difference between the Bonfield Preschool Programs?
A: The Bonfield Grade School houses 2 preschool programs. First, the Preschool for All Program which is provided by a state-funded grant. Second, the Head Start Program which is provided by a collaboration between the Herscher School District #2 and the Kankakee School District #111. Head Start is a federally funded, county-wide program.
What do the preschool programs cost?
A: Nothing. Both the Preschool for All and the Head Start programs are 100% grant funded. There are no registration, field trip or lunch fees for both of the programs.
Are the preschool programs full-day or half-day?
A: Both! Starting the 2026-2027 School Year, Herscher's Preschool for All program will offer a 1/2-day program (both AM and PM sessions) for 1 classroom. The 2 remaining classrooms and the 1 Head Start classroom will continue to offer full-day preschool programs. If your child qualifies for a preschool opening, the preschool staff (along with your input) will decide the best placement for your child, either full day or half day. The full-day Preschool for All and Head Start programs run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. The half-day Preschool for All program will run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for the AM session. The PM session will run from 12:35 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.
Where can I find a school calendar?
A: The Preschool For All Program follows the Herscher School District calendar located at www.hcusd2.org >District, >District PDF Calendar. The Head Start Program has a unique start and end date but then follows the Herscher School District calendar the rest of the school year. Head Start's school year starts approximately 1 week after Herscher and ends a few days before Herscher's last day.
Is there a school supply list?
A: Yes, see below:
- 1 full-sized back pack, large enough to hold a standard folder, (without wheels or rollers, please)
- 1 throw-sized or beach towel-sized blanket for rest/nap time. Blankets will be kept at school Monday - Friday and sent home every Friday for washing.
- 2 complete changes of clothes, labeled, and in a Ziploc bag. The teacher will email for you to send seasonally appropriate clothes as the weather changes
- Potty training supplies, diapers, wipes, etc. - as needed
NOTE: Labeling and Personal Items:
Please label your child's back pack, their blanket, all clothes and training supplies coming to school. This helps staff return items to the correct family. Please leave personal items at home. We do not want anything to happen to your child's special treasures. Personal items will be placed directly into their back pack for the day, and will be sent back home.
Does my child need to be potty independent?
A: No. Students will start a potty training schedule to encourage them to become potty independent for both school and home. Preschool students do not need to be potty independent in order to attend preschool. Until your student is fully independent, providing diapers, wipes, pull-ups and any other supplies, will be the responsibility of the parent. The teacher will notify you when supplies are running low.
What documentation does my child need to start preschool?
A:
- Copy of birth certificate (collected at screening)
- Proof of Income (collected at screening): see details at www.hcusd2.org >Parents/Students, >Student Registration, >Forms, >Preschool Proof of Income Requirements
- Up-to-date immunization record
- School Physical
- Lead Screening-by your doctor or local Health Department
- TB Test is highly recommended by not required
All documents are required by the state of Illinois upon entrance to preschool. However, if through no fault of your own, you cannot acquire all documentation by the first day of school, a reasonable amount of time* to gather the above paperwork will be allowed. After such time, failure to provide all required documentation will result in a loss of your child’s preschool placement.
*Medical records are due October 15th per state of Illinois law. See next question for more information.
What if I cannot get my child into their doctor or the health department before school starts?
A: Your child can still start school. All medical requirements are due, by state law, on October 15th or the next student attendance day if the 15th falls on a non-attendance day. Note: if you do not have your child’s medical requirements completed by October 15th, per state of Illinois law, your child will be excluded from school until the state medical requirements are met.
What are the immunization and medical requirements for preschool?
A: Please visit our website at www.hcusd2.org >Parents/Students, >Student Registration, >Forms, >Preschool Medical Requirements
Will I need to send or buy lunch and snacks?
A: No. The grants provide 2 snacks and a hot lunch for all full-day preschool students. The half-day program students will receive 1 snack but will not be served a lunch.
Can I choose to pack my child’s lunch and snacks?
A: No, and please let us explain why. The lunch program is part of the preschool experience. The preschool program is designed to expose your child to play-based academic stimuli, peer interaction, gross-motor play, art, physical education, music and new school experiences in general. This includes a balanced school lunch which introduces fruits, vegetables and other menu items. This is an excellent age to start expanding your child’s palate for new foods. The only exception would be a food allergy or lactose intolerance. If you need to pack specific food items due to a food allergy, or your child cannot drink milk, the district will require verification from your doctor. If the food allergy is life threatening, an emergency action plan created by our District RN and approved by your doctor, will need to be in place.
Where can I find the lunch menus?
A: The Herscher District website www.hcusd2.org >"More . . .", >Departments, >Food Service, >Lunch Menus(click Read More), >Bonfield Grade School.
Do I have to live in the Herscher School District to attend preschool?
A: No. The Preschool for All grant is state funded and the Head Start program is federally funded. Therefore, students from outside the Herscher #2 School District can go through our district's preschool screening process and see if they qualify for one of the programs. Our only exclusion would be transportation. Any preschool family outside the Herscher School District is responsible for transporting their child. Note: when your child turns 5-years old and is eligible for Kindergarten, you will need to live in the Herscher School District. Proof of residency will be required prior to the entrance of Kindergarten.
Is transportation provided for preschoolers?
A: Yes, unless you live outside the Herscher School District or you live in the Bonfield Village boundaries. If you live in the Village of Bonfield, your child is considered a car rider. You will not be provided transportation while your child attends Bonfield Grade School. Otherwise, your preschooler will be offered the same transportation as all other district students in grades K-12.
Will my preschool child ride the bus with older kids?
A: Yes. The preschool students are bused on the same buses and routes with the K-12th grade students. However, preschool students, by law, are required to sit in a school-provided car seat with a harness restraint. The car seats are located in the very front rows of the bus, closest to the driver. Half-day AM session preschoolers will be offered transportation home at 10:30 a.m. dismissal. Half-day PM session preschoolers will be offered transportation pick up for the 12:35 p.m. session.
Who can/will put my child on the bus and secure their car seat?
A: A parent or an adult (at least 18-years of age) must be present at the assigned bus stop both morning and afternoon. The parent/adult will be responsible for boarding and securing the preschooler in a harnessed car seat, as well as unlatching the child’s harness and removing them from the bus at drop off. The bus driver, by law, is not allowed to leave the driver’s seat and is not allowed to harness or unlatch your child.