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The Lutheran Day Early Childhood Center

PROGRAM INFORMATION

     
 

Contents

About Our Center

Ages

Hours of Operation

Calendar

Fees

Enrollment Procedures

Preschool For All

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Our Center

Since 1911, Lutheran Day has provided childcare services and early childhood education.  We are licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Human Services and the city of Chicago.  As of June 2006, The center received accreditation through NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children).

Our program is designed to provide a variety of key experiences for children while in our care.  We are a Christian Preschool.  Therefore, Christian education is a daily part of our program in the classroom.  We aim to teach the children about God's love, His gift of Jesus Christ, and that we can know Jesus and learn to live like Him.  Christian Education activities include stories, drama, art, music, prayer, etc.  In addition to the classroom activities, the children participate in informal praise times twice a week throughout the year and more formal services during the Christmas and Easter seasons led by visiting Pastors.  These times last about 20 minutes and are child oriented.

Our philosophy is that children learn best by being active participants.  Our program allows children to choose meaningful, interesting activities during a part of each day.  Classrooms are arranged by interest centers including a block area, dramatic play, sensory tables, an art center, a writing center, a science center and a listening center.  The teachers interact with the children individually or in small groups, facilitating each child's exploration, problem solving and thinking abilities.  We provide experiences that promote literacy and math competency.  We believe that children develop through their play and that a child-centered environment stimulates children's social, emotional, physical and intellectual development.

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Ages

Lutheran Day serves children ages 2 through 5.  A limited number of spaces are available  for children that are not potty-trained.  The children are divided into age-appropriate classrooms following NAEYC recommended teacher/child ratios.

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Hours of Operation

Lutheran Day is open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Because we are a learning-based program, we require children to begin the day no later than 9:00 am and end no earlier than 3:30 pm.  Drop off times are 7:00-9:00 am, and pick up times are 3:30-6:00 pm. 

We require that children maintain at least 80% on-time, full-time attendance.

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Calendar

Lutheran Day is a year round facility.  However, we do close several weeks during the year for building maintenance.  The center is closed two weeks in July and the week between Christmas and New Year.  No fees are charged for these three weeks of closure.  The center is also closed in observation of the following holidays:

  1. New Years Day

  2. Martin Luther King's Birthday

  3. President's Day

  4. Good Friday

  5. Memorial Day

  6. July 4th

  7. Labor Day

  8. Thanksgiving and the Friday following

  9. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

In addition, Lutheran Day is closed several days to allow the staff to attend Early Childhood conferences and improve their skills.  Days will be posted well in advance.

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Fees

Our weekly fee is $180.00 per week.  However, discounted rates of up to 50% are available based upon household size and income.  Families may also qualify for additional assistance through 'Action for Children', a State assistance program for households making less than 50% of the Illinois median income.  We require full weekly payment whether a child attends or not.  Full tuition is also charged for weeks containing one or two center Holidays. 

If more than one child from the same family is enrolled, the second and third child is given a 40% fee discount.

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Enrollment Procedures

All applications for enrollment are made through our Admissions Coordinator.  Vacancies are filled according to the order applications are received.  Parents will need to complete the following forms before attending Lutheran Day.

  1. An Enrollment Form (download the form here)

  2. A Background Information Form (To be completed at Lutheran Day)

  3. An Emergency Information/Pick-up Form (To be completed at Lutheran Day)

  4. A Medical Form as required by the Board of Health.  This form will include the dates of the child's necessary immunizations. 

  5. Chicago Public School State Pre-K Consent Form and Health Screening (preschool only)

  6. The Child & Adult Care Food Program Application

Before the child begins attending Lutheran Day, the parent(s) will be required to attend an orientation where all policies will be discussed.  At that time, the parent(s) will need to bring

  • A copy of the child's birth certificate

  • A copy of the prior year's Tax Return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) to determine the weekly fee.  This is required to qualify for discounted rates.

  • A $50 non-refundable registration fee

  • A 1 week Deposit

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Preschool For All

Lutheran Day receives some funds through the Chicago Public Schools to implement a preschool program for our 3 and 4 year olds.  Children must live in the city of Chicago to qualify for this program.  Room placement is based on the child's birthdate.  State certified teachers (Type 04) work in our 3 and 4 year old classrooms.

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