PRESCHOOL
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
~Mr. Fred Rogers (famous children’s TV personality and educator)
Mission Statement:
The St. James UMC Preschool is a ministry of St. James UMC. We’ve been Following Jesus, Loving Others and Changing the World one child at a time since 1965. Our MISSION is to provide opportunities for spiritual, academic and social growth through qualified instruction and prayerful nurturing.
General Information
Schedule
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Mon - Fri: 9am - 12pm: Preschool
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8:00am: Early Drop Off (Breakfast Club), $5 per day, billed the following month.
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12:00-1:00pm: Lunch bunch for 3's and 4's, $5 per day, billed the following month.
Curriculum
Research has shown that preschoolers learn best through play. We have developed an internal curriculum with guidelines in place to help our staff develop and broaden childrens’ learning experiences in key areas of development (social/emotional, language/literacy, cognitive, physical). We aim to make them confident, eager and enthusiastic learners! Most importantly, we want them knowing just how much God loves them and that each of them are special.
Our Bible curriculum is called “First Look”. It was developed by Think Orange Resources. The entire curriculum is constructed to meet your preschoolers where they are cognitively, spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially. Through age appropriate activities, preschoolers are building their spiritual foundation so that by the time they graduate to Kindergarten they know these three basic truths: God Made Me, God Loves Me, Jesus Wants to be my Friend Forever!
Centers
Each Classroom Offers the Following Centers:
Family Living/Dramatic Play
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Role playing/socialization
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Engage in problem solving
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Skills for conflict resolution
Reading/Book Center
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Develops language/vocabulary
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Using imagination
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Develops interest in books/reading
Block Center
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Develops coordination through balancing/lifting/stacking.
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Promoting spatial relationships
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Develops sense of design and form
Manipulatives
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Helps develop fine motor skill
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Develops eye-hand coordination
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Develops skills of matching, sequencing and categorizing
Art
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Encourages creativity
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Stimulates the imagination
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Assists in learning about colors, textures and form
Additional
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Music/Movement once a week
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Outside Daily Play (weather permitting)
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Story time once a week in the Children's Library
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Chapel once a week in our Sanctuary & Chapel