FUNdamental Sports

What is FUNdamental Sports?

FUNdamental Sports is a sports based program that provides holistic growth to facilitate learning and life skill development in today’s youth. We use sports as an opportunity for kids to connect with others, enhance their skills, and have a positive athletic experience.  

Healthy Development of Children through Sports

Physical activity and participation in sports is fundamental to the early development of children. Skills learned during sports programs contribute to the holistic development of today’s youth physically, psychologically, and socially. Through participation in sport, children learn about the importance of key values such as teamwork, resilience, discipline, confidence, and self-esteem. Most importantly, children build healthy habits and lifestyle choices that encourage life-long participation in physical activity through sports participation.

FUNdamental Sports, an in house child development sports program for the Downers Grove Park District, provides a forum for children to learn the basics of a variety of sports. The philosophy of this program is for children to learn, be active, and ultimately have fun while learning how to play. The structure of FUNdamental Sports is based upon age-appropriate progressive curriculum that keeps children learning new skills each stage of the program. Whether your child is just learning how to play or has some experience with sports, our program individually challenges its participants based on their abilities. 

The nature of youth sports has changed from what it once was. Children now have the chance to take classes of their favorite sports with experienced coaches who can provide one-on-one attention your children deserve. With these classes, children can become happier, healthier, and perform at their optimal level in all aspects of their lives. Take advantage of this opportunity for your children to build their skills and have FUN with the basics in FUNdamental Sports.

Winter Classes:

·         Soccer

·         Basketball

·         Football

·         Volleyball

·         Floor Hockey

·         Sports Mania

o   Sports Mania consists of classes that range from ages 2-4 years. Children are introduced to sports such as soccer, football, basketball, volleyball and more through creative and fun activities. Parent participation is required for the 2-3 year old class.

Ages:  2-12 years

Day:  Monday-Friday

SPACE IS LIMITED, REGISTER TODAY!!!

Visit www.dgparks.org or call 630-960-7250 for more information

Happy Holidays!

The Lincoln Learning Center Preschool and ThreeSchool began their three week winter break on December 16, 2013. Winter break will continue through January 3, 2014. Students will return to school the week of January 6, 2014.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday and a Happy New Year! Looking forward to 2014!

Registration for 2014-2015 school year

It's time to register for the 2014-2015 school year! Priority registration began Monday, December 9, 2013 and will continue through noon on January 11, 2014. All current Preschool and ThreeSchool students, as well as siblings can register during the priority registration period.

Information was sent home regarding class dates, times and tuition, but more information can be found in the Winter 2014 Recreation and Parks Guide, as well as online at www.dgparks.org.

A registration form was sent home with your child Monday and Tuesday. If you are registering your child for the 2014-2015 school year, please bring the completed form to the Lincoln Center registration office, along with your $50 non-refundable deposit and proof of residency. Even returning students must show proof of residency through a tax bill or utility bill. All new students (siblings), must also provide a copy of the child's birth certificate for age verification.

A random selection for class time placement will take place on Monday, January 13. You will only be notified if you do not receive your first class choice. Remember, classes do fill quickly so your best chance at receiving the day and time that you want is to register during the priority registration period. After January 13, returning students and siblings can register on a first-come, first-served basis.

New for 2014-2015! Unincorporated or non-residents who contribute taxes in Downers Grove School District 58 receive resident fees at the Lincoln Learning Center Tot School and Preschool.

We sincerely hope you consider continuing with us next year and allowing your children the opportunity to learn and grow at the Lincoln Learning Center.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Michelle Pusateri at mpusateri@dgparks.org.

Annual Preschool Holiday Programs

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Time for our Lincoln Learning Center Preschool holiday programs. You and your family are invited to attend this special performance on Thursday, December 12 and Friday, December 13. The children from each classroom will perform a variety of classroom and holiday songs on the Lincoln Center auditorium stage. The children have been working really hard for this performance so you won't want to miss it. Bring your camera!

On the day of your performance, please bring your child to his/her classroom and then proceed to the auditorium. As soon as the performance is finished, you are welcome to go. There is no regular preschool class on the day of the holiday programs and there is no curbside drop-off and pick-up program on holiday program dates.

