Little Methodist Preschool

Natalie Kiesz, Director

200 West Oak Street Lodi, California 95240

littlemethodistpreschool@lodifirstchurch.org

(209) 368-5111

*REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR IS ONGOING WITH LIMITED AVAILABILITY*

Classes are available for two, three & four-year-old children.

For further information or questions please call the preschool office.

PRESCHOOL CLASS HOURS

2-yr old Class: Mon. or Tues. or Wed. or Thurs. or Fri., 9:00 – 12:00 noon

3-yr old Class: Tues. & Thurs., 9:00-12:00 noon

3/4-yr old Class: Mon., Wed., & Fri., 9:00-12:00 noon

4-yr old Class: Mon. - Fri., 9:00-12:00 noon

2024-2025 FEE SCHEDULE

$100.00 non-refundable registration

2-year-olds, 1 day a week $150.00 per month

3-year-olds, 2 days a week $220.00 per month

3- and 4-year-olds, 3 days a week $275.00 per month (Must be 4 by December 31, 2024)

4-year-olds, 5 days a week $475.00 per month

DSC00719(1).JPG

Resources

 
 

Little Methodist Preschool has served the Lodi community for nearly 58 years. Our not-for-profit school provides classes for two, three, and four-year-olds.

Our schedule is based on a school year from August through May, corresponding to the LUSD schedule. Registration takes place in February, but parents may call the school at any time to see if class openings are available.

The school is not restrictive to racial, national, or religious origin. A preschool Parent Board composed of parents and the Director governs the Preschool per applicable laws and regulations under the auspice of the First United Methodist Church, Lodi.

Our Purpose

Within a loving environment we seek to provide:

  • A curriculum that respects how a young child learns, and will provide activities that are age appropriate for preschoolers.

  • Activities that encourage direct experience and discovery.

  • Developing social skills through supervised play with other children of the same age.

  • Language development through stories, song and conversation.

  • A growing sense of interest and wonder toward science and the natural world.

  • Visits to places or to people of interest in our community.

  • Wholesome physical activity.

  • Opportunities to develop independence and a self worth.

  • Activities that encourage spiritual growth and awareness that each child is special in the eyes of God.

Our Faith Statement

Little Methodist Preschool – A Christian Preschool

The purpose of Little Methodist Preschool (LMPS) is to provide a loving Christian atmosphere that encourages discovery, activity, and development of social skills.

A loving Christian atmosphere is provided by teaching the following beliefs about the Christian faith in child-friendly language:

  • Everyone is equally important to God and God loves everyone.

  • God teaches us how to live with each other. God wants us to be kind, patient, and loving, just as God is.

  • As Christians we act in ways that show others what God’s love is like.

  • God is always with us. Even though we cannot see God, God can see us and cares for us.

  • We can talk to God with our prayers anytime and anywhere.

  • God knows we make mistakes, but God forgives us and gives us another chance.

  • The Bible is a book of stories and teachings that help us know God and Jesus.

  • God sent Jesus, God’s special Son, who shows us God’s love and teaches us about God.

  • Christmas is about Jesus’ birth. The story of Jesus’ birth has new words such as "stable," "shepherd," etc.

  • The cross is a symbol for Jesus and his love.

These understandings of the Christian faith are shared in the following ways:

  • Our teachers strive to see each person as a child of God. Through their actions they model compassion, respect, love for everyone, inclusion, patience, forgiveness, wonder for creation, and reverence for God.

  • We use nice words with our friends and teachers.

  • We are kind to one another.

  • We listen to and respect others.

  • We do not use words or actions to hurt others and their feelings.

  • We share faith stories and reflect on feelings, help given by God, help given to others.

Among the faith-based activities in our classrooms are:

  • Prayer, including morning song, thank-yous, "take care of" prayer for students who are ill, traveling, or absent; snack prayers and grace. Prayers are teacher guided with participation from the children as appropriate.

  • Bible Stories are read and acted out; some arts and crafts are based on Bible stories.

  • Songs of praise; Christmas songs.

  • Monthly chapel worship in the church sanctuary led by the church Program Director or pastor.

  • Seasonal theme crafts, such as:

    • a cornucopia to fill with food pictures and the phrase, "Thank you, God, for this good food."

    • simple nativity figures to assemble and paste onto a paper stable

    • angel Christmas gift for parents

    • flowers glued on a cross for Easter

  • Christmas celebrations include daily nativity stories; nativity theme wall; dramatization of journey to Bethlehem; Posada; Christmas sign language; collection for a charity.

Please Note:

All volunteers working with children at Little Methodist Preschool are required to undergo a background check. We have arranged for background checks and child safety training with “Protect My Ministry”. Parents who want to volunteer in the classroom must complete the background check and child safety training.