February 23, 2012
Presbyterian Preschool- Now Enrolling for Fall 2012
The Presbyterian Preschool is a program of Christian Education and nurture which is owned and operated by the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson City, Missouri. The program began
in 1982 as one way of fulfilling the baptismal commitment we make to children and their families to raise them in the faith. The faith component of basic Christian education is one which honors all denominations through Bible stories, prayers, and a Christmas pageant, all as part of the religious training.
DAILY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
free exploration
allowing children to work together and contsruct meaning in their world
art activities
music
story time
calendar time
working with numbers
practice with letters
shapes and colors
gym time to develop large muscles
snack (because we love food!) which helps with social
devolopment and skills
Children also have a daily "job" which adds to their learning.
CLASSES
THE CHALLENGE CLASS
The Challenge Class meets Monday through Thursday from 9-12 and is for older 4s and young 5s—children who turn 5 after the deadline for Kindergarten admission or for children who need an extra year before starting Kindergarten to develop socially or emotionally. This class will be going to Kindergarten the following year. All the readiness skills for success in school are taught during the year.
There can be 12 children in this class.
The teacher is Mrs. Cheryl Carter.
The tuition is $128/month for 9 months.
THE 4-YEAR OLD CLASS
The 4-year-old class meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-12. These children are 4 or turn 4 by December, which means that about half of the class moves to the Challenge Class and the other half goes to Kindergarten.
There can be 12 children in this class.
The teacher is Mrs. Nancy Beard. The tuition is $96/month for 9 months.
THE 3-YEAR OLD CLASS
The 3-year-olds meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 9-12, and again, all children must turn 3 
by December. This group should be potty trained (although we understand that occasionally accidents happen). These children work on social skills like sharing, taking turns and following directions, as well as academic skills.
There can be 12 children in this class.
The teacher is Mrs. Christie Kittrell.
The tuition is $64/month for 9 months.
THE 2-YEAR-OLD CLASS
The 2-year-olds meet on Friday from 9-12. This group spends time exploring the space and getting to know each other, learn to share toys, listen to stories, and get comfortable being away from home. Most of them are working on potty training and we work with parents in this endeavor.
We only take 8 children in this class.
The current teacher is Mrs. Christie Kittrell, but a new teacher will be in place in the fall.
The tuition is $32/month for 9 months.
MEET THE STAFF
MRS. CHERYL CARTER
Mrs. Cheryl Carter has a B. S. in elementary education, has taught preschool, second grade and third grade and was an at-risk tutor for children in grades 1-4 and taught in an after-school program for elementary children. She is a Sunday School teacher and mother to two adult children and grandmother to one priceless boy. Her husband, Don Carter, is pastor at First Christian Church in Jefferson City. Mrs. Carter enjoys all kinds of crafts and being with children!
MRS. NANCY BEARD
Mrs. Nancy Beard has a M. S. in speech pathology and has taught in our preschool since it began. She was the Speech Pathologist for young children in Austin, Texas, Fulton and Cole County. Mrs. Beard and her husband, Rudy Beard, interim pastor at Lake Presbyterian Church, have three adult children and are looking forward to being grandparents this summer. Mrs. Beard enjoys weaving, music (choir and Bluegrass) and planning new and fun lessons for her classes.
MRS. CHRISTIE KITTRELL
Mrs. Christie Kittrell has a B. S. in elementary and early childhood education. She taught in our preschool in the early years, then taught kindergarten at Belair School for 13 years (where she was named “Teacher of the Year”, the second graders in our FOCUS program for five years, and has now returned to her favorite age—3-year-olds! She and her husband, Kyle Kittrell who is the Construction Supervisor for River City Habitat, have three adult children and one grandson. Mrs. Kittrell sings in the choir and with a Bluegrass group, enjoys traveling (especially to warm places) and being with family.
MRS. JAN BRIZENDINE
Mrs. Jan Brizendine has a B. S. in Home Economics with an Associate in Child Care and Guidance. She taught at Capitol Region Child Care and the Special Learning Center before she became the Children’s Clerk in the Missouri River Regional Library. She joined the Preschool this year as the Assistant for all the classes. In this position she greets the children every morning and sees that they get safely to their classrooms, helps in the classes, drives the van for field trips, prepares snack, directs gym time for all groups, and helps keep the space clean. Mrs. Brizendine and her husband, Ron Brizendine, have one adult son. She enjoys biking with her husband, hiking, and anything to do with nature.
MRS. MARILYN HOFMANN
Mrs. Marilyn Hofmann, Director of the Preschool, has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught future teachers at Lincoln University for 35 years and has been the Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian for 30 years. She and her husband, Jim Hofmann who volunteers with the Habitat Re-Store, have two adult children and four absolutely precious grandchildren! Mrs. Hofmann enjoys reading, teaching at any level, creating learning opportunities for people of all ages, and being with family.
As these pictures show, children enjoy their experiences at the Presbyterian Preschool. We are committed to each child and his/her development. We love being with your child and watchinghim/her grow and change over the years. We believe and we want every child to know that he/she was created by God and is loved by God –