Class Descriptions

(Students must be identified age for each program by August 1, 2025)

Explore with Me: Grownup + Child Preschool Class that is designed specifically for children aged 12-24 months. Young toddlers have a newfound interest in the world around them and their curiosity is endless. In Explore with Me toddlers will enjoy activities involving fine motor skill development, sensory play, exploratory art, and a language rich story time. Grownups and children will explore topics such as colors, shapes, seasons, holidays, and animals together. All sensory activities have been designed as taste safe (but not always TASTY) for curious little learners that still put everything in their months. AM 1: 9-10:00am | AM 2: 10:30-11:30am

Learning Together: Grownup + Child Preschool Class for students who are age 2. This class invites grownups and students to enjoy together fun, hands-on learning activities. Learning Together introduces students to the school environment and prepares them for when they attend Preschool independently. Learning Together students participate in gym once a week. Students attend school 2 days a week. A caregiver is required to stay and fully participate with their child in classroom activities and gym class. AM 1: 9-11:00am | AM 2: 11:30am-1:30pm

2 Day Preschool: This program is for students who are age 3. This is usually a student’s first year of preschool! In preschool classrooms, teachers equip students with problem-solving and self-help skills to prepare them for Pre-K or Kindergarten. Students learn how to be a student in a classroom setting while engaging in playful, hands-on activities while learning basic concepts such as the alphabet, colors, numbers, and shapes. 2 Day Preschool students participate in gym once a week. Students attend school half day two days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. AM: 9-11:30am | PM: 12-2:30pm

3 Day Preschool: This program is for students who are age 3. Students will attend school half day three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 3 Day Preschool students participate in gym once a week. AM: 9-11:30am | PM: 12-2:30pm. See 2 Day Preschool for additional information.

3 Day Pre-K: This program is for students who are age 4. Students in this program typically are either heading to kindergarten the following year or are considering doing an additional year of Pre-K (students would start kindergarten at age 6). Students in Pre-K programs engage in activities that are focused on getting students ready for kindergarten. Students expand on the alphabet by learning letter sounds, differentiating between upper and lower case, and begin identifying sound families. Mathematical concepts such as sorting, patterns, one to one correspondence, number sense, beginner addition and subtraction, measurement, money, and time are explored. 3 Day Pre-K students participate in gym once a week. Students attend half day three days a week on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. AM: 9-11:30am | PM: 12-2:30pm

5 Day Pre-K: This program is for students who are age 4. Students in this program typically are heading to kindergarten the following year. 5 Day Pre-K students participate in gym once a week. Students attend school half day Monday-Friday. AM: 9-11:30am | PM: 12-2:30pm. See 3 Day PreK for additional information.

Full Day Pre-K: This program is for students with a minimum 1 year of preschool experience and are age 4. Students in this program are heading to kindergarten the following year. In addition to extended time exploring standard Pre-K concepts students also experience classrooms that are modeled after typical kindergarten schedules and structure. Full Day students participate in gym twice a week and recess daily. Students attend school Monday – Friday from 9:00am-2:30pm.

Returning Students - January 13 at 6:00am
Preschool families will be provided with a link to complete a survey regarding their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for preschool. The Director of Early Learning will be manually registering returning families by Thursday, January 16, 2025. Registration fees (Supply Fee + First Month’s Tuition) are scheduled to be paid from their current preschool payment on file on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Crossroads YMCA Members - January 20 at 6:00am
Crossroads YMCA Members, who aren't currently enrolled, can register online or in person.

Crossroads YMCA Guests - January 27 at 6:00am
Crossroads YMCA Guest program participants can register online or in person.

Enrollment is open to all children without regard to sex, gender, race, color, creed, religious beliefs, financial status, or a child’s abilities. While located in the heart of the Crown Point School District, students are not required to be residents of Crown Point Schools to attend.

Enrollment can be completed via the Crossroads YMCA website, mobile Crossroads YMCA app, or in person at a Crossroads YMCA branch location.

Enrollment is a placeholder for your child’s preschool spot. Registration fees (first month’s tuition + one time supply fee) are due upon enrollment and required paperwork submitted within timelines listed below or the child’s first day of school (whichever comes first). Once the required paperwork and fees have been paid your student’s enrollment process at Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA Early Learning Academy will be complete! Failure to pay required fees or submit required paperwork within required time frames may result in the forfeit of your student’s spot. Registration fees are non-refundable.

Forms Due within 45 Days of registration:

• Registration packet, Birth Certificate, & Copy of Guardian’s Driver’s License
• Once enrolled the primary member in membership database will receive an invitation to the app/website Procare.
• Fillable PDF Registration Packet can be found under "DOCUMENTS" Tab in your students profile (pencil icon).
• Click here for directions on how to submit paperwork via Procare.
• Paper registration packets will not be accepted.

Forms Due NO LATER Than August 1, 2025:

• Health Form & Immunizations
• Health Form: We cannot accept substitutions for this form. Families must submit this exact form from the registration packet, completed by their child’s primary care physician.
• Health Form can be printed from registration packet (last 2 pages) or can be picked up at Main/West Desks at Southlake YMCA.

Preschool financial assistance is available to eligible families through resources outside of Crossroads YMCA and Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA Preschool to help cover the costs of early childhood education. Early Ed Connect is an easy-to-use online application that lets families apply for Indiana's child care assistance (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K programs. These programs help families get child care so they may work, attend training, or continue their education. The purpose of child care assistance is to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of child care. Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA Early Learning A will be accepting CCDF (Child Care Development Fund) and On My Way PreK Vouchers for 2025-2026 school year

Click here for directions on how to apply and required information to complete your application: https://brighterfuturesindiana.org/earlyed/apply-to-early-ed-connect
Click here to apply: https://earlyedconnect.fssa.in.gov/onlineApp/home