Sunbeams and Rainbows

Program Description

The Sunbeams & Rainbows Recreational Preschool Program is an early childhood program that seeks to further the development of the young child and provide opportunities for the successful functioning of a group of young children. Our goal is to supplement and extend early home experience in an environment planned to further each child’s development through living and learning with his/her peers.

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Objectives

Activities are planned to meet the needs of the growing child from 3-5 years of age. Learning activities are of two general kinds – those activities that are planned during a specific time every day and routine in nature, and activities in which the child is given a freedom of choice and expression.

The following are some of the everyday activities, which provide learning experience.

• Creative art experiences
• Singing and rhythm activities
• Stories, finger-plays and role-playing
• Free play creative expression
• Body movement and coordination education
• Activities relating to everyday letter and number recognition
• Science discovery

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Locations, Ages, Days, Times, and Class Limits

2010-2011 Program

        Butterfield Park - 385 E Van Buren (630) 993-8938

        Crestview Park - 245 E Crestview (630) 993-8908

        Eldridge Park - 363 Commonwealth (630) 993-6635

        Wagner Community Center - 615 N. West Ave. (630) 993-8901

        Wilder Park - 175 Prospect Ave. (630) 993-8906

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Age Requirements

All children must be completely toilet trained to participate in the Sunbeams & Rainbows program regardless of age. Proof of age eligibility - either by birth, baptismal, or hospital certificate - must be provided at the parent orientation meeting held in the summer.

For the 2010-2011 school year, children must be 3 years old on or before September 1, 2010 to participate in the Sunbeams & Rainbows 3 Year Old program. Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2010 to participate in the Sunbeams & Rainbows 4 Year Old program.

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Registration

*Applications for the 2010-2011 school year were processed on Monday, February 1, 2010. If you are interested in enrolling your child for the 2010-2011 school year, please contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901 for availability.

Returning Students

Children currently enrolled in the Sunbeams & Rainbows 3 year old program, who want to stay at the same location and time, are given the opportunity to pre-register for the Sunbeams & Rainbows 4 year old program. Pre-registration forms will be sent to current students in the Sunbeams & Rainbows 3 year old program. Students who do not return the pre-registration form by the required deadline cannot be guaranteed a spot in the Sunbeams & Rainbows 4 year old program.

New Students

Children who are new to the Sunbeams & Rainbows program or children who are in the 3 year old program who want to change location and/or time, must submit a Sunbeams & Rainbows Registration Form. You can pick up a Sunbeams & Rainbows Registration Form either at the Wagner Community Center or you can download a Sunbeams & Rainbows Registration form. Applicants will need to fill out and submit the form to the Wagner Community Center with first, second and third choices, and include a $25 non-refundable deposit along with first term payment.

2010-2011 School Year

Resident Registration

Applications for the 2010-2011 School Year will be processed by random selection on Monday, February 1, 2010.

Non-Resident Registration

Non-resident applications for the 2010-2011 School Year will be processed on Monday, February 8, 2010.

All registrations received after Monday, February 8, 2010 will be processed in the order in which they are received after the random selection has been completed.

Waitlists

Children will be placed into their first, second, or third choice depending on availability. Staff will contact you if all choices are not available. The child will be placed on their first choice waitlist if all choices are full. You will be notified if an opening occurs. Once your child has been registered for a class, you may not be placed on a waitlist for another preschool location.

Confirmations

After the registration process, a confirmation printout will be mailed with information regarding the child’s class placement. If placed on a waitlist, a waitlist confirmation will be sent with information regarding the child’s waitlist placement.

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Fees & Payments

During the mid-term of each eight-week term, each child will bring home a “Notification of Payment” statement informing when payment of the next term is due. All payments are due by 5 p.m. of the required due date. If payment is not made by the deadline date, a late fee of $25 will be applied to your account. Failure of payment may lead to withdrawal from the program.

2010-2011 Program

* A $ 30 non-refundable registration fee is included with Term I.

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Terms

2010-2011 Program

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Sunbeams and Rainbows Staff

Every preschool instructor is professionally qualified and dedicated to the training and development of each youngster enrolled in our preschool programs. There are two co-instructors with an average of 18 years of experience staffing each class. The Park District actively offers their instructors continuing education opportunities, intensive staff training, and CPR certification.

2009-2010 Sunbeams and Rainbows Teaching Staff

Butterfield Park

Three-Year-Old Program:

Kathryn Bryk	Jeanette Kling

Four-Year-Old Program:

Patricia Sherlock	Shila Mathiasen

Crestview Park

Three-Year-Old Program:

Michelle Doherty	Christine Mauch

Four-Year-Old Program:

Christine Strandt	Christine Mauch

Eldridge Park

Four-Year-Old Program:

Elizabeth Lahey	Mary Lynn Pollastrini

Wagner Community Center

Three-Year-Old Program:

Christine Picchietti	Marilyn Farrell

Four-Year-Old Program:

Christine Picchietti	Jill Perez

Wilder Park

Three and Four-Year-Old Program:

Janice Arcus	Michele Zielinski

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Parent Orientation Meeting

Prior to the start of preschool classes, a scheduled Parent Orientation Meeting will be held in September. This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and submit your child’s completed paperwork. Staff will share important information with parents and review the Sunbeams & Rainbows handbook. This meeting is for parents only, please no students.

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