PRESCHOOL
The St. Theresa School Preschool program is designed to expand and stimulate children's minds and provide them with an unparalleled first academic experience. Our students will learn in an environment enriched by faith that allows them to explore, discover, imagine and play! Children emerge as happy, productive, and successful learners who progress to Kindergarten with the tools and confidence to succeed at every stage of their education.
Preschool Program:
St. Theresa offers a variety of multi-aged preschool programs ranging from 2, 3 or 5 days per week:
- 3 / 4 years (Blue Birds)
- 4 / 5 years (Red Birds)
- Mornings: 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM
- All-Day: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Extended Day Care is available before school 6:30 A.M. and after school until 6:00 PM
- Convenient drop off and pick up
Stay and Play:
- Stay and Play runs from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- The schedule coincides with our morning kindergarten program ending at 12:00 noon
Preschool Overview:
- Thematic-based learning, focusing on pre-reading, pre-writing, and Jesus as our friend - developing a sense of purpose, helping students understand that actions are important
- Enhanced curriculum including; Learning without Tears - a developmentally based program that will assist your child in learning letter formation and how to correctly hold a pencil
- Enrichment classes including music & movement, storytime in the library, process art, and gross motor (see below for additional content)
- Reading Buddies - opportunity to interact with students in intermediate grades
- Outdoor recess in private playground, emphasizing gross motor skill development and socialization
- Lunch and afternoon nap time (all-day program)
- Parent participation opportunities (room parents, mystery reader, classroom celebrations)
- Maximum class size of 20 - with a teacher and aide in each classroom (10:1 student teacher ratio)
- Before & after school care beginning at 6:30 AM until 6:00 PM St. Theresa Extended-day Program
Enrichment Classes:
Our dedicated preschool enrichment teachers meet with students weekly
- Gross motor time encourages balance, coordination, strength, vestibular input, and age appropriate motor skills & milestones.
- Creativity is an important part of childhood development. Students explore the basic principles of art such as color, line, shapes, and texture through open-ended activities, cooperative class murals, and guided projects.
- Music time is engaging and fun! Children love the handheld instruments like shakers, bells & tambourines. The class includes singing, clapping, stomping, rhythmic patterns, and a lot of dancing. This class is a wonderful opportunity for your child to develop the love for making music and moving to the rhythm.
- Library for storytime
Meet Our Caring Team!
Developmental Screenings & Therapy Services
As part of our program, St. Theresa Preschool offers a range of developmental screenings throughout the year, including vision, hearing, and speech assessments.
In addition, we partner with private-pay therapy providers to support families seeking extra services. Parents can arrange these additional therapy sessions during the school day for their preschooler's convenience.
Our Classrooms:
All of our classrooms have washrooms that are easily accessible for our youngest students, providing comfort and convenience throughout the day. We kindly ask that children be fully self-sufficient in the washroom, as we do not permit pull-ups in our program.
Our spacious classrooms allow children to move around freely. Each classroom has plenty of windows to allow natural sunlight and fresh air.
In addition to helping your child grow into a confident learner, we also practice getting along and respecting others as we learn to live our lives as a reflection of God. Young people involved in Faith communities are more likely to feel supported, valued and empowered.
Schedule Options:
- Mon/Wed (2 days) Morning
- Tues/Thurs (2 days) All-day
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday (3 days) Morning OR All-day
- Monday through Friday (5 days) Morning OR All-Day
Requirements:
Your child must be. . .
- 3 years old on, or before, September 1st.
- Toilet trained with no pull-ups
- Immunized per Illinois law
The St. Theresa preschool program goes through a rigorous evaluation process and is recognized by the Office of Catholic Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education. Our programs follow Illinois State Board of Education Early Learning Standards. The learning environment meets nationally recognized criteria for high quality such as those set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
St. Theresa's preschool program is less expensive than daycare. It is staffed by caring teachers dedicated to providing your child with the tools s/he needs to grow emotionally, socially, academically, physically, and spiritually.
Come see how St. Theresa School can make a difference in your child's life!
RESERVE A SEAT IN ONE OF OUR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS
