Fall 2019: Heartbeat and Annual Report 2019 Fall Heartbeat and Annual Report | Page 4

Off to a Great Start
More than 30 children made Sacred Heart history when they
started their education on September 4 at our new preschool!
The Sacred Heart community was delighted to welcome
these pre-kindergarten and junior kindergarten students and
their families to the preschool campus located at Saint Andrew
Greek Orthodox Church. The newly renovated classrooms,
gymnasium, green space and adjoining playground are now
filled with excited young learners and enthusiastic teachers.
In each class, there is one lead and one assistant teacher guiding
the children in exploration and discovery. Additional pre-
school personnel who will serve the school during the half-day,
full-day or extended-day program include three teachers, a
full-time nurse and EMT, and security guards.
“We are fortunate to offer families an engaging preschool
program with a remarkable and robust team,” says Holly
DePalma, Preschool Director (pictured on page 3). Our teachers
and staff are committed to fulfilling Sacred Heart’s educational
mission by sharing their unique gifts with the children.”
Our preschool educators are
positive and passionate
about teaching young children
and are excited to be part
of the new preschool and the
Sacred Heart community.
Mrs. DePalma was very involved in the hiring process and
interviewed all lead and assistant teaching candidates. “We
wanted to ensure that we hired the best teachers possible who
have experience in early childhood education,” says Mrs.
DePalma. “Our preschool educators are positive and passionate
about teaching young children and are excited to be part
of the new preschool and the Sacred Heart community. They
have the children’s best interests at heart.”
Mrs. DePalma collaborated with Dr. Elizabeth Coleman,
Primary School Division Head, to facilitate curriculum decisions
and incorporate elements of various early childhood approaches
into the overall philosophy. This blended approach allows
teachers to meet the needs of each child and provides flexibility
in designing developmentally appropriate activities.
“The core of our preschool philosophy is that children learn by
doing,” Mrs. DePalma explains. “The preschool environment
is intentionally designed to empower children to investigate,
analyze, construct and create through active engagement in
play. Children will develop skills through foundational experi-
ences in early literacy, math, science, social studies, Spanish,
art, music, physical education and yoga.”
Another key component of Sacred Heart’s early childhood
program is supporting the social-emotional needs of each
child. “Social-emotional development is essential to a child’s
growth and his or her future success in senior kindergarten
and beyond,” says Mrs. DePalma. “Our teachers will help
children identify and understand their feelings, build friend-
ships with their peers, and develop empathy.”
It is also important for our teachers to develop a caring,
respectful relationship with our Sacred Heart families. “Sacred
Heart Preschool should feel like a home away from home—
for the children, parents, grandparents, and child care providers,”
says Mrs. DePalma. “Walking into the preschool should be a
joyful experience for everyone!”
Preschool Curricular Philosophy Statement
Our learning experiences and environment are intentionally designed to align with the Goals and Criteria of Sacred
Heart Schools and the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards. We will:
Learn More About Sacred Heart!
ATTEND AN ADMISSIONS COFFEE
SK-8 campus, 6250 N. Sheridan Rd.
9:15-11:15 am
Oct. 11, Oct. 23, Nov. 6, Nov. 15, Dec. 6
PK/JK: JOIN US FOR A PRESCHOOL TOUR
Preschool campus, 5649 N. Sheridan Rd.
9:15-10:15 am
Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 14, Dec. 5
• Promote student engagement through
developmentally appropriate teaching practices
• Foster independence, self-regulation, and
responsible decision-making
• Cultivate curiosity and encourage exploration
and discovery in order to become creative thinkers
and problem solvers
• Value purposeful play and exploratory learning
through which students learn social skills as the
foundation for healthy relationships
• Provide student-centered, interdisciplinary
experiences in which students use their senses to
experience, discover, and share learning about
the world
• Offer collaborative, interactive experiences where
students have the opportunity to work and share
their learning with others
• Engage in mindfulness and self-reflection to
deepen a sense of empathy and love for all of
God’s creation
5-6 pm
Oct. 24, Nov. 13
FALL 2019
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