WEE
WEEKDAY EARLY EDUCATION
Over the past 39 years, Willowbrook Weekday Early Education (WEE) has grown from a very small preschool with just a few classes into the largest half-day Christian preschool in Huntsville. Our 36 teachers/staff members are committed to providing a loving, nurturing Christian environment for young children.
WEE hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (with an optional Stayday on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 2 p.m. for children in 3s through kindergarten). Enrollment is based on a child’s age on Sept. 1, 2012.
WEE is comprised of:
- Kindergarten (children five and six years old)
- Preschool (children three through five years old)
- Mother’s Morning Out (children 9 – 35 months)
REGISTRATION DATES FOR 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR:
Registration is coming up soon. Forms will be accepted at the preschool desk on the second floor of the church until 4 p.m. on assigned registration dates. Please call the preschool at 256-382-5150 to arrange a tour or get additional information. Registration dates are as follows:
Currently enrolled students: Tuesday, Feb. 7
Siblings of currently enrolled students: Wednesday, Feb. 8
Willowbrook Baptist Church members: Thursday, Feb. 9
Public registration: Friday, Feb. 10
There is a non-refundable application fee for every child enrolling. The Mother’s Morning Out (MMO) fee is $100; preschool’s fee is $125. Kindergarten has an curriculum fee (in additional to the $125 application fee) which due at the time of enrollment (see below).
While we do take into account your request when placing children in WEE, that does not guarantee you will receive the teacher or days (in the case of MOMs) you request. A lottery system is used when there is an excess of applicants. The WEE Board requires that we balance boy:girl ratios in all classes 2 ½ class and up and also that twins be separated once they reach the fours. Once a child is assigned to a class, changes are not made and the application fee is not refunded. WEE is an outstanding program with wonderful, loving teachers and we trust you’ll agree with us that your child will thrive with any of them.
WHAT MAKES WEE SPECIAL
As a non-profit preschool, Willowbrook Weekday Early Education promotes the physical, spiritual, emotional, mental and social development of each child. Highlights include Bible stories, memory verses and prayer, reading readiness, number concepts, art, story time, science, class parties and field trips. Other WEE features include:
- Two loving, Christian teachers per classroom
- Low student: teacher ratio
- All teachers and assistants are CPR-certified
- Emphasis on fun as well as school readiness
- Video monitoring
- Developmentally appropriate learning
- Emphasis on socialization, independence and first-time obedience
- Weekly Music and Motor Skills
- Weekly Chapel featuring Willowbrook Church ministers
- German class for fours and kindergarten
- Drop off/pick up through carpool, ages 3 and up
- Optional Stayday (extra playtime) until 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students in threes, fours and kindergarten
KINDERGARTEN
(Monday through Friday)
WEE offers an outstanding Kindergarten program with an enthusiastic and experienced teacher, a fulltime assistant, and a curriculum second to none. Our kindergarten students enjoy:
- A Christian education – God is in the classroom every single day, in both prayer and attitude.
- Excellent curriculum – McGraw Hill (previously known as Lippincott) is the top phonics-based program for teaching children to read. Due to the expense, public school does not offer this program.
- Half day – while a 6 ½ hour public school day may seem more convenient from a parent’s perspective, many children are not ready for such a long day at age 5 or 6. We offer the much-needed option of a shorter day packed with learning and fun enrichment experiences.
The language arts curriculum uses all five senses to bring the alphabet to life and teach children to associate letters and sounds. Language development, handwriting, listening skills, eye-hand coordination and attention span increase are all included in the curriculum. We are also pleased to offer the Accelerated Reader Program for our K students.
In addition to the $125 application/supply fee, there is an extra $185 kindergarten curriculum fee, which covers most of the McGraw Hill curriculum, field trips and the Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reader program. Both fees are due at the time of enrollment (total: $310). There is also a Kindergarten contract that must be notarized and turned in at that time. It states that if you choose to withdraw your child from WEE Kindergarten after he/she is accepted, you are responsible for paying the first six months’ tuition.
FOUR YEAR OLDS
(Monday-Thursday or Monday-Friday for repeating fours)
Our four year old program builds on the strength of the threes, while introducing academic and development goals such as enhancing fine motor skills, recognizing and printing both upper and lower case letters, drawing shapes and understanding sequencing and patterning. Much of the program for four year olds revolves around themes or units of study. Table time, circle and centers are all part of their day. And whether they’re enjoying “silly sock day” or marching in an “umbrella parade,” our fours love doing much of their learning through play!
Four year old WEE students attend Monday through Thursday. Additionally, this coming year we are offering a five-day fours class (Monday through Friday) for children who would benefit from another year of maturity so that they are not the youngest in their kindergarten class. Children with late (summer) birthdays will especially benefit from this class. Enrollment will initially be limited to repeating fours. Unfilled slots will be awarded in mid-April to first-time fours with early fall birthdays.
THREE YEAR OLDS
(Tuesday through Thursday)
The three-year-old WEE program is designed to help children develop social, cognitive, language and physical skills during their play. This class promotes independence and socialization while providing a variety of enrichment activities such as making “volcanoes” in science, painting with pudding, or hibernating like bears! The threes are a fun place to be! Children attend Tuesday through Thursday.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL PRESCHOOL PARENTS:
It is WEE Board policy that all children in threes, fours and kindergarten must be fully potty trained and able to handle all of their bathroom habits (pulling clothes ups and down, wiping) by themselves. No Pull-Ups are allowed in the preschool, since they are similar to a diaper. With time and encouragement from you, we have no doubt that your child can accomplish this before school starts in August.
MOTHER’S MORNING OUT (MOMs)
(9 - 35 months – days vary)
Even the youngest children enjoy being in a school setting with other little people their size. Our MOMS children learn how to play with their new friends and be part of a group in a loving environment featuring two caring teachers per class. Our MOMS classes are for toddlers from 9 – 35 months. Music, stories, simply art, free play, and bye-bye buggie rides are just some of the features of these classes. We also have both indoor and outdoor playgrounds for our toddlers. Most children in MOMS attend Tuesday and Thursday.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES/MONTHLY FEES
Placement is based on age of child on Sept. 1, 2012
Kindergarten (M-F) -- $211/month
Five-day Fours (M-F) -- $206/month
Four-day Fours (M-TH) -- $180/month
Threes (T/W/TH) $170/month
2 ½ (30 – 35 months) T/TH $160/month
Pony (24 – 29 months) T/TH $160/month
Ducks (18 – 23 months) T/TH $175/month
Lambs (9 – 17 months) T or TH $93/month OR T and TH $186/month
We would love to show you around our school and answer any questions you may have. Stop by the preschool desk for an enrollment application. For additional information or to arrange a tour, please call Andrea Still, Director of Willowbrook Weekday Early Education, at 256-382-5150.
