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 Weekday School
JANIS RIKARD - Director
704-376-8683
jrikard@firstpres-charlotte.org
MADELINE SULLIVAN-DRAKE- Assistant Director
704-927-0229
mdrake@firstpres-charlotte.org
CLICK HERE to make a payment.
CLICK HERE for yearly calendar.
WEEKDAY SCHOOL NEWSLETTERS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of the First Presbyterian Weekday School is to nurture the growth of children and their families by providing a Christian environment with planned experiences for children's spiritual, intellectual, and social enrichment that help them learn and develop as children of God.
The Weekday School serves children of First Presbyterian Church members and the greater Charlotte community without regard to race, national origin, religious affiliation, or financial need. Please inquire with the Weekday School Director for information about scholarship assistance.
We are an inclusive school, which serves children with disabilities and special needs if we can serve the child within the framework of our school and classroom setting.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT CHILDREN AND LEARNING
 We believe childhood is an essential and unique stage of human development. Its value is for its present importance and not just as preparation for adulthood.- We believe each child's individuality and the uniqueness of his or her family should be treasured and respected.
- We believe children learn best in a community in which they are safe and valued, their physical needs are met, and they feel psychologically secure. It is our responsibility to create such an environment.
- We believe children need to develop a sense of self-worth and feelings of competence.
- We believe children's development is equally important in each of these areas: social, emotional, cognitive, physical, linguistic, creative, and spiritual.
- We believe that development proceeds at varying rates from child to child as well as unevenly within different areas of each child's functioning.
- We believe children learn through active involvement with developmentally appropriate materials, and that play is the essential way in which children learn.
- We believe identifying and communicating their feelings, needs, and desires are important skills for children to learn.
- We believe children must learn respect for others and appreciation of differences among people and cultures.
- We believe children must learn the skills necessary to cooperate with and interact with others.
- We believe children must learn to make decisions and accept responsibility for those decisions. They must learn that solving real-life problems is not always just finding the "right answer."
- We believe teachers should exhibit the qualities and skills mentioned above so that their relationships with children are based upon trust, respect, and love.
- We believe each child is a child of God and will first understand God's love through the love shown by caring adults.
CURRICULUM
 The curriculum in the Weekday School classes is child-centered and developmentally appropriate and is based on how children learn rather than what they should be taught. Our philosophy is that young children learn best through play and by interacting with their environment. Children learn about their world through exploration, sensory experiences, and active thinking. Play is the work of young children, and our curriculum supports that belief.
A variety of learning experiences are offered each day so that each child has the opportunity to grow and learn in all areas of development - social emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual. Our goal is to enable each child to become independent, self-confident, creative, and inquisitive. We encourage each child to be an active and creative explorer in the classroom.
Our curriculum is based on the principles defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and includes:
- A balance of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities
- Materials and equipment that are appropriate to the age group
- A variety of teaching strategies that enhance children's learning and development
- A balance of activities which includes quiet and active play, individual and group activities, indoor and outdoor play, and both large-muscle and small-muscle activities
- A variety of developmentally appropriate activities and materials provided by the teachers that:
· Foster positive identity and the sense of emotional well-being
· Develop social skills
· Encourage children to think, reason, question, and experiment
· Encourage language and literacy development
· Enhance physical development and skills
· Encourage creative expression, representation, and appreciation for the arts
· Respect for cultural diversity
Above all, we strive to offer each child a Christian environment of unconditional love and acceptance which will foster independence, trust, respect for self and others, a spirit of community, and an understanding of God's love through the love shown by caring adults.
CLASS OFFERINGS
 TODDLERS: Must be one year old by March 1. A child may be enrolled for two days a week.- TWOS: Must be two years old by October 16. A child may be enrolled for two or three days a week.
- THREES: Must be three years old by October 16. A child may be enrolled for three or four days a week.
- FOURS: Must be four years old by October 16. A child is enrolled for five days a week.
- FIVES/TK: Must be five years old by October 16. A child is enrolled for five days a week. Priority is given to children who will have completed a year in a four-year-old class.
ENRICHMENT OFFERINGS
 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: The two, three, four, and five year old classes will have Christian Education lessons to learn more about their Christian heritage.
