We are a Nature Explore Preschool in south Lincoln, Nebraska. Read on to learn more about what that means for our preschoolers, to meet our staff, and more.
Learn more about admissions here or contacts us here for a one-on-one tour.
About Our Lead Teachers
Elizabeth Izquierdo
My name is Elizabeth Izquierdo (Kosch) and this is my fifth year as a lead teacher for the Cathedral Eaglet Preschool. I grew up in Lincoln, where I attended Catholic school and later received my teaching degree at UNL. I graduated in 2014 with an endorsement in Inclusive Early Childhood Education and then taught Kindergarten for two years in Omaha. My husband, Ricardo, is the Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese. We have two daughters, both attending Cathedral. I have always enjoyed teaching young children, and I am so thankful that God led me to the Nature Explore Program.
Patricia Korensky
My name is Patricia Korensky. I graduated from Cathedral of the Risen Christ in 1986 and Pius X High School in 1990. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and majored in Human Development and the Family with an emphasis in Child Development. Soon after graduating, I married and started my own family. My husband Todd and I have 7 children. In 2015 I had the opportunity to join the Eaglet Program. At that time the Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom was just an idea. I was thrilled be a part of the process as the idea turned into reality and our amazing outdoor classroom was built.
About Our Teacher Aides
Rachel Dougherty
I am Rachel Dougherty, an aide in Mrs. Korensky's preschool classroom. My husband Mike and I have 3 daughters who attend Cathedral school. I am an active member of PCCW and have been part of the God teen program at Cathedral for many years. I am a graduate of Roncelli Catholic High School in Omaha and have a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from UNO. Growing up, I spent summers on my grandparents’ farm- gardening, canning, raising bottle calves and chickens. Our program at Cathedral has been the perfect place to bring my love of nature and learning. Mrs. Korensky describes me as having a green thumb, being very knowledgeable about flora and fauna, able to fix most anything, and always available to read “just one more book” to the Eaglets. It's so exciting to see the joy of discovery on these young faces as we start their school journey!
What does "Nature Explore Preschool" mean?
"The outdoor classroom is a space where children grow and learn socially, emotionally, spiritually, academically and physically during everyday interactions with the natural world. Children are invited to play, explore, create, and discover in a space that inspires wonder and care for the environment. The learning we do in our outdoor classroom seamlessly flows into our indoor classrooms, encouraging the same level of engagement, discovery and growth every moment of the day.
"Being a certified Nature Explore Classroom is more than just having an outdoor space. Educators participate in staff development to ensure best practices. In our preschool you will find thoughtfully planned learning environments and materials. You will see teachers engaging with students and paying attention to their interests and ideas, so we can plan opportunities for them to deepen their understanding of the world around them."
- Elizabeth Izquierdo
What does a day look like in Cathedral's Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms?
Full Day Pre-K:
"We begin our day by gathering to pray, go over the schedule, discuss relevant topics and plan for Work Time. During Work Time, children are learning how they learn best: through play. We have lots of time for play throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors. Our day also includes whole group experiences like reading books, music and movement activities, games and storytelling. Storytelling is a chance for each child to express their creativity and personality. I write down their ideas and the class acts out the story together. The full day class also goes to lunch and specials (Art, P.E. Music and Library)."
- Elizabeth Izquierdo
Half Day Preschool:
- Greeting and welcoming students/parents outside the building every morning
- Prayer
- Picture books based on our exploration and conversations.
- Table activity- process art, fine motor skills, practicing patterns, free art, playdough
- Outdoor classroom- half day students who attend school for 3.5 hours a day spend 45-60 minutes in the outdoor classroom each day. The only thing that keeps us inside is extreme cold (negative degrees) or storms with lighting.
- Free time, which includes time to create, explore, image, build, puzzles, looking at/reading books, drawing, etc.
- Music and movement
- Student story telling
- Discussion and familiarization with alphabet letters based on the Fundations program used in the elementary school.
- Rhyming activities
- Each day at the end of the day I read to the students from a chapter book. Our favorite books are the Mercy Watson and Deekawoo Drive series and The Very Very Far North chapter book.
- Occasionally we go to church to spend a few minutes with Jesus, look at the stained glass windows, mosaics, and statues. Or walk around the church and school campus to see what we might discover as we walk.
- Patricia Korensky
What are some of your favorite things about Cathedral's Preschool and Pre-K?
