New Families
Hero Banner Image
On behalf of our entire staff at Westerhold Early Learning Center, we warmly welcome you and your child to our school community. We understand that this is a significant milestone, and we are committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment for your child's first school experience.
SPARK
The Westerhold ELC create and sustain developmentally appropriate experiences for young children that strengthens child's intellectual dispositions and support their continuing success as learners and students.
PRESCHOOL FOR ALL
This program emphasizes the relationship among early childhood education, parenting education and involvement, and future success in school.
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION
The Westerhold ELC offers a continuum of special education services to meet the unique educational needs of the three to five year old students with disabilities.
PREVENTION INITIATIVE: BIRTH - AGE 3
This program provides early, comprehensive evidence-based child development and family support services to help families prepare their young children for later school success.
Welcome to the westerhold early learning center
We offer many preschool programs at the Westerhold Early Learning Center.
Each classroom is designed to provide a positive beginning school experience for all children.
Our mission is to provide a safe, secure environment in which children can grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. You must be a resident of School District 62 to enroll.
You must be a resident of School District 62 to enroll.For more information about enrolling your child in a preschool program at the Westerhold Early Learning Center please contact our front office at 847-824-1065.
WELC Expectations
To help students be successful in school, we provide clear and consistent expectations for behavior through a system called PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports).
This not only allows for success it helps support equitable practices.
The behavior expectations should be followed in all settings throughout the school day. On the bus, in the classroom, at lunch and recess. The expectations keep all students safe and attend to the their learning.
The guiding principles are for students to:
-
Engaging
-
Meaningful
-
Nurturing
-
SAFE Learning Environment
Early Learning Center Information
Jane L. Westerhold
Engage all students in learning that leads to academic growth, achievement, and readiness for high school, college, career, and life.
Student Handbooks
View our student handbook as webpages that can be translated using our tool located in the upper right corner of our website. You can also download a PDF copy that includes English, Spanish and Polish.
Parking and Traffic Safety
To ensure a safe and efficient drop off for your students, we want to remind you of a few important things:
Extended Day Kindergarten
The EDK was developed to provide an extension of the district 62 kindergarten program. This program is built on a foundation of the Illinois Early Learning Standards that align with the kindergarten state expectations.
Registration
The District 62 SPARK Early Childhood tuition based program will be holding preschool registration for the 2025-2026 school year starting on Monday, February 3, 2025 at the Westerhold Early Learning Center.
Learning Links
Our family centered, literacy rich environment offers a variety of literacy experiences and materials that can be checked out for use at home.
Food Services / Menus
CCSD62 participates in the USDA sponsored nutrition program and is committed to the overall wellbeing of children. We serve meals that are convenient, economical and healthy. Our menus are designed to provide good nutrition and variety for our students.
Health/Nurse
Mary Fitzpatrick
School Nurse
847-824-5781
Amy Kelly
Health Clerk
847-824-5620
Fax Number: 847-824-8225
Library info
The Des Plaines Library offers many options for students in our school district.
Health/safety
Your student's health and safety is our top priority here at Terrace Elementary school.
• Report a safety concern tip
• Report a harassment, intimidation and bullying tip
• Crisis and prevention information for families