Preschool Program-Bright Beginnings
SHOREWOOD RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Bright Beginnings Preschool focuses on the individual child, and provides an educational environment that stimulates and nurtures each child's unique growth potential. We provide numerous exciting and engaging thematic units throughout the year, allowing your child to freely explore and grow in important skill development areas, including: large and fine motor, language and literacy, science and math, art and music. Your child's social and emotional development is of prime importance. At Bright Beginnings we help each child grow in his or her feelings of self-worth, self-confidence, respect for and appreciation of others and love of learning and of school. Our curriculum reflects the most current understandings regarding child development and early education and embraces Shorewood School District curriculum goals.
For the 2025-2026 school year, your child must be at least 3 years old by October 31, 2025. If your child will be turning 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025, they are eligible for 4K.
WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL
At Bright Beginnings Preschool you will find:
- Classrooms designed specially for the preschool/kindergarten aged child
- Small class sizes
- Field trips to various locations including apple farm, and nature center
- Smooth transition to 4K
- Spring conferences and progress reports
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS CURRICULUM
The Bright Beginnings curriculum provides opportunities for creative thinking and independent expression to foster self-confidence. Our children experience rich sensory centers that encourage language development, math and reading readiness, and the development of large and small motor skills. The Preschool is based on current early educational recommendations and the Shorewood School District curriculum.
Art: children have opportunities to explore a variety of art materials as they learn about the world around them and express themselves creatively. We provide structured and unstructured experiences which enable the children to expand on and develop their understanding of our preschool curricular concepts.
Language Arts: Children engage in a wide variety of activities which develop and strengthen emerging early reading and writing skills. We immerse our students in a print-rich environment in which they have access to quality children's literature on a daily basis. We begin learning about the alphabet and letter sound connections.
Math: children learn math concepts through their exploration of materials in the classroom and through games and activities which focus on early math skills. Concepts that children explore in preschool include: counting, patterns, sorting, classifying, comparing, estimating, and problem solving.
Motor Skills: We offer children many opportunities to develop both large and small muscle skills. Children use materials such as beads, Unifix cubes and Legos to increase fine motor skills. Large motor development occurs as we practice skills such as hopping, skipping, jumping and throwing. In addition, we have daily access to a playground designed specifically for the preschool/kindergarten aged child.
Music: Music is an important aspect of each child's experience at Bright Beginnings Preschool. Songs are integrated throughout the day as a fun way to learn. Children have the opportunity to experience a variety of music and musical instruments as they participate in rhythm, beat and sound activities.
Science and Social Studies: Children explore the world around them and develop scientific inquiry by questioning, predicting, observing, comparing and describing. Preschool offers children a deeper understanding of the changing seasons and animal habitats, behavior and adaptations. Social Studies at the preschool level introduce basic concepts of self, family and community.
Atwater Bright Beginnings
SHARON MAIER, HEAD TEACHER
Sharon received a BS in Exceptional Education from UW-Madison in 1978, with concentrations in Early Childhood Exceptional Needs, Cognitive Disabilities and Behavioral/Emotional Disabilities; and she received Wisconsin teaching licenses in all three areas. Sharon worked for several years as a special education teacher for preschool-age children before taking a break to stay at home with her young children. Returning to teaching, Sharon earned a post-baccalaureate degree in Education and received Wisconsin teaching certification for Pre-K through grade three. Sharon has taught preschool, four-year-old kindergarten and first grade during the last several years in the Whitefish Bay, Shorewood and Oak Creek school districts. In 2004, Sharon welcomed the opportunity to design, plan and launch a brand new preschool program in Shorewood: Bright Beginnings Preschool. The 2004-05 school year was a very exciting and successful start to what has proved to be an exemplary program. Sharon's focus in teaching is the development of positive self concept and the encouragement of each child's natural love of learning. She achieves these goals by providing a stimulating, creative curriculum and classroom environment which enable each child to freely explore and grow intellectually and emotionally. Sharon has lived in Shorewood since 1983 and is proud of the excellent educations her two sons and two daughters received in the Shorewood schools, and is happy to be touching the lives of Shorewood's very youngest through Bright Beginnings.
