Applications for 2020-2021

The 2020-2021 school year application period is Jan 2, 2020-January 31, 2020. Applications will be posted on our website. Families wishing to tour the facility should schedule their visit prior to January 31, 2020. Please visit our website for detailed information! Call the Preschool Office with any questions: 313-432-3809

Open House

The GPPSS District Open House will take place on Sunday October 20, 2019 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. All schools will be open including The Barnes Early Childhood Center! No appointment is necessary if you would like to come tour our building and learn more about our programs!

See you there!

2019-2020

The 2019-2020 school year is underway and we are settling into our new routines. We are looking forward to another fun year of learning, playing and exploring our world. 

Here are few important upcoming dates:

October 10- Programs closed for Staff Professional Development

November 5- Programs closed for Election Day/Staff report for Professional Development

November 27-29-Programs closed for Thanksgiving Break

Please call the Preschool Office if you have any questions 313-432-3809.

Enjoy the year!

Summer

Our summer session is in full swing! We are enjoying the outdoors as much as possible this summer with sprinkler days and playground fun. The fresh air and large open spaces provide great fun, and great opportunities for physical development. The last day for summer preschool is Thursday August 22. We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

End of the School Year Wrap Up

3 weeks are left in our 2018-2019 school year. We know they are going to fly right by! This school year has been a great adventure in play, exploring, problem solving and acquiring new skills. Our 10 week summer program begins on June 17th and runs through August 22nd. Our summer will be spent enjoying water days, outdoor experiences and play based learning. Thank you for a wonderful school year!

Preschool Volunteer Day

On May 4, several staff members from the Child Development and Preschool Program volunteered at Gleaners Community Food Bank. This was a great morning to give back to the community, and to grow closer as a team. Our group packed bags containing all of the ingredients necessary to make a delicious bean soup. In about 3 hours, we packed nearly 10,000 pounds of food.

We enjoyed our second annual Gleaners trip and are already looking forward to next year!

Music Class

Once a week, our music teacher Ms. Christine, visits the full day early childhood classrooms at Barnes, Trombly, Monteith and Ferry. The children love when she plays the ukulele! Children have opportunities to explore vocal pitch, rhythm, speed, and a variety of musical genres. Music can bring together children and adults of all developmental levels and ages. Music supports many areas of our curriculum including giving children confidence in moving through space, gaining control over their bodies, and the ability to keep a steady beat. It exposes them to aspects of language such as rhymes and alliterations, and gives them opportunities to express themselves and build a strong sense of self. Music and movement activities support Bilateral Coordination which helps children use both sides of their body together. This coordination supports skills needed for reading and writing. We are so fortunate to have this special weekly music time in addition to the music and movement our classroom teachers are providing each day! 

Programs Closed for Spring Break

All programs will be closed April 8-April 12, 2019 for Spring Break. Classes will resume on Monday April 18, 2019. We wish safe travels for those who are traveling. See you soon! 

Having fun!

Here is a look at some of the things we have been up to already in 2019! Learning every day and having fun while doing it!

Letter S

In Preschool Prep this week, families brought in pictures from home of "S" words to share with the class. We learned some great, new words! There are so many fun ways to incorporate letters throughout the day. 

Activities to try at home:

• Look for letter "S" while you are driving with your child. You may see it on a billboard, or stop sign.
• Look for "S" words while out for a walk. You might see the Sun, a skate board, a swing.
• Act out being a slithery snake, or a crawling spider. 
• Use masking tape to create the letter "S" on the carpet and drive cars on the S road. 

We hope you have fun incorporating letters in to your day! 

2019!

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to great 2019!

Upcoming News:

• Enrollment for new students for the 2019-2020 school year is taking place now through January 31, 2019. Please visit our website for an online application.
• All programs will be closed on Monday January 21st in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Representatives from our program will be at the Preschool Fair on Wednesday February 6, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the GP Library. 
• Mid Winter Break Camp for Pre-K students is February 19-22 at Trombly Elementary School.