Preschool


Every child is curious, and our goal is to provide a learning environment that nurtures your child’s natural curiosity and wonder.

Beginning with our three- and four-year-olds, students are given opportunities to socialize and play, developing skills to build friendships and grow as valued members in a safe and inclusive community.

The FXW Preschool philosophy is to facilitate learning in developmentally appropriate ways. With teacher guidance, our youngest students delve into a wide range of experiential topics that they then investigate through long-term projects and themes, such as visiting the doctor’s office, going to the grocery store, friendship building and practicing mindfulness. FXW teachers know that the best learning happens when a lesson sparks children’s interest and strengthens their curiosity and self-motivation. Together, we work to provide an environment that fosters a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

FXW’s Preschool Program uses NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) guidelines and Illinois Early Learning Standards.

We believe in:

  • Play as the foundation for all learning
  • The importance of social and emotional development with an emphasis on relationships, self-regulation, and initiative
  • Nurturing growth mindset and sense of belonging in the community of the classroom
  • Modeling and fostering the development of empathy and compassion to enhance relationships
  • Teaching critical thinking skills through discussing, questioning and exploring
  • Providing choices to foster motivation to learn and to experience the joy of learning
  • Building body awareness by strengthening gross motor and fine motor muscles
  • Supporting the religious and spiritual faith of all children through prayer and music
  • Encouraging self-help skills to build independence and pride
  • Child readiness for learning with sensitivity to individual differences and needs
  • Partnering with parents to establish goals in order to support and nurture children’s development

FXW teachers know that the best learning happens when a lesson sparks children’s interest and strengthens their curiosity and self-motivation. Together, we work to provide an environment that fosters a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Continuity of Care Model

Each of our preschool classrooms is led by two co-teachers who follow the Continuity of Care (COC) learning model, which means that children remain in the program with the same teachers and classmates over their two years in preschool.

Our preschool classrooms are comprised of three, four and five-year-olds since mixed-age groupings offer something valuable to everyone involved.

In Preschool, the experience of faith is rooted in the student’s imagination and filled with stories of awe and wonder of God.

Our preschool classrooms are comprised of three, four and five-year-olds since mixed-age groupings offer something valuable to everyone involved.

What does Continuity of Care provide for my child?

  • Your child will develop a secure attachment with his/her teachers.
  • This healthy relationship allows your child to play, explore and interact with teachers in a comfortable, stable and predictable setting.
  • Teachers will better understand your child’s needs and background over the course of two years.
  • Your child will be able to establish friendships that deepen over time.
  • Research shows a rise in language development and vocabulary with a decrease in disruptive behaviors for children learning within this model.
  • Time together with peers provides your child opportunities to develop social skills. Children need many experiences in a comfortable atmosphere to relate, communicate, make decisions, and accept responsibility.

How does Continuity of Care benefit me as a parent in the FXW community?

  • You and the teachers develop a healthy parent-teacher partnership.
  • These partnerships allow children to observe the important adults in their lives working together to support their development.
  • You can develop friendships and a strong sense of community with other parents in your classroom as you attend student and school events.

In Preschool, the experience of faith is rooted in the student’s imagination and filled with stories of awe and wonder of God.

Communicating Student Progress

Monitoring and communicating student progress involves multiple perspectives and sources of data: checklists, teacher observations, written and oral assessments, self-assessments, and portfolios. Information is communicated in conjunction with parent/teacher conferences. The goal of communicating student progress in a timely and clear manner is to promote a sense of shared responsibility for supporting student growth and development.