3K and 4K
At HCLS, we aim to provide an enriching environment for our 3 and 4-year-olds that promotes school readiness, encourages autonomy and nurtures social development through cooperative play. 3-Year-Old Kindergarten (3K) and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K) classes at Hales Corners Lutheran School are held at a variety of times each week along with Extended Care options to offer our families flexible scheduling. Click here for 2018-19 school year tuition and extended care rates.
Half-Day 3K/4K
Half-day 3K and 4K schedules (without Extended Care) are as follows with morning instruction from 8:15-11:15am and afternoon instruction from 12:15-3:00pm:
- 3K - 2 mornings per week (M/W or T/Th)
- 4K - 3 afternoons per week
- 4K - 5 mornings OR afternoons per week
3K/4K With Extended Care
Extended Care at HCLS is available year round, Monday-Friday from 6:00am-6:00pm. With our Flexible Scheduling option, a 2-day minimum for 3K and a 3-day minimum for 4K are required and then families can create their own schedules by choosing from a combination of full-day and half-day options to meet their needs.
A Day In the Life
Throughout the year, our teachers work with children to hone a number of skills, from recognizing letters and letter sounds and math readiness to gaining independence in self-help skills and interacting with peers in a positive manner, among others. Our 3 and 4-year-olds spend time in Computers, Science Lab, Gym and Music each week in addition to weekly chapel and daily Jesus Time to foster faith building.
Sample of 3K Daily Schedule
8:15 AM or 12:15 PM Welcome/Attendance/Table Time Activities
8:30 AM or 12:30 PM Large Group Time (Carpet - calendar/smart board, schedule “What’s the Plan Stan?”, sing songs related to our theme)
8:45 AM or 12:45 PM Story Time
9:00 AM or 1:00 PM Gym or Outside Time - Large motor (Galloping, running, skipping, balancing, bowling, hula hoops, cross lateral movement, scooters, balls-throwing, catching, kicking)
9:40 AM or 1:40 PM Music Class (weekly)/Science/STREAM Lab (monthly)
10:00 AM or 2:00 PM Bathroom/Wash hands/SNACK TIME
10:25 AM or 2:25 PM Show-n-Tell/Home-school connections
10:40 AM or 2:40 PM Small Group & Free Choice Learning Time (Theme, Art/Craft, Science, Games, iPads, Counting/Math/Patterning, Fine motor/tracing)
11:00 AM or 3:00 PM Jesus Time: Bible based curriculum
11:15 AM or 3:15 PM Dismissal
Sample of 4K Daily Schedule
8:15 AM or 12:15 PM Welcome/Attendance/Table Time Activities
8:30 AM or 12:30 PM Morning Meeting (music and movement, stories, games, counting days in school)
8:45 AM or 12:45 PM Teacher Directed Large Motor Activity (outside, gym, or motor room)
9:15 AM or 1:15 PM Music Class (weekly)
Science/STREAM Lab (monthly)
9:45 AM or 1:45 PM Bathroom/Wash hands/SNACK TIME
10:00 AM or 2:00 PM Large Group Skills (Art, science, math, and language activities)
10:30 AM or 2:30 PM Free Choice and Learning Centers
11:00 AM or 3:00 PM Jesus Time: Bible based curriculum
11:15 AM or 3:15 PM Dismissal
3K/4K Curriculum
During the course of the school year, thematic units are taught which often focus on the changes in God's world as we enter each season, holidays, science concepts and additional topics that help the children discover new things about themselves and the world in which they live. The thematic units vary in length due to the time of the year and the level of student interest.
Sample of 3K Thematic Units
Welcome to School
God Made Me/I am Special
Families
Fall
Fire Safety
Apples and Pumpkins
Shapes and Colors
Careers
Thanksgiving/Harvest
Advent-Jesus is Coming
Christ-the Savior is Born
Epiphany-the Visit of the Wisemen
Winter
Valentine's Day/Post Office
Alphabet Unit
Healthy Bodies/Dental Unit
Lent and Easter
Five Senses
Spring
Caterpillar/Butterfly
Sample of 4K Thematic Units
Welcome to School
God Made Me/I am special; Families
Apples
Colors, Shapes and Sizes
Five Senses
Construction and Transportation
Farm, food, nutrition
Thanksgiving and Christmas
Winter and Weather
Dental Health
Dinosaurs
Valentine’s Day
Zoo
Forest Animals of Wisconsin
Lent and Easter
Space
Beach/Ocean
Your child will:
- learn through the use of a variety of senses
- learn about a variety of occupations and careers through the use of special visitors, dramatic play area and a variety of books and manipulatives
- develop thinking skills in activities involving sorting, classifying, patterning, counting and matching
- gain experience in measuring and graphing
- engage in activities to foster numeral recognition skills
- participate in activities to enhance spatial awareness skills, such as doing puzzles and building with blocks
- engage in activities involving estimation and comparison skills
- demonstrate an understanding of self including uniqueness, personal needs and wellness
- use their natural curiosity and questioning to explore science in his/her everyday lives
- demonstrate an awareness of basic concepts including colors, sizes and shapes
- demonstrate an awareness of number sense through counting, recognition, and one-to-one correspondence
- be encouraged to use his/her inquisitiveness to help them explore areas of interest to them
- learn about differences between the various seasons in God's world
Special 3K and 4K Activities and Events
We also have some fun events throughout the year, including Christmas and End-of-the-Year programs, in addition to field trips, a week-long celebration for National Lutheran Schools Week and more:
Sample of 3K Special Events and Activities
Science Lab, Music Class, and Gym time
Outside/Playground time
Dramatic Play centers incorporated into thematic units Grandparent's Day
Class parties for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter
Class Picnic and Park Day
Teddy Bear Day
Pet Show Day
Career Day
Sample of 4K Special Events and Activities
Early childhood and all-school chapel
Science lab, music specialist, computer lab and gymnasium use
Dramatic play centers incorporated into thematic units
Class parties for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter
Christmas Service for families
Guest speakers and in-house educational programs for students
Painting With Parents
“Dad and me” or “Mom and me” events
Meals and Snacks
For 3K and 4K with Extended Care, breakfast, hot lunch and snacks are included in tuition. We serve breakfast between the hours of 6:00 – 8:30 a.m. Families are also more than welcome to bring breakfast for their child(ren) - we provide cups, spoons, napkins and milk. We have our own cook on staff who provides the children with nutritionally balanced snacks and a lunch. Lunch is served between 10:50 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and breakfast is served at 9:00 a.m. and snack at 3:00 p.m.
Summer Programs at HCLS
At HCLS, learning and fun don't have to end when the school year does. That's why we offer fun summer programming and care options for children from preschool through 5th grade with faith-based activities, field trips and more!
Click here to learn more about all of the wonderful things happening at HCLS this summer and see how your kids can get in on the action!
2018-19 Calendar
For important dates throughout the 2018-19 school year, including major school events, no school days and more, click here.
Take the Next Step
We want to meet you! To truly experience what makes Hales Corners Lutheran School so special, we invite you and your family to set up a school visit to meet us, see the learning space and get all of your questions answered. We are a family-friendly environment, so children are welcome! Please call the school office at 414-529-6701 to schedule your visit. Planning a visit is the first step of our Admissions process:
- Schedule a school visit
- Complete your admissions application
- Enroll your child
- Complete a tuition agreement
For additional details about our Admissions process, click here. For specific details about 3K, 4K and Extended Care rates for the 2018-19 school year at Hales Corners Lutheran School, click here. If you have any questions, contact Diane Shippell at dshippell@hcl.org or 414-529-6700.