General Preschool Information | Preschool Registration | Preschool Open House | New Pre-K Class! | Preschool Handbook
What Makes Living Lord Lutheran Church Preschool Special? |
Class Schedule Morning session: 9:00-11:30 a.m. or Afternoon session: 12:30-3:00 p.m. Three-year-olds: Tu & Th Four-year-olds: M, W, & F |
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We Provide… |
Preschoolers are special people! They have unique abilities, personalities, and learning styles. At Living Lord Preschool, we are dedicated to providing a caring environment where children can grow socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Our teachers treat each child with love and respect as they teach them to explore, discover, and learn. Loving discipline is employed as the teachers model and encourage appropriate behavior.
Organization. Our teachers plan curriculum activities around weekly and monthly themes. The classroom is organized into learning centers, with daily activities centering on these themes. Our curricula encourage development in the basic skills all children need to progress through school — and life! Some of these include developing self-esteem; working on fine and gross motor skills; playing and working well with others; growing creative-thinking and problem-solving skills; and learning to accept and express feelings.
Our preschool teachers, preschool board, and church staff value the importance of a Christian education. The teachers share God’s love with the children daily. The children learn about Jesus through Bible stories, music, prayer, and the celebration of Christian holidays. Our church’s three pastors regularly share lessons, stories, and songs with the children through visits to the classroom (three-year-olds) and chapel time in the sanctuary (four-year-olds).
Living Lord Lutheran Church Preschool is state-licensed. State licensing standards set parameters for our curriculum, the preschool room itself, acceptable snacks, and other safety and health requirements. However, the most important thing parents need to know about our state-licensed preschool is that our teachers possess the appropriate educational and classroom credentials required by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
We Exceed Expectations
Living Lord Preschool is unique among area preschools, and here’s why: State licensing standards require one qualified teacher in the preschool classroom. Our program for four-year-olds includes two qualified teachers. Moreover, our program for three-year-olds includes three qualified teachers. That’s a student-to-teacher ratio of seven to one. Other programs for three-year-olds in the area have a student-to-teacher ratio of ten to one. With only 20 students per class, our low student-to-teacher ratio allows for more attention, more interaction, and more fun!
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“I cannot say enough about how wonderful this preschool is. I have three children, and they all went to different preschools, and Living Lord Preschool is by far the best. Living Lord has a great reputation in the community for having a quality preschool. The teachers are phenomenal.” “We feel so blessed to be enrolled in this wonderful program. Our daughter is thriving, thanks to the excellent teachers. Thank you!” “My child has enjoyed coming to preschool. He has met a lot of new friends. He talks about what he has done for the day with a smile on his face.” “I feel so secure leaving my child with you for two-and-a-half hours. She tells me she loves school. That makes me feel good about her foundation for kindergarten.” |
Meet Our Teachers
Our teachers are enthusiastic about learning, they love preschoolers, and they are fully equipped to teach them.
Nancy Collins — Preschool Director and Teacher Assistant
Nancy has a bachelor’s degree in Child Development/Family Life from Western Illinois University. In her 20+ years of working with children of all ages, she has taught and directed preschool and worked with local School District U-46 in the Parents As Teachers program. Nancy oversees Living Lord Preschool staff and curriculum development. She also ensures that our preschool meets all licensing standards from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Nancy also assists in the classroom during our afternoon sessions. Nancy is an active member of Living Lord Lutheran Church and she served on the Living Lord Preschool Board for three years.
Cheryl Rachford — Lead Teacher (M/W/F)
Cheryl has a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Northern Illinois University. She has been teaching at Living Lord Preschool for more than 5 years. Both Cheryl’s sons attended Living Lord Preschool, and she is happy to continue the tradition of caring teaching. Cheryl is also active in the community and volunteers in her children’s schools and activities.
Becky Small — Lead Teacher (T/Th)
Becky has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Education from Eastern Illinois University. She previously worked for Maryville Academy, where she taught and worked with many young children. Becky also served on the Living Lord Preschool Board for two years and continues to volunteer in the classrooms of her own children, who both attended Living Lord Preschool. She is also an active member of Living Lord Lutheran Church.
Tracy Wetherton — Teacher Assistant (M-F mornings)
Tracy earned a degree in business from Eastern Illinois University, but 16 years ago she decided to “retire” and focus on raising her four boys, who each attended Living Lord Preschool. Tracy is very active at Living Lord Lutheran Church and in the community, including Boy Scouts and her sons’ schools and other activities. She is excited to enter the field of education and to put her love for children to work at Living Lord Preschool.
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