Since our school was organized in 1972, we have been dedicated to providing a well planned program for child development in a Christian atmosphere. We provide learning experiences for children of the church membership and the community in an environment which encourages the child to:
Ask questions.
Explore and experiment.
Develop a new security and independence in the world outside the home.
Make friends and learn to interact with other children and adults.
Under the leadership of qualified teachers, the preschool classes include a balance of guided play activities, creative artwork, singing, outdoor and indoor large muscle play, language development, story time and various other group activities. Bible stories are part of the program each month.
The Northminster Community Preschool program offers classes for children who will by three years old by August 1 of the upcoming school year. The class for 3/4 year olds meets on Tuesday and Thursday with a morning program from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. The children have the option to bring their lunch and stay either or both days until 2:30 p.m. The class for 4/5 year olds is for children who have turned four years old by August 1 and plan to attend kindergarten the following year. The 4/5 class meets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. The children in the 4/5 class have the option to bring their lunch and stay for an extended day on any of the three days until 2:30 p.m. The Wednesday class, in particular, will be an extension of the morning 4/5 program, reinforcing skills taught and offering enrichment activities.
The Northminster Mothers'-Day-Out program serves children who are 18 months old by August 1 of the coming school and not yet eligible for preschool. Children in the Mothers'-Day-Out program generally attend one day a week, on Tuesday or Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. or on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The Wednesday class is specifically for children who are 2 1/2 years old by August 1. Mothers'-Day-Out programming focuses on social skills for young children and adapting to being in a different environment with other people. For many children, it is their first experience being away from Mom and Dad. The children in this program bring their lunch to school, and those in the Tuesday and Thursday classes nap in the afternoon.
The school is non-profit and self-supporting, functioning as a service to the community with the approval of the Session and Christian Education Committee of Northminster Presbyterian Church. Classes are staffed with qualified, experienced teachers and assistants. All staff members are trained and certified by the American Heart Association in Pediatric CPR and Emergency First Aid Procedures for infants and children. The school is licensed to operate by the Marion County Board of Health and is inspected annually.
We are grateful to Northminster Presbyterian Churchfor its support and for sharing its facilities with us. We are also grateful to our parents for their confidence in us, their enthusiasm, and their wonderful children, without whom we would have no purpose.
