Holy Family Elementary is excited to announce its expanded Early Childhood program, Precious Creations. The current preschool program will be upgraded to a 5-day four-year-old preschool offering both half and full day options with the addition of a 3 year-old program offering both half and full day options for prospective families. With the current child care crisis in our community and hearing the needs of families for all day preschool options, school and preschool leadership were challenged to review the current preschool model and consider what changes could help meet community needs.
Principal Rachel Wentling and school taskforce members began exploring options in August, which included visiting other Catholic School early childhood programs, inquiring about local early childhood programs, and using the information to determine the best fit for Holy Family Elementary’s facilities and students. Last year the Hays Catholic Schools completed a strategic plan that included moving the 6th grade, currently located at Holy Family Elementary, to TMP-Marian Junior High, and expanding the HFE Early Childhood program. With the move of 6th grade from the HFE campus, the vacated classroom space allows for the expansion.
Enrollment of the four-year-old preschool is capped at 44 students, 22 in the morning program and 22 in the afternoon program. The three-year-old program will enroll up to 12 students. A total of 18 full day positions are available and will be a combination of the three and four year old preschool students in the afternoon offering lunch, rest time, structured and free play activities after the morning curricular instruction. Pre-enrollment for Precious Creations opens Monday, January 9th, and Holy Family Elementary will offer an Open House on Thursday, January 19th at 5:30 pm. Interested parents and students are invited to attend a brief presentation and then meet with members of the staff and explore the school, or they can visit www.hfehays.org or call the school for more information.
“It is an exciting time at Holy Family Elementary! Our preschool has always been known for its excellence in Kindergarten readiness and faith formation of our youngest children, and we are pleased to offer a three-year old program again as well as an all day option to help meet the child care needs of our community. Our students continue to excel academically, social-emotionally, and spiritually, and by expanding our early childhood options we can help create an even stronger foundation for success in school and in their faith lives,” said Principal, Rachel Wentling.
