St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Summary
Director: stmatthewps@gracefaithlove.org
Phone 816-524-4354
Welcome to St. Matthew Preschool
Come join the fun of learning in a Christian setting. At St. Matthew Preschool we provide a Christ-centered atmosphere conducive to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth of the whole child. Our mission is to offer families a Christ-centered preschool program. Our preschool is part of the Christian education ministry of St. Matthew Lutheran 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 May 2022)
- Enrollment - $100.00 yearly (non-refundable)
- Activity Fee - $50.00 (non-refundable) covers the cost of the two field trips the school offers each year-Pumpkin Patch for child & parent; Zoo for child. Vouchers will be given if child cannot attend if possible.
- Payments may be made online through brightwheel. (Brightwheel is a free app parents, teachers, and administrators will use to communicate, sign in/out, and track payments through.)
Tots – 2 years old by July 31 (currently has a waitlist 5/10/22)
The Tots class is comprised of children who are self-sufficient in toileting needs and ready for group activities.
Preschool (PS) – 3 years old by July 31
The Preschool children participate in individual, small group & large group activities.
Pre-Kindergarten (PK) – 4 years old by July 31
The Pre-K children participate in individual, small group & large group activities.
Classroom routines are established by the classroom staff; Chapel Time is held in the Sanctuary at the start of class every day. In the classroom the children participate in individual, small group & large group activities.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday $200/mo (1800 year) 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday $155/mo ($1395 year) 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Monday - Friday $335/mo ($3015 year) 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday/Wednesday/Friday $325/mo ($2925 year) 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday $240/mo ($2160 year) 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday – Friday $530/mo ($4770 year) 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Lunch from home with opportunities for language development. Lunches 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, dramatics
Prekindergarten+/(PK+) (4 yrs old by July 31)
This class is a good preparation for all-day kindergarten. Children will participate in all the activities of the traditional 3-hour class including Happy Feet with the following additional activities:
- Lunch from home with opportunities for language development. Lunches 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, dramatics
Monday/Wednesday/Friday $325/mo ($2925 year) 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday $240/mo ($2160 year) 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday – Friday $530/mo ($4770 year) 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Early Bird is offered to all classes from 8 AM to 9 AM for $15.00 per day attended.
Enrollment
Office hours 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). Phone is answered between 7:30 am to 3:00 pm Monday thru Friday. Enrollment for the coming year begins in February. Enrollments are accepted until classes are full.
Registration 2022-2023
Brightwheel
Brightwheel is an app our childcare 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 you can use your mobile app.
Handbook
Are 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.
- The state requires an enrollment form and a parent responsibility form to be on file when the child starts the preschool.
- Children must be potty-trained and preferably wearing underwear. We do not have the facilities to change diapers.
- We follow the Jackson County Health Department guidance with regards to COVID-19 quarantine requirements.
Curriculum
St Matthew Preschool staff will:
- Provide Christian education in the classroom and chapel time, as well as on the playground and during center time.
- Provide a wide variety of developmentally appropriate activities to offer opportunities for children to explore individual interests and differences.
- Provide hands-on activities in a variety of learning centers so each child learns through the best style for him/her.
- Provide learning centers - writing, science, art, blocks, manipulative, etc. - for the children to explore the many different themes used throughout the year.
- Provide a low student/teacher ratios at 8/1.
- Provide children with outdoor activities every day.
- Encourage children and their families to accept God's unconditional love as it is experienced through His word and the loving, caring preschool staff.
- Help pre-kindergarten children prepare for elementary school.
- Maintain ongoing communication between teachers and parents through newsletters, parent meetings/conferences and other parent involvement.