Welcome!
St. Mark’s Preschool is a program of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn, in DuPage County, Illinois, and is licensed by the Illinois State Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
WE STILL HAVE A FEW OPENINGS IN OUR PM CLASSES INCLUDING PM KINDERGARTEN ENRIGHTMENT FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR!
Call 630.858.1020 Ext. 234 or email the preschool with any enrollment questions or to book a tour.
Please mail your completed application and fee to St. Mark’s Preschool, 393 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 or drop your completed application and fee in person at the Preschool office, door #6.
Our Philosophy
St. Mark’s Preschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to Early Childhood Education. Reggio Emilia is a town in Italy whose early childhood education is riven by a cooperative, child-driven curriculum. Founded by the teacher, Loris Malaguzzi, in the 1960’s, the Reggio Emilia education philosophy is pioneering approach to early childhood education emphasizing the interests of children and valuing the child as thoughtful, resourceful and resilient; full of wonder and capable of deep understanding. The Reggio approach respects children’s thoughts and ideas and allows them, through self-directed activities, to use their natural curiosity on the path to discovery.
Teachers regard the classroom as the “third teacher” and put much care into the design and atmosphere of the classroom environment. Lighting is soft and indirect, colors are muted and supplies and storage are made out of natural materials leading a homely feel to the classroom. Teachers carefully organize the space for small and large group activities. Quality material are used and children learn appropriate use and care of those materials.
The St. Mark’s Preschool philosophy is influenced by the Reggio Emilia project approach to learning. The emergent curriculum builds upon the interests, passions and play of children while also encompassing developmentally appropriate concepts and skills for all learning domains. Learning is facilitated through exploration and project work. Children are celebrated as individuals capable of deep, creative thinking. Their learning is a personal journey supported through a partnership between the child, his/her parents and teachers.
Our school is a place where children can develop a love for learning and an appreciation for the world around them. In the Episcopal tradition, we welcome and embrace children of all faiths and socio-economic backgrounds. St. Mark’s Preschool is a supportive community that integrates the arts, academics and health with social and emotional learning.
St. Mark’s Preschool is open to children ages 3 to 5. Children must be 3 years of age by September 1 and bathroom-independent. The school year runs from the Tuesday after Labor Day to the Thursday before Memorial Day and closely follows the School District 41 calendar throughout the school year.
Preschool Programs
Three-Day Preschool classes
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
8:45AM - 11:15AM & 12:45PM - 3:15PM
Three-day classes are comprised of twelve children and two teachers.
Four-Day Preschool classes
Monday through Thursday
8:45AM - 11:15AM or 12:45PM - 3:15PM
Four-day classes are comprised of fifteen children with two teachers.
Mixed Age
All our preschool classes are mixed age. Most human activities involve a cycle in which a beginner learns necessary skills, perfects them through use, and hones them through mentorship. The mixed age classroom offers the opportunity for children to move through all levels of this cycle, has great potential to support children’s social and emotional learning, and allows educators to really see children as individuals and meet their differing needs.
Handwriting Without Tears
Employed weekly in our classrooms, HWT is a multisensory, developmental approach to teaching children prewriting and writing skills. The HWT program provides consistent language for describing letter formation, presents letters in a developmentally appropriate order, promotes fine motor skills in letter construction, and employs a multi-sensory approach which appeals to a variety of learning styles.
Age Groups
Our Kindergarten Enrichment program offers 2-day and 3-day options – Tuesday/Thursday and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – morning session 8:45 – 11:15 am and afternoon session 12:45PM – 3:15PM.
Kindergarten Enrichment is designed to complement the half-day Kindergarten curriculum in District 41 and offers an opportunity for children to wonder and discover across all areas of development through our Reggio-inspired explorations and studies. Our small class size of eight children offers an opportunity for meaningful connections with their peers and teacher. Activities in KE include explorations in science, art, literacy, engineering, and cooking.
To secure placement in a KE class, submit an application in January/February with your best idea of whether your child will attend AM or PM Kindergarten keeping in mind changes can be made when Kindergarten assignments are announced by local school districts.
EDP is available to all children enrolled in a preschool class at SMP. EDP meets from 11:15AM – 12:40PM Tuesday -Thursday in three three-month sessions throughout the school year. Sign-ups are by the day and session – you may sign your child up for any number of days for one, two or all three sessions! Children bring a snack and eat together, and the EDP teachers engage children in activities that encourage socialization and imaginative play.
Students are escorted to and from EDP by their preschool teachers.
St. Mark’s Preschool offers Summer Camp for new and currently enrolled preschool families. This program runs Monday – Thursday mornings, 9am-noon, from the end of the preschool year through the month of June. Teachers plan weekly themes like space camp, superhero training camp and young chef’s camp. Themes are announced when summer camp registration begins in March.
Specials
Chapel | Music | Yoga
Chapel
Weekly, our preschoolers meet with clergy of St. Mark’s to sing songs, pray, listen and respond to stories from the Judeo-Christian tradition and share questions and observations about the world around us. During the beginning of a school year, chapel time typically takes place in the classroom, lasting about ten to fifteen minutes. As the year progresses, chapel time is held in the actual church chapel or in other rooms and spaces at St. Mark’s. We respect and affirm the traditions of other faiths, those with no faith tradition, and make no effort to proselytize.
Music
St. Mark’s students enjoy music every week with our music teacher. The children explore concepts including notes, steady beat, high/low, and fast/slow through activities like chant, singing, body percussion, instruments, and movement. Engaging in music activities promotes engagement across all areas of development including gross-motor, language, and social -emotional.
Yoga
The students at St. Mark’s practice yoga, with our Yogi, in a fun, calming environment every week. The children are introduced to body awareness and using their bodies in a healthy way. They learn how to manage emotions with breathing, awareness, meditation, and healthy movement. Yoga builds concentration and increases confidence and positive self-image while developing a stronger body.
Staff
Miss Kristine
Teacher / Administration
Miss Leslie
Teacher
Miss Jen
Teacher
Miss Stephanie
Teacher
Miss Amy
Teacher / Music Specialist
Miss Carey
Teacher
Miss Lindsay
Teacher / Yoga Teacher
Miss Syd
Teacher
Job Opportunities
POSITION: Substitute Teachers
This substitute position runs throughout the school year as supporting staff to our teaching team in our Reggio Emilia inspired, mixed-age classrooms.
- Early Childhood coursework
- Understanding of Early Childhood development
- Follow lead of co-Teacher to support child-led activities and consistent learning experience for students
- Help co-teacher with snack set-up and distribution
- Supervise students in and out of the classroom, including in the halls, on the playground and in the bathroom
- Serve as Teacher in classroom activities
- Meet the daily needs of all children (i.e., food prep for snack, toileting)
- Assist Teacher in implementing daily curriculum
- Always know the whereabouts of children in attendance
- Ability to lift fifty pounds