Maple Methodist Preschool

Maple Methodist Preschool A positive attitude toward learning is developed by presenting tasks for the children that they can enjoy and master. Our preschool is a play-based model.

Maple Methodist Preschool (formerly First United Methodist Preschool) has been providing an inviting learning environment for 50 years and is committed to helping each child discover, affirm, and develop the marvelous gift of his or her life. Maple Methodist Preschool (formerly First United Methodist Preschool) in Downers Grove, Illinois helps two, three, and four year old children build self-conf

idence through interaction with others and discovery. Children are encouraged to respect the rights and views of others while making decisions for themselves. Blocks, puzzles, paints, play-dough, climbing equipment, stories, songs, rhythms and dramatic play all contribute to a day of learning and growth. Activities are held in the classrooms, activity room, and outdoors. Our Mission Statement:

We believe that childhood is sacred and should be preserved. We believe that children’s brains develop through their active, self-directed, hands-on play. We believe that our role is to provide a classroom that fosters curiosity and creativity through exploratory play. We honor children for the unique individuals they are, growing and developing in their own way and time.

Our PreK classes went Under the Sea, learning about the things that live in the ocean.  We had VIP guests join us to do ...
02/26/2026

Our PreK classes went Under the Sea, learning about the things that live in the ocean. We had VIP guests join us to do puzzles, make sea scenes with loose parts, and make guyotaku fish prints. We reviewed our starting letter sounds with sea animals, and we did an experiment with carrots in water, adding salt to one to see how it made the carrot float. We made rainbow fish using colored tape, tested items to see if they sink or float, and painted colorful fish.

Happy New Year from all of us at Maple Methodist Preschool!
01/01/2026

Happy New Year from all of us at Maple Methodist Preschool!

Merry Christmas to all our preschool friends and families!
12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to all our preschool friends and families!

Preschool RegistrationRegistration for the 2026-2027 school year will begin on Sunday, January 11.  We will have an open...
12/22/2025

Preschool Registration
Registration for the 2026-2027 school year will begin on Sunday, January 11. We will have an open house from 2:00 to 3:30 pm and families can register at that time. Teachers and current parents will be available to give you a tour of the classrooms and answer any questions you may have. If you can't make the open house, we can arrange a tour at a separate time. Please contact Nancy Bifulco, Maple Methodist Preschool Director, at [email protected] with questions or to schedule a tour.

We had a castle in our home living area during our PreK fairy tale unit.  We dressed up as knights and royalty, defended...
10/23/2025

We had a castle in our home living area during our PreK fairy tale unit. We dressed up as knights and royalty, defended the castle, and sat down for high tea. We read "The Gingerbread Man," "Little Red Riding Hood," and "The Frog Prince."

The PreK class had a unit on Fairy Tales.  We read about Jack and the Beanstalk, and then we planted our own seeds in cu...
10/16/2025

The PreK class had a unit on Fairy Tales. We read about Jack and the Beanstalk, and then we planted our own seeds in cups. We also planted beans in a view planter, where we can see the roots growing below the surface. We learned about the life cycle of bean plants, putting the steps in order.

Mrs. Wilmoth had a great summer.  Here is her report:Summer break was filled with a lot of family time, a lot of experie...
10/11/2025

Mrs. Wilmoth had a great summer. Here is her report:

Summer break was filled with a lot of family time, a lot of experiences, and a lot of fun! My husband (Keith), my 2 girls (Maddie & Avery) and I started the summer off by spending a weekend in Lake Geneva to check out the water park at Timber Ridge Resort. We also took our annual trip to St. Joseph, MI for beach time! My girls and I were so excited to see the Beauty and the Beast musical too—seeing musicals is one of our favorite things to do together! In between our trips, we filled our days with pool time, bike riding, zoo adventures, walks in downtown Downers Grove for ice cream, spending a lot of time with cousins, exploring new parks, and shopping in Long Grove. My summer break concluded with my Mom getting re-married surrounded by our immediate family—it was a very special time!

One of our first units each fall focuses on apples.  We paint them, count and sort them, and even make applesauce with t...
10/09/2025

One of our first units each fall focuses on apples. We paint them, count and sort them, and even make applesauce with them! There is nothing better than the smell of freshly cooked applesauce. And it tastes great, too!

Here is another summer report from Mrs. Haemmerle:I always enjoy summer break, and it was certainly a fun one.  In June,...
10/03/2025

Here is another summer report from Mrs. Haemmerle:

I always enjoy summer break, and it was certainly a fun one. In June, one of my sons and his family visited us from Philadelphia for two weeks. I had the best time doing a variety of activities with three of my grandchildren. We did a one-day camp at Lyman Woods, had many visits to the splash pad, took the train into the city, went to the Children’s Garden at the Arboretum, did lots of crafts, and much more. It was a very special two weeks. During these two weeks, our family had two weddings that we all attended, so I also had an opportunity to see my other out-of-town kids for a brief visit. It was wonderful.
In late July, we welcomed another grandchild into our family. My husband and I traveled to Rochester, Minnesota to visit the new baby and his two-year-old big sister. Another very special time together.
Finally, my husband and I spent a few days in Door County, Wisconsin in early August. It’s a place we frequently visited before and after having our children, so again, we had a wonderful time in a very special place. We spent a lot of time outdoors and eating at some great restaurants.
It was an enjoyable summer, and I made some amazing memories.

We are so happy to be back at school!  The teachers had a wonderful summer and several of us have written our reports of...
10/01/2025

We are so happy to be back at school! The teachers had a wonderful summer and several of us have written our reports of what we did over the summer. We're a little late posting, but they are fun to see. First up is Mrs. Lampugnano:

I had a great summer! It started with summer camp that was a blast with such a fun group. After that I spent the summer staying busy with my three boys. We were outside as much as possible with many bike rides, pool visits, fishing, and small trips like the Milwaukee zoo, Indianapolis children’s museum and Six Flags Great America. We ended the summer with a Savannah Bananas game!

It may be summer, but the staff at Maple Methodist Preschool is thinking about fall.  We have openings for classes that ...
07/07/2025

It may be summer, but the staff at Maple Methodist Preschool is thinking about fall. We have openings for classes that start at the end of August. We would love to give you a tour, talk about our play-based program, and answer any questions you may have. Please contact Nancy Bifulco, preschool director, at [email protected] or 630-968-7120 x 2004. Check out our website at maplemethodistpreschool.org.

Address

1032 Maple Avenue
Downers Grove, IL
60515

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:30am - 11:05am
12:10pm - 2:40pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 11:05am
12:10pm - 2:40pm
Thursday 8:30am - 11:05am
12:10pm - 2:40pm
Friday 8:30am - 10:30am

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