Preschool

Holy Family Parish Preschool was founded in 1986 and is sponsored by Holy Family Parish. Our curriculum dovetails into the Holy Family Parish School (grades K-8) curriculum to ensure the highest level of preparedness for a successful transition into elementary school and in particular to Holy Family Parish School.

At HFK, preschool is all about providing each child with an enjoyable, positive, and nurturing learning experience while achieving appropriate levels of kindergarten academic and social readiness skills. At HFK we strive to inspire creativity and an interest in science, social studies, art, music, reading, and math, with an emphasis on individual social and emotional development.

HFK Preschool…where creativity makes learning fun!

Meet our preschool staff

Stephanie Riley

Preschool Director, PreK

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Martie Shuk

Preschool I

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JoAnn Frogget

Preschool IA

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Karen Sumner

Preschool IA

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Preschool I Curriculum

The Preschool I program includes developmentally appropriate play-based opportunities for creative, emotional, social, intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth. Self-confidence is nurtured while creativity and self-expression are emphasized through art and music. Our program provides a good balance between free time and structure. Large and small motor development, readiness skills, and socialization are encouraged by the use of building toys, sensory tables, a home living center, books, puzzles, an art table, manipulatives, free choice, and outdoor play. The idea of God’s love for everyone is fostered through stories, prayer, song, and discussion. By discussing Catholic values, children are encouraged to practice sharing, honesty, kindness, and cooperation. A strong foundation is laid for further development of kindergarten readiness skills.

Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum

Our HFK Pre-Kindergarten class for 4- and 5-year-olds is designed to encourage and expand a child’s intellectual, spiritual, creative, motor, and social skills in a nurturing environment. Special emphasis is placed on the development of social responsibility and spiritual growth. Open exploration as well as teacher-directed activities include opportunities for whole group, small group, and individualized learning. Different learning styles are addressed and the development of a child’s strengths is encouraged while instilling confidence. A daily variety of opportunities encourages the development of kindergarten readiness skills including pre-reading, mathematics, whole language, art, science, social studies, and motor development. Children will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and gain a longer attention span, helping prepare them for success in the more formalized school environment of kindergarten.

Specialist Classes

Interaction with Holy Family’s K-8 Parish School includes:

Visits to the school library and library time with school librarian
Music with the school music teacher
Science with the school science teacher and 7th grade science ambassadors
PE in the school gym
Art with school art buddies as well as story reading with school reading buddies

Special Events

Participation in Catholic Schools Week
Opportunities to attend assemblies with Holy Family Parish School students
Visits from various outreach programs including the Kirkland Fire Department
Parent Involvement Days
Pumpkin patch and Easter egg hunt with grade 5
Community Service Projects

Stephanie Riley

Stephanie Riley, Preschool Director and Preschool II and Pre-K Teacher, loves being a part of the Holy Family Parish Preschool community and team. Stephanie earned a B.A. in Early Childhood Education with Special Education from Eastern Washington University and an M.A. from Swansea University, Wales. She has been teaching at Holy Family for 12 years. She enjoys working with children and coaching volleyball. Stephanie lives in Kirkland with her husband, Patrick, & son and daughter. She loves to watch her students discover new concepts and grow spiritually every day. Stephanie loves to play volleyball, cook, and spend time with her family.

Marti Shuk

For the past nineteen years, I have been working at Holy Family Parish in various capabilities. During the first thirteen years, I taught first grade and for the past six years I have been in the preschool. I graduated from Central Washington University and am certified in elementary and special education. At HFK, we begin instilling the Christian values of care, compassion, and respect for others at an early age. The preschoolers are involved in all of HFK’s many community service projects. and religion is incorporated in all areas of our curriculum. I feel it is a privilege to work at Holy Family. We are blessed with a very supportive staff and parent community!