Thank you for your interest in Aldersgate Christian Preschool! Aldersgate Christian Preschool is a nondenominational Christian preschool operated as a mission of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church. We are located on a spacious campus across the street from the Newport Way Library in Bellevue. ACP is staffed by dedicated teachers with extensive professional training and/or experience. ACP classes offer each child optimum learning enrichment within a nurturing, Christian environment. PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS At Aldersgate Christian Preschool we believe in the education of the whole child. The ACP staff strives to promote each child's positive self-concept, to teach group responsibility and sharing skills, and to offer opportunities, which will enhance each child's educational, spiritual, emotional and physical growth. The Aldersgate Christian Preschool staff is committed: 1. To nurture each child in developing and/or maintaining a positive self-concept as a child of God. 2. To offer all children sound educational and social opportunities at an age appropriate level. 3. To use positive reinforcement to create a warm, friendly, and well-managed learning and social environment. 4. To promote and stress Christian values throughout the teaching and management of our program. 5. To maintain a loving Preschool environment, that stimulates educational growth, offers a variety of learning activities, enhances social awareness and responsibilities, provides positive individual and group interaction, and promotes self-assurance. All classes at Aldersgate Christian Preschool are planned and taught following the belief that we are all God’s children. We believe that a child’s religious education begins in the home with the parents and is nurtured through family participation in church. The staff of Aldersgate Christian Preschool nurtures and supports the belief in Jesus Christ as God’s son by providing a warm, caring preschool program, which fosters Christian values and beliefs. Unlike the public schools, classes at Aldersgate Christian Preschool can celebrate the Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter. In addition we celebrate the traditional and patriotic holidays such as Halloween/All Saints Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and St. Patrick’s Day. All Preschool classes are curriculum based emphasizing the developmental needs of the whole child: social, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. The children participate in a variety of activities during their day, including circle time, concept/story time, music, art, snack and freeplay, both indoor and outdoor. Preschool classes for two-year-olds and three-year-olds are two days a week. Four-year-olds have the option of a two-day or three-day per week program. All of our ACP teachers have extensive experience working with preschool children and/or degrees in education and early childhood education.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS AND PLACEMENT All 2/3 Preschool classes are 2½ hour 2 day per week classes for children who are 2 years old by August 31st and will be turning 3 during the year. It is ACP’s policy to enroll students in only one 2/3 class – either M/W or T/Th, a four day a week option is not available at this age. First Step (2/3) Preschool classes are for younger 2 year olds (physically and/or emotionally), Spring and Summer birthdays and /or 2’s who would do better with less structure. (Extended day option available.) 2/3 Preschool classes are for more mature 2 year olds, Fall and Winter birthdays who can handle slightly more structure. (Extended day option available.) 3/4 Preschool classes are 2½ hour 2 day per week classes for children who are 3 years old by August 31st and will be turning 4 during the year. (Extended day option available.) NEW THIS YEAR – Our two 2-day a week classes can be extended to 3 days by adding a Friday Enrichment class. 3/4/5 Preschool classes are a 4 hour 2 day per week mixed age class for children who are 3 and 4 years old and will be turning 4 and 5 during the year (all 3/4/5 students bring lunch from home). Pre-K classes are for children who are at least 4 years old by August 31st and will be turning 5 or 6 during the year. NEW THIS YEAR - There are 3 options for Pre-K. We have a 2-day T/Th 4-hour per day class (T/Th students bring lunch from home each day). a 3-day M/W/F 2 ½ hour per day class (Extended day option available) and a 4-day Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 2 ½ hour per day class (Extended day option available). Children who have summer birthdays are often more appropriately placed in a younger age class (example: A child who turns 3 years old on July 5th may do better in the 2/3 class as opposed to the 3/4 class.) This is an option for the parents to decide. ACP does not enroll children in an older class if they miss the August 31st cut off (example: A child who turns 2 years old on September 1st will not be enrolled in a 2/3 class until the following year.) There is no exception to this age requirement. Children remain with their age grouping until the following year. We do not move a child mid-year when his/her age changes. There is an Extended Day option available to all children registered in the 2½-hour Preschool classes. Extended Day is an optional hour and a half extension to the preschool day. During this time the children will eat their home provided lunch, relax with a quiet music/story video rest time and have additional playtime with their friends. Your child’s teacher and aide staff the extended day time. Children may stay for extended day as often or as little as the parent desires. Just notify the teacher on the day(s) your child is staying, and be sure to bring a lunch from home. Classes for the 2013/2014 school year run from September 17th through June 13th. Classes, days, times, and tuition are: 2/3 First Step Monday/Wednesday 9:30-12:00 Marilee Gossard $174.00/month 2/3 First Step Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-12:00 Marilee Gossard $174.00/month 2/3 Monday/Wednesday 9:30-12:00 Cassie Deszo $174.00/month 2/3 Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-12:00 Cassie Deszo $174.00/month 3/4 Monday/Wednesday 9:30-12:00 Betsy Gayte $174.00/month 3/4 Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-12:00 Betsy Gayte $174.00/month 3/4 + Friday Enrichment* 9:30-12:00 Betsy Gayte $ 88.00/month 3/4/5 Monday/Wednesday 9:30- 1:30 Cindy Kuiken $262.00/month 3/4/5 Tuesday/Thursday 9:30- 1:30 Mary Wimer $262.00/month Pre-K Mon./Wed/Friday 9:30-12:00 Dorena Becker $262.00/month Pre-K Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 9:30-12:00 Lona Erickson $350.00/month Pre-K Tuesday/Thursday 9:30- 1:30 Sandy Masson $262.00/month Pre-K + 3/4/5 + Friday Enrichment 9:30-12:00 Betsy Gayte $ 88.00/month
* Friday Enrichment is available tas an addition to the 3/4, 3/4/5 and 2 day Pre-K classes.
