Registration & Enrollment

Dear Parents,

A very warm welcome to you from all of us at Thunderbird Preschool here in Crystal Lake! We would be delighted to have the opportunity to guide your child on his/her preschool adventure.

At Thunderbird, we believe young children learn best in a safe, loving, educational environment.

We offer a unique educational experience for your child because:

We provide a warm and loving atmosphere that will help your child develop good feelings about him/herself and what he/she can do.
We provide a variety of exciting experiences that will foster your child’s development – socially, emotionally, mentally and physically.
We provide children with opportunities to develop their social conscience and to learn group participation and cooperation.
We strive to build a partnership with you, as parents, working together to support each other for the benefit of your child. We think you will find that our teaching staff is exceptional! All of our teachers are experienced professionals dedicated to making your child’s school adventure a happy learning experience.

We look forward to meeting you and your preschooler. If you have any questions about our program or would like to visit, just give us a call at 815-459-2266.

Sincerely,

Tina Young, Director
Thunderbird Preschool

At Thunderbird, we have programs for children ages 2 through 5, which run September through May. We lovingly call our 2 year old classes “Super Tots”, our 3 turning 4 year old classes “Juniors”, and our 4 turning 5 year old classes “Seniors”. We also have an option for 4 and 5 year olds called “Super 5’s”. Juniors, Seniors and Super 5’s must be potty-trained to attend.

Registration Information

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year begins in January. We will register all in-house families first, followed by alumni, and then community.

After January, children may be registered and enrolled as we have openings throughout the year. Registration for all classes requires a completed registration form and a $75.00 non-refundable registration fee. Only one registration fee is required per family.

Please call Thunderbird at 815-459-2266 to schedule an appointment to visit our classrooms and to talk to us about our programs.

Physical Examinations and Required Immunizations

Each child is required, by the State of Illinois, to have a physical not more than six (6) months before entry. Therefore, children who will start in August need physicals between March and August of that year. Physicals are good for 2 years.

The following immunizations are required for all children to enroll:

1 PCV (minimum)
4 DTP/Tdap
3 Polio
3 Hep B
1 MMR
1 HIB (minimum)
1 Varicella

A completed medical form including a record of these immunizations must be on file before your child can begin school.

Birth Certificates

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) requires that parents provide a certified copy of their child’s birth certificate when they enroll their child in preschool.

Please bring your child’s birth certificate when you register, so that we can make a copy for our files.

If you need a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate, please contact the County Clerk’s office in the county where your child was born to obtain one. This can be done online.

School/Parent Partnership

At Thunderbird we recognize that your child will be best served when we partner with you. Thunderbird families have many opportunities to be involved with their child’s education.

Open Communication

Effective communication is essential for building school-family partnerships. Parents are always welcome to talk with their child’s teacher or the Director at any time. Through daily reports, monthly newsletters, our website, and other special notes, we will keep you informed of the curriculum and activities that your child is doing in the classroom. Our valet system of arrival and dismissal also allows teachers to provide you with a snapshot of their day.

Classroom Visits

After the children have had six weeks of school to get acquainted with each other and the general routine, parents are encouraged to visit. You are welcome to come and spend a morning or afternoon in your child’s classroom, either joining your child at play or helping the teachers while you observe. We hope every parent will visit their child’s class at least once during the school year and we know many of you will want to visit more often.

Field Trips and Special Events

Each Junior, Senior and Super 5 class takes four educational field trips during the school year. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend many of the field trips to share in their child’s educational experience. Other events during the school year further connect parents, the staff and other families. These include: the August Parent Meeting, the September Ice Cream Social, Georgio’s Pizzeria FUNdraiser, Holiday parties, Fall and Spring VIP Days, and the End-of-the-Year Picnic.

Fall Progress Reports and Conferences

In November, progress reports are sent home to let parents know how their child is adjusting to school.

In February, mid-year conferences are held with each family.