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St. Raymond's City of Little Saints home for preschool

St. Raymond School's early childhood education program has a whole new look and attitude for a new generation of preschoolers.

Over the summer, parents devoted countless hours to redesigning and redecorating the rooms in time for a new school year and they officially dedicated them on Sept. 16, complete with a blessing by the Rev. Bernie Pietrzak.

The St. Raymond pre-school program for 3- and 4-year-olds, now named "City of Little Saints," is housed in two classrooms, both of which have been set up using a town theme. The fully renovated classroom, which is being called "Learning Lane," contains six learning centers where children can freely explore their many interests.

One of the centers is a chapel which features a beautiful hand-painted mural of Jesus and a pint-sized church pew, modeled after the pews at St. Raymond Church.

Others include the "Construction Zone" for play with blocks, the "Reading Rest Stop" with a puppet theater, "Sensory Street" with a sand table and similar sensory activities, the "Games and Puzzles Parkway" for small group work, and "Imagination Alley" which changes from a kitchen, to a laundry room with clothesline, to a hospital for animals, to a grocery store. In December it will even become Mary and Joseph's stable.

"Children need order in their environment," explained Colleen Cunningham, early childhood director. "When left to their own devices they are always lining things up. So we divided the room into learning centers because it helps children in their play to know that this is where we do this and this is where we do that."

The second classroom, named "City Hall," is a gathering space which is being used for large group activities like story time, music and movement exercises, snack time and so forth.

In addition to building a miniature community in the classroom for preschoolers, St. Raymond is also working to strengthen preschool parents' sense of community at the school by initiating a series of evening parent education seminars featuring guest speakers.

"We want parents to know that there is a community willing to help them as they raise their children and St. Raymond's is that community," Cunningham explained.

The City of Little Saints will hold an Open House for prospective preschool families from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 21. For information, call (847) 253-8555.

River Trails Fests:ŒThe River Trails Park District has two fests planned for Saturday that you might want to check out.

Children should grab their art smocks and stop by the Clayground Art Studio, 550 Business Center Drive, between 9:30 a.m. and noon for the Children's Festival of Art where they can experience art for free.

Projects will range from freehand clay to rubber stamping and from tile painting and watercolors to pottery wheel use and more, according to Dianne Kovack, fine arts supervisor. For more information, call (847) 342-6653.

Then later that day, from 3 to 7 p.m., you can stop by the 10th Hole Bar and Grill, 505 E. Camp McDonald Road, for its Family Fest featuring a cookout, complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, roasted corn, chips and pop. There will even be a beer tent for the adults.

In addition to the food, there will be a marshmallow golf contest, a bean bag tournament, putting contest and a free raffle.

The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children between the ages of 3 and 10 years old. Phone (847) 483-5099.

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