ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
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  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • Our Mission, Vision, Beliefs
    • Our Principal
    • Our Team
    • Employment Opportunities
  • ADMISSIONS
    • Why St. Mary's?
    • K - 8 Registration
    • Preschool Registration
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Registration Dates
  • ACADEMiCS
    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
    • Fine Arts
    • Classroom Pages
    • Partner with Us
  • STUDENT LIFE
    • SMS Extracurricular
    • SMS Athletics
    • Co-op Athlete Registration
    • Practice Schedule
    • Sports Live Stream
  • ALUMNI
  • VOLUNTEERS
  • NEWS & EVENTS
    • Weekly Bulletin
    • Calendars
      • School Calendar
      • Church/School Combined Calendar
      • Subscribe to Google Calendar
    • Kevin Casson Tournament
    • Quick Draw
    • Upcoming Events
    • 2023 Golf Outing
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Little Disciples Preschool


anchor: RegisterHere
SCHEDULE A VISIT
NEW FAMILIES ENROLL HERE
CURRENT FAMILIES ENROLL HERE
Welcome
Enrollment Information
New Family Checklist
Tuition
Preschool Staff
Frequently Asked Questions
Supply List
Health Requirements
Handbook & Forms
Welcome
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Little Disciples Preschool provides full-day preschool to three, four, and five-year-old children. We believe in celebrating the innocence of early learners and encouraging their sense of wonder. Little Disciples Preschool will prepare children for their academic journey. Children will learn the culture of school in a structured, inclusive environment and have the opportunity for intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth. ​
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We are so thankful for the preschool program these last few years.
Both our boys love going to school because the teachers make it fun, which makes them want to go back everyday. ​We, as parents, can see how much they have grown, and how they have a newfound love for learning.

Kathy Owens,  1st Grade and PreK parent

​PreK, K, & 6th grade parent
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Enrollment Information
We do not have any openings for the 2023-2024 school year.
​Please email
Karen Jones or Danielle Gill if you have any questions or would like to be placed on our waiting list.
PreK4:
​Online Registration for new families for the 2024-2025 school year begins January 10, 2024.  Applications will be evaluated on January 11 and prioritized according to the Admission Priority below. Your child has not been accepted until you receive an email confirming acceptance and prompting you to complete step 2 of the enrollment process. All Admission Requirements listed below must be fulfilled for an application to be accepted.
PreK3: 
We try to enroll as many four-year-old children as possible to help them prepare for kindergarten. If all 20 spots in the class are not filled by four-year-old's, we will begin online registration for three-year-old children on April 3, 2024. Applications will be evaluated on March 4 and prioritized according to the Admission Priority below. Your child has not been accepted until you receive an email confirming acceptance and prompting you to complete step 2 of the enrollment process. All Admission Requirements listed below must be fulfilled for an application to be accepted.
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Admission Requirements:
  • Child must be 4 by September 1 to enroll in PreK 4 program
  • Child must be 3 by September 1 to enroll in PreK 3 program
  • Child must be fully potty-trained; pull-ups are not allowed.
  • New families must schedule a visit before applying​
No child shall be refused admission on the basis of religion, race, gender, or ethnic origin.
Admission Priority:
In order to remain fair to St. Mary’s parishioners and employees, while providing a Catholic education to as many Catholic students as possible, the following priority list will be used for enrollment to Little Disciples Preschool:​
  1. Children whose parents are employees of St. Mary’s Church or School.
  2. Children whose siblings are already attending St. Mary's School & whose parents are practicing Catholic parishioners of St. Mary's Church.
  3. Children of practicing Catholic parishioners of St. Mary's Church who are enrolling their first child.
  4. Children of practicing Catholic families from parishes that have no school of their own.
  5. Children of non-practicing Catholic families or children of non-Catholic families whose siblings already attend St. Mary’s School.
  6. Children of non-practicing Catholic families or children of non-Catholic families who are enrolling their first child.
* Practicing Catholic is defined as one who fulfills their Mass attendance obligations and regularly supports St. Mary’s Parish according to their means.
Register:
If all requirements have been met, including visiting the school, click on Apply Here at the top of this page and complete the following: 
  • Online registration packet
  • Pay $22 (per child) Facts Management account maintenance fee; payable online in the application packet (step 1).
  • Pay $100 (per child) Little Disciples Preschool registration fee; payable online in the enrollment packet (step 2).
  • Submit a copy of birth certificate (can be uploaded to the online packet).  
  • Submit a copy of IEP or 504 (if applicable).​
Acceptance will not be granted until registration requirements are met. All new students must have a current physical and immunization record on file in the school office by the first day of school.
Waitlist:
If registration exceeds capacity, names on the list will be prioritized according to the guidelines outlined above. In an effort to ensure that four-year-old children are prepared for kindergarten, all four-year-old children will be moved to the top of the waitlist. To join our waiting list, click Apply Here, then click 'Request Info/Tour'. Submit your information online and we will call you if a spot opens. If you are offered a spot, you will have 48 hours to accept or decline.
New Family Checklist
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Tuition
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Preschool Staff
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Carol Hepner
PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR
Email
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Danielle MacZura
Paraprofessional
Email
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Taryn Tissiere
paraprofessional
Email
Frequently Asked Questions
LITTLE DISCIPLES PRESCHOOL FAQ
 
