Our goal at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool is to provide a safe and supportive environment where each child can feel secure and thrive. We also strive to create an environment where you, the parent, will feel comfortable and confident about leaving your child in our care. While our main focus is on your child’s social and emotional growth, we also know children are developing in cognitive and physical skills. Along with these skills we want each child to learn of God’s love for him/her, and have a chance to explore God’s wonderful world.

All of our staff are professional teachers trained in Early Childhood Education. Every staff member at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool brings unique gifts and abilities to our school. All teachers have completed at least 24 units of early child education classes. Some have gone further and have AA’s or BA’s. Each staff member completes a thorough application, screening and training process. Staff must meet all California Community Care Licensing regulations which include fingerprinting that must be cleared through a criminal record check. Staff must also have a physical examination, TB test and training in First Aid and CPR.

Policy

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool was established as a service to the families and children of our community. It is an enrichment program designed to enhance the spiritual, cognitive, physical and social-emotional development of children ages 2 years, 9 months to age 5 years. Our purpose is to encourage each child to begin the formation of a good self-image by becoming more aware of themselves, their new friends, their world and their relationship with God. Our program is designed to provide a balanced educational experience and to encourage spiritual development in a safe and loving atmosphere.

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool admits children of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to children at the preschool. St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational or other school-administered programs.

Program Description

In a Christian atmosphere, we value the uniqueness of each child. We will help children become more aware of themselves and the world around them by:

• Increasing their ability to understand and model Christian concepts of love, sharing and forgiveness.
• Developing creativity and self-expression.
• Building self-confidence and individuality while encouraging autonomy.
• Encouraging music appreciation and dramatic play.
• Promoting teamwork attitudes.
• Broadening their knowledge of numbers, the alphabet, science, reading readiness and language skills.
• Providing a balanced program in which children participate in age appropriate multi-sensory activities designed to enhance learning through play.

Program Hours and Tuition

Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm:  $700 per month, Lunch Bunch included at no extra cost. Children are required to bring their own lunch each day.

Monday-Friday, 9am-12noon:  $400 per month, Lunch Bunch option available (see below)

Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 9am-12pm:  $325/month. Lunch Bunch option available (see below)

Tuesday/ Thursday, 9am-12pm, $275/month.  Lunch Bunch option available (see below)

Lunch Bunch: An optional Lunch Bunch program is offered in addition to our morning enrichment program. Children will provide their own lunches for this program. The hours for Lunch Bunch are from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00.p.m. The cost is $15.00 per day.

Enrollment

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool accepts children 2 years, 9 months to 5 years of age. The daily total enrollment shall not exceed 24 children. A ratio of no more than 8 children to 1 teacher will be maintained for group times.

Registration

A completed enrollment application form and a $75.00 registration fee, is required at the time of registration. This fee is non-refundable.

Our Staff

Director Stephanie Alexander

Ms. Stephanie became the director at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Preschool in March of 2002.  Stephanie and her staff bring a caring, loving environment for children to grow, learn and experience God’s love for them and their families.

Ms. Stephanie and her husband have two adult children, Erica, who lives in Long Beach and is fulfilling her dream of working in the interior design business and son Stephen who is studying in the field of Physics at UCLA.

In her free time Ms. Stephanie loves traveling, reading, watching old movies and is an avid NASCAR fan.

Teacher Teri Potts

Ms. Teri  joined the Preschool Staff of St. Andrew’s in January of 2000.  She feels blessed to be co-teaching alongside amazing teachers that never fail to put a smile on her face. As the mother of four beautiful children, she realized how important their early years were and the positive impact she had on their growth. She was fortunate to have been able to be an active mom in their lives, to nurture them and watch them grow. When her third child was enrolled at St. Andrew’s, she joined the teaching staff and was amazed by the amount of love and support that is found in this wonderful preschool. Before teaching, she was the Youth Minister here at St. Andrew’s for more than a decade. She was a trained Stephen Minister and she continues to serve as a Confirmation guide and a Children’s Church volunteer. For the past twelve years she has served as the Nursery coordinator for St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church.

Ms. Teri has an AA in child development, and holds a California State Early Childhood Credential Master Teacher’s permit. She has formal training in Sensory Processing Disorders. Her philosophy of education is rooted in several ideologies. Fundamentally, she believes children have an internal timing and pacing to their development that is unique to each child. Just as children don’t walk and read at the same exact age, we don’t expect our preschoolers to acquire skills in the same timeframe. Many factors affect their development. Each family is different and provides different types of stimulation and guidance. It is her goal, as children enter her program, to assess their development, take into account all areas and she then design her curriculum to suit their individual needs. Based on research and experience, she believe young children learn differently than their school-age counterparts. Indeed, learning and play go hand in hand. Young children learn through their senses and experiences. Hands-on exploration is best for a preschooler.  In her class parents are supported, welcomed and involved. Ms. Teri believes that everyday should be a celebration of how our loving Father made each of us.

Teri tries to follow Romans 12:7, which states: “If your gift is serving others serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” She believes God has gifted each us with a special gift, so she takes her gift as a teacher very seriously.

In her free time Teri enjoys gardening, raising butterflies, sewing, playing soccer, camping, and the beach.

Teacher Sandra Erickson