PreSchoolKindergarten We are a Christian Preschool and
Kindergarten with a full academic program that incorporates
the Bible in our total teaching program. We believe that every child deserves the
heritage of a knowledge of God and His Son, and without it, education is not complete.
It is our desire to see each child grow mentally, physically, emotionally,
socially and spiritually. We believe we are uniquely qualified to do this, because we
operate as a service to our community, with dedicated, trained and talented
staff.
There is no profit motive needed for our operation, but a service motive...to know, love,
and serve Jesus Christ, who is "the bright and morning star"!
Hours of
Operation
The academic program operates from
8:30 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. Monday-Friday during the school year. Classes
usually begin around the last week of August and end around the first week of
June. The Preschool and Kindergarten are closed on the following
annual holidays: Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving and the whole week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Children may be enrolled for 5-day, 3-day or 2-day classes depending on your
scheduling needs.
Certification
The Preschool and Kindergarten are
accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Curriculum
Using their teaching
experience our teachers create most of their curriculum. The curriculum is
supplemented with manipulatives and other purchased items.
Teachers work together as a team sharing ideas for curriculum, creating
curriculum, and sharing in school decisions. The Kindergarten
curriculum takes the best of Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley for math, and
Harcourt for reading and language arts. The writing program titled "Kid
Writing" was piloted last year in kindergarten. It was so successful and we
saw so much growth in this area it has become a permanent part of our
curriculum. Our Kindergarten Bible curriculum is David C. Cook and new this
year for Preschool we will be using "Bright Beginnings" from Gospel Light.
Activities
Daily activities include:
-
 The Bible - where
stories, songs and verses from God's Word serve as an integral part of our
total program
- Centers - where
children are free to choose from a variety of available activities
- Language experience -
using children's literature, role play and imagination as well as social
experiences
- Small motor activities
- using finger and hand control to paint, draw, mold clay and playdough or
construct with Lego bricks.
- Gross motor activities
are needed to exercise and gain muscle control of growing limbs. Children
are provided with play equipment such as bean bags, hoops for jumping,
jump ropes, parachutes, floor puzzles, scooter boards and large blocks to
promote gross motor development.
Special activities
throughout the year include:
- Visits to local fire
stations, post offices, pet stores, banks, pumpkin farms, museums and area
recreation parks.
- Visits from people from
our community to show and tell our children how their work helps others.
- Outdoor water days
during the summer
- Theme weeks in
conjunction with world events - Olympics, Fire Prevention Week, etc.
- Grandparents' Day - The classes put on a
short program in the Chapel. Afterwards, the grandparents' return with the
children to their classroom for refreshments (made by the children).
- Kindergarten Graduation - At the end of
each school year, the Kindergarten class graduates with a special program
with the children performing a short play, singing songs and receiving
their Kindergarten diplomas.
Field Trips
Each teacher schedules several field
trips a year. Some of the sites visited in the past include
Manheim Farm
Show, Brooklawn Farm Market, Oregon Dairy, Kitchen Kettle
Village and Hands On House.
Open
House
MorningStar hosts three Open House days
throughout the year to give parents an opportunity to get to know their child's
teachers, see the classroom and interact with the administrative staff.
Student Assessment
Student assessment is accomplished using Progress Reports and Portfolios.
Progress Reports are a guide to your child's progress conducted by on-going evaluations by
the teacher.
Portfolios demonstrate progress and may include the child's written work, art projects,
drawings, and teacher observations conducted on an on-going basis throughout the school
year. Parent Teacher telephone conferences are scheduled for October and in
January the teachers share the Progress Reports and Portfolios with the parents
at meetings at MorningStar.
Staff
Every staff member professes
faith in Jesus Christ and receives annual training in First Aid and CPR.
The academic staff consists of five teachers for the five classes: two
Kindergarten classes, two Preschool-4 classes and one Preschool-3 class. Each
teacher is assisted by a teacher's aide. Currently, the teachers have taught at
MorningStar for an average of 7 years.
Every teacher is required to have a Bachelors Degree in Education and to
earn continuing education credits each year. At the time of hire, MorningStar is
required by the Department of Public Welfare to run a Pennsylvania Criminal and
Child Abuse background check on all teachers and teacher aides. MorningStar also
works with the student teacher programs at area colleges and universities.
If the ministry of MorningStar appeals to you and you have a desire to serve
families through the caring and education of their children, contact the
MorningStar office at 626.5828.
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