After announcing the addition of the Early Learning Center to Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 in December 2023 and several months of planning and renovation, the D123 ELC officially opened to its first class of 245 preschool students on Monday, August 26, 2024.
"We are thrilled to open the doors to our new District 123, state-of-the-art preschool, where innovation meets tradition,” Superintendent Dr. Paul Enderle said. “This new chapter builds upon District 123's rich legacy of educational excellence, ensuring that every child receives the nurturing, inspiring, and high-quality foundation they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world. The vision of building an early learning oasis in District 123 began almost a decade ago and now with the opening of the District 123 Early Learning Center, we are proud to have turned this vision into a reality. Today, we are excited and proud, but this is only the beginning. We remain committed to providing as many of the youngest learners in our community and their families with the best possible start on their educational journey."
It's especially fitting that in District 123’s 123rd year of operation, it’s opening the new ELC at Keeler Avenue and West 93rd St, right next to the Administrative Offices. This building has always functioned as a school in some capacity, most recently as PRIDE School and originally as Gaddis School which opened in 1956.
This new attendance center was made possible by the Early Childhood Construction Grant (ECCG), a $5 million grant from the Illinois Capital Development Board, which funded its construction and renovation. Additionally, D123 received a $360,000 Preschool for All (PFA) Early Childhood Block Grant to support staffing and program needs. These funds will help the District offer top-notch preschool education to our youngest learners, ensuring they’re ready for kindergarten.
The D123 preschool program has been intentionally designed to help children develop the academic, social-emotional, and core developmental skills they need to succeed as they enter their formal schooling years. The new center will provide high-quality education in a welcoming environment where every child and family feels they belong and can thrive.
Director of the ELC, Christine Fuller is excited to begin this journey and officially introduce the new school to the community. A paramount partnership between the staff, families, and community members will create a nurturing and caring environment for all who walk through the doors.
“Our vision is to provide each child with an exceptional educational experience in a welcoming and inclusive community. This experience, rooted in curiosity and play, will nurture their limitless possibilities for discovery and growth,” Fuller said. “Together we will create pillars for this vision and watch it all unfold with our early learners.”
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ELC Program Highlights:
- Curriculum: Our play-based, hands-on curriculum aligns with the Creative Curriculum and Illinois Early Learning Standards, covering pre-literacy, math, science, and social-emotional development.
- Supportive Environment: Each classroom will have a teacher, an assistant, and additional support staff, including social workers, speech and language pathologists, and occupational/physical therapists.
- Family Engagement: We’ll offer monthly family activities and parent education sessions.
- High-Quality Education: Our program focuses on individualized instruction and social-emotional learning to prepare students for kindergarten and future success.
A special ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 10:30 am.
