Registration

Preschool Applications for general education children for the 2026-2027 school year will be accepted now until March 19, 2026.  A separate application is required for each child. If your child gets a seat in our preschool program and has a twin who was also in the lottery, both children will be admitted. 

A student presently enrolled in Bayberry Preschool will be given preference for enrollment as a returning student the following school year.  In addition, siblings of current preschool students who will be enrolled in preschool for the 2026-2027 school year will be given preference for enrollment, depending on availability. If there are more siblings than available spots, no preference will be given and sibling applications will be entered into the general lottery. 

Preschool applications must be received by March 19th. This is NOT a first come, first serve application. Each application will be assigned a random application number that will be entered into a lottery for the available preschool spots.  Identifiable student information will not be used in the lottery process.

The Preschool Lottery will take place the week of March 23, 2026 and applicants will be notified by email of their application status. In order to balance the classes by age, there will be separate lotteries held for:

• Students turning 3 by October 1, 2026 (5 spots available*)
• Students turning 4 by October 1, 2026 (0 spots available*)

*These numbers are based on current enrollment and are subject to change without notice. Parents are encouraged to fill out the interest form even if there are currently no spots available. Waiting lists will be maintained for both 3 & 4 year olds.

Upon receiving notification of acceptance, families will need to complete the online registration, submit proof of residence, sign the contract, and submit a deposit of $975.00. Please note that $200 of the deposit is non-refundable. The total tuition fee for the Program is $9,750.00.

The full deposit of $975.00 will be applied toward the June tuition payment. To reserve a spot for the 2026-2027 school year, preschool deposits are due by Wednesday, April 8, 2026. If a family chooses to unenroll after this date, $200 of the deposit will be non-refundable.

Preschool Waiting List Process

If your child was not selected to register for preschool, they will be placed on the waiting list through a lottery process. Parents will be notified about their child's position on the waiting list.

• Waiting List Selection: If a spot becomes available before the first day of school, students will be selected from the waiting list, starting with the lowest number.
• After the School Year Begins: Once the school year begins, general education students will not be added to preschool classes. The waiting list will no longer be maintained after the first day of school.

Any questions about The Preschool at Bayberry School can be directed to Mrs. Marlyn Vargas, school secretary at mvargas@watchungschools.us.

Preschool Application Form for New Families 26-27

How many spots are typically available for PK?
Since our current three year olds are given priority to re-enroll, we typically have less four year old spots available than three year old spots. Availability varies from 5-8 spots for three year olds and 0-5 spots for four year olds.  

How many sections of PK are available?
Bayberry has two integrated preschool classes.  

What is the composition of the classes?
Each class contains mixed groupings of three and four year old children. Some of our four year olds will turn five during the school year.

What are the class sizes?
Each class will have approximately 12-15 students.  

What does staffing look like in preschool classrooms?
Each class has a certified preschool teacher and 1-2 paraprofessionals, depending on the needs of the students. 

Must my child be potty trained to attend preschool?
No.  However, potty training is highly recommended prior to attending preschool.

What does the schedule look like for Preschool?
The Preschool at Bayberry School runs five days per week, Monday through Friday, from 8:45-3:25. Students in preschool learn through play based, hands-on experiences and explore academic content in large and small groups. Each week,  preschool students attend special area classes such as Physical Education, Art, Music, STEM, Library and Spanish.  Students eat lunch in their classroom and go outside for recess on a daily basis, weather permitting. After lunch, students rest or sleep on their cots.  

How can I learn more about the Preschool program?  
Students who are enrolled in Bayberry Preschool will be invited to our “Meet Your Teacher” event prior to the first day of school.  Parents and their child will be able to visit the preschool classroom and meet their teacher. During the school year, parents will be invited to Back To School Night and Parent Teacher Conferences. Due to security reasons, we do not offer school tours.

March 19, 2026 @ 4:00 PM:  Deadline to submit Preschool applications via online Google Form.  

Week of March 23, 2026:  The Preschool Lottery will take place. 

By March 27, 2026:  All families notified of their status via email (invited to register or on the waiting list).

April 1, 2026: Preschool Deposits due to secure their spot.

August 27, 2026:  Preschool Waiting List closed.  Students from the waiting list will NOT be added after this date.