2012-2013 Registration
Nov 17, 2011
For additional information regarding registration or to arrange a visit to the school contact Joan White at 708-848-4910. Registration may be completed in person or by mail. 2012-2013 registration forms are available in the enrollment section and in the digital backpack. The Young Sprout Day Camp Registration brochure is in the Day Camp section. We are happy to report that we will again be offering the afternoon class for kindergarten students (Alpha Club) Fall, 2012. That information is also located in the Enrollment section.
We welcome your visit.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
2012 Registration
Nov 17, 2011
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Openings for Fall, 2011
Jul 14, 2011
There are openings in the 12:15-2:45 classes for September, 2011 as well as in the extended day class (12:15-3:30). We would be delighted to show you the classrooms and tell you about the curriculum and facilities at First United. The small class sizes and activities for the whole family are special parts of our program.
New this fall is a class for children attending kindergarten mornings. This class will meet 12:30 - 3:30, Tuesday through Friday. We are excited about this new offering and urge you to check it out if you have a kindergarten age child.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Afternoon Class for Kindergarteners
Apr 26, 2011
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
2011-2012 Registrations
Feb 1, 2011
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Fall 2011 Registration
Nov 9, 2010
The January 19, 2011 Open House is hosted in Centennial Hall, beginning at 7:30 PM. A power point presentation of the school curriculum, goals and philosophy will be followed with a tour of the classrooms, the opportunity to talk with staff and the opportunity to register for September, 2011. First United Church Nursery School offers classes for children ages two to five. If you would like to schedule a tour of the school prior to the open house call Joan White, 708-848-4910.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Pump It Up Event Nov. 5
Oct 21, 2010
The Nursery School will be closed Nov. 5th due to the Dist. 97 observance of Veterans’ Day. Join us at Pump-It-Up in Elmhurst for a morning of fun and exercise, followed by a pizza lunch! Tickets are $20 for children age 2 & up and may be purchased in the school office. Children under 2 and adults are free. Children will play from 9:30 - 11:30, and everyone is invited for lunch.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Our new Nature Classroom is OPEN!
Sep 10, 2010
We held a ribbon cutting event on Wednesday morning to open our new Nature Classroom playground! Over the summer we did a huge renovation of our school’s playground. It is absolutely beautiful! Stop by and check out the tree cookie flooring, the marimba, the messy materials area and our new climber. Our students are sure to have wonderful play time in this special space!
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Afternoon spots are going fast!
Aug 10, 2010
We still have a long wait list for morning but there are a few afternoon spots - grab ‘em while you can! Please contact the office at 708.848.4910 if you would like a tour of the school and/or to speak with our director, Joan White. Registration forms can be found on the website under enrollment.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Memorial Day Parade in River Forest
May 25, 2010
The Nursery School is marching in the River Forest Memorial Day Parade, May 31. Meet at Constitution Park (Ashland and Division) at 11:00 for the 11:30 start of the parade. The parade ends in Keystone Park for a picnic. Bikes, trikes, scooters and wagons are welcome. We will have a truck with us loaded up with baby bottles of Vitamin Water that we can pass out to onlookers. Check your email for updates as to our number in the parade line-up. Join in – the more the merrier!!
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Parent Meeting
Mar 22, 2010
Join in the dynamic discussion planned for Wednesday, March 24, in Centennial Hall led by Nursery School teachers, Susan Gittings and Barbara Reed. “Nurture Shock”, a book published in 2009, challenges myths about children and child rearing and begins with a chapter on praise. Susan and Barbara will pull from content in this chapter and other resources to spark discussion and lead us to important discoveries about the impact of the words we say.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Pansies! Ferns! Impatiens! Geraniums!
Mar 2, 2010
It is that time again! Do not miss your chance to place your order for our most amazing Plant Sale! All orders need to be received and paid in full by March 16th. All plants will be ready for pick-up on May 8th! If you have questions please call the office at 708.848.4910. Thanks in advance for your order! Happy Spring!
Plant_Sale_Flyer_2010_for_mailing_bw_versions.pdf
Plant_Sale_order_form_2010.pdf
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Open Enrollment for Fall 2012 is underway
Jan 26, 2010
We are accepting registration applications for Fall 2012 beginning December 1st. Please call our office at 708-848-4910 for applications and to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Priority Registration
Sep 26, 2009
In an effort to make sure we are offering the best assortment of class options, we are moving Priority Registration to November 3rd. Priority registration is for church families, current families and families that have had older siblings at the school in the past. Registration forms will be available on line and from the office in October. Open registration will start January 20, 2010 at our open house. If you have any questions please feel free to call the school office at 708.848.4910.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Fall Bulb Sale!
