January 2016

Dear Parents of Preschoolers:

Welcome to the registration process for the First Congregational Church of Western Springs Preschool! Whether you are researching preschools for your child, are new to our program, or are returning from last year, we are excited to begin the registration process for the 2016 – 2017school year.

Outlined below is a high level overview of our offerings, and all of the necessary information regarding ourONLINE registration process:

Kid’s Day Out: KDO provides a safe and caring environment for children ages 2 through 5. It is a loosely structured program that provides an opportunity for children to make new friends while engaging in creative play and a variety of special activities.

Almost 3’s Program: This introduction to preschool allows children to have their first school experience in a friendly classroom environment. Children come twice a week for two hours, and we focus on literary arts, social emotional growth, and physical growth and development. Children must be 2 ½ on or before September 1.

3 Year Olds: This program is strongly based on active participation, and encourages independence, cooperative play and creativity. Activities include literacy development, pre-math and science exploration, dramatic play, creative art, music and physical development. To enroll in this program a child must be 3 by September 1.

Pre-K Class: This program is designed to prepare your child for kindergarten. In a child-friendly, yet structured environment, we facilitate learning while encouraging independence and creativity. The curriculum includes pre-reading, pre-math, science exploration, social studies, music, and fine motor and gross motor physical development.

Friday Enrichment*: This class incorporates both unstructured and structured play, learning centers, stories, songs and crafts. We reinforce the alphabet and numbers through creative play and, believe it or not, during snack time! The class meets roughly four Fridays a month, and our teachers devote three of the four Fridays to letters and numbers, and the fourth Friday to science, art, or music. (*Friday Enrichment is subject to a minimum of 10 students).

Our mission is simple: to advance a young child’s independence and positive self-concept, setting the stage for a lifetime of successful learning. We want to partner with parents to accomplish this mission, so if you have any questions about the program that is best suited for your child, please call to discuss all of your options.

Registration is simple! On the date assigned to your family (see below) click on the link on our website’s registration page to register and submit your non-refundable registration fee.

Complete your registration by the following applicable dates:

  • Church Members* register on January 20th and 21st.
  • Currently enrolled students who are NOT church members register on January 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
  • Students who are new to our program and are NOT church members register on January 25th through the 29th.

As we place students in classes, we make every effort to accommodate your first priority selection. Church Members are slotted first, followed by current students, and then new students. *Please note that if you are church member and do not register on your selected dates you will be placed in general enrollment with students who are new to our program.

Once registration is complete, Amy Faison will notify you via email of your child’s placement. Please be patient as Amy works to accommodate everyone’s class priority. You will be notified by February 22nd of your child’s placement in our program.

At a later date, you will receive information on how to complete your enrollment package and submit your first month’s tuition to secure your child’s place in the program. Enrollment forms and the first month tuition will be due by April 8th.

*The check for the first month’s tuition is used to secure your child’s place in our program, but it will be held and not cashed until July 1, 2016. We realize that plans change and adjustments must be made in your schedule. If this occurs, your tuition check will be returned to you once you notify our office of any changes. Because we often have a waiting list of students who wish to enter our programs, all checks will be cashed after July 1, 2016 and the first month tuition check will be non-refundable at that time.

We appreciate your kind words about our program in the community. If you know of other families who are interested, please have them call the Preschool Office so I can answer their questions and make arrangements for them to tour our classrooms.

If you have any questions about thisinformation or about our program in general, please do not hesitate to call Amy at 708-246-4908, ext. 4 or send her an e-mail at .

We look forward to another great year at the First Congregational Church Preschool!

Jeannette Lloyd