LORRAINE BENT, TEACHING ASSISTANT
Lorraine has gained valuable experience working as a kindergarten teaching assistant on an American military base in Germany, where she lived over three years. She moved to Wisconsin in 2024, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and skills to support the educational and developmental needs of children. During her time in Germany, she worked closely with lead teachers to create a nurturing and structured learning environment, helping children develop key skills while navigating the challenges of a multicultural and mobile lifestyle. Her work focused on fostering social, emotional, and cognitive growth through hands-on activities, creative play, and individualized attention. Having worked with children from diverse backgrounds, she developed a strong ability to adapt to the unique needs of military families and support children through transitions with empathy and care. She is passionate about early childhood education and is committed to providing a stable, positive, and engaging classroom where every child feels valued and excited to learn. Her experience living in Germany and working on an international military base has given her a broad perspective and a deep appreciation for building inclusive, supportive learning communities.
Location: Atwater Elementary School, 2100 E. Capitol Drive, EEC Bldg, NE Corner
Teacher: Sharon Maier and Lorraine Bent
Classroom size: 14 students
2025-2026 School Year
Registration begins: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 for residents
Thursday, December 5, 2024 for non residents
Your child must be at least 3 years old by October 31, 2025. If your child will be turning 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025, they are eligible for 4K.
Day: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Date: September 5, 2025 - Early June, 2026
Time: 8:30 - 11:00 am
Tuition: $2,100 - $100 discount if tuition is paid in full at registration.
Course #: 5290.1
- and -
Day: Tuesday and Thursday
Date: September 4, 2025 - Early June, 2026
Time: 8:30 - 11:00 am
Tuition: $1,700 - $100 discount if tuition is paid in full at registration.
Course #: 5290.2
2025 - 2026 Tuition Payments: A $200 nonrefundable deposit is required at the time of registration to reserve a spot for your child. Receive a $100 discount if tuition is paid in full at registration, otherwise a payment plan is available. If you only want to put down your deposit, YOU MUST CALL THE OFFICE DIRECTLY. All balances must be paid in full by August 1, 2025. Online registration is available, online fee will reflect the $100 discount (payment plans cannot be established online). No refunds or credit will be given for this program. For more information, please call 414-963-6913 x 4.
Lake Bluff Bright Beginnings
MOLLY HANDELSMAN, HEAD TEACHER
Molly graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in biology and UW Oshkosh with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She worked for several years as a hospice nurse and then decided to take time off to raise her two children. Molly has always enjoyed working with children and loves working in the classroom. Both of her children have gone through the Bright Beginnings program. Outside of the classroom Molly enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with her family.
KATHLEEN DUPPLER, TEACHING ASSISTANT
Kathleen holds a BA in Child and Family Studies from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. She previously held a parent educator license for the state of Minnesota. She has worked with children all her life in many different capacities, but her favorite and most challenging job was staying home with her 2 daughters. Kathleen enjoys family vacations, camping, motorcyles rides with her husband and spending time with family and friends. She keeps involved in the Shorewood community by being her daughter's Girl Scout troop leader and serving on various Lake Bluff PTO committees. Last year as a substitute teacher for Bright Beginnings, some of Kathleen's favorite class time activities are playing outside, learning new songs, reading books, and especially watching them grow.
Location: Lake Bluff Elementary School, 1600 E. Lake Bluff Blvd,
Early Education Bldg, NE Corner
Teachers: Molly Handelsman & Kathleen Duppler
Classroom size: 14 students
2025-2026 School Year
Registration begins: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 for residents
Thursday, December 5, 2024 for non residents
Your child must be at least 3 years old by October 31, 2025. If your child will be turning 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025, they are eligible for 4K.
Day: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Date: September 5, 2025 - Early June, 2026
Time: 8:30 - 11:00 am
Tuition: $2,100 - $100 discount if tuition is paid in full at registration.
Course #: 5290.3
- and -
Day: Tuesday and Thursday
Date: September 4, 2025 - Early June, 2026
Time: 8:30 - 11:00 am
Tuition: $1,700 - $100 discount if tuition is paid in full at registration.
Course #: 5290.4
2025 - 2026 Tuition Payments: A $200 nonrefundable deposit is required at the time of registration to reserve a spot for your child. Receive a $100 discount if tuition is paid in full at registration, otherwise a payment plan is available. If you only want to put down your deposit, YOU MUST CALL THE OFFICE DIRECTLY. All balances must be paid in full by August 1, 2025. Online registration is available, online fee will reflect the $100 discount (payment plans cannot be established online). No refunds or credit will be given for this program. For more information, please call 414-963-6913 x 4.