Sep 15, 2009
Start a new tradition! Dig in the dirt like a child…perhaps with a child! Welcome Spring 2010! Orders need to be placed by September 23rd. The bulbs will be available for pick up on October 3rd. Thanks in advance for your support!
Fall_Bulb_Sale_2009_-_FINAL.pdf
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Join us for the Parent Open House!
Sep 8, 2009
Our Parent Open House for the new school year will be held on Monday, September 14th from 7:15-8:30. There will be a brief meeting in Centennial Hall and then parents will move to their child’s classroom. The Open House gives parents the opportuniuty to explore the classroom and hear about the goals and opportunities in that class, curriculum and leaning centers. It is also an evening to learn how parents can be involved in the school experience, a chance to meet other parents and to ask questions. We look forward to seeing you on the 14th!
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Welcome! The school year is about to begin!
Aug 19, 2009
The staff and Board of Directors welcomes all of our new and returning families to the 2000-2010 school year! We are looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces of our students. If you have any last minute questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the office or any of our Board members! See you soon!
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
FUNS wants YOU to march with us!!
Jun 22, 2009
Grab your marching shoes! Come join us for the Oak Park Fourth of July parade! Show your school pride by wearing your Young Sprout shirt, your smiley face shirt or your school pride shirt and bring your squirt guns – fully loaded with cold water!
Meet up with your fellow marchers at Longfellow Park (Adams and Ridgeland) at 9:30 AM at #42. The Parade begins at 10:00. We will march north on Ridgeland to Augusta carrying a banner, spraying each other and the spectators! Bring your wagons, dogs, strollers, siblings, grandparents and SQUIRT GUNS! Let’s show Oak Park how FUN FUNS is!!
Questions? Call Kelly Pollock at 524-5125 or Megan Lewis at 660-8439.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Day In Our Village
May 31, 2009
Come join us June 7th on the front steps of First United Church for face painting, games and free Celebrate books! We will be participating in Day In Our Village on our front lawn. Come and say hi, register for fall or just come and see what FUNS is all about! See you then!
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Our new Lunch Bunch!
May 10, 2009
We are offering a new option for this fall - a Lunch Bunch! For our morning students, beginning on September 8th, we are offering an extension to our morning program! After the morning program ends at 11:15, children will join a mixed-age-group of ten children for lunch. There will be additional time for gross motor play, a catered lunch and planned activities following lunch. Children will be dismissed at 1:15. Spots will be filled on a first come basis. You have the choice of Tuesdays & Thursdays or Wednesdays & Fridays or all four days! The cost for for two days is $140/month and four days is $280/month. One month’s Lunch Bunch payment is due with the registration form to hold your child’s spot. Please call Joan White at 708.848.4910 if you have any questions.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
First United Church Nursery School Annual Plant Sale
Mar 3, 2009
This year’s selection is more fantastic than ever before! We have expanded our offerings and the assortment is fabulous! Choose from: Hanging Baskets, Boston Ferns, Impatiens, Geraniums, Ivy Geraniums, Foliage, Flats and Herbs. All orders are due to the school office by March 19th, 2009. Feel free to pick up an order form in the lounge of First United, in the school office or download it here on the website. If you have questions, please feel free to call the school office at 708.848.4910. Thank you in advance for your support for the school! Happy Spring to you!
Plant_Sale_order_form_2009.pdf
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
17th Annual Auction - A Golden Celebration
Feb 3, 2009
First United Church Nursery School invites you to join us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Our 17th annual auction - A Golden Celebration - will be held on April 17, 2009 at the Carleton Hotel in Oak Park.
Come join us for an evening of food, drink and wonderful auction items. We will be auctioning off the magnificent artwork created by each classroom, there will be a competetive live auction and a plethora of unique silent auction items. Now more than ever, this is a wonderful opportunity for past families and teachers to come back and reconnect with old friends. Current school families will be able to create new memories and friendships!
We look forward to seeing you in April!
