Early Childhood

Pilgrim Lutheran Preschool Storytime

The Early Childhood Program consists of:

  • 3 year old Afternoon Program
    Monday through Friday from 12:30pm to 2:40pm
    Three and five day options available
    Class size limited to 12
  • 4 year old Preschool Program
    Monday through Friday from 8:45am - 11:45am
    Afternoon option available
    Class size limited to 16
  • Kindergarten Program
    Monday through Friday from 8:45am - 11:45am
    Afternoon option available
    Class size limited to 20

Philosophy

Pilgrim Lutheran School's Early Childhood Program believes children are special creations of God, each with unique interests and needs.

We believe that learning takes place through child-centered opportunities and activities in an accepting environment, by teachers who respect each child and his/her varied background, experiences, knowledge, personalities, abilities, and needs.

We believe that an appropriate curriculum encourages and enhances the child's growth as an independent individual and incorporates conflict resolution techniques to ensure group participation.

Objectives

Pilgrim Lutheran Preschool Annual Lamb's Farm Trip
  1. Demonstrate God's love for each of us by maintaining an atmosphere of happiness in sharing new experiences and expressing enthusiasm, consideration, gentleness, and understanding for others.
  2. Provide individual creative expression using developmentally appropriate art, music, and dramatic play.
  3. Provide opportunities for the child to learn about the natural world.
  4. Encourage the expression of both positive and negative feelings, and channel the negative feelings into constructive expression.
  5. Foster awareness and respect for the feelings and rights of others and develop empathy for one another.
  6. Provide opportunities to develop large and small motor skills.
  7. Encourage verbal expression of ideas and realization of self as a source of ideas.
  8. Provide for children a structured environment where children can build socialization skills and develop friendships while pursuing individual interests.
  9. Provide each child with opportunities to experience forms of written and oral language.
  10. Provide opportunities for the child to construct mathematical understanding through the use of manipulative materials.
  11. Provide opportunities for the child to develop individual self-help skills. (i.e. dressing, toileting, and good organizational skills.
  12. Provide opportunities for the child to develop listening skills.

Weekly Newsletter

Parents are informed of the week's activities through a weekly newsletter. In addition to information regarding the week's focus, it may include a list of local programs of interest for preschool families, reference to current books on childrearing, and requests for parent assistance and participation.

Admission

Pilgrim Lutheran Preschool Leading Chapel

Children who are three years old by September 1st are eligible for admission into the 3-4 year old afternoon program. Policy requires that children attending early childhood programs be toilet trained. Children wearing pull-ups are not considered toilet trained. Children who are four years old by September 1st are eligible for admission to preschool, and those who are five years old by September 1st are eligible for admission to kindergarten.

Before and After School Care

The Early Birds Program and Pilgrim After School Program are available to students enrolled in early childhood education programs. Please see the Before and After School Programs section.

Dress

The program includes many "on the floor" activities in addition to painting and play dough projects. Clothing appropriate for such activities is recommended. Children build confidence in caring for their own needs if they are dressed in clothing that does not require special fastening from the teacher or other adults. This need to develop independence should be given special considerations when selecting clothing.

Home Visitation

The preschool teacher will make home visits to each child enrolled before classes begin in the fall. This gives the teacher and student an opportunity to become acquainted before the school year begins. Kindergarten children and their families are invited to school before classes begin in the fall in order to become acquainted with their classmates, teacher, and room.

Communication and Parental Involvement

  1. A weekly newsletter is sent home describing the classroom activities of the past week and the upcoming events.
  2. A monthly calendar is sent home listing weekly and monthly themes, snack assignments, and special church and school events.
  3. A school newsletter (Pilgrim's Pink Page) is sent home weekly.
  4. Written evaluations of the student's progress are sent in January and June.
  5. Individual parent conferences are held in October and March.
  6. Parents are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher with questions concerning their child. No question is unimportant.
  7. Parents are always welcome in the classroom. Parents may volunteer to be a daily helper, library aide, computer aide, field trip helper, or to serve as picture person.

Readiness for Kindergarten

Is your child ready for kindergarten?

The following list has been adapted from a list developed by Anthony J. Coletta, Ph.D., Professor of Early Childhood Education, William Paterson University. Please review the checklist to assist in determining your child's kindergarten readiness.

Emotional Maturity

Does your child...

  • Show confidence when initiating new tasks?
  • Feel comfortable when away from mom or dad for 2-3 hours?
  • Face small tasks without whining?
  • Show little in the way of separation anxiety?

Social Maturity

Does your child...

  • Play cooperatively and generally interact well with other children?
  • Prefer the same age or older playmates as opposed to younger friends?

Physical Maturity

Does your child...

  • Have the ability to sit, listen, and focus on a teacher-directed task of 15-20 minutes?
  • Have the ability to grasp a pencil comfortably and low on the point?
  • Appear as tall or taller than age-mates?
  • Appear to be reasonably coordinated? Does your child walk or run without tripping or falling?

Intellectual Maturity

Does your child...

  • Have an interest in the printed word?
  • Enjoy listening to stories read aloud?
  • Recall past events, words to songs and rhymes, address and phone number?
  • Speak clearly?
  • Identify primary colors and shapes?
  • Follow directions?

How you can help your child be ready for Kindergarten

  • Read to your child on a daily basis.
  • Teach your child to care for his or her own clothing without assistance.
  • Teach your child to attend to toilet needs without assistance.
  • Provide crayons, scissors, glue, pencils, etc. for your child to use at home.
  • Give your child simple tasks to do at home.
  • Show an interest in your child's work, stories, and drawings.
  • Take time to listen to your child and answer questions.
  • Remember that your child will learn best by doing.