Walled Lake Parenting Education Fair 2012 (3/3)

What: Parenting Education Fair 2012
When: Saturday, March 3rd
Time: 7:30am - 3:45pm
Where: Walled Lake Northern High School (6000 Bogie Lake Road, Commerce Township, MI)
Who: Parents (childcare is available)
Cost: $12/person  if preregistered  or $15/person at the door (childcare is $3 for one or $5 total for more than one)

Mark your calendars for the 20^th Annual Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Parenting Education Fair on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Walled Lake Northern High School from 7:30am to 3:40pm.  There were will tons of parenting topics including:

• Behavior and management of gifted children
• Sports and children's chiropratic health
• Helping your grow-up with a healthy self-concept
• Good nutrition
• The art of roughhousing
• And more!

There will also be a keynote speaker, Jim Fay, renowned author of Love and Logic. To purchase your tickets or for more information, please visit here.  Online registration will be available through 2/24/12.

Box lunches and child care are available for this event. Each box lunch is $8.00.  Child care for 1 child is $3.00 and $5.00 for more than one and includes pizza and snacks.

Premiere Preschool Open House (1/9)

What: Premiere Prechool Open House
When: Monday, January 9th
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Where:  Premiere Preschool - Commerce Campus
2905 S. Commerce Rd.
Commerce, MI 48390 (map)
Located inside Shepherd of the Lakes Church
Phone: (248) 669-0230  
Cost: Free

If you have a child that will be entering preschool this coming fall, then you might want to head over to Premiere Preschool's Open House.  This event is this coming Monday, January 9th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  This is a great local preschool, so you'll definitely want to check it out!

Preschool Open House - Milford Library (1/21)

What: Preschool Open House
When: Saturday, January 21st
Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
Where: Milford Public Library Community Room
Cost: Free

If you have a little one that you will be enrolling in preschool for Fall of 2012, you might want to stop by the Preschool Open House at the Milford Public Library on January 21st!  Milford and Huron Valley area preschool providers will be on hand to highlight what their facilities have to offer parents and their preschoolers.  If you are a parent or guardian getting ready to send your child off to preschool, you will not want to miss this opportunity. No registration required.  Drop in anytime between 10:30am and 1:30pm.

Preschools

Choosing a Preschool for your child can be both an exciting and daunting process.  There are many factors that go into choosing a preschool that will work for you and your child including the schedule, location, cost and classroom size, just to name a few.  It is definitely a good idea to start looking around early so you can find a school that meets both your needs and your child's.  Many preschools fill up early due to limited space, so it's never too early to start looking!

When I started looking around for a preschool for my child, I had a hard time finding out the names of the local preschools and information about them.  I started learning mostly from word-of-mouth about many of  the options out there.  I hope this list not only makes you aware of the preschools in area, but also helps answer some of your questions about them.  Below, I have put together a list of Preschools to help you start your hunt for the best school for you and your child!

• Friends Preschool (Milford) *new*
• Peanut Patch Preschool (Walled Lake)
• Premiere Preschool (Commerce) *new*
• Treasure Box Preschool (Walled Lake)
• Walled Lake Preschools

If you know of any local preschools that I have missed that you would like to see added to the list, please send an email to raisingwixom@gmail.com.  Thanks!

Premiere Preschool (Commerce)

Image from Premiere Preschool

Premiere Preschool is located in Commerce, just across the street from Walled Lake Central High School.  This preschool offers great organization and parent/teacher communication, along with individualized learning for your child.  Many parents that I have spoken to were very impressed with the amount that their child learned throughout the school year at Premiere.  Not only is the communication great between the teachers and parents, Premiere allows each child to progress according to their needs, with a focus on individualized learning.  Premiere also offers a variety of field trips, community service projects and holiday parties for your child to participate in throughout the school year!

Address: map
2905 S. Commerce Rd.
Commerce, MI 48390

Phone: (248) 669-0230

Email: www.contactus@premierepreschool.com

Website: http://www.premierepreschool.com

Fees:

• Registration Fee: $40 (non-refundable)

Tuition Rates:

• Regular Day
• 3-Year Old Annual Tuition*: $1,050
• 4-Year Old Annual Tuition*: $1,580
• Extended Day
• 3-Year Old Annual Tuition*: $1,890
• 4-Year Old Annual Tuition*: $2,840

Schedule Options:

• 3-Year Old (Regular Day):
• T/Th mornings (9:30am-12:00pm)
• T/Th afternoons (12:30am-3:00pm)
• 4-Year Old (Regular Day):
• M/W/F mornings (9:30am-12:00pm)
• M/W/F afternoons (12:30am-3:00pm)
• 3-Year Old (Extended Day):
• T/Th (9:30am-2:00pm)
• 4-Year Old (Extended Day):
• M/W/F (9:30am-2:00pm)

Length of School Year: 35 weeks (from Sept 12 - June 8)

Snacks: Provided

Playground: No, but the children have gross motor time everyday and have the opportunity to play outside if the weather permits.