FINE ARTS: The Community School of the Arts and PoppySeed Theater will conduct Music classes with three, four, and five year olds during the year. Fours and fives will attend the Preschool Arts Lab at Spirit Square each month.
CHAPEL: The four, and five year old classes will have a worship period once a month. A minister from the staff of First Presbyterian will conduct this worship.
OTHER OFFERINGS: A variety of field trips are offered for three, four, and five year old classes, including programs at Discovery Place, the Nature Museum, the public library, the fire station, the recycling center and other places of interest in the community.
PRIORITY FOR ENROLLMENT
1. Currently enrolled students and siblings (See exception under Toddler Enrollment)
2. First Presbyterian Church members not currently enrolled
3. Former Weekday School families
4. Grandchildren of First Presbyterian Church members
5. General Public
PRIORITY FOR TODDLER ENROLLMENT
1. First Presbyterian Church families currently enrolled
2. First Presbyterian Church families not currently enrolled
3. Non-member families currently enrolled
4. Former Weekday School families
5. Grandchildren of First Presbyterian Church members
6. General Public
 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Registration for the 2008-2009 school year will be held in January. Church families with preschool age children and any one who has asked to be on the mailing list will receive registration packets in the mail by mid-January.
To request a registration packet, contact Madeline Sullivan-Drake at mdrake@firstpres-charlotte.org. You may call her at 704-927-0229. Please give us your name and complete mailing address as well as the age(s) of your child(ren).
Priority for enrollment is given to First Presbyterian Church families and currently enrolled families. There are always remaining spaces available for new families from the general public.
Registration forms are due on Monday, February 11, 2008. Forms may be returned to the Weekday School by mail, or they may be dropped off in person.
If there are more applicants than spaces available at any age level, a lottery is held. Postmark dates do not determine an applicant's status. Applicants for whom there is no space available may remain on the waiting list at no charge.
WEEKDAY SCHOOL FEES 2008-2009
Registration Fee
A non-refundable registration fee is charged for each child and is due at the time of registration.
First Presbyterian Member $ 95
Non-Member $125
Activity Fee
This fee covers the cost of field trips and enrichment activities. It is payable at the beginning of the school year in September.
Threes: $185
Fours: $295
TK: $310
MONTHLY TUITION
Toddlers |
$220 |
Twos (2 days) |
$220 |
Twos (3 Days) |
$275 |
Threes (3 days) |
$275 |
Threes (4 days) |
$330 |
Fours (5 days) |
$350 |
Fives/TK (5 days) |
$380 |
One Month's Tuition is payable by May 1 and will apply to the last month of the next school year (May 2009). This is the Advance Tuition payment.
Tuition for September is due by June 1.
Tuition for the remaining months is due by the 10th of the month from October through April.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Uptown Fun
First Presbyterian Church offers a fun-filled summer program for children who are rising 2's through rising Kindergarteners. (Age refers to the child's school placement for Fall 2008.) Uptown Fun includes many enriching activities: art, music, science, stories, games and outdoor play. A child may attend for one or two weeks. All classes will meet five days each week. Hours are 9:15 AM to 12:45 PM. Children bring their lunches each day.
Enrollment applications are due by March 25. Priority will be given to First Presbyterian Church members and current Weekday School families who apply by March 25. Applications received after March 25 will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. We usually have room for many non-member or non-Weekday School families. Payment is due with your registration form. Enrollment for uptown Fun remains open as long as space is available.
For the Two-Year-Old Classes, priority will be given to children who are two years old by Aug. 31 and have attended a preschool during the past year.
To receive a brochure and application, please contact Madeline Sullivan-Drake at 704-927-0229 or mdrake@firstpres-charlotte.org.
Downloadable Registration Form
DATES: July 21-25 and July 28-Aug. 1
FEES: $130 per week
 STAFF
The Weekday School teachers have many years of experience working with young children. They
regularly attend professional development classes, and the director conducts annual performance evaluations.
Each teacher shows a remarkable dedication to the well-being and nurture of the children in her care. Teachers communicate with parents on a regular basis, and conferences are held in the winter with parents of two, three, and four year olds.
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