First Baptist Church of Oak Park
Preschool and Kindergarten and After School Care
Our goal is to serve the families and community by providing the best quality education and developmentally appropriate curriculum to children.
Our program provides an atmosphere of love, understanding, and respect to the welfare and personality of the children, foremost in every respect.
We are in our ninth decade of dedicated service to the community as a teaching and caring center for children ages two through twelve. Founded as a Pre-Kindergarten in 1927, we have grown to a school licensed to the capacity of 120 students. Our school meets the requirements established by the Department of Children and Family Services of the State of Illinois, the Oak Park Village Board of Health, and the Oak Park Fire Department. These requirements set standards for organization, administration and professional staff, varied curriculum, proper nutrition, maintenance of safety standards, and well-designed facilities.
We are assessed yearly by Illinois Quality Counts to improve and maintain our star rating. We currently uphold our Star Level 2 rating. Visit Illinois Quality Counts online for more information about their Quality Rating System.
Our Mission
To serve the community by providing quality education and developmentally appropriate curriculum to children with an atmosphere of love and understanding. We place the welfare and personality development of our children foremost in every respect.
Schedule a Visit
Year round open enrollment • Hours of operation: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM • Call to visit: 708-383-1190
Our Learning Curriculum
Reading Readiness
During Circle Time we read, learn phonics and sight words, and do daily projects that focus on reading and writing readiness. After School Program students have daily silent reading, homework time and homework help.
Math and Number Readiness
By exploring quantity, size, and shape, our Math and Number Readiness curriculum builds the foundation for later abstract mathematical learning for our students.
Spanish
Ms. Chely, originally from Chile and Head Teacher of the Sunshine Room (3-4 year olds), teaches a Spanish Language Program that infuses music and movement. Fun and engaging for the children at First Baptist Preschool and Kindergarten, they look forward to their Spanish lessons!
Nature and Science Centers
Children are naturally curious. These centers provide many hands-on opportunities for children to investigate the natural world around them.
Music and Movement
Dancing and exercise, with the use of music and rhythm instruments, is included in our daily curriculum, as well as singing during Circle Time and Clean Up Time.
Dramatic Play
Each classroom has a Dramatic Play Center where children can begin to understand the world around through make believe, telling stories, and talking about their ideas. This area provides the opportunity for children to develop their social skills.
Art
Our children create daily art projects designed for learning colors, shapes, fine motor control, and self-expression.
Sand and Water Centers
While experimenting with sand and water, children learn about measurements, and natural science, and can be an effective calming experience.
Block Center
Our popular classroom Block Centers help our students learn about math concepts, space, balance, shapes and sizes while having fun.
Collaboration and Cooperation
Children love playing together and making new friends. They are encouraged to collaborate with each other to keep the classroom tidy, transition to the next activity, make choices during free play time, and work together during every classroom activity.
Educational Field Trips
First Baptist Preschool takes education field trips that enhance classroom curriculum. Field trips include visits to the Children's Theatre, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and other excited places in Chicago.
A Basic Christian Education
This is an integral part of the overall curriculum. Bible stories, music, related arts and crafts, and dramatic play are offered in a developmentally appropriate manner.
After School Program
Our After School Program provides a healthy snack, homework help and tutoring, arts and crafts, open gym, games, and free play activities.
Our
Staff
Barbara Branch
Director of School • (708) 383-1190 • fbc820@yahoo.com
B.A. in Political Science from Denver University. Ms. Barbara was teacher and Assistant Director of Umoja House in Oakland, CA and also a mentor and tutor with Oakland Public Schools. Ms. Barbara has been Director of First Baptist Church School since 1997.
"I am committed to the nurturing and education of children. This is a lifelong passion."
Barbara Lanier
Office Administrator
Ms. Barbara has a B.A. in English and Theatre from Columbia College. She has previously managed two of Chicago's most prestigious theatres, the Blackstone and Shubert, managing and touring with numerous Broadway productions, among them Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
She loves organizing and managing theatre productions and working with children.
Rebekah Branch
Head Teacher/Assistant Director
Ms. Rebekah has been at First Baptist PK since 1998. She has her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and is the Head Teacher for the Rainbow Room.
Chely Leven
Head Teacher/Assistant Director
Originally from Chile Ms. Chely has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and is the Head Teacher of the Sunshine Room and also the Spanish teacher for the school. She has over nineteen years of experience in preschool and elementary school teaching. Ms. Chely has taught at First Baptist since 1995 and has been Assistant Director for eight years.
Erica Branch
Assistant Teacher/Rainbow Room
Ms. Erica has her A.S. in Science from Northwestern College. She has previously worked as an assistant teacher at First Baptist Preschool and Kindergarten and now enjoys managing the school kitchen. She loves children, telling humorus stories, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
Debra Smith
Head Teacher/Kindergarten Room
Ms. Debra brings over 30 years of early childhood education experience to her work in the Jr. Kindergarten/Kindergarten Room. Teaching children is her lifelong passion. She loves creative projects with her students and brings something new to the her classroom every day.
