Little Panthers
Little Panthers Enrollment Guide
Start Their Journey with Us! We’re now welcoming out-of-district 4-year-olds for the 2026–2027 school year. Click above to see how to enroll.
Little Panthers Open House Presentation
Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, The Joseph Sears School is proud to welcome our newest learners through the Little Panthers Early Childhood program, an inclusive, nurturing, and play-based educational experience for three- and four-year-olds.
Designed to foster both academic and social-emotional growth, our program is led by certified early childhood educators and built on developmentally appropriate best practices. Students will benefit from:
- Purposeful, play-based learning experiences
- A balanced curriculum that includes literacy, math, science, the arts, and social studies
- Daily opportunities to build language, interpersonal, and decision-making skills
- A supportive environment that encourages curiosity, confidence, and connection
- Alignment with Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
Program Options for 2026-2027
- Three-Year-Old Half-Day Program, 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Four-Year-Old Full-Day Program, 8:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The school calendar follows the Joseph Sears School calendar. Students begin the year with home or classroom visits, followed by a gradual transition to full-day programming. Families can also look forward to events such as classroom parties, sibling day, attending school-wide assemblies and music concerts, and more.
Important Dates
- Little Panthers Open House, September 30
- 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Early Childhood Hub, next to the Auditorium off Abbotsford Drive
- Pre-registration opens October 1
- Lottery placement and waitlist communication begin the week of November 1
Give your child a joyful and strong foundation for learning. The Little Panthers' journey begins here. If you have any questions, please contact: