Preschool registration
It's already time to register for preschool for the 08-09 school year! My son goes to First United Methodist in downtown Mishawaka, and he absolutely LOVES it! His teachers are fantastic, and it's really been a good experience for him. He will move into the 4 year old class next year. A few weeks ago they sent home info on registration for next year, and they are accepting applications now on a first come, first serve basis.
If you are interested or have questions, you can visit their web page at http://www.fumcom.com/nurseryschool.htm.
Preschool
Thats great and all but the hours are awful if your a single full time working mom and I cannot afford 80.00 a month I already pay 165.00 a week for daycare and the daycare cost wouldn't go down for just that short time in preschool. Is there any other preschools around maybe for lower income moms? That would accept children age 3?
Pre School
There is a Day School located at West Side Church of Christ. They have been in business for 40+ years. Both of my boys went there. There is an enrollment fee (non refundable) of $25. They have different sessions: Mon., Wed., Fri. $75(month) for the 9 to 11:30, or $140 for 9 to 3:00pm. Or Tues and Thurs. $60 for the 9 to 11:30 and $110 for the 9 to 3:00pm. The director and teacher are wonderful. It is located over by the airport on Edison Road. There phone number is 574-234-3866, and the office hours are 8am til noon, but there is a messenging system. If you need anymore information please contact me. The congregation is so wonderful that my family became members there. We do alot of family activities.
preschool
All Three of my children went to west side as well as all the kids in the family that came before ours. All the neices and nephews and even my sister in law went there. Vicki is a great teacher for the pre kindergarten class.
As for low income, I think, if you are in the sb schools, there is the lafayette early learning center. I don't know anything about it. It was part of the headstart program that merged (a few years ago, don't know all the details) but the school system took on the program instead of it being headstart anymore. ???
Its still Headstart
there is still a headstart program at Lafayette which is only half day. But they also offer a Snaps program which is all day. They are normally backed up and have a waiting list. I have my 2yr old on the list since she will be 3 in june. However they dont see her being able to until she is 4. So by that point she will already be at West Side. Since that is right down the road from and we go to church there.
PS Heather i think i know you, lol.
Katrina Mommy to 3:
Sabrina (4/9/02), Aja (6/13/05), Osiris (10/05/07)
Both are good programs
I attend First Methodist Church and am very familiar with the director/teachers. The director has been the only teacher ever to run the preschool and she has been doing it for 20+ years and she is so very positive with children. My husband who is 40 went to West Side Church of Christ's preschool as a child, and his family is still active in the church. They are on opposite sides of town so those are great recommendations for those who live near them.
If you are looking for a daycare/preschool program try East Bank Daycare which is downtown, I have heard it is around $165 week although that might be with a discount because they do discount certain employers. Someone I work with takes her daughter there and East Bank is accredited by NAEYC so it is bound to be structured well.
My 4 year old goes to First English Lutheran Nursery School which is on the south side of Mishawaka near Meijer on 331. They have an extended day program which is why I had to choose them over our own church because he can go from 9-2 and that is an easier schedule to pick up from when working full time. It is also a NAEYC accredited preschool. Colin loves it, but I do think he would be happy anywhere that provides structure because he is so much happier at preschool where there are constantly planned activities than at his home daycare where he just plays.
preschool
My daughter goes to Lafayette Early childhood center, and is in her 2nd year in about 2 years my daughter and then the year after that my son will go there. My oldest daughter LOVES IT....i dont think i could have made a better decision, she has made LOTS of friends and the teachers just adore her. She learned ALOT there her 1st year but this year she has a different teacher and has learned not so much. She Miss Ida Hawkins last year and she is awesome, My daughter came out of there knowing just about everything a child should know at the age of 4( that is what she was at the time) if not more.
Preschool
My son for the last two years has gone to Beiger for there Joint Services Preschool (I think that they call it Growing together, but not sure). We love it. At the age of 18 months old he did not have a big vocabulary. So I started researching things and found First Steps. They came into our home and tested Aaron for speech. Well he qualified for therapy. But there were no therapist around. So he ended up with a developmental therapist which helped with the speech also. She was great and helped me learn about joint services preschools. From First Steps to Joint services everything went very well. He now receives his therapy in school and the best part is we don't have to pay for the speech therapy. Aaron is doing much better and only receives therapy once a month. Joint services is between Mishawaka and PHM school districts. I believe they have about 5 preschools that start when your child is 2. So Aaron was in a 2/3 room last year and this year he is in a 3/4 room. They have different options for school times. Morning or afternoon. They have Tuesday or Thursday. Also they have Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I know that the morning session is from 9 - 11:30. Next year he will be in the 5 room if we keep him in the program. I was hoping to get him into a catholic school. Where they have a preschool and then when he goes off to K he is in the same school. But I don't know if that is going to happen for next year. We are still looking into what school to send him to. Last year for two day preschool we paid $60.00 a month. We also paid a book fee twice a year of $24.00. I think this year we are paying $80.00 a month for 3 days and we are still paying a book fee but I am not sure how much that is.
I believe that they start registering in early March.
Joint Services
I know a speech therapist from Joint Services also goes to First United Methodist too. My son stutters, so we had him evaluated at Joint Services. He falls somewhere in the middle....he doesn't need actual one-on-one speech therapy, but he is registered and they monitor him in the classroom at school. So far I've only gotten one slip from the therapist saying they pulled him aside and did a one-on-one at school. Anyhow, if speech therapy is something you may have to consider for your child, I know they do go to Luke's school if needed also. I've heard a couple of people say good things about the Beiger preschool also.
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn