Mission

Children’s Garden Preschool is a ministry of St. Giles Presbyterian Church. Our mission is to provide a developmentally appropriate experience for each child in a Christ-centered, positive, nurturing environment. We intend to assist families to help their children grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and academically. Our program serves children 2 1/2 through 5 years old. We follow a Christian based curriculum.

Philosophy of Education

The family has the primary role in the development of children. We seek to enhance this role by welcoming family involvement in the Children’s Garden Preschool program.

Children’s Garden Preschool staff and faculty view children as competent and strong individuals created in God’s image. Our environment is safe, nurturing, warm, and encouraging. Our program enables age appropriate problem solving, wise choice making, and developmentally and age appropriate experiences.

It is our belief that children learn through play, concrete experiences, and active exploration. Thus we do not focus on drills, rote memorization or workbooks.

We believe that learning never ends. Our staff and faculty participate in continuing education workshops, training, and childhood education classes.

Goals

All Children’s Garden Preschool activities integrate learning that meets the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of the children.

Our goals include the development of:

• strong basic language and literacy skills
• communication skills with peers and adults
• social skills including empathy, sharing, cooperation, and generosity
• an awareness of God’s love and grace
• cognitive problem solving
• creative expression
• large and fine motor skills

The Christian Faith

Children’s Garden Preschool is a vibrant Christian community. Our teachers actively look for ways to reflect God’s love throughout the day. Teachers will speak naturally and lovingly with the children about their own faith and love for God in both formal and informal teaching times. Each snack and meal will begin with a prayer of thanks. Weekly chapel services include Bible stories, prayers, and songs during which the children learn about people from Bible times and about God’s faithfulness and love. Throughout the year, families will be offered opportunities to serve others in the community through food drives, hat/mitten drives, and special offerings.