Viroqua Schools to hold open house, registration and resource events in April

March 30, 2026

VIROQUA, Wis. — Viroqua Area Schools is preparing to welcome its next generation of students with a joint 4-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K) registration, open house, and community resource event scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026.

The event, co-hosted by Viroqua Elementary School and the Viroqua Area Montessori School (VAMS), will run from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school cafetorium and 4K classrooms. The district is inviting families of children born between Sept. 2, 2021, and Sept. 1, 2022, to explore classrooms, meet staff, and register for the 2026-2027 school year.

Elementary Principal Pat Olbert emphasized the critical need to secure 4K enrollment numbers as early as possible to assist with staffing preparations.

“This year, more so than ever, we’d love to get those numbers now so that helps in planning for staffing,” Olbert told the board in February, noting that while families sometimes wait until August to enroll, early registration allows the district to make accurate staffing decisions and prepare contingency plans.

To streamline the process and ensure equity between the traditional and charter school programs, the district has made a concerted effort to hold traditional 4K and Montessori informational nights in conjunction with one another.

For families entering the Montessori program, VAMS Children’s House teachers Kellsie Goodman and Faith Wheat will host a specific orientation meeting. Incoming VAMS families are invited to gather in the cafeteria at 5:15 p.m. to explore vendor tables before transitioning to a Montessori classroom for a discussion on routines, transitions, and logistics.

The broader April 23 event will feature a community resource fair where local agencies will share child development resources with parents, followed by a brief meeting with staff at 5:45 p.m.. The evening will also include family fun activities, an open house to view the classrooms, and a complimentary light hot dog supper provided for all attendees.

District officials remind parents that board policy requires them to present an original copy of their child’s birth certificate prior to the start of the school year. Staff will be on hand during the open house to verify and return those documents to families to ensure the requirement is met before classes begin in August.