Community offers a variety of enriching nursery school programs for different age groups, levels of development and kindergarten readiness. Large motor activity is encouraged in our full-sized gym and on our well-equipped, multilevel playground.  The children participate in professional taught music in the classroom or gym and art classes in our art studio.

The staff at Community are experienced and highly qualified, degreed professionals in early childhood education and related fields. Their average tenure is 15 years, which significantly contributes to the continuity and stability of the programs.

School District 112 provides speech and language screenings, as well as support services for children in need. Vision and hearing screenings are conducted by the Lake County Health Department.

Nursery school registration begins in December for the upcoming school year and is ongoing until classes are fully enrolled. The nursery school calendar follows the School District 112 holiday schedule.

Both the two-day and three-day, three-year-old nursery school classes focus on children successfully separating from their parent or caregiver, and investing themselves in classroom activities and social relationships with staff and peers. Parents are encouraged to stay until children are comfortable saying good-bye.

The play-based curriculum emerges from the children's interests, and follows the Reggio Emilia project approach, an early childhood program designed in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Children are guided through open-ended discovery, and encouraged to express themselves through words, drawing, building, music, painting, dramatic play, etc. Problems are posed, and children form hypotheses, which they test and retest. There is a strong emphasis on problem solving through collaboration with peers and staff in large and small groups.

Details of Three-Year-Old Programs:

Two-Day Program

• Must turn three between May 1st and December 31st
• Tuesday and Thursday
• 9:00 to 11:15 a.m.
• Do not need to be completely toilet trained
• Twelve children maximum/two teachers

Three-Day Program

• Must turn three before September 1st
• Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• 9:00 to 11:15 a.m.
• Do not need to be completely toiled trained
• Twenty children/three teachers

The four-year-old programs build upon the foundation of the three-year-old programs, and focus on kindergarten readiness in developmentally appropriate environments. The play-based programs provide a variety of enriching experiences in art, science, math, language arts, music, building, etc. The afternoon program also follows the Reggio Emilia project approach.

Details of Four-Year-Old Programs:

Morning Session

• Must turn four before September 1st
• Four or five days per week (four days selected by parent)
• 9:00 to 11:15 a.m.
• Twenty students/two teachers
• Theme-based with emphasis on kindergarten readiness
• "Lunch Bunch" available to 12:30 for an additional fee on Monday and Wednesday (lunch cooked on site)

Afternoon Session

• Must turn four before September 1st
• Four or five days per week (four-day option is Monday through Thursday)
• 12:45 to 3:00 p.m.
•  Twenty students/two teachers
• Reggio Inspired Project approach to kindergarten readiness
• "Lunch Bunch" available beginning at 11:30 for an additional fee on Tuesday and Thursday (lunch cooked on site)