Does my child have to be Catholic to attend Little Disciples Preschool?
No. Currently, 35% of our preschool students and 22% of our K-8 students are non-Catholic. All students will participate in religion classes and all spiritual activities as part of our curriculum.
Are scholarships available for tuition?
The full cost of educating a student at St. Mary’s School/Little Disciples Preschool is approximately $7,390 annually. By the generosity of our parishioners, the parish invests in each student resulting in a preschool base tuition rate of $4,080 per child.  
Are payment plans available?
Yes. Tuition and fees may be paid in one, two, ten, or twelve installments. All payments are made to FACTS Management.
How do I get up-to-date information or calendar changes?
A weekly bulletin is emailed to each family every Thursday. You will also receive texts and emails from our Facts Parent Alert System.
What are the hours of the school day?
Our day begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:00. Students can be dropped off anytime between 7:30 – 8:00 in the morning.
What door do I drop my child off at in the morning? 
All PK – 8th grade students enter through the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) doors from the parking lot. Preschool students are dismissed from the preschool doors on Chicago Street.
What is the dress code?
Children should be dressed in comfortable, washable clothing that he/she can manage in the bathroom. Please be aware of buttons, zippers and dresses that are difficult for little ones to manage. Sandals and flip-flops are not permitted.
What about lunch?
Students can bring a sack lunch or order hot lunch, which is brought over from Central School. Milk and juice can also be ordered each day. All charges for milk and lunches will be billed to your FACTS account. Lunch money should be paid online to FACTS.
Does my child have to be potty-trained?
Children must be fully potty-trained to attend Little Disciples Preschool. To be fully potty-trained means not having consistent accidents. Our preschool program expects parent cooperation with their child’s bathroom readiness. Pull-Ups are not allowed.
Will my child have outside play time?
Weather permitting, children will go outside. Please send them in appropriate outerwear.
What is required to be a volunteer at the school?
All volunteers must complete the requirements of the Safe Environment Program as mandated by the Diocese of Peoria. See our website for complete details.

                                                                                                       Updated 7/10/23                                                                 
Print
Supply List
2023-2024 School Supply List
Health Requirements

Health Exam required for all
​new PreK students:

Health Examination Form
Handbook & Forms
Little Disciples Preschool Handbook 2023-2024
Statement of Faith Form required for all families.
Statement of Faith Form
Bus Form required if your child will be riding the bus.
Dist. 429 Bus Form
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
MRS. KAREN JONES,  PRINCIPAL
414 N. MAIN ST., PONTIAC, IL 61764
PHONE (815) 844-6585   FAX (815) 844-6987
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SCHEDULE A VISIT
Our Mission, Vision & Beliefs
Employment Opportunities​
Enroll
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Contact Us
  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • Our Mission, Vision, Beliefs
    • Our Principal
    • Our Team
    • Employment Opportunities
  • ADMISSIONS
    • Why St. Mary's?
    • K - 8 Registration
    • Preschool Registration
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Registration Dates
  • ACADEMiCS
    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
    • Fine Arts
    • Classroom Pages
    • Partner with Us
  • STUDENT LIFE
    • SMS Extracurricular
    • SMS Athletics
    • Co-op Athlete Registration
    • Practice Schedule
    • Sports Live Stream
  • ALUMNI
  • VOLUNTEERS
  • NEWS & EVENTS
    • Weekly Bulletin
    • Calendars
      • School Calendar
      • Church/School Combined Calendar
      • Subscribe to Google Calendar
    • Kevin Casson Tournament
    • Quick Draw
    • Upcoming Events
    • 2023 Golf Outing