General Information

The Growing Place Preschool is committed to providing an innovative and developmentally appropriate curriculum to help prepare each child for his/her next school experience. We use the Illinois Early Education Learning Standards and the NAEYC guidelines to establish our goals and targets for the students. The preschool is licensed by Department of Children and Family Services of Illinois (DCFS). It is in compliance with the health and safety standards established by DCFS and the Kane County Health Department. The Preschool follows the same holiday schedule and inclement weather closings of Geneva School District 304 (with exception of late starts).

Programs

3 Year Olds:
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:00-11:30 or 9:00-1:00

4 Year Olds:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 9:00-11:30 or 9:00-1:00

Additional Monday:
Children of both classes may enroll for an additional day of learning.

Program Objectives

• Promote social skills such as cooperation, self regulation, kindness, and empathy.

• Enhance self-esteem through individual accomplishment.

• Learn how to value another person’s rights by teaching respect for others.

• Encourage cognitive development and reasoning skills.

• Encourage pre-literacy and early math skills.

• Strengthen small motor skills using scissors, soft modeling clay, art, puzzles, blocks.

• Develop an appropriate pattern of dependence and independence.

• Foster a sense of continuity between school and outside world.

• Create a place of community, teamwork, and friendship.

• Explore creativity and self-expression.

Admission

Children entering the three-year old class must be three by September 1st of the current school year. Children entering the four-year old class must be four by September 1st. Children need to be toilet trained.

Registration

Registration for the upcoming school year is open to church families and returning students and their siblings in January. Open registration for the public begins the first Monday in February. A $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee is due with the application and will be returned if your child is not enrolled.

See below for registration and additional information

Resources

The following are various Growing Place resources available for download.

The Growing Place Preschool Brochure 24-25 - Download

Growing Place Handbook - Download

2024-25 Registration Form 3 year olds - Download

2024-25 Registration Form 3 year olds (Spanish) - Download

2024-25 Registration Form 4 year olds - Download

2024-25 Registration Form 4 year olds (Spanish) - Download

2024-25 After School Lunch Bunch Forms - Download

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

The Growing Place Preschool admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

The Growing Place Staff

About

What did you do at school today?

A rich environment is provided each day. Experiences, both indoors and out, offer the children opportunities to explore the world around them, as well as to look inward and discover who they are and how they relate to their surroundings.

Each day, the children are invited to visit teacher-directed classroom centers and to enjoy open-ended free play. Through planned and spontaneous activities, children are encouraged to wonder, observe, touch, create, predict, problem-solve, pretend, and play. Of course, the hidden benefit of the fun in the classroom is LEARNING.

Daily Schedule

Greet and Gather
Hugs at the door, followed by daily check-in tasks begin each day.

Morning Circle Time/Team Meeting
During our morning “team meeting,” we greet one another, share news and plan our day, look at the calendar, read a story, and sing a song or two.

Indoor/Outdoor Large Motor Play
Movement is good for the body, brain and soul. Weather permitting, we get outdoors each day. When temperature and weather are too severe, we spend time playing in the gym.

Snack Time
The Preschool provides a nutritious snack each day, and a prayer of thanks is said for our gifts.

Open-Ended Free Play
Inviting Classroom Centers are designed, including Science, Art, Sensory, Dramatic Play, Block/Transportation, Fine Motor, Games, Handwriting, and Reading are prepared to encourage exploration and fun.

Teacher Directed Small Group
We explore a little further with smaller groups, encouraging the mastering of age appropriate developmental skills and encouraging curiosity and hands on learning.

Circle Time
During our second Circle Time, we enjoy stories, discussions, music, and movement.

Dismissal of Morning Students
We say goodbye to those students who do not stay for Extended Day Preschool.

Extended Day with optional Lunch Bunch

The Growing Place also offers the opportunity to enroll the students in After School Lunch Bunch, from 11:30-1:00. This special activity program is separate from the preschool day, although staffed by the preschool teaching staff and operated by the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church. Students bring a lunch, which must meet the classroom dietary restrictions. The children enjoy continued time together, exploration, and fun. You may select the days that your child is enrolled in school for an additional fee.

• Indoor/Outdoor Large Motor Play

• Lunches brought from home

• Free Play

• End of Day Story