To take a pictorial tour
of St. John's, start here.
| Jesus said, "Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14 |
| The important thing is not
so much that every child should be taught, as that every child
should be given the wish to learn. John Lubbock |
| Think of what a better
world it would be if we all – the whole world –had cookies and
milk about 3 o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our
blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nations to
always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own
messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you
go out into the world, it is better to hold hands and stick
together. Robert Fulghum (All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten |
| We worry about what a
child will be tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. Stacia Tauscher |
St. John's Nursery School
“And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.” Mark 10:16
Call the church office at 215-257-9643 for more information.
For
over 25 years, St. John's
Weekday Church School has been providing a Christian
educational environment for all children in the community regardless of
race, religion, or color. St. John's Nursery School is not a day-care nursery,
but an opportunity for 3, 4 and 5-year-olds to experience playing,
learning, and sharing with peers while receiving the necessary skills to
successfully enter kindergarten. We feel this type of a social and
educational experience is extremely important for the growing child.
Class
Availability and Schedule
St.
John's provides classes for two age groups - a preschool class for 3 and
4-year-olds, and pre-kindergarten classes for those students planning to
enroll in kindergarten the following year. The class for 3 and 4-year-olds is held on Tuesday and Thursday
mornings, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This class is led by two teachers
and one teaching assistant. There are two class times available for
Pre-Kindergarten students: The Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning class
which is held from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon and led by two teachers, and the
Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon class which is held from 12:30 p.m.
to 3:00 p.m. and led by a teacher and a teaching assistant.
A child must be three years old by September 1st to be eligible for the program. Members of St. John's and those who have been enrolled in previous years will be given preference in registration. Non-member enrollment is completed on a first come, first served basis upon receipt of a completed application. (Applications can be obtained by calling the church office at 215-257-9643.)
Teacher
Qualifications
All
staff members are dedicated to the education and well being of young
children. Both teachers have earned Bachelor's degrees - one in Elementary
Education and one in Art Education. All staff members have had
criminal background checks, which are required by Pennsylvania State law.
All staff members have taken infant and child C.P.R. courses. Teachers
attend workshops each year centered on pre-school learning. Most
importantly, teachers at St. John's love working with pre-school age
children, and believe their love and enthusiasm produces an ideal learning
environment.
Typical
Daily Routine
The
school day generally begins with Free Play which gives the children
an opportunity for creative expression and small group experiences. They
can make use of available toys, games, art supplies, dress-up, etc. Organized
Play includes group games, organized recreation, music, exercises, and
other skill development. Snack Time emphasizes good manners, giving
thanks, and nutrition. (Snacks are provided by parents on a rotational
basis.) Planned Educational Experiences are organized lessons
dealing with various units of study including Christian education,
numbers, alphabet, colors, shapes, animals, and reading and math
readiness. Story Time emphasizes listening and discussion skills. Craft
Time is an opportunity to create projects and art work which relate to
the current units of study or seasons.
Progress
Reports
Close
parent/teacher relationships are encouraged throughout the school year,
and teachers are available for conference at any mutually agreed upon
time. Questions and concerns are welcome so that the teachers and parents
can work toward the child's best interest. The 3 and 4-year-old class will
have parent/teacher conferences scheduled in February. The children in the
Pre-Kindergarten classes will be given an individual written kindergarten
evaluation. This evaluation is very detailed and acts as a guideline for
parents enrolling their children in kindergarten for the following
September.
Curriculum
To
see a full listing of the class curriculum, click!
Tuition
and Fees
Monthly
tuition for the Tuesday/Thursday class is $80. Monthly tuition for either
of the
Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes is $105. A $5 discount is given for active
members of St. John's, families with more than one child enrolled, or
families that pay the full year's tuition by August 15th. (Only one
discount per family please.) A $10 late fee will be added when tuition is
not received before the fifteenth of the month.
Other
Information
Snacks
are provided by the children on a rotational basis. Parents are welcome
to spend their child's snack half day at the school. Parent
visitations are also scheduled for Open House on the first day of
school, for the beginning of Halloween Dress-up Day, for the last half-hour of
Christmas Party Day, for Class Program Day in May, and for the Class Picnic in
May or June.
Your child's safety is of utmost concern to everyone at St. John's. All children must be brought inside, by an adult, to the classroom at the beginning of a class period. Teachers will release children one at a time to a known parent, guardian, grandparent, or sitter. Children will be walked by an adult to the restroom.
It is hoped that all children would be toilet trained before they begin nursery school; however, it is normal for children to have “accidents.” A change of clothing can be placed in their school bag in the hallway if you are concerned.