Our Early Childhood Academy, which has been instructing children for eight years, is registering preschoolers for the 2018-19 school year at the Perry Township Education Center, 6548 Orinoco Ave., and Jeremiah Gray Elementary, 5225 Gray Road.
The academy equips children with the tools they need to grow and learn emotionally, socially and academically. Instruction will focus on each child’s individual needs and will follow these guiding principles:
• Creating a caring community of learners.
• Teaching to enhance development and learning.
• Planning curriculum to achieve important goals.
• Assessing children’s development and learning.
• Establishing reciprocal relationships with families.
Our preschool is ranked as a Level 3 provider by Paths to Quality, Indiana’s rating system for early care and education programs. The Level 3 designation recognizes our efforts to guide child development, kindergarten preparation and health and safety. The pre-K curriculum helps students develop literacy and math skills to ensure that they are ready to learn in kindergarten. It also introduces students to structure and builds their confidence in accepting new challenges.
We take incredible pride in the education our preschool staff provides. Our teachers are licensed and held to the same standards as the elementary and secondary teachers across the district. They receive professional development training and regular teacher evaluations.
Our rates are competitive. Tuition costs $160 per week. As a benefit to employees of Perry Township Schools, we offer a discounted tuition rate of $135 per week. Before- and after-school care are included at no additional fee. Before care begins at 6:30 a.m., while after care ends at 5:30 p.m.
Learning is fun for the students and staff at the academy. When our new students arrive at the academy location in July, they will be greeted by our newest teacher, Israel, the facility dog. With support from a Perry Township Education Foundation grant, the preschool received Israel from the Indiana Canine Assistant Network, which trains and places service dogs with people and organizations that need them.
Israel – affectionately known as “Izzy” – brings a smile to everyone he meets. He also has an important job: to help take care of our students, to comfort them and to teach them how to sit and focus. He also teaches students responsibility. They brush his coat and teeth, lotion his paws and walk him. But Izzy’s not all business. He also enjoys a game of fetch with a ball in our gym.
For more information on Izzy and preschool registration, visit
perryschools.org/ca/ or call 317-789-3900.