In Action

Program Objectives

To encourage spiritual development by offering opportunities for children to experience understanding and love. To plan activities that allow the young child to make choices, be stewards of God’s creation, solve problems and get along with and care about others.

To encourage social development by providing opportunities for sharing, taking turns, making friends, resolving conflicts, solving problems, helping others, recognizing and accepting others, cooperating on projects and building self-esteem.

To encourage emotional development through verbal expressions of thoughts and feelings; experiencing rules and limits; experiencing kindness, justice and empathy; and recognizing and accepting emotions in others. To develop a respect for other individuals.

To encourage the physical development of large motor skills through outdoor and indoor games and activities, as well as fine motor development through the use of manipulative toys, block and puzzles, and other small tools and objects.

To encourage cognitive growth by offering children many opportunities for active involvement with their environment. To allow them to learn what happens when they interact with materials and other people. To encourage spontaneous engagement in activities such as painting, collages, water play, block building, dramatic play, storytelling, singing and dancing.

We believe all children can learn and are entitled to a developmentally appropriate environment. Main streaming benefits typically developing children, children with special needs, their families, teachers and the community. We will strive to provide a developmentally appropriate environment for all children. But if we find St. Stephen Preschool cannot meet the needs of any child in our program and the child’s needs can best be met in another setting we will work with the family to find appropriate placement for the child.

Mission Statement

St. Stephen Preschool is a church-sponsored Christian mission program and does acknowledge and respect the different religions and cultures represented in the program and the community. The mission of St. Stephen United Methodist Preschool is to convey God’s love, as it is revealed to us through Jesus Christ, to young children by providing an environment that encourages each child to grow spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.

Relationship with St. Stephen United Methodist Church

St. Stephen Preschool is self-administered by the Preschool Committee with St. Stephen United Methodist Church supplying (without financial obligation) space and utilities and the preschool being offered as an outreach ministry to the community. The director of the preschool is chosen by the Preschool Committee and works with the Council of Ministries and the Educational Work Area to provide liaison between the two bodies. The preschool provides furnishings and materials for the classrooms used by the preschool as well as the upkeep and equipment for the playgrounds.