All of our rooms have a class pet and some have multiple pets! Our furry, scaly and shelled friends encourage important values and skills such as responsibility, social skills, empathy, and compassion. We strongly believe that our classroom pets enhance the children’s daily experiences.
Our Nature Teachers have been busy introducing our preschoolers to the cool world of Marine Mammals in the Arctic. Through books, youtubes, and activities, the children are discovering how these Marine Mammals are uniquely adapted to survive in their harsh, icy environment. The children are playing games such as Arctic Animal Bingo, sorting arctic animals, and exploring polar bear camouflage.
Children are born curious and seeking information. This week, our students are becoming Scientists as they engage in various activities and experiments. The children made and tested predictions, while making slime as a class. They had the opportunity to work together, observe, ask questions, and draw conclusions about their experience while mixing the ingredients. Afterward, the children were ecstatic to explore their results!
There are many skills children need to develop during their journey for kindergarten readiness and one of the desired skills is letter recognition and letter-sound knowledge. At Peter Pan and Little Shepherd Day Schools, a variety of teaching methods are used to help children develop letter knowledge. For example, children might use scissors to cut out the letter or they might use shaving cream to write the letter with their fingertips. Each opportunity is designed to reinforce the letter and the letter sound.
Each classroom has a large variety of STEM equipment geared to the developmental level of the children. This equipment is specifically incorporated to introduce and reinforce Science, Technology, Engineering and Math concepts at the preschool level.
Jack Hochstetter manages the STEM equipment and ensures the materials enhance the children’s experiences and understanding in each area.
You can feel the excitement of the children as they work to create LEGO houses!
Peter Pan and Little Shepherd Day Schools have always valued the importance of incorporating nature into the daily curriculum for the children. The owner, Helen Hochstetter, remains involved in the daily experiences of the children and has been doing so for 66 years! Each location has separate specialized staff with degrees in Environmental Studies, Biology, and Zoology. Our Nature Teachers elevate the children’s learning experiences and understanding of the natural world around them. This winter, the children are anxiously awaiting a chance to see the Downy, Hairy, Red-Bellied and Flicker Woodpeckers that frequently visit our bird feeders.
Peter Pan 75th Street
Call 1-630-961-3950
"If you're looking for the absolute best place to send your child, or children, Peter Pan North Preschool is the answer. We vetted many schools, visited, interviewed, etc. Knowing that we wanted our kids to have a balance between play-based learning and a foundation of skills that would translate to full-day kindergarten, we landed at Peter Pan North. They checked all the boxes and the teaching staff is incredible! Let me say that again, INCREDIBLE! Three of our children attended Preschool and Pre-K at Peter Pan North and they were not only prepared for Kindergarten, but they excelled. They left Peter Pan North with the most wonderful memories and friends. Your kids will love going to school here!"
Peter Pan North Parent
"Dylan is coming home with a wealth of knowledge and questions this year. I know he’s getting older, but the growth is amazing and I just wanted to say thank you to you all. We don’t take time in our busy schedules to do that enough, but you are doing truly amazing work with our young children and we are blessed to be part of the Little Shepherd family."
Little Shepherd Parent
"There is a real sense of care and nurturing that you feel as soon as you walk through the doors of Little Shepherd. It is clear that our kids are well taken care of, and we have been very impressed with the individual attention our children receive -- not just by their own teachers, but by the entire staff that seem to know both of our kids so well. Everyday, our children are eager to share with us the exciting and creative activities they participated in throughout the day. My husband and I feel so blest to have found Little Shepherd."
Little Shepherd Parent
"I couldn't be more happy with the experience my child has received at Peter Pan North. Every school day he wakes up and says with bright eyes "Mommy, do I get to go to North today?" He has learned so much there and the teachers are absolutely amazing. It is very evident to me that every teacher at Peter Pan is there because they have a sincerely true love for children and teaching."
Peter Pan North Parent
"Dear Miss Doris, Since we crossed door of school directed by you we felt love. You welcomed us and guided through our first experience of child-mother separation and adjustment in the new environment so gently and professionally. We love everything about school: the cleanness of the rooms, tons of handmade fancy decorations, bunch of great toys and occupational activities for kids, but most of all the atmosphere you were able to create and support through the day - attentive, tender, loving and professional. The letters Miss Susan sends us every day helps us stay in touch with what is my child is learning in school (plus it's education for me too ). A personal thank you, since Aydin found in your his grandma, who he is missing a lot because of our recent move. We did check couple schools in the area before we found yours. And yours is the best! Thank you for your great professional approach and for your tender love and care. We love to go to school!! ...And we love to see the twinkles in your eyes! :) from our hearts. With love and gratitude, your 'parent'."
