Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Color the square red. Hand in the papers.

Sound elementary? Not if you’re in classes at Wee Wisdom preschool at Notre Dame School in Hermitage.

Notre Dame did not have a preschool until the arrival of Monsignor John Hagerty in 1997, preschool teacher Heidi O. Polcha said, noting one of his first objectives was to add a preschool.

Wee Wisdom started in the fall of 1999 at St. Michael’s Church Center in Greenville because Notre Dame did not have the space to accommodate the 3- to 5-year-olds until this school year, after new classrooms were built at Notre Dame.

There are 70 students enrolled in the classes, Mrs. Polcha said.

"I love it," Mrs. Polcha said of teaching the wee ones. "It’s something I feel I was really meant to do. I love the children."

With the help of assistants Kim Votino, Dinah Whalen and Marilyn Van Wagenen, Mrs. Polcha said she works to teach students a curriculum that includes much more than religion. She said students learn developmental skills, language arts, science, nutrition, music, art and dramatic play.

Mrs. Polcha said one of their goals is to make all the learning and activities fun for the children. She said the class receives a great deal of support from Principal Betty Chess.

Three- and 4-year-old students attend classes two days a week for three hours each day while the 4- and 5-year-olds who are considered "pre-kindergarten" attend classes three days a week for three hours a day.

Mrs. Polcha said the classes’ enrollment nearly doubled between last year and this year.

She said having the class in the same building as the other grades helps because many pre-schoolers have siblings at Notre Dame.

"I learn as much from (the children) as I hope they learn from me," Mrs. Polcha said.