(Rockwall) August 8, 2012 – Enrollment for the 2012-13 school year is underway at Ark Preschool at First United Methodist Church Rockwall. Meet the Teacher Night is Monday, August 13.
Ark Preschool just completed Ark Adventure Days , which included a visit from Crazy Scientist Susan conducting Arctic Experiments and giving hands-on instruction. Children also enjoyed ocean and space adventures during the summer program.
“We believe it is critical to offer rich learning opportunities for children. Young children are active learners. They learn by doing and experiencing new things. As they play, they discover and develop new skills,” said Susan Gallander, Ark Preschool Director.
“At the Ark, we build a variety of hands-on learning environments for students to explore. Each week, we investigate a new theme by reading books, creating art, and experiencing science related to that theme. Special events reinforce our theme each week. For example, we created giant collages outside on our nature center to celebrate Eric Carle week.”
Every day, children need time to create, imagine and explore. At the Ark’s Create Centers, children are offered time to create and explore a variety of art mediums.
“We paint, mold, build, and color. A cow can be purple and a little girl can be bigger than a house. Creativity is commended and celebrated!” Gallander explained.
During Imagine Centers, children play with a wide variety of toys and tools to stimulate their imagination.
“Preschoolers love to pretend! The imagination of a child enables them to fly into outer space or take an adventure through the jungle. This type of play is fun, but it also encourages cognitive development as well as social and emotional skills,” Gallander said.
During Explore Centers, children investigate their world through hands-on science activities.
“Using sensory tables, centers, and science experiments, we explore scientific concepts. Children learn scientific habits of mind through planning, questioning, observing, and reflecting.”
Other daily learning experiences at Ark Preschool include:
- Fine motor centers to strengthen hands, agility, and hand-eye coordination.
- Move and Groove to build bodies and encourage brain development.
- Chapel time and Bible stories to enhance spiritual development.
- Circle time for fun, large-group instructional time where we learn to listen and share with teachers and friends.
- Music time for joy, movement, and brain development.
Pre-kindergarten teachers implement Handwriting Without Tears Get Set for School learning systems for math, reading and writing instruction. They work with Rockwall kindergarten teachers to ensure that students are ready to be leaders when they move to “big school.”
The Ark’s facilities, located at 1200 E. Yellowjacket Lane in Rockwall, have undergone remodeling in the last year. They added a large tree, murals for the hallways, an outdoor learning center with vegetable gardens, a music center, building area, giant sandbox and trike track.
As Director, Gallander’s professional teaching background includes being an owner/creative director of Mind Missions Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Company, and an Adjunct Professor of Education. She volunteers as Mission Possible Kids chairperson, Great Days of Service chairperson, and serves on the Grace Hartman PTA Board.
The Ark was established as a family service to the community. It is licensed by the State of Texas. Students must be at least 18 months of age before September 1 of the current school year to attend. New lower tuition/enrollment fees (one fee, up front) are available.
For more information, visit thearkrockwall.com or email sgallander@fumcrockwall.com.
Information provided by Susan Gallander and thearkrockwall.com. To submit your good news and events, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.
Enrollment underway at Ark Preschool, FUMC Rockwall added by Editor on
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