Pre-K. will prepare your child for the
rigors of kindergarten. Specifically, it meets the social,
the emotional, the intellectual, and the physical needs of
your child as recommended by NAEYC, the National Association
for the Education of Young Children. Throughout our day,
your child will be given many opportunities to socialize. We
play as well as work together in small groups. In sharing
time together, your child will learn such skills as how to
help one another, how to cooperate, and how to negotiate.
These skills are so important for everyday life.
Emotionally, your child will learn self
control while being supported by a full time teacher and an
aide. The adults have many chances to interact with your
child on a one-to-one basis, and they love doing so.
Academically, we will provide your child
with a foundation in reading, math, science, and religion.
By the end of Pre-K, your child will have gained an
appreciation of literature and poetry. They will also be
able to recognize the alphabet- both upper and lower case.
They will also have gained such pre-reading skills as print
awareness. In math, your child will be exposed to graphing,
measuring, and sorting. Your child will also be able to
recognize numbers one through ten as well as know the value
of those numbers. However, since learning in Pre-K is
individualized, the academic goals are personalized to fit
your child. Whether your child is gifted of not, the
appropriate goals will be set for them. In science, we
discuss the five senses and living and nonliving. We also
complete themes on plants and the lifecycle of a butterfly-
all to our amazement.
In religion, your child will be
introduced to Jesus Our Lord, and learn the Our Father.
Physically, your child will have recess on a daily basis and gym once a week. This activity will help your child develop their gross motor skills, but most importantly, it encourages having fun! In Pre-K. your child will learn that education is fun!
With a Masters degree in early childhood development from National Louis University and almost ten years of teaching experience, Susan Como considers teaching at St. Odilo School a privilege because of the young lives she is able to touch. “I love being with four and five year-olds because they make such significant strides at this age. It is utterly amazing watching these small children attain their learning goals with such happiness.” Much of that happiness stems from hands-on learning through play. Academic goals are achieved through poetry, songs, dance, games, art and books. Preschoolers even get a glimpse of science as they watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalis. Mrs. Como knows she’s succeeding with her students because parents often tell her that kids want to come to school on Saturday and Sunday.