Welcome to St. Matthew Preschool!

Traci, Preschool Director: stmatthewps@gracefaithlove.org
                                        Phone 816-524-4354

Office hours are 8:00 am to 2:30 pm during the school year and abbreviated hours in the summer (please call/email before coming during summer hours). The phone is answered between 8:00 am to 2:30 pm Monday thru Friday.  Brightwheel messages are responded to in a timely manner.

Come join the fun of learning in a Christian setting. At St. Matthew Preschool, we provide a Christ-centered atmosphere conducive to the whole child's physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth. Our mission is to offer families a Christ-centered preschool program. Our preschool is part of the Christian education ministry of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and an outreach ministry to community families. We want to help children and adults grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.


   

 

Classes Offered & Fees

(Updated January 2024)

- Enrollment - $150.00 yearly (non-refundable)
- Activity Fee - $75.00 (non-refundable) covers the cost of the two field trips the school offers each year: Pumpkin Patch for child & parent; Zoo for child and parent. Vouchers will be given if a child cannot otherwise attend.

  • Payments may be made online through Brightwheel (Brightwheel is a free app for parents, teachers, and administrators to communicate, sign in/out and track payments).

Preschool Tots – 2 1/2 years old by July 31  

The preschool children participate in individual, small group, and large group activities. Children MUST be fully potty-trained, wear underwear, and take care of toileting needs. (This is only a Tuesday/Thursday class.)

Classroom routines are established by the classroom staff.  Chapel time is held in the sanctuary/gym every day at 9:30 am.  The children participate in individual, small-group, and large-group activities in the classroom.  Children who stay till 2 pm may participate in the following activities:

  • Lunch from home with opportunities for language and social skill development. Lunch should be in an insulated container with an ice pack.
  • 15-minute rest time after lunch (required by state)
  • Interactive play, science, cooking, creative art,  and drama

              Tuesday/Thursday                           $155/mo ($1395 year)                    9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

               Tuesday/Thursday                           $240/mo   ($2160 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM       

               - No Early Bird offered.

Preschool (PS) – 3 years old by July 31  

The preschool children participate in individual, small group, and large group activities. Children must be fully potty-trained, wear underwear, and take care of toileting needs. (Preschool is open to children who will not be going to kindergarten the following year.)

Classroom routines are established by the classroom staff.  Chapel time is held in the sanctuary/gym every day at 9:30 am.  The children participate in individual, small-group, and large-group activities in the classroom.  Children who stay till 2 pm may participate in the following activities:

  • Lunch from home with opportunities for language and social skill development. Lunch should be in an insulated container with an ice pack.
  • 15-minute rest time after lunch (required by state)
  • Interactive play, science, cooking, creative art,  and drama

Monday/Wednesday/Friday           $225/mo ($2025 year)                     9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday                           $155/mo ($1395 year)                    9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Monday - Friday                                $380/mo  ($3420 year)                   9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Monday/Wednesday/Friday           $380/mo ($3420 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday                           $240/mo   ($2160 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday – Friday                              $600/mo   ($5400 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

- Early Bird (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) $15.00 per day (must be scheduled in advance).

Prekindergarten(PK+) (4 years old by July 31)

This class is good preparation for all-day kindergarten. PreK is for students who will be going to kindergarten the following school year and must attend till 2 p.m. Children will participate in all the activities of the traditional 3-hour class with the following additional activities:

  • Lunch from home with opportunities for language and social skill development. Lunch should be in an insulated container with an ice pack.
  • 15-minute rest time after lunch (required by state)
  • Interactive play, science, cooking, creative art,  and drama

Monday/Wednesday/Friday           $380/mo ($3420 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday                           $240/mo   ($2160 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday – Friday                              $600/mo   ($5400 year)                  9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

- Early Bird (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) $15.00 per day (must be scheduled in advance).

Enrollment

Enrollment for the coming year begins in February for church members, current families, and past families.  Enrollment opens to new families in March. Enrollments are accepted until classes are full.

 

Registration 2024-2025

 

Brightwheel

Brightwheel is an app that our preschool uses to track sign-ins and outs, capture classroom milestones, communicate with families, share photos and videos, manage tuition, and much more. The app is free to parents. To fill out forms you must use the app on a computer but can communicate and pay your fees using your mobile app. Teachers will respond to messages during school hours through the app. (The administration will respond after hours if felt it can not wait till the next school day.) 

 

Handbook

The handbook is updated annually and downloaded into Brightwheel for parents to review.

The State Health Department requires the children to be up-to-date on their immunizations. The parents must provide a signed medical form and a copy of the immunization record at the time school starts each year. (Students will not be permitted to school without these forms.)

  • The state requires enrollment and parent responsibility forms to be on file when the child starts preschool.
  • Children must be potty-trained and wear underwear. 
  • We follow the Jackson County Health Department guidance with regard to COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

 

Curriculum

St Matthew Preschool staff will:

  • Provide Christian education in the classroom, during chapel time, on the playground, and during center time.
  • Provide a wide variety of developmentally appropriate activities for children to explore individual interests and differences.
  • Provide hands-on activities in a variety of learning centers so each child learns in the best style for him/her.
  • Provide learning centers - writing, science, art, blocks, manipulative, etc. - for the children to explore themes throughout the year.
  • Provide a low student/teacher ratio from 7/1 to 9/1.
  • Provide children with outdoor activities every day.
  • Encourage children and their families to receive God's unconditional love through His Word and the service of our caring preschool staff.
  • Help pre-kindergarten children prepare for elementary school.
  • Maintain communication between teachers and parents through newsletters, parent meetings/conferences, and parent involvement.

 

Support

For those who would like to support our preschool by donating items, our school, and each teacher have put together Amazon wish lists:

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