Address: 8828 Antioch Road (Highway 83), Salem WI, 53168.

Director: Esmeralda Retana and Amber Brent

Preschool Phone Number: 262-945-8147.

Administrator: Rob Thornton

Phone: 262-818-8808

Joyce’s Preschool at Salem School is a pre-kindergarten program for children age 3 to 5 years old. Its purpose is to assist parents in giving their children opportunities to increase their knowledge of the world around them. To do this we provide the children with a safe and warm learning environment where there will be daily activities planned on the children’s developmental levels.

The preschool class is from 8:30am to 11:00am, Monday-Friday. . Children may attend any set number of days during a week. In the 3 year old class parents usually choose a Monday/Wednesday class or a Tuesday/Thursday class, but you may choose any option that suits your needs.  In the 4 year old class most parents choose a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class, but as in the 3 year old class you may choose any option that suits your families needs. A minimum of 2 set days per week is required with a maximum of 5 days per week Monday through Friday.

Your child’s daily activities will include:

STORY TIME – Stories let the children’s imaginations work along with encouraging them to read. They learn about sequencing, how to distinguish between reality and fantasy, and about feelings and emotions. They also start to understand how the printed word is used. The stories will increase their vocabulary, ability to remember, listening skills, and help with language development. This time also allows time for discussion on the day’s unit and project.

FREE PLAYTIME (Education Centers) – Free playtime is one of the most important parts of any pre-kindergarten program. This is the time when the children learn about social behavior, and other important social skills, such as being polite, sharing, keeping your hands to yourself, using an inside voice, making friends, cooperation and concern for others. Communication skills are also a large part in free playtime as they are free to talk to their friends and teachers. They can be creative with art materials such as play-dough, paint, markers, crayons and colored pencils. They are using their small muscles in their hands, which need to be developed for all pre-writing skills and writing activities. The children may get involved in the dramatic play area. In this area they can role-play and imitate adults in many social settings such as the home with dress-up and kitchen, grocery store, pet hospital and post office. It allows them to learn how to solve many social problems. Children are also encouraged to use their imagination in other areas with toys such as blocks, cars, farm animals and zoo animals. On some days the teachers will bring out a sensory table, which may have water, sand, beans or rice in it.

DAILY PROJECT – Every day the children will create a project. The projects are used to teach listening skills, cognitive skills and small motor skills. Their listening skills are promoted through following directions and direct instruction. Their cognitive skills are built when creating their projects and their small motor skills are developed while cutting, coloring, gluing, painting, etc. When the project is completed, it gives them something concrete to take home and promotes discussion with their parents. They should be encouraged to talk about what they did at school that day which will help to increase their memory skills.

CLEAN UP TIME – Children learn to follow directions and they learn to cooperate as a group to work together. They learn to respect other people’s belongings and about sorting and neatness.

GROUP TIME – At group time they are assigned helper jobs. The jobs help the children learn to take turns, be patient, listen attentively and many other pre-kindergarten skills. The calendar helper checks the calendar using pre-math skills such as counting and number recognition. It also helps the children develop the concept of time along with learning the days of the week and months of the year. The weather helper introduces science to the children along with an open discussion on how the seasons change. Other jobs include attendance helper, pledge of allegiance helper and line leader. The children will also work on their number, shape and color recognition along with memorization skills during group time. Jobs will also be assigned to help with snack time such as cup passer, napkin passer and snack person.

SNACK TIME – Before they eat, the children will be led by the line leader to wash their hands, teaching them about cleanliness and health. While the children are washing their hands, the cup passer, napkin passer and snack person will help set up the snack tables. While they eat they have time to socialize and learn about new foods.

LARGE MOTOR ACTIVITY (SINGING and DANCING) – What does singing, dancing, running, and jumping do for children? First it helps their large muscles develop. Second it is good exercise.  Third it helps the children develop their cooperation and listening skills. Fourth it enables them to become more coordinated and flexible while releasing energy and tension. All of this and it is FUN too!