George W. Lutz Family Center – Highland Park

Family and Community Engagement

At JCYS Highland Park, family engagement is woven into the school year. We treat every family like our own and provide regular opportunities for parents to connect with each other and develop a community. Each year features multiple all-school events, including an ice-cream social to kick off the year, a Sukkah Party (complete with a petting zoo and glitter tattoo artist), and Hanukkah Party. Family events are scheduled in the evenings and on weekends, so parents don’t have to choose between work and school.

Engagement with the community extends beyond the family, too. Children are taught to be kind citizens of the world and consider the impact of their actions on their friends, neighbors, and communities.

Program Highlight: Amazing Athletes

In addition to our regular team and individual sports programming, 3 and 4 year old students also have the option to sign up for Amazing Athletes, a preschool sports class that introduces the fundamentals of a variety of sports in a non-competitive, developmentally appropriate environment.

Program Highlight: Music Education

Music specialist Susan Salidor visits classrooms at JCYS Highland Park to introduce children to the joy of music and movement. Susan has recorded 9 studio albums and has won prizes for her work including the Parents’ Choice Silver Award (twice), the Parents’ Choice Gold Award (twice), the National Parenting Product Award (twice), and the iParenting Media Award. She is also well-known as an early childhood music educator and regularly holds workshops throughout the Chicago area.