Peter Pan 75th Parent
"The staff at Peter Pan is just awesome! They keep us well informed and involve us in school decisions regarding our child. They are amazingly responsive to our every need and have treated our son like their family."
Peter Pan 75th Parent
"Nothing is more reassuring for a working mom than leaving your baby in the capable hands of people who love her so much. The staff at Peter Pan is both caring and knowledgeable and never more than a phone call away. The daily communication between the staff and me has been fantastic and I am so pleased with the care they give my infant."
Peter Pan Westmont Parent
"As a first time mother I was very nervous about sending my daughter to preschool for the first time. My husband and I looked at many preschools and we were not satisfied with any of them, until we found Peter Pan. The school was clean, the teachers were energetic, the curriculum was enjoyable. We went on a tour of the facility, meet the staff, and had a wonderful introduction. The staff went out of their way to help all of us feel welcomed. On my daughters first day, I was nervous because this was the first time she had been away from me. As to expect, she cried when I tried to leave. The teacher she was with, was great. She helped calm my daughter and distract her from being upset. After my daughter was used to going to school, it was hard for me to get her to leave. My husband and I are very pleased with our decision as to attend a Peter Pan School!"
Peter Pan North Parent
"Great school with wonderful atmosphere. My neighbor had her two boys enrolled in their preschool program and recommended sending my girls there as well. We just began summer camp and my children love it. It was nice, because we already have a couple small vacation planned and we were able to sign up for individual weeks. The camp overall has a great feel. I love that my children are able to do daily swim lessons, plant in the garden, and do fun art projects. I am happy with Peter Pan and plan on signing up for Preschool and Kindergarten in the Fall."
Peter Pan 75th Parent
"We are so happy to have the opportunity to send our child to such a wonderful preschool! The teachers have years of experience and really care about the children in their classrooms. I am really impressed though with the variety of activities available to the children - a project everyday, writing center, sensory tub, educational yet fun toys..... Would definitely recommend this place!"
Peter Pan North Parent
"We are extremely pleased with our Peter Pan preschool experience. Just recently, we toured a different school for full day kindergarten and realized that we could not have picked a better place than Peter Pan in Westmont. Words cannot express our gratitude toward the extremely professional staff and the superb education that our children are receiving on a daily basis."
Peter Pan Westmont Parent
"We have sent three children to Little Shepherd and could not be happier. It is more than just a "daycare", it is school with outstanding curriculum where our children have met wonderful friends. The teachers are so loving and always have the children's' best interest in mind. Our son was extremely prepared when he started Kindergarten and I know it was because of the wonderful instruction he received at Little Shepherd. We feel like we are part of the Little Shepherd Family and have great peace of mind that our children are so well taken care of and enjoy going to school each day."
Little Shepherd Parent
"Peter Pan offers an all-around quality program, with so much more to offer than most schools. The backyard at their 75th St. School is absolutely amazing. I could not believe the size of the play yard or how beautiful the gardens were on my first visit. My son absolutely loves every day he spends there."
Peter Pan 75th St. Parent
"From the first day Emily started at Peter Pan, she has talked nonstop about school. She has learned so much, made friends, and had so much fun. I feel blessed that her first school experience has been so wonderful."
Little Shepherd Parent
"Thank you so much for everything that you have done for our family. Our decision to start our daughter in preschool at the age of two was not an easy one for us. Our daughter was previously in an at home daycare and we worried that starting preschool at the age of two would be too soon. We researched and visited several schools, but none compared to what we experienced through Peter Pan. Our daughter felt instantly at ease with both her teachers and her classmates. She is so proud of the things that she is learning at school. We couldn’t be happier!"
Peter Pan 75th Parent
"I just want to extend my gratitude to Ms. Sam and the other staff at Peter Pan. Mason constantly references lessons and information learned at Peter Pan, lessons I'm confident are helping him become a better boy and preparing him for school. Despite Ms. Sam being his classroom teacher, Mr. Tony and the rest of your teachers are all a part of this process, too, and create a nurturing environment for him to look forward to every day. I can't imagine many 5 year olds going to bed early with Mason's excitement to rise at 5:45am, just so he can go to Peter Pan. Thanks for helping to instill a love for learning in my son, and helping make a goofy little dude a little more confident and competent!."
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Wonderful testimonials, such as those shown when clicking the above arrows, are now being posted on many websites. However, a true testimonial comes from physically talking with someone who has first hand experience. We have parents at each of our locations that would be happy to speak with you regarding our schools.
Please feel free to contact us for this information.