Enrichment & Extra Curricular Activities
Welcome to Circle of Love Preschool!
Enrichment Activities
What enrichment opportunities are available at Circle of Love Preschool?
CHAPEL
School chapel is held once a week, see the Chapel Schedule posted in every classroom. Chapel alternates between Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:40 a.m. Children are encouraged to wear their school t-shirts on their scheduled chapel days. Our Chapel Time consists of Bible Stories, songs, honoring those with a birthday, Chapel offering, and lots of praise and fellowship! (Regarding the offering is taken during chapel, we support our district's Grantparent Program every year. All of the offerings are donated to the Grantparent Program which helps other children attend Lutheran schools. We provide offering envelopes at the beginning of the school year to help teach your child about giving.)
Join us online at our weekly Chapel Time via Facebook LIVE!
MUSIC
with Mrs. Devine
Music is very important to First Lutheran Circle of Love. Every child receives a half hour of Music class every week. This program is included in the tuition. Learn more about our music teacher, Mrs. Devine, on our staff biographies page HERE.
LANGUAGE ARTS
DEVELOPMENT
Circle of Love utilizes two comprehensive language arts programs:
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Zoo-phonics (Beginners, Intermediate, Pre-K, & TK)
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Handwriting Without Tears (Pre-K)
More About Zoo-phonics:
Reading and writing are difficult tasks to master because they require an understanding of abstract methods and concepts. Zoo-phonics uses pictorial mnemonics (animal letters) and body movements (kinesthetic mnemonic) to teach through games and activities! It is an inclusive, multi-sensory program that teaches phonemic awareness in a playful, stress-free way that introduces pre-writing and pre-reading skills! With Zoo-phonics, children learn phonemic awareness, the alphabet, and how to decode (read) and eventually to encode (spell/write). At Circle of Love, each age group interacts with Zoo-phonics a little differently. For example, our Beginners class works with the program in a developmentally appropriate way for that age group whereas our Pre-K or TK classes would work with the program based on the the development of their age group(s).
The "Essences" of Zoo-phonics:
1) The Animal Alphabet helps children remember the shapes and sounds of the letters.
2) Letter sounds are taught before letter names.
3) Lowercase letters are taught before capital letters.
4) The body movement for each Animal Letter helps to cement the phonemic information into memory (connecting sounds to letter shapes).
5) The alphabet is taught sequentially, and as a whole entity, "a - z." The alphabet is not fragmented.
6) Short vowels are taught before long vowels.
7) Phonemic patterns (at, bat, fat, sat, etc.) are taught first rather than random word lists (of, it, then, was, etc.)
8) The Zoo-phonics curriculum is fully integrated with other subjects. (i.e. math, science, art, etc.)
More About Handwriting Without Tears:
Handwriting Without Tears is a writing readiness program that adapts to the needs of each child, meeting them where they are and supporting the areas which may need more development. Handwriting Without Tears understands that learning needs to be joyful, child-friendly, and active! This program prepares young learners for school with developmentally appropriate teaching methods/techniques , child-friendly language, and a hands-on approach that enable children of different abilities to achieve.
At Circle of Love, we utilize intentionally chosen elements from the Handwriting Without Tears Program modified for our play-based program.
Extra Curricular Activities
At Circle of Love the following extra curricular/enrichment classes are offered by these outside independent companies. For enrollment and payment inquiries, please contact the company directly! Thank you!
GYMSTARS
Gymnastics, Dance, & Exercise!
Gymstars is an action packed class that focuses on Floor Tumbling and the proper use of beams, bars and vaults. We strive to make this class not only fun but also help the gymnast gain strength, flexibility and coordination through an artistic endeavor. These classes are for both Intermediate and Pre-K students. Our coaches are fully trained in USGF spotting techniques. Classes are on Monday and Tuesday afternoons.
Gymstars Contact Info:
(310) 546-STAR
WEBBY DANCE COMPANY
Creative Dance for Children
Webby offers fun and exciting dance classes weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Our professional and caring instructor will introduce your child to beginning tap, ballet, rhythm & movement. We provide age-appropriate music, fun props and action packed classes! Children will benefit by building their memory, coordination, creativity and self-confidence, all in a positive atmosphere. Webby is offered Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Webby Contact Info:
(562) 594-5500
LITTLE CLICK CLUB
Computer Literacy Class
Little Click Club breaks down technology terms and tasks in a fun and entertaining way that young children not only understand, but love. In the world of tablets and smart phones, learning how to use a traditional computer and mouse gives kids a sense of confidence that will gear them up for computer-based standardized testing in elementary schools, and for computer coding and programming as they grow up. Little Click Club students gain a sense of independence by being in command of their own computer each week while working in a group setting. Each session provides a different set of computer detective missions to boost the following skills: keyboard/mouse basics, internet safety, thinking and problem solving, early reading/writing, listening, concentration, team work and self confidence. This puts these smart computer detectives one step ahead and prepares them for the ever-changing, digital age they will thrive in as adults. The Little Click Club class is on Thursdays from 2:30pm-3:15pm.
Little Click Club Contact Info:
(480) 694-9923