Please refer to the performance schedule that was sent home because some classes will meet at a different time and some classes will meet on a different day than their normal preschool class.

We hope to see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! As part of our preschool Thanksgiving celebrations, the 3-year-old classes will be making our traditional friendship fruit salad during class on Monday and Tuesday, while the 4-year-olds will be making a delicious pilgrim soup! These two special classroom activities help to teach the children about working together and the importance of giving thanks for everything we have. From an academic perspective, the students will learn the basics of math through counting and measuring ingredients.

For the friendship fruit salad, please send your child with a piece of fresh fruit or a can of Dole or Del Monte fruit. For the pilgrim soup, please send your child with their assigned vegetable. If you have a question about which vegetable was assigned to your child, please talk to your teacher or email Michelle at mpusateri@dgparks.org.

All of the students will receive a bowl of their special creation, if they want, as a special snack for the day. If you have any concerns regarding food allergies or restrictions, please talk to your child's teacher for accommodations.

Remember, there is no Preschool on Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29. We will return to school on Monday, December 2.

From everyone at the Lincoln Learning Center...Happy Thanksgiving!

Final Field Trip to Lyman Woods for 2013

Five field trips to Lyman Woods are done....1 more to go! What a fantastic time the 4/5-year-old Preschool classes have had on their annual field trips to Lyman Woods Interpretive Center so far! Now, the M/W/F 8:45 - 11:15am class in Room G13 with Mrs. Rottmann and Mrs. Owens will get to experience their fun morning in the woods!

Parents of students in the M/W/F Room G13 class should bring their child directly to the Interpretive Center on Friday, November 15. Please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to the start of your class. When you arrive at the Interpretive Center, remain in the lobby until the teachers are ready for the children to enter the classroom.

 

Remember to dress your child for the weather and for nature, as we will be going outside. Gym shoes are required.

In case of severe weather, please call the Downers Grove Park District Parkline at 630-963-0575 after 7:30am. Follow the prompts on the parkline and you will receive an automated message as to whether the class will still take place at Lyman Woods or if we will be at the Lincoln Center.

Directions to Lyman Woods:  Highland Avenue north to 31^st Street. Turn right. The Interpretive Center is located approximately 2 blocks on your right.

Enrichment programs at the Lincoln Learning Center

As all of you know, there is a great importance for Early Childhood Education and the Lincoln Learning Center strives to provide a quality early learning environment for your child through the ThreeSchool and Preschool programs. However, there is more to Early Childhood Education than just those two fantastic programs.

The Downers Grove Park District offers a variety of early childhood enrichment programs such as music, dance, art, sports, environmental and historical programs, just to name a few. We also offer two specific enrichment programs that were created to directly supplement the Lincoln Learning Center Preschool. Those two programs are: Preschool Connection and Ready, Set, Kindergarten!

Preschool Connection is a supplemental learning program that is an extension of the 3-year-old preschool experience. The class is offered on Fridays from 9:00 - 10:30am in Room 201 with Mrs. Sexton and Mrs. Kornafel. Preschool Connection emphasizes 3-year-old preschool concepts while reinforcing the importance of independence, communication, literacy, arts and sciences, and social, emotional and physical development. Each week, the teachers review the topics learned in preschool while introducing new projects and activities.

Ready, Set, Kindergarten is a supplemental learning program that is an extension of the 4/5-year-old preschool experience. The class is offered on Mondays from 11:30am - 12:30pm in Room G11 with Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Kornafel. Because this program meets directly after our 8:45 - 11:15am preschool classes, the registered children will be escorted from their preschool classroom to the Ready, Set, Kindergarten classroom, essentially adding an hour onto their Monday preschool class. This program focuses more on academics in preparation for Kindergarten and the teachers work closely with the children in the areas of language, literacy, communication, social, emotional and physical development and arts and sciences. A small snack is served during class.

A new session of Preschool Connection begins November 15 - December 6. A new session of Ready, Set, Kindergarten begins November 18 - December 9. Both classes will also start back up in January after winter break. Winter session information will be available in our Winter Guide which will be available online November 15.

To register, please visit www.dgparks.org or stop by the registration desk in the lobby of the Lincoln Center. If you have questions about either program, please email Michelle at mpusateri@dgparks.org.