Tuition may be reduced by participating as an ACP co-op helper (refer to ACP Co-op Information). For further information, contact Chris Antrobus, Director or Jill Swanson, Finance Manager.
Extended Day (in conjunction with above class registration): 2/3 First Step Monday/Wednesday 12:00- 1:30 Marilee Gossard $ 11.00/day 2/3 First Step Tuesday/Thursday 12:00- 1:30 Marilee Gossard $ 11.00/day 2/3 Monday/Wednesday 12:00- 1:30 Cassie Deszo $ 11.00/day 2/3 Tuesday/Thursday 12:00- 1:30 Cassie Deszo $ 11.00/day 3/4 Monday/Wednesday 12:00- 1:30 Betsy Gayte $ 11.00/day 3/4 Tuesday/Thursday 12:00- 1:30 Betsy Gayte $ 11.00/day Pre-K Mon./Wed/Friday 12:00- 1:30 Dorena Becker $ 11.00/day Pre-K Monday –Thursday 12:00- 1:30 Lona Erickson $ 11.00/day CO-OP/VOLUNTEER INFORMATION Aldersgate Christian Preschool offers the parents of our school the opportunity to participate in the classroom as a co-op helper. Co-op helpers assist us in reducing payroll costs while we endeavor to keep our student to adult ratios at or below a range of 4:1 for the youngest to 6:1 for the older classes. The purpose of a co-op helper is to assist the teacher and teacher’s aide with general classroom management and learning material preparation while being able to observe and participate in their child’s classroom. All co-op helpers are required to fill out a Washington State Patrol background check. In addition to parents, we welcome grandparents and nannies as co-op helpers as well. We are especially pleased to have dads and grandpas join us at preschool! Co-op helpers receive a tuition reduction for work performed in the classroom. The work day for a co-op helper is: 1) 9:15 AM to 12:15 PM in a 2½ hour Preschool classroom for a $18.00/day tuition reduction; 2) 9:15 AM to 1:45 PM in a 3/4/5 or Tuesday/Thursday Pre-K classroom for a tuition reduction of $28.00/day. There is no co-op credit given during the extended day portion of the day. If your child is staying for extended day on a day you co-op you may leave your child and come back at the end of the day or you may stay and enjoy lunch with your child. You will not be expected to “work” in the class at this point, unless specifically asked to by the Director. The number of days that a helper co-ops may vary from one day per month up to 50% of the class days per month. We require that the co-op helper is present for the entire scheduled time to receive tuition credit. There will be no tuition credit for partial days. If you wish to help in the classroom for a shorter amount of time we will welcome you on a volunteer basis. Please note: Being a c-op helper at least two times per month regularly places your child in the first group for registration the following year. Nursery care is available for younger siblings (under 2 years old) while you co-op. There is no tuition credit if the nursery is utilized. Nursery care is provided in lieu of tuition credit. TOURS The staff at ACP welcomes your visits to see our facilities and program. Tours may be scheduled between 9:45 and 10:30 AM Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays by calling the ACP office at 425-562-0433. REGISTRATION To register for Preschool, please complete a registration form and return it with the annual registration fee of $100.00 ($150.00 family maximum). Please refer to the separate registration instructions enclosed in the letter for time, day and instructions of how to complete registration at Aldersgate Christian Preschool. The registration fee becomes non-refundable when your child is placed in a class at ACP. If we are only able to place your child on a waitlist, we will return your registration fee until we are able to place them. ACP TUITION PAYMENT POLICY The first month’s (September) tuition payment will be due by June 1st and will ensure your child’s placement in the class indicated. If payment is not received by June 1st, we will assume that you are not intending to have your child attend ACP in the Fall and make arrangements to fill the spot with someone from our wait list. This tuition payment will not be refunded after August 1st. If your plans change please contact us as soon as possible so we are not holding a spot for your child. |