To be placed on the 2026-27 waitlist, please email Rebecca Thompson, Director, at [email protected]. Please provide your name, child’s name, hours preference and a phone number.
Enrollment Application Timeline
- January 2026 – Current and former Little Cardinals Nest families
- February 2026 – St. Johns County School District Employees (contacted in order of waitlist)
- March 2026 – New Community Families (contacted in order of waitlist)
Hours Offered – All spots are Monday through Friday (limited spots for all times)
- School Hours (SJCSD Employees Only) : 8:00-3:30 – drop off no earlier than 7:50am
- School Hours (Community): 8:30-3:00 – drop off after 8:00am (note pickup time has changed to 3:00 for 2026-27 from 3:30 in 2025-26)
- Full Day: 7:00am-5:30pm – your child must be picked up by 5:30 and repeated late pickups will result in dismissal from the program
- For 2026-27, VPK students must be dropped off by 9:00am or will be marked absent (unless you inform the teacher in advance that your child has an appointment and bring a doctor’s note) – The gate locks at 9:30am for the 3’s class families. VPK Instruction starts at 8:30am so drop off by 8:30am is preferred.
VPK Requirements
- For all new families, at least one parent and the child must attend a tour in order to receive an enrollment application – families will be contacted in order of the waitlist
- Children must be 4 by September 1, 2026 (no exceptions – this is a Florida requirement in order to obtain a VPK Certificate of Eligibility)
- You must provide a VPK Certificate of Eligibility when you submit your enrollment application – you can apply in January 2026 at www.ecs4kids.org
- Attendance Policy – Since the VPK Certificate of Eligibility covers 3 hours of instruction paid for by the state, your child must attend at least 80% of school days monthly (you agree in writing that your child will not miss one day/week every week or more than 20% of days in the month)
- Parents and anyone entering the classroom must agree to a background check by completing the online form in your enrollment application at https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/volunteer/
- If your child has identified needs, please contact the Cunningham Creek Elementary Registrar, Lisa J. Wilson, for more information about the ESE pre-k program. CCE no longer has a VPK program. You can reach Ms. Wilson at [email protected] or 904-547-7866
VPK Facts
- Hours – We offer school hours similar to CCE and full day options – we give preference to families who need full-time childcare
- Ratio – The VPK class has up to 20 students and 2 teachers. We only have one VPK class
- Curriculum – We use The Creative Curriculum for Preschool and focus on early literacy. Students participate in science experiments, art, fine motor and gross motor activities. Children experience special events throughout the year such as class parties, the CCE Character Parade (October), Thanksgiving Feast, Holiday Performance (December), Egg Hunt/Spring Party, End-of-Year Performance (May) and more!
- Schedule – We follow the St. Johns County School District schedule and are closed for all school breaks. Please see the 2026-27 Master Calendar and VPK Daily Schedule web pages. At 3:30pm, VPK students are joined by the full day 3’s class students for free choice play, games, art and playground time
- Zoning – You do NOT need to be zoned for Cunningham Creek Elementary to attend Little Cardinals Nest VPK
- Transportation – We do NOT provide transportation or drop-off/pickup car lines. You must park and walk your child in (sign-in) and sign-out your child.
- Tuition – Tuition rates will be discussed during your tour and listed in your enrollment application packet (2026-27 tuition has not been approved yet)