"I love our program because it does not give in to the trend to make children “academic” at an earlier and earlier age. We follow research that supports play-based learning as the most developmentally appropriate approach. And I see that every day in the classroom. Children need to explore, ask questions, tinker, make mistakes, and take risks. Our program supports that kind of meaningful learning and honors the child by following their interests and ideas."
- Elizabeth Izquierdo
"Greeting our students every day is a true joy. Spending time with them as they grow and mature is a true gift. Sharing in their excitement as a student realizes they have mastered something new is as exciting for me as it is for them."
- Patricia Korensky
What do the children love most about Cathedral's Preschool and Pre-K?
"They love how much time we get to spend outside! Of course, they love the “big playground,” but in our outdoor classroom, they get to look for bugs, eat from the garden, dig in dirt and sand, create with natural materials and do water play. We get to watch the outdoor space transform with each season, which then makes it “new” and sparks new ideas and interests. It is a very dynamic space, and provides so much more than only gross motor development."
- Elizabeth Izquierdo
"Every child finds something different to love and look forward to in our preschool. Our program is a play based/child interest led program so every child will find their own thing that will inspire or encourage them to create, learn, discover, and grow."
-Patricia Korensky
Do you have any favorite memories from working with the students?
“One year, after introducing the class to the herbs in our garden and inviting them to taste the mint and basil, a parent reported that their daughter had come home and excitedly announced, “Mom, at school today we ate plants outside...and the teacher said it was okay!”
“My first year, a pair of ducks showed up on the preschool roof. The kids watched them for awhile and then we looked up how to make a duck call on my phone. After listening to an example, the whole class started quacking at the ducks. I was surprised the ducks didn’t fly away sooner!”
- Elizabeth Izquierdo
An Impact Beyond Cathedral:
“Often you will hear me say we “build lifelong learners in our preschool.” But it’s not just the students, it’s also the teachers. Elizabeth and I attended the Nature Explore Leadership Institute at the end of July. It was a tremendous opportunity to learn from, talk to, and network with leaders of early childhood education from around the country. We also facilitated and led a break out session at the “Playful Spirit Summit” for the early childhood educators, kindergarten teachers, administrators, and pastors of the diocese at the UNL East Campus this past summer. Our session highlighted how we developed our outdoor classroom and how we us it throughout the year.”
- Patricia Korensky
Are there ways that families can implement parts of the nature explore program or outdoor classroom elements at home?
“Absolutely. All you need is an outdoor space and a willingness to let your child lead. If you have a backyard, you could bring in natural materials such as tree stumps, logs, loose parts (pine cones, twigs, acorns, stones). You could have a play kitchen outside where children can create with mud or sand. You could simply let your child build with blocks outside. Use your child’s interests as a guide.
“My family does not have a backyard. We do, however, live close to a “discovery garden,” which has tall grass to hide behind, a large boulder to climb, stone tables and chairs to play or rest on. My daughters have caught crickets here, rescued a wounded Monarch butterfly, mastered climbing challenges and seen the space change through each season. We make observations together, ask questions, and practice being good stewards of the environment (e.g. leaving flowers for others to enjoy, too). A park, a backyard, or even just a walk around the neighborhood can become a “Nature Explore” opportunity when you let your child set the pace, notice what they notice, and invite wonder and curiosity into your conversation.”
- Elizabeth Izquierdo
“The amount of research on the benefits of nature play for children (and adults) is abundant. If you google it, you could read for hours. There is new research being done on college campus looking at how import it is for adults to have time in nature too. It’s rarer every day for children and adults to spend time in nature. We just have to think back to our own childhood and remember our time outside. The time we had for self-directed play and discovery in the back yard, neighborhood park, or family farm. Most of us adults have memories of climbing trees, throwing rocks, playing in the sand box or a puddle of gooey mud. We have to give our children similar opportunities.
“I don’t just want children to have 45 minutes outside a day in the Outdoor classroom. I want our families to walk to the park. Explore the nature trails around Lincoln. Climb a tree at Holmes Lake. Half a block from Cathedral is Memorial Park. It runs along 33rd street from Sheridan boulevard to Van Dorn. Go explore it in the spring with your family. Don’t take the bike path, take the walkway in the actual park. You will not be disappointed.
“In your own yard let your children dig in the mud under your swing set after the rain. When the neighbor cuts down a tree, roll a stump or two to your backyard. When you trim branches from a tree, work together to build a fort along the fence with the branches before they go to the trash. Plant a pot of flowers and give your child and yourself permission to dig in the dirt. Research shows digging in the dirt releases microbes that increase serotonin levels, which improves life satisfaction and mood.”
- Patricia Korensky