ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

At Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church . . .

We celebrate diversity!
We treasure the opportunity to connect in the life of YOUR family!

NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN

We Learn To Love . . . And Love To Learn!

The purpose of our weekday program at Wesley Memorial is to provide young children (3 months to 6 years old) with an environment of Christian nurture, educational opportunities based on sound principles of early childhood development, and high-quality care.

To encourage, develop and respect each child’s TOTAL GROWTH: mental, physical, emotional, social & spiritual.
To provide a secure & loving atmosphere in which professionally-trained teachers foster the growth of each child to his/her best potential through a graduated program of meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.
To maintain low student-teacher ratios which allow for a program planned to be both age-appropriate & individually-appropriate.
To invite families to participate through active communication & involvement.
To encourage values for life . . . love for learning, feelings of self-worth & respect for others, positive attitudes, creative thinking, independence, responsibility, self-discipline, and a foundation for faith-building.

Our program is based on the high-standard criteria established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Each age level has hands-on experiences for learning by doing what is fun & stimulating! Christian values, attitudes, Bible stories & songs give the child a foundation of love & security. The learning center approach invites each child to learn at his/her potential through a balanced program of creative art, puzzles, dramatics, block building, large muscle play & interaction, manipulatives, books, music, care of pets and nature. Age-appropriate cognitive experiences occur in language arts & reading, writing, mathematics and science. Each day is carefully planned by teachers, and parents are invited to look over lesson plans posted on class message centers.

Parents are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s learning experiences through visitations to their child’s class, many volunteer opportunities, and reinforcement of daily learning through home-school activities. Parenting education classes are offered in fall and spring on a variety of interest topics. Parents are kept informed of child’s growth and development through regular written notes, e-mails & phone calls, written assessments each quarter, scheduled parent-teacher conferences, class newsletters, and informal sharing times at class door.

ENROLLMENT POLICIES

Enrollment is made with Director or Assistant Director of the Through-The-Week School. Parents are invited and encouraged to call to make an appointment. We find that sharing full information, specific to your child’s age-level, best occurs by meeting personally with parents. Your family will also have a tour of our school when you visit. Call 884-4232.

If space is available, (either for your child to begin immediately – or for upcoming fall), then parents will be given our Registration Form at this appointment.

Through-The-Week School does not discriminate with regards to race, gender, religious beliefs, or nationality. We accept children with “special needs” as long as the child’s needs can be met, the family’s needs can be met, and care does not interfere with meeting the needs of other children in the classroom. Schedule a consultation time with Director. We welcome children who receive services from speech and other therapists to arrange for those resource professionals to come into our school if desired.

Registration Form needs to be completed and signed. Parents will also be given printed information explaining Through-The-Week School Purposes and Policies, including tuition fees. Parent signature indicates that parents understand and promise to uphold policies. Registration Form with registration fee must be returned to preschool office before child may attend a first day.

Parents will be provided with a Health Assessment form. This form needs to be taken to child’s health provider for completion. Health Assessment, which includes child’s immunization record, must be returned to the preschool office before child may attend a first day.

We do not screen or test children as an “entrance requirement” for enrollment in our programs. However, the Gesell Developmental Screening is an assessment which can be administered should a need be indicated. Cost to parents is $50. The Gesell is used as a tool to assist educators & parents in understanding the developmental patterns of growth. Unlike screening tests which are designed to identify “special needs” of children, and unlike academic tests which look at academic levels of performance, the Gesell measures behavioral responses of children according to age-related norms. It provides a good picture of child’s readiness for success in a particular age-level class. Our Directors and several teachers on the TTW School staff are trained examiners.

REGISTRATION PERIOD

Priority-registration for Wesley Memorial church members will begin the last 2 weeks in January to enroll for the upcoming school year. Acceptances made on “first-come-first-served” basis.

Priority-registration for non-members already in our program will begin the first 2 weeks in February to enroll for the upcoming school year. Acceptances made on “first-come-first-served” basis.

Registration will be open to families on our Waiting List, as recorded on a “first-come-first-served” basis, for remaining spaces beginning March 1st. Directors will contact families.

Through-The-Week School maintains a WAITING LIST, and families may call at any time during the year to have child placed on the Waiting List. Parents will indicate desire for enrollment during current school year should space become available - - or, desire for beginning the next fall.

Our classes operate on a school year basis, September-to-May. Should a child’s space become available during the school year, next family on the waiting list will be invited to begin immediately.