First Presbyterian Pre-School

Our Purpose

First Presbyterian Preschool is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Stuart. We believe each child is a wonderful gift from God, a treasure of unlimited value, created in His image. With all mankind, children share a natural inclination to sin, including the potential for wrong choices. We hope to guide each child toward a personal, loving relationship with Jesus Christ so they can enjoy fellowship with God and fulfill His purpose for their lives.

This ministry is designed to enhance our children’s spirits, minds, and bodies. We encourage them to learn about themselves, the world around them, others, and God by:

providing opportunities to build learning skills
nurturing curiosity and enthusiasm for learning
encouraging a healthy self-concept
offering positive social experiences

Our curriculum is designed to provide learning experiences appropriate to each child’s age and development. We want them to discover, learn, explore, solve problems, and be challenged through hands-on experiences. Through play experiences and direct instruction, we focus on the following areas:

Bible truths
Language and listening skills
Artistic expression
Music and movement
Concept development (opposites, shapes, etc.)
Science, Math, and Reading readiness

Busy Bees and Bluebirds

First Presbyterian Preschool has two classes - Busy Bees (3-year-olds) and Bluebirds (4-year-olds).

The Busy Bees curriculum focuses on units of study that include: Me, My Family, Friends, My Five Senses, Pumpkins, Owls, Community Helpers, Spiders, Trees, Day and Night, Thanksgiving, Shapes, Winter, Ice Cream, Christmas, Bears, Winter Animals, Nursery Rhymes, Food and Nutrition, Dental Health, Water Dwellers, Weather, Space, The Farm, Plants, Manners, Insects, and Ants. See why they’re called Busy Bees?

The Bluebirds look at weekly alphabet-based themes incorporating literature, art, movement, finger plays, games, music, and kindergarten readiness activities.

Both classes listen to and discuss a Bible story each day, work on Bible memory verses, and discuss how we can see God’s love through everyday life and Bible stories.

We use learning centers, games, puzzles, stories, puppets, and crafts for hands-on learning. Each week, we also visit the church library, go to chapel, and enjoy time in the music room.

Our Staff

First Presbyterian Preschool is very blessed. We have dedicated Christian teachers who are well qualified, care about children, and are godly examples. All our staff have completed the 45 hour courses offered by the state. Teachers either have obtained their CDA or are working toward it. The staff completes ten hours of in-service training each year. Our staff is devoted to providing the best possible education for your child. They are here to serve your family by:

Maintaining positive and open communication with parents.
Praying regularly for the students and their families.
Planning for effective instruction to take place every day.
Communication with the First Presbyterian Preschool Board, which meets monthly and is comprised of representatives from the church and school. The Preschool Board reports to the Christian Education Committee of the church, which reports to the Session.

Admissions

Our admissions policy requires:

A personal interview with at least one parent or guardian.
Parent(s) must read our statement of purpose, objectives, curriculum goals, and policies, and indicate agreement to have their child(ren) taught on the basis of these statements.
We admit students of any race, color, ethnic, or national origin. We do not discriminate in the administration of our admission policies or financial aid.

Children must meet age requirements and be toilet trained. Children with special educational, emotional, or physical needs shall be enrolled on a trial basis in cooperation with therapists or the recommendation of the family physician.

Volunteering

We are so happy to have so many parents lend their time and talents in the service of our children. We do require each child’s parent to volunteer once each semester, or twice for the entire year. Parents have three options for fulfilling this commitment:

Sign up for the required volunteer days (8:30-11:30 a.m.).
Barter with another parent to work in your place.
Pay $15.00 per required volunteer day.

Sign-up is available at Open House and on the calendar in the Bluebird classroom. Parents sign up for their preferred work day. The administration will assign specific classroom projects and assistance.

If you have talents or interests you would like to share with the children, you could be one of our featured guest speakers! We are also happy to have help from parents who are handy with tools, sewing, and other talents from time to time for improvement projects at school.

Documents

Upon enrollment, each child must have a copy of his/her birth certificate and two medical certificates on file, HRS-H Form 3040 and HRS 680. The medical forms must be completed by a person given authority by Florida Statutes to perform medical examinations. These forms are available from your pediatrician or the Martin County Health Department.

Please note that failure to keep immunizations and physicals current may result in dismissal from school.

First Presbyterian Preschool is now a YWAM Publishing Affiliate. You can order from a comprehensive selection of Christian books and resources through this special link: Order Now and 10% of your purchases will go towards educational materials, and other much needed items for our preschool.