Maximum Classroom Size:

• 3-Year Old Class: 19 students
• 4-Year Old Class: 19 students

Child:Teacher Ratio:

• 3-Year Old Class: ~6:1
• 4-Year Old Class: ~6:1

Other Information:

• There is also a Kinder Academy program available for children ages 4-5 that will be entering Kindergarten the following school year.  This class meets M/W/F from 9:30-2pm and T/TH from 12:30-3pm.  The annual tuition rate is $3,880, plus a $40 non-refundable registration fee.
• Premiere also offers a variety of week-long camps throughout the summer ranging from sports to science camp!  For more information, visit here.

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* Annual Tuition Rates are based on the following assumptions:

• 3-Year Old Regular Day Annual Tuition: Assumes (2) 2.5-hour classes per week.
• 4-Year Old Regular Day Annual Tuition: Assumes (3) 2.5-hour classes per week.
• 3-Year Old Extended Day Annual Tuition: Assumes (2) 4.5-hour classes per week.
• 4-Year Old Extended Day Annual Tuition: Assumes (3) 4.5-hour classes per week.
• Assumes "Auto-Pay" payment option is used, which is the most cost-effective option.
• Based on 2011-2012 rates.

Friends Preschool (Milford)

Friends Preschool in Milford combines a traditional style program and a Montessori philosophy with a Christian base for your child.  Friends offers flexible scheduling, so you can choose the number of days per week and which days of the week your child will attend school.  In addition to the child's main classroom, they will also get to use the large outdoor playground, along with an art room.  Friends offers many field trips throughout the year and also hosts numerous holiday & seasonal parties!

Address: map
1200 Atlantic Street
Milford, MI 48381

Phone: 248-684-6086

Email: friendspreandk@gmail.com

Website: http://www.milfordfriends.com

Fees:

• Registration Fee: (non-refundable)
• $100 for new families
• $50 for returning families
• Material Fee: $50 for children turning 4 by November 30th of current school year

Tuition Rates:

• 3-Year Old Preschool Annual Tuition*: $1,035
• 4-Year Old Preschool Annual Tuition*: $1,590

Schedule Options:

• 3-Year Old: (above tuition rates assume 2 sessions)
• M T W Th F mornings (9:00am-11:30pm)
• M T W TH afternoons (12:30pm - 3:00pm)
• 4-Year Old: (above tuition rates assume 3 sessions)
• M T W Th F mornings (9:00am-11:30pm)
• M T W TH afternoons (12:30pm - 3:00pm)

Length of School Year:  September 6 - June 6

Snacks: Provided, allergy free

Playground: Yes, outdoor

Maximum Classroom Size:

• 3-Year Old Class: 15 students
• 4-Year Old Class: 23 students
  

 
Child:Teacher Ratio: 

• 3-Year Old Class: 5:1
•  4-Year Old Class: 5:1 

Other Information:  Friends also offers the following classes:

• Kindergarten Classes - There are currently 7 Kindergartners enrolled in this program which used A Beka, Hooked on Phonics, Hand Writing Without Tears and American Education Publisher's curriculum with Montessori materials.
• Spanish Classes - are offered Fridays from 11:45am - 12:30pm and on Wednesday's from 12:15 - 1:00pm. Classes are offered through Billingual Fun in the Community.
• Parent Tot Classes - are offered Friday mornings from 10:00-11:30am.  It includes free play, music, rhythm instruments, finger plays, stories, projects and snack. The fee is $10 per class that you are able to attend.

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* Annual Tuition Rates are based on the following assumptions:

• 3-Year Old Regular Day Annual Tuition: Assumes (2) 2.5-hour classes per week.
• 4-Year Old Regular Day Annual Tuition: Assumes (3) 2.5-hour classes per week.
• Assumes "One- Payment" option is used, which is the most cost-effective option.
• Based on 2011-2012 rates.

Get Ready for School!

School starts in less than one week - are you ready?  Many of us parents are stressing out over the last minute details of school, such as bus schedules, class lists and more.  I have put together a list of helpful hints and information to help you get through this last week as stress-free as possible:

• Class List/Teacher - Will be posted on the doors of most local (Walled Lake) schools starting Thursday, September 1st.  You can also find out the teacher by logging onto the Skyward Family Access page here (you'll need a login and a password, which can be requested if you don't already have one).
• Bus Schedules - are already listed on the Walled Lake Schools website.  You can find them here (just find click on the link for your child's school).
• Clothes - Of course you can shop at all the local retailers for clothes, but if you're looking to save a little, why not try a used clothing store or local mom-2mom sale?  Here are a few of my favorites:
• Baby Baby in Northville
• Once Upon a Child in Novi
• mom2mom Sales: (for a complete list, please go here)
• Farmington Area Mom's Club (9/16)
• Plymouth/Canton MOMS Club (9/24)
• St. Matthew Hearts & Hands CCDC, Wixom (10/8)
• South Lyon MOMS Club (10/15)

•  School Lunches - Please take a look at this great article on "Ten Tips for Packing a Nutritious Lunch".

Another tip is that just because school is starting soon, doesn't mean you have to run out and buy all your children's clothing right away.  You probably have another month before temperatures start getting cool enough to put away the summer clothes for good.  Use that time to your advantage to wait for big mark-downs and sales after school begins!