Fantasy Island Schools for Kids is an English-language kindergarten where your child gets ready for American schools while keeping Polish or Ukrainian alive, with Polish-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking teachers on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
Your first goal is probably simple: you want your child to walk into first grade comfortable in English. English is the language of instruction in our kindergarten, every day and in every subject. Literacy, math, science, and social studies are all taught in English, with one clear aim: preparing your child to continue their education in American schools.
Polish and Ukrainian support sits alongside that program. It does not replace it, and lessons are not split between languages. That is why we describe Fantasy Island as an English-language kindergarten with Polish and Ukrainian language support, so you know exactly what your child’s day sounds like before you enroll.
Many parents have seen it happen in other families. The children switch to English at school, and a few years later they no longer understand their own grandparents. Many families on Chicago’s Northwest Side and in Niles speak Polish at home, and losing that language is a real fear.
Here, most of our teachers speak Polish, and structured Polish language classes are held every Friday. Your child hears Polish from adults they know and trust, in a planned weekly class, while English carries the rest of the week. Polish stays something your child uses and enjoys, not something they quietly leave behind once school starts.
If your family came to Chicago from Ukraine, your child may be starting kindergarten with limited English and a lot of change behind them. Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead language activities for Ukrainian-speaking children, so your child keeps building their Ukrainian while their English grows in class every day.
A teacher who understands your child’s first language can make a new classroom feel less frightening. All of our staff also complete training in trauma-informed care, along with child development and health and safety. The adults around your child understand that a big move can show up in small ways, and they are prepared to meet it with patience.
It is one of the questions parents ask most, and the way the week is organized keeps things clear for a five-year-old. English is the classroom language. Polish has its own planned time in the Friday classes, and Ukrainian has its own time in activities led by Ukrainian-speaking teachers.
Each language has a place and a purpose, so your child is never left guessing which one to use in a lesson. If you ever have specific questions about your child’s speech or language development, your pediatrician or a specialist is the right person to ask, and our teachers are glad to share what they see in the classroom.
Leave your phone number and your child’s age. We will call you to pick a time to visit our classrooms at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave. Prefer to talk now? Call 773-206-4627.
No. English is the language of instruction for every subject, because our goal is to prepare your child to continue their education in American schools. Polish and Ukrainian are language support, not the language of lessons. Polish comes through Polish-speaking teachers and structured classes every Friday, and Ukrainian through language activities led by Ukrainian-speaking teachers.
No. Children do not need to know Polish or Ukrainian to enroll. Kindergarten is taught in English, and the language support is there for families who want it. Children from English-speaking homes take part in the same English-language program, and some pick up a little Polish along the way. One parent joked in a review that their son came home speaking Polish one day.
Because most of our teachers speak Polish and Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead activities for Ukrainian-speaking children, there is often an adult nearby who understands what your child is trying to say. Small class sizes give teachers time to notice when a child is lost and help them along. English grows through daily lessons, songs in weekly music class, and play with classmates.
Structured Polish language classes are held every Friday as a planned part of the week. Beyond that class, most of our teachers speak Polish, so Polish is a familiar language in the building even though English is the language of instruction. If your child attends part-time, it is worth including Fridays in the schedule so they do not miss the weekly class.
Polish has a fixed weekly class on Fridays. Ukrainian support comes through language activities led by Ukrainian-speaking teachers for Ukrainian-speaking children, so your child keeps hearing and using Ukrainian with an adult who speaks it naturally. When you visit, you can see how those activities fit into the kindergarten week alongside the English-language curriculum.
See all kindergarten options on our Kindergarten page, compare costs on Tuition & CCAP, or read parent FAQs.
