Play, worship vital to learning at new preschool
Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools added program for 4-year-olds this year
By Earl Horlyk, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008
Teacher Katie Coleman tries to convince student Joshua Reed to help pick up blocks at the new preschool at Sioux City's Mater Dei-Immaculate Conception School. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
SIOUX CITY -- "Doctor" Isabella Wooten is treating Kyia Ott for a severe squirrel bite by rubbing a blue tongue depressor against the patient's exposed arm.
No, it's not a rabid case of medical malpractice.
It's two 4-year-old girls decked out in fairy princess gowns, playing a game of make-believe as students at Mater Dei -- Immaculate Conception Kiddie Crusaders preschool.
"Encouraging children to use their imaginations and playing with their peers is an important part of our preschool," said Mater Dei - Immaculate Conception Principal Mary Fischer, "as is phys ed, art, music and worship."
The Kiddie Crusaders program, started at the beginning of the current school year, has been on the drawing board for some time, she said. Housed in a former Immaculate Conception first-grade classroom, the preschool received its start-up costs from funds raised during Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools' annual auction last spring. It also benefited from a grant from Siouxland Human Investment Partnership.
According to Fischer, the Heelan all-day preschool will help kids become acclimated to the routine of attending school every day.
"This will provide a seamless transition for young students who'll be attending our all-day kindergarten classes next year," she noted.
"We opened the program with 20 kids," said preschool teacher Katie Coleman as she gave a tour of her classroom. "Plus we have a waiting list with several more names."
According to Coleman, students have a full day of structured activities that encourages learning with a focus on faith.
Kids also have a chance to play with costumes, blocks and an experimental sensory table containing such items as "rice, beans and yukky things like shaving cream and dirt," she added.
At another table, teaching assistant Laurie Kucera helped kids play a numerical memory game with "Go Fish" cards.
"Brenna's an ace at this game," Kucera said as she marveled at the acumen of 4-year-old Brenna Nelson.
But Brenna was momentarily sidetracked by the sight of her classmate Michael Wilmes sticking out his tongue.
"Michael can touch his nose with his tongue," Brenna said in admiration. "Wish I could do that."
Learning such valuable new skills will keep Brenna ahead of the curve. That makes Brenna's mom, Erin Nelson, very happy.
"Brenna attended preschool last year," Nelson said, "but the preschool only offered half-day classes. I thought she was ready for a more structured full day of school that Kiddie Crusaders provides."
Nelson said the program's emphasis on learning will be an asset when her daughter attends full-time kindergarten next fall at Immaculate Conception.
"Many of her Kiddie Crusaders classmates will also be her kindergarten classmates," she added. "It will be fun for Brenna starting school already having made a few friends."
Making friends is also on Arath Arce's to-do list.
Arath, an excitable 4-year-old dressed in a policeman's outfit, said he enjoys attending preschool.
"I like fixing things," Arath said as he pounded a book shelf with a toy hammer, "and I like learning new things."
What has he learned so far?
"I learned how to be nice," Arath answered unequivocally as he continued to hammer away.
Coleman smiled as her young students played.
"These kids keep us hopping," the young woman said. "They really keep us on our toes."
Coleman, a newcomer to Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools, began her career as a preschool teacher for the Sioux City Head Start program.
"It's an honor for me to be a part of Kiddie Crusaders," she said. "Since this is the first year, I feel like a pioneer."
As her class got ready for lunch, Coleman said: "Preschool is such an important part of a student's life. Hopefully, we'll be able to set into motion a lifetime of learning."
No, it's not a rabid case of medical malpractice.
It's two 4-year-old girls decked out in fairy princess gowns, playing a game of make-believe as students at Mater Dei -- Immaculate Conception Kiddie Crusaders preschool.
"Encouraging children to use their imaginations and playing with their peers is an important part of our preschool," said Mater Dei - Immaculate Conception Principal Mary Fischer, "as is phys ed, art, music and worship."
The Kiddie Crusaders program, started at the beginning of the current school year, has been on the drawing board for some time, she said. Housed in a former Immaculate Conception first-grade classroom, the preschool received its start-up costs from funds raised during Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools' annual auction last spring. It also benefited from a grant from Siouxland Human Investment Partnership.
According to Fischer, the Heelan all-day preschool will help kids become acclimated to the routine of attending school every day.
"This will provide a seamless transition for young students who'll be attending our all-day kindergarten classes next year," she noted.
"We opened the program with 20 kids," said preschool teacher Katie Coleman as she gave a tour of her classroom. "Plus we have a waiting list with several more names."
According to Coleman, students have a full day of structured activities that encourages learning with a focus on faith.
Kids also have a chance to play with costumes, blocks and an experimental sensory table containing such items as "rice, beans and yukky things like shaving cream and dirt," she added.
At another table, teaching assistant Laurie Kucera helped kids play a numerical memory game with "Go Fish" cards.
"Brenna's an ace at this game," Kucera said as she marveled at the acumen of 4-year-old Brenna Nelson.
But Brenna was momentarily sidetracked by the sight of her classmate Michael Wilmes sticking out his tongue.
"Michael can touch his nose with his tongue," Brenna said in admiration. "Wish I could do that."
Learning such valuable new skills will keep Brenna ahead of the curve. That makes Brenna's mom, Erin Nelson, very happy.
"Brenna attended preschool last year," Nelson said, "but the preschool only offered half-day classes. I thought she was ready for a more structured full day of school that Kiddie Crusaders provides."
Nelson said the program's emphasis on learning will be an asset when her daughter attends full-time kindergarten next fall at Immaculate Conception.
"Many of her Kiddie Crusaders classmates will also be her kindergarten classmates," she added. "It will be fun for Brenna starting school already having made a few friends."
Making friends is also on Arath Arce's to-do list.
Arath, an excitable 4-year-old dressed in a policeman's outfit, said he enjoys attending preschool.
"I like fixing things," Arath said as he pounded a book shelf with a toy hammer, "and I like learning new things."
What has he learned so far?
"I learned how to be nice," Arath answered unequivocally as he continued to hammer away.
Coleman smiled as her young students played.
"These kids keep us hopping," the young woman said. "They really keep us on our toes."
Coleman, a newcomer to Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools, began her career as a preschool teacher for the Sioux City Head Start program.
"It's an honor for me to be a part of Kiddie Crusaders," she said. "Since this is the first year, I feel like a pioneer."
As her class got ready for lunch, Coleman said: "Preschool is such an important part of a student's life. Hopefully, we'll be able to set into motion a lifetime of learning."
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