EXCELSIOR COVENANT PRESCHOOL

Program Philosophy

Our philosophy is to provide a Christ-centered kindergarten readiness learning environment that encourages the development of the whole child through learning centers and creative play. Our teaching style is:

Encouraging

We encourage and affirm children's efforts

Individualized

We support children's developmental needs and personal interests

Positive

We see the potential in each child and encourage them toward growth

Christian

We reflect the love of Christ in our environment, activities, words, and deeds

WE ENCOURAGE

  • Social development by providing opportunities for making friends, sharing, taking turns, resolving conflicts, solving problems, and building self-esteem.
  • Emotional development through verbal expressions of thoughts and feelings, experiencing kindness, fairness, empathy, understanding rules and limitations, and by recognizing and respecting the emotions of others.
  • Language and literacy development by including extended vocabulary words in conversation, poems, rhymes, music, and reading aloud. The children are introduced to the sounds of letters and writing activities.
  • Intellectual development by including fun, hands-on learning activities, science materials, dramas, problem solving, stories, and puppetry.
  • Physical development of large motor skills through indoor and outdoor games and activities, and fine motor skills through manipulative toys, blocks, puzzles, writing, and creative activities.
  • Spiritual development with daily devotions, prayers, Bible words, Christian songs, service projects, Preschool Chapel, and Vacation Bible School.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

  • Daily Devotions
  • Bible memory words
  • Prayers
  • Christian songs
  • Chapel
  • Christmas program
  • Vacation Bible School

    • MUSIC ENRICHMENT

  • The children gather with our music teacher once-per-week for a fun interactive time of music
  • Vocabulary and phonemic development with language and rhyme in songs
  • Movement to music develops balance, coordination, and motor skills
  • Appreciation of the properties of music: loud, soft, fast tempo, slow tempo, pitch
  • Musical instruments promote rhythm awarenessChristian songs
  • Large group dynamic

    • SPANISH PROGRAM

  • Our Spanish teacher brings a fun, interactive Spanish lesson to every classroom once a week
  • Children love to learn Spanish through songs, stories, games, and active learning
  • Multi-cultural awareness and vocabulary growth
  • Exposure to a foreign language at a young age supports brain development and cognitive growth

    • Facilities

    Our school is located in the education wing of Excelsior Covenant Church. The preschool wing is built for preschoolers with tot-sized bathrooms, bright colorful classrooms with lots of windows on a walk-in level. Families use our private entrance. We enjoy a large fully-equipped indoor gym, fenced outdoor playground, and lunch room.

    CLASSROOMS
    • Housekeeping corner
    • Block play
    • Library center
    • Cognitive toys and games
    • Manipulative toys
    • Science and nature table
    • Sensory play
    • Arts and crafts
    • Dramatic play
    • Music activities
    GYM
    • Cozy coupes
    • Riding trikes
    • Balls and hoops
    • Slide
    • Climbers
    • Wagons
    PLAYGROUND
    • Large fenced area
    • Fully equipped
    • Moon Rock climber
    • Natural Tamarack engineered wood chips
    • Handicap accessible
    • Benches

    STANDARDS

  • Licensed by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services
  • Licensed to serve 80 children per session with a total enrollment of 200.
  • Classes are small and do not exceed 10 children per class of toddlers, three's, four's, and five's.
  • Potty training is not required, but recommended for children ages 3.5.
  • Teacher/student ratios are 1 to 5 for toddler classes. 1 to 10 for ages three to five years.

    Excelsior Covenant Preschool does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national or ethnic origin in administering its educational policies, or programming.

    • Staff

    Our loving and dedicated Christian teachers are well-educated and experienced early childhood professionals. All participate in programs of continuing education for professional development in early childhood education and are certified in CPR and First Aid. All are certified and approved through the Minnesota Department of Human Services licensing division regarding education, experience, and background studies.

    SUSAN SCHMIDT

    DIRECTOR

    SANDY BUTLER

    PROGRAM MANAGER

    JENNY BECKMAN

    LEANNA CARTWRIGHT

    ASHLEY GILBERTSON

    SARAH GRINDSTAFF

    JAMY HAUKOM

    DENISE JONES

    KRISTA LARSON

    LISA MESSERLI

    MARY PAIS

    KIRSTEN PALKERT

    EMILY PITKIN

    TINA QUINLAN

    LINDSEY RYAN

    PAM SCHROEDER

    KATHY SWENSON

    GRACE TSCHACHER