Music and Drama
Children explore rhythm, movement, and creative expression through hands-on music and drama. They learn fundamentals like melody and notation while building confidence through storytelling, puppetry, and simple performances.
The Gardner School at Yorktown Center
Where Young Learners Feel Right at Home
Trusted Preschool in the Yorktown Center Community
At The Gardner School at Yorktown Center, children learn and grow in a warm, nurturing environment designed to support both academic readiness and emotional well-being. As a NAEYC-accredited preschool serving infants through Pre-K, we combine research-based curriculum with caring teacher relationships to create a place where every child feels safe, supported, and known. Conveniently located near the Yorktown Center shopping district in Lombard, our school is easily accessible for families throughout DuPage County.
Where Every Learning Moment Matters
Inside our spacious, thoughtfully designed classrooms, children explore hands-on activities, creative projects, and meaningful play that build early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills. Two-tiered secure entrances, room-specific camera monitoring, and predictable routines help children feel safe and confident. Indoor and outdoor play areas offer room to move, explore, and build strong gross motor skills. Families value our warm culture, strong communication, and the comfort of knowing their child is cared for throughout the day.
Location
Inside this School
Learning
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Our research-based curriculum supports early academic skills, social-emotional growth, and problem-solving through hands-on lessons and purposeful play. Teachers guide learning with care, helping each child build confidence and a strong foundation for future success.
Safety and Health
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Two-tiered secure entrances, room-specific cameras, and a well-maintained school environment help children feel safe from the moment they arrive. Healthy meals in the Kids’ Café support nourishment and daily comfort. Our team maintains clear routines that help children settle into their day with ease.
Movement
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Spacious indoor and outdoor play areas give children room to run, climb, and explore. Daily movement and gross motor activities help build strength, coordination, and joyful energy.
Community
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Located within the Yorktown Center Plaza near Highland Avenue, our school offers easy access for busy families. Real-time updates, daily check-ins, and a welcoming staff create a strong sense of connection and community.
Academically-Focused Programs
At The Gardner School, learning truly begins with care. Our infant classrooms provide a nurturing start built on a nationally recognized, research-based curriculum that supports early learning and development. With teachers who understand both the science and the soul of early education, babies grow in an environment that builds trust, curiosity, and confidence from the very beginning.
Toddlers are natural explorers, full of curiosity, movement, and new words waiting to bloom. At The Gardner School, our toddler classrooms nurture and celebrate this growing independence through play-based learning and intentional teaching. Each day builds confidence, language, and friendship in an environment that’s safe, structured, and full of joy. Our early childhood education program develops the whole child — encouraging physical coordination, emotional confidence, and early cognitive growth in every discovery.
Two-year-olds are bursting with curiosity and confidence. At The Gardner School, our classrooms encourage this new independence through hands-on learning, nurturing guidance, and joyful discovery. Teachers help children explore, experiment, and build social and self-help skills in a safe environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand. In this two-year-old early learning classroom, children begin to strengthen emotional regulation, independence, and empathy while exploring the world around them.
Preschoolers are natural problem-solvers and collaborators. At The Gardner School, our classrooms inspire curiosity, confidence, and creativity through hands-on learning and purposeful structure. Teachers guide children through new concepts in literacy, math, science, and art, helping them build independence, friendships, and a lifelong love of learning. Our preschool classrooms encourage critical thinking and pre-academic foundations that set the stage for kindergarten success.
Pre-K is a milestone year filled with confidence, curiosity, and preparation for what’s next. At The Gardner School, our teachers guide children through meaningful, play-based learning that builds academic readiness, social skills, and independence. With a curriculum designed around kindergarten preparation, students develop the focus, responsibility, and love of learning that will carry them into elementary school and beyond. Our Pre-K program helps children grow the attention, independence, and social skills they need to feel confident and ready for kindergarten.
Available at select Gardner School locations, our Private Kindergarten program offers a full day of meaningful, research-based learning in a small, supportive classroom setting. With nearly half the student-teacher ratio of most schools, children receive the personalized attention and enrichment that build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our private kindergarten program represents the culmination of early childhood education at TGS—balancing 21st-century learning skills with the heart of whole-child development.
Enrichment Programs
Sports
Active, structured classes help children build coordination, strength, and confidence. Through sports like soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and yoga, they practice teamwork, listening skills, and healthy movement habits.
Martial Arts
Martial arts introduce balance, discipline, and respectful movement in a safe, beginner-friendly format. Children learn basic stances and controlled motions that build focus, confidence, and body awareness.
Dance and Movement
Children build balance, coordination, and spatial awareness through beginner dance and creative movement. With simple steps, stretching, and expressive motion, they strengthen motor skills while growing confidence and joy in how their bodies move.
S.T.E.A.M.
Hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through simple experiments and creative projects, children explore how things work and discover the joy of learning.
Foreign Language
Through songs, games, and simple vocabulary, children are introduced to the basics of a second language to enable basic conversational skills. Lessons built around familiar themes make learning fun, natural, and age-appropriate.
Seasonal Experiences
Children participate in seasonal, multi-week, or pop-up enrichment classes that may include cooking, gardening, or exciting seasonal activities. These experiences offer fresh ways to learn, create, and discover.
School Leadership
Angelika Merchut
Executive School Director
Angelika Merchut
Executive School Director
Angelika has been part of The Gardner School family since May 2014, growing from a Lead Infant Teacher at our Oak Brook campus into her current leadership role at The Gardner School of Yorktown Center. Over the years, she has guided classrooms, supported new teachers, and helped shape a culture built on care and connection. Each morning, she loves setting a positive tone for the day, greeting children with a smile that helps them feel safe, seen, and ready to learn.
Natalie Lichaj
Assistant Director
Natalie Lichaj
Assistant Director
Natalie loves greeting children and families each morning at The Gardner School of Yorktown Center. Hearing their stories, seeing their smiles, and sharing those small moments of connection set a positive tone for the entire day. She joined The Gardner School in September 2014 as an Enrichment Coordinator and has since supported multiple campuses, including Naperville and Chicago–West Loop, before bringing her experience and warmth to the Yorktown team.
Schedule a Tour
Please select a date and time that works best for you (tours are ~45 minutes). We recommend visiting in the morning between 9:30 – 11:30 am. Of course, we completely understand that is not always possible with families’ schedules and welcome families to join whenever is most convenient for you. If you aren’t ready to tour yet or these times below don’t work for your family, use the Contact Us button below, and we will coordinate a time together.
Contact Us
If you aren’t yet ready to schedule a tour or the available times do not work for your family, please click Contact Us to connect with someone from The Gardner School.