Des Plaines Park District Creative Corners Preschool Graduates 48

The Des Plaines Park District Creative Corners Preschool graduated forty-eight students on Thursday, May 16 in the Prairie Lakes Theater. As the children received their diplomas, Preschool Director Margaret Nuscher announced what the children want to be when they grow up. 

"We have eleven who want to be teachers this year, the most in many years, and four who want to be policemen like their fathers,” Nuscher said. We have three prospective artists and one architect. Three of our graduates want to dance and two want to play professional sports. The rest of the children think being a baker, doctor, farmer, rockstar, parent, singer, candy maker, pastor, clothes designer, barrista, singer, firefighter, super hero, zoo keeper, construction worker, or a princess is the perfect choice for them. Our students always amaze their parents by selecting careers from stories, visits from professionals, or simply, their imagination.” 

The graduation ceremony included the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Ava Roback and Matthew Jackson, carrying the flag; welcome speeches by Samantha Joseph, Nina Kozlik, and Abigail Scott; a presentation of the alphabet by Eric Pabian; songs, including “It's Time to Graduate” and “Oh, What a Miracle;” and a farewell speech by Keira Papaleka, Sophie Piekarski, and Ava Roback.  “The children are ready for kindergarten,” Nuscher said. “We have traveled to outer space, explored the rain forest, turned the classroom into a pizza parlor, sailed a sailboat, pitched a tent, laughed, learned, and played.” 

Eight of the graduates will attend kindergarten at Iroquois Community School in the fall of 2013. Seven will attend South, five will attend Terrace, four each will attend Orchard Place and Forest, three will attend North, and two each will attend Cumberland and Central. The rest will go to private schools or schools outside District 62. "Beyond the scholastic training of letters and numbers, color and shapes, we teach social interaction and independence." Nuscher said. "Today, very few children attend kindergarten without some kind of preschool foundation, and our job is to give then a good start and teach them to love school," she said. 

For more information on The Des Plaines Park District Early Education Classes, call 847-391-5700 or visit www.DPParks.org.