Cheers
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Jim Gill in Concert
Jan 14, 2009
Jim Gill is known as a musician and author, but he is also, by training, a child development specialist with a graduate degree from the Erikson Institute of Chicago. Because of his studies, his goal has always been to promote active play between adults and children with his music. Anyone who has ever seen one of Jim’s family concerts knows that rather than performing for the children and parents, Jim leads them to sing and play together.
Jim has released five recordings of his music play for children. His most recent, Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times, was described as “A 14-song soundtrack for children and their parents at play” by the Los Angeles Daily News. The CD was one of only two music recordings in the nation to receive a 2007 Notable Children’s Recording Award from the American Library Association (the same organization that names the Caldecott and Newberry Awards to books). Jim has also published two picture books, A Soup Opera and May There Always Be Sunshine. All of Jim’s work can be sampled a jimgill.com.
We look forward to the January 24 concert – a great way to spend a winter Saturday. The proceeds of the concert benefit the Nursery School Tuition Assistance Fund. To purchase tickets simply stop by the office or send in payment and a request for tickets pinned to your child’s backpack.
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 4:00 PM at First United. Tickets $12 in advance/$14 at the door. Call 708-848-4910.
Download the poster of the event below.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
Vision and Hearing Screening
Jan 9, 2009
If you have checked the calendar in the Parent Handbook you will have noticed that we had Vision and Hearing Screenings scheduled with the Oak Park Health Department later in January. I received a letter earlier this week informing us that due to village budget cuts that the Health Department has closed their Vision and Hearing screening department as of January 1, 2009. We are disappointed to not have this service available this school year. I am working with the Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education to advocate for the resumption of this vital service, but it will not happen quickly I fear. I encourage you to let your pediatrician know that your child is not being screened at school this year. If there are any concerns regarding your child’s vision or hearing don’t delay in seeking a screening in another venue. Each year a handful of children at First United are identified in need of further diagnosis and service. We deeply regret that any child’s need might be missed due to this Village budget cut.
First United Church Nursery School
More than just a School
50th Anniversary
Oct 19, 2008
On Sunday, Oct. 19, generations of young children who got their first taste of “school” and special friendships at First United Church Nursery School are invited to celebrate the school’s 50 years of excellence. Students, parents and teachers are invited to a special worship service at First United Church on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. to celebrate the school which has impacted the lives of thousands of young children in Oak Park and neighboring communities over the past 50 years. Recent grads and current students are invited to wear their school shirts. Everyone is invited to a public reception following the service to re-connect with friends and teachers. Tours of the school rooms will bring back fond memories.
The nursery school began as First Presbyterian Cooperative Nursery School in the fall of 1958 with 15 students. Parents shared turns as volunteers to the one teacher on staff. The next year a second teacher was added, and the name changed to First Presbyterian Church Nursery School. In 1961, Pat Lane became director of the school and in 1964, the school expanded to two classrooms.
In 1977, Joan White took over as director when Pat Lane retired. That same year, following the coming together of First Presbyterian Church and First Congregation Church and becoming First United Church of Oak Park, the nursery school moved to the current site at 848 Lake Street from the former Presbyterian Church at 931 Lake Street. Within its first three years as First United Church Nursery School, the student population expanded to 82 children per session and 12 classrooms (six in the morning and six in the afternoon).
Today First United Church Nursery School’s highly qualified staff of 19 teachers guide the development of more than 140 students. Curiosity, creativity, confidence and initiative are encouraged and supported in an atmosphere of warmth and respect. The curriculum is rich in literacy, math, science, music, motor and art experiences – all age and developmentally appropriate.
Current Board Chair Megan Hutchinson Lewis began her career at First United Nursery School in 1975 when she was three. At the time, her mother, Linda Hutchinson, served on the board. Megan’s son Jack is a graduate of the school, now a 5-year-old kindergarten student at Irving School and daughter Kate is poised to start her First United experience next year.
“The friends I made in nursery school like Amber Stitziel Pareja (another current board member) continued being my friends at Oak Park-River Forest High School,” remembers Megan. “Today we are all parents ourselves and our own children are getting their first real world experiences outside of our homes at First United Nursery School. We’ve really come full circle. Today I enjoy being on the Board. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the school and pass on these nurturing experiences to my own children.”
For more information on the 50th anniversary celebration, call First United Nursery School at (708) 848-4910.