Ricardo Zela
Van Driver/Custodian/Maintenance
Mr. Ricardo's interests include reading, running, and foreign films.
Mary Caldwell
Assistant Teacher/Sunshine Room
Ms. Mary has been with First Baptist for 15 years, and is an assistant teacher in the Rainbow Room. She enjoys working with children and being part of the First Baptist staff.
Our Programs
123 Sesame Street Room
Ages 2-3 years. It isn't necessary for your child to be potty trained. We will work with your child to be potty-trained. Our loving classroom focuses on building social skills, increasing verbal expression, and having fun! We take field trips.
Sunshine Room and Friendship Room
3 to 4 year olds in the Sunshine Room work and play in small group settings. Spanish conversation, reading circle, amazing art projects, and fun field trips!
Rainbow Room
For 4 to 5 year olds. We teach reading and math readiness, phonetic awareness, Spanish conversation, numbers and alphabet, and field trips.
Kindergarten - 6th Grade After School Program
Free play, a healthy snack, homework time and homework tutoring provided. One-on-one reading and quiet reading time, arts and crafts, gym time, and field trips.
A healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided to full day participants in all of our programs. We provide before school care and take students to school in the morning in our vans. Pick up after school from Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, and Chicago schools.
We go on regular fun and educational outings to the Oak Park Main Library, Conservatory, Wonder Works Children's Museum, and much more!
Parent Testimonials
Sherie Brown
Mother of two First Baptist boys:
"It is with a grateful heart that I write this letter in recommendation of the exceptional service my family has received from the First Baptist After School Program. My boys were received with open arms. They have built friendships that will last beyond our time in the Oak Park community and for that we are grateful. I, as a mother, am most moved by the loving care with which my children have been treated. Being that I maintained a consistent travel schedule during the boys' time at First Baptist, it was a great comfort to know that they were being loved and cared for. The supportive staff made me feel so much more at ease through encouraging words, homework help, and activities with the boys: FUN activities and always a welcoming smile.
There are not enough words to express my sincere appreciation for the staff and faculty of First Baptist After School Program."
Cloe Lewis
Mother of one First Baptist child in the 123 Seseme Street Room:
"I am so happy that I found First Baptist Preschool and Kindergarten! I love the positive, uplifting environment; you can see and feel the love that the staff has for the children. I never thought I could feel so comfortable dropping my baby girl off to be cared for by people who are not family, but the staff has made me and my daughter feel at home. My daughter absolutely loves going to school and she does not want to leave at the end of the day! I am extremely grateful for the staff at First Baptist Preschool and Kindergarten.
Thank You All!"
Sean Bryant
Father of one First Baptist girl in the Rainbow Room:
"First Baptist has been great. My daughter looks forward to coming to school every day. She loves her teachers and they have always been very helpful and caring. I look forward to her continuing her education with First Baptist. I come to pick her up and she doesn't want to leave because she's having too much fun!"
Mafa Jean-Louis
Mother of two First Baptist boys:
"I love this school. My boys are crazy about the teachers here. This school really saved my kids. The best thing that happened to us in the past two years is First Baptist."
Ken Johnson
Father of two First Baptist girls in the 123 Room:
"First Baptist has really helped my daughters with their development. Their speech has really improved in their time here. There are a lot of activities and field trips that they really enjoy. The staff treats my daughters as their own: aka spoils them!"
Kim Smith
Mother of two First Baptist boys in the After School Program:
"First Baptist is more like a family environment than the traditional daycare setting. The staff really does go the extra mile so that the homework is not only done, but that the children understand it."
Matthew Paul
Father of a First Baptist girl in the Rainbow Room:
"My daughter really enjoys it here. Every day is a new experience, whether it's a lesson, meeting new people, or the activities."
Becki Zobel
Mother of two First Baptist children:
"They both love to come here and go to school. They have learned so many things over the past couple of years. I recommend the school to everyone I talk to about preschool and daycare. The teachers are very caring and consistent with the kids."
Rani Morrison
Mother of one First Baptist Child in the After School Program:
"My daughter has come to First Baptist and Kindergarten from the age of two through kindergarten. She returned here this summer for camp. The school has a nurturing, family environment. My daughter loves it here."
Emily Green
Mother of one First Baptist child:
"It is a family environment. My son is happy when he is here. I am very glad to see him happy and learning a lot of information. I have seen my son's social skills greatly improve here."
Helena Moody-Wilson
Mother of four First Baptist children:
"I am the mother for four children; two of which are in First Baptist; two which have graduated, only because of their age. I couldn't think of a better place for my children to be besides home because First Baptist is our second home."
Dana Fortner
Mother of two First Baptist girls:
"We are going to be moving and we wish we could take the First Baptist staff and the whole facility with us. The staff is very friendly and intuitive. They are like a second family. My kids feel safe here."
Jennifer Smith
Mother of one First Baptist child:
"I love it here. I love my daughter being here. She enjoys it and looks forward to coming. That's good to see your child happy."