Academics
Early Childhood
Shining Saints
3-Year-Old Preschool
Shining Saints
Our Shining Saints program provides both a foundation and an introduction to formal, lifelong learning. Teachers guide children toward the joy of discovery and independence while helping them master classroom routines. In a loving, encouraging Catholic atmosphere, each three-year-old works through play at an individual developmental pace. As their confidence grows alongside their autonomy, Shining Saints students explore and manipulate materials across a wide range of individual and group experiences. Teachers encourage each child to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and physically, in line with the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards that Archdiocese of Chicago early childhood programs follow.
Read the Archdiocese Early Childhood Standards.
Growing independence, one joyful discovery at a time.
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Parent School Partnership
Teachers stay connected with families through monthly newsletters, MySOSM updates, and special opportunities to visit the classroom throughout the year. Parents receive updates on their child's progress at the end of each trimester, as well as two scheduled parent-teacher conferences.
A Day in the Life
Days and times may vary.
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Morning
- 8:30 a.m. Arrival: Enter through the Early Childhood playground.
- Morning Outdoor Time
- Morning Meeting: Prayers, attendance, math and counting, calendar, weather, songs.
- Snack (parent provided)
- Free Choice: May include a special in music, art, physical education, Spanish, or the library.
- Tidy and Gather: Clean up, wash hands, pray.
- Closing Circle
- 11:30 a.m. Dismissal: Half-day only. Curbside pick-up at the Early Childhood doors.
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Afternoon (full-day students)
- Lunch: Prayers and lunch in the classroom; hot lunch available.
- Rest Time
- Afternoon Outdoor Time
- Free Choice: May include a special in music, art, physical education, Spanish, or the library.
- Clean Up
- Group Time with Story
- 3:10 p.m. Dismissal: Full-day only. Curbside pick-up at the Early Childhood doors.
Lindsay B., Shining Saints Parent
“[The] teachers create a warm and nurturing environment full of creative ways to learn and explore. We like that the kids spend time outdoors and are encouraged to play and socialize.”
See Shining Saints in Action
Why does art matter in preschool? See Shining Saints students create a Jackson Pollock-inspired mural.
How Shining Saints Learn
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Religion
Through Bible stories, daily prayers, music, and age-appropriate text with the Allelu! curriculum, students learn they are children of God. -
Social Skills
Play, games, multisensory activities, and verbal scaffolding help children develop their interpersonal skills and build confidence. -
Language Arts
Teacher-led large- and small-group activities, songs, stories, and dramatizations build receptive and expressive language skills, as well as early literacy skills. Teachers use the Sunform Alphabet and Phonics System to introduce letters and corresponding sounds. -
Mathematics
Play, exploration, multisensory projects, and manipulatives introduce numerals, sorting, patterning, measuring, comparing, and counting. -
Science
Counting, sorting, classifying, measuring, and predicting anchor theme-based seasonal units that encourage scientific exploration and integration of knowledge. -
Social Studies
Students build an understanding of community through family structure and relationships, community helpers, and holidays.
Specials
Our specials teachers lead classes in art, music, physical education, Spanish, and library. Schedules vary by class and program.
Session Information
The academic year begins in late August and ends in early June. The first week opens softly, and the year closes with an end-of-year social. Children must be 3 years old by September 1st. For exact dates, see the current School Calendar.
Extended Day is available before school for morning students, and before and after school for full-day students.
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3 Mornings
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. -
5 Mornings
Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. -
Lunch Bunch
Optional for half-day students; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. -
5 Full Days
Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
What Comes Next
Junior Kindergarten (4-year-old Preschool)
Routines and readiness that build toward kindergarten.
A Roman Catholic School Since 1917
To Learn, To Serve, To Lead
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