Yucaipa Christian Preschool

Yucaipa Christian Preschool is open from 6:30 am until 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Structured preschool class time is from 8:30-11:30.

Pre-Kindergarten and Jr. Kindergarten class time is from 8:00-11:30, Monday through Friday. These students are taken from the playground to their classroom at 8:00 am. The optimum time for arrival of Jr. K and Pre-K students is 7:45 am; for preschool between 8:15 and 8:30 am. This offers continuity in the day to day activities. Extended care is available for Preschool, Pre-K, and Jr. K, before and after structured class time from 6:30 am until 6:00 pm.

If you arrive after 8:00 am, sign in occurs in the classroom. Please arrive in time for all classroom activities and lessons.

Philosophy
Education of our children is a God-given responsibility. We are instructed in Deuteronomy 6:5-7, to teach our children diligently and to train our children in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6). As we view our world today, it becomes important to clearly instruct our children in the principles and values of living according to God’s Word. When we, as adults, strive to teach these principles, our children also need to observe us putting them into practice in every aspect of our lives. Thus, we feel education involves a partnership with family and school, seeking to provide for the best interest of each child.

Education must develop the “whole” child, which means, that we provide for intellectual, spiritual, social/emotional, and physical development for each child. In attempting to address these areas, we try to provide age appropriate activities as well as focusing on an experimental, “hands-on” approach as much as possible.

It is important for parents to realize that young children need a wide variety of experiences in order to develop a thorough understanding of complex concepts. We begin by teaching simple concepts and building upon those. It is also important to recognize children as individuals who can absorb concepts at different rates depending upon their opportunities to practice what is taught before it is internalized and becomes a part of the child. What appears to be “play” is, in reality, “work” as the child learns about his world and how to interpret his experiences.

PROGRAM
Our preschool has a planned curriculum. Each classroom has planned activities geared to the interest and level of that particular age group. Your child will be exposed to the following areas:

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT- Toys and playground equipment are used to develop muscular coordination and control.

BIBLE- To help children develop a love for God and others and to teach them that Jesus is God’s Son and that He loves them very much. Spiritual truths are taught through weekly chapels, Bible stories, pictures, flannel stories, puppets, songs, tapes, videos and a Bible memory verse.

ART- Includes easel and finger painting, clay, play dough, crayons, felt pens, chalk, paper, glue, scissors, collage, constructions to stimulate the child’s imagination and help him express his feelings and ideas through artistic activities.

MUSIC AND DRAMATICS- Music appreciation is developed through listening to tapes, cds, musical games, rhythm instruments and group singing.

SCIENCE- Our science program is an active and on-going program that uses magnets, magnifying lenses, prisms, measuring, color paddles, plant and animal life, nature and sensory materials which enhance the curriculum while making reasonable cause and effect conclusions of the world God has made for us.

GAMES- Use of manipulatives, problem solving, matching, sorting, shape and color discrimination, counting materials, of varying degrees of difficulty, offer opportunity for decision making and  free choice of working alone or interrelating with other children.

LIBRARY- Books are available to the children to enrich children’s experiences and interest.

COOKING- Simple cooking experiences develop math and science skills and concepts as well as enriching the vocabulary. It stimulates conversation and appreciation for group effort.

MATH- Concepts of how many, more or less, small and large and big and little are introduced.

LETTERS AND SOUNDS- We present a very basic instruction on how to print letters both in upper and lower case. Introduction to the phonetic uses of the alphabet will also be taught.

GOALS
We are established to promote preschool education with a spiritual dimension for children. Our primary goal is to help each child achieve Christian maturity as illustrated in the life of Christ (Luke 2:52). We also want to provide an adequate environment and program consistent with the highest standards that will allow your child to develop to their maximum potential.

Social and Emotional

1. To develop a positive self-image and the sense of self-acceptance within each child.
2. To provide an environment that will encourage a sense of security in each child.
3. To help the child develop a feeling of acceptance by his teachers and peers.
4. To help the child learn to accept change and disappointment.
5. To help the child express himself and release hostility and tension in a socially accepted manner. To use language to express self, developing positive conflict resolution.
6. To value family relationships and understand the importance of obeying parent and teachers.
7. To begin to learn the art of sharing. Sharing their own ideas and also toys and their items with friends and family.
8. To begin showing empathy and kindness to family and friends.
9. To enjoy and participate in child-to-child and child-to-adult interactions. To communicate effectively using their words and to comfortably participate in group discussions. Yucaipa Christian Preschool students are given the opportunity to experience intellectual, physical, spiritual, emotional, and social growth.