Preschool

Phone: 816-333-6311

I’m so glad that you have inquired about Country Club Christian Church's Preschool Program. Our program is well respected in the community because of its stability and the quality of teaching that children experience here. Please contact us for a booklet which includes additional information and specific rates. Please enjoy the tours you experience through this website. But do come for a visit. We have lots to show you! Lisa McCleish Director of Early Childhood Programs   Phone: 816-333-6311 Email: lisam@cccckc.org
Cooperative Preschool Staff
Back row: Gail Hunt, Debbie Tangen, Jeannie Mulsow; front row: Jennifer Spong, Holly Miller, Patty Sack.
Come Visit Today and Tour the Preschool . . . During Circle Time both Three Day (Three Year Old) Classes are together because they are introducing “Bread of the World.”
Mrs. Spong, one of the teachers, has a large basket full of a variety of breads. She introduces each one individually. “ This is white bread. Have you ever eaten white bread? How do we use white bread?” After a discussion, the children are given an opportunity to eat a little of the white bread. Then Mrs. Spong shows the plastic version of white bread that will be continually in the House Area. Then pita bread is introduced in the same manner with each child having an opportunity to taste the real pita bread and compare it to the plastic version that stays in the House Area. An assortment including saltine crackers, Matza, bagels, croissants, wheat bread, rye bread, a French loaf – all are introduced through the real thing and compared to the plastic version. Then the review comes. The teacher holds up the real bread stick and asks the children what it is called. How many liked bread sticks? As the children respond, the teacher matches it to the pretend bread. The bread is held up the children, respond, “Thank you for tortillas.” The pretend version is then placed in a breadbasket, which is placed in the House Area when full.
Later, the children enjoy a snack of the various kinds of leftover bread - and butter.
The children have looked at the real thing, compared its traits, tasted it, and put appropriate words with it. Learning is reinforced through the process of re-naming the plastic pretend version and expressions of thankfulness for the bread. Having the bread for snack time again re-enforces the learning and allows for additional discussion with their teachers, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Spong. Then, the children have many opportunities to play with the bread in the House Area.
Down the hall, in the church library, we find the oldest Pre-K Class. A group of children are at the table with some pulling books from the shelf to check out. Mrs. Hunt, the teacher is looking for a book specifically requested by one the children. The helping parent is checking out the books that some of the children have chosen. Other children are laying on floor, reading the books they have chosen. The library is buzzing with purposeful activity. The children are learning the excitement of a whole new world that the library offers.
In the younger Pre-K Class, Mrs. Mulsow and her children are listening to a movement CD and following the directions with motions. There are rings on the floor by each child. “Put one foot in ….put two feet in…put one hand in…put two hands in…. stand beside the ring….walk around the ring.” Children are learning, the parts of their bodies, to listen and follow specific directions, spatial relations, enjoying music, and physical exercise. Then the class moves on to working in different areas of the classroom for Work Time. Two boys are working in the House Area with the helping dad of the day. They are dressing up and preparing dinner. Three children are busy at the sand table. One child has filled a small plastic container with sand, put a lid on it and made a shaker out of it. Another child wants that container but is excited when the other child shows him how he can make the same thing.
Three children are playing at a small table with playdoh. Lots of fine motor skills are required to accomplish the tasks each child has chosen for himself. The teacher, Mrs. Mulsow, works at the table with two children on a specific project.
Every day at Preschool, each student experiences a large variety of learning experiences. Many learning experiences are introduced by the teacher. Others as supported and encouraged by the teacher. Students also love to share their knowledge with each other and become teachers. And many children find excitement in their own discoveries. There is soooo much to learn...and “so little time!”
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History

The Weekday Programs of Country Club Christian Church were first established in 1965 with the first Preschool designed mainly for the children of members of the church. The next year the Mothers Day Out Program (now called the Parents Day Out Program) was begun. Both programs have changed through the years and have become an important service to all children in the community.

Philosophy
Country Club Christian Church Cooperative Preschool is a reach out ministry of the church which supports the spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of the child through a developmentally based curriculum. A nurturing atmosphere is essential to encourage the child to fully develop the spirit of inquiry and exploration of knowledge. Active exploration, with all the senses, in a variety of experiences is the manner in which children learn best.

Cooperative Preschool
"Cooperative Preschool" means that parents help in the child's classroom on a regular basis. Parents sign-up for their helping days at the beginning of each semester. On their helping day, parents bring the snack (including a birthday treat on the child's birthday). They may plan an activity they would enjoy doing with the children, do something for which they have a special talent or just help the teacher in whatever way the teacher requests. We have found that our parents very much enjoy this opportunity as it allows them a real knowledge of what is happening in the classroom, the opportunity to see their child react to his peers and teacher and see the "normal" behavior of other children the same age as their own child. (Moms, dads, grandparents, and other relatives or nannies make a great contribution.)

This wonderful contribution of the parents makes it possible for us to have the excellent adult/child ratio of 1:5 for Three's and 1:6-7 for Pre-Kindergarten. Parents average one helping day every 3 ½ weeks. Child care is offered for younger siblings on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a charge of $10 for one child, $12 for two or more children, per family. Reservations will be made at the time of the Parents Coffee and can be paid at that time. Refunds are not made.

Schedule
Our Pre-Three Class meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:15 am. to 11:45 p.m., with extended care offered all three days until 2:30 p.m.

Three-Year-Old classes are held three days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Pre-K classes meet Monday through Thursday. These classes meet from 9:15 to 11:45 a.m. with Extended Session available on those days until 2:30 p.m. Extended Session must have at least 8 children. The teacher for extended session may not be the same teacher that the child has during regular Preschool Classes. Extended Session presents excellent opportunities for development of social skills.

Teacher's Qualifications
Country Club offers teachers with exceptional qualifications for educating your child. Most of our teachers have Master's Degrees in Education. All teachers have had public school experience as well as preschool experience.

Spanish, Music, Gymnastics and Special Events
Whether it is using the church library or simply just having fun on the playground, our Preschool has a wonderful variety of activities each day of the week.

Among the special additions to our Preschool Curriculum are the weekly Spanish classes. Senora Lily comes weekly and spends some time in each class. Children learn colors, numbers and conversational words.

Music classes are also held weekly. Mrs. Tangen teaches new songs as well as some basic musical concepts. November and December are spent preparing for the Christmas program.

During January and February, the children take part in a six-week gymnastics program. Parents can also sign their children up to participate in the Happy Feet Soccer program, held once a week.

Special events in the program include a Thanksgiving Feast and Christmas program. The preschool classes have a parent tea in the spring and pre-K has an art show.

Enrollment Call for a booklet (816-333-6311) and come by for a visit.