EDUCATORS
EDUCATORS
ABOUT US
EDUCATORS
ABOUT US
Below, you'll read about our beginning, our mission, our commitment to you and your child,
our philosophy on learning through play, DAP, FTF School, our learning outcomes, and tours.
Our Beginning
The Weekday Preschool opened in 1997 with a dream to offer parents a place to bring their children where each one would be loved, nurtured and instilled with the fundamentals of a Biblical worldview, or that each child would learn to perceive his/her world in the way in which God intended. Since then, we have been providing lessons through engaging activities in Learning Centers. Each classroom is prepared with four to five Learning Centers including Dramatic Play, Art, Nature, Books and Puzzles/ Manipulatives that provide for guided exploration and learning about God, Jesus, the Bible, Church, Community and the Environment. These methods are based on DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) as prescribed by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of the Young Child). In the 2004/2005 school year with generous blessings, we opened our Kindergarten program.
Our Mission
Our mission is to reach and equip families with the gospel of Jesus Christ by providing a loving, fun, safe and Biblical environment for preschoolers to grow and learn in. We will provide a positive learning experience where Preschoolers can make choices and participate in small group activities that are developmentally appropriate. We want to inspire Preschoolers to know that God made them, loves them and has a unique and important plan for each of their lives.
Our Commitment
We commit to: Love preschoolers and their families as God loves them, Minister to their physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual needs, Teach Preschoolers in developmentally appropriate ways to trust God’s word, Encourage each child to experience God personally.
Our Philosophy
Luke 2:52 reminds us of how Preschoolers grow. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.” Preschoolers today grow as Jesus did. They grow in wisdom (mentally), in stature (physically),
in favor with God (spiritually), and man (socially and emotionally).
We minister to the whole child through Bible-learning activities that
are designed to meet the spiritual needs of a Preschooler – and help assure his physical, mental, emotional and social growth as well.
God will use each learning experience later in life to help them come
to truly know Him and His Son.
From an academic perspective on the philosophies and methodologies of early childhood education and human development, we believe that Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) is the theory that most closely describes God’s design.
DAP & FTF
Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is an approach to teaching grounded in the research on how young children develop and learn and in what is known about effective early education. Its framework is designed to promote young children’s optimal learning and development.
DAP involves teachers meeting young children where they are, both as individuals and as part of a group; and helping each child meet challenging and achievable learning goals.
First Things First (FTF) is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. First Things First created Quality First to work with child care and preschool providers across Arizona to improve the quality of their early learning settings. Currently more than 1,000 early learning programs in communities across Arizona participate in Quality First. All of these programs are licensed and regulated, but participating in Quality First is voluntary. These programs are committed to quality improvement, going beyond regulatory requirements to help the infants, toddlers and preschoolers in their care be ready for success in school and beyond. Click here to learn more!
We are a Quality First School. We have a 4-star rating which is exceeding quality standards. The quality of each program is assessed using valid and reliable tools that focus on what research shows are the key components of quality early care, including adult-child interactions, learning environments and staff qualifications.
Today, we are each asked to take on extra measures that in previous times would have seemed unnecessary
or out of place in this setting. As such, we are obligated to go a little further in being vigilant and protective of all
whose well-being has been temporarily entrusted to us. We each share in the responsibility to know what is
expected of us in terms of adherence to certain policies, procedures and processes that will provide protection for all.
If at any time there are any questions, they should be immediately asked of the Weekday Director.
General
• Outside Doors will remain locked at all times. An intercom system with security cameras is in operation.
Parents will ring the intercom system and administrative staff will open the door remotely once they are identified.
Visitors will be screened and then greeted in the hallway by administration.
• Teachers keep a class roster and walkie talkie with them at all times.
• All suspicious people or suspicious activities are reported to the office immediately.
• On campus security is alerted as needed.
Child Release Policy
• A child will only be released to the parent/guardian of that child.
• If someone other than the parent/guardian is picking up the child, the parent must communicate that with the office. When picking up, that person must come to the office first to verify their identity with a photo ID and then they will be escorted to the classroom to pick up the child.
Signing In and Signing Out
• All children must be signed in and out every day through our Brightwheel system. You can use the app on your phone or the kiosks at the entrance.
• Each individual has their own unique code. Please do not share your code with others. If you have someone else picking your child up, please have them stop in the office to receive their code.
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A full signature is required when signing your child in and out. DO NOT use initials unless that is your actual signature. DO NOT let your child sign for you.
Photos and Social Media
• The children's pictures are taken for school use only and each Preschool classroom has a tablet to use.
• There are families that do not want their children photographed under any circumstances. These children are listed
on the Allergy List on the Parent Information Board.
• At no time will pictures/videos of the children in our care be posted on personal staff social media accounts.
• Photographs of children may be posted in the hallway but they will not be labeled with the child’s name.
Other
• Fire drills are practiced monthly so that children begin to feel comfortable and know how to react when the alarm sounds.
• All school staff are trained on our lockdown procedure. This procedure is reviewed annually.
• All staff complete a background check and must have a current fingerprint clearance card to work at our school.
• Emergency procedures are posted in all of the classrooms with a current list of all staff who are first aid and CPR trained.
SAFETY PROCEDURES
Tours
To schedule a tour of our preschool, please visit our contact page.
